OMG our first trip EVER is in less than 2 weeks

[e2_erin]

I am so excited and nervous. I just still do not know what to expect. I have read some books and looked at lots of websites and here of course.

I think we will have a good time no matter what at Disney but I wish I knew I had a good plan. I only have 2 ADRs (tusker house breakfast and Trex cafe dinner) and we are going during free dining (we dont have free dining though) so Im afraid we might have trouble with food. But we do want to eat casually most of the time so hopefully it wont be a problem with counter service places.

My main concern is getting to ride the rides that we want at least once. I want to do the classic ones like Dumbo and tea cups for sure. I know DS will want to do the toy story one for sure too. Im nervous about the lines and the fastpass stuff and wasting time in lines I dont need to be standing in (with a 3 yr old who wont be in a stroller).

Do you think the touring plans are a good idea? I got some from touringplans.com and they dont seem too hard to follow but Im not sure how it will really be. Im thinking for a first time its the best way to go since I dont have a clue about wait times on certain rides or how the park is laid out.

Any help or advice would be appreciated greatly!

 

[badblackpug]

We are a "stop and smell the roses" type of family. We go at the kids pace. We follow their lead and not worry to much about a plan other than ADRs. Your son is 3? He will have a good time no matter what. Truly, even if he doesn't do everything. He won't even know what he missed! Just relax and enjoy!

 

[mickeyluvr004]

I just have to say we will be leaving in 1 week and 5 days and will be in Disney in 1 week 7 days don't worry too much about the waits as we have gone this time this will be our 3rd year in a row around the same time (right after labor day) and alot of the rides were walk on and some had waits but maybe 20-30 min thats it (hope I don't jinx it) we don't rush around at all last year was the first time on toy story and that was a long line maybe an hour but your inside and the air is going so not too bad. the buzz ride we just walked on it twice lots of fun that is at the Mkingdom... Have a great trip where are ya stayin??

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Don't be nervous! You'll have a great time.

FWIW, we used the touring plans our last trip and they worked okay for us.

Have fun!

 

[brekin67]

Are you staying offsite?

 

[e2_erin]

Are you staying offsite?

We are staying in disney but not disney resorts. Its the Hilton Disney (thats why we dont get the free dining) but we do get extra hours and transportation

 

[pooh4evr]

Our first trip with the girls was in the Downtown Disney area too- we had just 2 meals planned also - anyway as long as you go in knowing which things you would like to do, and which things you MUST do (for us it was storytime with Belle- which made the vacation perfect withi in the 1st hour) and which things you don't need to worry about you'll be fine (like the roller coasters, our weren't tall enough so we didn't worry about it) we really enjoyed the nice relaxed pace, catching the parades and shows, seeing characters and really making the trip enjoyable for us all instead of a boot camp for the first one anyway.

The bus system from that area is fine too- no problems really! - are you getting a stroller at all??- you might want to check out A Baby's Best Friend- if you don't have on we have used them 2 times and they wer very easy to work with.

 

[e2_erin]

Our first trip with the girls was in the Downtown Disney area too- we had just 2 meals planned also - anyway as long as you go in knowing which things you would like to do, and which things you MUST do (for us it was storytime with Belle- which made the vacation perfect withi in the 1st hour) and which things you don't need to worry about you'll be fine (like the roller coasters, our weren't tall enough so we didn't worry about it) we really enjoyed the nice relaxed pace, catching the parades and shows, seeing characters and really making the trip enjoyable for us all instead of a boot camp for the first one anyway.

The bus system from that area is fine too- no problems really! - are you getting a stroller at all??- you might want to check out A Baby's Best Friend- if you don't have on we have used them 2 times and they wer very easy to work with.

Thanks all for the advice!
we will not be getting a stroller at all most likely. My son is 3 and hasnt used a stroller since he was about 11 months old. He hates them! We've taken him to other theme parks and fairs, zoos, etc and he has walked the entire time. If he gets too tired we'll probably just take a break. The stroller would be nice but he just wont sit in it. We always end up pushing around an empty stroller with him walking which is more of a pain than anything

 

[We_love_WDW]

you really will not need a touring plan. We went at that time last year and it was not that crowded- the longest wait was like 20 min. Have a good trip

 

[Glite]

You all will be fine. You all are going to have some much fun. When we went in 06, DS was 3 and a half and he loved it and we did use a stroller, but he mostly walked and only used when he was tired of walking which wasn't too often. He actually went on Big Thunder Railroad Mountain, Haunted House, Pirates of the Carribean and many more, including the kid rides of course. It was also in September and it was to crowded. Just try to do everything in one particular area rather than going from one side of the park to the other. Have fun and let us know how everything was when you get back.

 

[Glite]

Correction to my previous email. We went in September also and it WAS NOT too crowded.

 

[e2_erin]

Thank you all for your help!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

How exciting!! If you don't think you'll mind counter service food then you won't have a problem. Try eating off shift a bit..(Like an earlier lunch) and lines and finding tables won't be an issue.

If you decide you do want a table service after you get there... Places like Germany (in Epcot) are great fun and usually not completely booked. I actually had the best meal of the trip at Yak & Yeti in the Animal Kingdom and I don't think that one is typically over booked.

We don't try to hit everything when we go...but we try to have a good idea of what we want to ride on when we get to a park Just one or two must see rides usually and then we get there early and get on them quick..the rest of the day we aren't killing ourselves standing it too long lines getting irritable.

I have absolutely no clue why but Dumbo always fills up really quick...Head right for it when you enter the park

Have a great time!!!

 

[bratmomma]

HOW EXCITING FOR YOU!!!!

I have a "plan" for each park, but its more of a way to make the most efficient use of our time. For example, my DS's and DH don't want to be sitting around for 30 minutes (or more) while DD waits to meet fairies. Likewise, DD and I don't want to be sitting outside Big Thunder Mountain for 45 minutes waiting for them. So I sat down with DH and DS's and we looked over maps I got from WDW.com. We all decided what everyone felt was a "must-do". From there I tried to make a plan where the boys were off doing big kid (or boyish) things while DD and I were doing girly things so no one is wasting time sitting around. We only have a handful of must-do's at each park. Anything else we get to do along the way is icing on the cake.

There is plenty of wiggle room in my plans and LOTs of question marks in margins... anything goes. I just wanted to have a loose plan in place so we aren't wandering the parks aimlessly, overwhelmed, and wasting time only to end up missing or forgetting someone's "must-do". I am a "notes" type of person.

 

[DisDreaminMom]

Hope you enjoy yourself and have a great time on vacation!

I thought you should know one thing in particular about a concern on your post: The line for Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios can be insanely slow and long, especially with a 3 year old. So best advice is to get to that park before 10AM and go straight to the ride (go down the main street until you are almost at Micky's Hat and then take a right and then a left *"I'm keeping this simple for her since she's a newbie") and then get a Fast Pass for everyone in your party. You'll need all of the tickets for the people with you to put in the Fast Pass machine.

Then this way you KNOW you have a spot on the ride and can plan accordingly OR if you get there and there is no line, then ride away!

Remember that some of the best things at Disney are not on a Touring Plan and most likely will be discovered by your child, like some pretty flowers or the water fountains. Just relax and go with it and don't put pressure on yourself to see everything. You can always go back and see the stuff you missed because it didn't interest your child when he's older.

 

[Peterparker29]

You will have a great time and makes tons of memories no matter what you do! Enjoy it!