MORNING: MGM
If you visit MGM on the Surprise Morning (check your information packet for details), certain rides, including Star Tours, The Great Movie Ride and the Tower of Terror, will be open early. Ride them, and then get in line for the first show of "The Little Mermaid," which is held in a small theater and can be packed later in the day. At this point in the trip, everyone will probably welcome more opportunities to sit. Check out the amusing Muppetvision 3-D; the Animation Tour, where you can see Disney artists at work; and Superstar Television, which uses audience volunteers to hilarious effect.
LUNCH
What you do depends on your energy level. You could dine at MGM's Sci-fi Dine-In (salads and sandwiches are reasonably priced), where you eat in cars and watch cheesy clips of old monster movies, then catch the Hercules Parade. If you're feeling zapped, you could head back to your hotel and rest.AFTERNOON AND EVENING: MAGIC KINGDOM
Ride anything at Magic Kingdom you missed earlier, or revisit favorites such as Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo, Astro Orbiters and Splash Mountain, which are especially atmospheric at night. You can also opt to enjoy the character dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern (prices are $22 for adults ages 12 and older), $10.99 for kids ages three to 11, and free for kids under age three), hosted by Mickey and the gang in Revolutionary garb.There's a certain symmetry to beginning and ending your trip on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. Check postings for the time of the Main Street Electric Light Parade and line the route 40 minutes before show time. When my family waits for the parade, we're always using the phrase "next time." Because no matter how well you plan, you won't see it all. So there's comfort in knowing you can always come back and do it again.
Click on the following links for ideas on planning your trip, money-saving tips and a guide to on-site hotels.
Kim Wright Wiley, author of WALT DISNEY WORLD WITH KIDS (Prima), is a contributing editor at DISNEY magazine and is FamilyFun's new Theme Park Expert.
All prices shown are without tax.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
