First Trip need Advice

NMForplay

New Member
My family will be going to DW 30 june through 11 July. (Me,Wife, Daughters 3,7,14, Mom, Dad, Sister, Niece 4) :shrug: I need to find out the best things to do.

Restaurants. attractions, and any other advice.

Will be Staying at Shades of Green.

Oh, Yeah it is also Our Anniversary on the 4th of July. Would like something fun for the whole family that night.:sohappy:

Thanks
 
Well there are a ton of great resturants in Epcot in Canada Le Cellier is so good. 50's Prime Time in Disneys Hollywood Studios. Ohana, Jiko... and so many more.
For your Anniversary, one of the Dinner Shows is always a great time. We did the Luau at the Polynesian 3x's. It is a great show with good food free beer and wine. And they always have fireworks for the 4th too...

If there are any other questions do not hesitate to ask.
 
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kstella

Member
Go to your local bookstore and get at least one Disney guidebook. There's one for going with kids. Look through it and try to get an idea of what you would like to do. Remember it's going to be warm and humid so you'll want to pace yourselves, especially with little ones.
 
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NiarrNDisney

Well-Known Member
Go to your local bookstore and get at least one Disney guidebook. There's one for going with kids. Look through it and try to get an idea of what you would like to do. Remember it's going to be warm and humid so you'll want to pace yourselves, especially with little ones.

I totally agree, go to the bookstore get a guide book (I suggest Birnbaum's Guide to WDW) and with the family go through the material and mark the things you would like to see, eat, try etc. etc. then if you have any questions or seek more info on any subject I'm sure we here at WDW Magic forums would gladly answer and/or help plan in any way we can.

BTW, Shades of Green (SoG) is a beautiful resort I think you and your family will love it.
Thank You for serving!
 
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toystorymaniacs

New Member
Looks like you've got a nice long trip so I advice take your time. Study up and know what you want to do and when things get busy but then plan plenty of time to relax and enjoy yourselves. Some of my best memories at Disney are ones I never planned.
 
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jen2009

New Member
Im not sure if they do this at Shades of Green because its a miltary resort, but make sure you let them know it is your childrens first visit and your anniversary. They will give you buttons to wear and magical surprises will happen with you wearing them. Expect a lot of attention with the buttons.:)
Magic Kingdom is the best for July 4th. It is crowded though. I would do Ohana's that night and watch the fireworks from the beach there. The kids will enjoy sitting in the sand while watching them.
I would check out a character breakfast for the children. They will be overjoyed at the amount of characters they will see. I would recommend Crystal Palace or Chef Mickeys.

Enjoy your trip!!
 
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NMForplay

New Member
Original Poster
Ohana, Cinderella's Royal Table, and mamma melrose we are going to make sure to hit.

We are not going to plan the trip out to the detail we just plan on one main event for the day and go with the flow around that. My kids are big disney fans. They have been to disneyland several times, but they are totally excited about disneyworld.

We do have a couple of books, I am just worried that we wont be able to get to everything with the crowds. The heat wont be a problem were from New Mexico, but the humidity will be something to deal with.

Getting info from people always helps.
 
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NiarrNDisney

Well-Known Member
Ok here are some suggestions
Play a game of mini golf at Fantasia Gardens then wander around the Boardwalk resort.
Check out La Nouba it is by far one of the best Cirque shows I have seen.
Spend one of your days at one of the Water Parks, I'm from Colorado so I'm partial to Blizzard Beach.
Definitely spend some time in Downtown Disney maybe have a meal there.
You have to check out Animal Kingdom Lodge I think your children will love the animals and as a family I think you will all like Boma.
That is all I can think of for right now but as I'm sure you know there is so much to do.
Have fun planning your trip and Congratulations on your 1st trip to the World!
 
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Susan Savia

Well-Known Member
Thats cool, your anniversary is on July 4th because mine is too. Will be our 28th!!!!! :ROFLOL:Hope you have a wonderful one there in the world. We'll be at the beach...anyways.....How about a Character meal, the kids would love it. We like Chef Mickeys for breakfast. The Crystal Palace is nice too. Be sure to make use of the Fast Pass system. In HS, go to Toy Story Mania 1st thing and get a fast pass, then hop in line to ride. In Epcot we love seeing Off Kilter in Canada and in England the Brittish Invasion is good. Get a times schedule on the way into each park. Your wise not to plan every minute. Its nice to be able to just go with the flow at any particular time or park. OH and don't forget to get 1st Visit buttons to wear.
 
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NMForplay

New Member
Original Poster
:ROFLOL:It will be our 11th anniversary. The whole family is ready and waiting. Mini Golf is on the list and so are the water parks. We have a park hopper pass with water parks. My kids want to do the Kim possible thing at epcot too.
 
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DisneyGigi

Well-Known Member
Make sure that you let the ADR line know that it is your anniversary because sometimes they plan things in advance that are really nice little touches.
 
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lilclerk

Well-Known Member
Im not sure if they do this at Shades of Green because its a miltary resort, but make sure you let them know it is your childrens first visit and your anniversary. They will give you buttons to wear and magical surprises will happen with you wearing them. Expect a lot of attention with the buttons.:)
You can also get the buttons at Guest Relations at any park.

The only other advice I can give is make sure you make your dining reservations as soon as you can! Especially for July 4th. Other than that, have fun! I wish I could get my parents and sisters' families to go for a big family vacation :wave:
 
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WDW 3

Well-Known Member
We love staying at Shades of Green. My advice is to use all the transportation available to you. We hear people also staying at SOG complain about the transportation, the buses only leave once an hour to various parks and three times an hour to the TTC. People will stand around and wait for a bus and complain when they miss it. The buses usually leave SOG promptly when they say the will. You can walk to the Poly and catch a bus or the monorail. SOG only runs a bus to DTD late afternoon so we walk to the Poly and take one from there. On your way back from anywhere..... if you think about it, just hop on any bus to the TCC they leave from all the parks or hop on any bus to a hotel on the monorail and get back to the TCC that way. Even if it takes as long as waiting and usually it doesn't, at least you are moving, seeing the sights and the time flies by faster:) Last Oct we hopped a bus to DHS, the boat to Boardwalk for breakfast at the bakery and walked to EPCOT and that was fun too! Figuring out how to get there was part of the fun. T-Rex DTD would be fun for you kids!
 
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ThinkTink721

Well-Known Member
My family will be going to DW 30 june through 11 July. (Me,Wife, Daughters 3,7,14, Mom, Dad, Sister, Niece 4) :shrug: I need to find out the best things to do.

Restaurants. attractions, and any other advice.

Will be Staying at Shades of Green.

Oh, Yeah it is also Our Anniversary on the 4th of July. Would like something fun for the whole family that night.:sohappy:

Thanks

On your anniversary, be sure to go to guest services at the park that you are visiting & ask for an anniversary button to wear.

Recommended Family Table Service Restaurants:
MK
Crystal Palace
Cinderella's Royal Table
Liberty Tree Tavern
Contemporary
Chef Mickey's
Wilderness Lodge
Whispering Canyon
Hoop Dee Doo Revue (dinner show)
Polynesian
Ohana's
Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast
Grand Floridian
1900 Park Fare
Epcot
Princess Storybook
The Garden Grill
Le Cellier
Animal Kingdom
Donald's Safari Breakfast

Can't Miss Attractions:
MK
Dumbo
Mickey's Philharmagic
Peter Pan's Flight
It's A Small World
Haunted Mansion
Big Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Space Mountain (too bad it will be closed) :(
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Buzz Lightyear's Spaceranger Spin
Spectromagic
Wishes
Epcot
Soarin'
Spaceship Earth
Mission Space
Test Track
World Showcase
Illuminations
Disney Studios
Rock N' Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror
Great Movie Ride
Toy Story Mania
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Playhouse Disney (for the little ones)
Muppets 3D
Fantasmic
Animal Kingdom
Dinosaur
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Kilamanjaro Safari
Kali River Rapids
Expedition Everest
Festival of the Lion King
Finding Nemo the Musical

Other Things:
Chip & Dale's Campfire Sing-Along at Ft. Wilderness (it's free - except for the smores)
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (if you have any little girls who like to play dress up) - I prefer the one at Cinderella's Castle
Wonderland Tea Party at the Grand Floridian (kids can have tea w/ Alice & The Mad Hatter)
Pirate Cruise (if you have kids who would like to go on an adventure to hunt for buried treasure)

:wave:
 
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WIX

Member
May I suggest the Fireworks Cruise? I have done this and it was fantastic!!! That would be fun for the whole family. That may be perfect for the 4th, if it is not yet sold out. You board at the Polynesian boat docks.
 
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ClemsonTigger

Naturally Grumpy
I also agree that buying one of the better guidebooks (agree also that Birnbaum will be best for your group), do study and make a plan. Understand up front that with four parks and lots of other activities, you are not going to be able to "do it all", so relax a bit and don't try.

Possibly have each member of your group pick one thing they want to do at a given park. As you will be there 12 days, you will have more than one day in each park so you can spread it out. Maybe make one visit daughter 3 and niece day, another visit for your other daughters.

Hopefully you can be early risers, because I am a big advocate of being at your park of choice before opening. It will be coolest, and with evening EMH, more people will be out late and sleep in. You will have a window of about three hours where you can get a lot done before the park starts getting crowded. Then maybe mid afternoon you can go back to the hotel for a swim or a nap.

Especially with a group your size, you need to make reservations for any sit down meal you want. You can check out all the restaurants and sample menues here:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining.htm
http://allears.net/din/dining.htm


As others have said, remind the staff at check-in, when you are making reservations, and when you arrive at the restaurant that it is your anniversary. It doesn't even have to be your anniversary "day" it is an anniversary trip, so perfectly acceptable to celebrate the entire time. Do pick up free anniversary buttons at guest services in the park (if they don't have them for you at check-in)


There are many good restaurants, some totally unique to Disney that are great fun for the whole family. 50's Prime Time and Sci-Fi Drive in at Studios, O'hana at Polynesian, Cinderellas Royal Table, Whispering Canyon at WL, Boma at AKL. I strongly suggest doing Hoop De Do Review with the whole group for a casual anniversary dinner (it is family style dinner and a show at Ft. Wilderness). Doesn't sound like you and your wife are planning any adult only meals, so I'll leave that for another time.

Three more things....with all the ladies you are travelling with, there are various character meals and specifically princess meals for you to consider.

Second, familiarize yourself with Fast Pass (FP) it is a great way for you all to get on the more popular rides without a long wait. Just have mom or dad collect all the park tickets (after you have all entered the park of choice) and go to the ride of choice and get these tickets for all. You can get additional tickets after two hours. The guidebooks let you know what rides have FP, and we can also help in identifying which you should look for.

Finally, there is a "tour" held in the Magic Kingdom called the Family Magic Tour. It would be fun with the possible exception of your 14 yo.

Look forward to hearing how your plans shape up. Ask more questions, (hopefully a little more specific :lol:) and feel free to PM me as well.
 
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fredrickr

Member
Go to your local bookstore and get at least one Disney guidebook. There's one for going with kids. Look through it and try to get an idea of what you would like to do. Remember it's going to be warm and humid so you'll want to pace yourselves, especially with little ones.

I would recommend PassPorter's Walt Disney World. Especially the Deluxe edition. The pockets in the back are great for keeping track of reservations and for jotting done favorite memories.
:wave:
 
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disneygirl76

Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
My family will be going to DW 30 june through 11 July. (Me,Wife, Daughters 3,7,14, Mom, Dad, Sister, Niece 4) :shrug: I need to find out the best things to do.

Restaurants. attractions, and any other advice.

Will be Staying at Shades of Green.

Oh, Yeah it is also Our Anniversary on the 4th of July. Would like something fun for the whole family that night.:sohappy:

Thanks

Oh there is so much!!

Fave restaurants:

MK Counter Service (CS):
Casey's
El Pirate
Pecos
Pinocchio Haus

MK Table Service (TS):
Cinderella Round Table
Crystal Palace

Epcot CS:
There's not one fave here but just eating and drinking around the world is so fun!

Epcot TS:
Le Cellier - a must!
Rose and Crown - get a later ressie and watch Illuminations
Akerhaus - for bfast only (lunch and dinner is weird food IMO) a great way to see the princesses if you can't get into the castle.

DHS CS:
Toy Story Pizza Planet

DHS TS:
Not a fan of any personally but 50's Prime Time and Sci Fi Cafe are popular. Tie in with a Fantasmic show.

AK CS:
Yak and Yeti

AK TS:
Donald's Breakfast at Tusker

Resorts:
1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian - a great way to see Cinderella and the Prince (dinner) if you can't get into the castle.

Chef Mickey - a must - this is at the Contemporary

As for rides:

MK -
Pirates of the Carribian
Haunted Mansion
Peter Pan
Snow White
Mickey's Philharmonic
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Meet Mickey, the ferries and other characters at the Judge's Tent and Mickey's Toon Town fair.
Have to watch Wishes (the fireworks show over the Castle).
Spectro Magic is a great parade at night.

Epcot -
Maelstrom in Norway
Soarin' at the Land
Nemo at The Seas
Test Track
Illuminations at Epcot

AK -
Kiliminjaro Safari
Tree of Life/Tough to be a Bug
Expidition Everst
Do the walking trails to see the animals.
The Lion King show is amazing.
The Finding Nemo show is great!!
Camp Minnie and Mickey is a great way to see the characters.
Dinosaur

DHS -
Toy Story Mania
Tower of Terror
Rockin' Roller Coaster
The Great Movie Ride
Muppets 3D
Star Tours
Fantasmic is a very cool show!!

Everybody has their own personal faves so these are just mine and my DH's! I think it would be great to watch the vacation planning DVD from Disney and the specials on the Travel Channel. Also, you might want to pick up a planning book. I like Birbaum myself. Have a great trip! :wave:
 
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docdebbi

Well-Known Member
i always recommend the pirate adventure to folks. it would be GREAT for your three younger ones. it leaves from the grand floridian, takes them on a treasure hunt around the lake, makes several stops to find maps and treasures, they all shout aaarrggh at all the passing ships.....it is one of the highlights of the trip for our kids.
you can hop a boat to mk and get a few minutes uninterrupted shopping or eating, or just stay at GF for the same
our kids LOVE it
 
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