Just finished umpteenth trip: Tip for new planners.

[nat8199]

Love this! Great advice. Edit to add: About the strollers, it amazes me to see what large strollers people bring with them. We have 3 girls, only 1 needs a stroller, so we have a small umbrella stroller. It's not a problem at all to fold up and it's certainly not "lugging" it around. Even if you have 2 small ones that need a stroller, certainly 2 umbrellas would be easier than these massive side by side things people insist on bringing.

We were one of those with the massive side by side strollers. Ours actually had a third seat so it was even bigger. Being able to put all three little ones in a stroller that can hold a bunch of crap and kids yet still be easily pushed/steered with one hand is totally worth any hassle of getting it on and of a bus. I well designed double stroller is vastly easier to handle than two umbrella strollers.

 

[DrWDWLiz]

Thanks for the tips! I'm a brand new member, so I hope I'm doing this right. I've been to Disneyworld before a couple of times, but a friend directed me toward this site to get some planning tips. I've been looking through a few comments on the Disboard today and everyone seems so upset and frazzled. I was getting worried that I wouldn't be able to plan the right way or get everything done. This thread has allowed me to take a deep breath and relax.

 

[Maddies Mama]

Great tips! I take my cushioned sole Nike flip flops and have no issues at all with sore feet & blisters. Wear them all day every day in the parks. Last week I changed it up and wore my RunDisney Minnie Mouse New Balance sneakers and wished I'd worn my flip flops, my feet were so sweaty and gross even with moisture wicking socks! Definitely wear what's comfortable for you. I also advise to take a moisture wicking hat, it helps a lot with the summer heat and sweat.

 

[handicap18]

As for the stroller thing... we "lugged" around a side by side, two different trips actually and personally I would NEVER want to push around one of those little fold up strollers because I am to tall and it kills my back. This double stroller is a life saver. Our oldest who was 5 1/2 at the time was to old for a stroller normal, but when its midnight an your in Frontierland and the kids are tired its a VERY long walk to the busses.

Also, as for footwear, keep in mind that when its hot your feet will swell. Make sure you have footwear that can allow your foot to expand. One year we went in June and it was 97* or higher each day. I wore my work sneakers which are black leather. Working 10-11 hours in New England is nothing when its 98 and your walking around on black asphalt wearing black leather sneakers and black socks. I don't ever recall my feet hurting so much. My feet swelled so much that my little toe ended up under the next to over all cramped inside my sneaker. After that trip I now wear black sneakers, but they are running sneakers and are mostly mesh not leather. Plus my feet are actually wider than I originally thought. I was wearing a EE width when I should have been wearing a EEEE.

 

[MC0810]

good tips OP!

We also love to rent the large double strollers. We used to bring two singles and it was much more of a hassle than dealing with 1 double.

You would have 2 single strollers to find after rides..and they would never be in the same place..wasted a lot of time looking.

also getting on the busses is more of a pain when you have to collapse two singles..and in reality the doubles dont take up any more room in the buses than two singles would.

 

[jimandami]

Thanks for the tips! I'm a brand new member, so I hope I'm doing this right. I've been to Disneyworld before a couple of times, but a friend directed me toward this site to get some planning tips. I've been looking through a few comments on the Disboard today and everyone seems so upset and frazzled. I was getting worried that I wouldn't be able to plan the right way or get everything done. This thread has allowed me to take a deep breath and relax.

Please do not let the negative vibe around here make you stressed or worried! There have been a lot of changes at WDW lately, some good, some bad depending on your perspective. Not all of the changes have rolled out smoothly and it's just been a long process. For people who are used to knowing pretty much anything and everything about planning a WDW trip, these changes have been difficult to deal with.

These boards have a TON of helpful information and have been a godsend for me in planning many trips, but they are also overwhelming. You do not need to know everything on here to have a good vacation!

 

[aaturner]

I've never heard of those before, where did you get them? After the experience I had last year and the fact I'm going again on the 16th it really sticks out in my mind and worries me, even though the second pair helped last time what if it doesn't this time.. I'd be interested in checking those out..

I bought mine on a different website, but didn't see them listed anymore. Here is a link to the ones I have from the Reef website:

http://shop.reef.com/reefedge/d/1635_c_201_cl_3399

I think several websites carry them, hope you find some you like. I really love mine.

 

[prudence64]

I'm odd because I hate the feel of anything between my toes, so regular flip flops are out. I do wear sandals in most parks though.

 

[SillyFamily]

As for the stroller thing... we "lugged" around a side by side, two different trips actually and personally I would NEVER want to push around one of those little fold up strollers because I am to tall and it kills my back. This double stroller is a life saver. Our oldest who was 5 1/2 at the time was to old for a stroller normal, but when its midnight an your in Frontierland and the kids are tired its a VERY long walk to the busses.

Also, as for footwear, keep in mind that when its hot your feet will swell. Make sure you have footwear that can allow your foot to expand. One year we went in June and it was 97* or higher each day. I wore my work sneakers which are black leather. Working 10-11 hours in New England is nothing when its 98 and your walking around on black asphalt wearing black leather sneakers and black socks. I don't ever recall my feet hurting so much. My feet swelled so much that my little toe ended up under the next to over all cramped inside my sneaker. After that trip I now wear black sneakers, but they are running sneakers and are mostly mesh not leather. Plus my feet are actually wider than I originally thought. I was wearing a EE width when I should have been wearing a EEEE.

What a cute picture

 

[chapie1968]

1. It will never go as planned. It will rain. You'll get stuck on a ride & it will through off your schedule. You or someone in your party will get sick. You will underestimate how exhausted your group will get. The more I go, the less I plan more than a general plan, because something always happens that wasn't "planned". The trick is to stay flexible.
.

This is why I could never understand those Commando Park Planners.

Also that is why I hate FP+. I don't want to plan what I'm going to be doing hour by hour on my vacation 3 months from now. And unfortunately to get anything out of Disney you must do that now or have horrible days in the parks.

 

[3CallmeMommy]

I saw a lady with jeans/dressy top and high heels once.

To each their own, but really?

Why?!!!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I saw a lady with jeans/dressy top and high heels once.

To each their own, but really?

Why?!!!

Was it the filming of the Modern Family episode? I don't get high heels in an amusement park or in an airport. But to each their own, right?

 

[Stitch850]

I saw a lady with jeans/dressy top and high heels once. To each their own, but really? Why?!!!

I was told once - when I saw a lady dressed like that too - that a lot of europeans make that mistake. A cast-member told me that at MK a few years back.

The Japanese dress the cutest in my opinion - always fashionable, but the women are generally so tiny they can pull off cuter clothing options. And they love the minnie ears. They may not all be Japanese - the ones I've spoken too were.

 

[Rosebud123]

Great points! All of them have happened to us on one trip or another. We've been 4 times (typically for 10 days each trip) in the past 7 years and I STILL haven't seen Fantasmic! Something comes up each trip to prevent me from seeing it. We always have a great time, though! One attraction doesn't make a bit of difference to the overall enjoyment of the trip.

 

[Rebekkap]

This is why I could never understand those Commando Park Planners.

Also that is why I hate FP+. I don't want to plan what I'm going to be doing hour by hour on my vacation 3 months from now. And unfortunately to get anything out of Disney you must do that now or have horrible days in the parks.

I don't think that's true. One, I can't imagine having a horrible day at a Disney park, even if I don't get to ride everything I want. And two, I got to Djsneyworld this afternoon and realised my sister's plane was landing much later than I thought, and I rearranged all three fastpasses I had booked (for two mountains and jungle cruise) for later in the afternoon with no problems whatsoever. Now I'm relaxing in the room and hoping the magical express gets her here soon so we can go to Magic Kingdom

 

[bafleyanne]

We are not commando planners by any means, but last trip in Oct 2013 was our first with FP+ and I realized that in order to have an optimal experience for us, we have to do a little more planning now than we have in the past. Last trip we waited too long to book FP+ and weren't able to do a few things we wanted to do, so we'll change things up a bit this time (and also be quicker to pull the trigger on ADRs. We waited a little too long on those last time too, and 8:30 is just not an optimal dining time when you have a 2 year old. Oops.)

 

[aquarius77]

Just a question from a newbie...

I have seen some people say that they go back to their resort to take a nap and then come back to the park and others say that they stay in the park from open to close.

With 5 kids (three of them 6 and under), is it better to just go back to the resort and nap (but then you lose time in the park) or stay from open to close to make the most out of your time and see as much as you can?

 

[Stitch850]

Just a question from a newbie... I have seen some people say that they go back to their resort to take a nap and then come back to the park and others say that they stay in the park from open to close. With 5 kids (three of them 6 and under), is it better to just go back to the resort and nap (but then you lose time in the park) or stay from open to close to make the most out of your time and see as much as you can?

That's a tough call. My experience most kids will pass out in the stroller when they're tired - perfect time for adults to do what they want to do, or take a break too & then when they wake up, go do some more. Find a shaded area to relax with them. Adults get tired too.

I think a lot of time is wasted going back to the resort, but I know it works for other families.

Or just plan on leaving early or arriving late depending on your plans. Some kids are asleep by the fireworks & some get a second wind by then.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Just a question from a newbie...

I have seen some people say that they go back to their resort to take a nap and then come back to the park and others say that they stay in the park from open to close.

With 5 kids (three of them 6 and under), is it better to just go back to the resort and nap (but then you lose time in the park) or stay from open to close to make the most out of your time and see as much as you can?

I think it totally depends on the kids. I went with my older sis and her 4 kids in Oct 2008 and we were in the parks mostly from open to close. Her kids can sleep anywhere as long as they are sitting. I'm going with my younger sis and her 3 kids this coming Oct and planning breaks. My younger sister's kids have much more of a ritual at night and for naps. They need to be in beds and things need to be quiet and dark. I realize this means we may not get to re-ride some things, but I do think it's in our best interest to take naps on the nights I know we'll be up later. My plan is arrive at RD, have brunch (ADRs already set), play til 1:30ish and then back to resort for naps and pool time. We can do this except AK day since the park closes at 5, I know we'll be in bed at a decent time. But if your kids can sleep in strollers, by all means push through.

ETA: Older sis's kiddos were DNe (13), DNe (8), DNi (4), DNe (16 months). Younger sis's kiddos will be twin DNe (1 month short of 6), DNi (just turned 5)

 

[chapie1968]

Just a question from a newbie...

I have seen some people say that they go back to their resort to take a nap and then come back to the park and others say that they stay in the park from open to close.

With 5 kids (three of them 6 and under), is it better to just go back to the resort and nap (but then you lose time in the park) or stay from open to close to make the most out of your time and see as much as you can?

there is no right answer, it is determined by various factors

1- If it is a once in a lifetime(or decade) trip to WDW you might want to stay open to close to see as much as possible

2- Naps/rest may depend on the ages and temperament of your children. Some kids can handle the full day, some can't and when they can't it can make your night at the parks less enjoyable when the kids are cranky.

We have always preferred to take an afternoon break and, maybe nap or swim, eat a real meal, not that "Amusement Park" food. and go back refreshed. Even a couple hours can make a huge difference and my "children" are 17 and 13.