Tips for Traveling with Adult 1st timer

[Mika02]

Hi All

So I'll be traveling at the end of the month with my Boyfriend who is a 1st timer for my birthday. I myself have had a number of Disney Trips with family and solo.

I was wondering any vets who have traveled with Adult 1st timer and what did they learn from the experience. What would you never do with a 1st time and what you would always do with a 1st timer who is an adult.

We are staying at POFQ staying 6 days with 3 day park hopper tickets. So equal time in the parks and equal resort time.

TIA

 

[rosegoldmonorail]

following! i'll be going in august with my BFF who's technically never been before (she went twice for softball tournaments but had very limited park time so i'm considering her a first timer LOL)

 

[tinkerjo]

I remember taking my DH on his first trip. I had been many times as a kid but that was when there was only MK and Epcot. They added Hollywood studios and it was the first year for AK. He couldn’t understand why I didn’t know where to eat. He had no clue how massive WDW was and he feels vacation is a time for feeding his face lol. My biggest suggestion is not to push them. While you may be used to touring a certain way, if you push them too hard they may hate it. DH is a morning person who likes to be back watching tv drinking a beer by 4. He has a stressful job and likes some downtime. I go back with the kids in the evenings most nights. Also let them decide what they do/don’t like without your prior input. We went pre YouTube days so he went in blind (which is best in my opinion) We have been back about every other year since that first trip, every one more special than the last. Have fun and hope you convert him into a Disney junkie like us

 

[Sara_H]

I'd say to warn him about the security for the parks (waiting in line and going through metal detectors) because you don't want to start the day off on the wrong foot. Also warn him about the amount of people and food prices so there is no shock. Other than that...maybe let him know what is available for rides and shows so he has an idea but then just wander and see what interests him. If at some point he's feeling "too much Disney" go to Disney Springs and walk around a bit in the Landing and West Side areas.

 

[arminnie]

I've taken several adult first timers over the years. And given advice to other first timers I was not traveling with.

First and foremost - don't try to do it all. It's all going to be new for him. If you can't get a FP for a highly popular ride like FOP don't sweat it. I would not wait 2-3 hours. Just find other things to do. We all enjoyed WDW before the new rides so missing out on them should not ruin a trip.

Decide ahead of time if the two of you want to spend the time and money for sit down meals in the parks. The time to discuss this is before you get to the parks and are hungry.

Talk about the things he might like or hate before you get there. I hated wasting time on shows like the Tikibirds or Country bears when I was younger. Now I enjoy sitting down in A/C for a break.

Don't forget to look up (but try not to bump into people while doing that). The Disney imagineering that goes into the upstairs windows can be interesting.

Disney Springs (available by boat from POR) has lots of food choices (often quite reasonable) and music in the evenings.

And a lot of it boils down to knowing your audience. It was totally different when I took my 70 year old aunt from when I took a friend at 25. Since this is your BF you probably already know a lot about what he likes and doesn't like.

 

[RamblingMad]

I took my significant other to both Disney Parks in the US for the first time a little over a decade ago. She never went as a kid. We did one for 4th of July, and we did the other for Halloween.

What I learned is that she prefers Disneyland/DCA over WDW. She's not a planner, so she got frustrated with the eating and ride planning at WDW. She's like: I don't know what I want to ride and eat months from now.

I also learned that she doesn't like to stay on property. She wants to stay in the hotels with the best beds.

Another things I learned was that she doesn't like down days. She wants to go non-stop for her vacations. She'd rather sleep when we get back. When we did a Disney cruise, she planned excursions for every day. Our only down day was the one day we had at sea, and she was frustrated. When we both got off the Fantasy with the flu that we had caught, we still spent a day at Disney Springs.

I also learned that she prefers holiday themes. That's why we're going to Disneyland this October. She loves the Halloween stuff.

Finally, I learned that she'll now just go by herself to the parks on the fly.

 

[Mika02]

I've taken several adult first timers over the years. And given advice to other first timers I was not traveling with.

First and foremost - don't try to do it all. It's all going to be new for him. If you can't get a FP for a highly popular ride like FOP don't sweat it. I would not wait 2-3 hours. Just find other things to do. We all enjoyed WDW before the new rides so missing out on them should not ruin a trip.

Decide ahead of time if the two of you want to spend the time and money for sit down meals in the parks. The time to discuss this is before you get to the parks and are hungry.

Talk about the things he might like or hate before you get there. I hated wasting time on shows like the Tikibirds or Country bears when I was younger. Now I enjoy sitting down in A/C for a break.

Don't forget to look up (but try not to bump into people while doing that). The Disney imagineering that goes into the upstairs windows can be interesting.

Disney Springs (available by boat from POR) has lots of food choices (often quite reasonable) and music in the evenings.

And a lot of it boils down to knowing your audience. It was totally different when I took my 70 year old aunt from when I took a friend at 25. Since this is your BF you probably already know a lot about what he likes and doesn't like.

This was one of my biggest concerns. Should I make him get out of bed really early to hit the parks or roll out the bed and go. This is what we usually do when we vacation roll out of bed and head out no rush lol. He can get frustrated with certain things so I figuring to mitigate that I will scale back my hardcore planning.

I took my significant other to both Disney Parks in the US for the first time a little over a decade ago. She never went as a kid. We did one for 4th of July, and we did the other for Halloween.

What I learned is that she prefers Disneyland/DCA over WDW. She's not a planner, so she got frustrated with the eating and ride planning at WDW. She's like: I don't know what I want to ride and eat months from now.

I also learned that she doesn't like to stay on property. She wants to stay in the hotels with the best beds.

Another things I learned was that she doesn't like down days. She wants to go non-stop for her vacations. She'd rather sleep when we get back. When we did a Disney cruise, she planned excursions for every day. Our only down day was the one day we had at sea, and she was frustrated. When we both got off the Fantasy with the flu that we had caught, we still spent a day at Disney Springs.

I also learned that she prefers holiday themes. That's why we're going to Disneyland this October. She loves the Halloween stuff.

Finally, I learned that she'll now just go by herself to the parks on the fly.

My BF is not a planner at all and he's not fussy but he likes what he likes and he more of a food on the fly person. I am going to go over our dinner plans closer to our trip I have nothing planned for the 1st and last nights and I did ADRs the other few nights. I figured night one we can go over the menus of the ones I chose and he can tell me what he doesn't thing he would do and we can just do a counter service somewhere on property instead. The only 2 ADRs I'm definitely keeping is Tea at the Grand Floridian and California grill Brunch. He's basically a Steak, Burger and Potatoes guy and I'm a complete foodie but I can get my foodie adventures this week at Epcot Flower and Garden.

 

[RamblingMad]

My BF is not a planner at all and he's not fussy but he likes what he likes and he more of a food on the fly person. I am going to go over our dinner plans closer to our trip I have nothing planned for the 1st and last nights and I did ADRs the other few nights. I figured night one we can go over the menus of the ones I chose and he can tell me what he doesn't thing he would do and we can just do a counter service somewhere on property instead. The only 2 ADRs I'm definitely keeping is Tea at the Grand Floridian and California grill Brunch. He's basically a Steak, Burger and Potatoes guy and I'm a complete foodie but I can get my foodie adventures this week at Epcot Flower and Garden.

How long have you been together? If it's not that long, that can partially explain the not fussy part. Guys will put up more stuff in the beginning of a relationship than later on.

I'm a foodie too. I can't do red meat more than once or twice a month. My significant other did the dining planning for her first WDW trip. I'm a far more adventurous eater than her. I at guinea pig when I went to Peru.

I'd send him some menus to look at now, rather than wait.

The other thing I'd be on the look out is physical shape. I'm a hiker, so walking all over the parks doesn't bother me. I'm good to do 10-12 miles a day every day with a backpack on. My significant other is not in as good shape. Make sure he's good on his cardio. He'll have a lot more fun if he's not worn out walking around the parks.

I found the menus for you.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2019-epcot-flower-and-garden-festival-booth-menus-and-food-photos/

This will give you a chance to figure out what you want to try.

 

[Wild4Walt]

My best piece of advise ( which looking at your plan seems to cover it ):

Make sure to plan in some down time. As Disney Fans we want to share all our favorites but with as large as the 'world' is - you just can't see it all in 1 trip.

Get a few highlights for each day and live in the moment.

Enjoy!

 

[Nancyg56]

I've taken several adult first timers over the years. And given advice to other first timers I was not traveling with.

First and foremost - don't try to do it all. It's all going to be new for him. If you can't get a FP for a highly popular ride like FOP don't sweat it. I would not wait 2-3 hours. Just find other things to do. We all enjoyed WDW before the new rides so missing out on them should not ruin a trip.

Decide ahead of time if the two of you want to spend the time and money for sit down meals in the parks. The time to discuss this is before you get to the parks and are hungry.

Talk about the things he might like or hate before you get there. I hated wasting time on shows like the Tikibirds or Country bears when I was younger. Now I enjoy sitting down in A/C for a break.

Don't forget to look up (but try not to bump into people while doing that). The Disney imagineering that goes into the upstairs windows can be interesting.

Disney Springs (available by boat from POR) has lots of food choices (often quite reasonable) and music in the evenings.

And a lot of it boils down to knowing your audience. It was totally different when I took my 70 year old aunt from when I took a friend at 25. Since this is your BF you probably already know a lot about what he likes and doesn't like.

This is great advise. I have taken first timers as well and the last thing I will do is overwhelm them by overplanning. I also like to know in advance the dinign expectations, and if they like to be up and out early.

One new thing I learned is that not everyone likes to know disney trivia. Apparently I talk too much and my nieces thought I resembled a tour guide. So I suggest thinking that one through as well.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

I always ask newbies what is their "must do". Usually they have seen video's or spoken to someone that have told them about WDW. For some people it is a trying a different meal, others it's certain rides or parks. We took DSIL and Niece last year and gave them maps and told them whatever they decided was their must do we would try to accommodate. If they wanted to do a certain ride twice that was fine with us. If they wanted to sit down to eat or QS dining it was up to them. I believe since we went at their pace it made a more enjoyable vacation and what turned into a once in a lifetime trip turned into "can we go with you again this year" trip.