Three things you learned on your last trip!

[EvanMaddieMouse]

Okay, I give who is that?

Can we tawk?
Yep, it's Joan Rivers. She was there with her grandson (but no Melissa). We saw her the next day at Epcot, too, at Test Track. I was waiting for DH & EvanMouse and talking to a CM, all of a sudden the CM started flipping out, saying, "OMG, it's Joan Rivers!!!!! She's coming RIGHT THIS WAY!!!"

He was so cute!

 

[dbarker]

1. Going into the parks bagless is awesome. (lots of pocket room in cargo shorts )

2. DDP is wonderful--lots of food, but so convenient.

3. I still have a hard time convincing DH to take a break in the middle of the day (some people just never learn)

 

[CTGilstad]

1)Stay clear of the Magic Kingdom on the days they are filming the Christmas parade. It was a complete hassle getting into the park, navigating thru the park, and was very crowded.

2)The dining plan can add some stress to your trip if you are like me and are worried about not wasting some of your dining credits.

3)Watch “Wishes” once from Main Street. In the past we have always watched it from the sides of the castle or back in toontown. While the view is good from the side, I found watching Wishes halfway down Main Street was absolutely spectacular. You really get the full effect.

 

[froggygrrrl]

1) The Adventurer's Club makes a ridiculously potent Rum Runner.

2) We will be returning to the Italian restaurant in Epcot.

3) Dream Fastpasses to MK were quite the blessing! We were actually able to hang out in MK all day for the first time ever (we usually hit it first thing in the morning and are out by noon) and take our time and stop and see/do a bunch of things we have never made the time for before. It was wonderful!

 

[Lavendar]

Last November on our First Family Trip!

1. Disney Magic is what happens between the rides/shows. Take time to enjoy it.

One of our fav. memories is a CM who was sweeping the park stoping to duel with ds (who had his pirate costume on).

2. Pay attention to where the washrooms are. It's very time consuming to hunt for them.

3. Seeing you children's faces when they're picked to train with a Jedi Master or learn sword play with Jack is priceless.
Which goes with the person who said BBB is totally worth it. Watching my dd float around the park in her dress and "glass sneakers" was the highlight of my trip.

 

[tarheeltink]

From the last trip I learned....

1 - The best drink is the Island Sunset. I'll make sure I stop by the Poly bar at least once from now on!

2 - The cheap ponchos that you buy at the dollar store may not be very attractive, but they're cheap and they come in handy when it suddenly starts to rain.

3 - Getting up early has its benefits. We got most of the things that we wanted to get to done within the first 5 or 6 days, so after that we could relax a little more and not feel rushed.

 

[loco4dis]

1) The POFQ boat ride to DTD is awesome.

2) Epcot CANNOT be done in 1 day.

3) The DDP offers way more food than any person can eat in a day.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

All three come from delightful, chance meetings with British WDW visitors:

1. (French) Fries=Chips and (Potato) Chips=Crisps.

2. At least one family from Britain (at the WL) didn't know what a penny was, when faced with pressing one in the pressed coin machine. For future reference, just tell them it's like one pence, only more worthless .

3. We should appreciate free refills on sodas much more here in America...they aren't all that common in Britain. As such, if you see a over corn syruped English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh visitor, talk them down and point them at the nearest water fountain!

 

[Natterjack9]

Been there a bunch, including last April. Here are my 3 things:

1. Like many have said, NEVER stay off site. Once you stay on site, you will never stay off again!

2. Going during the busier times is not as bad as advertised. Most people don't get up and go early so if you are at the parks at rope drop you can get a lot accomplished. There are just too many rides and attractions closed for refurbishement during the off peak times of January and February.

3. The Disney Vacation Club was the best investment that my wife and I ever made!

 

[Lesley]

Hmmm...we've been to WDW many times but we did learn some new things-
1. The pool by the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge is more fun than the main pool.
2. The Neverland Club is the perfect place for my dd who doesn't like eating at 'Ohana.
3. Carrying a 3yo all the way back from the MK to the VWL at 11pm, after being at the park since opening is really, really difficult and pretty painful.

 

[WL Fan]

1. Staying at a new hotel can be fun, no matter how much you loved the last one! (Really liked French Quarter.)

2. Let the teenagers go and do their thing. The peace and quiet is wonderful.

3. Enjoy the days leading up to the trip! Anticipation is almost as much fun as the actual vacation.

 

[linskypens]

maybe not on our LAST trip but definately along the way.....



1. Too many ADR's makes for a frustrating vacation when you want to be doing something else besides travelling to wherever your ADR is.
2.Always bring your poncho
3.Pin trading is a great way for your kids to talk to CM's from all over the world.

 

[fairestoneofall]

1. If your five-year old is tired of walking, rent a stroller. It will save your back.

2. Take a day off to enjoy the pool and relax. You can go into the park in the evening and feel SO much better!

3. Epcot is fun! My parents never let us do Epcot growing up, but we did last trip and my kids love it! We're going to plan two days for Epcot next time!

 

[goodferry]

1. My kids love pin trading! They have always collected, but been hesitant to give them up so they never traded. I talked DD into it and she LOVED it.

2. We loved the BWV, the extra room in a 2 bedroom was awesome. I may have DH talked into DVC

3. My mother is much more fun after one of those pineapple drinks at 'Ohana

and one more because I couldn't reduce it to three

4. It's so much easier when the kids are old enough that we can just rent a stroller from Disney and NOT have to lug one onto the boats/monorails/buses!

That's what I learned this past trip, tips gathered in the past and sometimes forgotten include;

1. No matter how much the 16 year old complains, it's worth it to get up for rope drop

2. It is so necessary to take breaks and off days. The kids like the pools almost as much as the parks

3. I have really wonderful, well behaved kids. Not everyone is so lucky

 

[kkproulx]

This past October was our first trip to WDW. We had a great time and I learned a TON from reading these boards. Here's what I'll remember when we go back this coming October! Even though DH said he'd never go again, it was his idea to go back! We have a wedding to go to in Tampa that my DD6 will be in...he says "We can't go all the way to Florida just for a wedding! Let's go back to Disney!"

1. Don't go to a park the day you arrive without resting if you've been up since 3 in the morning. [We went to MGM the day we arrived because everyone said it could be done in a half day. The shows didn't fit our schedules and we were back at GF at 5 pm! I missed SO much! I regret taking the first day to just chill!!]

2. Don't take a 5 year old on Space Moutain! [Unless your child knows what it is and likes rollercoasters! Mine didn't (even though she begged to go on it!) and freaked out!]

3. When you see a 'short' line for autographs go right then instead of waiting to go on a ride that has a short line! [We did this and when we returned the wait was 1 1/2 hours! UGH!]

 

[Violet Crayon]

1. RNR is the better choice to open Disney Hollywood Studios, gah, we had to get FP's for 1:30pm (or wait 100minutes in line) in morning EMH right after riding Tower of Terror as our opening ride. TOT was 30mins the entire morning.

2.It is possible to catch some TS meals by making reservations that day and not relying that you can get in. We wanted Mexican, we called for a seating at San Angel Inn, we wanted sandwiches, we called for seating at The Plaza Restaurant.

3.If a ride is going down for refurb the first day you get to WDW you can wish really hard and it might stay open! Probably doesn't work too often, but Splash Mountain was open the first few days of January after a Jan 1st closing was originally listed.

 

[Disneytwinz]

1. When you come out of an attraction your stroller may be moved, even if it was in the correct spot.
2. The air in florida is much different than the air in NJ.
3. Disney World is an addiction!

 

[EvanMaddieMouse]

2.It is possible to catch some TS meals by making reservations that day and not relying that you can get in. We wanted Mexican, we called for a seating at San Angel Inn, we wanted sandwiches, we called for seating at The Plaza Restaurant.
.

This is so true---we were in Epcot on a very rainy July 2007 day---we made a return-reservation in France, and we were just walking around the WS. We were walking by Le Cellier and I commented on how it was supposed to be really good....DH decided to go check, "just in case", and believe it or not, we got seated right away! Yes, it was the table right by the entrance, that very first one, but who cares? We got Le Cellier at the drop of a hat with no ADR!

 

[jamstew]

2) You can gather up souveniers bought at the park with ones bought at Downtown Disney and have them all shipped home for not much money and get rid of the stress of how am I going to get this all home

Where do you get them shipped?

 

[tawasdave]

Where do you get them shipped?

We gathered up all our souveniers and took them to the World Of Disney store in Downtown Disney...just have to show them the receipt that you bought them at the park and they will combine them with what you buy there and ship them home for you...Good luck