For WDW First-Timers - What Are You Most/Least Excited To See?

[T_O]

Hi everyone!

I am going on my first trip to WDW this August, and would love to hear what some of the other First-Timers are looking forward to most? Are there any rides/shows/experiences/foods that you plan on skipping, and why? Come back after your trip and share what you liked most, or were most disappointed by!

I am most looking forward to:
1 - Seeing Magic Kingdom!
2 - Staying at the Polynesian resort
3 - ALL the fireworks/lights shows!
4 - "Critiquing" the food, especially the stuff everyone raves about. (Is it really that good, lol?)

I am least excited about:
1 - Meeting/Dining with Characters (but I will be doing this for my kids)
2 - Rides (my kids will only ride the slow ones, so no 7DMT, Splash Mountain, etc)
3 - Monorail (convenience will be great I'm sure, but subway-type trains make me nervous)

 

[NewbieMouse]

I was there almost 20 years ago, and just very briefly at MK and "MGM Studios", so I consider myself a "first timer". We are DLR regulars but thought we would try WDW this year.

I am really looking forward to:

1. World Showcase at Epcot and the food kiosks that will be there with the F&G Festival.
2. The alcoholic "slushies"!
3. Comparing some of the rides (i.e SM, Splash, BTMRR, etc.).
4. Some of the cheesier attractions they don't have at DLR such as the Country Bears Jamboree and Carousel of Progress.
5. Seeing HM not in Christmas mode - we always go to DLR at Xmas so I haven't seen "regular" HM in a while.
6. Swiss Family Treehouse.
7. Tom Sawyer Island.
8. Seeing the Castle.
9. Sci Fi Diner.

I am least excited about shows and parades. Never been a big fan, and I hate the crowds they generate. Also not too crazy about FP+; I would much prefer to get paper fast passes that day like we do at DLR. Like OP, not character crazy, either. Wish hopping was simpler, as the buses sound like a bit of a time hog.

 

[SFMommy]

We are DLR vets going to WDW for the first time in 4 weeks!

We are most excited for things that we don't have at DLR:

1. AK - everything! Especially Safari, Dinosaur, Everest, FOTLK, Nemo and Tusker House meal.
2. EP - everything! Especially the World Showcase...strolling around enjoying the atmosphere, performances, food and shopping.
3. HS - things we don't have in DLR...Great Movie Ride, Beauty and the Beast show, Muppets 3D (no longer at DLR, sadly)
4. MK - again...things we don't have in DLR...Peoplemover, Carousel of Progress, Philharmagic, Hall of Presidents, 7DMT, Barnstormer, ETWB, Laugh Floor, Country Bears and MSEP (both of which I remember from my childhood at DLR and can't wait to experience with our DD9). And different dining experiences...BOG dinner and CRT lunch.
5. Miscellaneous - Sanaa dinner , exploring the Boardwalk/BC/YC/Swolphin area (we are staying at BWV), enjoying the pool and clown slide.

Not looking forward to:

1. Heat and humidity
2. Crowds
3. Having to leave and not knowing if I'll ever get back again!

 

[Pesky]

DLR vet here but haven't been to WDW in almost 30 years. So, like SFMommy, really excited about the things that aren't at DLR.
1. EP -- Food and Wine here we come! I loved EP and can't wait to see if my kids like it as much.
2. AK -- this park looks like a ton of fun and it's the park with the rides both kids are the most excited about (EE for DD and Dinosaur for DS)
3. Did I mention Food & Wine?
4. V&A Anniversary dinner
5. Some of the different rides -- 7DMT, Carousel of Progress, etc.
6. Trying out MNSSHP
7. Relaxing at the resort

Not looking forward to:
1. crowds
2. transit time between parks and resorts
3. Humidity -- we have hardly any where we are so it will be quite the adjustment.
4. Bugs, especially mosquitos. Same as above -- we hardly have any so not used to it.

 

[T_O]

Great lists! Only a few more months until I get to see everything on mine!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Like others, we are frequent DL visitors (I've been over there three times in the last week because of our daughter's birthday!), and we're just dropping into DW for two days on our way back from another vacation.

Excited about:
- All the different character options, especially regular meets for people like Mulan and blue-dress Belle. Our daughter (3) is character-obsessed, so it will be fun.
- Comparing parks
- CRT. I know it's overpriced and not great food, but eating in the castle! Yay!

Not excited about:
Weather, and the fact that it's at the end of another trip... Might be exhausted and jet-lagged.

 

[JimmyV]

4 - "Critiquing" the food, especially the stuff everyone raves about. (Is it really that good, lol?)

No, it is not. WDW has good to pretty good food, and for an amusement park, it has very good food. But from any pure, culinary measure, the food across the board is average. No one should ever go to WDW for a true culinary adventure. The entire resort has two restaurants that I know of that have won culinary awards. (Victoria & Albert's has won just about every award imaginable and bluezoo was recognized by USA Today as some sort of Top 10 Foodie Spot). It is fun to try lots of different restaurants at WDW and experience lots of detailed theming. But if you are going in hoping that the "food is that good", you may want to temper your expectations. Dining at WDW is not like planning a culinary escape to places like New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Napa Valley and San Francisco. Think of it as "fun" dining but not "great" dining. One tiny example...people go crazy over Mickey Bars. They are "great" and a "must have". But Nestle sells the exact same thing in your local grocery store only shaped differently and these same people probably pass by them every week without giving them a second thought. Being at WDW just makes things seem better than they are, and that is part of the magic.
Have a great trip!

 

[Lynzer4]

Hi everyone!

I am going on my first trip to WDW this August, and would love to hear what some of the other First-Timers are looking forward to most? Are there any rides/shows/experiences/foods that you plan on skipping, and why? Come back after your trip and share what you liked most, or were most disappointed by!

I am most looking forward to:
1 - Seeing Magic Kingdom!
2 - Staying at the Polynesian resort
3 - ALL the fireworks/lights shows!
4 - "Critiquing" the food, especially the stuff everyone raves about. (Is it really that good, lol?)

I am least excited about:
1 - Meeting/Dining with Characters (but I will be doing this for my kids)
2 - Rides (my kids will only ride the slow ones, so no 7DMT, Splash Mountain, etc)
3 - Monorail (convenience will be great I'm sure, but subway-type trains make me nervous)

I went to Disney as a kid but didn't really remember it so I am going off my first time as an adult.

When I went for my first time I was so excited to see the Magic Kingdom cuts the vision Disney puts in your head and seeing it for the first time was amazing. We also stayed at the Poly which looked so amazing and it lived up to all expectations.

I will say don't count out you kids yet. See other kids (even smaller then them) walk off with a ride smiling and laughing does something to a kid plus they just might surprise you. I have a cousin and because it's Disney she can ride the big fast rides but no where else does she... Lol

And remember the monorail is in the air and you can see out so while it is a subway type you don't really feel like it as much

Have fun and just enjoy your family time together.

 

[T_O]

No, it is not. WDW has good to pretty good food, and for an amusement park, it has very good food. But from any pure, culinary measure, the food across the board is average. No one should ever go to WDW for a true culinary adventure. The entire resort has two restaurants that I know of that have won culinary awards. (Victoria & Albert's has won just about every award imaginable and bluezoo was recognized by USA Today as some sort of Top 10 Foodie Spot). It is fun to try lots of different restaurants at WDW and experience lots of detailed theming. But if you are going in hoping that the "food is that good", you may want to temper your expectations. Dining at WDW is not like planning a culinary escape to places like New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Napa Valley and San Francisco. Think of it as "fun" dining but not "great" dining. One tiny example...people go crazy over Mickey Bars. They are "great" and a "must have". But Nestle sells the exact same thing in your local grocery store only shaped differently and these same people probably pass by them every week without giving them a second thought. Being at WDW just makes things seem better than they are, and that is part of the magic.
Have a great trip!

Thanks for the advice.
I think I have pretty realistic expectations concerning the food.

 

[Marmatand]

My husband and I have not been to Disney World since our honeymoon quite a few years back and we'll be taking our kids (11, 10 and 6) there at the end of August. I'm considering us all first timers since so much is different now.

I'm most excited for:
All the Star Wars stuff!!
The fireworks
Epcot
Staying onsite (we stayed off site before - it wasn't great)
Really, and I know this is cheesy, but seeing my kids enjoy it all

I'm least excited for:
"scary" rides - I'm a wimp and don't do rollercoasters and other thrill rides. I did promise the kids I'd try 7DMT though. I'm terrified!
Character meets other than Star Wars
The weather

I'm not really planning on skipping anything, but we do have our list of "must do" vs "if we have the time" so I'm sure there will be some things missed - until the next trip, of course! I can't wait to go!