Total Newbie - Need Your Best Tip(s)

[DHM]

My first trip to WDW and our first family trip will be from 11/19 - 11/23 (Thanksgiving Day). My daughters are 18 and 21. I have the guide books and I have been to all the websites, but what are YOUR best tips, especially for November? We are staying in a villa about 15 minutes away and will have our own car. What do you think is the best schedule? We will probably arrive in Orlando at noon on Sunday the 19th. What would you do Sunday? Should we get the Magic Your Way hopper passes? When should we buy the tickets? We all love rides! Please help us make the most of our vacation! Thanks!

 

[LilyStar]

My first trip to WDW and our first family trip will be from 11/19 - 11/23 (Thanksgiving Day). My daughters are 18 and 21. I have the guide books and I have been to all the websites, but what are YOUR best tips, especially for November? We are staying in a villa about 15 minutes away and will have our own car. What do you think is the best schedule? We will probably arrive in Orlando at noon on Sunday the 19th. What would you do Sunday? Should we get the Magic Your Way hopper passes? When should we buy the tickets? We all love rides! Please help us make the most of our vacation! Thanks!

Congratulations on your first family trip! Disney is the perfect family place!

You will have a lot of resources here on the internet to plan your trip. First off, I would suggest reading the Trip Reports also located here on the Disboards. This will help you to decide which parks you'd like to visit, what places you would like to eat at, which rides you MUST go on. Then visit sites like www.allears.net to start planning and of course keep posting on these boards all your questions.

As for your first day there, if you're staying offsite, then I would plan on perhaps eating dinner at one of the Disney resort hotels or perhaps taking a trip to Downtown Disney or Disney's Boardwalk to eat. You don't need park admission to go to any of these places. One of our favorite restaurants is Spoodles on the Boardwalk, great mediterranean food!

YOu should definitely buy park hopper tickets. As for when you should buy them, that really doesn't matter. Disney's prices on tickets have gone up twice this year, so they won't go up again before your Nov. trip. Weigh out how many days you need after you determine which parks you'd like to visit and how long it'll take to tour each park (1 day, 1/2 day, 2 days etc.)

Because you are going around Thanksgiving you should definitely have a plan of action at each park before you venture in. It will be more crowded than usual around holiday time of course. The first bit of advice would be to ARRIVE at park opening in the morning. YOu'd be amazed how much you can get done before noon. The most crowded times in the parks is generally in the afternoons.

Call on us if you need help!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'd say, follow the advice in the Unofficial Guide. It won't steer you wrong. Especially getting up early and taking a break!!!

You have to decide whether you want to park-hop or not. If you can set it up so that you visit the parks you want to without being there during EMH times, and don't need to hop, then save the dough. But, it isn't THAT much more and it is very convenient.

Consider a day at Universal if you can work it in. It gets a bad rap around here, but is just as amazing and fun as Disney.

Have a great trip!

 

[cabanafrau]

Most important tip! HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME & enjoy every moment! I don't see how it will be possible not to.