What's your #1 park tip?

[melomouse]

.. Besides drink water, drink water, drink water....I'd say the best tip I read beforehand that was a blessing and a curse was...

Realize before a trip to WDW that you will NOT do everything!!!!!!!
AND
Understand that you may have to return many, many, many,many times to do it all!!!!

Whenever I get too uptight about planning a WDW trip - I remember that, God willing, we will go back!!!!

Keep posting these great tips - I have to plan the next trip and I just got back!!!

melomouse

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

Never be without at least one Fastpass.

 

[Eeyore2003]

1) You can NEVER do it all, so don't plan to.

2) Waiting is a waste of valuable Disney time, there's SO much else to do!!!

3) Take pool/nap breaks when you need to, it will make Disney time so much more fun, and the pool is fun too!!!

4) Use the Guide Books and the Disney websites, whether you're going "commando or "relaxed", they're a big help.

Sorry, I could NEVER pick JUST one!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Do not rush around trying to see everything quickly, take your time, get to the parks early and have a break in-between, do not stay at the parks all day , especially in the summer months.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Stop and smell the roses....so many people rush from 1 thing to the next and get home and say "Boy I need a vacatioN!!!" Remember that you are on vacation, you will not do/see it all, and enjoy it. Make sure your trip is memorable for the right reasons not the wrong ones.

 

[WaltD4Me]

If at all possible, try to go during a slower time....even though those are getting fewer and farther between, if you can, try to go off season when the crowds are lighter....late September, most of October, some of January, some of Feburary, very late April, middle of November, even early December.
Although early December is getting busier, it's beautiful all dressed up for Christmas and the crowds are still way less than summer or spring break time.

We always go off season and I've never had to worry about getting there early (I am just NOT a morning person) or even really about FP's and I hate lines! I know not everyone can do this, but if you can, it's great!

 

[jonestavern]

All of the above..
We usually, for most days, do not use ADRs & never have trouble getting in or a longer than 10 minute wait for TS
eat a very light breakfast & go for a TS when they open or..
eat a big breakfast & do your TS for a late lunch

when it rains, buy or bring a poncho & celebrate much shorter lines!

Jean

 

[cara76]

Get or bring a stroller for your little one, it will save you time as you can walk faster and you aren't stuck carrying them through the parks when they get too tired to walk which they will.

This is the first thing I suggested to my friend who is coming from the UK in 6 months.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I agree with getting there early and taking a break at the hottest part of the day. Around noon the park starts filling up and by 3 pm they are pretty full. We got there at opening and then left right after lunch. We would then hit another park in the evening for Fantasmic or fireworks. It worked out great. My other tips...

1. drink lots of water
2. sun screen
3. bug spray

I was so proud that we were there 9 days and no one got dehydrated, sunburned, or bitten by a single bug.

 

[parrothead365]

Go left... If you have to pick a direction, go left. Most people will go right. At MK if you arrive early,hop the train and go to the back of the park and work your way to the front .

 

[DJBounce]

Wear comfortable shoes! Expect a lot of walking. Whether you get there early or stay late by the time your feet are in bed you'll feel like you walked to the moon and back!

I agree totally. We just went and out of curiosity, I took my pedometer and tracked my milage. We averaged 10+miles a day.

 

[VSL]

You're asking me for just 1 tip?!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

If you had to offer only one tip, what would it be?

Have fun!
That's all that matters. (& take lots of pictures).

 

[Teresa Pitman]

My number one tip is - take time to talk to people! The CM's are almost always friendly and love to talk about where they're from. And if you talk to the people near you while waiting in line, you can make new friends from all over the world.

For me, the best thing about WDW is not the attractions, it's the people.

Teresa

 

[erikthewise]

Well yes, be there when it opens! For me entering a theme park after opening time is like walking into a movie after it's started.

The reason for being there 20-30 minutes early is not only to take advantage if it opens early -- this never happens for us anyway as we go at slow times. It's so that you are near the front of the line to get in instead of near the back! That can make a big difference. At slower times of the year 10-15 minutes early is often more than adequate.

My #1 tip for getting the most out of your theme park time: Buy and read the Unofficial Guide to WDW, the sections on the theme parks, how the rides operate and how the crowds behave. And read carefully the touring plans, even if -- especially if! -- you have no intention of following them.

Why? Because if you are familiar with what an efficient touring plan looks like and the reasons behind it, you will be in a MUCH better position to make up your own plan on the fly when you arrive. You won't make the mistakes that make people miserable, like trying to ride Space Mountain at 1:00 on a busy day.

My #1 tip for enjoying the parks: Don't fight crowds! Easier to do at some times than others, but just make yourself a rule that you don't get in any line longer than 30 minutes. (At slower times, don't even put it with that; we seldom even do 20 minutes.) If the popular rides are jammed up, do the other things that have high capacity and aren't as popular. There are very few attractions that are worse than standing in line! And there are a LOT of worthwhile things in the parks other than attractions, if you look for them.

 

[Nite0wl71]

I have to agree, arrive at opening and if possible go the the 2nd parades and Fantasmic.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Arrive EARLY

ARRIVE Early

ARRIVE EARLY

 

[molly2004]

Regress, regress, regress...into childhood, that is. Try to see everything the way a kid would. Scream on the coasters, get soaked on the water rides, eat lots of junk food (at least one). Above all, smile and laugh A LOT! No one will ever see you again, so be a little silly. It makes it that much more fun!

 

[bytheblood]

Lots of Water.

 

[jamzots]

Go to the MK on a tuesday!!!!! Especially if there are no fireworks that evening, and then set another night to just to fireworks and maybe dinner. Also fastpass as much as you can, and get fastpasses for Soarin as soon as you get to Epcot or else risk that they might run out. We saw over 1-1/2 hour waits last week when they were out of fastpasses and we just walked right on. People were not too happy that they ran out!!