I am so excited for you! You will have a wonderful time.
We have only been to the World twice after growing up visiting DL--our first visit was in 2000 and we scheduled our next trip almost as soon as we came home. What I learned from our first very magical trip was that there is no way you can see or do it all the first time and perhaps, not even the 21st time.
So here is my advice:
*Go with a plan of must do's and must sees for each park. Make sure you do these things first even if it means backtracking a bit through the parks.
*Preview the restaurants' menus and make ADRs for at least one sit-down meal each day (this could be a late breakfast, or late lunch/early dinner). Time to get off your feet and into a cool place for a meal is really refreshing.
*Even if you aren't usually early risers on vacation, take advantage of the early entrance for the parks on at least 3 or 4 days. You will be able to experience so much more in the first two hours after park opening than you will if you arrive mid-morning. Take a break back at your resort when things get crowded and head back to the same park or a different one in the late afternoon and evening.
*Save one day to sleep in and experience your resort through lunch, then head out to a park in the afternoon/evening.
*When you see that shirt or souvenir you really want at a particular park, buy it then. Don't think you'll go back to get it later or might find it at downtown Disney--because you probably won't get by that way again with so many things to do and see.
*Remember that you are on vacation--you are supposed to have fun, relax, experience the magic that surrounds you. Otherwise, you'll need a vacation after the vacation.
-Laurie
