I need TIPS on first vacation ever to WDW

[lizet313]

Hi there thanks for coming to read my thread. Hope you are doing well. I am in need of assistance on what to do when I get to WDW. It has been my dream to go and I am now 21 yrs old and finally get the opportunity to go from Feb. 11-15 2009. Any ideas on what places to visit? I will be staying in SSR. I am getting very worried that I will not be able to see everything there is to see at WDW or Orlando. Any information is useful.

Thanks

Lizet313

 

[lisaanddenny]

I have been at least 5 times and I still have not seen everything......so don't set your goals on seeing everything or you will be disappointed and EXHAUSTED............you have to do some research and find things that look like it would interest you and plan that out...............secondly, plan your second trip when you get back........

 

[Capt. Tigger]

Gotta agree, seeing everything is impossible, and trying to do so will lessen you're enjoyment significantly and completely wear you out.

Being your first trip I would stick to basics. You want to enjoy the things that truly make the typical WDW trip have that sense of magic.

Its great that you're staying onsite. That will be a big plus and really make your trip special.

I would recommend hitting the big 4 parks and not be as concerned with waterparks, other Orlando attractions, etc. You want to get that Disney feel with each of the main parks.

Enjoy the parades/fireworks. I'd say its safe to assume that a serious chunk of the money you paid for your ticket goes to fireworks, and for good reason. They will not disappoint.

EAT! I can't stress this enough. And if you're not on the meal plan, give it serious consideration.

Above all, don't over-do it! I can promise you that you will already be planning your return while you're on the way home, so relax and know that you won't hit everything.

I'd be more than happy to answer any more specific questions you might have.

Hope this helps! Happy planning!

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Hello Lizet313 - my recommendation for the Magic Kindgom is not to go to Fantasy Land until nighttime when all the little kids/babies will be gone. The lines go down tremendously, but first thing in the morning, everybody waits in line and it is discouraging. Frontierland is never crowded in the morning so make a run for it! Relax, have fun and enjoy yourself. You will never see it all and like other people have said, if you put in your mind that you will do it all - you will get sad - so DON'T GET SAD. Also, I live near Orlando so we go quite often. When you go to Disney Hollywood Studios, run straight for Toy Story and get a fast past. They have been disappearing by 11:00 or so and the lines have been horrible. After you get the fast pass, you can enjoy the rest of the day. Oh! one more thing, whatever time is printed on the fast pass, it doesn't mean you have to go during this time, just arrive after the time and you will be fine. If the ticket says to come back between 3-4, you can arrive any time after 4. A lot of people don't know this, but don't plan your day around the time on the card - just arrive anytime after and you will be fine. If your Toy Story fast pass says 2:45 - you can go after dinner, if you are eating in that area. No big deal. Hope this helps!

 

[lizet313]

Thank you to all. I am glad I dont have to worry about every little detail. Thanks to everyone for their good advice. What would be the top things to do at each park? How do I find a schedule for the fireworks?

 

[Capt. Tigger]

Top things at each park...hmmm... bear in mind, now, that you will get a million different answers, just know that going in. For me, though, I'd say

MK
Space, Splash, and Big Thunder Mtns (cannot stress these enough)
Pirates!
Mickey's Philharmagic
Haunted Mansion
Peter Pan's Flight
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Jungle Cruise (for nostalgia's sake. To me, its so bad its good. )
Small World (I couldn't send you on your first Disney trip in good conscience and not send you here)

Epcot
Spaceship Earth
Soarin' (get that fastpass early)
Test Track
Seas
A leisurely stroll enjoying all that World Showcase has to offer

Studios
Rock'n'Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania
Star Tours
Muppet Vision 3-D

Animal Kingdom
Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Everest
Dinosaur
Everest
It's Tough to Be a Bug
Everest
Eat some ribs at Flame Tree BBQ
Everest

 

[Capt. Tigger]

I forgot to comment on the fireworks. I don't believe (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) that there is a set time. There's a general time, but usually after its dark enough. That being said, a time doesn't terribly matter, as you'll need to stake out a spot before it gets dark, especially for Illuminations.

As for Wishes, being your first time, stake out a spot on Main Street early for Spectromagic, and then just filter into the street and towards the castle afterwards with everyone else to watch Wishes.

 

[ToddyLu]

Congrats on your first trip.. I was 32 on mine. I would get a PassPorter or some other guide book. Look at the maps and get a feel for where everything is located--not memorized but you need to have an idea--lets say--you may need to know that when you enter MK--Space Mtn is to the right in the park and Splash Mtn is to the left. It really helped me get my plan in gear that first trip. Have a terrific time--we go in about 3 weeks

 

[lizet313]

Thanks

 

[nurse.darcy]

Here was my itinerary (though quite unplanned) for a 4 day trip in September with a good friend.

Day one: Hit DHS about 11:30 and ride RnR and ToT - twice, Little Mermaid, star tours, then lunch at the bar at the Tune In lounge at 50's prime time. Back to hotel to swim and shower then Dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby but not before Beauty and The Beast, Tot, and RnR again. . .lol. After dinner a brisk stroll to Epcot for Illuminations. . .helped work off the dinner at HBD. Loads of fun.

Day Two: Rope Drop at AK without trying (we discover this day that we are both early risers. . .a good thing). EE 4 times then KJS (Kilimanjaro Safari) then Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo. Afterward Dinosaur, Lunch, then being a water magnet on Kali River Rapids. . .Off to hotel for a swim then Dinner in Epcot at Bistro de Paris with a window seat for illuminations, then later Jellyrolls till nearly 2 a.m.

Day Three: Rope Drop at MK, ride Space Mountain. . .friend decides he has a HUGE hangover and needs to go back to hotel so I press on and ride HM, POTC, and BTMR plus a few other rides. Loads of fun. Head back to hotel, join up with friends at their pool but I am beat and decide to head back to my hotel room. Friend joins later, we swim, and then call it an evening. Early evening. Sleep all the way around.

Day Four (the best day of all): Rope drop at Epcot, what a great rope drop they have. We ride Soarin 2 times, see Nemo, go on mission space and test track and then meet up with friends at food and wine. Yummy tastes of stuff around the world, then friends need to catch ME for their flight back to reality so we head to our hotel for a swim. Then to MK to catch a few rides and Spectromagic. It was a beautiful ending to a great trip.

Day Five: Friend leaves in the early AM so I go to downtown disney to shop and enjoy the day. I have an early flight the next morning so don't want to get too overdone. . .lol.

I had been 4 times before this trip and this trip I had the most fun. A really great time and very relaxing. Most people thought that we went at breakneck speed but that was just not the case. It was just a good paced fun trip.

 

[SydneyFalco]

I have been at least 5 times and I still have not seen everything......so don't set your goals on seeing everything or you will be disappointed and EXHAUSTED............you have to do some research and find things that look like it would interest you and plan that out...............secondly, plan your second trip when you get back........

Best. Advice. Ever.

Plan til you puke, but once you're on site, DON'T FRET IT!

Seriously.

Four/five days? I say limit yourself to three parks. Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are the must-sees, and each takes at least a day and half to do at a reasonable pace. (And since I MUST have a sit down meal during a day--just for the quiet time, if nothing else--that's why I say limit the number of parks this time out.) Do yourself--and these magical parks--a good service and give them the time they deserve.

As a piece of really personal advice, I say skip Hollywood Studios, but then I'm just not fond of that park. If a couple of its rides appeal to you--Tower Of Terror and Toy Story get high marks--and you feel you MUST go, I say hit Hollywood in the morning, do those 2/3 rides, get your fanny out around lunch. (I haven't been to Animal Kingdom).

Learn what the magic hours are when you go. (Actually, you and I are going at the same time. I'd send you the info, but I don't have it here at work.) You can find this out online.

 

[SydneyFalco]

Here was my itinerary (though quite unplanned) for a 4 day trip in September with a good friend.

Day one: Hit DHS about 11:30 and ride RnR and ToT - twice, Little Mermaid, star tours, then lunch at the bar at the Tune In lounge at 50's prime time. Back to hotel to swim and shower then Dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby but not before Beauty and The Beast, Tot, and RnR again. . .lol. After dinner a brisk stroll to Epcot for Illuminations. . .helped work off the dinner at HBD. Loads of fun.

Day Two: Rope Drop at AK without trying (we discover this day that we are both early risers. . .a good thing). EE 4 times then KJS (Kilimanjaro Safari) then Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo. Afterward Dinosaur, Lunch, then being a water magnet on Kali River Rapids. . .Off to hotel for a swim then Dinner in Epcot at Bistro de Paris with a window seat for illuminations, then later Jellyrolls till nearly 2 a.m.

Day Three: Rope Drop at MK, ride Space Mountain. . .friend decides he has a HUGE hangover and needs to go back to hotel so I press on and ride HM, POTC, and BTMR plus a few other rides. Loads of fun. Head back to hotel, join up with friends at their pool but I am beat and decide to head back to my hotel room. Friend joins later, we swim, and then call it an evening. Early evening. Sleep all the way around.

Day Four (the best day of all): Rope drop at Epcot, what a great rope drop they have. We ride Soarin 2 times, see Nemo, go on mission space and test track and then meet up with friends at food and wine. Yummy tastes of stuff around the world, then friends need to catch ME for their flight back to reality so we head to our hotel for a swim. Then to MK to catch a few rides and Spectromagic. It was a beautiful ending to a great trip.

Day Five: Friend leaves in the early AM so I go to downtown disney to shop and enjoy the day. I have an early flight the next morning so don't want to get too overdone. . .lol.

I had been 4 times before this trip and this trip I had the most fun. A really great time and very relaxing. Most people thought that we went at breakneck speed but that was just not the case. It was just a good paced fun trip.

See, this is why soliciting advice can sometimes be counter-productive. This AMAZING schedule would not do for me (rope drops? Illuminations not once but twice? MGM the first day? all big no-no's for me) , but it is meticulous and intelligent and sounds really fun.

That's kinda why these boards exist. There's about a million ways to do this, and no way to do it wrong. Remember that last part: no way to do it wrong.

 

[warpdarkmatter]

the best advice i could give you is to get to be at the park entrance 30 to 45 min before the park opens it really makes a big differance on how much you can see and do

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I forgot to comment on the fireworks. I don't believe (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) that there is a set time. There's a general time, but usually after its dark enough. That being said, a time doesn't terribly matter, as you'll need to stake out a spot before it gets dark, especially for Illuminations.

As for Wishes, being your first time, stake out a spot on Main Street early for Spectromagic, and then just filter into the street and towards the castle afterwards with everyone else to watch Wishes.

There is a very set time for fireworks - Magic Kingdom is Wishes, Epcot is Illuminations and Disney Hollywood Studios has Fantasmic (fireworks, lasers and characters). You can go to the waltdisneyworld.com calender for February and click on each day for a full schedule of events. I like to use intercot.com for thier park hours and events schedules. Here is a link to the February fireworks and events schedule:

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/calendar/events.asp#February_Events

 

[PrincessTiffany]

There's a general time, but usually after its dark enough. That being said, a time doesn't terribly matter, as you'll need to stake out a spot before it gets dark, especially for Illuminations.

As for Wishes, being your first time, stake out a spot on Main Street early for Spectromagic, and then just filter into the street and towards the castle afterwards with everyone else to watch Wishes.

Since the OP is going in February it will be dark by 6:00 p.m., Illuminations always shows at either 9:00 or 9:30 depending on park closing for the day, so there is no reason to line up for Illuminations 3 hours early. We usually line up maybe 30 - 45 minutes early, especially in low season, for Illuminations, Wishes and Fantasmic (which has its own theater seating).

 

[DisCopper]

This is what I always tell first-timers... plan, but DON'T overplan.

Take a look at what's actually in the Parks (look at any of the books to start) and find out the stuff that you think you really need to see. Make a list of the stuff that:
- You have to do.
- You want to do, but could live without.
- You aren't really interested in.
Then go and have fun. Hit the Parks with a plan (but not a PLAN).. start with the stuff you really want to do. If you have time, move down your list.

What you SHOULDN'T do is Plan every minute. You'll just end up stressed out. Make some dinner reservations, but leave yourself somewhat open for other stuff... this is vacation after all.

Have a good time!

 

[lizet313]

Thanks for evryones advice. You all have been really helpful. I have some ideas on what to do thanks

 

[Capt. Tigger]

Since the OP is going in February it will be dark by 6:00 p.m., Illuminations always shows at either 9:00 or 9:30 depending on park closing for the day, so there is no reason to line up for Illuminations 3 hours early. We usually line up maybe 30 - 45 minutes early, especially in low season, for Illuminations, Wishes and Fantasmic (which has its own theater seating).

Thanks for setting me straight. I'm so accustomed to going in summer I hadn't even stopped to think about it. Thanks!

 

[PJAY]

I forgot to comment on the fireworks. I don't believe (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) that there is a set time. There's a general time, but usually after its dark enough. That being said, a time doesn't terribly matter, as you'll need to stake out a spot before it gets dark, especially for Illuminations.

As for Wishes, being your first time, stake out a spot on Main Street early for Spectromagic, and then just filter into the street and towards the castle afterwards with everyone else to watch Wishes.

I may be wrong but i believe they do have set times for the fireworks. They are on the list of showtimes and parades brochure found at the park entrance and other parts of the park.
As PP said, planning is best for such a short stay but don't fret if you get off the plan. It's a guide to help maximize your time. DW swears by the Unofficial guide or Passporter buit there are a ton of resources online.

 

[coltfan]

One of the early posters listed things in each park. That list looked very good to me. My only additions would be to see the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom and possibly the Beauty and the Beast performance at Disney Studios. In Epcot there are several live performers throughout World Showcase. The live performances are fabulous throughout WDW. Pick up a map at each park so you have the times for fireworks, parades and performances throughout the day.

The WDW website has a link to a calendar which lists parade and fireworks times daily. That would be helpful for planning your visit.