First Trip to Disney

[kacw]

DD, DD (4) and myself are taking our first trip to Disney. We are staying at POP. We are staying 4 days. I would like to see as much as possible and not miss the "good stuff". What should we not miss? What other tips do you have. TIA!

 

[KKB]

besides these wonderful boards...
The Unofficial Guide to WDW has wonderful "plans" to get the most of your trip. How to do the "best" of the parks, and w/ a very young one. (STROLLER & NAP are key!)
Also: The Passporter is a wonderful guide, particularly with ratings for all the attractions...what is appropriate for various age levels, what is "worth" your time, etc.

Everyone here will give you different views. Some feel MK is THE park not to be missed...and likely w/ a 4 YODD, I'm guessing Priness freak, not to be missed...my DS7 is an animal freak, so AK is the one for us. But you can get all 4 parks in if you want...though Epcot/MGM might not appeal to younger one as much

 

[DisneyBarlans]

At all the parks, they have "little kids" maps that have all the attractions not to be missed by preschoolers. We were there last week and my 4 yr. old carried his with him every day. I would say to definately take Epcot and MGM in small doses. Take a stroller, even if you don't normally use one because it is a LOT of walking. If you can, get there when the park opens-it's much less crowded-most people arrive around 10-11:00. Our must-sees for little kids are as follows:

MK-all of Fanasyland, Toontown Fair,all parades and fireworks
AK-Camp Minnie-Mickey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, Mickey's Jammin Jungle parade
MGM-Playhouse Disney, Little Memaid, Beauty & the Beast, Stars & Motor Cars parade, Fantasmic (although some parts of this are a little scary)
Epcot-The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk w/ Crush, Journey into the Imag. w/ Figment, Illuminations

Hope you have fun!

 

[mikamah]

We went for the first time in Dec and my son turned 5 while we were there. He absolutely loved meeting characters above all else and would stand patiently in line for autographs. I thought the character greetings at MGM were awesome and they had a schedule at the gate of times of all character greetings.
His next favorite was the parades at MK, AK, and MGM. I really liked the mgm parade because it was less crowded and they didn't put the ropes up. We got there early and sat on a bench and had ice cream and watched it. It was more laid back than at MK.
We spent most of our MK time in fantasyland and toontown.
Have a great time.

 

[miss_deville]

If you have four full days, I would:

1. Allow two full mornings for the Magic Kingdom.
2. Figure on taking an afternoon break at the hotel pool.
3. Skip EPCOT this trip. She'll get more out of it when she's older and you will need the time for the MK.
4. Make a reservation for a Winnie the Pooh character meal at the Crystal Palace -- maybe lunch?
5. Allow time for your daughter to play in the Winnie the Pooh playground at MK (bring a change of clothes or put her in a bathing suit -- she'll get very wet in the fountains) and at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground at MGM. They may seem a bit "ordinary" to grownups compared to the rides, but children love them.
6. Follow her lead on whether she's ready for attractions such as Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. (Lots of 4-year-olds are, but not all of them).
7. Be selective and follow a touring plan, such as one from "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World."
8. Have a great time!

 

[kathyanderson28]

I read on another board about going to guest relations for a first timer pin. I was wondering if anybody else knew about this, and if they are at all parks, or just magic kingdom.

 

[Gomez Gang]

if your kids are into princesses, I suggest the Princess breakfast at Epcot in Norway's pavillion. Generally I am not one to waste a.m. hours on a sit-down breakfast (we like to hit the rides with no waiting!) but I do make an exception with this one.
This breakfast has some of the best dishes.........CINNAMON ROLLS are outstanding here!!!!!!you also get fresh fruit, eggs, potatoes, meats and other items that I am not remembering now.
The best part is that ALL the princesses (except cinderella) are usually there and go from table to table posing for pics and signing autographs.
Last time we were there we had Belle, Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, and Mulan.

 

[5fordisney]

I would def. recommend getting the unofficial guide to disney book. Make sure you get the 2007 edition b/c they update the book each year. It's a great investment as it will tell you everything and anything you may need to know for your trip and will help you plan. If it were me, I would pick a park to skip this trip and spend your time focusing on the 3 others, plus the hotel pool or a waterpark. Our least favorite with 3 little kids was MGM, although everyone is different. MK is by far the best for a 4 year old and a not to be missed. We really liked Epcot, as did our children, but again, everyone is different. The best advice given to me was to prepare ahead of time with a touring plan, like the ones found in the unofficial guidebook. It made for a much smoother trip, with less wait time for rides and attractions.
You'll have fun no matter what you do or see! Have a great trip!