3 Adults visiting WDW for the first time! What should we know or do?

[Superbunny17]

So myself and two of my close friends are heading to WDW for the first time in Sept of next year (7 days). We are in the early planning stages right now and seeking advice! Anything we should know or do?

 

[Accident]

Your question is kind of "tell me about disney" and that's a lot. Are you looking for adult things? do you like bars? are you looking for great night spots? are you looking to stay on property? Have you ever been to disney world before?
There is a lot of adult things, night life, bars, themed bars, fancy dining, dancing, horseback riding, etc etc etc... Then you have options like golf and other thigns but I suspect that is not what your asking about.

The quick list: drinking around the world in epcot. Trader Sams in poly. Jellyrolls at boardwalk. the lounge at california grill. Spa and afternoon tea in grand floridian. lots of thigns around disney springs with food, drinks and shopping, bowling, movies, live music.. Oh and there's some theme parks at disney as well for rides

 

[Tonyz]

We there's about a thousand things you should know. No way we could tell you everything. Here are some major ones:

1. What rides do you want to ride the most?
2. What type of hotel (on property or off/price range/amenities/etc)
3. Search the restaurants you might like to check out and reviews of them (Avoid Tony's at Magic Kingdom - you'll thank me)
4. What are you going to do for transportation?
5. How are you going to split your day? All day marathon or taking breaks?
6. Will you get a meal plan or pay for food out of pocket?
7. What do you wants your nights to be like? (Drinking, eating, fireworks, shows, etc.)

 

[danielocha30]

check online for packing list, you might find there's stuff that you wouldn't think of, Disney is huge and once you're at the parks is not easy to head back to your car or hotel to get something you might need, do research about any Table Service restaurants that you might want to try and get reservations, research says you walk and average of 15 miles per day at Disney, so don't bring new never worn shoes, bring the most comfortable ones. I could go on but this is my must do list, have a great trip!

 

[Westcoastwild]

Plan time for mini golf, resort hopping, waterparks.

Take at least two pairs of broken in shoes. Your feet will thank you if you alternate.

Take an insulated water bottle. Take fun yet practical park clothes. Buy ears or an awesome lanyard start collecting pins the first day. It puts you in the right mood.

Plan out your ADRs. You'll be mad at yourself if, the second day there, you realized that you really did want to check out Be our guest (even for breakfast or lunch, you need an ADR just to get into the building).

Have a realistic idea of what you can get done in that weather and plan accordingly. Talk about how much you really want to do together and separate. I like Table service- my best friend does not. She insists on rope drop- I will only be in tolerable mood if you let me eat a decent breakfast first thing, and that often means missing rope drop. This sort of conflict can totally cause an explosion half way through that 7 day trip.

 

[ablair10]

Take your time to soak in all the little things. You have probably heard things about Walt Disney World all your life and it can be overwhelming your first visit. Don`t forget to check out the historical attractions, especially Walt Disney`s Carousel of Progress.

 

[Superbunny17]

Well we really aren't big on drinking (Got all of that out of our system in our 20s.). But we do plan on park and resort hopping. We've chosen All-Star Music and we are flying so we can take advantage of Disney transportation. All three of us are trying to compile our lists of must do rides/restaurants for the parks and Disney Springs. We were just wondering if there was any highlights we should hit from other adult park goers without kids.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

Well we really aren't big on drinking (Got all of that out of our system in our 20s.). But we do plan on park and resort hopping. We've chosen All-Star Music and we are flying so we can take advantage of Disney transportation. All three of us are trying to compile our lists of must do rides/restaurants for the parks and Disney Springs. We were just wondering if there was any highlights we should hit from other adult park goers without kids.

It looks like you're on the right track at this stage. You have dates and a resort picked out! Now, just like you said, decide what your must-dos are for everyone. If you get them all together and it's just too much to fit into your trip, this board would be a great place to ask for advice once you've got some more specific questions about recommendations.

That being said, there are so many things about Disney that are subjective. I know some people who would rather stand in the middle of Main St during a downpour than sit through Country Bear Jamboree. I also know people who think that the Country Bears are the greatest thing to ever hit WDW. Do your research and get opinions but it comes down to what YOU want to do. And that's the great thing about going without children. The only people you need to please are yourselves, not any little ones. No need to worry about scheduling everything around nap time (unless of course you need one ), or entertaining them while waiting for a parade, etc. And don't be afraid to do anything because you think it's 'just for kids' because it's Disney and we're all kids there.

 

[Owl X]

Purchase the Park Hopper option to have the ability to visit a different Disney park during a day.
Book your Fast Pass+ rides 60 days before your trip.
Check several online crowd calendars for which park to visit each day.
Arrive early in a park for shorter ride wait times due to lighter crowds.
Take a hotel break in the afternoon when it is hot and parks are crowded.
Return to a park at night when it is cooler for a few rides and the closing show.

We typically plan which park we will be visiting for each morning and book FP+s.
We may visit a different park at night based on our physical condition or weather.
For example: We may be tired after spending time at MK due to walking/standing all day. We may visit DHS at night as Fastasmic is in a seated Amphitheater.

Every park has indoor air conditioned shows that are helpful when it is hot (or raining).
A few examples:

• Animal Kingdom: Finding Nemo: The Musical, Festival of the Lion King
• Epcot: Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, The American Adventure, Impressions de France
• Hollywood Studios: For the First Time in Forever, Muppet*Vision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• Magic Kingdom: Mickey's Philharmagic, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress

Since you plan to be in the area for 7 days, I recommend also visiting the Universal parks for a day.

 

[Accident]

Well we really aren't big on drinking (Got all of that out of our system in our 20s.). But we do plan on park and resort hopping. We've chosen All-Star Music and we are flying so we can take advantage of Disney transportation. All three of us are trying to compile our lists of must do rides/restaurants for the parks and Disney Springs. We were just wondering if there was any highlights we should hit from other adult park goers without kids.

I'm also not a big drinker. To be honest, it's all great as an adult. If anything, take whatever you do a little slower, look at the details around and you'll star to discover things you've just walked past all your life...

If you have the time, I really like making use of the watercraft you can rent and go around the lakes with. combine it with a nice lunch at one of the lake side resorts or do it later and make it an early dinner. It's not a full day but a fun few hours one afternoon.. Parasailing is fun.. check swan and dolphins event calendar as they do a lot of nice things being on property but not disney. you don't have to buy drinks at the california grill lounge to see the property from up there and time it for the fireworks.. (they have appetizers if you wanted to do a late lunch and light dinner from their selection).

I love music so I can spend an entire evening just walking from live performer to live performer at springs without spending a penny.

 

[pjweaver]

WS in Epcot deserves two visits, one to sample around the world, another for a nice sit down meal. Get a show times guide too, we enjoy shows or music in nearly every country (flags in Italy are meh).

MK has gotten better with it's sit down choices, but you always have the monorail resorts to eat at too. For a relaxing start go to MK then take the monorail to Poly for breakfast at Kona, or a boat launch to WL for Whispering Canyon.

Get to the parks earlier than early with ADRs. Tusker House in AK, Crystal Palace in MK, Garden Grill in Epcot all have good buffet/AYCTE and let you get pics with no one in the park. Garden Grill in above Soarin so if you have the first ADR you often will be able to walk on before the rope drop mob hits.

Search for quick service you can share. Fruit and nutella waffle then mac and pot roast at Friars Nook.

50's Prime Time is a good spot to eat in HS, but it's also easy to take a friendship to the Boardwalk or Epcot to eat. The bakery in France is a nice quick lunch.

Staying at an All Star I recommend not going to your hotel hungry.

As you can see we eat more than ride, but still can get in all the main rides easily. Plan your FPP based on location so you aren't going from one end to the other, and remember you have an hour to use them.
ex. BTMR 10:55-11:55 and SM 12:10-1:10, go on BTMR at 11:50 then straight on SM.

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