Hey!! :) First timer to DIS AND WDW!

[HisKeiki]

So I registered a while back, but i haven't been around... so basically I'm new to DIS!

I have a WDW trip coming up on may 22... our flight is at 7pm i think... we're coming back the 29th. It's a graduation present AND my 18th birthday in one!! (Grad is may 19, birthday is the 28th..)

Soooo... I need all the help I can get! Money-saving tips (lol), overall park tips, etc. I have no idea what park we're going to first but I think MK. I really have a hard time keeping up with all of the different ones! I've done a few searches on diff topics but theres soooo many posts here idk what i'm looking for. I'll start off my thread with a couple questions...

.What kind of shoes are the best to wear? I'm not a sneaker person - I wear sandals. Preferrably some that won't stay soaked long if they get wet, and I hope they're comfortable. Not looking for anything too pricey though.

.I read a couple posts about people wearing a 'birthday button' during their -whole- stay, this is ok right? I'm really looking forward to celebrating my birthday there and I'd like to get the most use out of it I can!

Please move my thread if it's in the wrong place. xD

EDIT: We have the fastpasses already purchased and we have park hoppers. so I won't be getting a free admission ticket to a park. Disney never told me what the other options were... but for me to go to one of the parks or wherever to pick something up.

 

[Metro West]

 

[mommasita]

to the DIS

I wear Crocs. Comfy, waterproof, and durable.

Sounds like a great trip is planned!!

 

[MarkinNM]

to the DIS!!!

As far as shoes wear what you are comfert with, dont try something new as you may be sorry.........HAVE FUN!

 

[RNtheRN]

 

[mickeystoontown]

So I registered a while back, but i haven't been around... so basically I'm new to DIS!

I have a WDW trip coming up on may 22... our flight is at 7pm i think... we're coming back the 29th. It's a graduation present AND my 18th birthday in one!! (Grad is may 19, birthday is the 28th..)

Soooo... I need all the help I can get! Money-saving tips (lol), overall park tips, etc. I have no idea what park we're going to first but I think MK. I really have a hard time keeping up with all of the different ones! I've done a few searches on diff topics but theres soooo many posts here idk what i'm looking for. I'll start off my thread with a couple questions...

.What kind of shoes are the best to wear? I'm not a sneaker person - I wear sandals. Preferrably some that won't stay soaked long if they get wet, and I hope they're comfortable. Not looking for anything too pricey though.

.I read a couple posts about people wearing a 'birthday button' during their -whole- stay, this is ok right? I'm really looking forward to celebrating my birthday there and I'd like to get the most use out of it I can!

Please move my thread if it's in the wrong place. xD

EDIT: We have the fastpasses already purchased and we have park hoppers. so I won't be getting a free admission ticket to a park. Disney never told me what the other options were... but for me to go to one of the parks or wherever to pick something up.

First of all Welcome! You'll find that these boards are quite addictive as is Walt Disney World! We first went in 1998 and now have 13 trips under our belt. Don't plan on going anywhere else anytime soon!

Let me see if I can answer your questions. I'll try to do it in the order you posted them.

Money saving tips: Sad to say but it's a bit hard to save money while on a Walt Disney World trip. I save up all year long 'cause I don't want to have to scrimp and save during our vacation. We purchased the dining plan which saves our family a good bit of money. Also like the convenience of knowing that the food is paid for and all I have to pay for is souveniers and any extras we want.

Park tips: You should plan on spending 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, a day at Animal Kingdom and a day at Hollywood Studios. Make sure that you are at the theme parks about 15 to 30 minutes prior to official park opening. Sometimes, they will allow you into the theme park a little earlier than official opening time. You will be stopped from going all the way into the park but you will have an advantage over those who wait until the last minute to arrive. In other words, you'll be in front of the pack.

Shoes: We are a tennis shoes kind of family. They provide more support for our feet than sandals or flip flops. I am trying a pair of Crocs this year. Right now, Disney crocs are on clearance at www.crocs.com. If you enter code Green09 on the checkout page, you get free shipping.

Birthday buttons: We have celebrated both birthdays and wedding anniversaries in the theme parks. The castmembers asked us how long we were staying at WDW and then told us to wear them every day. So, we did.

Fastpasses: Oops I think you are confused. You can't purchase Fastpasses. I think maybe you mean park tickets? I also see that you have park hoppers. In all honesty, I would have suggested that you not pay the extra money for park hoppers since you are first time visitors. It's easier to stay in one park all day in order to see it all. When you park hop, it takes away valuable park touring time.

Where are you guys staying? If we knew this, we'd be able to provide information and pics on your resort too.

Hope this helps, Lisa

 

[DWFan4Life]

Welcome to DISboards. This is a great source of info and I'm sure you'll find answers to all of your questions, also be prepared to become addicted to DIS.

Have a nice and safe trip coming.

 

[HisKeiki]

Maybe i'm confused on the fastpasses. I overheard something being said about having fastpasses? maybe they meant buying them once we get there... i dont really know!

I see the point about the park hopper... :[ but im pretty sure thats what we got, i'll find out for sure soon.

we're staying at the contemporary. The only thing i know about it is there's Chef Mickey's there, and the monorail goes inside of it/through the middle(?)

Thank you for the welcomes everyone!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Hi! Welcome! I just joined DIS too but have been many times to WDW.

Fastpasses are just a way of getting on rides more quickly. Most of the big attractions have them. You go up to the Fastpass kiosk by the ride (for example, Splash Mountain) and put your park ticket into it. It spits out a slip with a return time on it. Go off, do other stuff, and return to the ride during the return time on the slip. When you get there you can get on the Fastpass line which is usually a lot shorter than the regular line!

Fastpass is usually only worth it when the regular wait time is at least 30 minutes or longer.

And you don't have to buy them, they are a perk of the park ticket!!

Hope this helped clear things up a little!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Our money saving tips: we do not go the dining plan, we save nothing with it. We appreciate the grocery stop in route very much, we do pool picnics every day during our stay and nothing beats a home made salami, bologna or ham sandwich with a few different slices of cheese, chips, pickles and olives and drinks over food court food and Disney's prices. Table Service meals are ridiculously priced and require too much planning and time in restaurants. Counter service meals are not that badly priced for the portion they serve, wife and I split most of those meals. Some of the best buffet on property without characters is at Fort Wilderness's Trail's End, breakfast and dinner are outstanding.

I see you mentioned having fast passes, I hope you aren't of the type to purchase these from Ebay, they are bogus, same for the regular tickets. Stick with Disney and fast passes are free to everyone in the parks.

Birthday button, you bet! Some CM's will acknowledge it and others not but other guests will give ya a "Happy".

Enjoy you first experience and congrats on you leaving HS and " Happy Birthday".

 

[CentFLCruiser]

If you have purchased Park Hopper tickets, I would suggest that you go to your hotel front desk or the ticket kiosk in front of one of the parks BEFORE your first entry and have the tickets changed to Single Park per Day tickets. they can definitely downgrade or upgrade your tickets.

have a great trip!

 

[Disneydonnam]

Welcome to the Dis. Have a great trip.

 

[JAG2007]

Congrats on graduating!

I, too, am planning my first trip to WDW; there's so much to research on the boards!!