Top Five Tips for First-Timers?

[ZoZo]

Will you please share your top five tips for first-timers? I have two friends who are going on their first trip next month (October). They basically have no idea what they're doing! They had heard of Fast Pass, but thought it was something that you had to buy. Yikes!

I explained what FP was and how to use it, but I think there are other things that would be helpful for them to know. Luckily, they are pretty receptive to advice (they already asked me to give them tips about how to improve their trip!).

So, what are your five best first-timer tips? TIA!

 

[Firemedic99]

I would have to say -

1. - ADR - time savers beyond belief, but along with that you need to plan where you want to eat - it is better than trying to get in and having to wait and wait and wait...

2. - small bags - you dont need a huge backpack or purse if you are just a couple - its more to carry around all day and its more for security to go through to get in

3 - hydrate - get a bottle of water and keep yourself hydrated - drink water in the morning and before bed

4 - get places early - get to bus stops early, get to shows early - dont get to things right as they are going to start

5 - accept the fact that there will be crowds and lines and you will have to wait pretty much no matter what time of year for something they want to do - just accept that, dont get mad and frustrated - enjoy, relax, and just take it all in

hope they have a great time!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

Part of the fun of traveling to WDW for the first time is learning all about it yourself. I am so glad I did not read all the secrets of WDW before going the first time. It would surely have taken some magic out of it.

No we did not have ADR's
We figured out FP's the day we arrived
We only had a sketchy plan

Our first time was AMAZING and MAGICAL. Wouldn't change it for the world. Part of the fun of like is discoverine new things / places.

Now that we have a dozen trips under our belts we still love Disney but to be honest it will never be as magical as the first time.

 

[scooter7487]

Not sure how long they are staying, that being said

1. Understand you can't do everything relax (people that come back and say we had an awful time I say to them yountried to cram everything in didn't you!)

2. Expect rain daily around 4pm and don't fret it
3. Adr's is a must
4. Learn to use fast passes
5. Planing is essential. Take the time to read disboards, all ears.net, ....
6.stay on site and utilize early opening or extra magic hours
7. Take a break during heat of the day and enjoy resort pool or nap


Crap sorry said only 5

 

[disneynut11]

1. Get to parks at opening and take an afternoon break.

2. Use a touring plan.

3. Use fastpasses

4. Don't sweat the unexpected (storms, delays)

5. Listen to your body!

 

[ZoZo]

Thanks for the tips, please keep 'em coming!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I just posted these in another post the other day, but out of my top ten, I will try to pick five!

1. Fastpasses, fastpasses, fastpasses! I don't agree that you have to wait, b/c we never have. If you use the fastpasses correctly, you really shouldn't have many waits. I have only waited twice for 40 minutes each time, and that is a very minor wait.

2. My family LOVES the dining plan! With that comes ADR's, which make your life so much easier at WDW. We also use our counter service entitlements to the best of our abilities. We share them so we can stretch them into extra meals. WDW gives plenty of food, so we find that sharing works for us!

3. Fantasmic Dinner package for guaranteed seating to the show. We thought it was awesome, and can't wait to do it again!

4. Don't kill your mom when she overheats at Animal Kingdom and turns mean. That one is hard for me to follow, but I've managed during two AK meltdowns.

5. Do not separate unless someone in each group has at least one cell phone that the battery is not toast. Our 4G's never made it past 4:00, and if we got separated, it was awful trying to find each other. On our last trip, a potty trip turned into an hour and a half hunt for my brother and husband, and they had our KTTW, so we couldn't get a snack or drink! I wish I had remembered that we could've gotten free water at any stand. Dangit. Also, maybe some phone numbers should get memorized. A lady handed me a phone when she saw me fuming over my dead battery, and I couldn't remember a single phone number!!!

 

[katt789]

1. Don't forget a watch! Being able to tell the time is going to help A LOT

2. Take the time to go with the flow & enjoy it all, don't rush through your trip to just try to accomplish everything planned.

3. If you're staying at a value resort (or any other place without a hot tub) half an hour of sitting in warm water in the tub will make you feel completely rejuvinated the next day!

4. I find the best way to get value of of waterbottles, as I don't bring one with me, is to just buy one at the beginning of the day & keep refilling it. (though not everyone likes tap water)

5. Character meals are a great way to start a day, have a big meal, get into the parks early & then you don't have to stand in as many lines during the day and ride more rides, etc.

 

[Nature Mom]

1. Have realistic expectations. Don't expect to be drenched in pixie dust and be the next heart-touching Disney commercial. There are thousands of others with you at that exact moment also wanting to experience the magic and sometimes, you just don't get any extra 'magic' other than what you are willing to make for yourself.

2. Take time to be struck by the awe. If you get carried away by looking at the small details and enjoy that, then don't stress about getting everything done in the park. Take time to savor. It is the small details that make you want to explore more, and come back another trip to do more the next (and next!) time. Sure we missed stuff last time, but it was only because we would pay so much attention to everything. It also made us want to go back that much more and see what else we can find.

3. Do a little Disney refresher (books, movies, music) before you go. Makes the small details that you're checking out everywhere so much better.

4. If you are a late night person, EMH! My kids and I did every night time EMH, but never made rope drop. We rode so much in those evening EMH's. Some things are closed, but those were the things we focused on in the daytime and focused on the rides for EMH. We might not have met with all the characters, or seen all the shows, but we rode the heck outta those rides!

5. Quit stressing and stop listening to what everyone says you 'must do'. Have fun.

 

[GrammyJudy]

1 ADRs are a must
2 Arrive at ropedrop
3 If yiu have kids take a break at resort pool
4 Stay on site
5 Read ahead all you can

Most important look around, slow down and see all you can

 

[goofyintoronto]

Sorry I didnt read the previous posts, so i dont know if this has been repeated re: Fast Passes. Did you know that you can get a fast pass every 2 hours??? If you get one at 10am, you can get another fast pass at 12, 2, etc and so on. It doesnt matter what time the fast passes indicate your return time is. Just remember that. its such a time saver!!!!! Even if you get to (for example) splash mountain and you see the wait time is only 10 minutes....if its your fave ride, get fast passes, then go on in the regular queue. That way you have fast passes to ride it later on as well!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

#1 Slow down and take your time. Don't expect to do it all. Instead, make your first trip a long one 9 days+ and plan on a 2nd trip. And get some guidebooks to Disney World as a starter.

#2 Dine. There is a nice mix of restaurants, dinner shows, and fun places to eat. Go to Hoop Dee Doo, sure it's corny. 50s Prime Time. Marrakesh. Character meals (can't go wrong with Crystal Palace).

#3 Let Disney do the work. Fly and leave the car at home. Stay at a Disney resort and use the boats/bus/monorail to get around. Use magical express and check your luggage in at the resort instead of carrying it at the airport. Prepay using the dining plan.

#4 Go during a time of year when it's not busy and the weather is pleasant. I vote for the end of October... then you can go to the Halloween Party!

#5 Let yourself be a kid again. OK.... don't hug Mickey if it weirds you out... but interact with him, give him a high five, ride a kids ride, have a good time.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

1) Get the idea of doing out of your mind immediately. You can't, it's a fact, just get over it now. Pick a few things that are "must dos" and focus on them. Take the time to appreciate your surroundings, because the only time I can tolerate someone stopping dead in the middle of a walkway is someone looking around for the first time in awe going "omg...I'm in Disneyworld!"

2) Do your research. Look at menus, ride descriptions, crowd expectations, show times, ride refurbs and closures, etc. If you wouldn't go to Zimbabwe with no idea what's there, you shouldn't go to Disney with no idea what's there. This will save you from sitting down in a restaurant only to realize you don't actually want anything they serve, or getting in line for a ride that at the end you realize isn't really your thing. There's a wealth of information out there and it's not hard to access, therefore there's no reason to get into parks and get angry because you thought Big Thunder Mountain was a peaceful train ride.

3) Never expect to be on time EVER if you're using Disney transportation. I love Disney transportation. I love knowing that I have a way to get around without having to spend extra money. That being said, I know that there's "quirks" to using Disney transportation. Give yourself more time than you think you'll need to get places, particularly if you're trying to get to an ADR or anywhere you need to be at a certain time. Better to be early and have the opportunity to explore a little rather than being late, getting mad and rushing around.

4) Disney is not like lounging on the beach with your ipod and a book, it's work. Expect to leave the parks sore and tired. Expect to relish flopping into bed at night. Expect to love every minute of it. I consider Disney relaxing because it's not my normal routine and I love it there, but I know I'm going to be walking several miles a day and since it's NOT my normal routine, my body will react differently. Bring good (and more than one pair) shoes and make sure they're broken in, and comfy clothes.

5) Beware buyer's remorse. Disney is full of shiny new merchandise..and you will want it. Of course you'll wear that giant Goofy hat around the parks, but what will you do with it when you get home? Who wouldn't want a Mickey balloon, but what are you going to do with it at the end of the trip? That 5ft tall Stitch plush is so cute...but will it be so cute at the airport or sitting in the corner at home? ABSOLUTELY treat yourself, ABSOLUTELY spoil your kids a little, and OF COURSE not EVERYTHING needs to be practical. Maybe sipping out of your Grumpy coffee mug everyday will be a little bit more satisfying than having to dust off a certain Swedish Chef plush that lives on top of your bookcase not that I know that from personal experiece or anything! Also learn to take advantage of what Disney offers for free or inexpensively. Getting the ice water from CS places, pressed pennies, free segway trial, collecting park maps and guides, exploring the resorts are all good examples.



> Sorry if I come across a little snippy in some of these, it's not meant to be.

 

[kmedina]

It is so hard to pick just five. If I had to pick the top 5 for me, it would go in this order:

1. Dining plan with ADRs, including the packaged ones like Fantasmic, the Candlelight Processional, etc

2. Fastpass

3. Take a break (in the afternoon; a day or more away from the parks)

4. Do not take Disney park transportation right at closing. Either leave a little early or stay a little later to explore shops or have a meal.

5. Arrive as early as possible

I will mention some others in no particular order: have a nice stroller (handles better), give DH your backpack/camera to carry, pack back-up clothes for the kids (especially at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground set), be prepared for rain and cold evenings, reserve any special events as far in advance as you can (like haircuts, BBB, Pirates League, Wishes Cruises, etc), have at least one TS meal a day, explore your resort, pack a swimsuit (you can sometimes swim in January), set a spending budget for the kids and put it on a Disney gift card, use snack credits at the Main Street Bakery or around the world in Epcot, ride as many non-fast pass rides as you can early in the morning, go to Club Cool at Epcot. There are so many more, but I do not want to type forever.

The most important oone even over my top 5. Do not let a stressful situation ruin your time. Regroup. Relax and take a deep breath. Have a great time.

 

[Nefferz]

4. Don't kill your mom when she overheats at Animal Kingdom and turns mean. That one is hard for me to follow, but I've managed during two AK meltdowns.

This mom had a meltdown at DHS. I'm really glad my kids (teenaged boys) didn't just leave me there. I wouldn't have blamed them!

1) Remember that even grown-ups need naps!
2) Rain is your friend.
3) Cheap, disposable ponchos. Put one in your fannypack each day, that way, you'll have it if (and when) you need it!
4) Did I mention that even grown-ups need naps?
5) Waterbottle. Don't think that you'll find a water fountain at every turn, and buying a bottle of water in the parks can be pricey.

 

[Macduffy]

My tips for first time families!

You know your family better than anyone so take advice lightly regarding strollers and nap times.

Do one thing to make the trip special whether it is ordering a costume cake for a birthday, an in room celebration just because, a fireworks cruise at night, MNSSHP tickets or the pirtate league - treat your family to something a little extra special to make the trip super memorable!

Pre-purchase the Photopass CD When we got home from our first trip (totally broke by the way) I was devastated that each picture on our photopass cost like $15 a piece! We couldn't afford to spend all that extra money after just returning so we didn't get as many pictures as we would have liked. Pre-purchasing the CD means we'll be more apt to use the photopass photogs and have that many more family pictures of your trip!

Don't take a day off necessarily but take a slow day There is no way I can go do Disney and do nothing (ie. pool day) but that's just me (see #1) but take a day and go sloooooow. Don't rush and just enjoy! Follow your kids lead even if this means riding It's a Small World three times in a row.

BABY SWAP This is the best if there are rides that everyone in the family can't ride. No reason for anyone to miss out!

 

[tina.tina]

Well, I would have to say that the most important things is that you need to train by walking lots & lots & lots before you go.

The second most important thing is to realize that you should not have "must" do's. You should have priorities. If you must do something & then you're not able to do it for some weird reason, your vacation could be ruined because you failed. No one should feel stressed and like they are trying to drag the rest of the family to get things accomplished. If someone experiences this, you all need to re-group and re-prioritize.

 

[CariAnn]

1. ADRs: Many have touched on the value of ADRs. Even if you don't have the dining plan, still try at least a couple TS restaurants. If $$ is an issue, try the buffets, it's generally less expensive than the regular restaurants, and they're usually pretty good. (I recommend Boma!)

2. FP/Wait time Boards: I'll put these together, as they both pertain to ride lines. Grab a fast pass whenever you can. Even if you don't use it, you can either save it as a momento, or I've also handed them to people entering the stand-by line, and they have been quite grateful. Check the wait time boards every time you pass. Maybe Splash Mountain has had a 60 minute wait all day, but it broke/closed down for two hours and it JUST opened back up, guess what? 5 minute wait!

3. Parades: If you want to really see/experience a parade, stake out a curbside seat along the parade route (check your map) at least 45-60 minutes prior to parade time. I usually pass the time by grabbing a meal or snack first, then having a seat and people watch while I eat.

4. No Parades: If you are not interested in or have already seen the parade, pick one side of the park and remain there just before, during and after parade time. The parade route gets extremely crowded(even on the slowest days), but the wait times for the rides goes down, sometimes quite a bit.

5. If you want souvenirs, wait a day or two, then hit World of Disney in Downtown Disney. The store is so huge, they have most of everything you'll see in the parks. If they don't have it, then you still have some time before you leave to go back and pick up the item you want at the store you originally found it. (If you find something you love and don't buy it right then and there, make a note of where you found it. It's easy to get gift shop overload after a couple days.)