First time visit to WDW

[Naama]

We are first time visitors arriving for 1 week. Staying off site and renting a car.
We have 3 kids under 10 years old. Please help with any advise on how many days should we purchase tickets for?
Planning on starting our days arriving early at the parks. Can we then take a break and get some rest at our hotel and return to the same park in the evening?

 

[Andrew C]

I would buy tickets for 5 days. This will mean you will have a day or so to do something else other than the parks (or just rest!). You can definitely go to a park in the morning and return in the evening. Or if you get the park hopper option, return to a different park.

 

[Nemo14]

Welcome!
There is a wealth of information here, but it can be pretty overwhelming. I'd suggest that you invest in a Disney guide book (I personally like the Unofficial Guide, but there are other good ones out there too). I would recommend 5 day tickets for your first visit - you can always add extra days on to them at a reasonable (?) price. For kids that age, you'll want to spend probably 2 days in the Magic Kingdom, 1 day each at Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. If you leave a park in the middle of the day you can return to that same park that night and not have to pay to park again (hold on to your receipt). If you want to go to a different park that night, you'll need to buy the park hopper option, but frankly on your first visit, it would not be worth it. Don't be afraid to ask specific questions here - we were all newbies once.

 

[Tinkerbell397]

Welcome to WDW Magic and the wealth of information on this site. I agree with the advise above....a park hopper will only complicate and confuse the trip, especially since it is your first trip and you are staying off site. You did not say when you would visit so leaving the park in the middle of the day to nap or spend time at the pool is a great idea. Not sure how old your kids are but instead of going back to your hotel, you can hop on the monorail and enjoy lunch as one of the monorail hotels.....The Kona Cafe in the Polynesian or Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary (be sure to make reservations). You can also catch a boat from the MK to the Wilderness Lodge and have lunch at Whispering Canyons....the kids would love it.
I agree that you should buy a guide book. This will help with planning and you can also you-tube any ride, hotel, park and get a walk though. Enjoy your planning and I am sure you will get plenty of advise here.
What month will you be visiting and how old are you kids? That will help the members here tailor their advise more personally.

 

[diznyboyz]

our first trip was with my husband, myself and three boys. We did three days and didn't feel we had seen enough. the next couple of trips we did four days. now last year five days and 2014 we have grown to six days. we have always done park hopper. we started early in am and closed parks down with fireworks. now since we have six days, we can take our time and enjoy each and every moment. Advice is to not rush, take your time and enjoy making Disney memories to cherish. The actual amount of days at the parks for your family depends upon how much energy your kids have to burn. lol. Just kidding. you guys can always go to the resort to rest then return to the parks later.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I would go with 5-6 days, but not a park hopper. If you are planning on returning to your hotel for an afternoon a one park a day plan is the way to go especially off-site and a first timer. Planning a break is a good idea though.

 

[Clamman73]

First time visitors with three kids under ten, I would do the five days so you're not cramming in time at the parks, stick to same park for the day and bookend Magic Kingdom for the five days. So first day is MK. Epcot, Studios, Animal Kingdom the the middle days in what ever order works well, and then the last day Magic Kingdom again.

 

[Wikkler]

I'd suggest, like everyone else, getting the 5-day basic ticket and going to Magic Kingdom twice.
What kind of rides do you and your kids like? If we can figure out what rides you want, then we can figure out an itinerary for at least the first few hours of each day.

 

[luv]

So much depends on your schedule at home, whether or not you want to keep your kids happy (instead of crabby), if you have park-hopper tickets and what time of year you'll be there.

I wouldn't suggest taking a break on an AK day in the winter unless you're going to a different park in the evening. The AK usually closes at five in the winter, so it might not be the best idea.

The Unofficial Guide is the best book out there. You might want to get a copy.

Please ask any and all questions, even if you think they're dumb, confusing or trivial. That's what the boards are for.