Greetings to all! 1st visit for my family this summer.

[timfromjersey]

Hi everyone! Been reading for a while, seems like a very friendly board!

Heading down this August with my family (wife, 14, 12, 10 year old kids), haven't been since I was a child.

I think I've figured out the dining aspect (made ADRs), and have picked days to visit the parks.

The question I have is in regards to 1st timer advice...is there a thread dedicated to the things you should know (transportation map, check in procedures, etc?) for beginners?

Thanks!

Tim

 

[Metro West]

Welcome!

 

[wiigirl]

Welcome!

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Welcome

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi Tim and welcome! I'm Alice from Long Island

I'm not aware of any particular thread, though you can learn a lot by just hitting the resorts and theme park forums.

Where are you staying? It can be tricky finding accomodations for a family of 5!

Here are my reactions to my first two family trips:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1926169&highlight=worked;+bubbles

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551&highlight=airport

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2263996

 

[Aliceacc]

Oh, and a couple of other things:

On the subject of ADRs: Some of our favorites include the Clam Bake at Cape May (even for our non-seafood lovers-- it's our new family favorite!!!), The Coral Reef (it get mixed reviews, but we love it!), Aukerhaus or dinner at 1900 Park Fare if you want a princess fix, Yak and Yetti if you want a break at Animal Kingdom (it's pretty much hotter than the face of the sun in AK in summer; a nice relaxing lunch is just the thing!!!), Sci Fi Diner in Hollywood Studios.

If you can hit the timing right, try to get an ADR for the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party. It's a wonderful way to enjoy Wishes!!! If you're going in July, it just opened up a day or two ago, so you can probably still get ADRs if you try really soon-- as in NOW

Consider preordering the Photopass CD. We think it's well worth the money!!

 

[timfromjersey]

Thanks for the links! Great reading.

I was glad to see several of our ADRs were on your list of faves.

We're headed down in August, wish us luck with the heat.

Cheers!
Tim

 

[timfromjersey]

Oh, and to answer your question, we'll be staying at Port Orleans Riverside, daughter on the murphy bed. It was a tough choice between the suite @ Pop vs. PO Riverside, we went with POR. Pool looks nicer, grounds look beautiful. Since we've never been (just me, as a child. That's a loooong time ago. As in, number of parks: 1) we wanted to blow the kids away with the theming. Not that they'll care.

6 nights there, then 5 more off-site (discovery cove, seaworld, and universal are on the list)

 

[Taytortots]

Port Orleans Riverside is my favorite moderate resort. It is fantastic. I stayed in the preffered section, as the resort is fairly large, and the theming there is amazing (in essence of old New Orleans Manors). Looking out our window or standing just outside the door was just beautiful (I believe it was called Magnolia Bend)
So good choice in the resort.
As for threads, I don't know if there is one that is specific that comes to mind.
You'll find this information all around. If you have specific questions you can post them and they will be answered. I also think trip reports are a good way to go. They helped me for sure, because you can read experiences, many times with families similar to yours, or who will encounter similar things to what you will. So if you have the time, I would browse those and see if something fits.
Otherwise, you should have an easy time perusing the board to find questions similar to yours, or you can use the search bar, of course.
Good luck.

 

[jesswindsor]

Welcome!!!

 

[njmom47]

Welcome! (from a fellow Jerseyan)