How to WOW a 1st timer!

[laalaa]

Hey everyone

Just wanted a bit of advice for my upcoming trip.

This will be our (BF & me) 2nd trip to WDW, but our first staying on site.

It will be my brothers first trip.

I want to make this trip a regular and want to WOW my brother and boyfriend so they want to come back!

Any ideas?

My boyfriend is 24, my brother 16.

What special things can I do?

First stop will be to get my brother a 1st time visit button, and an anniversary one for me and my BF. 7 year anniversary on the last night of our trip.

 

[stitchlover]

Is there a limit to the money? If you are wanting to go all out see about a firework cruise.
Do you have ADR's scheduled for places you think will wow them? Have never been but have heard Coral Reef is incredible to see.

 

[tiffsix]

This is completely cliche but i think Disney as is will work for you- i guess i just can't imagine anyone not being wowed...hahaha

 

[mbcary]

Definitely make sure you see the fireworks events at all of the parks. I would also ask about the question about ADR's. Are you on the dining plan?

 

[laalaa]

Dont think i could stretch to a fireworks cruise. Wish i could!

I was just thinking of simple things.

What are your must see and must do things.

Our time at WDW before was very limited. Didnt see illuminations, or any parades, didnt meet mickey, didnt do any table service meals, didnt look round resorts, didnt even look around the World Showcase in Epcot.

Was thinking of getting a cake made for one of our dinner ADR's, but dont know if that will embarass them!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Do a SEGWAY tour. Either FW or Epcot that will wow them.

 

[laalaa]

Doing a segway tour is also a possibilty but dont know if they get booked up quite far in advance.

 

[mbcary]

I have never done the fireworks cruise, but still tear up when watching Wishes and Illuminations. I think that is pretty magical. Just get a good seat. Be sure to see Spectromagic at MK too. Don't do anything you think will embarass him, he might remember that negatively. Don't stress too much about it. Just have a great time. You never know, if they see how much fun it is for you, then they may feed off of that.
If you don't already know, ask your brother what kind of food he likes and then book some ADR's at Epcot World Showcase. I love walking around there. Catch the Showcase Players at UK (and Italy, I think) if you can. They are really fantastic and very entertaining.

 

[laalaa]

Well we have ADRs for chef mickeys and crystal palace as I know they will both like the type of food there.

Goofys Snack Company, i think we will go there
Boardwalk Bakery, my bro will like this.
Segway tour, i will call tomorro about booking
Gonna do all the fireworks, plus fantasmic and some parades.
Downtown Disney at night.
Have MVMCP tickets for 12/2

Do they still have the beatles tribute band playing in the UK part of WS? My boyf is a big fan

 

[dburg30]

If you are into the holidays also, Candlelight Processional if that's your kind of thing? Osborne lights of course.

Just enjoy it. I guess IMO have things planned, but just 'let them happen' dont go all commando and try to do too much. Then no one will have fun or be wow'd.. I agree with someone else, let WDW do the work for you

edit: Oh, and just make sure everyone knows it's ok to be 10 years old when at disney Dont worry about being an 'adult'

 

[mbcary]

Well we have ADRs for chef mickeys and crystal palace as I know they will both like the type of food there.

Goofys Snack Company, i think we will go there
Boardwalk Bakery, my bro will like this.
Segway tour, i will call tomorro about booking
Gonna do all the fireworks, plus fantasmic and some parades.
Downtown Disney at night.
Have MVMCP tickets for 12/2

Do they still have the beatles tribute band playing in the UK part of WS? My boyf is a big fan

Oh well you are going to MVMCP on my birthday so everything will be magical!!
They do still have the Beatles tribute band at UK. They are really great too! Great job on Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. Those are both great places. It certainly sounds like you have thought a lot of this through already.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

You want the answer? The REAL answer on how to WOW a first timer? Well, here it is:

Tell them NOTHING.

Thats it. Don't talk about the trip, don't tell them all the cool things there going to see, none of it. Keep the Disney talk to a minimum.

Think about it. Think about what you were most impressed by on your first trip. I bet it was something you didn't really know anything about. For example, when I took my girlfriend on her first trip, she knew of the castle and the "golf ball" and I was telling her about the hat in MGM but didn't mention the Tree of Life at all as I didn't think she'd think much of it. Do you know what wow'ed her the most and is her favorite park icon? You guessed it, the Tree of Life!

If you start telling them about how cool this or that is, or "I can't wait till you see this", etc. They start to build up pre-conceived ideas on how awesome it must really be due to your excitement, and thus their expectation is even harder to meet.

Trust me, its hard not to want to talk about it while waiting to go, but in the end, I think you will get your wish. Let them discover it all on their own. People like to feel like they've discovered something, not be told about the discovery. Another quick example of this is my girlfriends second trip. She was disappointed by the Haunted Mansion, as I think she was expecting a true haunted house, but on her second visit to the Mansion she pointed out the shadow playing the piano to me, which I had never seen before. After I told her how cool that was and that I had never seen it before, all of a sudden the Haunted Mansion "wasn't so bad".

But really, you don't have to spend an extra dime. Just let them discover the magic on their own.

 

[mbcary]

You want the answer? The REAL answer on how to WOW a first timer? Well, here it is:

Tell them NOTHING.

Thats it. Don't talk about the trip, don't tell them all the cool things there going to see, none of it. Keep the Disney talk to a minimum.

Think about it. Think about what you were most impressed by on your first trip. I bet it was something you didn't really know anything about. For example, when I took my girlfriend on her first trip, she knew of the castle and the "golf ball" and I was telling her about the hat in MGM but didn't mention the Tree of Life at all as I didn't think she'd think much of it. Do you know what wow'ed her the most and is her favorite park icon? You guessed it, the Tree of Life!

If you start telling them about how cool this or that is, or "I can't wait till you see this", etc. They start to build up pre-conceived ideas on how awesome it must really be due to your excitement, and thus their expectation is even harder to meet.

Trust me, its hard not to want to talk about it while waiting to go, but in the end, I think you will get your wish. Let them discover it all on their own. People like to feel like they've discovered something, not be told about the discovery. Another quick example of this is my girlfriends second trip. She was disappointed by the Haunted Mansion, as I think she was expecting a true haunted house, but on her second visit to the Mansion she pointed out the shadow playing the piano to me, which I had never seen before. After I told her how cool that was and that I had never seen it before, all of a sudden the Haunted Mansion "wasn't so bad".

But really, you don't have to spend an extra dime. Just let them discover the magic on their own.

What a fantastic answer DJ Disney Kid!! Love it!

 

[toddler]

I hate to sound negative, but I would go in with a plan in place on what you're doing. The reason why I say that is that I've got a group of ladies I eat dinner with once a month and one of them said they went this year to Magic Kingdom (they only had one day in Orlando for "fun" and that's what they'd decided to take the kids to do.) ... AND DIDN'T RIDE A SINGLE RIDE. I was horrified. She said it was busy, they were just completely overwhelmed, couldn't really agree on what to do and the lines were so overwhelming that they walked around looking at everyone and then left. I was like, "You. Are. Kidding. Me.... Right???"

I'm the planner - I have the schedule of what we're doing down so pat that I know to get a Fastpass at this ride, then walk to this and do it, then go back to the Fastpass ride, etc. It's like a dance, but it establishes a FLOW that keeps us moving through the parks and keeps our attention on the fun of the rides and entertainment and NOT on the 30 minute (or more) wait times. Balancing out live entertainment to rides helps... not sure how much they'll go for the live shows but I'd still take them to do them.

Hope that helps!

 

[huskies90]

I agree with DJ Disney Kid AND Toddler. Letting your party "discover" things on their own makes it special but your experience and knowledge can help lead them to these discoveries.

For my family's first trip I read every word of every post on these boards for about 6 months prior to our trip. While, I missed out on some surprises, I was able to plan it so everyone else got to "discover" all the little special magical things.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

After taking the most cynical people in the world with us,

WISHES!


Get between "Mickey and Walt" statue and the castle, but right at the statue. The castle will cut some of the fireworks, but you maximize pixiedust. I had 7 people with me that hated everything, but whose jaws dropped to the ground for Wishes.

Guys tend to like Illuminations too. Either sit next to the Rose & Crown in England, or actually go to the Rose & Crown with 7:40 reservations, getting their 10 minutes early.

Since the guys are 16 and 24, make sure to ride BTMRR, SM, RnRC, ToT, TT, etc. Make sure to make the most of the FPs for these rides.

Good Luck!

 

[Tinks1984]

Erm...can I say one thing...make sure you all MEET THE MOUSE! (And get your pictures taken with him!)

Can't get much more Disney than that! He can be found in all of the Disney parks, just check with Guest Services as to what time he'll be out for meet and greet and where he'll be