Tell me what you think........

[NvrBnToWDW]

FIRST TIMERS!!

I'm planning our first trip to WDW! We will be going
Apr. 30 - May 6, 2005!

Tell me what you think or our first day itinerary:

11 am- Arrive at airport (Orlando)
12:30 pm- Check in hotel (leave luggage)
1:30 pm- Ride bus to Downtown Disney
2:00 pm- Eat at Ronald's Fun House
2:30-5:00 pm- Shopping in Marketplace
5:00 pm- Eat dessert at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain
5:30 pm- Ride Monorail around WDW
6:30 pm- Hop on bus to hotel
7:00 pm- Swimming in Fantasia pool
8:00 pm- Dinner in hotel room
9:00 pm- Relax in hotel room
10:00 pm- Lights Out! Big Day in MK!

I know these times are flexible and I'm not going to try and structure the day according to them. But it helps me plan the day.

 

[Ozymoe]

LOL...I am thinking you are a "Closet Commando"...to be outed to your family and the world upon arrival at Orlando International Airport!

First of all...how are you getting to the All Stars resort? Are you renting a car?

How many people are going and what are your ages?

Some of the things you have in mind may need a slight adjustment.

 

[NvrBnToWDW]

We're going through Happy Limo.

The Crew:
Jay (husband)-29 on Friday!!
Lisa (me)-27
Matty (the intellectual)-11
Drew (the wild one)-9

I know this will be our first time and it's a lot to take in, but we've been practicing. We bought season passes to Six Flags and would go from open to close many times. The worst part was the long drive home afterwards.

 

[J/T Gramdma]

you have to get the monarail at ttc or poly or cont and it takes a while to get from dtd to any of those stops so you may have to rethink your timing as transportation times may be longer than you think.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

As first timers I understand your excitement. However you are not leaving enough time to get around. It will take much longer than you think to get from place to place. Most people do not understand how really large WDW is. Things are very spread out.
Don't get yourselves wiped out and frustrated on the first day. This can spill over and ruin your trip.
I've read many posts from first timers who had a terrible time because they underestimated WDW. Continue reading the great suggestions and ideas from people on these boards.
Take your time and enjoy yourselves. WDW will still be there for another trip.
The best part of a trip to WDW is planning the next trip!

 

[Snowgod]

I recomend you start with your plan and leave yourself lots of room for change. Have a very Magical trip.

 

[bettyann29]

We live right next to Six Flags over Texas and go ALL the time since we have season passes, but for some reason it is nothing like WDW to me... I can still remember my first time to WDW in 2000.... I made all these plans for us and had EVERY day completely booked to the hilt with stuff to do.. We went from one thing to the next from opening to close and we were dead at the end of each day!! I remember waking up each morning with my legs and feet hurting soooooooooooo bad I could hardly walk for the first hour cause it hurt so much and then after that it worked itself out till the next day.. I was like this for the whole trip and it nearly killed me.. I had to soak in the tub with hot water to try to get some of the soreness, etc out.. Just be sure to take the time to take in the sights and if nothing else start walking a few months before going and walk every day to get yourself ready for it.. I promise.. its ALOT of walking.... The last time I went in 2002 I went without the kids but we are headed back in 2006 and we are taking it easy this time.. Just remember there is no way you can ride every ride or see everything.. there is just way too much..

 

[Okiamae]

I agree with J/T Gramdma about the time it takes to get to the monorail from DTD, it might turn a fun day into stressfull day. Even if everthing ran on time you'd have to be in full commando mode for that scheduled hop from Ghirardelli's to bus to monorail to bus to ASMusic, especially with kids in tow. If you save the monorail ride for another time it would make your first day more relaxed and it would be easier to be flexible.
Sounds like your having a lot of fun planning, I had such fun planning our first WDW trip, I was afraid the real trip would be a let down, silly me!

 

[Mary Anne]

Where are you staying? If it's the All Stars and you have a car, I'd eat at the McDonald's near them, then forget about shopping hop a bus to the MK; get the Monorail there, when you've fnished with the monorail I'd go back to the hotel, relax by the pool and eat dinner. pesonally the ice cream by the All Stars is just as good as Downtown Disney.

That's more then enough for a first day. Just my opinion.

 

[Dreamin' Disney]

I find it a lot easier to plan blocks of time, such as morning, afternoon and evening. If there are certain places you have to be, make sure you calculate plenty of travel time.

If you plan every half hour, then when something unforeseen happens (and it will) then your entire schedule isn't completely out of whack. What if your plane is late, or there is a big wait to get into a restaurant, etc.

Be flexible, in case you have to leave something off your list to go to the next event. If you are off schedule, check with everyone at mid-point to see what everyone's priorities are. They may be willing to forego something to help avoid being in a frantic rush.

For example, you won't be able to eat at Ghiradelli's at 5:00 and then catch a monorail at 5:30. After Ghiradelli's, which will take at least 20-30 minutes if you get in right away, then you'll have to wait to take a bus to the monorails. I don't think the monorails go to Downtown Disney, so this would take some extra travel time.

 

[NvrBnToWDW]

THANK YOU!! YOU'VE ALL BEEN SUCH A GREAT HELP!! I WILL RE-ASSESS MY SCHEDULE.

 

[pumba]

it is a fantastic resort but going to dtd and to some of the other places takes a few. Take your time and just relax and enjoy it all. Hope you come to Tuesday and Wednesday night chats and ask questions . We have a large number of disers that have gone and can help you and ME TOO