my disneyworld review

[disneysteve]

No characters freely roam. My son saw none bc you have to sign up with a fastpass and wait in line to get a photo with goofy.

I just wanted to point out that this isn't true. You do not need a fast pass (with a few exceptions) to see characters. They do character greetings throughout the parks and you can look on the park schedule to find out exactly when and where the characters will be. If there is a particular character your kid really wants to see, ask at guest services when and where you can find them. Then all you need to do is get in line. The lines usually move quickly so you might wait 15 minutes but it's well worth it especially if there is a particular character your kid really wants to see.

We have taken a photo of our daughter with Tigger on every trip since she was 5 months old. She is now 18 and we still continue this tradition and we've never had any trouble getting to see him and have never waited more than a few minutes.

Another option is to do a character meal. Those are available at all 4 parks and the Disney resorts. Check in advance and they can tell you which characters are typically at which locations (although it is subject to change).

[moneybags]

We have taken a photo of our daughter with Tigger on every trip since she was 5 months old. She is now 18 and we still continue this tradition and we've never had any trouble getting to see him and have never waited more than a few minutes.

We were there in February. My nephew knows all the Disney "secrets". We walked a bit off the beaten path in Epcot to visit Pooh & Tigger, no line at all! The Frozen girls, that was a different story - people were strategizing how to shorten their 4 hour wait (luckily I didn't have a little girl with me)!

[rennigade]

Since you mentioned those other amusement parks, have you been to Knoebels Park? Its more of a 50's style amusement park in the backwoods with modern upgrades, but still has the 50's prices. I took my son and mother there 2 weeks ago, we rode rides all day, had a good meal in a sit down restaurant (in the park), and our cost was about $75 for everything. I can't recommend it highly enough.

My parents live 20 min from Knoebels. Its a fun place, and is very inexpensive. Its free to get in which is a plus. Whenever we go there, usually once or twice a year...we just eat and walk around with our dog. They have a new wooden roller coaster I want to try out. The car thing that you sit in isnt attached to anything...it just momentum that keeps you going. Kind of a cool concept.

The lines are never long and the wait times are short. Its in a small enough area that it never gets overly busy. Its def a gem in terms of amusement parks.

[disneysteve]

We were there in February. My nephew knows all the Disney "secrets". We walked a bit off the beaten path in Epcot to visit Pooh & Tigger, no line at all! The Frozen girls, that was a different story - people were strategizing how to shorten their 4 hour wait (luckily I didn't have a little girl with me)!

The standby line for Anna and Elsa is INSANE. Wait times have routinely been 5 hours. This is totally Disney's fault. I understand the whole "Disney magic" thing but there's absolutely no reason that they couldn't have a meet and greet with Anna and Elsa going in each park at the same time (shh, don't tell the kids). They already do it with plenty of other characters. Part of the problem is that Disney was really taken by surprise with the outrageous success of Frozen and they've been playing catch up ever since.

[bennkar]

My parents live 20 min from Knoebels. Its a fun place, and is very inexpensive. Its free to get in which is a plus. Whenever we go there, usually once or twice a year...we just eat and walk around with our dog. They have a new wooden roller coaster I want to try out. The car thing that you sit in isnt attached to anything...it just momentum that keeps you going. Kind of a cool concept.

The lines are never long and the wait times are short. Its in a small enough area that it never gets overly busy. Its def a gem in terms of amusement parks.

My mother lives about a 20 min. drive from Knoebels too. Perhaps they're neighbors.

[bennkar]

My parents live 20 min from Knoebels. Its a fun place, and is very inexpensive. Its free to get in which is a plus. Whenever we go there, usually once or twice a year...we just eat and walk around with our dog. They have a new wooden roller coaster I want to try out. The car thing that you sit in isnt attached to anything...it just momentum that keeps you going. Kind of a cool concept.

By the way, I tried the new roller coaster you mentioned. Interesting concept, but the wait was by far the longest of anything in the park (almost an hour!) and really wasn't worth it. I compare it to riding a luge at much slower speeds. For a short wait it would be ok, but not for that long. But you should try it once just to see how it works.