If you knew then.....

[Shellyred8]

I am actually worried about this. My daughter and mom think I am overplanning with Qs meals, but i just want to be prepared. Thanks for the tip! While we're at it...best QS in epcot?

We like Seasons if we want a fuller meal. If we want a "heavy snack" we like to hit Norway.

 

[twoolle]

Print maps ahead of time and study them so you don't spend trying time trying to figure it out.

Once you tap in for a FP you can modify your next one for earlier if available. You don't have to wait until your window is up.

Parks open earlier than posted time (with exception of Mk since there's an opening show.

 

[KMarston]

Weather.....I've always been a crazy commando tourist at WDW. On a trip with my then 12 yo son and I, we were up all night after a fire alarm went off in the hotel, storm caused power to flick and mess up the alarm! We woke up at 10:30!!! I was devastated. We are rope drop people! It hailed on the way to the MK! It was Easter and packed. We put on our ponchos and carried on. There was a mass exodus. We spent the day walking on rides! We rode some rides over and over without getting off! Rain is your friend!!! Soldier on!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Thats really a great tip! Thanks! As for getting a good night sleep....may be hard to do....we arrive on NYE, and of course we want to be up for the ball drop.

Thanks, well, my advice about avoiding caffeine on the arrival night may be great in general, but I probably wouldn't apply it to NYE. I was thinking back to my first trip when I had a soda on my arrival night and then couldn't sleep, after the caffeine combined with being enthused about seeing WDW for the first time the next day. But if it's NYE, then I'd also rather stay up later. Have fun!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

My advice to first timers is to be sure to breathe deeply and take in the details of what is around you. WDW is fascinating in the way it brings fairy tales and magic to life. OP, it sounds like you are prepared and equipped, so now just be sure to soak in as much of the magic as possible. WDW is about more than strategy (although strategy matters)

 

[ZoZo]

Hates and gloves? How cold are we talking? I'm from WI, I can't even imagine wearing hat and gloves there.

Yes, bring hats and gloves and other cold weather items. It can get surprisingly cold in December and January, often down into the 40's! Better to bring these items from home, rather than paying the high prices you'll find at WDW. Plus, the humidity and wind in Orlando can make it seem even colder than the actual temperature.

One year, in OCTOBER (!), temps dropped from the mid 90s to the upper 50s overnight. I had packed for 90+degree weather, so only had sleeveless tops and shorts. It was real windy, so 57 degrees felt even colder. WDW prices are really high ($60+ for a sweatshirt), and I'm too cheap to pay those prices, so layered the best that I could. So I highly recommend you toss a few hats and gloves and long pants and warm socks into the suitcase. If you're lucky, you won't need them, but better to be safe than sorry!

 

[Arielfan98]

This is a very general tip, but I would say go with the flow. Once you've made your plans and everyone is happy with them, don't worry too much. There will always be obstacles and challenges along the way such as a ride shut-down, bad dining experience, people using flash in rides (please don't do that), etc. Just do your best to not let these things ruin your vacation! Enjoy your trip and make the best of it Enjoy!

 

[kirstenb1]

Hates and gloves? How cold are we talking? I'm from WI, I can't even imagine wearing hat and gloves there.

I did a quick look at the 7 day forecast for Orlando. Looks like temps range from somewhere in the 30s, to the 60s. Epcot in particular, is wide open. The wind whips across that water, and it's chilly, at least to me. Also, with rope drop, we would be leaving our resort somewhere around 7 am. It should warm up in the afternoon, which is why I was suggesting a bag to store them in.

 

[happymommy]

So much great advice for you here!

I've been many times in December and January, and I agree, a hat and gloves are nice. I've had to buy a sweatshirt once (and even once when we stayed offsite in late August had to buy a couple sweatshirts but those were at Target and Walmart). Even in the summer, once the sun goes down it's chilly! Winter 30's are downright cold.

You mentioned you don't have a park hopper. Once you've bought a 4 day ticket, adding days isn't that much (in case you want even a half day on your "rest" day), and you can also add park hopper to your ticket.

We like so much of the counter service food, especially in Epcot and DAK. In Epcot, basically any country (other than China, and I'm familiar with Asian food as my husband is Korean, but I'm not a fan of their counter service). My kids love Japan. Sunshine Seasons, I agree, has something good for everyone. DAK we like Yak & Yeti for the sesame chicken and side of fried rice (splitting that with my youngest, we are so full afterwards). Only park we find lacking decent counter service is HS, but we just make do.

Serving size - we find portions to be, as a rule, too large. My youngest, with whom I go most often, and I tend to share meals a lot. I don't want to walk another 2-3 miles right after lunch if I've just stuffed myself. Sharing a meal allows us to eat just enough, then if he wants a snack later (he has a sweet tooth), fine! I'd rather share than throw out food. I also don't drink soda much if at all, so do water (and in hot months I'd bring Crystal Light packets and add them).

I've been before Christmas, over Christmas, and the day after Christmas. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is the busiest week of the year. The day or two after New Year's Day things start to slow down (once we were stranded for 3 extra nights at an airport hotel, after checking out of the Boardwalk Villas, after a snowstorm in the NE cancelled all flights, so I got my husband home the next day but kids and I couldn't get home for a couple more days, so we kept our rental car and drove back to the parks for a couple extra days adding days to our tickets cheaply, and the crowds after Jan 2 were nonexistent).

I'd at least go to a park a little every day. We do that, but after 25+ trips, I don't stress to do everything (I still haven't done everything and don't care).

We sleep in. Then get out. At least once a trip we go until midnight or whenever parks close, and the last hour or two you can ride so much! It's better than rope drop.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Yes, bring hats and gloves and other cold weather items. It can get surprisingly cold in December and January, often down into the 40's! Better to bring these items from home, rather than paying the high prices you'll find at WDW. Plus, the humidity and wind in Orlando can make it seem even colder than the actual temperature.

One year, in OCTOBER (!), temps dropped from the mid 90s to the upper 50s overnight. I had packed for 90+degree weather, so only had sleeveless tops and shorts. It was real windy, so 57 degrees felt even colder. WDW prices are really high ($60+ for a sweatshirt), and I'm too cheap to pay those prices, so layered the best that I could. So I highly recommend you toss a few hats and gloves and long pants and warm socks into the suitcase. If you're lucky, you won't need them, but better to be safe than sorry!

Couldn't agree more. I'm from New England but 40 degrees in Orlando feels so much colder. Must be the humidity or something but it chills you to your core!

 

[LSUmiss]

Couldn't agree more. I'm from New England but 40 degrees in Orlando feels so much colder. Must be the humidity or something but it chills you to your core!

I agree! I live in Louisiana & we always said our 40 is a lot colder than up north 40. Went to WDW one Jan & a lady from New Jersey was next to me in the bus line. She said I’m from NJ & it’s only 50 degrees right now, but I’ve nevee been so cold!

 

[cindernat]

Could anyone please advise what weather we can expect for late April? Thanks!

 

[Gentry2004]

Could anyone please advise what weather we can expect for late April? Thanks!

Well it could obviously rain, but it will be plenty warm in late April.

 

[cindernat]

Well it could obviously rain, but it will be plenty warm in late April.

Many thanks

 

[Dolby1000]

Hates and gloves? How cold are we talking? I'm from WI, I can't even imagine wearing hat and gloves there.

Um, look at the forecast for next week, not a single day over 65, most nights in the 30s and 40s. The cold that has settled over the Midwest and Northeast is going to pay central Florida a serious visit. Hats and gloves likely will be needed in the evening. Yes, the forecast could change and it could be wrong, but if I was a betting man, it is only a matter of time before the cold air pops into Florida for a visit, not uncommon at all for early January. Remember, I'm only a messenger here. . . . .

OWD

 

[Dolby1000]

Could anyone please advise what weather we can expect for late April? Thanks!

Average high of 88 low 63, looks to be very nice. Prior to the start of rainy season, but it's Florida, it can rain at any time. Last year, late April had highs range from 76 to 94 and lows from 72 to 58. Most days were within 5 degrees of average.

OWD

 

[piscesmama]

Well obviously coming from -20° windchill, we will have our hats and gloves. I guess I will just be sure to bring it in our park bag for the day. I bougbt everyone matching hoodies. So we'll have those.

 

[floydfamily4]

Be in the moment. My favorite memories of our early trips was sitting on a bench talking about which attractions to use those precious E Tickets for. The time spent together, laughing and having fun meant more in the long run than any specific attractions we rode. Focus on what makes a vacation fun for your family and have a great time.

Yes! One of my kids favorite memories from 8 years ago is catching the green army men outside of TSMM and doing some sort of boot camp routine with them! I have a picture and just watched them laugh and engage in the Disney magic. I worry with FP+ there is a lot of having to look at the phone and not at what is going on around you. Might be a necessary "evil" but try to stay "present" and not in the future looking for FP's. At least that is my plan.

 

[floydfamily4]

My tip would be to have a budget and stick to it. I remember being on the bus heading home and having a woman say "I am so ready to go home, I spent so much money, everything was so expensive, etc." and I thought "NO I am not ready to go home!" I realized that part of it was she was surprised by the cost of things and didn't have a plan so it stressed her out. I had an envelope for everyday and actually went home with money. I even budgeted for 1 snack per day so I was not surprised by the cost of things. Not sure if you have little ones but the other thing we did was take a picture of what the kids wanted (every ride it seemed ended in a shop) and agree to buy one thing at the end of the trip. I didn't want to have to keep saying no but I wasn't going to spend tons on what amount to junk Anyway I am going back in May with my now teens and am super excited. Have fun!!

 

[sdomino11]

Could anyone please advise what weather we can expect for late April? Thanks!

Hot. Very, very hot. We’ve been that time of year 5 times and by the end of the day we are all racing to the showers!