Fast Passes for All Parks

So we won't be able to make Fast passes until 30 days out from the day we need them. This sucks because on property you can do it 60 days out. This may limit us on what we can get them for but we'll just have to see.

Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom do not have a tier system like Epcot and Hollywood Studios. In those two parks you can only have ONE tier 1 fast pass and TWO tier 2 fast passes. Unfortunately a lot of the good rides are tier 1.

Animal Kingdom-
Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Safari
Dinosaur

Hollywood Studios-
Tier 1: Toy Story Mania
Tier 2: Tower of Terror
Star Tours

Magic Kingdom-
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Seven Dwarves Mine Train

Epcot-
Tier 1: Soarin'
Tier 2: Mission: Space
Epcot Character Spot

Let me explain my choices on the tiers. At HS the tier 1 has both Rock n Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania. But Toy Story usually has an hour+ wait time and Rock n Rollercoaster has times where it's not as crowded. Tier 2 has ToT and Star Tours as well as the Frozen show, Disney Junior show, Indiana Jones show, Muppet Vision, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Most of those aren't rides that have big lines but ToT and Star Tours does. Any show is generally not worth the fast pass.

For Epcot the tier 1 is a hard choice. It has Test Track, Soarin', AND Frozen Ever After. I picked Soarin' because it's mom's favorite ride and the girls love it and it has a habit of having 90+ minute wait times. Hoping that if we finish our tier 1 pass early morning that we might be able to get a second. As for Tier 2 it's not much. It's Journey Into the Imagination with Figment, Mission: Space, Spaceship Earth, The Seas, Turtle Talk, and the Epcot character spot. I picked Mission: Space because the girls were really crazy about this ride and it is considered a big ride. And I picked the Character Spot because it will allow the girls to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. Besides, the rest of the stuff doesn't have lines and is easy to get into.

Anyone not agree with these?

Character Meetings?

We will have 4 little girls with us, so is there any characters specifically they would like to see? If you give me some specific characters I can track down some places to meet them. We probably won't do a BUNCH of these because they take a lot of time waiting to see them but if there's ones they REALLY want to meet, we can probably work it out since it's in February.

Queen Elsa and Princess Anna- The only meet and greet I see for them is at the Royal Sommerhaus in Norway at Epcot. According to what I've read the queue to meet them isn't as totally outrageous as it used to be.

Belle- There's a few meet and greets with Belle. One is at Magic Kingdom in Enchanted Tales with Belle, but the line gets pretty long as it's a pretty decent meet and greet with her. We can also meet Belle at Epcot in the France pavilion.

Ariel- There is really only one for sure way to meet Ariel and that's at Ariel's Grotto in Magic Kingdom in Fantasyland. Again, the lines are usually high as she takes time with each guest.

Cinderella- She is actually hard to find and the only place I see to meet her at is Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom in Fantasyland where you can meet her and a princess friend.

Rapunzel- There is only one place to meet Rapunzel and that is at the Princess Fairytale Hall along with Cinderella and whoever her visiting princess friend is.

Jasmine- Jasmine can be found in two places. At the Agrabah Bazaar in Magic Kingdom and also at the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot. In Epcot the meet and greets are done every hour.

Pocahontas- She can be found at Discovery Island Trail in Animal Kingdom.

Tinkerbell- Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom at Main Street USA.

Minnie Mouse- Character Spot in Epcot, Silly Sideshow in Magic Kingdom, Production Courtyard or Toon Studio in Hollywood Studios.

What Do You Want To Do?- Islands of Adventure

The second Universal Park has a lot of rides to conquer.

Jason: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter Dragon Challenge, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, The Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Dr. Doom's Fearfall
Tina: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Harry Potter Dragon Challenge, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, The Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Dr. Doom's Fearfall
Dad: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter Dragon Challenge, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, The Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Dr. Doom's Fearfall, Poseidon's Fury
Mom: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Poseidon's Fury
Megan: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter Dragon Challenge, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, The Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Dr. Doom's Fearfall, Poseidon's Fury
April: Reign of Kong, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, The Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Dr. Doom's Fearfall
Cassie: Reign of Kong, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter Dragon Challenge, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, The Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Dr. Doom's Fearfall
Kaitlin: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Cat in the Hat
Caroline: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Cat in the Hat, Dr. Doom's Fearfall
Lindsey: Reign of Kong, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Cat in the Hat
Aislynn: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Amazing Spiderman, Cat in the Hat

Big rides first.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong is a new attraction it's a 3D ride and is supposed to be very thrilling.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is something new in tech rides and at times can even be a bit overwhelming. Not sure I'd recommend the kids going on this one.

Harry Potter Dragon Challenge is dual coasters that face off with each other, you are suspended and there are flips and corkscrews.

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls is a log ride where you go down a waterfall at the end and as we learned last time you CAN get soaked.

Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges is a rapids ride in the tube, you will get wet maybe soaked.

The Incredible Hulk coaster shoots off fast and is suspended and you do flips and corkscrews.

Jurassic Park River Adventure is kind of a creepy run through animatronic dinos, a big face off with a T-Rex at the end and a drop down a waterfall. May get wet.

Other rides that aren't as big. Amazing Spiderman is a 3D ride through an actual ride with a motion simulated vehicle. Cat in the Hat is a trip through the famous book. Dr. Doom's Fearfall is a suspended seating ring that shoots you up in the air and then you fall back down.

As for shows there's a stunt show called the Eight Voyage of Sinbad and a cool special effects show called Poseidon's Fury.

I really wasn't sure what coasters and stuff the girls are brave enough to ride so let me know when you get a chance to talk to and ask them.

What Do You Want To Do?- Universal Studios

Splitting the two parks because there's so many rides.

Jason: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride
Tina: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride
Dad: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride
Mom: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D
Megan: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D
April: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D
Cassie: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D
Kaitlin: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride, Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster
Caroline: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride, Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster
Lindsey: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride, Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster
Aislynn: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, E.T. Adventure, Men In Black Alien Attack, Shrek 4D, The Simpsons Ride, Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster

There's a few big rides here.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a thrill ride but we've never been on it yet, it just opened in the last year or two.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a roller coaster with flips and corkscrews and features a 17 story straight down drop.

Revenge of the Mummy is an inside coaster ride through the scenes of the Mummy.

Transformers: The Ride 3D is a 3D ride in a moving car through a battle between autobots and decepticons.

There of course is plenty of other rides. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a cute 3D ride through minion antics. E.T. Adventure is an indoor dark ride through the story of E.T. Men In Black Alien Attack is another laser gun ride that keeps score. Shrek 4D is a sit down 3D show but your seats also move and stuff. The Simpsons Ride is a simulated ride through Krustyland. Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster is a kid's coaster. As far as shows go there is also Fear Factor Live and something I thought April might be interested in is the Horror Makeup Show.

Let me know if I missed anything you'd like to do.

What Do You Want To Do?- Epcot

This is our fourth stop and also has all the countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, US, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. If there is a particular country you'd like to see let me know. Like I like to go to Morocco for the baklava and see France for the miniature Eiffel Tower.

Jason: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Tina: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Dad: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, Living With the Land, The Seas
Mom: Soarin', Frozen Ever After, Living With the Land, The Seas
Megan: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
April: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Cassie: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Kaitlin: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Caroline: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Lindsey: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas
Aislynn: Test Track, Mission: Space, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, The Seas

There's only three really "big" rides here.

Test Track is where you digitally build a race car and get to test it out on the test track (think brake checks, stability checks, speed tests, etc), including a speed test where you go around 60 mph in a circular track.

Mission: Space is a motion simulated ride that simulates taking off in a space rocket and flying your mission to Mars. It's pretty intense but they also have the green version which is less intense.

Soarin' is a simulated flight by hang glide over the world.

There are other rides. Frozen Ever After is their new ride and is a boat ride through the kingdom of Arrendale. Gran Fiesta Tour is a boat ride through Mexico and is about their culture. We usually hop on this after we eat as there's never a line but it's not a must see. Journey Into the Imagination with Figment is a little cart ride that takes you through a senses ride. Living With the Land is a boat ride through the greenhouses and teaches about living with the land. The Seas is a ride through a cool aquarium as you try to find Nemo with the other characters from the film.

Let me know if there's anything I missed and what countries you would like to see.

What Do You Want To Do?- Magic Kingdom

This is our 3rd stop and arguably has the most attractions.

Jason: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Tina: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Dad: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Mom: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Megan: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
April:  Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Cassie: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Kaitlin: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Caroline: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Lindsey: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Aislynn: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Phillarmagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarves Mine Train

As always, big rides first.

There's 3 "mountains" at Disney which represent roller coasters and a water ride. Splash Mountain is a log ride where you follow the adventures of Brer Rabbit and then drop off a giant waterfall at the end. Will get a little wet but usually not soaked.

Big Thunder Mountain is a mine train ride that's the "wildest ride in the wilderness". It's a runaway train roller coaster, no flips or anything, very kid friendly.

Space Mountain is an indoor dark roller coaster, again no flips or anything but it's a bit rougher than Big Thunder. We convinced mom to go on this one time and she cussed the whole time =)

Seven Dwarves Mine Train is another coaster and is very similar to Big Thunder but the theming is Snow White and the carts are also set up so they rock back and forth while you ride. Also kid friendly.

Those are the main, main ones but there's plenty of other. The Barnstormer is a kid coaster featuring the Great Goofini. The girls love this ride. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is a moving laser gun game kind of like Toy Story Mania but without the 3D it keeps score and we usually have fun competition. Haunted Mansion is a haunted house you ride through but it's more silly that scary but still a little creepy. Jungle Cruise is a boat ride through the Amazon and is full of animatronic animals. The girls were kinda bored on this ride even with the Skipper's jokes but it's sort of a classic and always easy to get on so we usually do it. Mad Tea Party is the famous spinning tea cups that the girls like but dad skips due to motion sickness. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a slow moving "hunny" pot that goes through the story. Mickey's Phillarmagic is mom's favorite, it's a 3D show with Mickey and friends. Peter Pan's Flight is getting on a flying ship through the Peter Pan story, a classic. Pirates of the Caribbean is a dark boat ride that goes through the Pirates story and is also dad's favorite ride. Under the Sea is a ride through the Little Mermaid story. The Carousel of Progress is a little show in a moving theater where you follow an American family through advents of things like electricity, the fridge, and into the future. Enchanted Tiki Room is a show put on by Iago and Zazu and is a show with animatronic birds that sing. It's a Small World is the iconic ride through different cultures with that catchy song. We haven't done it the past few years.

Let me know if there's anything I missed that you want to do.

What Do You Want To Do?- Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is our second stop.

Jason: Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
Tina: Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Mom: Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast
Dad: Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast
Megan: Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast
April: Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast
Cassie: Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast
Kaitlin: Rock'n'Rollercoster, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, For the First Time in Forever, Beauty and the Beast
Caroline: Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, For the First Time in Forever, Beauty and the Beast
Lindsey: Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, For the First Time in Forever, Beauty and the Beast
Aislynn: Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, For the First Time in Forever, Beauty and the Beast

So, big rides first.

Tower of Terror is a 13 story fall in a creepy hotel, but Kaitlin and Caroline loved it.

Rock'n'Rollercoster is a super fast coster starring Aerosmith. It's in the dark and has flips and corkscrews, plus takes off from 0-60. Kaitlin and Caroline also loved this ride. Aislynn was too short last time.

Star Tours is a motion simulator ride where you can have any number of Star Wars experiences. Kind of a ride that's fun for everyone.

Toy Story Mania is like one big, moving 3D arcade game. You get in your ride vehicle and do things like ring tosses and bottle breaking fair games with a laser gun. It's really fun.

Those are the big rides, there are some smaller ones. Muppet Vision 3D is a 3D show that's put on by the Muppets who, as usual, are up to their wacky antics. The Great Movie Ride is a bit of a classic. You get in a big moving car and roll slowly through different super popular movies of different decades with everything from Singing in the Rain and Mary Poppins to Alien and Indiana Jones. Walt Disney: One Man's Dream is a walk through show experience about the man behind the magic.

Hollywood Studios has a lot of one thing and it's shows.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid is a short and cute little stage show going through the story of the film. It's a classic and it's a great place to rest plus it plays like every 30 minutes. For the First Time in Forever is a Frozen sing along show and I figured with our Frozen fans it might be something we should see. Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular is one big stunt show through an Indiana Jones film with some audience participation. Beauty and the Beast is just a stage rendition of the movie but one me and mom really enjoy. There's also Fantasmic but that's not optional and character greetings will be covered separately.

Please let me know if there's anything I missed that you would like to do.