10 things most first-timers don't know

[LAMountJoy]

If you're a first-timer, you should definitely stop in at any Guest Relations (located at all four parks and Downtown Disney) to get special 1st-Timer buttons! Wear them through-out your stay for an amazing first time experience.

Honeymooners, Anniversary couples, birthday goers and general celebraters should also stop in for their own buttons!

Good to know since my kids will be first timers! Thanks!
I also heard about pin trading from others.... a great tip is rather than pay $3-5 per pin while in Disney, for trading purposes you can buy them on ebay in larger lots for less money. Then, trade the ones you don't like!

 

[ARAITHEL]

If you're a first-timer, you should definitely stop in at any Guest Relations (located at all four parks and Downtown Disney) to get special 1st-Timer buttons! Wear them through-out your stay for an amazing first time experience.

Honeymooners, Anniversary couples, birthday goers and general celebraters should also stop in for their own buttons!

Don't you get them when you check in to your resort with your packet? I don't remember having to go get them at guest relations...?

 

[ARAITHEL]

Good to know since my kids will be first timers! Thanks!
I also heard about pin trading from others.... a great tip is rather than pay $3-5 per pin while in Disney, for trading purposes you can buy them on ebay in larger lots for less money. Then, trade the ones you don't like!

I just bought 100...

 

[tink20]

1. On our first trip I wasn't aware of all the wonderful snacks, especially in Epcot.....now I am a little piggy.

My second advice is not from personal experience, but from someone who just got back, and things didn't go well. 2. Don't go to WDW with people who get on your nerves at home, it will be 100 times worse at WDW.

 

[Raff42]

The disney withdrawals are what I suffer from the most!! I am depressed for at least a month afterwards and then i'll book again and i'll be fine.

 

[Karlzmom]

1. RELAX! Seriously!!

2. You won't be able to see everything, and you'll make yourself crazy trying If you are over-tired, overstimulated and likely hot to boot, you won't have fun, instead you'll be the person overheard quarreling with your spouse, grousing at your children and generally being a crab.

3. Have a plan, but leave room for the unexpected or for just plain "looking." Its sad to see so many people who run from one headliner to another, not bothering to truly experience the magic of Disney.

4. Check for discounts before you go, don't be the poor person paying rack rate.

5. Its "my" vacation too. And the poster above me...and the poster below me....etc, etc, etc. There are amazing opportunities to be had, but no other vacationer owes you anything. It really doesn't matter its your first trip, or you had to save pennies for 34 years to get there. Its a big deal for everyone. If you want little Johnny to have a parade seat on the curb on Main Street, it means you will have to be there to have your seat. Buy an ice cream for the wait and embrace it. That's what the rest of us do. We will do the same....it makes the World a better place.

6. A smile goes a long way. So does keeping a sense of humor when dealing with people who don't follow points 1-5.

7. Take a moment and talk with CMs. They are a wealth of info and can really give pointers to make your trip special.

8. Don't be afraid to change your plans. Be spontaneous.

9. Just add Mickey Bars. Just do it. Cupcakes are perfectly acceptable for breakfast, too.

10. Make sure you see Mickey...after all its his house and its only polite.

 

[hcoker1]

9. Just add Mickey Bars. Just do it. Cupcakes are perfectly acceptable for breakfast, too.

10. Make sure you see Mickey...after all its his house and its only polite.

Love it!!

 

[geenerbell]

Ice water is free at all CS places!

This saves us tons of money. We carry empty camelbak groove filtering water bottles into the parks each day. When we are thristy we ask for a large ice water and pour it in our bottles. Best ever tip. Worked like a charm.

 

[acebatonfan]

1) If you are traveling with other people, make everyone in your group create a "top 3-5" list of what they want to do. Make it a goal to get to do all these things on your vacation. This also serves as a basic touring plan and eases some of the "what are we going to do now" feeling.
2) Ice water is free at all CS places. If you're on a tight budget, buy CS water instead of shelling out $2.50 for each bottled water. Using this, I saved roughly $10 on my $25 meal card.
3) Dole whips. Grab one when it looks like it is about to rain soon, find a nice spot out of the weather, and just relax for a few minutes and take in the scenery.
4) Take your time. Chances are, WDW will be here for at least another decade. You don't need to run across the park to do every single attraction.
5) If you are traveling with pre-teens and teenagers, especially if they will be far from you for a long period of time, please, let them use a cell phone for that stay. When I was down in Disney, I did happen to get "separated" (more like abandoned) from the group I was touring with, and it would have taken another three hours if I hadn't had a cell phone on me and actively trying to reconnect with them. At the very least, teach them how to use a pay phone to call your cell phone.
6) STAY ON SITE! Disney's hotels are superior in quality, and it easily removes the headache of trying to find transportation to and from the parks. If you are going at a busier time, such as around Christmas, you are given priority park access over offsite people (offsites are not allowed in either a stage 2 or 3 closure. Nobody is allowed in in a stage 4 closure).
7) Don't worry about that diet. You will be walking around ten miles per day and will need the extra calories you eat while at Disney.
8) Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Like every vacation, keep a bit of money stowed away as emergency money. Just because you are in Disney doesn't mean there is a potential for something to happen.
9) Don't try to squeeze in three square meals per day. You'll just waste your park time. Instead, have one or two big meals and snack all day.
10) Do not forget to pack underwear. Trust me on this.

 

[Catrin]

Please, please, please, remember that when someone in your party is not having fun anymore, it's time for a break!

This is absolutely true.... and I think the BEST advice given here so far!!

Our our last visit, DH and I struck a deal. We were only as good as our weakest link, and the minute that link showed signs of weakness, our time in the park was done.

My DD said while we were watching the HS Stunt Show.... "I just want to go to the Pool", I am getting tired. We looked at each other and did not blink. "OK" we said. I think my two boys were shocked!!

The five of us left right away and spent our afternoon in the pool at the resort. That afternoon was our best time all week.... instead of being exhausted and hot.. we were relaxed, laughing and had a terrific time.

Kids know. They really do. It took me a few trips to figure it out, but I am so glad I did!
Catrin

 

[Hoosier37]

Please, please, please, remember that when someone in your party is not having fun anymore, it's time for a break!

And also keep in mind that you can't blame your kids for your decisions. YOU made the plans, YOU made the reservations, YOU paid for this vacation. Don't expect your kids to be over te moon at every moment because you "brought them to WDW so they better darn start having fun already" (yes, I've seen and heard this...)

Yes - we had one day where we were forcing-marching through MK in 90 degree temps and the kids were hot, tired, and wanted to swim. I actually said "We didn't pay all this money for you to swim in a pool," and then realized we all needed a break. Back to the resort for some down/swim time, a wonderful meal at POP, and we were back at MK ready to go and in much better spirits.

 

[kaligal]

Yes - we had one day where we were forcing-marching through MK in 90 degree temps and the kids were hot, tired, and wanted to swim. I actually said "We didn't pay all this money for you to swim in a pool," and then realized we all needed a break. Back to the resort for some down/swim time, a wonderful meal at POP, and we were back at MK ready to go and in much better spirits.

I think that for many kids, the pool, jumping on the bed and room service are the best parts of the trip, lol.

Many, many people push their kids waaay too hard. You hear it all the time in the parks, parents explaining what they need to do before they leave.

 

[lsenquiz]

6. Buses. Parents of young men especially. Train them to give up their seat on a crowded bus for the elderly, ladies, and small children. The only time we were about to board a bus where I knew there would be some standing, I told my DD16 and her BFF17 that they were not to sit down and we all stood. While several teenage boys with their fathers just continued sitting down.

Could not agree more. I was on a bus back to the resort from a MNSSHP where a 3-4 year old child stood and cried the whole way back because he wanted a seat. There were plently of healthy young people sitting in seats just oblivious. It was amazing to me that during that whole ride not one person got up to let that child sitdown.

 

[lsenquiz]

I will add something that seems like a Duh but will say that I spent a significant amount of time with a friend of mine recently who was taking his family to Disney for the first time. I tried my best to cover all the ins and outs and thought I had done a good job until he came back and told me about his trip. His family went to the park using the 4 day military salute tickets. When he got back he told me how tired they were by the 4th day and how much they wished they could take a break. I said why didn't you and he said because we had to use the 4 days in a row. I guess I forgot to tell him:

You do not have to use you park days consecutively. Even if you have expiring park days you can use them at your leasure as long as you use them all within 14 days of the first use.

 

[jedi jen]

What a fun thread!

Mine is:

You don't have to eat at CS. There are lots of really good restaurants and they can be magical experiences too. Now we do DxDP to fit in as many as we can.

 

[Stoneham92]

Do you like the Lines app better?

This was quite accurate during our last trip. We used the mobile magic app for dining reservations same day, which was awesome

 

[turkeymama]

Okay, I thought of another one, and it is exclusive to a certain group of people. Hang with me here for a minute and allow me to explain.

We are from Louisiana, land of Mardi Gras. The first time we took the kids, they could not figure out for the life of themselves why Mickey did not throw them beads during parades. I have pictures of them with their little hands in the air, waving in vain and yelling at Mickey to throw something. Bless their little hearts.

So, while adults may realize there will be no beads and throws to catch, Louisiana kids experiencing Disney parades for the first time may not. Prepare them accordingly. There ya go!

 

[nan1217]

Okay, I thought of another one, and it is exclusive to a certain group of people. Hang with me here for a minute and allow me to explain.

We are from Louisiana, land of Mardi Gras. The first time we took the kids, they could not figure out for the life of themselves why Mickey did not throw them beads during parades. I have pictures of them with their little hands in the air, waving in vain and yelling at Mickey to throw something. Bless their little hearts.

So, while adults may realize there will be no beads and throws to catch, Louisiana kids experiencing Disney parades for the first time may not. Prepare them accordingly. There ya go!

That's so funny! Head over to Port Orleans and you might feel a little at home.

http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/mardi-gras-mini-parade-disneys-port-orleans-resort

 

[jojomoore]

No Pepsi products

 

[Julie521]

LOVING this thread. It is great. I am going to be a second timer and my husband will be a first timer in September. My point is!!

DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!

Threads like this point out those little things that you don't think of. While I know you may hate people that chew gum, it is the one thing that has kept my husband from smoking for a year and a half now. He will be chewing gum, and I promise he will only throw it away in the trash!