Overwhelmed Rookie -- Help Please!

[hvanes]

I've never set foot on Disney property, unless you count the Disney store at the Mall of America (I don't). My husband is equally helpless. We are coming in June with ds11, dd8, dd5, and ds3. Despite the fact that I have been planning this trip since December, I am overwhelmed and at a loss.

We are doing 2 days at MK, 1 at AK, and 1 at HS. I have a list of attractions for each park that we've agreed upon as a family. I want to use one of the schedule-planner thingies so we can make the most of our time in each park, particularly HS b/c we won't be able to make it to rope drop on that day. Which schedule-planner thingy (sorry for the technical language) should I use?

I'm a rookie, but I know what I want to see and am not going to be content wandering aimlessly. Can someone give a little direction please? TIA!!!

 

[tawasdave]

Ok...take a deep breath....there, feel better? You can do this and have a great time...as for a little help...A year or so ago I was asked by two different sets of first time friends to help them plan...the second time I got smart and typed it all up in a short easy to read WORD document...I would be happy to send it to you...just send me a PM with your email address...anyone else want to see it? Do the same....Have a GREAT time at the happiest place on earth....

 

[helloconnie]

Relax! You are on the right path. Planning your trip is part of the fun. It sounds like you and your family have already discussed which rides and attractions you want to see. Since you have never been to the parks, I would suggest going to the Disney website and printing out the park map for each of the parks you will be visiting. Get familiar with the layouts of the parks and maybe even map out a game plan. I think you will find that if you try to plan out a schedule, you will miss a lot of the action happening around you. And that is what makes Disney so spectacular!

If there are particular shows you want to catch, make some 'planning cards' to take with you into the park listing what you want to see and the times for the shows.

Once you get to the parks, relax and go with the flow a bit. You never know what you will experience at Disney!

 

[Guest-expert]

there is also such a thing as over planning. Personally, i suggest planning the morning (9-noon) and wing it after. Here's why....things don't often go as planned, and this gives you time to stretch things if need be. Hit the 3 or 4 things that really are a must-do for your family between 9-noon (11:30 if you can swing it) and hit a sit-down lunch somewhere to talk about 1pm-closing. Also, don't forget, you are on vacation. Use the resorts to their fullest. A half day at the pool isn't bad either.....oh yeah...and breathe

 

[disneydad78]

look at these boards and have fun!!!

 

[Ryansdad0727]

As soon as you get to the park go to the most popular rides and get fastpasses. Use those up and get more ASAP. Eventually you will get FP's for later in the day. When that happens slow down and enjoy your surroundings. It's kinda crazy the first 2-3 hours in the park but the afternoons you can relax. Might even get a FP for later that night and go back to the room and take a nap then hit the park again that night. Good luck and don't get stressed. Disney has things set up where you will enjoy yourself even if it is crowded.

 

[clomahony]

I'm relatively new to my Disney obsession (as my husband calls it-just 5 years) and found that reading a travel guide very helpful intitially and then going on the various Dis boards and getting tips and tricks from the unofficial experts. The biggest tip I got was fairly straightforward was to get to the parks at rope drop - I found we could walk on to rides that would later have hour or more long lines. I think on the tips board someone listed out all the tips that were fantastic in improving our trips.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

Sounds like you're on the right track. And others have great advice. Decide your must-dos and attempt most of them early. (Get the fast passes--at DHS, go straight for Toy Story Mania first, they will be gone long before ToT or Rock'nRoll RC. For FP, after park entry my husband takes all our ticket cards and runs ahead. MUCH faster than all of us moving though the parks! We meet up at first planned attraction.)

Then relax and have fun! Look around, take pictures, talk to CMs (they might have some cool info or fun stories to tell) and chit chat with other guests (I love how friendly (most) people are at WDW).

One rule that makes us a little different is that we NEVER park hop. It takes sooo much time and, IMHO, base tickets with a little planning make for lots of extra $$$.

(I have to ask, why no Epcot? My kiddos are 6 and 9 and it's their favorite park (mine and DH too!!), DHS is second.)

 

[hvanes]

(I have to ask, why no Epcot? My kiddos are 6 and 9 and it's their favorite park (mine and DH too!!), DHS is second.)/QUOTE]

I know -- but it sounds (and looks!) like there is just a ton of walking at Epcot and not quite as much that will appeal to my two little ones as in the other parks. I'm guessing that after this WDW visit, we'll be hooked and will be back again and will do Epcot then. It was a hard decision, but I decided to do two more "leisurely" days at MK than try to rush through in one day and add a jam-packed Epcot day.

Thanks for all the great tips and thoughts. Would it be worthwhile to do RideMax or Touring Plans??? (a/k/a schedule planner thingies)

 

[d1gitman]

First off, CONGRATULATIONS on your first trip!!! The first trip is the best IMHO, even though you haven't reached "expert" status




here is how we plan our trip(s)

create a calender for all the parks for each day we are there, categorize, etc....

create an itinerary. however, we don't like "to the minute" or commando style trips. so i work incessantly on creating a detailed itinerary that has maximum flexibility with minimal restrictions.

basically, creating a cheat sheet for the parks so that in a glance, we know what is going on at any park on any day and can make decisions on the fly.

our last WDW trip was in 2008 and we made our ADRs (free DDP) for lunchtime, at various resorts. this allowed us the morning to relax at our resort, swim, do laundry, play arcade, shop, whatever we felt like. then we had lunch at a different resort, allowing us to see new places and meals. we then had the freedom to go to the park of our choice.

the link to my DIS posting is
http://www.disboards.com/showthread....n+spreadsheets


i had tons of fun planning and creating while in the end, it satisfied every bit if my compulsive planning needs. the family loved it because it allowed us freedom and flexibility in accomodating everyone's individual likes.

if you like, PM me and i can email you the excel spread sheets and you can tinker with them to your liking. this format can be used for any style of itinerary, commando, mid day naps, all day marathons, rope drop or late start.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

To answer the Op's question: you can get a "thingie" program called RideMax (just google it) and it will do all the work for you.

Or, you can buy The Unofficial guide, which has ready made touring plans already printed, just tear out and go!

Or you can subscribe to a touring plan site (just google WDW touring plans) and pay a subscription fee and navigate through TONS of plans.

Hope this answers your question!

Have a GREAT first trip!

 

[plucky]

Touring plan's website (whose link apparently cannot be named ; ) ) is awesome! Their touring plans have never let us down. Both the Unofficial Guide book and the site have invaluable information, and is totally worth the investment!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Just FYI plucky, I may be wrong but I don't think you can post that link. You might want to edit your post.

 

[WEDWDW]

Since this is your first trip,I thought you might enjoy looking at an old Times Guide and New Information sheet.They,along with park Maps are available in many locations throughout the Parks.

It is purely "coincidence" that I am posting an Epcot sheet.

 

[loafskier]

I noticed some of your kids are young and they already have some ride suggestions according to your post, which is wonderful. Something I did on my first trip was try to set their expectations a little bit on the rides they want to go on. I explained that just because we are walking by one of the rides they want to go in, we may not go on it at that exact moment. I explained that we were going on the most popular rides first so that we do not have to wait in line as long. This really helped reduce meltdowns.

 

[vicki_c]

www.touringplans.com

Hasn't been banned on the DIS for a few years now.

 

[Planogirl]

Mainly get there at rope drop if you can. You can get a lot done if you can get to the parks early and get to those headliners. You can use fastpasses wisely throught the day too. Also, check the times for parades and fireworks if you wish to see them and plan accordingly.

 

[Robin K]

I suggest that you look at youtube for what each ride does. Your kids will know what to expect and decide what would or wouldn't scare them.
Remind yourself that you aren't going to see or do it all. (this gives you a GREAT reason to go back) It is a vacation no need to stress over things you can't control-crowds, lines, etc etc. Best advice EVER: wear comfortable shoes and enjoy your family!!!!
Enjoy your trip!
Have a magical time.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Have a wonderful time, vhanes, making those lifetime, first-time family memories. And welcome to the DIS. Enjoy.

 

[hvanes]

I explained that just because we are walking by one of the rides they want to go in, we may not go on it at that exact moment. I explained that we were going on the most popular rides first so that we do not have to wait in line as long.

That is GREAT advice and something I would not have thought of (until we were mid-meltdown).

Thanks for that times sheet too -- I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled. I was wondering how in the world I was going to be able to know where we could meet characters or grab a bite to eat w/o stopping every 15 minutes to ask for help.

You guys are great!!!