First timers--any suggestions would be appreciated

[zarvgirl]

Some of these are repeats of PP's but worth repeating:

1.Stroller is a must.
2.ADR's a must.
3.Have a PLAN, be prepared to go off the plan!!
4.Rope drop, and rest time in middle of day really does work.
5.Pack a small soft sided cooler for in the parks, little ones love to snack.
6.Look at a guide book, I liked Unofficial Guide.
7.Loved the waterparks. Thyphoon Lagoon had a great area for our 2 yr.old.
8.Keep looking on the dis, and always ask questions.
9.Fridge was great, try a swap, found on the budget board.
10.Have a little bag of tricks with you for waits, stickers, markers, small notepad, whatever works for your little one!!

11. HAVE FUN!!!

[gcferg]

First trips are great. You will never forget the look on their face when they walk through the main gate and see the castle at the end of main street at the Magic Kingdom.

Chef Mickey's is a great character breakfast or dinner. If you do breakfast early you may need to arrange for transportation over to the Contemporary if the buses haven't started yet. But if you little one loves Mickey it is a great character dining experience. Or do breakfast at Crystal Palace in MK that way you get some less crowded photo opportunities.

For rides walk straight through the castle when you arrive at MK in the morning and hit Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. The ride times for these start to really back up by mid morning or early afternoon.

Hollywood studios is a great place for Playhouse Disney and Pixar characters.

Have a great time

[doom_buggy_junkie]

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!!! "A failure to plan is a plan for failure." I used to be a Magic Kingdom cast member (Disney talk for employee) and saw families every day that didn't realize the extent of how huge WDW is and didn't plan adequately. Disney really is the most wonderful vacation destination on earth! I haven't been back in 3 years (live in Missouri), and I think I'm beginning to experience withdraw symptoms! But most of all...take time to enjoy the parks and each other. Don't let the cares of the "real world" get to you while at Disney...that's what Disney was founded around. HAVE FUN!!!

[skiingfast]

Don't worry so much about planning. You going on vacation not taking part in an invasion. You don't need to schedule every footstep. Decide what shows and parades you want to see. Know the major attractions. Make reservations for table service meals, use fastpass and rider swap.

[adamsclan]

My little ones always loved the breakfast at Crystal Palace with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. The food is good too.

We usually try to make 1 sit down reservation per day--if you book 2 the same day you end up having to leave something in the middle to make it to both.

[kchughes]

What a wonderful experience to share. Here are my favorite tips: go to your local library and check out some guidebooks. It doesn't matter if they are a few years old. The basic info is the same. Definitely have some type of plan. Use your fast passes. Rope drop is that important. you can see so much more in the first 2 hours. take the afternoon break. Especially with a little one, if she still naps. Take the ferry over to MK and be ready to snap a picture of her face when the castle comes into view. For your room at Pop, get one of those over the door shoe holders. it just helps with counter space in the vanity area. We have each of us (Me 38, DH 46, DS 7) pick a "must do/see/eat at" for each park. As long as we get to those 12 rides or shows or restaurants then our trip is complete. Everything else is gravy. Just remember, you can't see or do it all in one trip. you will go back.

[cheshireqt]

I second the Unofficial Guide suggestion
--If you are not doing the Early "extra magic hours" then avoid the park with EMH. UG will give you access to their crowd calendar online (they post current month free to everyone but the entire year is accessible to those with the current guide book). You can also get from the library if you don't want to buy.
--Decide must-do parades, shows and firework displays. Check dates that they run (ex: Spectromagic and Fantasmic do not run every day of the week). Both of those are excellent by the way.
--Figure out a rough idea of which park which day, when break-time will be and where you will go in the second part of the day (if you have park hoppers).
--Now you can plan your dining with a better idea of where you will be. Look up the menus to assist you with likes/dislikes and to ensure that your toddler will not be eating chicken tenders at every meal!
--While you are looking at menus think about where you might like to eat CounterService as well. There are several great threads about favorite CS restaurants.
--Look up height restrictions, or use the guide book to let you know where you will have to go solo and which rides will be family rides
--Don't try to schedule out the entire day. With a toddler you will just stress yourself out and will miss some of the fun unexpected things, like character interaction. DO have a bit of an idea what you will do when you first arrive at a park.. EX: get Fastpasses for Splash Mtn and then head to Flying Carpets, do Pirates of C. if FP time is not ready..then do the baby swap for SplshMtn so you both can ride.
For some reason PeterPan always has the longest lines...maybe get FP for Winnie the Pooh and ride PeterPan first?
--When your plan is not working, be willing to throw it out!
--First Trips are extra Magical. Have fun!

[honeydiane1953]

Originally Posted by Lattas

This is our( myself,wife, and 2 1/2 year old) first visit to WDW. We are staying at POP from April 18 - April 21. We have the dining plan with a TS, CS, and snack a day for each. Was just wanting some tips or suggestions. Not going to try and do it all. Mostly focused on the little one who loves playhouse disney. Maybe a few " Big Kid " rides for myself. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

Purchase The Unofficial Guide to WDW. It has an enormous amount of info and is a fun read. U don't have long at all so go. lol

[PixieDust32]

to the DIS.

[JacksLilWench]

Originally Posted by skiingfast

Don't worry so much about planning. You going on vacation not taking part in an invasion.

I love this...I've been in the parks at time where you'd think the family WAS planning an invasion, lmao.

[aaylasecura]

Be spontanious! You'll find things you want to do that weren't in you plan. But, don't push it. You have a 2 1/2 year old with you and I hate seeing little ones at the park having a meltdown and then the chain reaction that follows from the adults.