In 20 words or less, your best WDW tip

[Aliceacc]

We're visiting next year for the first time since 1990. That was 17 years and 3 small kids ago, so for all intents and purposes, I'm a newbie.

My kids will be 10 (boy), 8 and 5 (both girls), and we're staying at the Contemporary.

In 20 words or less, what's your best kept (up to now) secret? Strategy? Wonderful idea? Thing to bring or buy or see or do?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[tonilea]

Little characters on a wire attached to a suction cup for my rear view mirror. A little piece of Disney every time I get in the car.

Well, I failed the twenty words.

 

[MommyBoo!]

Don't spend so much time rushing around trying to see and do everything that you don't enjoy yourselves. Relax.

 

[brymolmom]

Well, it's not a secret - but ARRIVE EARLY - as close to the rope drop as possible. You will have the least lines for the first couple hours in the park.

 

[ronmama5]

We always...go early,one parent gets a fastpass for a mountain, the other takes everyone to Fantasyland to ride everything there first.

 

[karliebug]

Get free ice water at CS restaurants and use EMH

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

Live in the moment. Watch their faces. Let them soak it in. Your first trip with your kids will always be your most memorable.

 

[DisneyNotes]

rest up before the trip
tons of water during the trip
relax for some time during each day
take pictures of the small things, like flowers and signs, along with the usual things - helps with memories later on

 

[mom2aredhead]

Plan ahead, but not to the point that your schedule rules your trip and you cannot enjoy yourselves and have FUN!

 

[Perditamarie]

Strategy: parkhopper tickets are worth it for crowd management!, skip EMH mornings, or if you go, plan to park hop by lunch

Wonderful idea: as a surprise or family project, make customized autograph books for kids - characters give a ton of attention, making family/kid t-shirts can be fun too, Tinkerbell surprises are delightful to give and receive (Tink sneaks in the room at night and leaves a neat little trinket for each kid)

Things to bring: mini m&m tubes filled w/ sets of 2 quarters and 1 penny for the penny press machine, disposable cameras for kids perspective

Things to buy: mouse ears or other silly hat, popcorn and bring tub home for souvenier and to hold crayons and markers and make you smile every time you see it!

Things to see: kids face soaking in the castle, a parade, fireworks,

Things to do: ride in front on monorail, swim every day, character meals

 

[DisneyNotes]

Strategy: parkhopper tickets are worth it for crowd management!, skip EMH mornings, or if you go, plan to park hop by lunch

Wonderful idea: as a surprise or family project, make customized autograph books for kids - characters give a ton of attention, making family/kid t-shirts can be fun too, Tinkerbell surprises are delightful to give and receive (Tink sneaks in the room at night and leaves a neat little trinket for each kid)

Things to bring: mini m&m tubes filled w/ sets of 2 quarters and 1 penny for the penny press machine, disposable cameras for kids perspective

Things to buy: mouse ears or other silly hat, popcorn and bring tub home for souvenier and to hold crayons and markers and make you smile every time you see it!

Things to see: kids face soaking in the castle, a parade, fireworks,

Things to do: ride in front on monorail, swim every day, character meals

Very good supply of tips!

 

[jtopp]

dining plan--relax--lots of water--enjoy

 

[JoyG]

8:05 Character breakfast at MK on a non early entry day. You'll be deep into the park at rope drop and closer to the rides.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

research how to use PHOTOPASS...u can preorder the cd to save $
GET IN THOSE PIX WITH YOUR KIDS!!!

 

[mamaminnie]

Bring your own glow bracelets/necklaces from the dollar store. One tube of 15 bracelets per day (what I bring) provides unlimited combinations of glowing fun.

Go early

Mid-day break

Make dining ADR's

HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

[dsnymomof4]

Don't try to do everything on your first trip. Get to the parks early. Enjoy every moment!

 

[twins4mimi]

Buy little treats to take with you and give out to the kids while at the parks, will make standing in lines better and save you some money vs buying them there. We got LOTS of clearance things at our disney store and on disney shopping.com!!!

 

[lighttech]

For Kid safety -
Snap a photo of each kid in the morning b4 leaving the room.
If anyone wanders away (God forbid) and needs help being found, you'll have an exact record of what they were wearing AND a pic to show CMs

 

[emh1129]

Buy little treats to take with you and give out to the kids while at the parks, will make standing in lines better and save you some money vs buying them there. We got LOTS of clearance things at our disney store and on disney shopping.com!!!

We do this, too, and it saves so much money! DH got some nice comments on his Mr. Incredible shirt from people wanting to buy one just like it- we had to say sorry, but we got it at the Disney Store! (For $2.50, but we didn't mention that part )
They have awesome clearances at TDS.

 

[standleyent1]

When leaving the MK use the resort monrail you will beat the crowds and you can get right on board, makes for a quick and easy exit at the end of a long day.
Also consider using the valet parking if you have a car and decide to drive to the mk at any of the deluxe reosrts around the seven seas lagoon, this way you can still take the resort monorail to the resort you left your car and this can save you several hundred steps.
Relax, soak it in and most of all enjoy your family time away from the real world, be a kid yourself to really understand what your kids see!!

Have FUN!!