1 thing you wish someone had told you...

[tinkandonaldfans]

Staying on site is really worth the extra £! We stayed off site on our first trip in sept and were told shuttles run all day to WDW but that was definitely not the case! once a day more like!

we missed all the fireworks! never stayed off site since!

 

[scojos]

good to see so many responses

do a character meal, avoids kids wanting to queue and "wasting time" whilst in parks...too many rides to do there

get a pre ropedrop adr in any of the parks, its amazing when its empty

the main street barbers do amazing hair dos for a fraction of the cost of BBB.

dont start pin trading...expensive hobby, if you do want to trade, buy lots of ebay for a fraction of the cost
too many tips?

 

[kevin harrison]

get a pre ropedrop adr in any of the parks, its amazing when its empty

Get an ADR at the end of the day, walking out into MK at dark, when it's deserted is beautiful.

 

[crabbie1]

Cool, find them and follow them

Didnt know that a fastpass can be used after the hourly slot they gave you Thought you had to use within that time span

 

[T16GEM]

Didnt know that a fastpass can be used after the hourly slot they gave you Thought you had to use within that time span

A mistake that many make! Glad I posted then??

Yes as long as you are using it after the start of the window on the ticket you can use them anytime throughout the day, we tend to get our FPs and as soon as we can get another we do, then we can use them if the kids are napping in their strollers or something.

 

[wayneg]

Didnt know that a fastpass can be used after the hourly slot they gave you Thought you had to use within that time span

Anytime after but not before. A policy they could change at anytime but we have never been refused after expiry time yet.

 

[2Tiggies]

Didnt know that a fastpass can be used after the hourly slot they gave you Thought you had to use within that time span

Just beware that there are one or two attractions which are very strict about your return window and won't let you use it later in busy periods. Soarin is one of them, now trying to remember the other.

 

[T16GEM]

Just beware that there are one or two attractions which are very strict about your return window and won't let you use it later in busy periods. Soarin is one of them, now trying to remember the other.

probably TSM I would have thought.

Like Wayne said though, we have never been refused yet either.

 

[Jordanblackpool]

Without sounding a novice....whats an ADR....cause your all mentioning them and im trying to figure it out....so far ive come up with...

After Dark Reservation
A Disney Rep
A Disney Resvervation
A Drinking Race...


Please help me cause im gonna sit here coming up with far worse....

 

[torsie24]

Hee hee

After dark reservation! I love that!

It's advanced dining reservation.

 

[Jordanblackpool]

Makes more sense than 'A Disney Rep' I suppose!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Hee hee

After dark reservation! I love that!

Sounds like a proper Honeymoon ressie to me

 

[2Tiggies]

A Drinking Race...


Please help me cause im gonna sit here coming up with far worse....

Actually the drinking race sounds really good! But you can only do it during the Food and Wine Festival (more specifically the wine element)

Just kidding, but I thought the ones you came up with were pretty darn good!

 

[Becx N Gav]

I didn't know (until our trip in Sept 2009) that the rides stay open until the park closing time We got on the last ride at the Haunted Mansion although it was spoiled by someone taking flash photos
The park then stays open for a bit longer and they usher you towards the exit, another good way to see and empty park

 

[petals]

That there is no such thing as a once in a lifetime trip instead you are starting an addiction to last you a lifetime.

I like it

Wish I had someone to show me everything I missed

 

[Kath2003]

Using public transport will save you a minimum of £100 per person per week and is incredibly simple to use.

This is why I now make a point of telling everyone else this

(This year, we saved $25 on the cost of parking alone - that's before car hire, gas, tolls etc.)

 

[wayneg]

Using public transport will save you a minimum of £100 per person per week and is incredibly simple to use.

This is why I now make a point of telling everyone else this

(This year, we saved $25 on the cost of parking alone - that's before car hire, gas, tolls etc.)

Driving v Public transport is a totally individual thing though. For us its nothing to do with money, even if it cost £1,000 more for a car I would pay it.

I know we got a bargain on the car rental (£197 for 25 nights) but couldn't imagine trying to sort out(and cost) transport to Port Canaveral, St Augustine, 2 or 3 days at Busch, a few evenings at Hunters Creek, a meal at Cheesecake factory, couple of eveings at Old town and Celebration.
This is for an onsite (Universal/Disney) holiday, far more travelling for an offsite trip.

So another tip from me would be totally opposite advice(Sorry Kath, good thing we all like different things) if you haven't driven over there get a car and explore further afield.

 

[Kath2003]

Driving v Public transport is a totally individual thing though. For us its nothing to do with money, even if it cost £1,000 more for a car I would pay it.

I know we got a bargain on the car rental (£197 for 25 nights) but couldn't imagine trying to sort out(and cost) transport to Port Canaveral, St Augustine, 2 or 3 days at Busch, a few evenings at Hunters Creek, a meal at Cheesecake factory, couple of eveings at Old town and Celebration.
This is for an onsite (Universal/Disney) holiday, far more travelling for an offsite trip.

So another tip from me would be totally opposite advice(Sorry Kath, good thing we all like different things) if you haven't driven over there get a car and explore further afield.

True - we go to Orlando to visit the theme parks; if we went beyond there then absolutely we would rent a car given that there is next to NO public transport in the rest of Florida (although Miami's is okay). For us, it's far more convenient to go out for a nice meal or a few cocktails, then catch a bus or grab a cab whenever we fancy it.

We stay off-site and have no problem visiting the usual Orlando attractions (WDW, SW, Universal/IOA, WnW, Aquatica, Prime Outlets, Premium Outlets, FL Mall, Mall at Milennia, airport etc.) plus supermarkets, Target etc. I know it's not for everyone, but what we've saved each year has covered half the cost of our flights out there

 

[torsie24]

It's taken me a while to decide my one thing, but this thread has actually helped me do it.

And it's this:

No matter what you've read, photos you've seen, other Disney parks you've visited, you really have no clue what you'll like/dislike in WDW.

Before our trip I had read loads of poeple saying "DLRP is way more beautiful and detailed", "AK is a one day park", etc. etc.

I went expecting ot be dissappointed in the MK - I adored it. Liberty Square is my favourite section of any MK, and I thought HM and Philharmagic were amazing!

Thinking I wouldn't like DHS and we'd hardly spend anytime there - it was the park we spent the most time in and where we spent our last night!

There are loads of other things I could go on about but -

If it's your first trip, just plan the first few days of your two weeks, so you get a taste for each park, then you will know what you want to do for the rest of your trip.

In fact for our next visit I'm only planning the first few days, and a couple of ADRs as who knows, our favourites might change this time round!

I guess in short my tip is:

Don't expect anything, let it all surprise you, the real magic of Disney is discovering it for yourself.

 

[2Tiggies]

You are so right Torsie! I thought I would love DHS and it is the one park I could never really get into. For this reason we have only ever eaten there once or twice and not done half the things on offer there. Now I accept that a lot of this has to do with DD's age and stage and her interests so it will no doubt change at some point - hopefully this trip.

To add to what you said, this is especially true with kids. I thought I would be stuck in the kiddie areas for a few more years and I don't push my daughter to do things in case it backfires on me. My DD has always been the cautious, non adventurous type. She shocked me last year by freaking out on the Finding Nemo and Adventures of Pooh rides Both familiar to her. Then went on to deliver further shock tactics by demanding to try RnR and EE with me protesting that I did NOT recommend this. Loved both! So the point is, not only try things out before you judge them, but remember that each trip is different and what you love on one trip may not appeal on the next .... and vice versa.