Once In A Lifetime Must Dos?

[Portugal1000]

We went on our once in a lifetime trip in 2005, we are going on our 11th on 6th August for 23 nights, they keep getting longer! My son will celebrate his 14 the birthday there so same age as yours. His favourite things are Universal ( we spend one night in Universal hotel to get on site benefits, don't bother checking out of our main hotel and for a first visit in August would highly recommend)
Hollywood studios, especially tower of terror, rock n roller, Star Wars
Magic Kingdom, the 3 mountains
Epcot, test track
Animal kingdom, Everest

Anything remotely connected to a water park, his favourites are the waves at typhoon lagoon and the plug hole at aquatica.
Discovery Cove, first visit last year, couldn't get him out of the stingray pool, hence going back this year.
Disney Quest ( not my husband and i's favourite so we do it in shifts)
The pools at Bonnet Creek

Going to St Petes beach first week this year so that will be something different.

Only bit of advice would be to not try and do too much and be prepared for the heat and crowds. With the right planning you really don't have to queue very much. Thankfully most people don't know what's going on when they get to the parks which makes it a lot easier for the people that look on the boards! I don't mean that to sound horrible but I have met people who turn up at the parks in the middle of August at midday and then wonder why they can't get on anything without big queues. I guess fast pass plus will change some of that though.

Have a great trip.

 

[Portugal1000]

Oh should of also said that I found the book An Unofficial guide to disney world, to be invaluable. Have bought several times over the years when new additions have come out.

 

[ninamouse]

Hi Zoe,

I hope you're having fun planning your trip.

Everyone's 'must do's' will be different but here are a few of mine....(in no particular order, as Ant and Dec would say! Lol)

1. See Fantasmic at DHS.....I cry every single time!
2. Watch Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom - you'll be signing 'big blue world' for the east of the day
3. Watch Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom
4. Do at least one character dining experience....I highly recommend an early ADR at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom, which will give you lots of time to take picture in front of the castle on.Main Street before the crowds arrive. Chef Mickeys is also great and gives you the perfect opportunity to meet the main characters and have pics etc without queuing for ages! Plus the breakfast is amazing! The mickey waffles are a must have!
5. We all loved Mickey's backyard BBQ...really good fun and lots of lovely food!
6. I know it's not the most popular of rides, but I highly recommend that in Magic Kingdom, you ride the people mover at night. I have seen lots of people put on these board before how lovely it is to see the park all lit up from that angle and they were not wrong...and the bonus is, there is never a queue!
7. Watch Celebrate the Magic on the castle at Magic Kingdom...it is a must!!
8. Go to the animation studio at DHS. It's the first thing my boys want to do when we go back!
9. Try the chocolate salted caramel from the little candy shop in. Germany, Epcot.
10. And take time to take in the little things and the little details...try not to rush too much, there is lots to see, you will fall in love with it....and if you're anything like me, you'll be booking up your second trip as soon as you possibly can...

Have a fab time x

 

[Holstar]

We're doing our 'once in a lifetime' trip in August too

For us... It really is. We're taking our nieces, who will be 10, 13 and 16 when we go, and whilst OH and I might go back in the future and definitely with our own children, I don't see us being able to afford to go again with my girls in the future. After this, I've promised OH to be a grown up and start saving for our house, focussing on my career, weddings etc... Booooo!

Our once in a lifetime thing is our photo-shoot. We're in WDW for two weeks, and then we go to a villa for 8 days to do non-Disney stuff. Our last day in Disney, we've hired a photographer to come around the parks with us for five hours.

Very few Florida photographers are given passes to do shoots with guests in the parks, and even still, the passes are extremely limited! So, I was super duper happy when my favourite Florida photographer had a parks shoot cancellation and could fit us in! Photos are so important to us... and I want to have something to keep for the rest of our lives.

 

[foxxxy83]

We're doing our 'once in a lifetime' trip in August too

For us... It really is. We're taking our nieces, who will be 10, 13 and 16 when we go, and whilst OH and I might go back in the future and definitely with our own children, I don't see us being able to afford to go again with my girls in the future. After this, I've promised OH to be a grown up and start saving for our house, focussing on my career, weddings etc... Booooo!

Our once in a lifetime thing is our photo-shoot. We're in WDW for two weeks, and then we go to a villa for 8 days to do non-Disney stuff. Our last day in Disney, we've hired a photographer to come around the parks with us for five hours.

Very few Florida photographers are given passes to do shoots with guests in the parks, and even still, the passes are extremely limited! So, I was super duper happy when my favourite Florida photographer had a parks shoot cancellation and could fit us in! Photos are so important to us... and I want to have something to keep for the rest of our lives.

WOW! That sounds AMAZING! Hope you have the perfect holiday!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Lol!! So it's a it addictive then?! We're coming from the UK so it really is the once and I'm so pleased I found you all so I can make sure our time is well spent thanks to your knowledge and advice!!! I can imagine it would be very easy to miss so much.

Anyhow, we're staying at The french Quarter and have the quick service dining plan? We all love everything ride wise, the kids are eager to meet everyone they can and hubby can't wait to throw himself down the biggest waters.ode he can find! We're over for 2 weeks in August and have been counting down for months lol! The dinner show at the Polynesion sounds fab!

I've got so much to learn - just completely confused myself reading a thread about fastpass+

Definitely want to do universal and others too but feel like we should have booked a month long holiday...

Thanks all!!

We'll be at the Yacht Club from July 29- August 5.

First and foremost, make SURE you have lots of water!!! It get incredibly hot. Not sure how to do it from the UK, but take a look at www.gardengrocer.com or www.wegoshop.com and order some water. We order 2 cases of bottled water for our family of 5 for a week. We also order park snacks, some breakfast stuff, and some munchies for the resort room. Both places will deliver it right to the resort, and it will be brought up to your room.

Likewise, expect it to rain almost every day in the afternoon. Sometimes it's a 5 minute shower, other times it's a thunderstorm that lasts an hour. If you can pack some cheap ponchos, great. Otherwise, you can buy better quality ones anywhere at Disney. (But I would suggest buying them BEFORE it rains. At the very worst, they're a souvineer.)

We go hit the parks every day at rope drop-- that's about half an hour before opening. We tour like crazy during those first hours. Then, after lunch, we head back to the resort and spend the afternoon swimming/napping in the sun. (though you might prefer a nap in your room.) We had back for dinner and enjoy a slower pace in the evening. Those afternoon swims keep us all happy and comfortable when the parks get so crowded and hot that everyone seems cranky.

Another suggestion: get some sort of a mister or fan. We order Mistymate personal misters from amazon for about $10- $12 each-- I get one for each of the kids and they share with us. They don't require batteries, and are about the size of an electric toothbrush. You can fill them at water fountains, and they enable you to spray a cool mist onto your face (and wherever else you want) when the heat and humidity get bad. If ordering them is a problem, you can purchase mister fans in the park; they're a bit larger, but they'll do the job!

You mentioned FP+; this thread is the best source of info I've found: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3143281

You said that your kids want to meet everyone. If you want pay out of pocket and do one or two character meals, you can meet the characters without waiting on lines. If you want princesses, take a look at Aukerhaus (Norway in Epcot.) Other good options include Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom), Chef Mickey's (at the Contemporary resort, easy walk or monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom) breakfast at Tusker House (Animal Kingdom) or breakfast at Cape May (in the Beach Club, an easy walk from International Gateway in Epcot.)

OK, now to what you asked: Here's my list of Not to Miss:
Magic Kingdom: Mine train-- just opened, I can't wait to try it!
- Space mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
- Philharmagic
- Peter Pan (for some reason, we just LOVE this ride!)
- It's a Small World-- the quintessential Disney ride!!!
- My son loves Indy Speedway
- Wishes (fireworks at night)
- counter service: we love Columbia Harbor House-- lots of tables upstairs. We also like Tortuga Tavern (I like their Taco Salad). Also be sure to try a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle.

Epcot:
- Soarin' (FP this and/or hit it first thing in the morning at rope drop.)
- Test Track
- Mission Space (we do the tamer "green" version)
- Imagination if your kids are younger
- The Living Seas, with Turtle Talk with Crush
- Spaceship Earth
- World showcase: good rides at Norway and Mexico
- Be SURE to see Illuminations at least one night; it's my favorite fireworks show at WDW.
- Food: the world showcase offers you so many options!!

Animal Kingdom: (Be prepared, it's hotter than the face of the sun in summer!)
- Safari
- Kali (fastpass for late morning/ early afternoon: you WILL get wet!!!)
- Expedition Everest
- Dino dig if your kids are young
- Dinosaur
- Festival of the Lion King (We LOVE this show!!!)
- Finding Nemo show
- Food: we like Yak and Yetti

Hollywood Studios:
- Toy Story Mania (You DO want to Fastpass this!!!)
- Tower of Terror? (Not for me, thanks!!)
- Rock n Roller Coaster
- Star Tours
- Stunt Show (that stadium gets HOT. Be sure you have water!)
- Food: My daughter loves Pizza Planet, but that's just because it's in the Toy Story movie. We haven't found a counter service place there yet that we love.
- See Fantasmic at least one night. If you sit up front, you may get wet, and young kids may be frightened. You can preview it on youtube if you're concerned about the scare factor.

Does that get you started?

 

[Elise79]

We're doing our 'once in a lifetime' trip in August too

For us... It really is. We're taking our nieces, who will be 10, 13 and 16 when we go, and whilst OH and I might go back in the future and definitely with our own children, I don't see us being able to afford to go again with my girls in the future. After this, I've promised OH to be a grown up and start saving for our house, focussing on my career, weddings etc... Booooo!

Our once in a lifetime thing is our photo-shoot. We're in WDW for two weeks, and then we go to a villa for 8 days to do non-Disney stuff. Our last day in Disney, we've hired a photographer to come around the parks with us for five hours.

Very few Florida photographers are given passes to do shoots with guests in the parks, and even still, the passes are extremely limited! So, I was super duper happy when my favourite Florida photographer had a parks shoot cancellation and could fit us in! Photos are so important to us... and I want to have something to keep for the rest of our lives.

Which photographer have you booked?

 

[WDWMania22]

We have found that planning too much can lead to a more frustrating holiday as you strive to meet your appointments. Who wants to be on a timetable on their holidays? My advice as previous members have said is to take it easy. We have had some of our best experiences unexpectedly when we weren't planning. Soak in the atmosphere and you'll appreciate it a million times more. Make it a task and you may put yourself off wanting to go back and that would be a mistake because Disney and the surrounding Orlando area offers the best holiday your likely to experience in the world.

 

[Holstar]

Which photographer have you booked?

Portrayable Photography - Her name is Kim and she is so lovely! She does resort shoots too, which are pretty competitive when compared to Disney Event Photography.

If it helps, this is the link to her website and this is the shoot that made me want to book her! It was a family shoot in Magical Kingdom

 

[Kath2003]

We have found that planning too much can lead to a more frustrating holiday as you strive to meet your appointments. Who wants to be on a timetable on their holidays? My advice as previous members have said is to take it easy. We have had some of our best experiences unexpectedly when we weren't planning. Soak in the atmosphere and you'll appreciate it a million times more. Make it a task and you may put yourself off wanting to go back and that would be a mistake because Disney and the surrounding Orlando area offers the best holiday your likely to experience in the world.

I agree - though it's easy to say when you have been a number of times.

Decide on your must-dos - a few restaurants, each park once, fireworks etc. but don't plan every second of every day.

We have a "routine" when on vacation (hit the parks for opening, leave around lunch, dinner in the evening) but it doesn't matter which park we do when, what we do in the afternoons and we certainly don't decide on dinner until the day (though we do have a few must-dos that we try to fit in at some point). Think about what will suit your family - can you get out of the door before 8am or will you be arriving later and making more of the evenings? What's most important to you?

 

[ZoeBiggs]

We have found that planning too much can lead to a more frustrating holiday as you strive to meet your appointments. Who wants to be on a timetable on their holidays? My advice as previous members have said is to take it easy. We have had some of our best experiences unexpectedly when we weren't planning. Soak in the atmosphere and you'll appreciate it a million times more. Make it a task and you may put yourself off wanting to go back and that would be a mistake because Disney and the surrounding Orlando area offers the best holiday your likely to experience in the world.

I have worried about this being the case!!

I thank you all so much for all you're invaluable recommendations and advice - trust me, it's all being taken in and investigated!! We're also planning on a couple of days at universal and thinking go thAt the best way to do this is book a night at one of the hotels without checking out of Disney, do you agree?

One of my thoughts is - if everyone is in agreement about spending the lunchtime hours (hottest?) out of the parks and doing something sheltered, would that not be some of the ideal times to take in the most popular rides?? Only those of you with multiple experiences in the park would be most qualified to answer I suppose!! It's just that avoiding the parks at those times was one of my first thoughts and it'll be my first time there, so would other none planners (!) think the same as me? Let me know how you found things at this time if day

 

[Kath2003]

I have worried about this being the case!!

I thank you all so much for all you're invaluable recommendations and advice - trust me, it's all being taken in and investigated!! We're also planning on a couple of days at universal and thinking go thAt the best way to do this is book a night at one of the hotels without checking out of Disney, do you agree?

One of my thoughts is - if everyone is in agreement about spending the lunchtime hours (hottest?) out of the parks and doing something sheltered, would that not be some of the ideal times to take in the most popular rides?? Only those of you with multiple experiences in the park would be most qualified to answer I suppose!! It's just that avoiding the parks at those times was one of my first thoughts and it'll be my first time there, so would other none planners (!) think the same as me? Let me know how you found things at this time if day

 

[ZoeBiggs]

You can save money by checking out of Disney and into Universal but that means packing all of your stuff up and moving it, plus hanging around between the check out time at one resort and the check in time at the next. Many people visit the parks for just one or two days so do not take breaks during that time and therefore stay all day. Plus, lots of people don't get up early so don't feel the need to take a break - or arrive at lunchtime with the plan to stay until the evening. Trust us, it's busy after 11am. In the summer it often rains in the afternoon but the storms are severe yet short lived. If you're willing to gamble and wait out the storm, the parks will be pretty empty immediately afterward.

Thanks for your reply!,

Why do I feel so Christmassy sorting this lot out??!!!! Feel maybe the next 'once in a lifetime'(!) trip needs to be a Xmas one - or is that just the afternoon cocktails speaking lmao!!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

I have worried about this being the case!!

I thank you all so much for all you're invaluable recommendations and advice - trust me, it's all being taken in and investigated!! We're also planning on a couple of days at universal and thinking go thAt the best way to do this is book a night at one of the hotels without checking out of Disney, do you agree?

One of my thoughts is - if everyone is in agreement about spending the lunchtime hours (hottest?) out of the parks and doing something sheltered, would that not be some of the ideal times to take in the most popular rides?? Only those of you with multiple experiences in the park would be most qualified to answer I suppose!! It's just that avoiding the parks at those times was one of my first thoughts and it'll be my first time there, so would other none planners (!) think the same as me? Let me know how you found things at this time if day ��. So glad I found you all!!! ��

I think it's general knowledge here on the Disboards, though many people will say they prefer to stay through the day. My brother in law and his family, for example, get there late and stay through, since none of them are morning people. It works for them.

But a LOT of people refuse to leave, not because it works well for them, but because they're determined to "get their money's worth"-- those tend to be the kids (and adults) having meltdowns. They're reached the point where they're no longer having fun, but refuse to give in. So the crowds and the heat and the humidity all combine to make the experience one we prefer not to be part of.

So play it by ear. I know that my kids (and my husband and I) all become a lot more human after that mid afternoon swim break, particularly in Disney in August.

 

[Kath2003]

Thanks for your reply!,

Why do I feel so Christmassy sorting this lot out??!!!! Feel maybe the next 'once in a lifetime'(!) trip needs to be a Xmas one - or is that just the afternoon cocktails speaking lmao!!!! ��

ANTICIPATION. Better than Santa any day

I think it's general knowledge here on the Disboards, though many people will say they prefer to stay through the day. My brother in law and his family, for example, get there late and stay through, since none of them are morning people. It works for them.

Yep. And there's no point in trying to get there early if it just doesn't work for you - no one wants to start the day with hassle and arguments and unhappiness and bickering. Some people just aren't game for the early morning theme park run, or some people are but then crash during early afternoon and it makes the whole trip miserable. You've got to do what works for your family - and sometimes that means different things on different days (e.g. not planning an early morning after a late night).

But a LOT of people refuse to leave, not because it works well for them, but because they're determined to "get their money's worth"-- those tend to be the kids (and adults) having meltdowns. They're reached the point where they're no longer having fun, but refuse to give in. So the crowds and the heat and the humidity all combine to make the experience one we prefer not to be part of.

BTDT...sometimes before noon

There are lots and lots and lots of ways to experience Orlando and Disney. Lots of us here have tried a number of those ways and found what works for us, but even then there are disagreements amongst the "regulars" - onsite vs offsite, table service vs quick service, mornings vs evenings, flying indirect vs direct, to hire a car or not (or, most controversially of all - use the public bus!), venture outside of Disney or not, venture outside of Orlando or not, pay to fly Premium, pay to fly Business, pay to fly First, when do go...we all have our preferences. Don't feel overwhelmed. Have a plan in mind, but change it if it doesn't work.

 

[Aliceacc]

ANTICIPATION. Better than Santa any day
Have a plan in mind, but change it if it doesn't work.

Words of wisdom indeed!!!

The absolute very best advice I ever got concerning Disney-- better than rope drop, better than bringing ponchos, better than Dole Whips, was this:

Do NOT give any ride or experience or meal or show or ANYTHING the power to "MAKE" your trip. Go with the intention of having the very best time you can with the people you've chosen to travel with. Your party will only be as happy as the least happy among you. So when one person has had enough, it's time to change the plan. Grab a soda, find some AC, go back for a swim or a nap, change parks, change shoes, whatever. Keep an eye on whoever is least happy and keep that person-- and it changes from one minute to the next-- happy.

(Obviously I'm assuming that no one in your party over the age of 2 (or perhaps 16??) is perpetually unhappy.)

That one little bit of philosophy has made all the difference in the way we do Disney. Sure, we--that means "I"-- make lots of plans. But if my daughter, who is REALLY sensitive to loud noises, is bothered by the fireworks, we'll split up and take her inside. If one of us is starving, we'll grab something to eat, (or grab something from mom's bag of park snacks) or perhaps see whether our ADR can take us a bit early.

The point, at least for our family, is not to break the world record for the number of FP's we can accumulate. It's to have a great vacation together as a family. And for it to be 'great', we all have to be happy with what we're doing. If that means we have to go on the Magic Carpets and Indy Speedway, or at least that some of us do, then that's what we do.

So there are very few "Must Dos"-- and those that do exist may very well be taken in small doses if necessary. My husband knows how much I love Illluminations. So, last trip, he took the girls back one night as it started to drizzle, leaving my son and me in Epcot in what turned out to be a monsoon, enjoying Illluminations. He and the kids LOVE the teacups-- I can't stand to even watch them spin in those things-- so that's when I hit the ladies room and go grab a round of sodas or waters.

 

[missnic07]

Loving this thread! So valuable to us first timers

 

[tinkerpea]

We're doing our 'once in a lifetime' trip in August too

For us... It really is. We're taking our nieces, who will be 10, 13 and 16 when we go, and whilst OH and I might go back in the future and definitely with our own children, I don't see us being able to afford to go again with my girls in the future. After this, I've promised OH to be a grown up and start saving for our house, focussing on my career, weddings etc... Booooo!

Our once in a lifetime thing is our photo-shoot. We're in WDW for two weeks, and then we go to a villa for 8 days to do non-Disney stuff. Our last day in Disney, we've hired a photographer to come around the parks with us for five hours.

Very few Florida photographers are given passes to do shoots with guests in the parks, and even still, the passes are extremely limited! So, I was super duper happy when my favourite Florida photographer had a parks shoot cancellation and could fit us in! Photos are so important to us... and I want to have something to keep for the rest of our lives.

Can i ask who you contacted for the photo shoot?

 

[Elise79]

Can i ask who you contacted for the photo shoot?

She posted a link in the post above: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51605595&postcount=49

 

[jothp]

Loving this thread! So valuable to us first timers

I agree, it has been really interesting to read about the different ways people approach the parks. It has been good to read that there are people who don't have any rest days as I don't think they will really work for us. At the moment I am thinking mainly mornings and evenings in the parks with rest time in the afternoons.