MY # 1 one tip for first timers!!!

[twinkletoesmom]

Is to research, research and plan!!! I can't tell you how many people said that disney was neat but kinda boring. But when I asked them did you do this or that they didn't even know what I was talking about. Learn what disney has to offer your family and plan out your days. I think we saved so much time in the parks because I knew where to go next instead of standing in the middle of a park w/ a map. But also be flexible. Just really do your homework and this site is great for that make sure you listen to all the great little extras the people know about, like ridding in the front of the monarail it's what can make a great trip magical! I hope that everyone has as much fun as we did!!!!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I agree! Plan, plan,plan, but then be willing to toss the plan out the window when you get there! Everything you learn from planning still comes in handy!

 

[kimis]

I agree planning is the key with a great attitude coming in a close second.
It also depends on when you go. I think for your first trip you should try to go at one of the least busiest times if you can. I know I read everything I could find on WDW and searched all over the net and it paid off.
It helps to go relaxed and take your time. That is right--- give your self several days so you can do all of the things and still not be so rushed you can't take a break. We got for 11-12 days and that isn't long enough to do it all. You can also call disney and the phone operators will have ideas for you. enjoy

 

[thmar]

Great tips!

 

[flying_babyb]

the monorail is like a train right?

 

[thmar]

the monorail is like a train right?

Yes...in a way. It's a railway that runs on a single elevated track. The monorail cars look sort of bullet shaped with large windows.

 

[FL-Belle]

I agree! Plan, plan,plan, but then be willing to toss the plan out the window when you get there! Everything you learn from planning still comes in handy!

ITA! I had the benefit my last trip to go with a Disney expert. But we planned. And since I was the novice-- I read everything I could find. Still, a few days before we had to scrape a few of our plans. But, the planning still paid off. And we got to do all we wanted to do.

 

[newbeestl]

Excellent tip! I'm a research planning freak!

 

[summerlandjeff]

Remember the "other" Disney info spots; allearsnet and pass porter. Both have great tips and info for the planaholic!

 

[Mousemom]

I tend to be an overplanner. Our first trip I had every minute of every day planned. On the 3rd day of our 9 day trip my son informed me that my planning was "sucking the fun right out of our trip." So now I still plan but when we get there we mostly just wing it. My #1 tip would be to read books and the boards to learn as much about WDW as you can. I can say that our first trip was over whelming at first. WDW is so big and there is so much that it was hard to get our brains wrapped around it. We were used to DL which is much much smaller. After we decided to not look at the whole WDW and instead we took each park and focused only on that park each day, it made it less stressful. We are now WDW addicts.

 

[GraysMom]

Don't forget Mousesavers for discounts .

 

[trivial]

In addition to the DIS boards, AllEarsNet.com, the Passporter books, and MouseSavers, I found TourGuideMike.com to be very useful in researching and planning.