Our very first trip ever!!

[4MYBOIZ]

Hello this will be our very first trip ever to Disney. (My son exclaims)

We will be visiting Disney World from July 22-29 and looking so forward to going. I was amazed to see how many other Disney goers have already booked their vacations as well.

Our package is as follows: the Contemporary Hotel Tower/Magic Kingdom view, Park hoppers, water park pass, and dining.

I think we are more excited than our sons who are 16 and 9...
well my 9 year old is pretty excited too when he remembers, (so Mom, when are we going again?) My 16 year old is not impressed.

 

[CMK 1970]

LOL! This is our first trip also. My kids are 16(boy) 13(boy) and 11(girl). My daughter and I are so excited, the 13 year old is a little excited and the 16 year old was not to impressed yet. Well then I started showing them the parks and what they have to offer rides/shows/parades and boy did he do a 180! I was going over stuff with my Mom last night and he(16) came runnin in there sayin we have to do this and this....
It was so funny because not just a week ago he was rollin his eyes! BTW we will be ther June 5-11. I hope yall have a great time!

 

[4MYBOIZ]

Thank you for the advice!! I’ll show my 16 year old the attractions online vs. telling him about them. I'm sure that will excite him as well, he loves amusement parks!

You are going a month before we go, I’d like to hear your adventure when you return. Maybe you can provide some last minute tips! I know you guys will have fun! Everyone tells me; "if you go once, you'll come again!" I'm looking forward to it!

 

[DeterminedOne]

What fun? Congratulations! Just curious, where will yo be dining?

 

[4MYBOIZ]

Thank you. I planned to book the Aloha Dinner show at the Polynesian one evening and of course Chef Mickey's for breakfast on the first day. I wanted to do a firework cruse too. I hear Epcot has a cruse. Any tips? We plan to book between March and April.

 

[pedro2112]

Thank you. I planned to book the Aloha Dinner show at the Polynesian one evening and of course Chef Mickey's for breakfast on the first day. I wanted to do a firework cruse too. I hear Epcot has a cruse. Any tips? We plan to book between March and April.

The Epcot Cruises book fast, usually within minutes on the first morning they become available to book. In the "Theme park strategies" forum, there is a sticky thread dedicated to explaining how to obtain this cruise. Follow the directions in that thread and you will have a much better chance to get the cruise. Remember, the cruise will be available exactly 90 days before you plan on doing the cruise, and it is strongly suggested that you call when the phone lines open up that morning.

As you will be in the world during a very busy season, I would also recommend that you obtain all your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for all your sit down meals ahead of time. Otherwise, you may end up not finding a place to eat a sit down meal, or eating at very inconvenient times.

Finally, to get your teenager more excited, I highly recommend getting the Vacation Planning DVD from Disney. It's free, and it always gets my kids pumped up when they see it. Personally, I think the newer DVD is a little to "MTVish" for me, but the kids love it.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thank you. I planned to book the Aloha Dinner show at the Polynesian one evening and of course Chef Mickey's for breakfast on the first day. I wanted to do a firework cruse too. I hear Epcot has a cruse. Any tips? We plan to book between March and April.

We've never done the Illuminations cruise, sorry I can't help you with that. The Spirit of Aloha is a good show and being at Poly will give you the opportunity to walk along the beach. (If you like that kind of thing.)
Great choice with Chef Mickey's. I think your family will love it.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

Congratulations and have a magical trip !

As for the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show - my family and I loved it (we were last there 3 years ago) and are headed back this summer yet again. We are staying at the Polynesian and will actually be there during part of your trip - our dates are July 20th to the 27th. One thing I would suggest if your planning on the dinner show is to call and make your reservation for it soon. I made them for my group right at the 180 day mark but I also was working with a party of 8!(you can reserve the show up to 180 days prior).

If there are any specifiic questions I can answer feel free to ask away

 

[4MYBOIZ]

Thank you! This is excellent infomration! I read the post within the "Theme park strategies forum" Great advice there as well. I will be sure to book our sit down meals early.

Do we need to make reservations for the Lion King show? I hear that is great!

 

[WIDisneyFan]

I don't think you can make reservations for the Lion King show (I am assuming its the one at Animal Kingdom) but it is definately one not to miss - it is AMAZING !

 

[bubba73]

First trip ever and you are staying at a deluxe resort with a view of the Castle. Do you realize what you are doing? You are going to make this trip unbelievable to the point where nothing else will EVER be good enough! You will have to do concierge at the Grand Floridian or a penthouse suite on the Disney Wonder just so it can compare to what you are about to experience.

Seriously though. This sounds like you are going to have an unbelievable trip and I really just have one thing to say. "Can I go with you?" (LOL)

 

[4MYBOIZ]

LOL!!! Too funny! We wanted our sons to really enjoy themselves and since this is our first trip when planning, I thought this may be our first and last trip so I better do it up! However, after reading so many posts of disney goers going year after year I believe we'll be back!

We got a great rate with AAA. I initially booked through disney and received a quote that was out of our price range. I mentioned I was a AAA member and he advised that I call AAA directly. That was the best advice! Apparently when we booked with AAA in January it was "Disney Month" and we received a much better rate than what Disney could offer.

 

[4MYBOIZ]

Hi! I ordered the Disney Planning package is the DVD included in the pack?

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

Congrats!!! 4MYBOIZ :

We have been going to the parks with our 2 boys (now 12 and 13) for 8 yrs. It never gets old or boring for them.

We see so many teens in the park having a wonderful time. He just may think at this time that it is not cool for a kid his age to get excited about Disney. I am a middle school and my students ask me all the time how I can go to WDW so often. I ask them if they have ever been there and most say no. The sad thing is we live 90 min from the world. So what your son is feeling is perfectly ok for a kid his age. Give him time to chill and he should fall in love with Dis the way we all have.

Have a fantastic vacation

 

[byoung]

Have a great trip. Try Boma's at AKL it's outstanding.