Asking for Help from Devoted Disney-goers!!

[figment7413]

Please help! Am going on my first Disney trip since something like 1988, and things have changed a little since then, when I was 9! We don't have any children, but we are two big kids! Have tickets to Disney Quest, but am wondering what other activities we should definitely plan? I've been checking out attractions and restaurants - I would certainly appreciate any words of wisdom and experience!

TIA!! We're off in a few days!

 

[GIOny]

It really has changed since 1988, mostly all for the good!! Are you staying on-site?? Since you are leaving in a few days does that mean you will be there for MNSSHP? It's a seperate ticket. The Food and Wine Festival is going on at Epcot, you probally don't want to miss that. I think your best bet if you haven't done so already is to have a plan. Plan out which parks you want to go to on which days and then if you want sit down dinners call for ADR's (reservations) ASAP . If you are not familiar with the restaurants menus, here is a link: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm. If you like a little nightlife , then you may want to go to Pleasure Island or we really like Jelly Rolls over at the Boardwalk Resort. It's a dueling Pianos bar, lots of fun . There are alot of things to do besides the parks but it depends on how much time you have. Cirque du Soleil is supposed to be a great show over in DTD West Side (near Disney Quest). I guess my words of wisdom would be to read as much as you can about the attractions and entertainment - the Dis home board and allears.net are great sources-and decide what appeals to you. Plan you days so you have an idea of where you are going but don't schedule yourself so tight that it takes the fun out of things , be flexible. Lastly, don't even think about seeing it all!! It's not going to happen, see what you can and know, if you are like the rest of us, you will be back way before another 17 years!! Enjoy!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Did you buy any guide books? Having one will be a huge help. I know it's a bit late now, but you could read it on the trip down. I like both the UnOfficial Guide to WDW and the Passporter. They both will give you a nice overview and some idea of the things you will want to do. As an adult you will see WDW in an entirely different way. It has gotten huge!!! My ds was there when he was about 8, back in the mid-80's. He went with my younger brother. He is now 32 and will be driving from Tampa (where he just moved to) to visit me on Dec 3 while I'm in WDW. He remembers only bits of his trip and does not understand my love of an 'amusement park'!!!
You will need to leave lots of time to see and do all that you want to. You are going to love the DTD area, with PI and DQ!!! But, be sure to save time to give the parks their due. Even if you aren't into the attractions (rides) there is a lot to see and do. Get a guidebook today so you can plan what you really want to do.
As far as eating goes...without ADR's you may have a tough time getting into a lot of the more popular spots. Those guidebooks will help with that too.
So....two things...welcome to the DIS boards and have a terrific trip. Be sure to come back and tell us all how it went. I, for one, would love to hear about a trip to WDW from someone who hasn't been in decades!!!

 

[figment7413]

Yes, we are staying on-site. I am just now learning about a lot of this stuff, thanks to being dang busy at work. I've got a schedule of which parks are doing extra hours on which days of our trip, so we can better plan our time. We do not have any dinner reservations yet... Will we be in really bad shape without them? I was hoping (gulp) to be able to go to the park we plan on staying in that day in the morning, go to the place we want to eat, and make reservations. But, maybe that's a dumb idea - if you have some guidance, that would be great! We have parkhopper passes, so I guess we don't know where we might end up!

Oh, and can anyone fill me in on the photopass system? I have only been able to find out a little, but I'm guessing that CMs take pictures around the park for you? My partner in crime was thinking not to mess with toting a camera around the parks, and just have our pics taken by them and then get prints later. But, they're pretty pricey, aren't they? I think we'd want a couple of nice ones from this system, but not more than that?

Thanks so much for all of your comments. I truly appreciate the wisdom of people who truly care and know what they're talking about! I hope this makes our trip more memorable!

Figment

 

[Alaska Catdog]

Our first trip to WDW was a year ago, we've been twice since and are leaving next week for another one. We are two adults and we never had a problem walking into restaurants. We tend to eat at off hours either earlier or later but we do make ressies for the places we have to go to like California Grill and Jiko.
I highly reccommend the photopass as I hate to carry a camera. DH loves to take pictures but the only way to get him in them is Photopass. It's great, the first time you use it the photographer gives you a credit card type thing and they swipe it anytime you get a photo taken. You can go to the photo shops in the park and view your pictures but we wait until we get home and view them all at once. It's nice because you can choose which photos you want to buy and you get to see them before you pay anything.

Have a great time.