I just LOVE watching the Festival of the Lion King show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, it's my all time favorite, and a MUST see for me. I love the show so much that I recommend it to everyone that I know, that are going to Disney.
I might be a little biased for I used to work at that attraction. But, yet, I when I worked there, I would be watching this show about 3 or 4 times a day and 3 days week, so that would be about 12 times a week or 48 times a month, I was there for 11 months on an internship, so overall I watched the show for nearly 500 times. And I still love the show, I would come in on my days off just to watch the show, it was that great of a production that I never got tiered of it.
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If traveling with teens or kids that love arcade games, I reommend Disney Quest in Downtown Disney, it's a three story arcade. At DQ there is a lot of things to do. Personally, I really enjoyed the Virtual Roller Coaster (and I'm 20), you get to build your own course, select how fast, how many loops what setting, then when you are done... one or two people can get into a simulator and ride the track, and if you want to you can purchase a video of the riders, and the track. Another thing to do is the Create a Disney Radio CD. You go into a sound booth, and you get to put the lyrics together as you want, you then select what beat, what genre and if you want it to be song by a girl or a guy singer, there is a part where you get to add your voice to it too. When it's all done, you can here it played back to you, and afterwards, if you want, you can purchase a copy of your CD. Inside of Disney Quest you can take classes to learn how to draw some of the Disney Characters for FREE. (You can also take part in this event at Disney's MGM) Like I said, DQ is a Giant Arcade, there are bunch of games, they have a bunch of classic games (for the older generation) like Frogger and Q'burt. Along with some cool virtual reality games, such as: the comic book one (I forgot the tittle), where you go into this comic book reality and get to fight the villains with a light stick. Or you have Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride game, where you need to collect gemstones, and find Genie's Lamp. Then there is the 3-D Pirates Treasure game, where you get to shoot cannons, and steer the ship to loot treasure from cities and other ships.
As you can see there is a a lot to do at Disney Quest I would recommend a whole day...or at least a half day (and if you go in the evening like after 8or 9pm [i think it is... i could be wrong though] you get a discounted ticket, they are open for several hours still after words. This is definitely something to look into.
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If with older teens/young adults... Let them enjoy then safe Disney Clubs at Pleasure Island, after a day at the parks, or a day of shopping at Downtown Disney. You play about $20, and that will get you a club hopper pass. Where you can get into all the clubs all night. There is Motions (the top hits club), Beach Club (playing your rock 'n roll, some times they have a live band), BET (Black Entertainment Television Club-playing your rap music), Disco Club (70's and 80's music) Manikins (with a rotating dance floor... but be careful, and be forewarned... it's Disney's 'Unofficial' Gay club.) If you don't like dancing or need a breather, I love to go the Comedy Warehouse. The Adventures Club it funny too, but you can only do that so many times.
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Back to the parks...
My all time favorite ride is Expedition Everest, at Disney's Animal Kingdom. When you ride in the front, you can see most of the park including the Tree of Life, you can even see the EPCOT ball, the Swan and Dolphin Resorts and much more of Disney. It looks really cool at night time! But, personally I like riding in the back, you got pushed around more. (the ride goes forwards, and backwards)
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Even though my favorite show and ride is at Disney's Animal Kingdom, it's not my favorite park. My Favorite park would have to be EPCOT. I could just spend days there (and that is what I have done, I have actually spent months there [on my off days] but I've never been there too many times.) When I go to EPCOT I love to get "LOST" in the World Showcase (lost in time, not physically), and learn new things from around the world. The best part is... all the crew members that work in the World Showcase are actually from that country, so they actually know what they are talking about and know the language. They aren't people that just learned the facts for the job. I find that cool, so when you are done going around the World Showcase, and talk to someone in each country, you can actually say that you have met people from around the world... COOL, huh?!...
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If I'm in the mood for thrills I like to spend time at Disney's MGM Grand, and ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Rockin' Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith. I love to end the night with Mickey and his friends at Fantasmic.
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On the way to Magic Kingdom I like to take the Monorail, if I can, I try to talk to the operators, so I can get the front seat (you just need to be the first ones to ask. The front section seats 4 people and you ride with the conductor.) If I don't get it on the way there, I try again on the way back (I mainly do this when I have a friend with me that has never been up front... to let others have a chance.)
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At all four parks, two watter parks, all the resorts and Downtown Disney I like to play find the "hidden Mickey," each attraction has at least one Mickey, there everywhere, you just need to look. There is a book that you can get that gives you hints on where they are it, with how many points it's worth, the more points the harder it is. (the back section of the book will give you more details to finding them. If you ever get stumped ask a crew member, they should know where it is, they'll either point it out to you, or point you in the right direction).
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I love Disney so much, and boy do I sure miss it. I can't wait to go back. I worked there for 11 months, and I have been away for nearly a year now. I want to go back, I miss going to the parks all the time. I'll just have to wait till march I guess. I'm going for my 21st birthday. (I might actually be moving down there.).... I can't wait.