10 things most first-timers don't know

[Disneyworld2122]

I would add that you shouldn't just go to any park any day. Do some research and figure out which parks will have the lowest lines on a specific day.

Great idea

 

[LAMountJoy]

I love this thread and read the whole thing before we left..... now we're home and I have a couple of things to add:

** if you're doing the Dining Plan, don't forget that you need to budget TIPS with each sit-down meal (except for dinner theaters). We paid an extra $20-$25 for each meal just on tips for a family of 4.

** Ponchos are wonderful! They are heavy to carry around, but when we could pull them on and avoid getting drenched 3 times last week, we were thankful we had them.

** The click sharpies are great for signing autograph books, but be sure your DD or DS know to close them up before posing for their photo with the characters.... my DD would hold her pen/book close to her body so I'm now scrubbing out some sharpie stains from her shirts!!

** If you have a Disney Visa card, don't forget to stop by the Epcot special station for a secret character photo op & free photo. Very cute!

** Bring along a laundry bag of some type to throw all your dirty, sweaty clothes into as the trip goes on... then at the end you can pack them all back in the suitcase.

Disney is the best!!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

The best time to go on rides at MK is during the 3pm parade. Lines are normally much smaller then.

I have never found this to be true. From my experience (only travel Easter and Christmas weeks) the best time to go on rides with short lines is during morning extra magic hours or within the first few hours of opening (if no EMH).

Also after the evening parade the place clears out. Tons of people with young kids head to bed.

Rides are always walk on between 12am-2am (peak EMH). It is wonderful.

 

[sixkristy6]

I love this thread and read the whole thing before we left..... now we're home and I have a couple of things to add:

** if you're doing the Dining Plan, don't forget that you need to budget TIPS with each sit-down meal (except for dinner theaters). We paid an extra $20-$25 for each meal just on tips for a family of 4.

** Ponchos are wonderful! They are heavy to carry around, but when we could pull them on and avoid getting drenched 3 times last week, we were thankful we had them.

** The click sharpies are great for signing autograph books, but be sure your DD or DS know to close them up before posing for their photo with the characters.... my DD would hold her pen/book close to her body so I'm now scrubbing out some sharpie stains from her shirts!!

** If you have a Disney Visa card, don't forget to stop by the Epcot special station for a secret character photo op & free photo. Very cute!

** Bring along a laundry bag of some type to throw all your dirty, sweaty clothes into as the trip goes on... then at the end you can pack them all back in the suitcase.

Disney is the best!!!

We have the Disney Visa and plan to stop by the character spot. Will they send the photo back to the resort? I read about some places doing that (though I don't know which places do it).

 

[LAMountJoy]

We have the Disney Visa and plan to stop by the character spot. Will they send the photo back to the resort? I read about some places doing that (though I don't know which places do it).

Each park has a PhotoPass shop where you can view and buy photos (although I'm doing that from home now!) When you get the free Visa pic taken, they tell you to pick it up at the PhotoPass shop in Epcot by the end of that day. We even went there AFTER Illuminations when the park was officially closed and the store was still open.

 

[Parrotheadgoofy]

ASK what is MOST important to each member of your family before you go. Don't assume you know. Let your kids pick out their 3 TOP THINGS in each park (I guess this depends on how many kids you have) and be sure to fit those in!. This can be from the things they've seen on TV, on the planning DVD, online, or in other pictures, et.c You never know what's going to capture their biggest interest
You do not want to get back home to hear "I REALLY wanted to ride Dumbo, and we didn't do that". . I mean, you're 12 years old now, why would you still want to ride Dumbo??? But she was right. I hadn't asked. I assumed she would be too old to ride Dumbo....

We will be there in 14 days. She is now 18. and guess what,
WE ARE ALL RIDING DUMBO!!

 

[mrjef]

2. If you see something you really want, get it. Case in point, also first trip in 2000, a combo purse and clutch by Dorney and Bourke. All my favorite colors and matched every polo shirt I owned at the time. But at the time, the cost was a lot to me. Now that thing is gone and before it did, the price was twice what it was when I first saw it. I still think about 12 years later.

We did this with a Christmas present. We were in DD and saw a Cinderella Castle that would be a perfect gift for our girls. However, we thought that it was too expensive and how would be get it home without them seeing it. Anyway, we ended up buying in online and paying way too much for shipping. Live and learn I guess.

 

[PrincessPiperMommy]

What's that? Heard about it on hear before but not sure what it is.

I love this thread!!! You may have already gotten an answer but I just found this thread! Basically in Japan there is a store, i think called Mitsukoshi, and you can go to a tank filled with Oysters and pick one and you get the pearl. My daughter and I loved doing this!

 

[marybyrd]

What would you add to the list?

This next year will be our 5th trip and until reading constantly on disboards I had never heard of push the talking trash can! Needless to say I was so excited and told my husband " Honey, look at this video, it is so cute I hope we see push in february!" His nonchalent response, "the boys and I saw him last year, you must have been shopping or something," followed by a smug grin!

 

[TheUltimateParkHoppr]

If you are 1st timers going with Disney veterans don't act like they are your personal tour guides. Go off on your own and explore the park and meet up later. The magic is everywhere.
Also, if your disney veteran friend tells you to research the parks and WDW take their advice and do your homework. It's never a good thing when you know nothing about WDW but complain when you get home that you didn't see or do all (or most of) what you wanted.
There's nothing that ruins a Disney vacation more than a spoiled little brat(s), children and adults alike.

 

[Corrine 1973]

If you are 1st timers going with Disney veterans don't act like they are your personal tour guides. Go off on your own and explore the park and meet up later. The magic is everywhere.
Also, if your disney veteran friend tells you to research the parks and WDW take their advice and do your homework. It's never a good thing when you know nothing about WDW but complain when you get home that you didn't see or do all (or most of) what you wanted.
There's nothing that ruins a Disney vacation more than a spoiled little brat(s), children and adults alike.

Well said.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Once you get there, you're realize that DISBoarders have a tendancy to make a bigger deal out of things than they actually are.

 

[ARAITHEL]

Once you get there, you're realize that DISBoarders have a tendancy to make a bigger deal out of things than they actually are.

Bahahahaha!

 

[Scottyneff]

Here's a little cool thing me and the DG stumbled upon over the years... Maybe not something for a first timer, but maybe so.

In the months leading up when the serious planning begins we have a template itinerary in excel for each day about 4x4 inches. We put all the park hours for the given day, the EMH options for the given day, our ADR info for the day, a general run down of where we will general be, and other pertinent info we want on our persons. Then we print them all out on card stock, cut em out, then laminate them. Each day I just take "today's card" and throw it in the cargo shorts pocket and we are all set with a waterproof guide for the day...

Give it a try.

 

[nightshaderose]

Another quick tip on keeping the schedule: Some online calendars will text you with alerts before scheduled things, so you can get to them on time.

I am easily distracted and really only have a very shaky grasp of the concept of time. So, in order to make sure I'm not late for ADRs and the like, plug all my tours/ADRs/important times into my Google calendar and set alerts for it to text/SMS me 90, 60, & 30 minutes ahead of time. It's great at making sure that I get going at the right time and don't get too distracted along the way.

I'm sure there are other calendars out there that do this, but Google is the only one I've ever used. I actually plug the entire schedule with parade/fireworks/sunrise/sunset times into the calendar ahead of time and make sure it's synced with my phone so I have all necessary info at my fingertips.

Liz

 

[turkeymama]

Here's a little cool thing me and the DG stumbled upon over the years... Maybe not something for a first timer, but maybe so.

In the months leading up when the serious planning begins we have a template itinerary in excel for each day about 4x4 inches. We put all the park hours for the given day, the EMH options for the given day, our ADR info for the day, a general run down of where we will general be, and other pertinent info we want on our persons. Then we print them all out on card stock, cut em out, then laminate them. Each day I just take "today's card" and throw it in the cargo shorts pocket and we are all set with a waterproof guide for the day...

Give it a try.

I love this idea! I've done similar planning but never printed them on separate cards. Think I'll be trying this for our next trip.

 

[DJFan88]

Someone many pages back suggested if the bussing situation looked bleak returning from a park and it's super hot or whatever to a hail a cab and I loved that idea. Not that we would do it all the time, but I can remeber one miserable incident at DHS when this would've saved the day.
Question: Does anyone have a rough idea ( and I understand there are different variables here-just trying to get a gauge or feel for this) what kind of dollars we'd be talking say from DHS or AK to lets say POR or any other resort?

 

[DISvirgin1]

Except for MNSSHP, you can't dress up in adult costumes. If you do, you should not cry on TVand say you "just wanted to be Tinkerbell."

But can I wear a tiara and insist everyone call me Princess like they do to my daughters?

 

[Scottyneff]

I love this idea! I've done similar planning but never printed them on separate cards. Think I'll be trying this for our next trip.

Don't forget to laminate them... That's the key part ...ya know how it is, WDW = Wet

 

[aggordon2]

1. getting overly excited and slapping Eeyore into an affectionate, playful headlock is considered assault and battery in the state of Florida.

2. "Barney the Bail Bondsman" in Kissimmee Florida is a real pleasure to work with and will even throw in a preferred seating package for Fantasmic with every successful court appearance.