Downtown Disney & Disney Quest About This Page:

[TiggerLynn]

<font color="purple"> </font>
Hi everyone!
I'm so excited that we're 33 days away from visiting Mickey!!! I'm just BUSTING!

Anyway, when we went in 2003 we did the Land &amp; Sea, so we didn't get to do DD or DQ. We plan to spend the day there upon our arrival on 3/19 (our plane gets in around 9:30AM, we'll check in, and then head over to DD from GF...drive or bus, though? We'll have a rental.). We thought we'd do some shopping first, particularly the Lego store for the boys and the Memories store for me, and then we'd spend the rest of the day at DQ (after getting a sandwich at Earl of Sandwich). My question is, how much time is "enough" time at DQ. It sounds like there's so much to do, and it's SO different from anything you get in the parks with all the VR. We'll eat at DQ's FoodQuest, so leaving to get to a PS at a restaurant is not an issue. Please share your experiences with timing at DQ. My boys will be 10 and almost 12, so I imagine they'll want to do everything there? Thanks in advance for your help!
- Lynn

[KathyK]

The last time we were there, my kids were 14 and 12 and as I recall, we spent just about all day there. We went on a sunny day thinking it wouldn't be too crowded, but it was as the day went on-not too bad in the morning. I think they hit something on all the floors, but enjoyed making and riding in the roller-coaster simulator the best.

Kathy K

[PixiePrincess]

I would definitely take the bus... it's so much easier than driving...
And I would plan to spend at least a 1/2 day if not the whole day there... it's awesome and you will LOVE the shopping!

[Plannergirl]

We loved having our rental car and tried using the bus once-hated it. But hey we had tight schedules and the bus ate into that time

[BabieeMelly]

There is so much to do and the crowds really can get large so I'd plan on spending the day there. You get into Orlando pretty early so I'd store your bags with the hotel and head over to DD early (take the bus, parking can be crazy!). I'd go to DisneyQuest first since it's the least crowded in the morning and you won't have to carry around your bags. Spend the morning and afternoon in DisneyQuest, getting an early lunch at the food court, and then in the early evening head out and do your shopping, stopping for dinner at Earl of Sandwich. Have fun!

[TiggerLynn]

Thanks everyone for your input. Not quite sure what I'll do yet, but you've all given me something to think about. Just out of curiousity, would anyone care to share what your favorite attraction is at DQ? It sounds so unique that I just can't wait!
- Lynn

[KimK]

I agree with Melissa. We went to DQ last summer and it was the least crowded when it first opened up at about 11:30 AM. We also went on a sunny day. We spent all day there, having lunch at Food Quest, which we all loved. We left about 5:30 PM to make a dinner show ressie but we ended up coming back at around 10:00 PM.

The whole family's favorite was Pirates of the Carribean. We must have done it a dozen times at least. My older son who is 12, really liked the roller coaster, so did I but the lines were the longest there. My little guy who is 7, loved making a CD and using these computers next to the Disney Animation which I really liked doing. The raft ride is fun too. The virtual reality helmet rides made me a little sick and I couldn't get the hang of the buzz lightyear cars. The mighty ducks pinball was hard to play, especially for my younger son. We had a great time, my kids talk about going back there as the thing they want to do most. Have a great time!

[Caldercup]

[ QUOTE ]
...would anyone care to share what your favorite attraction is at DQ?]

[/ QUOTE ]

We loved the make your own roller coaster thing - well, my husband loved it! The capsule is rather small, so my claustrophobia wouldn't allow me to be in it.

My son (then 7) loved the "make your own CD" booths (just be prepared to listed to it over and over and over and over!)

I liked the animation class and the classic arcade games - DEFENDER!!!!

We all loved the POC virtual reality game. You wear VR goggles and stand in a "ship" with cannon turrets and a steering wheel. One person guides the ship around the bay while your compatriots fire on the other ships, stealing their gold. The only thing my son didn't like was the creepy pirate ghost that threatens you.

We all loved the "Jungle Cruise" raft ride. You climb into a rubber raft and have paddles with little wheels on the end. The river is projected on a big screen in front of you and you paddle on the inflated "water" that surrounds the simulator mechanism that makes the raft rock and bounce. The more you paddle, the faster you go. It's interactive so how you paddle and steer affects what you see and how you get through the cruise. We had dinosaurs chasing us and big jets of lava. It was pretty intense. (Tip: it can be rough and I got thrown into my son several times. He loved it though, so it wasn't really an issue.)

DH and DS did the VR helmet attraction called "Fight the Comix" and it made both of them very sick - and DH is in the VR/simulator ride biz and all he could say was "it sucks" before he went to the rest room to throw up.

DS and I had a blast with the "drive the jeep around the maze under the floor" attraction. One person is at a driving station with a monitor that shows what the jeep sees. The other person runs around after the actual model jeep that is in the maze under the floor and helps the driver steer the jeep through the maze towards the goals.

It's a pretty cool place. Oh, and you can re-enter the building throughout the day (with a handstamp and your ticket), so you can go early and then leave for lunch or shopping and come back later.

Have a blast!
Eileen

[DISNEYGOOF]

Lynn, my boys spent all day there and while I hung out waiting for them I found the Cheesecake Factory. I got a piece of white chocolate raspberry. Yummy!

[3princesses & grumpy]

We sent our 2 girls alone to DQ one evening while DH and I spent some alone time. They stayed for 5 hours and told us they were hardly able to do anything because it was so crowded. They did still enjoy just being there.

I agree with going as early in the day as you can. I also agree with eating at the Earl of Sandwich. During our last trip, my family wanted to eat there twice.

Kathy

[RobDVC]

DQ will be right up your DS' alley.

[Straitlover]

What about a solo here? I mean the arcade games would be no problem, but what about the POC and Jungle Cruise games? Would I have to find other people to do it with or can you do it alone?

[Caldercup]

I think up to four people can be in the POC ride - you'd have to have at least two (one to steer and one to fire)

Jungle Cruise could probably be done by one person, but you wouldn't go as fast.

I wouldn't worry about it. Since people separate and do different things while at DQ, I'm sure the CMs are used to have a "single rider" show up looking for a chance to experience the attractions. Just ask the CM to pair you with someone.

Eileen

[Dopey007]

Pirates of the Caribbean without a doubt! Spend the day it is an amazing place!

Janet

[TiggerLynn]

DQ sounds like so much fun and you're all getting me so excited about going there! This was fun reading about everyone's favorites!
- Lynn