10 things most first-timers don't know

[nan1217]

^^ This thread is up to 11 pages, so there's way more than 10 things by now. Just keep adding to the list. This has been great.

 

[kaligal]

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."

 

[ARAITHEL]

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."

 

[phewms]

Please keep the awesome tips coming!

 

[thelionqueen]

Don't know if this has been posted or not but you cannot wear full masks @ MNSSHP.

Also don't try to take everything in at once, you will never be able to and you'll make yourself exhausted and cranky trying. Make a plan that allows you to enjoy the scenery and allows you to really take in the magic that is Disney.

I suggest getting a Dole Whip and sitting on the bench by the castle and slowly enjoy it. Watch the people, look at the sights and not worry about getting here or there by this time or that you're not getting your money's worth. The true enjoyment of the park has nothing to do with the rides or getting your money's worth...it's feeling "that magic" the first time and every time

 

[jenlov]

Subscribing...b/c these are great tips! knew most of them, but still...great info overall!

 

[CNorris]

PAY FOR PREFERRED ROOMS IN THE VALUE!
We ended up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back in All Star Music at the Country Fair. 25 minute walk to the lobby. My blonde daughter couldn't take the summer heart and swam through two pools to get to the lobby & bus stop. Keep in mind how big those resorts really are - save the walking feet for the park!

YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED HALF OF WHAT YOU BRING
I brought way too much to the park every day. Between first aid stations, water fountains and free water, stores that sell things (ponchos!) only take what you NEED not every single thing you could want. If you go for Photopass (which you can prepay!) do you *really* need to lug around that 20 pound camera?? With so much walking... take as little as possible!

IF YOU AREN'T A MORNING PERSON...
why would you want to wake your family up while on vacation at 6am to get to rope drop? Our favorite time was being at a completely empty Magic Kingdom at 2AM. We aren't morning people in any way, shape or form. Just because you CAN go for rope drop doesn't mean you HAVE to. Keep your family's lifestyle in mind while planning.

Also...
if you are on the dining plan at the end of your trip you can trade extra meals you might have for snacks - like rice krispie mickey mouse heads! (we gave those away to family and friends but I kept one - from 2010! - it is still in my freezer)

Got a baby? - get diapers delivered along with your evening beer and snack supply - I used Garden Grocer, they were great

If you are from a northern place (we are from northern Canada) you cannot IMAGINE the heat and humidity. We went in August. We died. We wilted. We cancelled four park days to go to the water parks. We snagged ice and slipped it into the back of our clothes. And I am not being dramatic at all here either. We were sweating our bums off at midnight. Never ever ever again. We are going this time in December - and will be those crazy tourists everyone talks about wearing shorts

 

[kaligal]

YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED HALF OF WHAT YOU BRING
I brought way too much to the park every day. Between first aid stations, water fountains and free water, stores that sell things (ponchos!) only take what you NEED not every single thing you could want. If you go for Photopass (which you can prepay!) do you *really* need to lug around that 20 pound camera?? With so much walking... take as little as possible!



If you are from a northern place (we are from northern Canada) you cannot IMAGINE the heat and humidity. We went in August. We died. We wilted. We cancelled four park days to go to the water parks. We snagged ice and slipped it into the back of our clothes. And I am not being dramatic at all here either. We were sweating our bums off at midnight. Never ever ever again. We are going this time in December - and will be those crazy tourists everyone talks about wearing shorts

ITA! People carry way too much crap into the parks. Frequently, the wife decides they really need all that stuff and the husband has to carry it...which leads to resentment and sometimes arguments. Leave the crap, enjoy the day.

Orlando summers are unbelievably hot and humid. People tend to underestimate the impact it will have! Drink water! Get enough sleep! Slow down.

It is interesting to go in winter months. It's 66 degrees out. Some people are wearing shorts and long-sleeves, others are wearing parkas. some are delighting in the amazingly warm temps, others are talking about getting inside to a heated area. Fairly easy to pick out who is from where.

 

[siskaren]

PAY FOR PREFERRED ROOMS IN THE VALUE!
We ended up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back in All Star Music at the Country Fair. 25 minute walk to the lobby. My blonde daughter couldn't take the summer heart and swam through two pools to get to the lobby & bus stop. Keep in mind how big those resorts really are - save the walking feet for the park!

I've stayed in Country Fair, and there is no way it's a 25 minute walk to the lobby; that would be well over a mile and All Star Music is not that spread out.

 

[CNorris]

I've stayed in Country Fair, and there is no way it's a 25 minute walk to the lobby; that would be well over a mile and All Star Music is not that spread out.

Let me clarify then... it was for us because...

with two hot and tired teenagers since their mom decided 3 parks were doable in one day, a husband stuck carrying the pack his wife insists they need, and all of this with a Canadian family in August in Florida who just want to curl up in air conditioning and emerge outside in November... 25 minutes easy tack on a camera that felt like it was 20 pounds by the time we hit the bus stop to GO to the park and wow

We are switching to POFQ this time around. I *WISH* someone had told me that the preferred rooms at All Star Music were the ones near the lobby and bus stop!

 

[thelionqueen]

At POP I actually wouldn't suggest a preferred room. There are buildings that are not preferred equally as close to the main hall as others.

 

[marthachick]

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

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.

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."

 

[disneyfreak71]

If you decide to drink around the world, buy an EPCOT Passport book from any of the gift shops and have the CM's that serve you from each country write something and sign the book for you. It is a cheap (around $7 for the book) way to remember what you may forget by the time you get to the end.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

* 50's PTC has real sweet tea.

* Dora the Explorer does not particpate in meet and greets. The big-headed gal' with the ballet shoes signing your book at H&V's name is June. She is a Little Einstein. She is also Disney.

 

[sixkristy6]

If you decide to drink around the world, buy an EPCOT Passport book from any of the gift shops and have the CM's that serve you from each country write something and sign the book for you. It is a cheap (around $7 for the book) way to remember what you may forget by the time you get to the end.

Is an EPCOT Passport book a popular thing for people to buy? What do you do with it after you buy it? Is it something people sign at each country?

 

[DisLee]

I think gum should be banned from WDW. Bring tic tacs instead.

 

[nan1217]

Is an EPCOT Passport book a popular thing for people to buy? What do you do with it after you buy it? Is it something people sign at each country?

The PP who mentioned it said what you do with the passport. It gets signed in each country and it's a fun souvenir to have.

 

[lsenquiz]

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

You can bring drinks on the bus if they have a lid. If not the bus driver is likely to make you finish or throw it out before you get on.

 

[lsenquiz]

Do not treat Disney like an amusment park. It is not one. If you do you will miss the magic. I have spoken to so many people who say they did not want to waste time meeting the characters or seeing the shows because they wanted to make sure they rode every ride multiple times. If you are just there to ride rides go to Six flags.

Go with a plan but be willing to deviate if necessary. We always take a plan which includes a list of must dos. We try to follow the plan but don't sweat it if things change. We just make sure we do our must dos.

Know your limits and especially know you children's limits.

Know about all events that are taking place while you are there. Events can impact park hours and crowds. Knowing what is going on helps plan.

Know your transportation options before you book your resort. We are not fond of riding the disney buses nor do we like to drive our car while we are on vacation. We always stay in an EPCOT resort because we can walk to Epcot and DHS. We can even walk through Epcot and ride the monorail to MK which my son loves(we always get PH) that leave us taking the bus to AK only

Try to set aside some time to enjoy your resort. One of our favorite evening activites is to roast marshmellows and watch the movie on the beach at YC/BC.

Try to pick a couple things each trip to do that you have never done before. We have been going yearly since my oldest(DS24) was 6 and we still manage to find 3-5 things to do each trip that we have never done.

 

[mmay60046]

If you go from May-September, it will probably be hotter than what you anticipate even if you anticipate it to be REALLY hot.