First time to Disney World

[clmumaw]

I will be going to Disney World with my husband and our two kids next week. It will by my first trip and my husband has not been in nearly 20 years. We only have ONE DAY on this trip, so I want to make the most of it. (We will be going back next spring for longer) This is also our FIRST FAMILY VACATION. Please give me some hints on making this a trip my 8year old will never forget. What should we be sure not to miss, what should we collect, etc.

Thanks!
Clmumaw

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Welcome!!
Don't miss the Castle!! Wishes at night. Maybe book a character meal in the morning, Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. Book it early so you don't lose anytime in the park. Is your 8 year old a girl or boy? There's the princess room in toontown, Mickey in the Judges tent. Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Mickey's Philharmagic. When are you going? Pirates of the Carribean if it's open when you arrive. It's being refurbished and won't be open until...July? Oooh there's sooo much. Maybe dinner in the Castle? Keep looking on this site. Research the Disney site and allearsnet.com is also a really helpful site. Enjoy!!

 

[john2u]

Get an early start and be waiting at the gate for Magic Kingdom to open. Just simply enjoy the magic of the kingdom and try to do as much as possible.

Have a Disney Day
John

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Plan to get there at opening and stay til closing.

Make a list of everything you want to see and then try to follow it with the least amount of back tracking.

Utilize the fast pass system. Usually it works this way. You get a fast pass at 9:30 for Splash Mountain and it say to come back at 10:30 - 11;30 and it also list the time when you can get your next fast pass, in this case it would be 10;35. At 10:35 or later grab another fast pass. The great thing about the morning fast passes is that you can get the next one within an hour. By the afternoon, you have to wait 2 hours or til the return time, whichever is less. Depending on how crowded it is.

If you book a character meal try to do it around 1-2 pm. Because I feel the parks really get crowded at 1-2 pm and if you are there at opening, you will be able to do at least 9-12 rides and you will need a break by then. The chrystal palace is nice, Its right off Main St near the castle going to adventure land. The character meals are great because you can meet the characters without having to wait in line. At the chrystal palace, the meal is a buffet and the characters come to your table and spend time with you and your family only. No other kids are allowed to come up to the characters while they are at your table. I just took my 5 & 8 year old and my 8 year old was beside herself. She was just as excited as my 5 year old to meet Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eyeore. Really priceless.

I don't know what park you are planning on doing but this Feb, we meet friends one day. We meet at 11:00 am in Epcot (they had a late flight) then ate in Norway around 1:30 with the princesses, then we went over to MGM and stayed until 8:00 and then they went to the MK at 8 pm and stayed until 12;00 and ended up seeing a lot of the main attractions. The only thing with this is that you tend to waste alot of time park hopping, but if you want to see more than one park it may be worth it.

But above all else, remember you will be back and enjoy it!! Have a great trip!!