First timers list of stuff

[swwake]

Towels - one of our travel traditions is to buy beach towels on our summer vacations. I have an old EPCOT Center one from the 80's, and some Carnival towels from a cruise, etc. It's fun to have the themed memories when you get home.

 

[5 Disney Dwarfs]

Thanks to all who replied to question about towels. Many good ideas here on disboards. Keep them coming. Have a nice day.:

 

[Briggidge2]

A big thank you for the link! I've been planning for our Aug 08 trip and this helps a lot! I'm not as organized, so it's a good thing i've got some time!

 

[Briggidge2]

This is a great thread! All newbies should take note I purchased the 2007 WDW Passporter from my local Barnes and Nobles when I planned my anniversary trip May 07. It was awesome and helped me keep a daily journal. It is like a daytimer for Disney fanatics. It has pockets, maps, phone numbers, you name it. I also purchased every book on the "World" I could find....My DH just shakes his head everytime a new book comes in the mail....There is nothing wrong with planning, planning and more planning. The more you know, the smoother it is.

I just got back from my most recent visit, (first time with the kids, DD 16, DS 19 and DS girlfriend 18) and found that using cell phones was a must. This made it painless when we split up. As much as I love them and want to spend every second with them, they needed "space" and everyone was happy!

I too bought the Passporter guide book and love it. My husband isn't here to see all the planning so he's going to be suprised. (he's deployed...and i'm not so organized!) I also love how they rate everything (for kids too) and all the info for all the restaraunts in one book.

 

[Briggidge2]

One tip that I wanted to leave for people with very young children was if you have a digital camera with you, to take a good picture of each child of what they are wearing that day before you head out to any of the parks just in case they get lost or wander off. (that way it will be easier for anyone to look for your child) A friend of mine would always put a namebadge sticker on the back of her children (without them knowing...they are really young) with their cell numbers and what hotel they were staying, ect. I would hope you wouldn't lose your kids at Disney, but depending on how busy the parks are, you don't want to take any chances!

 

[Briggidge2]

We had "dog tags" made for each child at Walmart with cell phone numbers on them. We attached them with a big safety pin to their shorts so if they got lost hopefully we could be contacted right away. My kids will be 6, 5, and 3 so they don't know cell phone numbers yet...

I didn't see your post until I posted my tip, but I like your idea! I just might have to do that! (i'll probably still do the sticky namebadge thing...you can never be too safe!)

 

[Native NYer]

I'm now starting to think of touring plans. I'm know I don't want a minute by minute plan, but also know we'll need some sort of direction beyond those first two rides.

Lucky for me, my husband and I are both off all next week for Easter break (we teach in Catholic schools) and the kids are back to school on Tuesday. So I should have lots of time to organize my thoughts.

I'm also attempting to make some touring plans, but like you do not want every nanosecond of the trip planned. Since we're traveling with a 4 year old, the unexpected will arise. Plus, he's fascinated with the trollies and horse-drawn carriages on Main Street and train in the MK. I want to create a good plan with lots of room for flexibility and time to smell the roses.

Have you looked at the Unofficial Guide's plans? They seem good, but a little too intense for me.

 

[Aliceacc]

How funny, I was looking at them the other day. I printed up a few, but am more prone to look at their "plans for people who don't like to plan" type stuff... general guidelines about what times are best for which attractions.

 

[Native NYer]

How funny, I was looking at them the other day. I printed up a few, but am more prone to look at their "plans for people who don't like to plan" type stuff... general guidelines about what times are best for which attractions.

I agree! They're great to use a general guidelines. I am attempting to figure out how to use Excel to make a planning sheet.

 

[pkondz]

I used the UOG's plans but modified them to suit. I knew going in that with small kids (DD8 & DD4) I wasn't going on the more "intense" rides. I just cut them out. I also knew that I didn't want (nor did my DW) to kill myself running around (it's supposed to be a holiday for pete's sake!). I used the plan to minimize standing in line, skipped stuff here and there, totally relaxed and took the time to smell the roses. What a great vacation. We came back after a week smiling, rested and happy. Can a lot of people say the same????

 

[Native NYer]

Coming back relaxed after a Disney vacation is probably not the norm
I'm putting rest times and resort breaks into our touring plans. There is no way our vacation will be enjoyable in the hot August sun without a break.

 

[dmbdisneymom]

Great tips everyone! When is everyone going? We leave to visit family in Clearwater on Aug 1, then on to Disney Aug 4-8. We're staying at ASMovies and are so excited! We're driving, so no trouble packing everything for our awesome trip. Does anyone know if ASMovies has a coffe pot in the rooms? I didn't think to check and DH will go nuts without it. TIA!

 

[fernifamily]

Great tips everyone!! We are leaving in 3 weeks!!!! I am really starting to panic !! I have tried to start packing, but my kids have grown so much this year that the 2 older ones(DD 12 turning 13 in WDW and DS 11) don't fit into any of their summer clothes!! So now I am trying to find inexpensive clothes for them. Thank God for Target!!

 

[zickig]

Great tips everyone! When is everyone going? We leave to visit family in Clearwater on Aug 1, then on to Disney Aug 4-8. We're staying at ASMovies and are so excited! We're driving, so no trouble packing everything for our awesome trip. Does anyone know if ASMovies has a coffe pot in the rooms? I didn't think to check and DH will go nuts without it. TIA!

We are staying at All Star movies that same week Aug2-9

 

[dmbdisneymom]

We are staying at All Star movies that same week Aug2-9

Awesome! I'm going to put some mickey heads on our windows with my DISname on it so look for me! I cannot wait and I wish I could tell the kids so someone else can be more excited than me and DH!!

 

[zickig]

Awesome! I'm going to put some mickey heads on our windows with my DISname on it so look for me! I cannot wait and I wish I could tell the kids so someone else can be more excited than me and DH!!

I'll try to get some of those too and put in our window, we paid for the perfered room location so I guess that makes us somewhere near the pool area...I hope I see your window!

 

[Leonsmom]

Great tips everyone! When is everyone going? We leave to visit family in Clearwater on Aug 1, then on to Disney Aug 4-8. We're staying at ASMovies and are so excited! We're driving, so no trouble packing everything for our awesome trip. Does anyone know if ASMovies has a coffe pot in the rooms? I didn't think to check and DH will go nuts without it. TIA!

We are going (hopefully) Nov 27 - Dec 7, We are definatly going!! But I haven't booked yet. I know, I know, what am I waiting for??? Well DS5 is having tons of trouble in school and I keep second guessing myself about taking him out of school next year. The problems are behavioral not academic, so he maybe okay ....but being that we are concerned that he may have ADHD or something else going on and this is new to me... I just keep hesitating. There is no other time that we can go ... so I should just bite the bullet and do it, Right??
Anyway we will probably stay at Pop Century or POFQ.

 

[Aliceacc]

Book it. You can always cancel.

 

[zickig]

We are going (hopefully) Nov 27 - Dec 7, We are definatly going!! But I haven't booked yet. I know, I know, what am I waiting for??? Well DS5 is having tons of trouble in school and I keep second guessing myself about taking him out of school next year. The problems are behavioral not academic, so he maybe okay ....but being that we are concerned that he may have ADHD or something else going on and this is new to me... I just keep hesitating. There is no other time that we can go ... so I should just bite the bullet and do it, Right??
Anyway we will probably stay at Pop Century or POFQ.

I say book it now and since he is a good student he can make up the work and have time with family. Are his teachers good about his behavior issues? I know that a good teacher makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Native NYer]

We are going (hopefully) Nov 27 - Dec 7, We are definatly going!! But I haven't booked yet. I know, I know, what am I waiting for??? Well DS5 is having tons of trouble in school and I keep second guessing myself about taking him out of school next year. The problems are behavioral not academic, so he maybe okay ....but being that we are concerned that he may have ADHD or something else going on and this is new to me... I just keep hesitating. There is no other time that we can go ... so I should just bite the bullet and do it, Right??
Anyway we will probably stay at Pop Century or POFQ.

Book it and see how the beginning of the next school year goes. If you have to cancel, that won't be a problem.