Where to start? 1st time WDW

[ELSA711]

I've been to WDW several times but Touring Lines and Undercover Tourist seem to have a difference of opinion red/green days on several occassions. Anyone have an opinion on which is more reliable. Last year we went with UT and Easywdw and seemed to do well too.
Just wondering if it's worth it to subscribe to TL

 

[lroger01]

UCT sets its best days based on statistics and algorithms.

EasyWDW uses logic to set it up. Such as the logic that a park with EMH the night before will be less popular the next morning. Since people spent the evening there, it is logical they would like to go somewhere else the next day. Also, on site guests are likely to go to another park with AM or PM EMH.

If you search the EasyWDW site, Josh has photo blogs of him touring the parks on a recommended day using his "cheat sheet" touring plan. You can easily see how it all fits together.

I like the logic approach since once I understand the logic, I can then make wise decisions if the plan goes awry.

 

[lauradis]

Basically the planning is simple

Go to one of the crowd calendar sites and pick the recommend days for what park.

Plan any adr's and fp+ around the crowd calendar recommendations.

You don't have to have hopper passes. If you are feeling overwhelmed planning, your going to feel overwhelmed with all the random choices in one park let alone several in a day.

The only down side to not having hopper passes is let's say your dds love splash mountain and want to spend half the next morning riding over and over but you have plans for animal kingdom that day. Plus you don't want to stay in parks that have extra magic hours except for like those hours.

The number one rule for winging wdw now is ADR charge for canceling after 24hr mark, so don't make them or be flexible, you can always make the really important ones like dd birthday one. Which I suggest the castle. Also you can call wdw dinning number day of to get adr's but your not getting prime spots.

FP+ are easy you know your family do they like to sleep in on vacations? Do fp+ in evening
Morning people do them just around lunch time. Rope drop first two hrs are prime ride time.

I wouldn't leave Disney for food unless it top rated place. Disney food isn't cheap but do able. Counter service isn't all junk and will run you no more then $15/pp per meal. Which if you think about it is the avg chain sit down resort. Avg snack price is $5. Bottle of water $3?

I know it's alot to take in, but relax you don't have to commando over plan it.

 

[lauradis]

Ps it would take way more then a month to do and see all the Disney world has to offer, so don't try. Lol

 

[Isatricia]

Thanks again for all the replies.

I understand the logic behind half days at some parks - AK. My kids have been going to zoos since they were 2 & 4 yrs old and know more about zoo animals than most adults. We have been to the San Diego Zoo and the Omaha Zoo many times (2 of the top zoos in the US), so we will either think it is boring or it will take forever to see every animal - in addition to the rides.

My kids are homeschooled, so to keep with making every day educational we are looking at the individual enrollment in the YES program. Not only will this provide us with a structured class, but also allow us to get discounted tickets. I know that many have suggested to wait to add hopper until after we are there, but that is not an option with the YES passes - they cannot be changed. The costs for adult tickets is slightly less with the convention tickets, but being enrolled in the YES program lets the kids get youth tickets through age 17. If we were to do 8 day (not sure we will be there 8 days) base tickets on the convention plan it will cost us $1322.76 vs YES plan $1212.82. It is even a greater difference with hopper: convention $1568.12 vs YES $1386.76. If we add the premium plan (waterparks & more) to the hopper: convention $1667.80 vs YES $1476.68. Obviously the cost goes down with fewer days, but at this point it is not significant. It almost seems like a no-brainer to go with the YES program. The other struggle I am having is that the convention schedule probably won't be posted until July or August. So I must have a bit of flexibility - no ADR's those days.

I plan on buying a guide book, but I am not sure which one is better.

After we took the kids to DL in 2012, I realized how much we missed as kids (and younger adults) going to DL for 1 day at a time. I know that we will not experience everything possible, though most days at DL we just barely missed ropedrop and stayed until close - with a 6 & 8 yr old kids.

 

[kaetra]

Things I would do differently if I could do my 1st trip over again:
Skip park hoppers the first trip. While you're still learning the parks stick to only one park per day.
Check the EasyWDW crowd calendars first to plan my park days
Make only a couple table service ADRs
Wear blister block on my feet and reapply often
Skip Stitch attraction (major regrets there lol)
Camp out early for Wishes show
Rent a car (you already got that one)
Leave my inlaws at home

 

[Tomh]

1) Where to start in planning what parks to visit on which days?

I always start by looking at park hours, and EMH, which you either want to use, or avoid. That helps me to narrow down which days I want to go to which parks. If Fantasmic, OR Main Street Electrical Parade are only showing on certain days when you are going, then those might be a primary consideration as well.


2) Whether or not to buy hopper or "premium" tickets?

We have never use hoppers, never felt the need in 7 trips. My rule of thumb here would be, do NOT buy them. If and when you are in a park and feel like you really want to hop to another park, that is the time to upgrade your ticket.

3) Character meal? Daughter's 12th birthday on a Friday. Would YOU recommend breakfast or dinner?

We generally do character meals for breakfast before park opening so that they don't cut into park time. Our two favorites are Crystal Palace at MK, and Chef Mickeys at the contemporary.

4) We are not foodies and want to spend the least $ possible on meals. We are driving so can leave Disney property for meals if we choose.

Eating on property isn't about the quality of the food for me, it is the idea that it would likely take 2 to 3 hours to leave property for food. Do that for both lunch and supper, and you've lost an awful lot of park time out of your day.

5) Do all 4 parks require a full day or 2?

Depending on what rides / attractions / shows you really want to experience, Animal Kingdom could be half a day, as could DHS. We find that MK and EPCOT really are multiple day parks, and we usually manage to do one full day at Animal Kingdom and DHS.

6) I know it will be hot, but the conference dictates our visit.

Heat . . . . get free water at the quick service restaurants. Stay hydrated. Do shows, long rides, shopping, and long meals during the hot part of the day for a break from the heat. Rest when your body tells you to.

7) I am not a detailed planner - would rather make spur of the moment decisions, but that doesn't seem like a wise decision for WDW.

No, I don't think it is. Lines get quite long, restaurants (at least table service ones) fill up. If you don't have some plans going into the trip, or lots of experience in DW to work off of, I think that might not work out well.

We are a family of 4 - kids are 2 girls ages 10 & 11 (will turn 12 while we are at WW). They are past the "princess" stage so we are not planning a lot of meet and greets. We went to DL in 2012 and spent 4 full and 1 partial park days. We weren't ready to leave. We spent a lot of time tracking down characters.

Having been to DL many times, it is confusing translating it into 4 parks. Having to schedule meals and FP months in advance is making my head spin.

Thanks for any advise or telling me where to look!![/QUOTE]

 

[andiraye]

My biggest advice to you, especially if you are not a planner, is to use the touring plans at touringplans.com. Just decide which parks you want to visit on which days and follow the pre set touring plans designed for your family's age group. That way you don't have to do so much thinking but you are already ahead of the game versus just showing up.

If you WANT to, you can customize the plans further based on anything specific you want to do or don't want to do. But you don't have to.

To decide which park on which day, look at the crowd calendars at easywdw.com or touringplans.com. They are not perfect and are a little inconsistent with each other but they are a great guide.

You should also skim a guide book just to orient yourself. Unofficial Guide is great (they also run touring plans).

Beyond that, if planning is overwhelming, you can just wing it. You may miss out on a few things that require advance planning but you will still have an AMAZING time.

I would NOT plan on leaving the parks just for a meal. It will take too much time. As others have said, you can bring sandwiches or healthy snacks, and the Disney quick service meals are not expensive. $8ish for a kids meal and $10-$14ush for adults' meals. It adds up, but you aren't going to find anything cheaper offsite. I WOULD bring water/refillable water bottles. Water is expensive in the parks.

Have fun!!!!!