melissa180...Wow are you excited or what?!?!?
There is nothing like you're first trip...as an adult...to "the" World!
Here's a list of things we have here at the DIS for people traveling for the first time to WDW.It can be overwhelming...hopefully these will help!
Rookie Mistakes to Avoid
1. Trying to see/do it all. It can't be done. If you try, you'll end up missing much more than you could have seen if you had just taken your time.
2. Not taking time to notice the little things, the magic. Stop and smell the flowers. The details are amazing and are some of the greatest things about WDW.
3. Not slowing down and taking breaks during the day. Even if it is only a short break. Find a shady spot and relax. Everyone will enjoy the trip a lot more if you do, and in the hot summer this is a necessity.
4. Not planning ahead. You need to sit down with the family and figure out what you really want to do and see during your trip.
5. Showing up at the Parks at 11am and expecting to get on the rides without a wait. Make the most of your day by arriving when the parks open.
6. Not allowing enough money for food per person each day. $50.00 is about right depending on your eating habits. Not to mention that dining at WDW in general tends to be on the more expensive side.
7. Not getting a stroller for the 5,6,7 yr old so they can rest. Children tire easily but when you add heat and excitement, you're bound to have a tired and cranky little one by mid-day. If you don't want to bring a stroller with you, all of the parks have rentals. Make a note though that they rent single and double strollers. The doubles won't fit on some of the tours. If you have more than one child under the age of 8 you will have to decide if you want to park the double wide stroller at the entrance of certain attractions and have them get out and walk. Its really just up to personal preference.
8. Not booking Cinderella's Royal Breakfast 90 days from the date that youd like to dine there and expecting it to be available the day you go to the park. This is an extremely popular meal. Chef Mickeys also tends to book well in advance.
9. Not allowing enough time to find a good spot for Illuminations at Epcot. An hour ahead is a good time to start looking for one. While you'll be able to see the fireworks wherever you are, a good part of the show takes place on the water and will be difficult to see if youre not right around the lagoon. Be careful if its a breezy evening. There is smoke and you dont want it heading in your direction.
10. Assuming that because there are no clouds in the sky it won't rain that day. It usually rains every day in the summer for at least 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the sky, as these cloudbursts tend to move in quickly. If you don't have rain jackets, you can purchase rain ponchos at a number of locations at any given park. They are small, light and compact and will fit into a book-bag easily. TIP: Rent a locker to stow your rain gear, and bring a plastic bag to put it in once its been used.
11. Thinking you will have as much fun in an off property resort as at a Disney Resort. The Disney resorts and hotels are an integral part of the magic. While many off site resorts will be easier on the budget, there are tradeoffs. Be sure to research the transportation provided. If you find that renting a car is a necessity, factor in that cost compared to staying onsite. Getting around WDW is a breeze using Disneys complimentary transportation from their resorts. If you dont need to rent a car, staying onsite may not be as much as you originally thought.
12. Thinking the summer heat won't slow you down. Plan on taking a long rest period in the middle of the day. If they havent reached capacity, head over to one of the water parks or go back to your hotel for a refreshing swim. An hour or two spent cooling off will make a world of difference in your family's attitude and resilience to the heat and walking.
13. Assuming that you will find a nice spot to sit down at the water parks at WDW if you arrive late in the morning. Most likely the park will be almost full and the only chairs left will be the ones that have been sitting out in the hot sun. Another problem is capacity. The water parks do close once their quota has been met. An early arrival is the best bet during peak times.
14. Not using a Fast Pass whenever possible. These little tickets will save you valuable time. It will give you the flexibility to go on another attraction and returning to use your Fast Pass without a lengthy wait.
15. Not buying film before you leave home. Regular run-of-the-mill items are much more expensive once you get into the parks. Make sure that you stock up on the essentials including batteries, film, extra storage card for digital cameras, sun block, sunglasses, and water before you go to the parks. (Be sure to store the film in your carry-on, not your checked bags. The screening devices used for checked luggage can damage film.) The area grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores are very reasonable.
16. Hand in hand with the last tip is having film developed at WDW. Its convenient but pricey. If you cant wait until you get home, head to a local store that offers film processing as its often much less expensive.
17. Using a slow speed film to take nighttime pictures. With all of the fireworks, and light displays a good quality, high-speed film is a necessity. You'll appreciate it when you have the film developed.
18. Leaving the rain gear in the room because it doesn't look like youll need it. As stated above: rain comes up quickly. Always have the ponchos with you.
19. Not allowing enough time to get from one place to another. If youre planning on hopping to a different theme park, plan on it taking an hour. (Usually its half this time, but during peak periods, it can this long.) You also need to allow for time in getting around the park itself. If you have a meal booked or a Fast Pass and youre at the opposite end of the park, dont be surprised if it takes a good 20 minutes to get to your destination.
20. Not using sunscreen. The sun is very strong in Florida and it should not be taken lightly. No matter what skin type you have or how good of a tan you have YOU WILL GET BURNED! Use sunscreen often. This is another item thats pricey at the parks. Bring it from home and apply often.
21. Heading directly to the line on the right. Oftentimes, the line on the left is shorter. This is actually a psychological thing. Most people are right handed and tend to focus on that direction. You may find that at heavy tourist times it makes no difference but you never know until you try!
22. Not dealing with the limitations and fears that children have. Depending on their age, there are many factors to consider. Some kids may find the fantasy to be a bit frightening. That adorable Mouse may look quite scary to a very young child. If they were frightened by an attraction, they may be reluctant to try another one. Give them time a bit of time to overcome their fear and not force the issue. Let them pick what to do next. Chances are that theyll be ready to try something else once theyve been experienced something more pleasant.
23. Over planning. Don't make so many Priority Seatings that you spend all your time in a restaurant, going to a restaurant, or waiting to sit down in a restaurant. Plan a few Priority Seatings during your stay and let the others fall where they may. While planning is important you'd be surprised at the wonderful things that can occur during a moment of spontaneity.
24. Not to use the DIS and the information in it's pages for planning your trip. All of our information has come from seasoned Disney veterans and their experiences.
25. Not making notes of all the rides and attractions that you read about that you want to do while on the trip. If you dont have a list with you, youre going to forget all about the attractions you have to do the second that you walk into a park.
26. Not looking on the DIS Discussion Boards for a packing list of what to bring. You dont want to waste valuable time looking for a necessity, and then finding that its $$$ more than you would have paid at home.
27. Not keeping notes of things that would have made it easier for you.
28. Not bringing a couple pairs of comfortable walking shoes and sneakers to change into. Keep in mind; those comfy shoes may not be so great if they get wet. Foot care is probably one of the most important things that can make or break a vacation. You should bring an extra pair of socks to change into during the day to prevent blisters. Moleskin is also a great item to have on hand.
29. Not getting into a walking program before coming down to WDW. The average visitor to WDW walks 5-7 miles in a day at a park. Start a walking program two months before you arrive. Make sure you break in those new walking shoes or sandals before you travel.
30. Not drinking enough water during the day. It is a critical mistake not to constantly be hydrating your body with WATER in the heat. Soft drinks are tempting, but theyre often loaded with caffeine, which only adds to the problem. Heat stroke and dehydration can be real problems if youre not careful.
31. Not getting a birthday button if youre celebrating your special day while you are at WDW. Go to City Hall in the Magic Kingdom and ask for one. (Theyre free.) Cast Members are great at noticing them and youll find that youre hearing a cheery Happy Birthday wherever you go.
32. Riding Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Body Wars, Mission Space or Rock and Roller Coaster on a full stomach. Enough said on that topic. Pay special attention to Mission Space, Star Tours and Body Wars. If you tend to have a problem with motion sickness, youll want to be very cautious before going on these attractions.
33. Buying a Length Of Stay pass when your flight comes in at 6pm the night of arrival and your flight leaves at 9am the last day of the trip. You are just throwing good money away. Look at other options for passes. It might just save you a lot of money.
34. Going to Pleasure Island till 2 am and then plan on going to a park for early entry the next day. If you are staying that late, rethink heading to the parks the next day. You can spend the late morning, early afternoon, at Downtown Disney exploring the wonderful shops, or you can simply relax poolside the following day. You don't want to be exhausted at the end of the vacation.
35. Thinking that everything you bring on Kali River Rapids or Splash Mountain is going to stay dry. They will not stay dry. Seal your camera or things you do not want to get wet in plastic. Better yet, slip on your poncho.
36. Not getting all the information that you can about WDW before you go. Take some time and look at the maps on the DIS and get familiar with the layout of the parks. I suggest looking at the map of the park the night before you go to review what you actually want to see and do.
37. Not using the park guides that are available in each of the parks. (You can also get a set of guide maps when you check into a Disney resort.) You can learn a lot about what is actually going on in a park each day if you sit and look at it a few minutes.
38. Not understanding how large WDW actually is. People think that you can get from place to place in 5 minutes. This is not going to happen. WDW is 51 square miles. That is around 5 miles long and 10 miles wide. Get in your car and drive ten miles one way. Then you have an idea of how large it really is.
39. Thinking the parks will not be busy. While there are slower times of year, its impossible to predict if there will be an event or conference that will bring unexpected crowds.
40. Wearing dark heavy clothes to the parks. Light cotton clothes that breathe will be much more comfortable.
41. Getting frustrated and losing your "cool." When you find something going wrong take a deep breath and try and relax. Remember you are there to have fun.
42. Thinking Universal Studios and Sea World are a part of Walt Disney World. These parks are not even close to one another and youll need to find a means to get to them.
43. Thinking that the Animal Kingdom is the same as the other parks during the hotter times of year. There are very few attractions that are air-conditioned. Youre going to be spending most of the time outdoors, and its going to get extremely hot. Drink plenty of water, and plan on making this a short day.
44. Thinking you can see it all in 3-4 days. If thats all the time that you have, do the highlights and plan on doing it all during a future visit.
45. Passing up something that looks interesting because it is not on the list. Some of the best times to be had are when you come across a street actor or performer entertaining the guests.
46. Not taking an afternoon and using the recreation that is available at WDW. Try renting a "water mouse" boat and driving it out on Bay Lake or in front of the Magic Kingdom. One of the best memories I have of WDW is the time when I was cruising in my "water mouse" and a bald eagle came down and grabbed a big fish out of the water not 20 feet from me. Now that is an unforgettable memory.
47. Eating all your big meals at dinnertime. You can save money by having a late lunch at a nice restaurant.
48. Not visiting Celebration to try some of the restaurants that are there. This is the town that Disney built. It is a nice place to check out, but only if you have a little extra time.
49. Not checking the time on the Fast Pass board before getting it. Your return time may interfere with other plans you have.
50. Thinking you will be relaxed when you get home from WDW. I try and plan one day at home to unwind before going back to work.
Also here's a link to a few more helpful hints we have listed on the DIS.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/index.htm
Have a magical trip!!!! Enjoy!!!!
