First time trip!

[tabithany]

Hey everyone! This is our (DS-7..DS-4) FIRST wdw trip
We are super excited! ...countdown is 55 days!
I've been researching, and planning... but does anyone have any great tips for us?? Thank you!!!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Congrats on your first trip and to the Dis!

There are hundreds of great tips out here on various boards but my #1 tip for newbies is: don't let the negativity that some people have about Disney form a preconceived notion in your mind. If you go in looking for the bad you might find it, just take complaints with a grain of salt, sometimes people can beat a dead horse over negative things around here.

 

[Metro West]

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Hey everyone! This is our (DS-7..DS-4) FIRST wdw trip
We are super excited! ...countdown is 55 days!
I've been researching, and planning... but does anyone have any great tips for us?? Thank you!!!

Here are some touring tips for people who are new to WDW:

1. Make sure you have Advance Dining Reservations for any Sit Down/Table Service/Character Meals. You will be at Disney during the busy summer season and most restaurants will not be taking walk-ups.

2. Get to the parks at opening. You really can get a lot done in the morning because so many other people sleep in.

3. Eat lunch around 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. before the fast food places get busy. Then when while everyone else is eating lunch, you will have lower crowds.

4. I buy a ton of the two for a dollar ponchos at the dollar store and keep them in the backpack. That way you can throw them a way after use and not worry about keeping up with a wet bulky poncho the rest of the day. Bring throw away ponchos to wear on Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, if not you WILL get soaked.

5. Other things I put in the backpack each morning are Tylenol/Motrin, small first aid kit, camera with extra batteries, small hand towel, hand sanitizer, wipes and a bottle of water.

6. Most single service items under $4.00 are considered a snack credit on the Disney dining plan.

7. At Magic Kingdom always head to Fantasyland first, if you are not doing Fantasyland on a particular day then head to Splash Mountain first, then Big Thunder Mountain; at Epcot always ride Soarin' first and get a Fastpass for later after you get off of the ride; at Disney Hollywood Studios always ride Toy Story Mania first, then head over to Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror; and at Animal Kingdom ride Expedition Everest First then head to the Safari.

8. Favorite fast food restaurants at MK are Pecos Bills and Cosmic Rays; favorite fast food at Animal Kingdom is Flame Tree Grill and Pizzafari. If you are there while it very hot, go to Pizzafari.

9. If there are two lines going into an attraction, always take the line that goes to the left.

10. My best tip would have to be USE THE FASTPASS SYSTEM. Our rule of thumb is if the wait is 25 minutes or less, we wait in line. If the wait is 30 minutes or more, use a Fastpass. It is not highly publicized, but your Fastpass does not expire until the end of the day. You can never use it before the return time stamp on the pass, but you can always use it after. We try to collect Fastpasses during the early part of the day and then use them later in the afternoon when the parks become more crowded.

Click on this link from fellow Diser Doconeill and it will give you an excellent overview of Fastpass. It is from Doconeil over on the Disboards and super helpful:

http://www.oinc.net/disney/fastpass.php

If you still don't understand, just let me know your specific questions.

11. I like the Photopass. You can pre-buy it before your trip for $99.00. When you enter the parks you will see the staff photographers, they will take your pictures and give you a Photopass and you can use that for the rest of your trip. Each time you see a photographer have them take your picture and they will scan your picture. Then when you get home you can pull up the pictures, with the code they email you after purchase, and pick the photos you want on a CD. They will then mail you the CD and the copyrights to the CD and you can take them to Walmart or Walgreens or wherever and get them developed. They also have a lot of cool software that you can use to edit your photos before you have them put on the CD.

My favorite Disney planning sites are:

www.disboards.com
www.allearsnet.com
www.wdwinfo.com
www.intercot.com

 

[Disneyfreak616]

PrincessTiffany basically summed it all up for you. :

My tip for you: Relax. You ARE on vacation. And believe it or not, you CAN'T do everything on one trip. So take it easy and make sure you just enjoy being with your family. You will even get things done too, if you have your dining reservations, utilize FASTPASS, and make sure you see those great shows like Wishes and Illuminations.

Have a magical time!!!!

 

[kirasaurus]

1. Pick and choose your fastpasses. During the most crowded parts of the day, a lot of popular attractions will have long wait times, and you don't want to not ride that "must-do" attraction just cause the line was too long.

Don't spend your time waiting in a line that's really boring (ex. Soarin) or really hot (rock n roller coaster).
Here are some rides that i usually NEVER get a fastpass for.
Toy Story Mania :yeah, the line is long, but trust me, the theming is sooo cute inside and its AIR CONDITIONED. your kids will get a kick out of mr potato head, too.
Star Tours: air conditioned
Tower of Terror: A llittle warm outside,but shady, and cool once you get inside and again, themed.
Expedition Everest: themed! stuff to read/look at! The line really sets up the ride, and you miss all of that if you get a fastpass.
Buzz Lightyear: line goes SO fast
Anyways, that's just a couple of examples. You get my drift. This takes a little trial and error.
3. Aim to get fastpasses for fantasyland rides, and ride DUMBO EARLY! It doesn't have fastpasses and the hour and a half wait will make the 2-minute ride seem like a joke :/

2. Book the meals you really want to do before you go (character meals, a restaurant in the world showcase at EPCOT, etc.). That way, even if they are accepting walk-ups, you know you have a guaranteed table and you won't miss out. Utilize hotel restaurants, too. Those can be great experiences.
3. Go back to the hotel for a nap! Especially during the afternoon, you and your kids will be a little worn-out from the heat, crowds, and you'll just be tired. I promise, Splash Mountain will still be there when you come back Plus, you'll be all rested up and ready to enjoy the rest of your day, and your kids won't fall asleep watching Wishes
4. Save your souvenir shopping for the last time in the park. You'll see a LOT of really neat stuff, and buying all of the neat things you see will add a hefty price tag to your vacation
5. Don't be disappointed if you don't see everything. It's a big, wide world, and there's a lot to do and see.
6. Enjoy your vacation!!