The Initial First Trip

[DreamMOM]

A Dream come true
I am planning a first trip for my family to visit the Walt Disney World Theme parks and Universal Studios. We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Family Suites Inn for 5 nights and 6 days. Then will stay the remainder of the trip at the Westgate Lakes Resort for 4 days and 3 nights. The dates for our trip are Aug. 25 - Sept. 1. We are driving down. If anyone has any pointers request and advice it will be greatly appreciated. I am planning everything over the internet and I booked both rooms on the internet. I am purchasing my 4 day hopper tickets from floridaorlandotickets.com and the Universal Studio and Sea World tickets from AAA. If my boyfriend comes back from Afganistan in time then maybe he can get the tickets on a military discount. I am very anxious and of course I want everything to be perfect for my children and I. My sister is coming with me and bringing a 3 yr old. I also would like to know if we should purchase travellers checks or bring our debit check cards to purchase food at the parks. One more thing I really want to attend the Polynesian Luau at the resort of the same name. Thank you very much for your time and advice. The next trip will probably be in 2003 and I will be planning to stay at the Polynesian Resort or the Caribbean resort.

 

[jennymouse]

Get a couple of guide books, offical & unoffical ones are good. You've got plenty of time to read these boards and others before you go...plenty of time to learn all the ins and outs. Even time to switch to an onsite resorts if you change your mind. Wecome to the DIS, fellow Kentuckian!

 

[susy]

How many people total (adults and kids)? What are the ages of the children? Yes, read the guidebooks!!! The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2002 has good touring strategies (keep in mind that Early Entry is no longer in effect). I would have everyone make a list of their must sees (look on the offical site or use a book) and then make tour plans. Make sure you plan for afternoon breaks for swimming and naps(it also rains every afternoon around 2-4 pm). My best advice is get to the parks really early (about 40 minutes before opening) and leave right after lunch. Return about 5pm.
Also, plan on at least one character meal! Have fun!!!

 

[koswalt]

The best advice I can give you is to think of specific questions and then ask them here. There is no better, nor more up to date information than you will find on this website. I agree about buying a guidebook (or 3 or 4 ). They are usually available at the public library if you don't want to spend the money. Once you've read through the book(s) you'll have 1,000 more questions that you can then ask here.

My first trip was last August and the only mistake I made was to plan every last detail to the minute. There's too many variables that interfere and too much truly spontaneous delight to be had. Have a (mental, not written like I did) list of things you'd like to see and do and just get there.

Definitely do take the advice you'll see repeated time after time ... go early, take a mid-day break. The time you're going will have reduced park hours, so plan for that. i.e., have nicer evening meals or visit Downtown Disney or Disney Quest or (gasp) something offsite that's open later.

Be (mentally) prepared ... physical preparation can only go so far -- it will be excrutiatingly hot. It gets hot here in Virginia -- high 90s, high humidity, but Florida is even hotter. It's the relentlessness that gets to you. Virginia has cooler mornings and evenings -- in Orlando it's hot 24/7. Anyway, if you expect it and pace yourself for it you'll have a fabulous trip. To wit -- our next trip is in (you guessed it!) August. It's just a great time to go, so we'll just deal with the heat.

Have a great time planning your trip!

 

[tinkerbell27]

DREAMOM - I noticed you are getting your sea world and universal tickets from AAA, what about your park hoppers? Our AAA office here in nashville has them for 188.00.