First timers to WDW! Tips? Advice?

bellebuzzandpooh

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 30, 2007
Messages
345
What do you highly reccomend we see/do? Things you feel can be skipped? Any secret things? (Like at Disneyland if you touch the apple outside Snow White's castle something happens...)

Hit me with your best advice for a first timer! We have 7 day hoppers. We leave in just a few days! :banana:

(cross posting on the budget forums)
 
When do you arrive?

Who's going, kids, adults only?

Where are you staying?

What do you like to do?

Give more information and myself and others will give advice. :cheer2:

Keep reading the boards. There is a wealth of information here.
 
You didn't mention if you are taking kids or what ages . . . but here's my two cents worth.

We found that Saturdays and Sundays were a bit busier in Magic Kingdom. Also at MK, try to do Fantasyland first. We did and seemed like around 10:00 or 10:30 am, it all of sudden got a lot more crowded.

Perhaps you could read up on all the attractions on Disney's website and decide which you don't want to miss. The Official Guidebook and the Passporter were also a big help to me. Also just reading the trip reports here.

One thing we may try next time is to get 7:45 pm reservations at Rose & Crown (Epcot) so that we'll have a good spot to watch Illuminations.

Animal Kingdom was extremely hot. Maybe you could plan that park on one of your cooler days.

Are you staying at a Disney resort? We found the laundry rooms at CBR were really nice. Just take a roll or two of quarters. There are soap and softner sheets in vending machines there.

What about restaurants? Did you already make your reservations?

Our favorites were Coral Reef, Le Cellier, Primetime, and the fish at Rose and Crown was delicious. Our favorite counter service was Cosmic Rays at Magic Kingdom. Their burgers were excellent.

Wear the most comforable shoes you have. I took a pair of Nikes and a new pair of Keens. The Keens were not broken in enough for me. I wore the Nikes all week (especially Epcot ... seems like there is a lot of walking there).

That's all I can think of for the time being. Have a great time!! Lucky you. I wish we were going again soon. Looks like it might be 2009 for us.

Have fun!

I might add, if you like snow cones, try a Kakigori (shaved ice). It's just to the left of Japan at Epcot. They were so much better than any snow cone we have here in Indiana.
 
Enjoy your first trip!:goodvibes

One piece of advice...study and understand the transportation system before your leave. It's awesome once you learn it and what goes where...no car needed.
 

My best piece of advice is to use Disney Transportation. It is the best - especially after a long hot day with tired children.

Another piece of advice, take water bottles or buy a bottle of water and keep refilling at the free water fountains in the park during the day. Even my kids got tired of drinking sodas all day.
 
When do you arrive?

Who's going, kids, adults only?

Where are you staying?

What do you like to do?

Give more information and myself and others will give advice. :cheer2:

Keep reading the boards. There is a wealth of information here.

Sorry, I should've given more info. :) It's myself, dh, dd7, ds5, and a 10 month old that are going. We're staying at All Star Music. What do we like to do? Pretty much everything!! We're big roller coaster people but I'll have to pass on some of those this trip because I'll need to stay with the baby. We're all adrenaline junkies and my kids have endless energy. :) (We did DisneyLAND a couple years ago when they were 3 and 5 and they went strong all day from sun up till sun down with no naps. :eek: )
 
I am interested in this also. My DH and I are going in April with our twin girls who will turn 3 in April.
 
Ah, you guys will have a great time! You can do the ride swap so both you and dh can ride and take turns staying with the baby.

Keep reading the boards...such a wealth of information!:thumbsup2
 
Sorry, I should've given more info. :) It's myself, dh, dd7, ds5, and a 10 month old that are going. We're staying at All Star Music. What do we like to do? Pretty much everything!! We're big roller coaster people but I'll have to pass on some of those this trip because I'll need to stay with the baby. We're all adrenaline junkies and my kids have endless energy. :)

Well, where to start.

Our kids were almost identical ages, our yougest was about 14 months.

For character meals that year, the kids loved Chef Mickey's for dinner one evening and Crystal Palace for breakfast. Characters were great, interactive and a truly great experience. Both were buffets so the kids could find plenty to eat.

For extra activities that year, our two oldest did the Pirate Cruise and loved it. My wife and I with baby hung out at the GF, taking it easy while they were out to "sea". We sent a disposable camera with them to take pictures and the CM's took pictures also of our kids. They talked a great deal about it after.

In the Magic Kingdom, our kids enjoyed Fantasy Land and Toon Town the most. Enjoy this time there, it isn't long before they outgrow these size rides and only want the big coasters. My kids really enjoyed the Barnstormer and all the shows in the areas. Splash Mountain was a huge hit in MK. They loved Spectromagic, we sat right in front of Peco's Bill in Frontier Land. Then walked down closer to the castle and watch Wishes (fireworks) from Frontier Land.

In Epcot, our kids enjoyed seeing the different countries and watching activities taking place around the showcase. I hear the new Nemo show is great. They enjoyed Honey I shrunk the Audience. We did the boat ride in Mexico. You and your husband needs to do Test TRack and if your kids are tall enough, but not sure of heights.

MGM turned out to be favorite of the kids. My son rode Tower of Terror 7 times that day. They liked the show Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Muppet Vision 3D and Playhouse Disney, Live on Stage. The two oldest were glued to edge of the seats as they watched the Extreme Stunt Show. They enjoyed the Stars and Motor cars parade, could relate to many movies for the parade. To end the evening, they enjoyed Fantasmic. They enjoyed the 50's Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine In theatre. Something about eating in a car watching TV.

In Animal Kingdom, A Bugs Life the show was fun, but scary at times. My son loved Dinosaur, my oldest daughter was scared. She still talks about being scared. We did the Safaris ride first thing in the morning. Just walking through the jungle trail kept the kids busy and was more of a casual walk. They loved the Festival of the Lion King and Pocahontas and her Forest Friends show. For some down time, the kids enjoyed playing in the Boneyard graveyard.

Whewwww..... Sorry for all the talking. Now I know why I don't give advice very often. I could keep talking and talking...:rolleyes1

Hope you got something out of this. :laughing:

Don't hesitate to ask more specific questions and I'll answer what I can. popcorn::
 
I recommend that you buy the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" which is available in Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. It has touring plans in the back that you can clip out and they really do save a ton of time. It'll be worth the cost of the book even though you might not have time to read it.

Another option is to subscribe to Tour Guide Mike and print out his sample plans for touring the parks with children.

You can ride the rollercoasters too. Has anyone explained "Rider Swap" Passes?

The rider swap pass allows adults to trade places watching the younger kids for any attraction. Adults A & B take little tyke #1 and go to the standby or Fastpass cast member. They will receive a pass that will let several members of the party ride the attraction. Ask the Cast Member how many riders can return. Repeat this for each small child, using different adults. What you will end up with are fastpasses for everyone that has a ticket (even the younger set), plus the parent swap passes. Most, if not all, of your party can experience a given attraction twice with a single set of fastpasses and careful use of parent swap.

As for secrets, here's a thread that might interest you:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1437421

Here's an article on touring Epcot with kids:
www.buildabettermousetrip.com/article-epcot-with-young-children.html
 


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