You're likely to get lots of different opinions about this...
my advice is on your first trip, don't use a touring plan. Relax! Enjoy the ambiance and the magic. Here's my logic.
Most touring plans have you going from ride to ride to ride, you have a goal to keep up. First go here, then go there, now go back to your room, etc, very organized. It makes me very sad to think about first timers rushing around, instead of just enjoying the magic.
My advice... take it slow. Have each family member pick a ride or two that are must do's, (all the rides are described on the Disney site), then break them down into each park and decide which park you will visit each day. When you arrive at the park, pick a starting point and go in a circle. Its very easy find yourself spending your day cris-crossing the park back & forth to get to certain rides, youll wear yourselves out.
What we do is pick a ride to get Fast Pass for & head there first. Then we go in one direction from that ride, when its time to use the fast pass, we first go get another fast pass, then head to the ride and when were done we go the other direction!
I know there are people who will say you will miss everything if you're not at the gate at the crack of dawn every morning, but think about your familys regular schedule, are you early risers? If so, you can easily take advantage of being there early for opening & morning Extra Magic Hours. However, if youre not a family of early risers, you may need a bit more relaxed take on that... when we tried to force our family into the 'early morning' schedule it was a total flop... we were all tired and grumpy and miserable. Keep in mind you're on vacation, and the main point is to have fun as a family and enjoy yourselves, not to see everything... which isn't possible anyway. We still havent seen it all
in 7 trips!
Since you are going in August you may want to take a break in the afternoon to nap or swim, but again, don't consider this an absolute -- it doesn't work for everyone. For some a midday sit-down meal or time spent inside one of the huge air-conditioned exhibits at Epcot can be all you need to recoup from the heat. But if you want that sit down meal, you will need to have an Advance Dining Reservation
and that means planning which park you will visit each day. (Dont be afraid to try making an ADR for that day or the next day. We have gotten one the same day many times, people do cancel so openings become available. However
dont wait until you get to Disney to make them all. If you plan ahead you have an option, just be sure to call and cancel if you arent going to use it. The # is 407- WDW-DINE, when I call that day I just ask Do you have anything in Magic Kingdom around 3 PM
you get the idea.)
After trying the recommended -- early morning, go back to rest, go back for the evening -- for just a couple of days we bagged the whole idea and slept in. We woke well rested, headed to the park, took a long lunch break around 2 or 3 and stayed until closing. It was a much better plan for our family of night owls.
Even if you are not night owls, you will want to plan a couple of late nights to see Wishes, Spectro Magic, Illuminations, and if possible Fantasmic too. Again think about your family, will they need to sleep in after these late nights?
Make sure your 'touring plan' takes these things into account -- my way is
certainly not perfect for everyone which is my point -- think about your family & the schedule they are used to when planning your days, rather than trying to fit into the mold of an "official touring schedule". Make a general plan that you think will work for you and once youre there relax! Use the plan as a guide, but be flexible some of the most magical times just happen when you least expect it.
My other piece of advice is to consider whether or not you want to spend some time at Magic Kingdom in two family groups -- Dad taking the older kids on rides and Mom taking the younger one to see characters -- or if it's more important for everyone to stay together as a group. What is your family like... does everyone want to see and do as much as possible or is it more important to have your children experience each other's joy. Some of the rides for younger kids -- although not thrill rides -- are just as much fun for adults and older kids. Your older kids might not be as into the characters (my 10 year old still loves them, but I'm sure that's not true of all kids) but they might enjoy it because your younger child is so enthralled.
Seeing characters takes time, you have to stand in line -- sometimes for a while. We didn't know this on our first trip. We saw Goofy and just expected him to stop and visit with us. We didn't understand "Character Etiquette", which is that there are viewing areas. The characters are taken to and from the area by a 'handler'. On the way to or from an area the characters may wave, but will not stop to visit. Sometimes a character or two will have a place to line up and wait, and sometimes several characters will arrive in an area. When this happens lines will form for each character. When it's your turn the kids will get to hug and say hello, have their autograph books signed and then the character will pose for a picture with the kids. Don't think this is an informal process, it's been done this way for years, everyone is excited but you still need to form the line.
These are just a few of the things that I wish wed known before our first trip
hope its helps!
Have a wonderful time!!
I am new to the boards and have a question. I have been reading these boards for a few days and I love the ideas and tips, stories and pictures on here. We are leaving August 6th for our first WDW vacation 
!!! I can't wait!! I was just wondering about the touring plans on the touringplans website. I have subscribed and would love to use them, but I have 3 kids that are 3, 9 and 11 
. I'm just not sure which touring plan I should use for the parks. I don't want the older ones to be bored with the "little kid stuff" and I don't want my 3 year old to miss out on anything that is more for him. I would love to hear from those of you who have used the touring plans. Thank you!!
