Advice for Planning 1st Trip to DW

[PinkBudgie]

Just wanted to say hi! You are where I was a few years ago. We have been planning our first trip to WDW for 5 years and we are finally almost there- going in June! I'll be 45 and it is just DH and I for our 25th anniversary. We are DLR vets and know all the ins and out there.

This is our plan for June (we are teachers, so summer is it) I would choose early November if I could.
13 nights, 10 day park hoppers (we easily spent 7 1/2 days at DLR last summer)
We picked POFQ for it's small size, pretty grounds, and boat ride to DTD.
Arrival day
Epcot
MK
DAK
DHS
Day off from parks
Epcot
DAK morning, Epcot evening
MK
Epcot
DHS
Day off from parks
"Wing it Day" no plans or FP or ADRs. Probably go to Epcot but we don't know.
MK (may park hop later)
Departure Day

The main thing that got me was the way shorter hours in the summer (we are used to 8am opening, nap around 2pm, then staying until about 11pm. Also, the transportation seems a little nuts to me and I don't really understand all the ways to get places and which resorts are near which parks. And finally, knowing what park you wanted to be in 6 months ahead of time so you could make ADRs is crazy. But when in Rome...
Anyway, we are really excited and looking forward to seeing new things.

 

[Coach81]

I'm starting to think about possibly planning our 1st trip to Disney World, but it probably won't be at least until 2016. I've lived over 40 years and have never made it to DW (we live in the Pacific NW and have family in southern California, so Disneyland has always been an easier destination for us).

I'd like to hear from DW experts, especially those who were Disneyland experts before ever making their 1st trip to DW, about everything I need to know about planning a 1st trip to DW. I know the basics differences between DL and DW...DW is much larger with more parks, meals should be planned in advance, and park-hopping takes more time, and the FP+ system...but I would like more specifics on how to start planning a trip. Especially regarding the following:

1. When is a good time to go to get low-to-moderate crowds (meaning, I don't want to go during peak summer or holiday periods), and also decent weather? I've never experienced Florida weather, but I want fairly low chance of rain and warm tmps but not too hot (no higher than low 80's most days).

Mid to late October

2. Where is a good on-site resort to stay? Looking for something in the value to moderate price range. Something with good transportation to the parks, and has a pool and themeing that our DD would enjoy (she would be around 9 at the time).

Heard good things about Art of A

3. How many days should we stay? Our last trip to DL had us going to the parks for 5 days (and that only because they no longer sell tickets longer than 5 days). So, I'm imagining we will need much more than 5 days to see DW (I will probably take longer than one week off work). This is our 1st trip, and maybe our only trip (since DW is farther away from us than DL, and I'm guessing more expensive), so I'd like to see and do as much as possible aside from those rides that are similar to the DL version, and maybe even do some rides more than once. But with the amount of attractions at DW and the distance between parks, I don't know how many days we'll need.

As many as you can afford??? You will need at least 2 days for MK, 2 for Epcot -if you wanna try to see most things, 1 for AK, and 1 or 2 for DHS.

I know I spent many months planning/researching our last trip to DL, and that is for a place I've been to dozens of times. I know exactly where every attraction is and how long it takes to get from point A to point B.

I don't know any of that for DW, so I feel like a lot of planning is needed (which is part of the fun). Any adivce or tips to get me started would be greatly appreciated.

DW is MUCH MUCH BIGGER than DL... stay on this board for great tips..

Thanks in advance.

Hope this helps