Things to do on a 3-day trip

Hi! We are going to a first time visit to Disneyworld, FL with parents and a 9 year old child. I know this is not enough time to cover much, but what would you recommend as first-time must sees? We are interested in science, aquariums, rides and of course, classic disney cartoons. :)

Things to do on a 3-day trip

3 Days, 4 disney parks. I would skip Hollywood Studios and visit Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Epcot. They have more of what your looking for.

Things to do on a 3-day trip

Wow, that%26#39;s tough since all 4 Disney theme parks would be great.

You didn%26#39;t mention animals in your list, so if you are not all that interested in animals outside the aquarium kind, I%26#39;d recommend this list:

1. Magic Kingdom

2. Epcot

3. Hollywood Studios

If, however, you are very into animals, modify as Macs suggested:

1. Magic Kingdom

2. Epcot

3. Animal Kingdom

Thanks a lot! Oh, yes, I think animals would be wonderful! I will plan the trip around Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom.

Should I buy one day passes for all three? Would I be able to get a dining plan? Are there any big do-s and don%26#39;ts in terms of navigating the parks? Would you recommend a reasonable option to stay? Where can I look for online package deals?

Too many questions. :)

No, don%26#39;t pay the extra for one-day passes to all three parks; simply by 3-day base Magic Your Way tickets for a slight discount from either of these sites (compare for price differences):

www.undercovertourist.com

www.mapleleaftickets.com

You can only qualify for the dining plan if you buy a full MYW package deal with resort stays at one of the main Disney resorts and also at least one day%26#39;s worth of admission tickets. If you plan to stay at Disney and buy the package, then you can buy the dining plan also.

As for navigating the parks and the specific days to visit specific parks, it all depends on if you are staying on site at Disney or not. If you are, then take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours Disney guests get on certain days at certain parks. If you are not staying at Disney, you need to avoid those EMH days like the plague.

Never visit Magic Kingdom on a Monday as it%26#39;s one of the busiest days of the week for that park.

Study park maps before you go and know the layout of the parks before you start to help you decide which direction to head when you get there. Learn the rides/shows which do Fast Pass and know how to use them most efficiently (do you even know about Fast Pass?)

If wanting to stay onsite, I prefer the moderate resorts over the value resorts as they have more room and more amenities at Disney, but of course, they are more expensive. Go to this site for a complete rundown of all Disney accomodations:

http://allears.net/acc/faq_hot.htm

Are you a member of AAA? If so, you can get from 10% to 20% off at times on Disney packages and/or accomodations.

Thank you so much- that%26#39;s useful information.

I read about Fast Passes here on the forums- sounds like a %26#39;get ahead of line%26#39; kind of pass..? I imagine that would be a great option with the limited time we have. How do I get those?

We would most likely stay at a Disney resort ( They come with free transportation, I hear), and get a three day pass like you suggested. I will also do some research with the 9 year old nephew and plan the trip around his interests. :)

Thanks once again. The links are especially helpful.

I know you don%26#39;t have much time, but Tampa has a very nice aquarium if you find yourself over that way. We also have a decent size science center located off of Princeton Street in Orlando. If you take a day off from the parks, any of the springs are also nice.

I am a big fan of the dining plan, we saved so much money using the dining plan.

Using disney transportation is so easy.

I would stay at a value or a moderate if only there for 3 days. You will be in the parks and just need a place to sleep. You wont have time to use everything at the resorts.

I figured in AK because they have the part where you can watch the Vets taking care of the animals. This can be interesting (science like).

Stick around, you will become a pro for this trip.

Disney Fast Pass

Disney Fast Pass is a free service offered at many of the more popular Disney attractions within each of the four theme parks. Not all attractions have it, but the ones with typically the longest lines do. Here%26#39;s how it works:

At the entrance of each Fast Pass attraction, there is a set of machines that look like ATM machines. You simply insert your theme park ticket into the Fast Pass machines, and out comes your Fast Pass (be sure to get one for everyone in your party). On the Fast Pass is a ';return time'; window. When the time on the Fast Pass arrives, simply go back to the ride and enter the que line through the special ';Fast Pass'; entrance (located somewhere near the main que line). This line is typically much shorter and you practically move to the front of the line (or almost to the front in some cases) on the ride.

As far as frequency goes, you may obtain additional Fast Passes throughout the day after your initial one is used OR after waiting two hours from obtaining your most recent one.

For instance, if you obtain a Fast Pass at 9:30 AM and it%26#39;s return time is 10:15 AM, when that time arrives, you%26#39;ll be able to obtain another Fast Pass for that or another attraction. Also, if you obtain a Fast Pass at 9:30 AM, but it%26#39;s return time is 2:00 PM, when 11:30 AM arrives (two hours after obtaining the first one), you may obtain another Fast Pass for that or another attraction.

Once the ';time window'; arrives on a Fast Pass, it can be used then or anytime later in the day, just not earlier. For instance, if your Fast Pass window says ';10:05 AM to 11:05 AM'; for the return time, you may use that Fast Pass anytime of the day AFTER 10:05 AM.

Here is a list of the Fast Pass attractions in each Disney park:

Magic Kingdom: Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan%26#39;s Flight, Mickey%26#39;s Philharmagic, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear%26#39;s Space Ranger Spin, Stitch%26#39;s Great Escape.

Epcot: Soarin, Test Track, Mission: Space, Living With the Land, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, Maelstrom.

Disney Hollywood Studios: Toy Story Mania, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, Star Tours, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Rock %26amp; Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Lights, Motors, Action stunt show.

Animal Kingdom: It%26#39;s Tough To Be a Bug, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest, Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur.

Hope this helps you understand how Fast Pass works.

I know it wasnt intended for me.... but thanks for the info.

So (if I have understood correctly), you can only get one fast path at a time i.e. I couldnt get ticket for Soarin (at say 09:30) and then immediately go and get one for Test Track.

That%26#39;s correct; only one Fast Pass at a time until 2 hours goes by or the one you are currently holding comes due.