Park strategies for first timers!

[Aurora fan]

Hi all!

So myself and the family have booked 2 weeks in Disney from 22nd July 2016, obviously we know it'll be mega busy during these times, darn schools and there new fining system!!

Just looking for any advice for resort strategies....we're staying off resort with our own car, in a villa in davenport, so looking for any advice you guys have re timings of parks, fireworks shows etc or any websites that you can direct us to for some mega research! None of us have been to disney before so really trying to use our time wisely and get an optimum 2 weeks from our stay!

Thanks in advance!

 

[micksn]

• You'll be able to book Fast Pass + at the Disney Parks 30 days in advance, this means you can book for 3 rides or attractions per day.
• Avoid the parks that are offering Extra Magic Hours to onsite guests - they will be busy.
• Arrive early at the theme parks. Preferably an hour before they open and head straight for a headliner attraction.
• I usually plan to have an afternoon break, but staying offsite you might be best to plan a morning untill mid afternoon during your first week, then mid afternoon and evening in your second and relax at your pool or shop during the other half of your day.
• If you want to do some character meals or table service meals these can and should be booked 180 days (6 months!) before you go.
• Plan your days, but make sure you include breaks, pool time, shopping and water parks.
• During your first few days you will wake up early and be very tired at night - plan around this (don't attempt 11.00 pm fireworks in magic kingdom on your first night!
• Buy a copy of the "Unofficial Guide to WDW 2016" , check out allears.net for informtion on attractions and menus etc - have a great time planning

 

[ABZDisneyFan]

I would echo the above poster. The "Unofficial Guide to WDW 2016" is a great resource, buy it & study it.
Read these forums & the "other" ones as well, they provide a gold mine of information & tips, watch the weekly DIS pod casts as they will keep you up to date with what is happening & what is coming up.
If you plan to eat in the popular onsite restaurants, do your research on the menu's to make sure that you really want to eat there, I can't warn you enough about how important ADR's for the popular places are, do not under estimate how difficult it can be to get in to these places. Whatever you do, please don't assume that you can "wing it" when you get out there as you will be disappointed.
Do some You Tube searches for videos of rides & shows, there are also some really good "park walk through" videos up there as well. Get yourself a You Tube video download application which allows you to store the vids on your PC, I use "YTD downloader".
The official Disney site will give you up to date timings for shows, fireworks & parades, download the My Disney Experience app & register yourself & the rest of your family on the MDE site, this will make planning your days easier.
Above all else, enjoy the planning part of your holiday, people on here are friendly & will help you out with suggestions & advice if you ask.

 

[P800aul]

Above is perfect, same as us great advice

How busy? check this out https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/july-2016/#calendar

While sad (but also necessary) I put together a spreadsheet type calendar with a column for each day and times down the side, we decide which park we are going to visit using the crowd calendar. then I do everything the previous advice says filling in the spreadsheet. While you don't say you have children I do, so I print this off in A3 and blue tack it to the fridge in the condo so everyone knows what happening on what day.

Download the app onto your phone! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/my-disney-experience/mobile-apps/

Check out memory maker https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/memory-maker/

As you are staying off site (as we always do) put an note in your personal calendar regarding the 180 day for booking good restaurants or character dining or else you will not get them. Do the same for 30 days before you need fastpass+ and I would read this post http://www.disboards.com/threads/fa...ed-priorities-and-strategies-part-ii.3326057/ Of course you will have to getup early and fastpass+ for each day you want a Fastpass+ be mindful that the system will give you the times it wants you there, you can alter the times to be more convenient for you.

You will have a great time, Disney is wonderful I could just sit and watch it work all day without even setting foot on a ride and be happy. The more you plan the more you will enjoy and if you have to change your plans that's fine as well.

Good luck

Paul

 

[BudgieMama]

All good advice so far. We love the Unofficial Guide to WDW and would recommend the latest edition.

It's worth getting familiar with the park layouts- we got a bit lost some days and took longer finding things than we needed too really.

Be prepared for the heat: we planned not to take breaks (no kids) but soon found we needed down time each day in order to survive the heat!

Don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions here!

 

[dixonsontour]

I like touringplans. It costs $10 ish to subcribe but gives you a best park to visit each day, has always worked well for us.

Accept you can't see and do it all. Have fun deciding what are your must dos and anything else is a bonus.

Factor in a lot of pool time.

For first few days you will be on UK time so easy to do early starts but not late dinners or fireworks.

Later in trip a lazy pool day and an evening to see fireworks will be welcome.

 

[Tony Bush]

Also check out the touring guides on www.easywdw.com

 

[scoobydooby]

I agree read the Unofficial Guide and then sign up for Touring Plans.com the linked web site. Use their standard touring plans for the parks if this is your first trip, there is no question at all that at a busy time they will save you hours queuing. Plan you FPP according to these plans. Getting up early is a deal breaker but I advise a lie in every third day. Epcot World Showcase can be toured arriving later in the day and the shows at AK can accommodate a late start as well.

 

[DisFanJen]

Everything above is awesome. I'd point you at the unofficial guide & touring plans too.

But here's the one bit of advice I'd give you.

It's a vacation, don't let it cause you stress.

It can be so easy to see all the info and start to panic. You won't see and do everything, so don't stress about fitting it all in.

That doesn't mean don't plan. I'm a uber planner and for me that's part of the fun. What I mean is once you do get there, if you realise you forgot something, did something wrong, etc. Don't let it ruin your vacation.

I can't count the amount of times I've seen park melt-downs because of a missed ADR, Fastpass, etc.

 

[Kath2003]

My rules are:
1. Arrive early. Like, 10-15 minutes before opening as a minimum.
2. Don't wait more than 20 minutes for anything. Use fast pass and single rider to get on the rides you really care about.
3. Leave at lunch.
4. Don't do a park every day. It's a vacation. Spend some time around the pool, shopping, at the water parks, playing mini golf, sleeping...!
5. You can't possibly do it all, so don't worry if you miss parts.
6. Further to #5, start saving for the next trip 2-3 months before you go on this one!!

A good guidebook will help - Unofficial Guide is superb.

 

[P800aul]

6. Further to #5, start saving for the next trip 2-3 months before you go on this one!!

Brilliant .. you will be going again even if you think this is a "once in a lifetime holiday" it's our seventh year on the bounce.

 

[bex7583]

point no 6 ^^^ above . best advice i have ever seen on here