Help - My very first time :)

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Hello guys, I'm Thiago and I'm from São Paulo, Brazil!
Since I was a little kid, my BIGGEST dream is to go to Walt Disney World.
and I truly mean it, BIGGEST OF THEM ALL, ABOVE EVERYTHING!
I grown up hearing about it, and I have some cousins that ALWAYS go to WDW every single year, but unfortunately I could never
Here in Brazil, our money is not that much valued comparing to US dolar and that what's make it most difficult for us to be able to go.
But now I'm 26, college graduated, working in 2 jobs and finally I got a chance to go!

I'm planning my trip for early november, cuz I'm gonna be on vacations and I'm going with my best friend, plus I heard about not been crowded, which I loved! haha is it true?
I grown up searching and gettin' information about WDW, and also I'm a theme park LOVER crazy insane addicted since I was a kid, so, that's make this adventure of just gathering information, to be a huge fun activity for me to do during all those years
I can say pretty much I know almost every single attraction inside WDW theme parks even without been there lol

I'm here cuz I need some help and specially some tips. I have a lot of doubts and I want my first trip outside Brazil (I freak love USA culture and also is my dream to be in the USA lol) to WDW to be as perfect as I can! *-*

Well, first let me explain what I'm planning to do and then if you guys could help me, I would be veeeery grateful


It's a 13 days trip in Orlando (11 nights).
I'm planning to get a plane from São Paulo to Orlando in november 1st, arrive november 2 in the morning and go to have lunch and go shopping before go to the hotel to rest and sleep for the 3rd (and kinda first) day.
I'm planning to stay inside WDW cuz I want to experience Disney magic in full time! But my budget is not that good (main reason is that US dolar is very expensive for us here in Brazil (U$1 dolar = R$0.40 real) so I'm planning to stay at All Star Movies resort or Art Of Animation. cuz I won't use the hotel at all lol, just for bath and sleep so.. I don't care about luxury.
Btw, about renting a car, we both don't drive so.. that's not an option lol

well, after day 2 (my arrival in Orlando) then, I planned so far:

DAY 3 (sunday)
Magic Kingdom

DAY 4 (monday)
Epcot

DAY 5 (tuesday)
Animal Kingdom

DAY 6 (wednesday)
Hollywood Studios

DAY 7 (thursday)
Shopping in premium outlet

DAY 8 (friday)
Sea World

DAY 9 (saturday)
Universal Studios

DAY 10 (sunday)
Island of Adventure

DAY 11 (monday)
Busch Gardens

DAY 12 (tuesday)
get back to a WDW park

DAY 13 (wednesday)
free day + shopping + airport and get back to Brazil

is it a good plan, guys?


My doubts are:

1) Is it best for me to buy all ticket here before I go to Orlando?
I'm planning to get 5 days WDW parks ticket combo + Universal pack combo (Universal + Islando of Adventure) + Sea World + Busch Gardens combo

2) Can we trust in WDW free transportation? What about the other non disney parks how can I do to get there?
I know staying at a disney hotel I can get free transportation for all disney parks and hotels plus DTD, but as soon as we wont rent a car cuz we dont drive, how can we do to go to the other parks and the outlets outside WDW?

3) How much (in U$) I have to plan to spend with food & drinks during a whole day? (just considering fast food all day lol)

4) There's any walmart or target store near WDW that we can reach without a car or taxi just to save some money buying cheap snacks for the hotel/day?

5) How cheap (or expensive) is to buy souvenirs from WDW? I mean plush toys, pins, figures, hats, etc.

6) About the Disney Transportation again, is it fast? is it easy to use? just taking a bus to the parks and the hotel is enough?

7) What I have to bring to the parks besides my room card key and money?

well, I think that's it.
Any help and/or tips I reall really appreciate it.

Thank you so much guys for taking your time and for your attention to help me, and I'm very grateful I discovered that website and forum cuz it's been helping me a LOT with my first time trip planning

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Welcome to the site. It's great to hear your excitement and wonderful that you will finally be able to join us with experiencing the Disney magic. We've used Mears to travel off site many times, they have been very reliable, but be sure to reconfirm your reservations with them the day before you arranged to travel just to be sure its correct in the system. We had twice called to confirm and there had been slip ups on the reserved times.
As far as your plan, I would suggest not going to Busch Gardens or plan the entire day 7 shopping and give yourself another day or more at one or two Disney parks that you found was most appealing to you. Theres sooo much to see at the parks, and where the expense of going to Disney might cause you to not come back soon, I'd recommend you spend more of your valuable time exploring and enjoying Disney time.

Hey! Big thanks about the Mears reliable confirmation! I gotta use them then! Do you remember how much (average) you paid per person to use the service? you pay when you're going for example from the hotel to a non-disney park and then you have to pay again to comeback?
About the Busch Gardens, I really cannot skip it, I'm crazy about their roller coasters lol but I may consider to add more one or two days in the trip to experience more all 4 Disney parks, a lot of people are telling me to do that, I'm gonna try to add at least one more day to join another park again big big thanks!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Hey guys, just another quick question.
Which one of these 2 would u guys recommend and why?

All Star Movies Resort or Art Of Animation Resort?

 

[Figgy1]

Hey guys, just another quick question.
Which one of these 2 would u guys recommend and why?

All Star Movies Resort or Art Of Animation Resort?

Glad your back!! AoA that's just me I think all the All Stars are too noisy but that's just me! Besides AoA is new!

 

[Master Yoda]

Hey guys, just another quick question.
Which one of these 2 would u guys recommend and why?

All Star Movies Resort or Art Of Animation Resort?

Art of Animation. The resort is brand new and the food court is one of the best on property. The downside is the chances of a discount there are not all that good.

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Yaaay!
Thanks guys!

My budget is not that big cause y'all know that conversion money problem I mentioned, but I was looking for accomodation prices packages and the difference between them both is just +400 U$D for the Art Of Animation, but I think it's best located, right? easier to use mears shuttle service to non disney parks and easier to go to disney parks and downtown disney, am I right?
What about the rooms, AOA are better? Food and inside hotel market prices are similar to All Star's?
We're going to use hotel just to bath, sleep and take some rest, cuz otherwise we'll be exploring everything we can in full time! lol

thanks in advance once again

 

[Master Yoda]

The location is a little better. It is somewhat centrally located so times from one park to the other are fairly consistent. The rooms are identical aside from the way they are decorated. The food prices are comparable but AoA has a much more eclectic selection and you eat on actual dishes with real silverware, not paper plates and plastic utensils.

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

The location is a little better. It is somewhat centrally located so times from one park to the other are fairly consistent. The rooms are identical aside from the way they are decorated. The food prices are comparable but AoA has a much more eclectic selection and you eat on actual dishes with real silverware, not paper plates and plastic utensils.

oh, got it! thank u very much!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Guys, can I bug you with another issue/question?

I'm planning all 4 WDW parks now, I'm listing my "fav attractions" (even I hadn't ride any of them yet, of course lol) and I need your help.

Let's make it one park at a time to not confuse myself and y'all either. lol
Here's a list of the attractions from Magic Kingdom that I'm considering a "MUST GO" no matter what! Cuz it's my very first time to WDW so, could u guys help me? I'm afraid I could be skipping one attraction that I didn't have any useful previous knowledge or information to set as a "MUST GO" for a first WDW time, or even if one of those attractions I'm mentioning is not as great as I think it is to make them a "MUST GO"!

-Walt Disney Railroad (just to have a decent/great full view of the park lol)
-Jungle Cruise
-Pirates of Caribbean
-Splash Mountain
-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
-Haunted Mansion
-It's a Small World
-Peter Pan's Flight
-Mickey's PhilharMagic
-Snow White's Scary Adventures
-The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
-Space Mountain
-People Mover
-Carousel Of Progress
-Buzz Space Ranger Spin
-Stitch's Great Scape
-Monster Inc Laugh Floor

thanks in advance

 

[Figgy1]

Sounds great but if you spip anythin Stich is nothing to write home about! I don't see anything in the new Fantasy Land expansion! If you want to do it all in a day sign up for touring plans and download the best one for you!! They aren't perfect but get you off on the right foot! Good luck!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Sounds great but if you spip anythin Stich is nothing to write home about! I don't see anything in the new Fantasy Land expansion! If you want to do it all in a day sign up for touring plans and download the best one for you!! They aren't perfect but get you off on the right foot! Good luck!

Yes, I'm planning to do it all in just a day, is it possible?
I'm planning to use FastPass of course for the most crowded attractions.
I'm planning to arrive there before the park is open and leave after it closes cuz I'm gonna make my dreams come true so I'll have to experience the MOST I'm capable of! lol

Ohhhh, about the new fantasyland, I forgot! thanks for reminding me! lol
I was considering just 2 attractions:
-Under The Sea - The Little Mermaid
-The Barnstormer

is there any another one that is considered a MUST GO for first time?
Enchanted talles with belle is a good choice?

 

[Figgy1]

Haven't done Enchanted Tales yet I'm planning on doing it but I have 3 MK days! It can be done! Be there extra early have a plan eat at counter service only cross your fingers and move quickly!!! My best wishes for getting it all done! Just remember there's always next trip!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Haven't done Enchanted Tales yet I'm planning on doing it but I have 3 MK days! It can be done! Be there extra early have a plan eat at counter service only cross your fingers and move quickly!!! My best wishes for getting it all done! Just remember there's always next trip!

Big thanks! you're helping me a lot! I can't express how grateful I am!
I'll have a whole day to visit a WDW park for the second time, I was first thinking about Hollywood Studios park, cuz there's some attractions there that I'm CRAZY about lol, but as much as MK looks to be the BEST park and the biggest one as long as the most MAGICAL one, I may consider to get there for the additional day

 

[Figgy1]

If you can schedule 2 days for Mk it would take a lot of pressure off you!! DHS can be done in 1 day! Make sure you see Wishes Illuminations and Fantasmic! The night time shows are all special! If you skip anything I would say the parades they are good but the rides empty out durring them and for a first time trip you seem to really get a lot more done that way!

 

[lilclerk]

-Snow White's Scary Adventures

Your list is great, but unfortunately Snow White closed last year to make room for the new Fantasyland expansion.

 

[Figgy1]

Your list is great, but unfortunately Snow White closed last year to make room for the new Fantasyland expansion.

Your right I should have caught it! People Mover almost never has a line so do it after the big ticket items are done!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

If you can schedule 2 days for Mk it would take a lot of pressure off you!! DHS can be done in 1 day! Make sure you see Wishes Illuminations and Fantasmic! The night time shows are all special! If you skip anything I would say the parades they are good but the rides empty out durring them and for a first time trip you seem to really get a lot more done that way!

Got it! thank you very much!
As much as I would love to see the parades, I never consider to see them. I prefer to ride all attractions and of course to watch Wishes and Fantasmic!

 

[Figgy1]

Got it! thank you very much!
As much as I would love to see the parades, I never consider to see them. I prefer to ride all attractions and of course to watch Wishes and Fantasmic!

Don't forget Illuminations in EPCOT it makes me cry!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Your list is great, but unfortunately Snow White closed last year to make room for the new Fantasyland expansion.

Ohhh, I didnt know that
thank you very much anyways, I gotta youtube the attraction just to see full pov video of what I've lost

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Don't forget Illuminations in EPCOT it makes me cry!

thanks for mentioning this one, I thought it was a silly one lol I would have skipped haha
Gotta add it with the other 2 (Wishes and Fantasmic)

 

[lilclerk]

Don't forget Illuminations in EPCOT it makes me cry!

Me too! Illuminations is so powerful, it's my favorite night show. The music is amazing.