What Do We All Know, That Others Dont?

[CamColt]

Im trying to make a list of tips for a friend of mine who is taking her kids(5 & 8) to WDW for the first time(she hasnt been in about 20 years). Im having a hard time coming up with all the "secrets" us Diser know that the general public wouldnt. Ive thought of using EE especially at MK, taking midday pool breaks, and to ask to ride in the front of the monorail.
So, if anyone has any good tips that I can add to my list, Id apprecite it. Thanks!

 

[Blueberry]

If it rains, still go to the parks, rain thins the crowds out always.

Do not buy souvenirs first day, let the kids look around and then they can pick up what they really know they want before leaving..

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Make PS arrangements.

 

[bobcat]

Read the DIS and have a plan!

 

[chop456]

This August will be my first trip in about 15 years. Here are a few things I have made mental notes of:

1. Waking up Tinkerbell in MK
2. Calling exactly 90 days prior to your PS date exactly at 6:59 to get the Cinderella breakfast
3. Masks at Epcot
4. Cookie making (and eating!) at Epcot
5. Rest days

There is so much more I have learned.

I'll post more later.

 

[pjlla]

Check out the "Your Best WDW theme park secrets" thread over at the Theme Parks board..... very long, but LOADED with lots of good tips/tricks/secrets!!................P

 

[tiggerfan58]

Pin Trading!! With Cast Members only of course....especially if this is their first time. My kids love it. Riding the Train around the whole park. Hot dogs at Casey's. Relaxing on the TTA. Getting autographs and pictures with all the characters. There is so much more......just don't forget to take a lot of pictures.....their reaction to the magic is amazing!

 

[minmate]

Get your hands on park maps ahead of time and study them so you don't spend so much time doing so in the parks.

Epcot Characters on Holiday is a fun way to see lots of characters at one time.

PS's are a must -- even if you don't end up using them and need to cancel them... it sure beats eating at the food court all week.

include the kids in the planning or at least take their interests into account.

Meet Peter Pan at the MK.... my new favorite tip!

Explain the fast pass system to her and encourage her to really use it.

Have her buy her tickets BEFORE she gets there (but not from disney.com -- either do by phone, use AAA or one of the trusted ticket brokers).

Measure her 5yo and find out if there are any rides that s/he will be limited to and come up with a plan to handle that before getting there.

Autograph books (maybe... I like this idea but I also found that w/o the books, we got better character interaction).

throw away cameras for the kids to use.

variation on the souvenir thing... if budget allows... let kids get one thing at the end of the day each day (or the last time you are at each park) -- will end up with 4 momentos. not too bad... some people have said they require the souvenirs to say Walt Disney World on them.... to make them more meaningful.

Encourage the kids to help you keep a running journal at night of what you've done to save for a scrapbook or just to refer back to. It's amazing how quickly you can forget all the funny things everyone does and says b/c SOOO much happens in such a compressed amount of time on a vacation.

 

[lisabetty]

I never heard of "Waking up Tinkerbell"...what is this?

Where do you make cookies @ Epcot?

Thanks for all of the advise!!

 

[hAm53]

waking up tink is one of the nicest little things there is. as you walk through the castle, there's a shop to the left (the name escapes me). the first person that asks gets to open a little box by the register, and tink (a small light) goes flying out. she flies all over walls of the shop all day.

my addition to the thread is the 80 cent bun at anyplace with a toppings bar.

~ chris

 

[CamColt]

Thanks so much for all these tips everyone. Like I said, while they seem obvious to most of us, I would forget to point some of them out to newbies.

BTW, I love the idea of getting 1 souvenier from each park(and maybe each resort we stay at too). On our trip last year at then end of one of our days I asked DS(then 6) if he had fun today. He said no because he hadnt bought anything that day. I think setting up a plan the kids know about in advance might help.

 

[turnlisa]

I actually have a document all typed up for when people at work ask me about things to do with their children at Disney. Since my office is decorated with Mickey Mouse and my signed picture of Snow White, they think I might know a little about the place!

I suggest them looking over boards - especially this one - to get ideas. I mention waking up Tink, pin trading and PSs. All are definite musts! Comfortable shoes that have been broken in are high on the list. I encourage the mid-day breaks and taking the time to really enjoy things. Not being rushed is important. Story time with Belle is also a big hit.

 

[DisKim]

Making an itinerary and getting up early!! Also, don't have a big leisurely breakfast every morning. It amazes me how many people I know go with no plan and get up whenever they want, eat a big breakfast every day and stroll into the parks around 11 am. Then, they wonder why the lines are all an hour long. Another tip, eat at a character buffet around 1 or 2 pm. The parks are hot and crowded at that time so it's a nice time to get away and everyone will be filled up for the rest of the day. We never eat dinner after a buffet. It's very cost effective for us. Also, they will give you coffee to go which is something I always appreciate. Oh, I thought of another one! Don't forget to tell her about riding in the front of the monorail. I swear, my son could go to Disney and just do that and be happy all day. OK, I think that's all for now.

 

[disneygrl16]

Riding in the front of the monorail is fun.

 

[RobinMarie]

Some of the things I share with others are:

Make a breakfast PS for an hour BEFORE MK opens (8am). It is such a nice feeling to walk up an empty Main Street in the morning. Take a special picture, you'll be one of the few people without a huge crowd behind you!

Eat at Ohana - 'nuff said.

Faxing room requests.

Ice Cream Social at Garden Grill, cheapest character meal around!

I discourage autograph books, it eats up valuable time (thumbs up for pictures though!)

Do NOT miss the Festival of the Lion King

 

[Taja]

Checking the park operating and events schedules while planning the itinerary, and checking again a few days before the trip, and yet again each day at each park!

Wishes

IllumiNations

Fantasmic

SpectroMagic (particularly with children)

If lacking offsite transportation, be sure to bring extra batteries (mini-fans, cameras, etc.) and do a grocery stop for bottled water and snacks.

Have a definite itinerary, but be flexible to avoid meltdowns. It's the children's vacation, too!


__________________
Taja

 

[jjsmom]

1)Buy extra film and spare sunglasses before leaving home. This stuff is way overpriced in the parks.

2)Give the kids plenty of time to rest and relax.

3) Buy ponchos ahead of time at a Dollar or Discount Store. Then just throw them away after use

4) Pack two pair of walking shoes in case one pair doesn't dry out before your next park day.

5) Pack extra socks

6) Buy a very small spiral bound memo pad (the kind that flips over from the top) and put all confirmation #'s, ps #, important phone #'s, etc. and keep it with you. Mine fits easily in my waist pack.

7) Eat a quick breakfast in the room (bagels, cereal, poptarts, danish, etc) Get to the parks early, then eat lunch when the counter service places open at around 11 am. By noon, the lines can be quite long and tables may be hard to get.

8)Check buffet times. Some lunch buffets run til 4pm and cost substantially less than dinner. Eat early then enjoy the parks the rest of the night.

9) Our family's favorite low cost activity-Check out other resorts on the property; maybe have a drink in their lounge, stroll their shops and promenades. This is very relaxing and you get to get ideas for future trips
Have a great trip!

 

[Taja]

And if you have young children, pack a change of clothing each day. There are play fountains throughout WDW. They're fun for adults, too! Just make sure you're wearing clothing that dries quickly--from the skin out!


__________________
Taja

 

[HenDuck]

The two best tips I've received from these boards are:
1. Make your PS early
2. Get there early (although we have always done this).
Also,
Read the UOG