Your top 10 tips for planning a trip?

[ValerieK]

What would be your top 10 tips for planning a trip to WDW?

 

[BostonRob]

What would be your top 10 tips for planning a trip to WDW?

1) Stay onsite!

 

[MickeyAnne]

1. book early to get better rates.
2. do your research and know what to expect from your hotel/parks etc..
3. book a character meal (they're great)
4. have a basic daily itinerary that you want to follow (ie Mon;Epcot, Tue;MK...)
5. buy COMFY walking shoes
6. research the weather patterns of the time of year you are traveling in so that you can pack appropriately
7. make a spending budget for your trip (and then add more to it )
8. buy ample camera supplies and take lots of pictures
9. pack a smaller suitcase and put it inside a larger one so that you have room to pack all of your purchases
10. BE PREPARED FOR THE BEST TRIP OF YOUR LIFE

 

[DVC Owner in MA]

Here are a couple for you--

1. Stay at a WDW resort. The themes of the various resorts are great, and they really put you in a Disney mood. Plus, it makes tip #2 easier.

2. Don't try to do too much each day. Plan time for a break back at the resort, take a swim in the afternoon (or better yet, a nap), go horseback riding or just (gasp!) do nothing and sit at the Boardwalk or next to the pool.

 

[Hillbeans]

1) Get to MK about 30 minutes prior to the park's opening.

You can possibly get on 4 rides in that first hour before any real crowds start to build. This is especially important if you have young children that want to ride Dumbo and the Pooh Ride (and for any adult that wants to get on Buzz Lightyear 3 times in a row )

 

[Desnik]

These are my top 10, not in order.
Stay on site
Take time to "smell the roses"
Enjoy all that WDW has to offer, not only the parks
Buy an AP, you will be back
Book the trip yourself
Don't book a package
Go to mousesavers.com for discounts info
Buy a Passporter guide book
Go for at least a week
Read the DIS boards religiously

 

[lsteadman]

1) Pack your suitcases then unpack taking 1/2 out
2) Remember you are on vacation - don't call the office/work they can live without you for a week
3) Take comfy shoes
4) PEDICURE ....PEDICURE....PEDICURE
5) Double you spending budget
6) Buy only functional souveniers
7) Book the Plus Dining Package
8) Get airfare early
10) WEAR DEORDORANT...some smelly, musty people in WDW

 

[ValerieK]

Keep them coming.

 

[stnet]

I think the most important tip is to take your time. I have to agree that taking time in the afternoon to relax is a must especially if you have kids.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

What would be your top 10 tips for planning a trip to WDW?

Realize that it is impossible to see and do everything in one trip and relax!

 

[jckdisneybound]

My biggest thing, is what some others have said, take time to relax during the day. Makes for much happier Parents and kids.

Stay onsite

Get to the parks when they open and leave after lunch for the break. You'll have gone on most the rides just as the bulk of the people are walking in.

Budget, budget, budget. It's so easy to get carried away there.

Do your PS's at 90 days, you will get the times you want.

Go with the frame of mind, you won't see everything and that you will be back.

Comfy shoes and I agree ladies, get a pedi, you feet will love you for it.

 

[jjarman]

No particular order here...

1. Take a water bottle with you to the parks to refill as you go along throughout the day. Most counter service places will give you a cup of ice to add to the bottle. So nice to have when waiting in line in the heat.

2. Sunscreen (need I say more)

3. Take a back up camera if at all possible. Ours broke last trip and I refused to buy the expensive ones in the parks. Wish I had now.

4. Wear a hat or visor and/or sunglasses in the parks.

5. This one we found by accident. My husband is 6 feet tall and on our last trip our first night there he bought a red baseball cap at House of Blues. It was so easy to pick him out in a crowd that I made him wear the hat every day. DS14 who is 5'9" is going to be wearing a red cap on our next trip.

6. Take a little time to just people watch.

7. Take full advantage of fast pass. I tell everyone this.

8. Plan, plan, plan. It will save you so much money and time and frustration.

9. I do this with my money and it helps me a lot. I make an envelope for each day and put the allotted money for each day in the envelopes. Then on Monday, for example, if I have money left over, it goes into a fun money envelope. I do this the whole trip and always have money left over to bring home or for an extra treat.

10. Go back to the room midday for a break.

 

[henrylovespooh]

1. Use Dreams Unlimited for a stress-free planning
2. Research the Boards and mousesavers.com for codes and other tips
3. Take comfy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses
4. When taking pictures, shoot two of each in case someone closes their eyes or makes a bad face with a princess or Mickey!
5. Have a plan in hand to make sure you visit what's really important
6. Know that you won't stick strictly to the plan
7. Have one PS for each day you're there so you make sure you get to the restaurants when you want
8. If you have young kids, ride Dumbo first thing in the morning!
9. Look for characters in hidden places for photo opportunities
10. Take time to watch your children's reactions to WDW. Priceless!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

1. Most important - stay on-site.
2. If you have small children - get to the parks when they open
3. Take a swim/nap break in the afternoon
4. Even if your child hasn't used a stroller if a couple of years, they might need one at WDW. DOn't worry plenty of six and seven years olds are using them.
5. Read the Dis boards and learn about codes and the best deals possible
6. Especially if you are going at a busy time (summer, holidays) make plenty of PS. It's nice knowing that you'll be able to eat without waiting an hour for a table.
7. Bring or order lots of water
8. Buy a refillable mug
9. Don't try to do everything, take time to stop and smell the roses
10.Buy ponchos from the dollar store so you can throw them away instead of lugging the heavier mickey ponchos through the park.

 

[edk35]

Check out this board religiously.

Subscribe to Tour Guide Mike another fantastic planning site.

Have a game plan each day.....and if you do the first two..this will be easy.

Bring an extra suitcase for all the stuff you will buy

Get in the parks EARLY......especially MK

Plan a non park day or two..depending on how long you are there

Do a couple of character meals..CHEF MICKEY'S IS GREAT. Also Crystal Palace get the first sitting and you can eat, and be right in MK ready to ride when the park opens.

Don't get the autographs and picture with the characters....FIRST.....NO NO NO..RIDE RIDE RIDE..AND DO THE SHOWS FIRST.

Enjoy stuff that you haven't done before.......we did some things our last trip that we have not done in a few trips. IT was fun.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP....WE TEND TO FORGET THIS......AND WE ARE WORN OUT BY VACATION'S END.

 

[ValerieK]

Anybody else?

 

[goofy4tink]

1. and it's a big one...PLAN ahead. Buy some good guidebooks and know what you're getting into.

2. Let each person in your group make a list of 'must-do's' based on the guidebooks.

3. Try to have one sit-down meal a day. You function better with decent food in you.

4. Don't overpack. The tendency is to pack way too much.

5.Make a food budget..then add 25% more, just in case.

6. Give the kids a prearranged amount of money/Disney Dollars to spend however they want, for each day. Amazing how it cuts down on the "I wants.."

7. Get to MK about an hour or so before opening during busy times of year; 30 minutes at less busy times.

8. Drink a lot of water.

9. Make potty breaks part of your touring plan...every few hours, whether you think you have to go or not!

10. Most important one....relax and smell the roses, or turkey legs, or cinammon nuts, or chlorine pools. Whatever. Just relax. WDW isn't going anywhere. If you rush around like a chicken with it's head cut off, you are going to miss something truly unexpected and magical. Slow down. Enjoy!!!!

 

[LSUDis]

Don't wear a red t-shirt during certain Saturdays in early June!

 

[edk35]

I am almost scared to ask WHY??

 

[imatoad]

Leave your expectations at home, but don't forget to pack some flexibility, tolerance, and an extra level head with an open mind.