Newbie and have no clue where to start.

[ZoZo]

My biggest recommendation for someone completely new is to get a good guidebook. I love, love, love the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It has tons of great information, and explains so many things (how fast pass works, details about each ride, info about the restaurants, etc.). If I were you, I'd read it cover to cover, then use these discussion boards to ask specific questions.

It can get very overwhelming to try to obtain all of this information. Start reading posts on these boards about topics that interest you! You'll learn a lot.

 

[zickig]

Thanks, I've been trying to read a lot on here and have read a lot but all the abbreviations get confusing to me and it ends up that I have no idea what anyone is talking about.

 

[Aliceacc]

Here are the abbreviations. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

Some of them still get me

 

[cjstarr]

Here is also another one. In this one you just enter the abbreviations and it gives you the meaning.

http://stitchkingdom.com/acronyms/

 

[zickig]

Great Links girls, thanks a lot!

 

[Minniekins]

I love getting a guide book every time we are going to go wdw. Everytime I get the new Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for that year. I love that book. You can get it at places like Borders or Walden Books for about 16 dollars. It has tons of info and is very well organized with sections on each park, each resort, restaurants, etc.. and comments on how well they like each place, etc.. and lots of pic. It's helpful to me having something I can actually hold in my hands to look stuff up in and even though I now know alot of the stuff, it gets me even more excited for our trip! Also gives prices or guidelines that are usually pretty accurate. I've actually given it as gifts when someone asks "have you been to disney, can you help me?". I also give them this site as it has tons of info and great advice and help. I've been lurking for awhile, and only have about 3 posts or so; would like to jump in more, so I'm working on it slowly , and I love coming here to read up stuff! Hope you have a great trip!!
Chrissie

 

[Danielle25]

I'm still a Disney novice (this will be my first trip with all 3 kids) and all the info can definitely be overwhelming. I don't find the Disneyworld website to be particularly helpful or user friendly, so buying a guidebook is definitely the way to go. It will give you all the basics.

 

[zickig]

chrissie--thanks I have read on here about guide books being helpful.

Danielle--I totally agree with you, I can't get anything from the Disney official website at all.

 

[8disneyfans]

Thanks for the site on the EMH. I actually called the park to get the exact hours.

We did our reservations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We opened the park each day and closed it each night. I know we are a crazy bunch. What about nap times? It is Disney World...there are no nap times!! Actually my 4 and 6 year old fell asleep in their strollers. Oh, yeah plan to rent or bring a stroller. We brought one for our 4 year old but ended up buying one on the 3rd day for the 6yr.
I am soooo excited for you!!!! You will have so much fun!!!! Let us know how you reservations go.

The books are a great help! I love having them. I also took a notebook and keep all the tips I find in it. Pretty soon I can write my own book!
I have so many cool tips I have found.
Well I need to go get my kiddos started on school (we homeschool).

Have a great day!!!!

 

[DisneyMagick2008]

I'll cast another vote for the guidebooks. Birnbaum's guides, the Unofficial Guide and the Disney Passporter are all good resources for learning what goes in to planning a trip to WDW, not to mention facts about the rides and restaurants that can help you get acquainted with them and decide which ones you really want to do. Plus, they are all pretty inexpensive and can be found at Borders or other places like that. You might also look into Tour Guide Mike. I've never tried his thing, but I've heard a lot of good things about it and his charts for what are the best parks to go to on what day as well as some of his other tips have been highly recommended on this site.

I always at least buy a Birnbaum's for the year that I am going and maybe a Passporter just because I like the pockets and planning charts that come inside it.

It may sound overwhelming now, but once you start looking at some of these guides and get a feel for everything, you'll see how easy and fun it is to plan your trip to WDW. Good luck and I hope that you have a great trip.

 

[Aliceacc]

Well, it's Friday......


Did you book your trip? We want details

 

[zickig]

Yes yes yes! I have never been so excited in my life! I also made all my ADR's and I got in everywhere except that one steak house in Epcot Canada Le Ce-something...it was booked solid for the entire week we are there! We got 7 day passes with park hopper, and the basic DDR. And I got two books at Barnes and Noble yesterday, I got "the unofficial guide to WDW with Children" and then I got this great one that is a trip planner!! "passporters WDW" is what it is called. We are staying at the All star movies VR
See I'm even getting better with the abbreations!

We are doing:

Aug2-9

Sat---5pm Garden Grill
Sun---6:50pm Crystal Palace
Mon---5pm coral Reef
Tue---7:10 Liberty tree
Wed---5pm Rose and Crown
Thurs---5pm Chef Mickey's
Fri---5pm Whispering Canyon

 

[Aliceacc]

I am SO PSYCHED for you!!!!!

Now call the Coral Reef and get personalized menus!

 

[8disneyfans]

personalized menus???? What is that???

I am soooo excited for you!!!!

YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY!!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

personalized menus???? What is that???

I am soooo excited for you!!!!

YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY!!!!

If you eat at the Coral Reef, you can call ahead of time and arrange it for free. You e-mail 4 or 5 pictures and they'll set up personalized menus for your party. It's free.

 

[DisneyMOM09]

To help pick your restaurants check out allears.net. This site has menus for all of the restarants and I found it very helpful to know what food was served to help make my decisions!