Top 5 Tips

[newtodis]

What are your top 5 tips for our upcoming trip??? It will be me, DH, DMIL, DS4 and DS1. We're checking in 9/17 and checking out 9/21 staying at all star sports for free dining. This is our second trip to Disney and first time on site. Cannot wait! This will be DMIL's first time going with our family and our first time going to MNSSHP as well. What thing should I keep in mind/remember/learn/whatever???

 

[JCandKT]

1. Go to a park in the morning - take a nap (or relax in the pool) in the afternoon - go back to the park in the evening. There's nothing worse than people that try to do sun-up to sun-down with little ones.

2. Eat breakfast! This will help you get through the morning without crashing.

3. Get your fast-passes as soon as you get in the park. September is usually less crowded, but I don't know how it's going to be because of Free Dining.

4. Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours in the morning and evening. Plan accordingly!

5. Have fun - don't stress out about 'having to hit EVERYTHING' this trip. Your kids are young. Soak up those "magical moments" that they (and YOU!) will have!

 

[safetymom]

Don't try to do and see it all. You can't. Pick the must do rides and anything else is a bonus.

 

[NDM#1]

Use this:

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/UltimatePackingList.shtml

 

[checkwriter]

1. Arrive at rope drop.

2. Use a touring plan.

3. Plan to return to your resort in the early afternoon for some R&R.

4. Use morning EMHs if it fits with your plans. Beware of evening EMHs, especially at the MK.

5. Don't panic! Give yourself time to relax.

 

[DVCsince02]

Allow plenty of travel time

Use EMHs

Allow plenty of travel time

Be flexible to have fun

Allow plenty of travel time

 

[Madi100]

1. Get there early and do the popular rides, even if it means that you are skipping over some to get to other rides.

2. Don't try to do everything, because you can't.

3. Take advantage of EMH. If you don't get to the park that opens early, early, pick another park.

4. Talk to the CMs. Most of them are really friendly.

5. Have a plan, but don't be disappointed when it doesn't work. Read about some of the magical things that have happened on the trip reports board, but don't expect them to happen to you. Those things are magical because they are unexpected. Make your own magic.

 

[MenashaCorp]

1. Stay

2. Outta

3. The

4. Damn

5. Lakes!!!!

 

[cccm]

1. Make a rough outline of which park you want to do each day of your visit. I usually do this based on special events, EMH and which day DSister is joining us.

2. Make sure you get FP for the rides that you absolutely must go on.

3. Don't sweat the small stuff. Remember to enjoy your time and children.

4. Don't make a million ADRs that have you running this way and that way and have you in transportation more than the parks.

5. Have one guilty pleasure a day while there (or if going to F&WF change that to have one healthy item a day and the rest guilty pleasures).

 

[Wild4Walt]

1. Make notes on what you would like to see and do ( star the ones that are must sees )

2. Be prepared to toss the list and wing it on some days

3. Take at least one ride on the monorail - it's a classic

4. Take advantage of FP's and Kid Swaps

5. Oh, yeah and take time to relax and have fun ( have you found this to be a common theme yet )

 

[TXYankee]

It will rain.

Maybe every every afternoon.

It will be Hot and Humid.

Accept this. Bring Ponchos. Dance in the rain and jump in the puddles.
You are in WDW!!!


Have fun.

 

[Carolinagal]

1) Have a picture made of the whole family by a Disney photog - you won't regret it!

2) Enjoy an Ice Cream Sundae while waiting for the evening parade

3) Have the kids silohouettes done (on Main Street or by Liberty Square)

4) Since you are on property, consider using Package Delivery (or at least pickup) for any shopping you do in the parks.

5) Watch your FP times - you can use the FP after the "window" on the fastpass, and you can get a new FP before using the first one

6) Make sure your 4 year old knows what to do if the parents get lost. Show him a cast member, and encourage him to approach if he gets separated. Give him a piece of paper or tag with your Florida contact info. If all else fails, write your cell phone number on him with a sharpie!

 

[NDM#1]

3. Take at least one ride on the monorail - it's a classic

Ooooow! This is one of the ten Neurotic Disney Mom commandments in my (hopefully) soon-to-be published book, True Confessions of a Neurotic Disney Mom. I'm so glad to see someone following this very important commandment.

 

[exwdwcm]

great tips everyone!

1- be prepared, have a plan for each day, but be flexible too (an obvious must with kiddos)
2- with a 1yo, know where the baby centers are and use them
3- get there early, take a midday break, then go back- we see so much this way and kids get a much needed break
4- use fastpass and baby swap
5- use photopass

and lastly- have a great time!!!!

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

1. Rent a car and use it for everywhere except MK.

2. Try to travel light in the parks.

3. Take your own stroller. Don't leave anything TOO important in it.

4. Take your cell phones. Get an ID bracelet with your cell numbers for the 4 year old.

5. Drink water all the time. Once you're thirsty, it's too late. You'll be fighting a headache for hours. You can get free cups of filtered ice and water from any place with a soda fountain. The drinking fountains can be nasty.

 

[hanco005]

I agree with what everyone else says, but one thought would be to let the 4 year old lead for day or half day.

I used to do the parks "commando" style (no, not that one..get your minds outta the gutter, people) dragging my DW and DD(8) to each ride, practically jogging, limited restroom stops, etc. Honestly, it was miserable to go to the parks with me.

Our most recent trip only involved one day at the parks so I suggested to my wife that we let our daughter decide which park and let her lead, understanding that we would whatever she wanted.

Best. Trip. Ever. We actually did everything that we would have normally done, except Space Mtn....and everyone got to pee more than twice during the day.

Some of the highlights included CoP 4 times and TTA 8 times (5 of which were in a row), but it was truly a magical day.

Have fun!!!

 

[NWOhioAngela]

1. Rope drop

2. Maximize your fast pass windows

3. Break in the middle of the day. Even if its just a TS meal where you get out of the heat

4. Be flexible. Have a plan, but things can and will get changed and there is nothing you can do about it but roll with it.

5. I gotta go against the group here and say I hardly EVER go to a park when there is EMH. Reverse pyschology--go where everybody else isn't.


YMMV

 

[kevrab]

1 Use Disney Photo pass service---buy it before your trip and save $30.

2 See the Extreme stunt show and Fantasmic show at Hollywood Studios. Both are great.

3. If you are going to do the new rides like Soarin' at Epcot or Toy Story Mania at HS go to them first thing when the park opens. GEt a fast pass first then ride the ride for twice the fun.

4. Definitely take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours.

5. Avoid standing in lines outside in the heat to get autographs and photos with the characters. Instead go to Toon Town Fair at MK and near Innoventions at Epcot where you wait in air conditioned comfort and at Epcot there are all the main characters right there (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale).

6. BRING PONCHOS or rain gear!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[newtodis]

Thank you all soooooo much for the tips.

I plan on using photopass-I need to pre-order the cd.

I planned on doing the "resting" thing during the day and letting the boys rest.

We're driving so we won't have to worry about waiting on Disney transportation. (thank goodness)

I'm more of a "rope drop" person (my boys are usually up by 5 most morning) so early's not a problem for us.

We went over mommy and daddy getting lost on our last trip. Plan on doing the same this time as well. I always take pictures of the boys (and try to dress them matching if possible) so I know what they were wearing in case anything happens. I always tell him to look for another mommy with a stroller and tell them his mommy's lost (trying not to make it too scary).

The "traveling light" I don't do well-you could find me in the parks to solve any possible need you have-first aid, medical, snacks, drinks, extra clothes and diapers, sunscreen, anything you could really think of. I need to let go a little bit...

Love the ice cream sundae idea (mommy can't have ice cream but she can pick out something else!!!)

Corbin (DS4) LOVED "driving" the monorail last time we were there. I planned on doing this again.

I joined TGM for the "busy" days so hopefully that works out.

We live just off Hilton Head Island, SC so we're used to the afternoon rain shower. The boys are looking forward to playing in the rain.

And finally, we will NOT be in any lakes!!! I really don't have a death wish! My DH wouldn't have to worry about the brain eating critters (they've starve too quickly) but maybe a gator would get him. I won't go in anything that I can't see the bottom of and I'm sure FL lakes are not that clean. DS4 knows not to go in anything until you look and see there are no gators in there so he won't be heading in

Again, thank you all so very much!! I'll pull up this thread while we're there to remind myself of the things I need to do and let go.

 

[Cruz Family]

I am going to try to give some that are a little different.

1. Bring a pop-up hamper to store your dirty clothes. It takes up no room at all in the luggage and helps keep the room a little more tidy.

2. Make mousekeeping tip envelopes ahead of time and already have them filled. One to leave out each day with a tip you think is approprite. We let the kids decorate ours and everyday we just leave one on the nightstand. No worring about having the right amount of cash and best of all you better your chances for towel animals.

3. Take advantage of club cool and the kidcot stations at Epcot. One word "FREE".

4. Bring an over the door shoe organizer to store all the toiletries. We use one row for each of the following - dental things (toothbrushes, paste, mouthwash, floss), hair (brush, combs, gel, accesories, etc.), skin products (lotion, face wash, sunscreen, etc.) nail and make-up items, etc.
It helps keep everything orginized and off the counter.

5. Take time to stop and smell the roses. It took a few visits for me to stop spending my whole trip running from attraction to attraction. Take the time to look and listen. Look at the little things, the details. Listen to the sounds around you, it just blows me away the effort Disney puts into matching the music with each and every enviornment.

I also agree with the others who say afternoon breaks are a must.