Help with park planning???

[sarahsmom3]

I have been reading Unofficial Guide and am very confused. Our 1st trip is in 19 days and I need opinions on whether to just simply write down everything we want to do or strictly go by the touring plans in the book. The problem with the plans are that they do not include everything we want to do such as the barber shop in MK and shopping. We will not ride the big rides because of DD4 so I'm thinking the best thing to do is make a list of must do things and as we enter the park always stay to the right and see everything. Any suggestions???

 

[DisTeach]

Personally, I enjoy going with the flow and steering clear of any type of itinerary. I'm sure you feel you need to do as much as possible since this is your first trip, but you also need to remember to have fun! And, that sometimes means doing attractions and making mini-trips to places like Downtown Disney that were not originally in the "plan." The night before, come out with a rough schedule as to what park you'd like to do in the morning, and go from there. This might include taking an afternoon break to go back to the pool, or head over to another park for the evening. This allows you to remain flexible. Anyway, I've been to WDW 20+ times and still haven't seen everything! Don't get too stressed, and I hope you and your family have a magical time!

 

[hauntedmansion]

We also just go with the flow. We do plan before we leave (well, we are going in Oct and I already know which park,and where we are eating each day) other then that don't stress about it! it's vacation, It's supposed to be fun. Make 2 lists things you absolutly need to see and things if you miss you really won't mind. The first year I went I brought a highlighter and highlighted everything we saw right in the book then at night in the hotel or at the pool I reviewed it to make sure we didn't miss anything. I advise using fastpasses, they really help. If you need anymore help let me know. I love planning and mine is alredy done.

 

[bicker]

I'd read the guides like a textbook in school... learn what you can from them, but don't expect that everything in real-life will go as described in the book. As with everything you learn you'll be applying what you've read, what you've intuited from what you've read, and your own personal creativity and preference, in crafting the vacation you want.

 

[Hincher]

If you make a plan and expect to stick to it then you might miss an opportunity for magic to happen. We took our first trip as a family last year and I did all the research just out of excitement. One thing you may not think about is the extra time it will take for autographs. We spent a lot of time standing in line for autographs and I wouldn't trade those pictures for any ride I missed.


My point is, get an idea and head off in a direction and see where the magic takes you. Last year I thought I had to see everything. We're going again in October and I have a much more laid back approach.

Have fun and remember to enjoy the magic.

 

[Westcoast Gus]

Here's what I did. I read the UG cover to cover, and thus got a good understanding of what it has to offer. The basics are: Get there before opening and do the most popular stuff first. Since you plan to skip the big rides, I'd just head right up Main Street and go through the castle to Fantasyland. I'm a big planner, but I usually just planned the first few rides and then had a general idea of where we'd go next. It worked pretty well for us. You might also want to check out the book's Web site (touringplans.com, I think) which has dozens of more specific plans. Hope this helps.

 

[jann1033]

i think it's a good idea if you've never been to wdw make a list of what you want to see, if possible before you go look at some park maps ( www.disneyworldtrivia.com on the down load page has some, may have some someplace on here also, not sure) so you have a general "lay of the land". we have done it with an itinerary ( first time we went, you don't have to follow word for word) and without( subsequent times) but they are big areas and it wastes time to just wander aimlessly. some of the"big" things you 4 yr old may be able to ride so i would go on them first upon arrrival( ie safari at ak) then either just tour around from there or follow the rest of an itinerary. relax have fun and don't been so glued to your plans you get stressed...it's vacation!

i do think the unoffical guide is pretty good so if you do follow the general outline of one of the guides it would be fine...the only problem i have is they have a lot of running back and forth across the park which i can't take phyiscally. so i would look at them mostly to see which attractions are popular ( that you want to go on) so you can try to go on them as early as possible. maybe go to the land where that is( like tomorrow land for Buzz Lightyear )ride or get a fast pass for and then finish touring that land, move on to the next popular thing you want to ride, get a fast pass or go on it and tour that land, ect. it saves foot wear and tear imo. if you are going after labor day hopefully it won't be as busy.

 

[jrjac]

I have been reading Unofficial Guide and am very confused. Our 1st trip is in 19 days and I need opinions on whether to just simply write down everything we want to do or strictly go by the touring plans in the book. The problem with the plans are that they do not include everything we want to do such as the barber shop in MK and shopping. We will not ride the big rides because of DD4 so I'm thinking the best thing to do is make a list of must do things and as we enter the park always stay to the right and see everything. Any suggestions???

Our first trip, too-in 8 days! Have you made any ADR's? (Advanced Dining Reservations) That is all we have to our "offical plan." Other than that, we just noted some things we feel are "must-dos" and the rest is just going to be winging it and enjoying WDW for the moment. If we don't do/see our "must-dos"? There's always next time!!

 

[msmayor]

Reading the guidebooks and checking out maps, so you understand what is there and where it is, can be a great way to plan. Being familiar with your surroundings can make getting around much easier.

That being said, the key information you gave in your post is that you have a child who is only 4 years old. If you truly want to have a magical and fun vacation, you will continually tune in to what her needs and wants are...if she's tired and cranky, no one will have fun.

Having a set 'plan' or 'schedule' is fine, but when a 4-year old approaches melt-down because of being hot/tired/thirsty/hungry, any plan has to be abandoned. Pick a few things you know she'll love, make sure they are done, and then go with the flow.

Even with my own family, my kids being aged 11 and 14, I still don't go with a concrete plan. I live by a calendar and schedule every day at home; my vacation is my chance to leave that behind and be spontaneous. If we want to sleep in, we sleep in. If we want to only do 2 or 3 rides and then go swimming, so be it.

The one concession I always make to planning is this: before every vacation, I ask both kids and my husband what one thing they really, really want to do while on vacation. We always make sure that one thing gets done, regardless of who likes the activity. Everyone must put on their happy face for that activity, even if its something they hate, because they know their turn will come to do exactly what they want. This way, everyone gets something special. Its a bonus if what someone decides to do is something everyone will love!

In a nutshell, be prepared with information but don't let it dictate exactly what you do each and every day. Let the vacation unfold; the greatest memories are often the result of the unexpected and unplanned.

 

[sarahsmom3]

Our first trip, too-in 8 days! Have you made any ADR's? (Advanced Dining Reservations) That is all we have to our "offical plan." Other than that, we just noted some things we feel are "must-dos" and the rest is just going to be winging it and enjoying WDW for the moment. If we don't do/see our "must-dos"? There's always next time!!

Thanks so much to everyone for the uplifting advice. I did not really want to stick to a touring plan & I sure did not want to walk back & forth around the park. I have made ADR's. We are eating at CM's, Cindy's, Crystal Palace & Ohanas!!!

 

[jrjac]

Thanks so much to everyone for the uplifting advice. I did not really want to stick to a touring plan & I sure did not want to walk back & forth around the park. I have made ADR's. We are eating at CM's, Cindy's, Crystal Palace & Ohanas!!!

Have a magical time, sarahsmom3!

 

[addicted2disney]

Sarahsmom-
I had just a hint for the barber shop.. get there early!! The line tends to get pretty long! My son had his first haircut there! If there IS a line.. have your husband stand in line while you take sarah to see the characters that are usually there for meet and greets. Take her in the stores, over to the confectionary for a treat, or in Exposition Hall to check for characters in the back inside. My girls have also gotten just the pixie dust hairsprayed onto their hair!

At 4, she will most likely be able to ride most of the big rides. My son was 3 in January, and he rode Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mtn Railroad, Splash Mountain( well, he chickened out of this one, but was tall enough) Test Track, Star Tours. And remember, if there are any big rides she isnt tall enough for, you can do the parent swap so you and your DH can take turns riding while the other waits with sarah.

Get your spot for the parades early. We like to get our spot for the MK parade by 2:00. We take that time to sit on the curb on Main Street while we eat lunch. We get hot dogs and fries from Caseys Corner on Main St. and we eat while we are sitting, and waiting for the parade. There is ice cream right there too. Its a great way to have some down time while you are holding a great spot for the parade AND getting some lunch!

Have a magical trip!!

 

[annie1995]

Is going to the barber fun for 6 or 10 year old boys too? Do they do anything special or is it mostly for the younger one? Thanks!! PS what is the pixie dust they spray in the hair, is it sparkly? ETC....

 

[sarahsmom3]

Is going to the barber fun for 6 or 10 year old boys too? Do they do anything special or is it mostly for the younger one? Thanks!! PS what is the pixie dust they spray in the hair, is it sparkly? ETC....

Never been there myself, but have seen tons of posts with pictures of little boys with the pixie dust in their hair and a mickey head in the back. And yes the pixie dust is sparkly!! DD4 has hair past her shoulders and we are trying to grow her bangs out. We plan to have her hair cut to her shoulders at the barber shop. Are the barbers good enough for a drastic hair cut???

 

[addicted2disney]

ABSOLUTELY!!! The boys love to get their Hair spiked with different colors. The they take the pixie dust.. which is metallic confetti and mickey head confetti.... and put it on the paint and it dries stuck in your hair. MY girls were 9 & 11 and LOVED their hair!!!! MY Ds has had his hair cut there 3 times.. the last time it was spiked green with pixie dust. MY dad and husband have also had their hair cut there. Its a must do!! So much fun.. and rather cheap.. its like 10-15 bucks...she did my girls for free since my son got his cut. SO we tipped her well!

 

[TnTsParty]

As a matter of fact that was what I just got done doing. I have been to Disney plenty of times always for short trips but recently have become very frequent. I always feel that most of the time I was wasting time going from one thing to another that we wanted see but not really in a smooth thought out pattern. Since it will be my DH's 2nd time (as an adult) and our 2nd trip this year I knew what he liked the last time we were there and what we missed and need to do this time. We don't like walking around wasting time trying to figure out where to go next. I already had decided on which days we were going to what parks so I used that to figure out what we wanted to do and based on the touring plans and cheat sheets from www.touringplans.com and looking at the maps to see what attraction is close to another to figure out what order to go, I also have to search out smoking sections since DH is a smoker and the smoking sections can be quite tricky to find. Its not an exact to the minute itineriary but it gives me peace of mind that I will know what we are doing and not waste time.

Always always pick up a map when you first enter but it is helpful as others have said to look them up online and study them before you go. That way you won't feel like you are aimlessly wondering around wasting time. Also helps to know where the bathrooms, lockers (if needed), smoking sections (if needed), stroller rental, etc. This can save you valuable time that can be spent enjoying one of the parks or the resort or anything else Disney has to offer. Have fun and enjoy!!

 

[disneygoof]

The first time we went, we read Frommer's to get an idea of what were musts for our son's age group, then we got a hold of a map before we hit the park. We marked all must sees as A's, should sees as B's, could be missed this time as C's, and crossed off the mountains, etc. (he was 2). We used that map all day, and were able to knock off all the A's and most of the B's. We included shows, etc., on the list and checked the times for the day on the guides you can pick up at Main Street Station. I think you can also download those in advance of your trip, so you can plan when to watch Cinderellabration, etc.

PS. plan to get there early and spend all your early hours in Fantasyland. You'll probably want to ride Dumbo first, for your DD's sake, and then move on from there.

 

[TN Traveler]

Boy, I tell ya what....ya'll are some of the smartest people I know when it comes to planning Disney vacations!! I sure wish I had found this site about 3 months before we took our 1st family vacation Memorial Day week 2004. Altho I had been to Disney Sept 2001 and a travel agent and sold 100s of trips to Disney, I didn't know near as much as I thought I did!! One thing someone said that I thought was a great suggestion is get a copy of the maps to the Parks. We didn't do that and I wish we had. When you walk through the gates for the first time w/3 girls ranging in age between 4, almost 8 and almost 13 yr old, you are amazed at how big this place is. It's really overwhelming. I know my youngest 2 girls just stood there looking down Main Street w/their mouths dropped wide open!

Also making the suggestion of everyone picking out the one ride or one show that they HAD to see was easier said than done. If you don't have a map and have never been there, you don't know what's there that you can't live w/o seeing. Thankfully, I kinda knew what rides and shows were "must dos" and
the girls pretty much wanted to ride the same things.

Someone else suggested 'allow time for autographs'. HOW TRUE!! My girls didn't know some of the characters that we were walking around and could care less about seeing them....on the other hand, there were some that they would have stood in line an hour to see if necessary!!

Being on this website is a smart thing to do. Also talk w/friends/family about what they would do differently on their most recent trip and what they would leave the same. I have a long list of both!!

However, as so many people stated, you are on vacation. You are here to have a good time....if DD4 is tired and not having fun, take a break. Enjoy the time together....take LOTS of pictures. You can never have too many pictures!!! One of my biggest mistakes is I didn't buy any of the shots taken by the Cast Members as you come into the Parks. I don't have a single picture of us as a family...not one....opps.....correction...I have us coming down Splash Mtn but that's not very pretty as we're screaming and getting splashed!! But MAN it was fun!!!

Have a wonderful time!!

Karen aka TN traveler

 

[disneygoof]

I second TN Traveler that you need to remember that it's a vacation, it's about having fun and spending time together, and taking breaks for the kiddos when necessary. If I sound commando, it's because (well, I probably am but) I believe that if you have a general game plan, and have organized your goals a bit, you won't get overwhelmed when you walk in and waste time aimlessly wandering. I don't think you need the touring plans because, you're right, they incorporate things that you won't prioritize for your family, and you might spend too much time criss-crossing.

You also need to allow time for the magic, the trolley with the Main Street USA peformers singing "I'm walking right down the middle of Main Street USA-ay-ay", the jamboree in Frontierland, the talking trash can in Tomorrowland, that pop up in front of you and distract you (beautifully) when you're beelining to Buzz. Your daughter, I'm sure, will also enjoy Belle's Storytime next to the Castle. Check your entertainment times.

Have fun!

 

[annie1995]

Do the main street performers sing walking right down the middle of main street every day? Where do I find out the times for when we go in Sept? I have never seen them, didn't even know they existed, and what is the jamboree in Frontierland, are you referring to country bear jamboree? Thanks for the info!!