Originally Posted By mrkthompsn Hey team.. I often have foreign visitors meet me at work for meetings. They often show up on Thursday or Friday, then have meetings elsewhere in the States the following Monday. Many of them often tell me: "I brought my wife (and/or kids) with me. They're at the hotel. I want to bring them to Orlando this weekend, but we only have time to see one theme park. I hear there are many. Which park should I bring them to??" I used to tell them to go to EPCOT. But recently, I tell them to visit Islands of Adventure. Which park would you advise and why?
Originally Posted By Mr X Meh...Magic Kingdom. It's the "original" (kinda), and it's relatively unscathed, and has some new additions. All the rest of the parks suck for various reasons, and unless they're ridiculous Potter Dorks (it happens) then I'd go with the original. Include advise about enjoying the resorts and the monorail and all the benefits of "the approach" and leave them in the one corner of the world that sucks the least. That's my take anyway. EPCOT is okay too, I guess.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I guess it would depend on the ages of the kids and if they've ever been to a Disney park at all. While my personal choice would be Epcot (it's not EPCOT anymore!), there are "better" choices depending on one's preferences. Actually, I could make a case for doing both the MK and Epcot in one day.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros MK is the obvious choice since it's got the "classic" stuff, most rides, and longest operating hours, but I'm always completely underwhelmed by that park. It just doesn't have the charm and warmth that make Disney parks stand out My personal choice would probably be Epcot, but it's been getting increasingly stale in recent years. I think there's probably still enough that it would make for a full day for first timers, and almost everything there is unique to the park, in case they ever make it to another Disney park elsewhere in the future and want a different experience IOA is also a good option for thrill seekers, but doesn't offer much for the non-thrill-ride set. Depending on the group dynamic, it could either be a great day or a total waste of money
Originally Posted By RoadTrip It depends on the age of the kids and their interests. If they are into thrill rides I would also suggest IOA. I think most people would find it very frustrating to try to experience the MK in just one day. Especially if they are first timers it could be an overwhelming experience. On the other hand it is relatively easy to experience IOA in one day, and they do have some excellent thrill type rides. Potterland is truly impressive, and Forbidden Journey is way beyond any other ride in Orlando. Even the queue is one of the most impressive I have ever seen.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I haven't advised MK, because these particular visitors can, within reason, reach a "MK" from where they already live (California, HK, Japan, Europe, soon China). The monorail approach is worth noting - yes. One visitor from Vietnam did ask to go to Magic Kingdom. He did however ask me for the address of Magic Kingdom. It's "address" never occurred to me. I had no answer other than "follow the signs". This wasn't good enough for him.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Gosh, that sure beats me. I know that Disneyland is 1313 S Harbor Blvd, but I have no idea what any of the other parks are. Given that nothing in WDW is really set up like a normal neighborhood (particularly MK, where the parking is a half mile away), I have no idea what any of the addresses are. I'm not even sure what street MK is on (probably World Dr...maybe Floridian Way?)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Who knows? You get to the TTC via World Drive so I would say that is probably it. But the MK is also circled by Floridian Way and Seven Seas Drive. As has been said, addresses make no sense whatsoever at WDW. "Just follow the signs."
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn Somebody down there type "Magic Kingdom" into Google Maps and see where it takes you.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Magic Kingdom 1180 Seven Seas Drive Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub And the address for the parking lot for the Ticket and Transportation Center is: 3111 World Drive Orlando,Orange, Florida 32836
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf I would do Universal/IOA. It's a unique American experience with a lot of things to do - just enough to fill up a day. Other than that, maybe Animal Kingdom?
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl Odd. In my own visits to WDW, I've never once had the slightest inclination to visit IOA or any other portion of Universal Orlando, nor have I had the slightest inclination to visit Sea World Orlando. I've taken the long bus ride to KSC at least once per visit to WDW, sometimes twice, and I've taken the almost-as-long Lynx bus ride to a small Episcopal church in Winter Park, again every single visit to WDW, but I've never once visited a non-Disney theme park in Florida. (And now that I think about it, I believe I've been to Colonial Williamsburg more times than I've been to WDW. But that's an overnight train ride away.)
