Top 3 Queues and Pre-Shows at Walt Disney World

MouseStation 310 - Top 3 Queues/Pre-Shows at Walt Disney World

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In today's show, Mark and Mike discuss their picks for the best times to be had while waiting for your attraction.

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Feature: Top 3 Queues/Pre-Shows at Walt Disney World

Mark's pick for runner-up was Kali River Rapids, while Mike's was Festival of the Lion King. This may be the first time that they've got the same top 4, regardless of order.

Mike originally had Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage as his number 3 until Mark pointed out that 4 for a Dollar no longer perform before the show there. Mark's pick for runner-up was MuppetVision 3D, while Mike's were Walt Disney: One Man's Dream and MuppetVision 3D. Mark considers the displays at One Man's Dream as part of the attraction, and thus not eligible.

Mark kind of cheated by considering the Voices of Liberty as the pre-show for The American Adventure when they should rightly be considered an attraction on their own. Mark considered Soarin' for a runner-up, but since the games are only turned on when the wait is unbearable, he decided against it. Mike didn't consider that enough of a factor and named Soarin' as his runner-up.

Mike considered the stretching room part of Haunted Mansion attraction, while Mark considered it part of the pre-show, so it didn't make Mike's list but did make Mark's. While Mike couldn't come up with any runners-up in the Magic Kingdom, Mark had several, including Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and the Enchanted Tiki Room - Under New Management.

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Twitter/Facebook poll questions

Here are the responses to some questions that Mark was asking on Twitter and Facebook in the last week. If you'd like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

You want to take a first-time Walt Disney World visitor to an enjoyable dinner. Where do you go?

• Teppan Edo is the first thing that came to mind. But for something real special, I would choose the California Grill for sure.
• If $ not an issue, then Citricos at the Grand Floridian.
• For the first night, we like to arrive in the late afternoon/evening and go to the Boardwalk and eat Pizza or hot dogs outside, watching the sunset, lights reflecting in the water as the sky darkens, boats silently sliding from dock to dock, enjoying the street entertainment, eventually the Epcot fireworks light up the sky -- there's no better way to soak in the atmosphere! No wonder we love this place!
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Review!! but if they have children with them, I'd prefer Chef Mickey's, then watching fireworks at the MK. Did CM w/ fireworks w/ our in-laws and neices a few years back on our first night there --- it really was a great way to start the vacation and dive right into Disney with them having never been there before.
• Ohanas!
• California Grill
• I would say Teppan Edo because no matter wether the first timer is young or old the whole group would enjoy it.
• Ohana
• California Grill at sunset
• The Brown Derby--great food, elegant atmosphere, fantastic service (and martinis)-and it's inside the park. It would definitely take some of my "non-Disney" friends by surprise
• California Grill with an ADR close to Wishes.
• I love Disney buffets, so I would probably choose Chef Mickey's, with my second choice being Hollywood & Vine in the Studios. I guess it would come down to characters or no characters for my party.
• California Grill. Great food, great view of the fireworks (I did get an ADR during Wishes, right?), and a uniquely Disney experience.
• Adults looking for a fine meal- California Grill, W/Kids - Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace, Anyone Looking for a good time (rather than fine dining): HoopDeeDoo
• Ohana at the Polynesian- I loved that place :) So fun!
• I agree that California Grill during fireworks is a must, but I would also want to take them to Le Cellier. We loved the food! The steak was scrumptious!
• I would also have to say Le Cellier in Canada. My wife and I went there for our first dinner on our honeymoon. Very cool!
• If I were to take a 1st time WDW visitor to an enjoyable dinner, I would go to the Hoop Dee Do Revue. That show is CLASSIC DISNEY.
• Its got to be LeCellier
• 50's Prime Time - okay food but the atmosphere is totally fun! Or maybe Ohana's and watching Wishes from the Poly...
• would go to La Cellier
• Boma so they can try a Zebra dome!
• Foodies = Boma. $ is no object = V&A Quiet ambiance = Artist's Point. Business client = Ca. Grill
• Le Cellier, California Grill, or if you want to pull out all the stops Victoria & Alberts. We've been to V&A 3 times in 3 years. 2x was Chef's Table.
• 50's Prime Time Cafe! This is what makes Disney unique and can create fun memories you will remember for a long time.
• If it's a child then Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace. For adults, maybe Tutto Italia, Jiko, Flying Fish. Or CA Grill. or 'Ohana. lol
  Marrakesh for sure - if they are the least bit adventurous. We are taking my BFF & her DH there in June for their first ever trip.
• Depends on their age young kids Chef Mickey's, whole family O'Hana, adults only Le Cellier or Yachtmen's Steakhouse
• Le Cellier if you want to spend the $$; Sci-Fi Dine-In if they're more casual types.
• Coral Reef, California Grill, or if they want something fun, Sci-Fi Dine-in Theatre.

Mike went unequivocably with Boma. Mark hemmed and hawed and couldn't decide between Flying Fish Cafe, Boma, California Grill, etc., but he'd probably end up basing his decision based on the person that he was bringing, going with their preferred type of food.

What do you think?

When you go to Walt Disney World, do you start at the same park every time? (Note: These answers kept coming in for days after the question was posted!)

• depends on arrival day and which parks have morning extra magic hours!
• It depends on what time of the day we arrive. For our first FULL day we ALWAYS go to Animal Kingdom.
• I start at Disney's Animal Kingdom, the most subtle Disney Park in Florida in my opinion and leave the Magic Kingdom for last because of its nostalgia and feeling that you can't get at any of the other parks.
• Since I did it yesterday, I'll say Epcot. But when I'm with others, it depends...
• We don't usually have a starting point, but we always end each trip with Illuminations.
• We usually start with MGM or Animal Kingdom and try to end with the Magic Kingdom. I like my last memory of the trip to be of main street and the castle at night.
• We typically play bus roullette on the first day as it is only a partial day and go wherever the first bus takes us
• the only restriction is it needs to be a park (not dtd or waterpark).
• Blizzard Beach - weather permitting!
• Yep, Epcot.
• Yes. Magic Kingdom. We always end there as well.
• Bus roulette for me too, Mark - unless it's busy season and I've got ADRs.
• Magic Kingdom or Epcot -- never MGM or AK.
• Epcot. Arrive in time for late dinner, then Iluminations, and walk back to hotel (Swan or Dolphin).
• Gotta start where the magic starts at the kingdom. Also must end there. It just starts the trip off on the right note.
• Varies for me depending on a number of factors
• Our first full day is always spent at the Magic Kingdom, but sometimes the arrival day will include a trip to a particular park for dinner.
• Unless we're there for a special event I like to start at Animal Kingdom. It's the best themed of the four parks and really puts me in the WDW vacation mood.
• Always like to start at Magic Kingdom...Has to be MK!!! Its where the magic begins!!
• We usually start at the Magic Kingdom because it's the best place to dive into the magic of Disney. On our last vacation, we started on Christmas Eve @ EPCOT and then spent Christmas Day in Magic Kingdom.
• Depends on where the kids want to go. Usually MK
• Yes. We always start at DHS. It was my first park and is my favorite.
• Yep, always start at Hollywood Studios. Such a 'Lads' park. Magic Kingdom is always the last of the 4 i go to.
• EPCOT--because we love it and because we like to hit a park on arrival day, and there's plenty to do at EPCOT that doesn't involve heavy afternoon lines.
• No depends on ADR's mainly
• I almost always start at AK or DHS. And my last park is always always MK.
• like to start at MK each time, but depends on EMH and ADRs =)
• It's pretty much a tradition to start the trip with Casey's hot dogs in the MK - we also end each visit by saying bye to the Castle
• No, I design my own touring plan based on the info in the most recent edition of the 'Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World.'
• No, I tend to follow TourGuideMiKE's least crowded park recommendations. Also try to hit MK within the first few days.
• Nope. Depends on where my wife has made dining reservations for us.
• Nope, it totally depends on the operating hours and what park everyone is up for.
• Nope. It varies with each trip depending on when I arrive, what's new, where I'm staying, etc, etc,... Keeps things fresh!
• We don't usually have a starting point, but we always end each trip with Illuminations.
• When I go to WDW, I go to whichever park I feel like.It just doesn't matter. I only have particular rituals when I go to Disneyland.
• First day (Thursday) is always MK day as I have a 4 & 6 year old, but it is really for their Mom.
• nope!
• always start at Epcot since this is the 1st Disney Theme Park my parents brought me to as a kid. Tradition.
• Yes, the last few trips it has been DHS on the first night with dinner and Fantasmic!. Then back to CSR for a late-night swim :)
• No, it all depends on where we are going to eat dinner that night

Mike used to start at the same park every trip, but of last his itinerary has been dictated by other factors, especially whatever work he is going down for, though he always used to go to Magic Kingdom first, followed by Epcot, the Studios and Animal Kingdom, with a set cycle of attractions. Mark goes by whatever his itinerary is for working trips, and basing it on dining reservations, park hours, etc. on family trips.

Again, if you'd like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

Meet Mike and Mark at Walt Disney World

Mike will be hosting a meet next Friday night, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. The group will gather at the Torii Gate at Epcot's Japan pavilion and chat, enjoy Illuminations, then enjoy Epcot during Extra Magic Hours. You can RSVP at the Facebook event page.

Mark will also be hosting a meet just days later, either May 24 or 25. Since his trip was just set, there's no further information yet. Details should be set by next Tuesday's show, and it will appear in those show notes.

March of Dimes

Mark's walk for the March of Dimes went well, though he did not make his goal. MousePlanet readers and MouseStation listeners made up more than half of the non-Mark-contributed money - thanks so much! The donations page should remain active through the end of the month, so you there's still time to donate, if you'd like. Just go to Mark's fundraising page and help to provide a better chance to prevent prematurity and to help those babies that are born prematurely.

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