Need tips/advice. First and only trip.

[DumboGal0415]

We will be going on our(most likely) one and only trip to WDW. I am overwhelmed at everything to do/see. Any advice on what NEEDS to be done/seen since, I'm pretty sure we won't get to go again.

TIA.

 

[juliebug1997]

The ages and likes and dislikes of your party will be helpful.

 

[Aliceacc]

HI, and welcome!!!

First and foremost: you are NOT going to see it all and do it all; WDW is the size of San Francisco. So lots of deep breaths. You and your family are going to have a wonderful time, even if you do miss someone's version of a "Must See"-- even mine

Let us know who is going, when you're going, where you're staying, and for how long, as well as any other pertinent details. We'll get you settled with a lot of suggestions.

The best piece of advice I've ever gotten about a WDW vacation is this: Do not give any ride, any show, any attraction or any meal the power to "MAKE" your vacation. Your vacation will only be as joyful as the least happy person in your party at the moment, regardless of who that person might be. (Presumably it will shift from one moment to the next.) So no matter how carefully you've planned, be prepared to change those plans if it means keeping everyone happy.

The saddest thing at WDW is seeing some small child being screamed at because "WE saved 3 years for this trip and YOU WILL HAVE FUN!!!! You are not going back to the resort to swim; you WILL stay in the Magic Kingdom and you WILL enjoy it!!!" in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity at 2 pm in July.

So keep your expectations realistic, and go with the flow.

Now, get us that info and we can help get you started.

 

[illinidp]

As well as when you are going, length of stay, and where you are staying.

 

[cfriend416]

Check out **************.net. It's a site designed specifically for first time visitors who may never return. The guy who runs it and another blogger also just put out a great book - The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit. It's on Amazon. Happy planning!

ETA: The other blogger who wrote the guide book is from EasyWDW.com. Also an amazing site, but not focused on first time visitors.

 

[sharonabe]

You will get loads of advice and tips from the people here on the DIS.

My first suggestion is to buy and READ one of the guide books. It will make the info you get here make more sense AND you will know what questions to ask that pertain to your family.

The Unofficial Guide to WDW has everything and is huge. If you're a reader and like lots of detail, I recommend this one.

Birnbaums is a little more streamlined, but will still give you the info to get started.

Birnbaums for Kids is even more streamlined with lots of pictures, but it's a good one to look through with your kids to get an idea of what they may want to do/see and it will still give you enough info to begin making your own plans.


EDIT: I just saw the post above mine. I had forgotten about Josh's new book. That would also be a great one to get you started.

 

[DumboGal0415]

I have a DS that will be turning 8 shortly after we return, and a DD that is 12. We will be there Sept. 10th - 17th. We're staying at WL.

No one is too into characters, I went once when I was 7, the main memory I have is not being able to ride Dumbo, so that's on the list.

We are extremely lucky that my aunt and uncle are paying for our trip, so worrying about money isn't too big of an issue.

 

[babydoll65]

I know your kids are not too into character breakfasts but I have to ask if you got the free dining . If you did, what adrs do you have planned or do you need suggestions.

 

[Aliceacc]

OK, perfect.

Probably your first order of business is meals. If you want any table service meals, you'll want to make the ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) pretty soon. Take a look at the menus at www.allears.net to see what sounds good.

Some of my family's favorites:
Epcot: Le Cellier, Coral Reef
Animal Kingdom: Yak and Yetti
DHS: Sci Fi Diner
Magic Kingdom: We can't wait to try Be Our Guest

Resorts: Cape May (Beach Club, an easy walk from International Gateway in Epcot)
Take a look at the Hoop De Do Revue at Camp Wilderness.

OK, number 2: you can arrange for up to 3 Fastpass+ per day per person, all in the same park (then others, one by one, at whichever park you'll be in.)

Some suggestions for your family, based on my own family's favorites:
Magic Kingdom: 7 Dwarfs Mine Train (brand new), Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribbean, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Buzz Lighyear's Ranger Spin

Epcot: Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, Norway, Mexico, Turtle Talk, Spaceship Earth

DHS: Toy Story Mania, Expedition Everest, Star Tours, Great Movie Ride, Stunt Show

Animal Kingdom: Kali River Rapids (you WILL get wet!!), Safari, Dinosaur.


Take a look at the descriptions, or view the rides on youtube and make your FP+ selections 60 days out. (We're 38 days out from July 29, so you have a few days before that window opens for you.)

Try hard to see the 3 fireworks shows: Illuminations at Epcot, Wishes at the MK, and Fantasmic at DHS.

Does that get you started?

 

[DumboGal0415]

I've got ADR'S planned already. We are doing 2 character meals(mostly for me).

We have:
Teppan Edo
Maya Grill
Tuskar House(bfast)
Crystal Palace
Fulton's
Yachtsman

I have read a million things and I think I am stressing myself out when I just want to enjoy our trip.

 

[giginator]

Sorry to tell you this but the WL feature pool with slide will be closed during your trip. They are making FW and CR resort pools available to affected guests as well as the WL villa quiet pool.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Even though you are not too into characters, if this is a once in a lifetime trip, I'd suggest you meet the mouse. The one in Town Square Theater chats with you and the picture will be something you can look back on forever.

 

[abidale]

Since it's the only time you'll get to go, I'd recommend getting Memory Maker. We don't do this unless it's for a special occasion, but this lets you have every picture taken by the PhotoPass Cast Members, along with ride photos as well. Totally recommend it, our favorite part about it was getting the ride pictures (not all rides do this.)

Don't go all commando on your first trip- if it's after lunch and everyone is hot and tired, head back to the room for a little bit and take a nap, swim, freshen up- with the ages of your kids it's better to do this in the middle of the day when the parks are at their most crowded than at night when it's cooled down and lightened up a bit. Then you can hit those evening Extra Magic Hours!

If you can, get to the parks as close to Rope Drop as possible. The earlier you get there, the more you get to ride in a lesser amount of time.

Hope this helps!

 

[Kate and Family]

All great suggestions. I might add that you many want to plan for indoor attractions during the heat of the day.

 

[Aliceacc]

I've got ADR'S planned already. We are doing 2 character meals(mostly for me).

We have:
Teppan Edo
Maya Grill
Tuskar House(bfast)
Crystal Palace
Fulton's
Yachtsman

I have read a million things and I think I am stressing myself out when I just want to enjoy our trip.

OK, great... you've got the biggest one out of the way.
Know that every single day, people arrive at the WDW gates with absolutely no idea of what they're doing, and have a fabulous time. So only plan as long as you're enjoying the planning. Lots of us here love this part of the process, but it's easy to mistake our love for planning as a "Must do." The reality is that there are NO "Must Do's."

Sorry to tell you this but the WL feature pool with slide will be closed during your trip. They are making FW and CR resort pools available to affected guests as well as the WL villa quiet pool.

Will that be a problem for your family, OP? Enough of a problem to consider switching resorts? Or will the other pools on the property, combined with the quite pool, suffice?

 

[DumboGal0415]

Sorry to tell you this but the WL feature pool with slide will be closed during your trip. They are making FW and CR resort pools available to affected guests as well as the WL villa quiet pool.

I read this the other day. I'm kind of upset, but I think we'll just make do with the other pools.

 

[SplashMo]

I would consider:

3 Days MK
2 Days Epcot
1 Day DHS
1 Day AK

Will you have park hoppers?

Read the EasyWDW site and look at the touring plans there. If you have time to plan and enjoy it get the Unofficial Guide to WDW and they have free access to touring plans.

Both sites have a list of best days for each park.

We often hit AK from opening to NOON on the way to the airport the last day.... An easy way to get a second AK day in.

 

[minnie mum]

I would consider:

3 Days MK
2 Days Epcot
1 Day DHS
1 Day AK

Will you have park hoppers?

Read the EasyWDW site and look at the touring plans there. If you have time to plan and enjoy it get the Unofficial Guide to WDW and they have free access to touring plans.

Both sites have a list of best days for each park.

We often hit AK from opening to NOON on the way to the airport the last day.... An easy way to get a second AK day in.

Great advice for your park planning. Ordinarily I advise (if someone asks) that people pick which park they will be in each day (based on crowd calendars like easywdw.com) and THEN make their ADRs based on that info. But since you already have your ADRs, you'll probably need to do the reverse.

I'd recommend that you look at the cheat sheets for each park on easywdw. com. These are a practical and efficient way to see most of the attractions without wasting needless time in standby lines. They also help you decide on FP selections.

 

[anotherhb]

The nighttime spectaculars with fireworks are all great and quite different from each other. Wishes at the Magic Kingdom, Illuminations at Epcot, and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios are all worth checking out especially since you have a week. They do not run every night so I would recommend referencing the crowd calendars on easywdw for scheduling.

Have fun!!

 

[harrowgirl]

I would suggest hitting rope drop, at least on the days you are doing fireworks at night. You can either go back for a rest, or do some down time in the parks in the afternoon, as it will still be pretty hit. It will probably be hard to do rope drop the morning AFTER fireworks as you'll be out late. I'd set your FP+ times in the 11am until 2pm windows on rope drop days. I'm sure that, hitting rope drop, and strategic fast passes, I can do between 9am and 2pm what would take someone arriving at 11am until 7 or 8pm to do.

On magic kingdom days, think about bringing your swimsuits and storing them in a locker at the park and you can hit the contemporary pool on your way back for an afternoon rest.

Try to see the park opening show at magic kingdom - I think they usually do it at 8:30 or 8:40 on 9am opening days.