10 things most first-timers don't know

[emksmama]

Fastpasses are free!

I asked my piano student who went with her family during peak time if they used fastpasses....she said no because it costs extra! What???? Do they not watch that channel on TV? Doesn't Stacey still run non-stop about the parks. It seems like I saw a demo on the fastpass procedures over and over.

There's likely to be more confusion about this, especially in the midwest. Cedar Point in Ohio is now advertising a similar service to FP, but it's an extra $50/day pp!! Heck no!!

 

[solana131]

2. You cannot use extra "days" on your park tickets to park hop on the same day. If you want to hop you have to buy the park hopper addon

Good to know. That was my plan for our next trip. Hmmm...wonder why??? Isn't it more expensive to buy an extra day than add the hopper option? You would think Disney would want people to do this.

8. Take time to notice the little things and all the special little details, such as the windows on the buildings on Main Street. Look for hidden Mickeys everywhere.

I can't believe you are the only one who mentioned Hidden Mickeys! This was a fun FREE thing we did everywhere we went. It really makes your kids take time out to "smell the roses" when they pay attention to all the details looking for HMs. Great tip!

Adding a tip of my own:

The resorts have some great food. Both table service as well as quick service. If you are at the MK and it's getting crowded, hop on the monorail and head over to the Poly for a yummy lunch at Captain Cooks. Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary has awesome cupcakes! And they have lobster mac & cheese at the Grand Floridian quick service. Same goes for Epcot. Beaches n Cream at Beach Club is yummo! We took my parents with us this last trip and my mom was so amazed at my meal planning. I almost never ate at a park. The resorts are so much fun to explore and it gives a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

 

[siskaren]

Good to know. That was my plan for our next trip. Hmmm...wonder why??? Isn't it more expensive to buy an extra day than add the hopper option? You would think Disney would want people to do this.

No, it's exactly the opposite. After the fourth day, it only costs $10 a day to add extra days, while the park hopper option costs $57 regardless of how many days are on your ticket (well, unless it's just a one day ticket, in which case it costs $35). People want to buy extra days instead of the park hopper in order to save money.

 

[winnieatepooh]

Thanks for the great tips, everyone! I've been to WDW 3 times but have never stayed on property, but will be for the first time in September. I'm learning a lot of little things I've never thought about before!

 

[Cappy81]

Great tips!

 

[solana131]

No, it's exactly the opposite. After the fourth day, it only costs $10 a day to add extra days, while the park hopper option costs $57 regardless of how many days are on your ticket (well, unless it's just a one day ticket, in which case it costs $35). People want to buy extra days instead of the park hopper in order to save money.

Oh. Well, I knew it sounded good to me for some reason Well, thanks for posting that because it would've been bad if we got there then figured this out with all those extra days

 

[erincon23]

DHS always opens early... get there 45 minutes before the posted opening. We arrived at 8:15 for 9 am opening this past Monday, were third in line at the turnstiles, park opened at 8:35. We got TSM fastpasses, rode TSM, rode again with our FPs, got ANOTHER set of TSM FPs, did Great Movie Ride, traded pins, and a little bit more -- by 9:30.

 

[millie]

put aside a few extra dollars to take a cab back to your resort after a long day at the parks and thousands of people are waiting for the buses/monorail.

Priceless!

 

[nan1217]

put aside a few extra dollars to take a cab back to your resort after a long day at the parks and thousands of people are waiting for the buses/monorail.

Priceless!

Yes, yes, yes.

 

[larryz]

Dont ride Kali River Rapids right before dinner ADRs at Boma unless you have dry clothes with you.

And don't ride Kali in white pants unless you're appropriately underclothed...

 

[mikana876]

2. Disney World transportation will probably take longer than you expect

By far, the most surprising thing about our first trip was the transportation. You really need to plan on an hour each way to be on the safe side (most of that time will be spent waiting at a bus/monorail/boat stop).

I've never stayed onsite at WDW, so this DOES surprise me. I thought that one of the benefits of staying onsite was the ease of transportation into the parks? I've stayed off site and found that parking and getting into the park was easy and took far less than an hour

 

[rgf207]

I've never stayed onsite at WDW, so this DOES surprise me. I thought that one of the benefits of staying onsite was the ease of transportation into the parks? I've stayed off site and found that parking and getting into the park was easy and took far less than an hour

it is very easy you just need to allow 1 hour for transportation.

Buses usually arrive every 20 minutes or so and most buses make multiple stops. The longest bus ride on property is from DTD to YC/BC. That trip takes forever.

 

[mikana876]

it is very easy you just need to allow 1 hour for transportation.

1 hour seems excessive to me, especially when driving and parking yourself is also easy and takes far less time.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I thought the Disney transportation was great, as opposed to us trying to drive and find everything.

I would say the only thing worrisome about it is if you have breakfast reservations somewhere in the parks. We made sure we were at the busstop plenty early. We were fine.

Another thing we don't park hop anymore. It does seem to take an hour to walk out of one park, get on a bus, and get to another park, and walk in.

 

[nan1217]

1 hour seems excessive to me, especially when driving and parking yourself is also easy and takes far less time.

It really depends where you're going from and to and what time of day. For instance, if you're at the bus stop an hour before the parks open, you'll spend more like 30 minutes waiting and riding. If you're getting on the bus after a nighttime show, it'll be a long time before you're back to your hotel.

For those of us who fly and don't want to rent a car, Disney transportation is just fine. I don't like to drive while on vacation anyway.

 

[DLB]

- The candy lady in Japan does not give the kid the lollipop even though she asks them to help deisgn it (boy did I have to very sad children leaving behind "their" lollipop_

- If you want to go to a TS place and don't have a ADR go at off peak times. You are more likely to get in.

- Look for hidden mickey's it is a great way to keep kids busy anywhere (even here at home the hunt continues)

- Go with a plan, but be willing to change it up as the day allows. We had the best time ever when we just went with the flow of things. We stumbled about extra characters, on the spot shows etc.

 

[nan1217]

- The candy lady in Japan does not give the kid the lollipop even though she asks them to help deisgn it (boy did I have to very sad children leaving behind "their" lollipop_

She used to so I told my kids she would (and we were all disappointed too). Now she donates them somewhere like a children's hospital or something like that.

 

[thelionqueen]

DHS always opens early... get there 45 minutes before the posted opening. We arrived at 8:15 for 9 am opening this past Monday, were third in line at the turnstiles, park opened at 8:35. We got TSM fastpasses, rode TSM, rode again with our FPs, got ANOTHER set of TSM FPs, did Great Movie Ride, traded pins, and a little bit more -- by 9:30.

I've never been to DHS when they have opened early. Are you talking about them letting you go up main street where they have it blocked off and then rope drop at opening time? That has happened to us several times, but never seen them let guests in early as in going on rides. Is this new? I haven't been in 2 years

 

[nan1217]

I've never been to DHS when they have opened early. Are you talking about them letting you go up main street where they have it blocked off and then rope drop at opening time? That has happened to us several times, but never seen them let guests in early as in going on rides. Is this new? I haven't been in 2 years

Yes, since you (and I) have been, they've started to let people in early instead of doing the rope drop shows (except for MK, I believe). I'm not sure that it's a super predictable thing because I'm still reading about parks opening on time some days, but it happens frequently now.

 

[cassiechip]

Planning our first trip to DW with kids ages 7 & 10.... any suggestions on what the kids should bring to carry? I don't want to be the only one who is carrying everything for the four of us. They have autograph books, hats, sunglasses, snacks, etc. Suggestions?

First off i apologize if it seems i don't know what im talking about, BUT my old account got deleted somehow. So i just created a new one yesterday. dont worry about the posts!

Now for all to see: DON'T BRING TOO MUCH!

It really stinks when your carrying around a bunch of stuff (especially with the little ones) it makes the trip ten times hotter.

I would stick to these few things:
-sunglasses (all)
-extra sunscreen (parents)
-autograph books (kids)
-an extra pair of SHORTS (all) (ive sat in so many things in disney and it really makes you feel better to put on a fresh pair of shorts midway through the day)
-water bottles (all)
-camera (parents)
-lanyards if you're a pintrader. i know i am! (all)
-money (all)
-meds (parents, i promise this wil come in handy if you have tylenol, tums, allergy meds, etc.)

i would say thats about it. Its too complicated and HOT. each one of my four family members brings either a fanny pack (which are fashionable in disney! ) or a drawstring bag.

anyone else agree here??