You're bringing an adult who has never been to Disney World; what is on your must do list?

[Soarin2u]

I am hopefully bringing a newcomer to the parks this summer. I am rather excited to share with her all the amazing things Disney has to offer but, I am also just as excited to torture her with all the not so bright things in the parks such as Beverly. And thinking about it has made me curious to see what others would do to show a friend what Disney has to offer.

What is on your list of things to eat?
What rides must they ride?
Any show must they watch?
Are there any things you'd do in order to tease them? (Such as taste the Beverly soda)
Are there some things you'd go out of your way to avoid showing them? Or suggest to do something else on?
Is there a must see resort?
Any other things you feel they must do or try?

Side note-
Please, don't do a "Just let them do what they want." Of course we want to let them have their freedom, but hey, I can't let anyone I know leave Disney without ever trying a Dole Whip, drinking Beverly and riding Soarin'.

 

[Figgy1]

Wishes and Illuminations, a grey goose Slush. FOTLK and FNTM in AK Dinner at a signature in DTD, TOT, RNRC and ST in DHS, the monorail hop, JC at night, Splash, BTMRR, SM, POTC, lunch or dinner in BOG, M&G with Mickey and Minnie. I could go on for days

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

a trip to uni

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

Dole whip, toy story, kaki Gori, Beverly, of course , Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Dumbo, fireworks, monorail,

 

[Rudyard Kipling]

I like walking around MK at night, nothing beats it.

 

[MinnieM123]

I'd suggest you take her to a few of the WDW "classics" such as, It's A Small World, or Peter Pan's Flight. She won't find those type of theme park attractions elsewhere, and I think she may enjoy them.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

It truly does depend on the adult but I try to start people in the morning at MK, in this order:

• First Visit button - if I didn't manage to pre-get one for them. You have to mark them as new for best results!
• Main Street atmosphere - whatever’s out: Trolley Show, Citizens, Dapper Dans. This is their training to notice things and keeps them from mindlessly rushing for the Castle.
• Talking Mickey - "Oh my gosh, I totally forgot you need to meet Mickey!" This is a great effect for first timer adults because they’re probably not expecting it. Also best to do photo ops before everyone gets hot and/or tired.

If we started at the right time one of the Move it Shake it parades is going by or coming back in as we exit the Mickey M&G. Hopefully seeing kids dancing in the street makes them embrace their inner kid. And now we can continue into the park proper with them in the correct mindset for Disney.

 

[Princess_AmyK]

I am also taking a trip with a first timer. He has been to Disneyland but never WDW.

-He will absolutely be trying a dole whip, a mickey bar, and because of his interests I am making sure he tries the Mac and Cheese Hot Dog in AK. I also feel it is necessary to experience Ohanas.. but that's just my opinion lol

-For rides we will of course make sure we get to ride every mountain. I really want him to see the Safari and Tower of Terror. We will also make sure to ride the monorail at some point.

-I will definitely not make him meet all of the characters. If the person who's first trip it is is an adult, unless they show interest in meeting lots of characters, I feel like a greater impact is made when you show them all of the food and entertainment options there are rather than spending all of your time in lines for a picture. This probably goes without saying though.

-Wishes is a must!

-I am also really looking forward to showing him POFQ and how great it is to be able to ride the boat to Disney Springs for good food and drinks.

 

[Schneewittchen]

That's really funny you ask, I was planning a solo day trip to WDW next month while I'm in Orlando for a convention. One of my colleagues who's also going to the convention might join me for a day in the parks. I'm a married woman in my late 30's with 2 kids, 2 dogs and a mortgage. He's a party boy in his late 20's that I frequently treat like my ne'er do well brother. So with that in mind I would suggest acting like two kids at Six Flags with a wad of mom's cash in our pockets ...

1. Things to eat - a Dole Whip in Adventureland and a Schofferhofer in Germany
2. Rides - Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, PoTC, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth
3. Shows - do the awesome animatronic shows count? Country Bears, Enchanted Tiki Room, Main Street Electrical Parade, Impressions de France
4. Teasing - "OMG Carousel of Progress is the best thrill ride in the park! Let's go! There's no line. This is awesome. You're going to luv it."
5. Avoid - Festival of Fantasy Parade does not thrill me
6. Resort - I think a bit of monorail (bar) hopping from Contemporary to Poly to Grand Floridian would be cool.
7. Must do - stroll around MK after dark, buy some monogrammed ears and get that pic with Mickey & Walt

 

[mouse_luv]

I am hopefully bringing a newcomer to the parks this summer. I am rather excited to share with her all the amazing things Disney has to offer but, I am also just as excited to torture her with all the not so bright things in the parks such as Beverly. And thinking about it has made me curious to see what others would do to show a friend what Disney has to offer.

What is on your list of things to eat?
What rides must they ride?
Any show must they watch?
Are there any things you'd do in order to tease them? (Such as taste the Beverly soda)
Are there some things you'd go out of your way to avoid showing them? Or suggest to do something else on?
Is there a must see resort?
Any other things you feel they must do or try?

Side note-
Please, don't do a "Just let them do what they want." Of course we want to let them have their freedom, but hey, I can't let anyone I know leave Disney without ever trying a Dole Whip, drinking Beverly and riding Soarin'.

Things to eat: Cronut, Lunch at the Plaza, Teppan Edo Dinner, Orange Chicken from Lotus Blossom, Mickey Pretzel, Citrus Swirl, Something from Karamell Kuche, Zebra Domes.
Rides: HM at night, BTMRR, TT, TTA,
No
NO
Resort: Grand Floridian, Poly, Yacht/Beach Club, walk the Boardwalk at night, it's fun.
Gotta see Illuminations:RoE

 

[FettFan]

Mizner's Lounge.

 

[NelleBelle]

I am also taking a trip with a first timer. He has been to Disneyland but never WDW.

-He will absolutely be trying a dole whip, a mickey bar, and because of his interests I am making sure he tries the Mac and Cheese Hot Dog in AK. I also feel it is necessary to experience Ohanas.. but that's just my opinion lol

FYI: they have dole whips and mickey bars at DL But you can never have too many dole whips!!

 

[Princess_AmyK]

FYI: they have dole whips and mickey bars at DL But you can never have too many dole whips!!

Yeah I know. Last time he went, he was a kid and he absolutely has no recollection of them. So it will be a great refresher for his memory

 

[NelleBelle]

I've been many times and STILL need to refresh my memory You guys will have a blast! Having grown up going to DL, I was super impressed with Epcot when I first visited (but that was back in the 90s, and its not quite the same). Depending no the time of year, the water parks would be really cool to show someone who's never been to WDW, too--I was blown away with the theming!! No other water park I've been to had/has that kind of theming!

 

[Soarin2u]

Aww I love to hear about people's first times going to WDW! I've been to a lot of theme parks so for me, as an adult, the beautiful shows with the incredible technology are the real "wow" moments that are more unique to Disney. There are a lot of great rides and wonderful theme-ing but something like Space Mountain isn't insanely impressive after you've experienced some legit coasters around the country. Here are my must-do's for a first-timer adult:

MK:
-Wishes
-Celebrate The Magic
-Electrical Parade

Epcot:
-Test Track
-Soarin'
-IllumiNations

HS:
-Rock N Roller Coaster
-Tower Of Terror (if they are into crazy thrills lol)
-Toy Story Mania
-Fantasmic!

AK:
-Safari
-DINOSAUR
-Expedition Everest
-Finding Nemo - The Musical (cuter if they're fans of the movie)
-Festival of the Lion King

Of course a trip to Disney Springs is fun and it's also impressive to see a lot of the resorts if you have time!

Funny, becuase in the past my friend told me that she had decided to watch the Little Mermaid 2 on a whim and complained about the music. I joked and told her if she thought that was bad she needed to listen to this song from The Finding Nemo Musical and I pulled up "It's a Big Blue World" for her.( I think it's a pretty bad song ) She stopped it halfway through and jokingly got upset at me for "ruining Nemo" for her. So I know she won't be up for the musical even though I think it's fun to watch! She loves the Lion King so I'll take her there instead

 

[Princess_AmyK]

The Finding Nemo musical is great place to take a nap

 

[mimitchi33]

Go do all the popular attractions, and make sure to get Fastpass Plus! Oh, and if you can grab a reservation, make sure to dine at Be Our Guest!
The Beverly soda trick comment reminds me of the time I went to Coca Cola World in Atlanta and our tour guide told us to try it. My sister did, and her reaction? "Whoever invented that should be dragged out into the street and shot".

 

[StarWarsGirl]

What is on your list of things to eat?
What rides must they ride?
Any show must they watch?
Are there any things you'd do in order to tease them? (Such as taste the Beverly soda)
Are there some things you'd go out of your way to avoid showing them? Or suggest to do something else on?
Is there a must see resort?
Any other things you feel they must do or try?

1. Well, obviously there's the must-do sit downs (Teppan Edo, Be Our Guest, Kona for breakfast) but also the good QS locations, Seasons being my favorite. And everyone must enjoy a churro
2. Everything! At least get them on TofT, RnRC, TSM, Star Tours, the MK Mountains, 7DMT, PofTC, Jungle Cruise, IASW, EE, Safari. Dinosaur.
3. Fantasmic. And Wishes and Reflections of Earth, but mostly Fantasmic
4. I tried the Beverly soda thing on my friend. She actually liked it. That backfired. Not warning my friend about some of the scents throughout and the expression on her face while I was holding my nose was pretty hilarious.
5. I took my friend on basically everything, but if you're pressed for time, stick with the good stuff and avoid the "filler" attractions (SGE, Imagination, Ellen, etc.)
6. The monorail resorts at the very least. AKL too if you have time.

 

[Yenfid]

Wishes and Illuminations, a grey goose Slush. FOTLK and FNTM in AK Dinner at a signature in DTD, TOT, RNRC and ST in DHS, the monorail hop, JC at night, Splash, BTMRR, SM, POTC, lunch or dinner in BOG, M&G with Mickey and Minnie. I could go on for days

Where do you get a Grey Goose Slush?

 

[Soarin2u]

Where do you get a Grey Goose Slush?

Champagne and Wine Kiosk in France.