your best advice

[momz]

my family and i are traveling to disney world in mid january. i am looking for your advice on how we can best enjoy our time there. i have read tips on here such as "arrive at opening" and "bring a towel to dry the seats". do you have any other quick tips for touring? we are 2 adults and 2 children (4, 2).

 

[scubamouse]

go early and leave for naps. our DS5 and DD4 really needed naps when we were there. pace yourselves.

ask how long the waits really are. sometime 20 mins is posted and its a walk on, other times it's 30 mins and they haven't updated the board.

behind fountainview in epcot is a character meet and greet that gets very little traffic - quick and good interactions.

 

[MissBubbles]

Two words...Fast Pass. Get one for a major ride, then enjoy the time in between by shopping, eating, resting, going on another ride.

Have a great visit!

 

[eblack0409]

Always remember to pace yourselves and have fun.....if you were going in the summer, I would tell you to stay hydrated and drink lots of water...

 

[ch261]

Know in advance what is important to do- which rides, shows, or attractions are your priorities. Make those happen first, either by going to them first thing at opening or getting fast passes. Then everything else you do is icing on the cake.

We spent 7 days in the parks and still didn't do everything we wanted to, but we did hit the priorities, sometimes more than once.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Watch for cues from your kids. If they're not having fun, no one will be having fun.

Don't get so caught up in making it from point A to point B that you forget to relish the looks on your kids faces when they see that favorite character, lights in the sidewalk, etc. the first time.

Use baby swap for the rides that the younger one might not be able to do yet. That way both adults are able to experience the ride.

Some of the best memories happen while you're waiting for the parades...waiting for that ADR seating...waiting in line for the ride.

Don't miss Wishes...and watch it from Main Street or from the bridge into Tomorrowland. It's spectacular and the kids will love it!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Do NOT miss Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom! (Best show at WDW IMHO!)

It's very possible you may not need to use Fast Pass all that much during the time you go. If you do go to get a FP make sure to check the wait times right then. When we did Soarin' we got a FP for 2 hours later, but the wait at the time was only 30 minutes, so we got in line and the wait was really only 20 minutes. We rode then and then came back later for our FP time.

If your kids are into the characters I found the best times to visit Toontown at MK are

1. During the MK parade
2. Dinnertime
3. From about an hour before Wishes and on.

There were almost no lines at the Toontown Meet & Greet spots during these times.

Arriving at park opening IS a great tip, but again, in mid-Janurary it may not be as neccesary as during the summer or peak holiday times. It's great to be there at opening, but don't stress out if one of the kiddos doesn't want to get out of bed one morning and you don't make it!

Have a great time!!!!!

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

Bring a variety of clothes. We were there for a week in January last year and wore shorts and swam somedays and needed fleece jackets and pants on other days.

Plan meals ahead of time so that at noon you don't have two crying hungry kids and two adults debating on where to eat

Kids do not have the same expectations as adults to "see everything" they have no sense of time so I had to lower my expectations on what we would get to see in a day. For example after a parade or castle show my kids liked picking up some mickey shaped confetti. I wanted to rush and get in the next line for a ride but they were happy doing that.

Also at times with kids the schedule seems to be snack, bathroom, ride, snack, bathroom, ride....

Have a blast!

 

[karenbaco]

If you have an Ocean Stae Job Lot store near you pick up some rain ponchos for .69 cents, they were a lifesaver. We enjoyed the parks even in the rain.
Karen

 

[loriandmatt]

eat meals at off times and ride while everyone else is having lunch or dinner. (a big breakfast at 9:30 or 10 then dinner by 4 - ride in the early AM and during those busy 4:30-7 dinner hours.)

fast pass and baby swap - learn the tricks to both of these and use them. (DS loved riding everything twice in a row, once with mom and once with dad)

bring your own bottled water and snacks (toss them in the stroller so no one has to lug them.) you'll save tons on what these would cost you in the parks.

- lori

 

[ottawa-newbie]

The one piece of advice I learned here on DIS that I wish I would have heeded:

If you see a souvenier (sp?) that you like, don't tell yourself you'll buy it later!!! Buy it right away or you'll never get around to it!!!

Have a great trip!!

 

[FSUGrad97]

go early and leave for naps. our DS5 and DD4 really needed naps when we were there. pace yourselves.

behind fountainview in epcot is a character meet and greet that gets very little traffic - quick and good interactions.

I agree with both of these tips. I thought it made the day easier when we went back to the resort for a break. My DD2 could stretch out, and it gives you some time away from the frenzy of the parks.

Watch your child's/children's reactions to what they see. My DD's face would light up whenever she saw something interesting, and that made my trip.