New to Disney World: Trip Tips?

[ZestyNoodle]

Hello everybody! I'm sure this has been asked before, but I was hoping to most recent info and share my situation.

My best friend and I will be graduating from high school this May and to celebrate we are going to Walt Disney World! Both of us are common Disneyland goers here in California, and have our own strategies to making the best of a day in resort while avoiding crowds and getting everything awesome done. Yet with our trip approaching, I've begun to worry about making the most of Disney World, and while it seems similar it also seems totally upscale and kind of scary.

We plan to leave June 4th and come back June 12th, spending seven days in the parks. So far we feel it'd be better to dedicate each day to one park rather than hopping around. Our tickets for the travel as well as the parks is already bought and confirmed, so they are good. At this point we have yet to purchase a hotel, but we are pretty certain on staying in the Disney World Resort Hotels, probably Pop Century. We also are planning on spending most our time in the parks, so no need to worry about car rental or Orlando tourism sites.

Although I have been to Disneyland hundreds of times, know plenty about its history and secrets, and have good knowledge of weaving through the park, I know almost nothing about Walt Disney World. Money isn't really an issue since we've been saving up for over a year, so what are the must dos, the lesser known should dos, and etc? What is good to bring into the park? Being a native of California, I've never witnessed extreme heart or humidity, although my friend has lived in Texas before. She says lite and "flowy" attire is best; is there any other things I should do to prepare? What are the big differences between the two resorts?

Essentially, what is your usual game plan for getting through the park, and what tips can you offer?

Thank you in advance for your help! I'm so excited and can't wait!

 

[cbeeindisney]

Hi! I'm so excited for you, you two are going to have a great time!! My DF and I usually go for the same amount of time when we go and we like to make sure we get to everything that we want to the first four days, tackling the four parks in four days, starting at rope drop at all the parks, and then taking it a little bit easier the last few days, visiting things that weren't priority the first days or going back to things we wanted to see or experience again. I stayed at POP for the first time this past August and we LOVED it!! Such a great theme and we were happy with everything about this resort, great choice! We do, however, choose to get park hoppers, just because we like to have the freedom to eat in any of the parks on any given night, even if we aren't visiting that park during the day. I haven't visited in May, so I don't have much to offer there, I can assure you that it will not be as hot as is it in August when we visited! Hope you find everything you're looking for!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Welcome to the east coast!

Tips and thoughts.................
WDW is huge. 4 land parks, 2 water parks, 2 monorail lines, busses, ferries, lauches (boats), and many really cool resorts..................even a campground! It isn't scary..............it is really really cool!

7 days is great! You will be able to visit and re-visit the parks and the resorts without feeling too rushed. Having a touring plan will also help you enjoy the maximum number of rides and attractions.

Expect high temps and humidity llike you may not have experienced before. The key is to absolutely arrive at the turnstiles 30-50 minutes before the park opens. You will get ahead of the crowds and you can beat the heat for several hours. Sometimes the parks let you in 10-30 minutes earlier than posted.

We have found it is very hard to catch the all the shows at DHS unless we visit it 2 times during a trip.

Be sure to visit the waterparks. They have really neat theming and some great rides.

Wear lots of sun screen. Maybe a hat. Buy a little 5 dollar fan to help keep cool. Carry around a small backback. You can bring in snacks and drinks (no glass, no alcohol). Bring a poncho. There can be "3pm afternoon showers" that might last 10 minutes, or could last an hour.

During hot months we usually return to the resort in the afternoon to swim/shower. We then return to the parks for an extra hour or two before retiring early so we will be refreshed for the next day.

Do not eat a big lunch. The full belly and the heat don't mix very well.

I am so happy you can experience both coasts. One day we will make it over to the west coast!

 

[rabeck]

My first disney experience was DL too! I love both parks and I there's so many great things about each of them. They're similar and yet so different (in good ways).

WDW is huge compared to DL. DLpark and MK may look similar, but they are not! You're not going to get from one land to the next as quickly as you do in DL. This is due to crowds, the humidity makes people move slower, and just sheer SIZE! Lines are longer and FPs will run out super early.

My humidity tip is, yes wear clothes that flow, but do not wear a skirt (chafing is not fun). Drink tons of water and always reapply sunscreen (you'll sweat it off). Water parks are great and DD is a great place to hang out and shop (same like in DL, but with a few differences!)

You'll have a blast! I love comparing the parks and my experiences. Even though you may have some of the same rides in CA, go on them in WDW - I swear they feel like different rides! Especially make time to see Fantasmic! in HS!!! I have my opinion on which I like better, but I'll let you decide that for yourself

Enjoy yourself! Don't fret if you miss something because you're going to havea great time no matter what!

 

[kayemgi]

Something that can be good to have a head's up about is the Florida water. It doesn't bother me (my grandparents live in FL, so I guess I acclimated to it!) but my DH went for the first time a few years ago and he felt like it almost made him sick. I think that was a little in his head (shhh don't tell him ) but it has been known to put people off because of the taste! Either bring a bottle with a filter in it, like a Brita bottle, plan to bring bottled water, or be prepared to wait in counter service lines to ask for the free ice water cups.

The humidity will be a shock, but take it slow the first couple of days and you will get used to it. And Disney provides plenty of ways to cool off!

Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[MHSweb79]

I would book your resort room right away to avoid being disappointed. We love POFQ and there are often weeks we can't get anything. (Of course, POP is larger).

My best piece of advice would be to get a guidebook and start reading. I love the Unofficial Guide and once you've finished that, you'll be very well prepared for your trip.

Check out sites like allears.net (great for dining reviews) and easywdw.com (excellent for park day recommendations, as well as an unlimited supply of merchandise photos confused3 some people must like them) and crowd level advice.

 

[ZestyNoodle]

Thanks everyone for all this amazing info! Does anyone have any recommendations for great places to eat? So far we plan to do the F! dining package at the Mama Melrose's Italian.

 

[noahdove]

Well, I usually plan to eat once at Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney...and also, I have to have ice cream from Ghiradelli''s ice cream shopThe Plaza Restaraunt is a great place to eat , for sandwiches, you will need a reservation there tho. You didn't say if you are on the dining plan, if so, then I hope you have all your reservations by now..Best place for parades, I believe, is the train station right on Main St. USA!!! Also for Wishes..I make sure we are there in plenty of time to grab some chairs...while waiting, we people watch and one of us, goes and grabs a snack!!! I feel it's the perfect place...Have a great and magical time

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Check out sites like allears.net (great for dining reviews) and easywdw.com (excellent for park day recommendations, as well as an unlimited supply of merchandise photos confused3 some people must like them) and crowd level advice.

One word of caution on easywdw: if you do end up staying onsite as you mentioned, you may not want to take their recommendations for "best park" on any given day IF you take advantage of early EMH. Like TouringPlans, this is caveated in their descriptions, but it essentially makes the best/worst park shorthand worthless to me.

I use crowd calendars generally to 1) pick which days to plan our trip for, and 2) to have a GENERAL sense of overall crowd level to expect. Beyond that, let's just say this is WAY too far from an exact science to take as gospel for day-to-day detail.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks everyone for all this amazing info! Does anyone have any recommendations for great places to eat? So far we plan to do the F! dining package at the Mama Melrose's Italian.

We've done MM for F! before and are doing it again next trip -- pretty good in our book.

I'd check out http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/the-best-restaurants-series/ -- I find that site really useful. You can also sign up for the email list and follow them on Twitter/FaceBook -- good stuff.

You'll find lots of reviews with pics on these boards, and AllEars has lots of great dining info as well.

It all depends on your tastes/preferences, of course. Some of our favorites, and must-do's each trip... going on 9 trips, I think... Jiko, Le Cellier, Tusker House, Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast), Liberty Tree Tavern (Pilgrim's Feast - just plain old good food), Via Napoli (get the PIZZA!!).

ENJOY!!!

 

[rabeck]

Thanks everyone for all this amazing info! Does anyone have any recommendations for great places to eat? So far we plan to do the F! dining package at the Mama Melrose's Italian.

I like Tusker House for breakfast. It's different from the character meals you get in DL because of the Safari theme. Don't forget about the restaurants at the resorts - AMAZING selection/variety and you get to check out a resort