Things I would never have done without the DIS

[Cando86]

Many of the things listed as well as...

-the fact that you can have Mickey or Minnie give you a morning wake-up call

-which counter service restaurants are good

-the importance of afternoon breaks

-prime parade and fireworks viewing spots

-Club Cool @ Epcot

Love the Dis

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

-the fact that you can have Mickey or Minnie give you a morning wake-up call

Is there a way to select different wake up calls? I always seem to get the Stitch one. "No sleeping!"

 

[Katie Dawn]

Without the DIS I would never have...
*Realized the "power" of arriving at Rope Drop

*Known about Dole Whips

*Purchased Tour Guide Mike

*Known I can use Fast Passes after the expiration time

*Found a place where I can see menus & prices so I can before my trip & not during.

*Seen all of Robo's super cool fantastical maps!

*Known that I could rent lockers.

*Known that I should switch my tennis shoes either in the middle of the day or at least every other day to keep my feet happy.

*Known Downtown Disney even existed!

*Realized that some families visit Disney every year, and some families visit Disney several times a year! That is sooooooo fun!

*Known that I couldn't ride Body Wars again since it's closed.

*Met such nice, helpful, Disney lovin' people!

 

[quantumottle]

Where is the Wishing Well?
What are the paths around the Tree of Life?
How do you get to the bottom of the Canadian Falls?
How do you wake up Tinkerbell?
How do you ID your kid?
What is DME?
What is School Bread?
Thank you in advance for any help with these....so looking forward to our trip in 8 days!!!!
Erika

Thank you for the info, I figured it out...Here is the link:
http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx
How do you do the photopass sharing and can you use this for a really large party(15) and then order multiple extra cd's?
This thread rocks, I have learned so many great things for our trip next week!!!
Erika

Erika instead of waiting on replies to questions, since you only have a week until your trip, perhaps you should consider trying the DisBoards search feature. It works wonderfully, and you already have some great questions to get you started. Good luck and have a magical tip!

 

[PoohsFan1]

I am really loving this thread, here is my list:

- Find out what attractions are going to be closed on our trip
- MVMCP
- All the different places to eat like California Grill, Le Cellier, any of the different character meals....
- the different resorts and what they look like inside and out
- mini golf
- knowing that Disney guests can book ADRs using the 90+10
- knowing you can NOT pool hop (not that I did it anyways, but I just never knew about the rule)
- that some resorts could share amenities with each other, e.g. the PO Resorts and AS Resorts
- RD


There are is a trillion other things but I don't want to bore anyone. The funny thing is, if it wasn't for the DIS, I wouldn't be the "Disney Expert" that I am today....ALL of you guys here on the DIS gave me all the knowledge to help my friends and family have their own magical vacations at Disney....so with that I want to say

 

[SKWDW]

Without the DIS, I would not have known that you could use FPs after the expiration time printed on them

Without the DIS, I would not have known about the wonder of Dole Whips – especially the Dole Whip floats

Without the DIS, I would not have known to request a "First Trip" button

Without the DIS, I would not have known to order a beverage to share with DH at CS, then order a bottle of water with the second meal to take in the park for later

Without the DIS, I would never have known that Disney has stables and that you can visit

Without the DIS, I would never have thought to order water from Costco to be delivered to the CSR

Without the DIS, I would never have known to get to the Parks for rope drop

Without the DIS, I never would have known about the pre-purchase discount for the PhotoPass CD, and would not have participated in PhotoPass at the parks

Without the DIS, I would never have known how important is to get ADRs

Without the DIS, I would never have known about Lime Green Mickey Heads and meeting other DISers!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mmtska]

I wouldn't have tried a Dole Whip
I wouldn't have gone and eaten at Earl of Sandwich!
I wouldn't have known about Goofy's Candy Company
I wouldn't have stayed at the CSR and found a WONDERFUL resort!
I wouldn't have known to hit the ADR system on my 90 days out.
I wouldn't have tried Akershus
I wouldn't have gotten a GREAT picture of the Cinderella fountain with her being 'crowned'
I wouldn't have had Ridemax which rocked!
I wouldn't have gotten photpass and had so many wonderful pictures.
I wouldn't have been ready to get around so easily!

 

[luvthemouse71]

The year we got upgraded, i wouldn't have known what a big deal that was or even that it was an upgrade, without the DIS.

ADRs and the importance of making them, especially if you're going during free dining.

On here all the time reading about rides, attractions or restaurants I haven't tried yet.

Even though my next trip is 10 months away, I can come here and enjoy the magic, and get psyched.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

In addition to the previous lists...

-Cool Max moisture wicking socks
-Counter service locations have 2 lines per cashier
-The Sum of All Thrills new ride simulator at innoventions in EPCOT
-One Man's Dream at DHS
-Holidays around the World at EPCOT
-candy making lady in Japanese pavilion

Plus a bazillion I am probably forgetting. I thought I was such a know-it-all from all of my previous adult visits stretching back to the early 80s but since I have found DIS I literally learn something new every day.

-Jimbo

 

[knieriem]

On my trip this weekend I'll be doing these things from the DIS:
- Having a Dole Whip
- Going to Goofy's at DTD and doing the pick your own toppings bar
- Seeing the It's a bugs life show at AK
- Take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour
- Ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (Thanks to the encouragement from fellow DISer's)
- Maybe get something from Disney Florist (i think my husband is surprising me but I saw the charge on our bank statement...whoops!)
- Seeing the Carousel of Progress at MK
- Learned how to get to the parks at Rope Drop
- Learned how to go get Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania

Things I've done on past trips
- started looking for hidden mickeys
- gone to MNSSHP

Things I still want to do
- Go to MVMCP
- Find the paint brush on Tom Sawyer's Island
- Try a slushie in France
- See the candy lady in Japan
- Pick a pearl

 

[pmama]

Without the DIS I wouldn't have found the "secret path" in AK.
Without the DIS I wouldn't have known to stop by FW to see the Christmas decorations.
Without the DIS I wouldn't have known how to have divers surprise my daughter at Coral Reef for her birthday. (She loves that memory.)
Without this DIS I never would have paid the money or taken the time for their after hours parties.
Without the DIS I wouldn't know when new specials come out like free dining!
Without the DIS I would never have been interested in booking our first Disney Cruise!

 

[Albertan mom]

The Biggest thing that the Dis has done for me is gotten me EXCITED!

I can come on here any time and see other people getting so excited about Disney, and know I am not alone!

I would not have know about so much, too many things to mention!

I probably would not have taken 6 trips in 5 years without the Dis here to tell me about Free Dining, other deals, and generally, just make me want to be there.

I read stories on here that regularily bring me to tears. Especially during the Year of a Million Dreams. I love reading about the special things that Cast Members do.

I just LOVE THE DIS!!

(oh, and it is nice to be able to read a sentence and know what it means! Like-When you leave AKL, you must do EMH at MK on the day that MNSSHP is on. Call ahead at 180 days out or you will never get a ADR at CRT, and use your DDP and use 2TS credits to pay for it. Get a FP for PPF too. And go to IASW for sure! And so on!!)

 

[twokids0204]

How about waking Tinkerbell? I would never have known that....

I also sat in the front seat of the monorail, with hopes of being asked into the Driver's car... which we were. I never knew about that before the DIS (I am not sure they still allow that after the accident a ferw months ago).

From the DIS I learned the importance of planning and Fastpasses, and I never knew they could be used after the return time.

Fanstasmic! dinner packages... who'da known without the good folks from the DIS community?

Pre-purchasing photopasses.... and phootpass shares. Money savers thanks to DIS.

Beware of BEVERLY - ok, I woulda found out the hard way... but thanks for the heads up DIS'ers.

The best pre-treatment for the miles of walking you do each day at WDW is bodyglide.

 

[knieriem]

Without the DIS I wouldn't have found the "secret path" in AK.
Without the DIS I wouldn't have known to stop by FW to see the Christmas decorations.
Without the DIS I wouldn't have known how to have divers surprise my daughter at Coral Reef for her birthday. (She loves that memory.)
Without this DIS I never would have paid the money or taken the time for their after hours parties.
Without the DIS I wouldn't know when new specials come out like free dining!
Without the DIS I would never have been interested in booking our first Disney Cruise!

Where is this secret path?

 

[bikinpunk]

Our trip is in 2 weeks and I’m doing my ‘refresh research’ and found some interesting things in this thread. Thanks to all who have posted!

[*]Pick a pearl at the Japanese Pavilion
[/LIST]

Corinna

Can you elaborate, or provide a link?

Without the Dis, we never would have known about Wishes fireworks cruises. Tried it for the first time a few weeks ago, and I think it was the most enjoyable thing we did during the entire trip.

Without the Dis, I wouldn't have known that I could use my Department of Defense civilian employee ID to purchase greatly-discounted tickets for everyone in our room.

Thanks for sharing these. I recall the fireworks cruise, but had forgotten it.

I’m also an employee of the DoD. Did you ask about the ticket discount at your hotel, or at the gate?

Thanks!

watching Illuminations from the second level of the Canadian pavilion

Details? Any discussion on this?

Where is this secret path?

X2.

 

[J Le]

Without the DIS I'd have nothing to read at 3 am when I'm too excited to sleep because I'm going to Disney!

 

[Tomh]

Without the DIS, wow, I have learned so many things here:

I wouldn't have known how to use Fast Pass to my advantage
I wouldn't have known to stand under the picture of the lady with the parasol in the Haunted Mansion stretching room
I wouldn't have known that I could get first visit pins for my kids
I wouldn't have known that I needed to make ADR's 180 days out, and gotten a table for breakfast for 7 at CRT
I wouldn't have known where to stand in MK so Tink would fly right over our heads at the beginning of Wishes.

 

[kiwicassie]

Without DIS, I probably wouldn't have tried a zebra dome. THANK GOODNESS I did. Those are just heavenly.

 

[crystalotr@sbcglobal]

I thought of two more:

• We got groceries delivered to our room
• We rented a stroller off property and had it for the whole week, instead of using the park strollers during the day

Where did you rent the stroller off-site?

 

[anthonut]

Great thread!

- Getting a 1st Visit pin at City Hall for my Mom
- ADRs - who knew you needed to plan so far ahead (thankfully for first trip, even though it was last minute, we still found some of our favorite dining places)
- Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea room
- Maximizing a day at the park by getting there at rope drop
- Miniature golf
- Boma!!!