Good tips, all of them.
1st things 1st - Stay on property! It is worth it. You will not stay offsite once you've stayed on. If you're a teacher or nurse, take advantage of the discounts offered by the dolphin & swan hotels. They are good hotels and the location (Epcot resort area) is perfect. You can walk or take a boat to Epcot and MGM and the boardwalk area is great.
Being a nurse like person, how do I get this discount????
2nd - Early mornings. Yes, I know you're on vacation. Yes I know you'll want to sleep late. Resist the urge to get to the parks later in the morning. It is so much easier to get there early, then go back to your hotel and nap, swim or eat at around mid day, once the crowds get heavy. Then YOU get to go back into the parks much later in the afternoon/early evening once these folk are tired and have slowed down. Shorter lines and more rest for your group, believe it or not.
Take breaks: Believe you me I am as dis obsessed as the next dis-er but take the time to smell the roses. Spread out your days as much as possible. Try to take a day off in the middle of your trip if you can. There is so much to do in the "world" in addition to the rides and attractions. One year I took my younger cousin miniature golfing. Another year my mom and I just had a lazy day with a late character brunch at the Beach Club and then park hopped to buy gifts. This year my mom, best friend and her mom did a mini hotel tour of the poly & grand floridian and then had tea at the garden lounge in the floridian. Then we rode the monorail from the floridian to the MK. Since it was a less traveled monorail in the evening we were able to ride with the engineer in the front. I will never forget sharing my best friends 1st time seeing Cinderella castle. It was magical.
I know this borders ad naseum but I have to repeat the fastpass advice. I went during a peak season mid June and due to a good touring plan and fp's we NEVER waited more than 20 minutes on any line. As a matter of fact my only 20 min wait was for Talking with Crush (totally awesome, dudes & dudettes). My trip this year was my best friend's 1st time and she was so spoiled by this. Couldn't understand why anyone would on purpose stand on line for over an hour (sometimes two) when they did NOT have to.
Speaking of touring plans... if you can spare the cash, invest in the unofficial guide to wdw. I like the official guide especially as a souvenir of the year that I visit, but the touring plans (also available on
www.touringplans.com at$6.95 for the year) are priceless.
Wishes: View at the tomorrowland bridge or by the rose garden for a view of tink, but if you've got another night to spare in the MK... Viewing the fireworks in fantasy land near snow white or the carousel is a totally different experience. You are in the midst of the fireworks and it is awesome. You are surrounded by light. I would go classic viewing 1st and then do the 2nd if I could.
CROCS: yes I know I ranted about their customer service a few months ago but they are truly superior footwear. I wore the flip flops the entire time I was there and had little or no foot issues. Just order your shoes at least 2 months in advance or see if you can get them at a local store, mall kiosk, etc.
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