Originally Posted by mmaddog (Post 4833166)

Mission:Space is definitely not for everyone....in fact I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who gets dizzy easy or car sick easy. Plus if you have any physical ailments it only amplifies the problems. Test Track is great...I rode it several times. Unlike you I ejoyed Soarin' especially since I got to sit on the top row where the effect is felt the most. And Ellen's Energy Adventure was more enjoyable that I thought it would be. Since your stay there was abbreviated you probably missed Maelstrom which is in the Norway Pavilion and American Pavilion replete with the Fife and Drum Corp. The renovation that was done on Spaceship Earth actually made it disappointing...if you haven't done it once before, I would recommend seeing it, but a 2nd visit isn't worth it.

mmaddog
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Originally Posted by mmaddog (Post 4833186)

Disney Hollywood Studios is the real enigma of all the Parks....it can't get an identity and that is what hurts it. The Star Wars ride, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, The Stunt Car Show, Hollywood Tower of Terror, and Aerosmith Roller Coaster and Muppets in 3-D are about all that is there for entertainment. Everything else is pretty mild...this is the park I enjoy the least.

mmaddog
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Originally Posted by mmaddog (Post 4833204)

I assume you rode the Safari first thing in the AM....that is when the animals are most active, mostly because they are being fed. The Tree of Life is so cool...and even more fun to pick out all the animals that are interwoven together in the carvings. The Bugs Life is fun, but it really does scare many little ones, especially at the end (you know what I mean). Expedition Everest is not for anyone scared of roller coasters, but must be ridden at least once. The Kali River Rapids are a ride best enjoyed when you want to cool down, and is another ride that guarantees you WILL leave it wet. My son and I ride the Dinosaur ride at least 3 times when we go. But if you have back or neck problems I wouldn't suggest trying it. You didn't mention the Primeval Whirl in DinoLand...did you ride it? That was actually pretty fun even though it was in an area that is populated with mostly kid oriented rides.

mmaddog
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Originally Posted by Guru (Post 4833441)

Agreed on that. They keep the lines moving well. I love that most all of the rides have interactive lines too.

Sure wish Walmart would do that with their checkout lines. heh

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4833995)

Really? Epcot is, by far, my favorite of the 4 parks.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834074)

Which one is Splash Mountain? What does it do exactly?

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834078)

Oh man, I forgot to do the Muppet show. I really wanted to catch that one. Every other one of those we did and enjoyed.

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834106)

Splash mountain is a water ride where you go through a long, somewhat boring stretch similar to 'It's a small world' on a smaller scale and southern based. Then at the end you have a big, outdoor drop which more than makes up for the first part of the ride.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06...shmountain.jpg

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834141)

Oh, that one. Yes, we rode that. It was alright. We also liked that train roller coaster ride. Oh, and another thing we liked about the Magic Kingdom is the parades. We caught the afternoon parade and the night parade (with all the lights).

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834147)

Yes, Thunder Mountain is an oldie-but-goodie. Hopefully you were able to catch the laser show at Epcot and Fantasmic at TPFKA-MGM.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834163)

My nephew (blonde) and my middle son standing in front of Buzz.

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834174)

Did you make them wear Jayhawk gear everyday? :p

Originally Posted by mmaddog (Post 4833810)

Backstage tours are expensive....if you are looking for something inexpensive and fun try the Chip-N-Dale Campfire Sing Along at Fort Wilderness one evening. About the only cost is food/drinks if you don't take it yourself. You get the chance to roast marshmallows, have a sing-along, and see 1 or 2 Disney movies all outdoors. Bring a blanket and sit on the ground or sit in the bleachers.

Depending on the time of year, go to Downtown Disney in the evening. There is usually some type of free entertainment at the stage area near the World of Disney Store. Go early enough, buy some ice cream at Ghiradelli's Ice Cream Parlor and crowd watch waiting for the evening festivities.

If you just want to kill an evening and not spend any money and are staying on property, take a tour of all the Disney hotels. The most interesting is the Animal Kingdom Lodge, where you can sit out back of the hotel around a small campfire. Occasionally you will catch a glimpse of one of the animals in the savannah.

One of the fund things to do at each resort is search for the "hidden Mickey's" that are in each resort. A couple of the resorts make a game out of it for the kids, replete with clues to their whereabouts and a prize for locating all of them at the resort.

If you have some time and don't mind forking over $40 you can rent a boat and go out on the Seven Seas Lagoon that is in front of The Magic Kingdom.

These are just a few of the inexpensive things that you can do...if these are your cup of tea, send me a PM telling me what you are specifically looking for and I can help you.

mmaddog
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Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834264)

I'll post some more pics later. I still have a ton from Animal Kingdom. Not really much from Epcot for some reason.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 4834219)

The boat thing sounds neat. The main thing is that we all want to do something unusual.

Originally Posted by CoMoChief (Post 4834278)

Epcot sucks. By far the worst park there.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 4834294)

Gay Days?

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834335)

I've been to all of the parks many many many times, and I highly disagree.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 4834389)

Agreed.

My faves:
1a. Animal Kingdom
1b. Epcot
3. Magic Kingdom
4. MGM

Originally Posted by mmaddog (Post 4833173)

The problem with most people that go is that they refuse to enjoy the parks like they are kids. The Magic Kingdom is meant to be enjoyed like you aren't an adult....but most people have a pole stuck up their butt and can't do that.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834074)

Which one is Splash Mountain? What does it do exactly?

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834078)

Oh man, I forgot to do the Muppet show. I really wanted to catch that one. Every other one of those we did and enjoyed.

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 4834880)

How did you NOT see that one? It is right next to Big Thunder Mountain.

It is basically like the Viking Voyage at Worlds of fun but on steroids. Guess you could also compare it to Small World with the big drop at the end if it annoys you. heh

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834141)

Oh, that one. Yes, we rode that. It was alright. We also liked that train roller coaster ride. Oh, and another thing we liked about the Magic Kingdom is the parades. We caught the afternoon parade and the night parade (with all the lights).

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834084)

The problem with Walmart is that they do have interactive lines. It's just all geared toward women. When was the last time you saw a men's magazine while waiting int he checkout line?
4321 Walmart!

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 4834896)

That one was great but can't touch Philharmagic at all.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834907)

Philharmagic? Which park was that? Don't believe we saw that.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 4834294)

Gay Days?

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 4834914)

Surprisingly it was not too bad. Unfortunately they had the primary color of red so you know exactly who and where they were all the time. It was a damn sea of red. Thank God I didn't wear my red shirt that day.:doh!:

Originally Posted by Friendo (Post 4834906)

fwiw--the two restaurants I highly recommend are Boma, at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (buffet-style--domestic and native foods) the breakfast was the best I've ever had bar-none, and the Retro-cafe?? at Disney Studios (formerly MGM)---like stepping back into mom's kitchen in the fifties--the kids loved both.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834907)

Philharmagic? Which park was that? Don't believe we saw that.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834923)

I'm surprised it wasn't pink and green.

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834926)

It's called the 50's Prime Time Cafe and it's a dining experience. :)

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4834195)

Here is the dreaded Tower of Terror. Duh duh duuuuuhhhhh!!!! BTW, this ride is really fun. That is, if you don't mind being dropped several stories in an elevator and back up again and dropped several times, at random, in the dark. I think we must have ridden this one about 3 or 4 times. :)

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23 (Post 4834937)

Hotel Tower of Terror is a great ride!

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23 (Post 4834937)

Hotel Tower of Terror is a great ride!

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834940)

Unfortunately, it used to be MUCH MUCH better. :harumph:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834940)

Unfortunately, it used to be MUCH MUCH better. :harumph:

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 4834944)

:spock:
It's been the same thing since inception.

Originally Posted by Friendo (Post 4834943)

I've always heard Halloween is a great time at the park--have you ever been then?

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834946)

You're obviously mistaken.

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 4834955)

I rode it in 95 and then again this year. I didn't notice anything different. What are you referring to?

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834950)

I've never been to Disney during Halloween nor have I attended Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.

Last year I went to Busch Garden's Howl-O-Scream and it was interesting.

Originally Posted by Friendo (Post 4834974)

I took my kids to W'burg Busch Gardens for Halloween one year--they spook it up pretty good starting about dusk. The teens at the park really get into it--I recall walking towards a wall to take a sit-break, and my 8 year old son was beside me. The (apparent) inanimate clown sitting on the wall winked at me as my son and I sat down, he next to this "clown". After a few moments, this clown suddenly turned and hissed flashing a wicked toothy grin at him. I thought my son had pissed his pants, and he nearly knocked me over trying to backpedal. We still get a charge out of that. I recommend one of these fright nights to any who love Halloween!

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP (Post 4834969)

They've tinkered many times over the years with the number of drops, the frequency of dropping, how far you drop and whether the "elevator" shakes or not.

When it first opened you would get raised up, the doors would open and you'd be staring at a darkened wall that looked to be covered by ficus. Then you'd drop. A good drop. Next you'd be raised all the way to the top, the doors would open and you'd look out on the entire park. And you'd look. And you'd look. THEN YOU'D DROP. All the way down. A great drop.

Now you drop more often, but they're much smaller drops and the frequency is nearly constant such that you don't really get that "stomach rising" sensation. You also don't get to "look out" anymore. You go up, the doors open (or are already open) and before they're all the way open you're dropping again.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4835038)

They even had a petting zoo. Don't ask me what my nephew was about to do to this goat.

Originally Posted by Lzen (Post 4835016)

Is this tree lady a real person or animatronic? I could not tell.

Originally Posted by TinyEvel (Post 4835226)

Did you see her bush? ;)

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2 (Post 4835338)

I thought the tower of terror had random drops.

Originally Posted by Amnorix (Post 4835407)

We're pretty locked into going the week BEFORE Thanksgiving. Anyone been there around that time? Crowded or not? I'd think not (which is a big part of the point of going then...).

Got 2 little ones -- 7-1/2 and 4-1/2 years old at that point.