Going to Disney World with a newbie.

Kramerica

Kramerica

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So on the 28th of this month I'll be leaving for Disneyworld and will be there well over a week. (If you see me, the guy with Ray Bans on with a black backpack with a WDWMagic button pinned to it, please come say hi) And although this is far from my first trip, I'm probably more excited this time than I can ever remember. I'm bringing my girlfriend along, who just happens to be a Disney newbie. Never been there. For me, I've been going to Disneyworld since before I can remember. So I literally don't know what it's like to have never been there before. So I guess what I'm asking is this. If you've ever brought a Disney virgin along on a trip or are recently back from your first trip yourself, do you have any tips for making this the most enjoyable experience for her? What should I keep in mind? Where should we go first? What do we need to see? Etc..

Again, if you see me there, come say hi. Hope to see you there, and thanks for the tips in advance!
 
perry23

perry23

Member
Dont want to much! Always remember it is about having fun and not about getting every single ride. If she is tired take a nap and don't take her on another ride, because she won't enjoy it anymore.
 
I_heart_Tigger

I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
Kramerica said:
So on the 28th of this month I'll be leaving for Disneyworld and will be there well over a week. (If you see me, the guy with Ray Bans on with a black backpack with a WDWMagic button pinned to it, please come say hi) And although this is far from my first trip, I'm probably more excited this time than I can ever remember. I'm bringing my girlfriend along, who just happens to be a Disney newbie. Never been there. For me, I've been going to Disneyworld since before I can remember. So I literally don't know what it's like to have never been there before. So I guess what I'm asking is this. If you've ever brought a Disney virgin along on a trip or are recently back from your first trip yourself, do you have any tips for making this the most enjoyable experience for her? What should I keep in mind? Where should we go first? What do we need to see? Etc..

Again, if you see me there, come say hi. Hope to see you there, and thanks for the tips in advance!
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I'm in the same boat as you (almost) right down to the black backpack with the WDW Magic button - except no Ray Bans and I'm a girl. :lookaroun I'm taking my two best friends and neither of them have been to Disney before.

I have gone quite a few times with newbies - even as a kid we would always bring a different friend or relative with us on our trips. I have always had a tradition of visiting the parks in order they were built (not sure why but I guess it just fits with the story). I like to show them some of the "original" rides (which are now few and far between) or at least some older one's like Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion before we get to newer one's like TSMM.

I also like to tell them a little about each park without overwhelming them with a bunch of trivia. Hidden Magic type things (like the key under the mat at the Muppet Theatre) and pointing out some of the lengths Disney goes for "theming" seems to interest adults who are visiting for the first time.

I recommend pacing yourself so you don't exhaust the poor girl, especially on her first day. Do some attractions but take some quiet time to sit with a snack and enjoy your surroundings on day one and let her help set the pace for the rest of the trip so you're not dragging her from ride to ride and fastpass machine to fastpass machine when she might be happy having an ice-cream and just chilling out for a little while.

Disney is very romantic for couples - my boyfriend loved some of the quieter times like walking around the Boardwalk/Beach club areas in the evening. World Showcase in the evening is quite nice as well. One of my favourite evenings with my BF was just strolling hand in hand with the World Showcase lit up as the sun was going down and just enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of each pavilion.

I also let my friends know that we could visit other resorts which they didn't realize. They are now quite excited that we'll be able to walk around Grand Floridian and Polynesian resorts - we can have a snack, look in the shops - it's a nice break from the parks, offers a toned down atmosphere from the parks yet it's so close. We may also take the boat over to Wilderness Lodge (a sentimental favourite for me)

Make sure you get some photos with both of you in it. It's disappointing to come home to find you only have photos separately when the trip is about the two of you being together. Either ask a CM or a Photopass Photographer to use your camera and take one or buy some of the Photopass photos.

Relax, have fun and convert her into the club! :lol:
 
J03Y

J03Y

Well-Known Member
i'm no Disney newbie (by ANY means), and i'm surrounded by people who have been going to Orlando amusement parks since conception. so i personally wouldn't know anything about the first experience of Disney.

but, i can imagine and really it just depends on the park you're going to.

Magic Kingdom newbies should do these:
- Jungle Cruise
- Tiki Room (not exactly, but just to say they did it)
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Splash Mountain
- Thunder Mountain
- Country Bear Jamboree (just to get it off the bucket list)
- Hall of Presidents
- Haunted Mansion
- It's A Small World
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Winnie The Pooh
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Space Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
- Stitch's Great Escape (just to get it out of the way)

Epcot newbies should do these:
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- Mission SPACE (unless they physically can't)
- Soarin'
- Journey to Imagination
- World Showcase

Hollywood Studios newbies should do these:
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Toy Story Mania
- Backlot Tour (just to get it off the bucket list)
- Lights Motors Action (just to get it off the bucket list)
- Star Tours
- Tower of Terror (unless they physically can't)
- Rockin Roller Coaster (unless they physically can't)
- Beauty and the Beast LIVE on Stage
- Fantasmic

Animal Kingdom newbies should do these:
- Festival of the Lion King
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Kali River Rapids
- Expedition Everest
- Dinosaur
 
RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor

Well-Known Member
I would say the most important thing about a WDW trip with a Newbie is actually remembering that THEY have not done everything that YOU have....

That being said, I recommend going back to scratch and following the Touring Plans in the back of the Unofficial Guides book, or at Touringplans dot com

They work, and your Newbie friend will appreciate getting to do as much as possible instead of what us returning guests do -- which is to hit your favorite attractions and then wander around...Newbies don't have that urge to wander around yet....
 
NeedMoreMickey

NeedMoreMickey

Well-Known Member
Don't feel like you have to see everything this trip. Everything will be new to her she may want to take it slow and look around. Remember to stay hydrated, it’s going to be hot and most people tend to get tired when they are dehydrated and overheated. We also like to share a snack like a pretzel, funnel cake or dole whip while walking around. It’s not just small kids who get cranky when they are thirsty and hungry. My mom almost ruined a great vacation because she wouldn’t listen to us and drink enough water.
 
GeoDonJac34

GeoDonJac34

Well-Known Member
I think it is important not to over hype the trip. We have gone with newbies on several occasions, and one friend absolutely hated it. We were quite surprised by this. Most people like or love it to varying degrees. I think it is safe to say we are all in the love category. Sometimes someone might expect too much, and be disappointed. I also agree about taking it slow. Although I seem to never follow that advice.
 
The Duck

The Duck

Well-Known Member
Just pace yourself. Make some suggestions and see how she reacts then you can get an idea of her likes and dislikes. You can start at home by showing some photos and YouTube videos of some of the attractions to get an idea. I tried some of these because I brought a 73 year old friend on his first trip this last January. To make matters interesting, he has a slight mental problem and can be a bit unpredictable. Needless to say, We went at HIS pace and we both enjoyed ourselves.
 
yensid67

yensid67

Well-Known Member
This MIGHT have already been posted but I am going to give my advice anyways...

#1- WDW is almost 50 miles from East to West, most people know of the parks, but few know how much else there is to do. Some of the best times that you will enjoy aren't even planned! So show her The World without planning!

#2- Definltely DO NOT overwhelm her! Give her a few choices and allow her to set the pace.

#3- Show her each of the parks, maybe give her a history lesson about the attraction, but be aware of how she reacts because you don't want to bore her and come off as a Disney know-it-all!

#4- If you have the books of different 'magical' touches, let her read it on the way down! Let her decide if she wants to look for Hidden Mickeys of the Muppets key under the mat!

#5- DHS you will want to tell her what the park was like over the years, what is the same and what is different(i.e, Residential Street is gone and replaced with Lights, Motour, Action) DHS best place to have home cooking and fun...take her to 50's Primetime! End your day with Fantasmic if available!

#6- DAK you will want to emphasis the parks overall theme, conservation. Must sees would be Kilaminjaro Safari, Everes, Dinosaur, go to camp Minnie Mickey(if still open). For an evening option, enjoy a night a Cirque-De-Solei.

#7 Epcot Show her everything there is to see in Future World and then you both can travel to 11 countries without leaving Epcot. A must see is Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

#8 Magic Kingdom you need to focus on fantasies, dreams, adventure, the wild west, turn of the century living, and the future in Tomorrowland. Take in some of the classic attractions and graduate to the more recent/updated attractions...definitely take her back to Storybook Circus. Catch the day and night parades as well as the nighttime fireworks.

#9 If time permits you to do other things, I would suggest show her that Orlando is not just Disney! There is Universal, Sea World, Discovery Cove, Legoland, Wet 'N Wild, shopping(I-Drive), Kissimmee area, day trip to the coasts as well!

#10 Most importantly, just have a wonderful time and enjoy your vacation!
 

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