Top Three Tips for Clueless Friend?

[checkwriter]

Okay, so I received an email from a friend two days ago: "We're going to Disney World on Friday -- [DS] says you might have some tips."



Right. Well, with only a couple of days to help, and not wanting to overwhelm him with info, I've told him to do several things. (FYI - a young couple with a couple of kids under 6).

Can you help me with any other top tips? What have I missed?

Here's a summary what I've suggested.

1. Arrive early - my experience, at rope drop and yes, even at the morning EMH park but ONLY IF THEY ARRIVE AT ROPE DROP - and leave by early afternoon for R&R.

2. Use a touring plan. I sent them to buy the UG, no time to get fancy.

3. Eat in-room for breakfast (gave them grocery info), then off-hours for CS; warning that ADRs for sit-down may be hard to come by for peak dining.

4. Baby-swap: what it is, how to do it.

I hate to see nice people waste time, especially with little kids along. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Faldred]

1) Fastpasses. Learn how to get them, how to use them, and when to get them as opposed to standby.

2) Fastpasses. Learn how to get them, how to use them, and when to get them as opposed to standby.

3) Fastpasses. Learn how to get them, how to use them, and when to get them as opposed to standby.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Make dining reservations! That's a big one! Nobody wants to be turned away from a restaurant when they're hungry and tired from trekking through the park all day.

With little kids especially, plan to get to parks early then return to their hotel to swim or nap! Don't wear yourself out.

 

[WillCAD]

1) Make dining ADRs or you'll eat counter service the whole time.

2) Read the maps and get familiar with WDW's layout BEFORE you go, or you'll be totally lost, confused, and disoriented the whole time.

3) Expect the unexpected - and roll with it. Or else you'll be miserable when the unexpected happens.

 

[t_catt11]

Checkwriter, you have nailed it, except for fastpass, which the next poster mentioned.... though honestly, I don't think they have time for a real touring plan. Get them to figure out a couple of must dos per park, make sure to hit those early, then hit the things they'd like to do, then fill in with the magic.

ADRs with a 1-2 day notice on a slammed week like this? Not likely. Expect to live on CS. They might duck into a TS restaurant to see if there are any cancellations, but should never count on getting a seat.

 

[catne]

with kids under 6 - concentrate your time on Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom, but mostly Magic Kingdom. Get there 10-15 minutes before rope drop, and head directly to Fantasyland for the kids rides. Look at a map while you're waiting for rope drop.

 

[Sandi]

What does "we're going to Disney World on Friday" mean? For some people, that means they are going to the Magic Kingdom on Friday and that's it for Disney World. If they're staying for several days, that's a little different.

But, my three tips are:

1. Arrive for rope drop (don't just say early, because to one of my friends, that meant "before noon").

2. Learn and Use Fast Pass.

3. Use the Unofficial Guide's touring plans (or at www.touringplans.com).

 

[twokids0204]

WRT Fastpasses... make sure he understands they do not have to use it during the time listed. It can be used ANY time after it becomes valid.

I find people don't know that.

In fact I got a FP for Soarin' just after park opened, FP said 11:40 - and a guy who had received a 9:20 FP asked me to trade mine with him, as he wasn't going to use his that early. BONUS - I took it, went to Nemo, and came right back and rode Soarin. I wonder if he would have still traded if he knew his could be used after 11:40 as well.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

1) Fastpasses. Learn how to get them, how to use them, and when to get them as opposed to standby.

2) Fastpasses. Learn how to get them, how to use them, and when to get them as opposed to standby.

3) Fastpasses. Learn how to get them, how to use them, and when to get them as opposed to standby.

I agree with this!

 

[teacher31]

I got the same comment from a friend last Friday that they were going to Disney on MONDAY! After some words ("Don't you know me? Don't you know I help people get a clue?") we did a crash lesson. Got her the hours, times for things, highlights, etc. She'll be there during her son's birthday and made a comment that she already had passes so couldn't do anything for the birthday. She didn't know about the other options. Believe it or not, I called for 3 ADRs on Friday and got all 3 (G.F. Cafe, Mama Melrose & Trails End). I know those aren't the big ticket places, but there were so many time choices I was shocked. I'd suggest getting at least 1 sitdown for your friends.

So glad to see other people have friends like mine!

 

[WDSearcher]

Okay, so I received an email from a friend two days ago: "We're going to Disney World on Friday -- [DS] says you might have some tips."



Right. Well, with only a couple of days to help, and not wanting to overwhelm him with info, I've told him to do several things. (FYI - a young couple with a couple of kids under 6).

Did you ask first if they already HAD a plan? Just because they asked you for a few tips doesn't mean they're totally clueless and haven't planned anything.

It kind of amuses me that people on the DIS tend to assume that anyone NOT on the DIS doesn't plan. There are plenty of people who do it on their own, with the UG or with TGM (because they found the site by Googling "Disney planning") or by watching all the Disney Tips shows and videos out there or by asking family and friends. The DIS isn't the only place with planning info. I don't know that you should assume the friend is "clueless" unless you've asked how much planning they've done. They may already have all their ADRs and may have already planned their days. They may already know about FastPass and Baby Swap and have a plan for each day.

I think it would have been nice to ask them a couple of questions before you just assumed they were three days out from vacation and hadn't done anything. They may have done all the big stuff and are now looking for those little "extras" that every person discovers for themselves and that others may not know. Like Hidden Mickeys, or the best place to watch Wishes from, or your favorite hidden snack cart. Stuff like that.

 

[floridascgirl]

We just had a friend call on a Friday morning and say that they were heading down that afternoon when the kids got out of school... and this was their FIRST trip! No planning, no room reservations, no tickets...nothing!!! I was appalled because I'm a plan-a-holic, but these were the few tips that I gave them. 1.) FAST-PASS 2.) PHOTOPASS CARD 3.) Check on EMH for each park

 

[PHXscuba]

If they don't want to call for ADRs before they leave, tell them to check at Guest Services when they get to a park to see what's available that day. There's usually something. Or they may be fine with little kids and CS. Many non-WDW vets are used to only eating "park food" when at an amusement park.
I'd second the get-there-early and use FastPass and parent swap tips.

PHXscuba

p.s. I'd also remind them to slow down and enjoy -- whatever they "miss" this time will be waiting for them next time when their kids are bigger.

 

[checkwriter]

Did you ask first if they already HAD a plan? Just because they asked you for a few tips doesn't mean they're totally clueless and haven't planned anything.

I don't know that you should assume the friend is "clueless" unless you've asked how much planning they've done. They may already have all their ADRs and may have already planned their days. They may already know about FastPass and Baby Swap and have a plan for each day.

I think it would have been nice to ask them a couple of questions before you just assumed they were three days out from vacation and hadn't done anything.

Thanks for sticking up for my friend, WDSearcher, but I know this fellow well enough to know that it was extremely unlikely that he'd done any planning other than what you might do going to a 'normal' resort (flights, hotel, rental car). He's a great guy, but let's put it this way -- he told me that he thinks he's either staying at the Flamingo or the Dolphin.

And thanks to everyone for all for your help -- I've been short on time, and just sent him a quick fastpass tutorial. I've now sent him info on photopass, groceries, babysitting, (expensive) rental strollers, and ADRs.

The problem is I think of something else every 20 minutes or so, but don't want to flood him with so much info that he ignores it all. So I'm really trying to distill -- and I think we've pretty much covered the half dozen or so things you can do to really separate you from the pack in terms of getting more out of the experience then most people do, and spending as little time as possible stuck in lines with tired, cranky kids.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

 

[DaveStroem]

I started a thread earlier today to come up with a top ten disney tips for noobies.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2144510

Feel free to send this to her or add anything to it.