Okay, first time WDW visitor here....

[mousefever]

I am planning my family's first WDW trip for Sept 06 (free dining, what a deal!) Anyways, I am looking for tips, suggestions, must do's, and whatever else. Traveling with me will be my husband, 12 yr old son, and 4 yr old son. All first time! My girlfriend is a Disney nut, and referred me to these boards (which she is on practically every night, and now she is giving me the fever), and she was telling me how great everyone is on here, so here I am!

 

[lovedvc]

One of the first things I would do since you have free dining is sit down and discuss if there are any special meals you would like to make reservations for such as Chef Mickey or the Hoop Dee Doo etc... I wouldn't wait to long because you can make reservations up to 180 days from your arrival date and you are already within that time frame. You may want to purchase one of the Disney guide books from the book store so that you can look at the theme parks and restaurants. This way you can get an idea of what each park has and what places you'd like to visit the most.

Enjoy your trip!!!!!

 

[dbarker]

Welcome the Disboard.

What are your plans? Where are you staying? How are you getting there? (yes, I'm nosey)

Any questions? We love to help. Some of us have been many times and have lots of opinions. The opinions are as varied as the individuals.

Also, visit www.allearsnet.com, and Mousesavers.

Have fun on your trip.

 

[aquaticmom]

Welcome. You just need to throw out your specific questions and someone will give you the answer you are looking for. Did you book your flights yet? Have you made your room reservations? Renting a car or using Magic Express? All that good stuff you will find great advice here. Disboards makes the planning fun, warning: These boards are VERY addicting.

 

[dznyacct]

Just thought I would say hi ! You will soon find out how right I was about the wonderful group of people here on the DIS boards that love WDW as much as me!

 

[bradisgoofy]

Welcome -

Go to the book store and buy "The Unofficial Guide to Disney World" ( forget the author's name ), about an inch thick, it's the best guide you can buy, especially for a first time visitor.
Have Fun

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

Welcome to the DIS! I also highly recommend the Unofficial Guide. You should be able to get the 2006 version at your public library.

Make sure you read about the "baby swap" since your 4 year old won't be able to go on a few rides. With some of the Fast Pass rides, you can get child watch passes so your 12 year old will be able to go on the same ride two times in a row without having to wait for another fast pass.

I do recommend making dining reservations, but don't plan on doing sitdown restaurants for more than 1 meal a day.

If it's still brutally hot when you go, try to work in an afternoon break from the heat. At the very least have your long meal during the afternoon, go to indoor shows, or alternate between indoor and outdoor attractions. We prefer to go back to the resort in the afternoon, but we are there when the parks are open late into the evening.

If you are staying at a Disney resort, take advantage of Disney transportation--no need to rent a car! Plus you save tons of time by not having to park and walk to the park gates.

If you try to do too much on your first trip--known as commando, you probably won't enjoy yourself as much. I really didn't like WDW my first time because we tried to do it ALL in 4 days. It's not possible. So stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Go on the most popular rides early in the day, late at night, or during parades. Get fast passes for your must-rides as soon as you get to the park. Make sure you take in a few shows. Don't sweat it if you don't get to go on EVERYTHING. You can always come back

 

[english rose 47]

Our first trip is next April 26th thru May 3rd. I have so many questions??? What is the weather like then and will the pools be warm enough for New Yorkers?Staying at Pop and getting the d.p.Where is the best place to see Power Rangers for DGS? I'll save my other trillion ??? for another day

 

[luvmikids]

We are going for the first time in Nov. The book I purchased is Passporter, it is great I read the whole thing in a day and then went back and read a few more pages again. It has pockets and a sample iteneriery, and has a few tips on getting organized for the trip. It cost around $22 US.

 

[mousefever]

Wow, great start on ideas... you guys really are great! Well, my girlfriend (DZNYACCT), who is a huge DIS fan has set me up with a passporter, all the park brochures, referred me to here, and to all ears.net. (She really has me off to a good start, doesn't she?) I originally made our reservations for 7 nights, we are staying at the ASM (both boys love Toy Story, so I have requested that building), we are flying Southwest air (got tix for $177.30 each RT!) Then, last week out of the clear blue, I called and added on a day! So our first trip will be for 8 nights!!!!! I have made most of our sit down reservations (sorry not up on the lingo on here yet) Some of my reservations include: Chef Mickey's, 50's Prime Time, Liberty Tree Tavern, and LeCellier Steakhouse.

Thanks for the "baby swap" info that will be great! I will also check out the Unofficial guide! I soooo can't wait... 90 days to go!!!!

 

[Amyg]

We will be first timers in early July!

I'm bringing rain ponchos since we will be there during the rainy summer season.

I borrowed Unofficial Guide from the library. Bought a Passporter (the best maps!) and subscribed to TourGuideMike!

Regarding TGM, it's filled with all the information you need, it guides you on how you "tour" each park so that you don't have to wait in long lines. The info is updated and current (unlike books which get outdated pretty quick). Initially, the site is overwhelming and some people feel it is difficult to navigate, but I caught on in no time! You have plenty of time if you subscribe now, the site also has a discussion board of very friendly members who can help you with any questions you have! There is a money back guarantee if you find you didn't like it and it did not help you so how can you go wrong?!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[mousefever]

Oh, one question I thought of... has anyone ever done the dolphin experiance at WDW? I was wondering if it was worth the $150.00 or not? I seen where you get a photo with the dolphin and a shirt, but I was wondering about the whole experiance.

 

[MagicMe]

First - welcome to the DIS!

You seem to be set as far as any literature to review (between the Passporter and checking "allearsnet.com"). You definitely want to check out one or two character breakfasts/dinners. These are the absolute best time for your children to really meet the characters and for you to get some really great pictures. Chef Mickey is a favorite since Mickey (obviously) will be there. You get an opportunity to meet the big mouse at other spots in the park but you'll find that it gets really crowded quite quickly and the best part about the character meals is that they come to your table and will take the time for pictures and autographs. I have alot of great pictures of my two DS (they're completing grown now) with various characters and the majority were all taken at character meals. If they are "Pooh" fans, those characters frequent the character meal at the Crystal Palace.

Other than that, I would say to make a plan and then be ready to just go with the flow. We were there in early September last year and it was still rather hot. You may want to take those breaks in the afternoon and hit the pool or water park.

Your first trip is always so exciting! Of course, every trip I take to WDW is exciting! Relax and enjoy. Take time to enjoy the little things.

 

[kbmoo]

Welcome. Most of us have been to Disney many times. Personally I got hooked with the ddp in Aug-Sept for 3 trips during that time. I would also sugest TourGuide Mike web sight. You can join and he can help plan your whole trip including dinners, What parks to go to on the least crowded days and even plan the order of the rides you go on. I love Disney, and once you go I'm sure you'll be hooked too!

 

[pepe of ohio]

I've been doing this since 1977, over 35 trips and lay our trip out the same way each time. Or stays average 8-12 nights so I lay out that many rows on a felt board, figure out which parks we will attend, we split do parks each time, never the same park morn and evening. I have our down days, non park days, on the board and then label tags with the resturants we like and where, plan on 3 meals a day, rarely do we eat all three meals, and lay them under the closest parks they are to minimize alot of travel. We have favorites, must dos and new to see spots and we switch them around till we come up with a good chart. We do 2 days of nothing, no parks, but shopping, waterparks, prowling and resort hang out and eat tags are assigned to these days too.

All said and done, plan agreed upon, I put each day on a note card and when in Disney, pull the card for the day, we know where we're going, where we're eating and have checked out the menus on Allears and know our meals. We're flexible and will shift a day or two around if something catches our eye, or if a real rainy day pops up, its the movies in DTD and eating there. Its worked great for us, little prepartation at home, fun to do and saves us the what do you want to do today and later, where do you want to eat and saves us from spending too much time in buses going from play place to distant eat place, we keep both in same area, we make sure we're at each park at night for closing at least once and cover all the bases.

Just our way of not missing and combining where we're playing to where we're eating scenerio that might work for you.