First trip to WDW

[llsstt11]

me and my family will be going to WDW for the fist time this August. We are going from August 22 to August 27. I was wondering if any one know what the crowds are like at that time and any tips to get the most from this trip we want it to a really magical time
thanks

 

[Tinker_Belle]

We are also going for the first time together (8/26-8/31 at CBR). I went with my family when I was a teenager in 1989, but this is the first time I am taking my husband and my son. Because I want to be sure everything is perfect for them, I have been OBSESSING over every last detail.

From what I've read so far, the kids go back to school on the 20th down there. Since free dining starts on the 26th, the resorts and restaurants will be very busy, but the parks won't be that bad.

Have a great time! Maybe we'll see you down there!

20 more days!!!

 

[llsstt11]

thanks for the info, have a good time to

 

[Feralpeg]

The crowds will be heavy but manageable. Make use of the fastpass system. My best tip is not to stress. Do what you can do and have a great time!

 

[llsstt11]

ya i just hope we have nice weather

 

[JulielovesDisney]

me and my family will be going to WDW for the fist time this August. We are going from August 22 to August 27. I was wondering if any one know what the crowds are like at that time and any tips to get the most from this trip we want it to a really magical time
thanks

It's going to be HOT!! Go to a local Walmart, Target, Dollar store, or any other place that sells mist fans. They will save your life! They really help keep you cool. They also sell them down in Disney, but they are $20. If you buy the mist fans at home, you'll save about $15 per bottle.

Be sure to take afternoon breaks when the temp. is the highest. Maybe go back to the room and swim or take a nap. You'll be refreshed and ready to go back to the park for the rest of the night.

The crowds shouldn't be too bad. Most school will be starting, so the crowds dip down a good deal. Just make sure you have dinner reservations because you'll be going down during the Free Dining and most good places will be full. Use Fast Passes as often as possible too.

Make sure you have comfy shoes, it's a lot of walking. If you just bought new shoes, BREAK THEM IN!! Wear them whenever you go out or go on walks during the morning, day, or night. It'll help a lot! It will make your feet used to the shoe and the shoe will form to your feet. It will reduce blisters.

Make sure you have plenty of headache medicine. Headaches are common, especially with the sun being so strong. Rides also can give you headaches. I get a bad headache if I ride Space Mountain too much. It'll ruin your day if you have a headache and no way to get rid of it.

You'll have a great time. Just use common sense. And don't expect to see and do everything! It's overwhelming the amount of rides and shows they have. You can't see everything.

Have a magical trip!

 

[llsstt11]

thanks for your help

 

[Jewel99]

me and my family will be going to WDW for the fist time this August. We are going from August 22 to August 27. I was wondering if any one know what the crowds are like at that time and any tips to get the most from this trip we want it to a really magical time
thanks

Have you made your dining reservations yet? With the popularity of a lot of the restaurants, plus the Dining Plan (which is free for some people for part of that time due to a promotion they had a few months ago), the restaurants are booked up very early. If you plan on just winging it, you may find that it's hard to get a table at many of the sit down places. If you're planning on doing a lot of counter service restaurants, then it's not as much of an issue.

 

[llsstt11]

we have made 3 dinner plans for sit down meals.
I m glad i found this site I found out some really cool things about Disney World that i did not know about before
thanks

 

[pawn626]

hey that's great we are going aug. 22-27 also staying at asmu. this is our second trip to disney. we hope to see all we missed last time. have a great trip.

 

[momof4andmore]

We just returned from our first trip to Disney. The only thing that I wish I had brought with me was something to hold all of our fast passes and park tickets in. Sort of like a passport holder that you can wear around your neck.
Have a great time!

 

[LKLush]

I've only been on one previous trip and all I can add to the postings is: take breaks! Don't make it a marathon; everyone'll end up too tired and just want to sit down anyway (but after that running around, may not be in a good mood). Take in the sights and enjoy it - don't run at 80mph around the parks.

Also, my Dis BFF's mom types up cards that have what parks have extra magic hours before or after opening, what time the parades are, and any reservations. She uses packing tape so Kali doesn't destroy it. It was great to keep things organized. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Fortywinks]

Make sure you have comfy shoes, it's a lot of walking. If you just bought new shoes, BREAK THEM IN!! Wear them whenever you go out or go on walks during the morning, day, or night. It'll help a lot! It will make your feet used to the shoe and the shoe will form to your feet. It will reduce blisters.

You'll have a great time. Just use common sense. And don't expect to see and do everything! It's overwhelming the amount of rides and shows they have. You can't see everything.

Have a magical trip!

Don't forget baby power! If you do a lot of walking you will need it in hot weather to prevent chafing.

 

[llsstt11]

thanks for your tips

 

[thejackattack21]

Late august crowds aren't too bad, as most kids in Florida are already back in school and you're still a little early for the Labor Day weekend rush. But, like everyone else said, it will be HOT and HUMID! Bring water bottles (you can refill them for free) and water misters, and don't be afraid to sit down and take breaks in the a/c (shows are GREAT for this!) It's also a good idea (as someone else mentioned) to get to the parks early in the morning, take a break in the afternoon to go back to the hotel and nap/swim, then come back at night.

It would help to know what parks you're going to, how old your kids are, etc..., but these tips will apply no matter what:

*When you get to your first park, head to Guest Relations and let them know that you're first-timers. They'll give you a special button to wear during your stay.

*Some nights, the nightime parades/fireworks shows happen twice. If so, the later ones are less crowded. Be sure to check the schedule before you go- just like there are nights with 2 shows, there are nights with none. And be sure to get seats AT LEAST a half hour beforehand to get a great view.

*Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. Every day, a different park either opens early or stays open late for resort guests, and the lines are typically GREATLY reduced. The EMH schedule is available here:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage&bhcp=1

*Also, there will be a Pirate and Princess Party at the Magic Kingdom while you're there (August 24th). These parties are the BEST way to visit the MK- the tickets are about half the price of a one-day pass ($38.95 for adults if you buy them in advance online), and you can enter the park beginning at 4pm and stay until midnight! At 7pm, everyone who doesn't have a Pirate & Princess ticket has to leave, so the lines go WAY down and you can enjoy all of the most popular attractions, PLUS the special events (parade, fireworks, shows) that only occur at the party AND the whole family can go in costume! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[llsstt11]

thanks for all you help I do have one question though. we are plaining to use the photo pass thing and we might get a Cd i was wondering if any one new if the photographers are at character dinnings and how much do you thing they will be out considering we are going in the off season

 

[thejackattack21]

I don't know if the photographers are at character dining, although I would be really surprised if they weren't. In the parks (regardless of the season), you will always find them by iconic spots (in front of Cinderella's castle, the Tree of Life, etc...) and then scattered throughout the park. Don't be shy; on more than one occasion I have found a photographer in one area of a park and asked them to follow me to another area for a picture!

 

[LegoMom3]

I will just add that in our experience (last Sept.; crowds overall weren't too bad at all) the evening Extra Magic Hours were MUCH more crowded than the morning. I suppose not everyone wants to get up early on vacation but if you do, it's worth it!! I won't do the evening EMH again; depending on the park, the few rides that are operating usually don't have their FastPass machines open so the crowds tend to build up. On the other hand, when we did the morning EMH, we walked onto just about everything, or waited just a few minutes.

 

[llsstt11]

Thanks do you think its worth getting a photo pass CD

 

[mjf2wdw]

I would just like to add that if you go to animal kingdom during this trip, go as early in the morning as possible. The hot sun keeps the animals hiding in the shade.