10 things most first-timers don't know

[MyGirlLovesTink]

I think all the pet kennels have been closed for good? Can anyone confirm?

 

[nan1217]

I think all the pet kennels have been closed for good? Can anyone confirm?

I haven't heard that anywhere. You can still book a spot on their website. http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/waltdisneyworldresort/

 

[serene56]

I haven't heard that anywhere. You can still book a spot on their website. http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/waltdisneyworldresort/

this is NOT the place disney was running onsite. Yes it is closed.
NOT the one you have posted

 

[nan1217]

this is NOT the place disney was running onsite. Yes it is closed.
NOT the one you have posted

It's not the place Disney was running but it is located on-site.

 

[jrtoastyman]

I'm always amazed/amused at how spectacularly wrong first timers can be when it comes to the size and scope of WDW as a whole. I think they view it as going to Six Flags or something, except maybe a little bigger/better, and I think some people think that the different parks are basically just lands within the same park or are all there together in the same place. I had a friend send me her itinerary for her first trip, and she had planned to go from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom, watch Nemo, and then make it back to Whispering Canyon for dinner -- all using Disney transportation -- IN TWO HOURS. Cracked me up.

 

[AlexsDad]

If you see something that you like, don't wait to buy it because you might find something better later on! Buy it right then because chances are you'll never make it back to the store again.

However, if this does happen to you, all is not lost. Disney offers mail order for those souvenirs you wish you had bought. We used it to get my son a train that we never got back to.

Contact Mail Order at:
Telephone: 877-560-6477 (toll Free)
Fax: 407-352-6369
Email: wdw.mail.order at disneyworld dot com

 

[PixieMama]

This may have been addressed, unfortunately I don't have the time right now to read through 10 pages (this is a great thread, btw... I'll have to come back to read all the good ideas/tips!)

Re: sweet tea

Not one of the many WDW restaurants I've been to has sweet tea on the menu. They have UNsweetened tea, and you can sweeten it yourself with sugar/Splenda/etc. Sorry, but that is NOT the same as sweet tea for this Southerner!

The only place I've been able to find sweet tea while at WDW is at the Royal Anandapur Tea Co in AK. I ask for whatever black tea they have (usually English Breakfast), iced and sweetened!

 

[DisneyMike13]

Saw some post about coffee, it is pretty hard to find decent coffee in the parks. Definitely bring some to the hotel to brew.

Also, there is a grocery store located near (not walking distance thou) to the park. I believe I read you can order stuff online from this grocer and it will be shipped to your room or hotel. Haven't tried it though, so I'm not positive

 

[nan1217]

Saw some post about coffee, it is pretty hard to find decent coffee in the parks. Definitely bring some to the hotel to brew.

Also, there is a grocery store located near (not walking distance thou) to the park. I believe I read you can order stuff online from this grocer and it will be shipped to your room or hotel. Haven't tried it though, so I'm not positive

I'm not familiar with a grocery store that delivers but GardenGrocer.com and WeGoShop.com are services that deliver groceries to your hotel.

 

[makingsmiles]

Loved the last line ...I'm glad I'm not the only one w/ DISNEY w/drawels who also starts planning our next trip as soon as we get back if not while we're still there...lol

 

[LAMountJoy]

-an extra pair of SHORTS (all) (ive sat in so many things in disney)


Interesting tip.... I wouldn't have thought about lugging around extra shorts for everyone when I want to keep the bags light. I'm thinking that the shorts will dry if they get wet, and if we sit in something, we deal with it or go to a bathroom to wash it off. Anyone else have input on this?

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

1) On longer trips (especially with kids) take a break on some days and go back to the hotel and let them swim/relax/other. My kids enjoyed the pools at the resorts and had fun not being in the parks for part of the day.

2) Use the parade/fire works times to go on rides. Big Thunder Mountain is awesome during the fireworks show.

3) Let you kids have some say in places to eat. The menu's are readily available and your kids will enjoy meals more if they have a say in them.

4) Fast Pass, Fast Pass, Fast Pass !

5) Pressed Pennies: My kids loved collecting these cheap and fun souvenirs that last a lifetime

6) Do as many photopass pictures as possible !

 

[nan1217]

-an extra pair of SHORTS (all) (ive sat in so many things in disney)


Interesting tip.... I wouldn't have thought about lugging around extra shorts for everyone when I want to keep the bags light. I'm thinking that the shorts will dry if they get wet, and if we sit in something, we deal with it or go to a bathroom to wash it off. Anyone else have input on this?

We take a bath towel or two from our hotel room rather than packing extra shorts. It's easy to put it down if the sitting area isn't clean, good for providing stroller shade for a sleeping toddler, wiping water off of a seat, etc.

 

[erincon23]

Saw some post about coffee, it is pretty hard to find decent coffee in the parks. Definitely bring some to the hotel to brew.

My friend and I just got back. She is a coffee drinker (I am not). She brought the Starbucks Via packets with her to make coffee in the morning, and was able to get a free cup for hot water at the resort gift shop. HOWEVER, the coffee cup lids don't fit on the free water cups -- next time, she'd bring her own disposable hot cups with the matching lids, get a free cup for hot water,then pour the hot water into her own cup with the fitted lid. She was very worried about spilling hot coffee on the bus.

 

[honeydiane1953]

You will not believe how big each park is and the distance between them. Also the walking is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

 

[sixkristy6]

This is so helpful!!

 

[nan1217]

You will not believe how big each park is and the distance between them. Also the walking is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Good point. It's an average of 50 miles of walking during a 1 week trip.

 

[serene56]

My friend and I just got back. She is a coffee drinker (I am not). She broughShe was very worried about spilling hot coffee on the bus.

I didnt think you were allowed to take food and drinks on the bus. To think we hurried and got rid of our stuff before the buses came

 

[ARAITHEL]

Not all restaurants on Disney property take the Dining Plan...

 

[ARAITHEL]

[/QUOTE]11) The first time walking into WDW -- particularly MK is awesome. Try to remember that feeling because you only get it once and it has to last your whole lifetime. Well, that's 11 things for first-timers, so sue me.[/QUOTE]

I love thiS!