Where is the Spider-Man ride? I didn’t know there was one.
spiderman is at islands of adventure. it is a good ride.
islands of adventure is a day thing, studio is a half day thing. i liked how ioa was laid out. each island has a easy, middle of the road, and super fast ride. a little something for everyone. i liked how they had stuff to look at while you go around the line maze.
I alternate trips between Disneyland and Disneyworld, it was still open in Disneyland last time I went, which would explain why it’s an odd gap in my memory from my last DisneyWorld trip.
I agree. IoA is a terrific park, or was one, upgrades are few and far between. But I love Spider-Man & Seuss Island (Spider-Man just might be the greatest ride in the universe). But that’s only worth a day. I’ve even squeezed Universal Studios in the same day. Disney is a much better overall experience.
We did Islands of Adventure and Universal in a single day. It was a busy day, but we got through it all without a hitch and even had enough time to enjoy dinner at the Hard Rock that evening. Although they are both “theme parks”, Disney is a completely different (and vastly larger) experience.
I have been probably a dozen times in my life to Disney World with my most recent trip being in late 2006 and my next trip in about eight weeks.
For some of the best information, I cannot recommend the Disboards and the Unofficial Guide highly enough. The former has some die hards that would have you drawn and quartered if you speak a bad word about the place, but they are very knowledgable as a group. The latter is an easy read that is very thorough and will help you plan out what to see at each of the parks. Also checkout allears.net which has more information than you care to know including user reviews of restaurants.
On each of the trips I have been on, it has been fairly consistent that in an ideal circumstance you will want two days to see EPCOT, two days to see Magic Kingdom (maybe one since you have no kids and can skip some of the attractions), and between a half to one full day each for Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.
Since you do not have kids (all of our trips save for the last one have been kid-free), you open up some more options as well. As mentioned before, Cirque de Soleil is expensive, but an amazing show. Pleasure Island has several different nightclubs where you can get your groove on. If you are not into clubbing though, skip it. Also, at the Boardwalk hotel, there is a boardwalk and on the boardwalk, in addition to many restaurants and at least one sports bar, there is Jellyrolls, which is a rambunctous dueling piano bar.
If you plan to eat at any of the hotels or in the theme parks, consider making reservations as soon as possible. Many of the better spots fill up and will not take walk-ins! At EPCOT, you can probably skip the Rose & Crown Pub (ha!), but give consideration to Cafe Marrakesh, Le Cellier Steakhouse, and Biergarten (a buffet). Skip the Italian and Japanese places as they have made changes lately that have not been good.
If you are up for the driving, Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, although a buffet, is outstanding in their African dishes that are modified to make the gringos happy. Likewise, the Yachtsman Steakhouse, walking distance from the Boardwalk at the Yacht Club hotel, is an fantastic fine dining experience.
What time of year are you going to WDW? I have been in February and had little to no wait on most attractions in all of the Disney parks. I think the Animal Kingdom Safari was the only attraction with a wait time.
If you do (please do!) stay on-property, you absolutely should take advantage of the early-opening. That is, as on-property guests you can get into the parks a full hour earlier than anyone else. Take advantage of this in spades. Go to the rides and attractions you really want to see (particularly up-front). Then, as “the riff-raff” 
come in, move towards the rear areas of the parks ahead of them. Before you know it, it’ll be time for lunch. Catch something indoors and cool on the way out, take in a light lunch, Then go have fun at a water park or have a nap.
Also, it hasn’t been mentioned, but there’s a new system for taking advantage of rides. At some of the more popular ones you can reserve times. Just walk up to a little box, grab a ticket, and wander off to do whatever. At heavier times, this is a very good offer; you can catch another ride or a snack then casually wander past all the people standing in line.
On a related note, look into tours and things. I heartily recomend Epcot’s The Land. This is one of the most amazingly areas in the entire park - acres of indoor farmland and hydroponic gardens. All the food is eaten right on property. It’s not hard to get into, but call ahead so you can schedule it in, because the tours don’t leave constantly. You, may, and I say may because I don’t know, need reservations to get on the tour. Likewise, The Sea can be pretty cool, but come by in the evening and preferably when they are doing something interesting (Disney staff can tell you, or send you to someone who can). If you sign up for it, you can even go scuba diving with the animals!
The Rose & Crown does a nice pint of Boddington’s if you don’t mind paying a fiver for it.
The food at Epcot is remarkably good, especially if you come during the food and wine festival (which isn’t until Octoberish, IIRC) - Le Cellier’s surf n’ turf is to die for.
And if you go to Le Cellier, make sure you order the Canadian Cheddar Soup. I could take this stuff by the gallon.
We should totally do a Disney Dopefest…
Since you plan on staying on Disney property, when booking your reservations you may want to ask if Express Passes are included with your room. Some hotels have worked out a partnership with the theme parks, and your room key (mag card) works as an Express Pass to get on the rides. You can expect a 15 - 20 minute wait for rides where people who don’t have Express Passes can easily wait for an hour+.
We live about an hour from Disney, but we usually got to Islands of Adventure when we have an itchin’ to go to a theme park, and we normally stay at the Hard Rock.
Hope that helps…
SS
Disboards will hurt your eyes. But the people there are helpful and there’s a lot of good info there.
One of the Unofficial Guide’s authors (Len) has offered advice. Don’t pass up that offer!
Except for the Adventurer’s Club!
This is Fastpass. Been mentioned a couple of times.
OK, I have not read the other replies, but I’m going to post this anyway.
ASSUMING you and your friend are over 21 (legal drinking age in the US), and that you enjoy a good booze fest, be aware that there is no alcohol allowed or sold in the Magic Kingdom park, but there is in the Epcot Center Park.
So if you get a park pass, and if you are at the park on an uncrowded day (it’s possible, I’ve done it), then the secret is to go to Ecpot, at the international pavilion area. Those are the country themed locales surrounding the back lake. Then do “around the world” – go from country to country having the local bevvy. Wine in France, Beer in Germany and England, Margarita in Mexico, etc.
Get nice and tossed, and use the park hopper pass to get to the Magic Kingdom. Then make a beeline for the Haunted Mansion, an especially fun ride to take with a really good buzz.
You don’t want to be “thrown out of the park drunk” but a healthy buzz will last you through several rides if there isn’t a big crowd.
FYI – also check out Orlando’s Universal Studios (not related to Disney at all), especially the Islands of Adventure park, with a really good roller coaster (The Hulk) and the EXCELLENT Spider Man ride.
As a veteran of 14 Drinking Around the World excursions I can tell you it is virtually impossible to get kicked out of Epcot no matter how inebriated you are. Short of kicking an old lady down a flight of stairs, you can get away with virtually anything.
I have been kicked out of the parking lot, though. Don’t ask.
But if you park hop to magic kingdom and are wasted and causing problems there, I doubt they’ll be as forgiving in that park (more kiddie oriented, to those who’ve never been).
14 excursions, eh? Impressive!
Certainly can’t argue with that.
All WDW theme park attendees - onsite hotel guest, day trippers, anyone with a theme park ticket, gets the ability to use Fastpasses.
Universal has Front of the Line passes (or used to) which were restricted to people who bought them or where staying at one of their hotels.
Another benefit of staying on the property is that you can have your purchases delivered to your hotel. No lugging bags of DisneyStuff back to your car when you’re exhausted from a fun day at the park.
But it may take a long time for the packages to catch up with you. Our next to last day at DW, we were told it could take a day to get our packages to our hotel. We didn’t want to risk missing the packages! But you can have your packages delivered to the front gate of the park you are in, and you won’t have to schlep them all over the place. Just remember to pick them up! This may take an hour or two, but it’s worth considering.
I want to also recommend Boma, and Kona at the Polynesian resort. Great places! Disney is also very, VERY helpful about food allergies.
Last, and by no means least, I want to recommend the ride Soarin’ in The Land pavillion at EPCOT. (I think it’s also at Dinsey’s California Adventure in Disney Land.) IMNSHO it’s worth any wait under an hour and a half. Really! This one ride totally turned arund a hot grumpy day for me and the kids.