Quick! Who can answer the most asked question the fastest!

[Greenfield1984]

Sorry guys I have to ask it...

I have family that will be visiting the world for almost two weeks starting july 3rd. What kind of tips should I give them?

So now that I've asked it, and before you move onto a not so mundane post, i'll give you some background.

Basicly I like to consider myself, and to a lesser extent my wife, Disney vets. When we go to the parks we know where everything is, what order to do everything in and all the little secrets. In fact we are such disney vets that at this point planning a trip required very minimal research as we seem to believe we know it all.

However, My uncle, aunt and 3 kids (aged 6, 8 and 11) will be visiting and when asked what kind of tips we could give them i kind of blanked. Theres just such an overhwhelming ammount of info out there into planning a trip that I find it hard to latch onto each individual tip. I just seem to know inherintly all the things i need to know because of how often i've looked at questions just like this asked on the boards.

So for their situation i'm particularly concerned. They are the type of family that I know if left to their own devices will do exactly what you shouldn't do. They will show up to the park at their leisure (most likely magic kingdom on a saturday, or even more likely july 4th), bust out the maps and pick random attractions that sound good to them and then criss cross across the park. Then by lunch time they will probably hit cinderellas castle for lunch only to learn that you need a reservation....6 months in advance. Then after finally finding some food and having ridden only 1 or two attractions will then stress about how many more attractions they need to get done. When its 90F, in the middle of the afternoon at peak crowds with little sleep the night before....
Oh also one of my cousins has a serious case of ADHD.

So as you can see there are some basic tips i can offer them. But i was wondering if there was a comprehensive listing of tips that I could go to, or if you guys know off the top of your heads, so that I dont have to delve through all the threads that i've delved through before sorting through the good info and the filler.

Off the top of my head I'm going to give them this info:
-Avoid extra magic hour parks
-Avoid MK on saturday
-Get out of the parks from noon until about 4 by having a rest at their hotel.
-Which restaurants I would recomend (quick service)
-Bring snacks into the parks to save money
-If they are going to do fantasy land then to do dumbo first and ignore its a small world (come back later).

Wow thats all i can think of off the top of my head. Really bad. Like i said i'm just drawing a blank. In particular any money saving advice would be greatly apreciated. Also they are staying offsite and are driving down from Ottawa (long drive).


Also they are planning on viewing the fireworks at MK on july 4th. Where's a good spot they can stake out at most an hour before hand. They will not be able to handle sitting in one spot for more then an hour. My special spot is on the small pathway, to the right of the castle, that links the tomorrow land, and fantasy land bridges.

 

[Suellen]

Probably too late... but I would have hooked them up with a travel agent and let them plan them an itinerary. As a matter of fact that is what I did with my boss and his wife.

They came back feeling like they saw a lot and ready to book another trip.

 

[msp2mco]

I'd suggest telling them that they won't be able to do everything. Have them get the Disney planning DVD so the kids can see the type of attractions. The first trip we took, we had our kids prioritize their top 2 or 3 attractions in each park. We were sure to accomplish those things, and whatever else we could fit in was considered a bonus.

I'd also recommend they pick up a guide book. I find that the Unofficial Guide is easy and entertaining to read. Maybe they can page through that and get some ideas.

 

[Luvchefmic]

When I opened your thread I thought it would be "What time is the 3 pm parade? " ok real simply I would get them a book ...maybe Birnbaum so they won't get too overwhelmed...and get the deer in the headlights look with too much info. Suggest they make a must do list, explain to them about ADRs..mostly I would tell them to enjoy, have a plan, but emphasize they will never see it all and don't even try too

 

[mmeb144]

Go early, go early, go early!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Explain the Fastpass system to them.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Explain the Fastpass system to them.

of course can't believe I forgot that ! Great One and while you're at it even Photopass !

 

[chartle]

There is a problem with one of your tips.

The tip about leaving a park at 1 and coming back at 4. Well that may be problem on july 4 if there are park closures.

As based what I have read here you may need to get that good fire works stop a little bit earlier than 1 hour.

You did also tell them that its going to be jam packed.

 

[dudelydude]

As we all know, it is crucial to pre-plan to some extent. There are those that are totally against mapping out your day and those that would not have it any other way than to work from an itinerary. If it's their first trip, they need to do two things...get a lot done (to feel that they got their money's worth) but also to take time to take-in the sights and scenery. That said, I would urge them to go with a tight itinerary for the first half of park days, then roam more loosely in the afternoon.

-Get to the parks at 8am for 9am rope drop
-Choose 4-5 attractions that are must-do's to map them out ahead of time based on popularity and location to (as you say) not criss-cross the park.
-Head for lunch no later than 11am (even if it falls in between the aforementioned 4-5 attractions)


Quick Story about me and my DGF from last week's visit....
Last Tues, our bus couldn't get us to DHS no earlier than just before 8:45am as we were at a DTD hotel (we had no car with us). There must have been more than 2 thousand people ahead of us and thousands more behind us (obvious, I know) in the already-hot Florida morning sun. We still rushed for TSM and waited in a 2 block long FastPass line, but this was crucial as FP's ran out by noon. We went right to RnR and standby was already 100 minutes, so we moved on to TofT with a 20 minute standby and rode it. Next on our mind was to get a RnR FastPass, eat lunch and ride TSM. To get onto RnR before 4pm, we sat and waited for our next FP time, grabbed the RnR FP and went to lunch. Back to TSM and back to TofT.

My point in telling you this is to maybe pass along this story as an example of how important it is to get to the parks early, to have a plan so you know where you are going, use the FP system, to be patient (sitting and waiting for that RnR FP was tough for me) and to have some flexibility with Plan B's. Oh, and tell them the two most important things about FastPass. One person can run with all of their party's park cards to get FP's (WITH CELL PHONE) and that the FP's are still usable after the so-called expiration time.

After the above, we spent the rest of the day on the "left" side of the park at Star Tours, Muppets, etc.

Sorry this is so long, but I thought it would help.

Good luck to them.

 

[tarheel_girl]

I would tell them to bring their own stroller for their little one. Also, since you said one has a serious case of ADHD....let them know that their stroller WILL be moved from where they park it before going to an attraction. I also would map out their day for them. I too consider myself an Disney Vet. I just mapped out one day at the MK for a family that had never been. When I say mapped it out I not only told them which attraction to go to first. I also told them what fastpasses to get and when and where to park that stoller. They came back so excited. They got to see everything that day!

I would also tell your family about child swap. That way the older kids could go back with the parent that stays with the youngest. They'll feel like they got more out of their day that way.

 

[cmurray234]

If they're going for that long, you might want to suggest that they build in some days of down time. It's SO hot in Florida at that time of year.

 

[disEAR]

if they're internet/computer savvy use AllEars. If they aren't I would get them a book or two to help them research and plan.

 

[LaurenT]

My Four biggest tips:
Learn how Fast Pass works and use it.
Get to the parks for opening and get the most poplar rides out of the way.
Make soem ADR's for whatever is left at this point!
Spend some time on the Disboards!!

 

[palmtreelover08]

-give them a list of what you think they would enjoy most. reading the descriptions off of a map can be mis-leading. You know them..you know their "tastes".
-Not only explain the fast pass thing, but explain that one of them needs to be the "FP runner" who is willing to skip something and go get FP's for everyone else.
-Explain the TSM craziness.
-Bring lots of $$$ for the souveniers the kids are going to want after they exit the rides.
-1 hour is probably not going to be enough time before a parade to get a good viewing spot. 4th of July week is crazy crowded (from what I have heard). I am going too, so I will let you know when I get back
-Give them a touring plan. (i.e. Hit Dumbo first, get FP for Peter pan, ride Fantasyland rides, etc. ).. You are a vet, you know the drill.. Write it all out for them, circle things on the maps if you have to and number them.
-Be sure to tell them places to cool off and relax (water jets at Epcott), etc.
-Don't forget the Dolewhips!

 

[Greenfield1984]

Hey thanks everyone for all your help. Theres some good stuf there. I can't believe i forgot fastpass. Thats kind of a no brainer. Its the idea of forgetting such obvious things like that that i'm making this thread.

And dont worry dudley about writing too much. the more the better. I'm a fast reader and the extra info, and personal stories, make it more likely for me to remember.

Hey you guys have written a bunch of top tips but can't believe you left out avoiding magic hour parks. Imagine them going to the magic kingdom on extra magic hour days. I'm also going to have to look into the unoficial guides crowd callender.

what else am i forgetting?
Oh hey anyone know good links to places where i can get excel or word templates for planning? Maybe some fun disney themed planning templates. Or even just some fun stuf for the kiddies i can print out.

 

[Greenfield1984]

Oh also i should probably list the best snack locations at each park. So whats some of your favorites?