Our First Trip!

[disneyjes]

Hello! My husband, son (5) and I are planning our very first WDW vacation! It has been my dream for as long as I can remember and now it is my sons dream as well. I am BEYOND excited but I am feeling very overwhelmed. I have a few questions if you guys don't mind! (I hope this is the correct forum as well.)

- What tips do you have for first time visitors?
- Is there any news about the free dining for autumn 2012? This would help us out financially so much!
- Which character dining is best but doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Mickey and Princesses are the ones we'd love to dine with most!
- How do you guys plan leaving when you are driving? We have around a 20 hour trip. Should we leave at night? Day? When your vacation is done do you drive back at night?
- Are fannypacks/backpacks allowed on the rides?
- Is bringing a big DSLR camera too heavy to lug around or should I bring a point and shoot?
- What do you do to get the family excited for months before you leave?


Whew that is a lot! Thank you all so much! I appreciate your time!! <3

 

[Master Yoda]

Hello! My husband, son (5) and I are planning our very first WDW vacation! It has been my dream for as long as I can remember and now it is my sons dream as well. I am BEYOND excited but I am feeling very overwhelmed. I have a few questions if you guys don't mind! (I hope this is the correct forum as well.)

- What tips do you have for first time visitors? Do not try and cram everything into one trip. There is far too much to do in one trip. Plan, but plan loosely. Schedule a sit down meal and a few primary and secondary targets and just let the rest come. Most importantly research and read before you get there. Just lurking in these forums will gain you a wealth of information.
- Is there any news about the free dining for autumn 2012? This would help us out financially so much! We will not know for a while. Keep your eyes on the forum and the second we know, you will know. Another option is to book with Kingdom Konsultants. We keep track of all of Disney's promotions and we will automatically rebook when something comes out.
- Which character dining is best but doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Mickey and Princesses are the ones we'd love to dine with most! For princesses I have found 1900 park fare at the Grand Floridian and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway at Epcot to be the best. Chef Mickey is the most popular place to see Mickey but I prefer the Garden Grill in the Land at Epcot. This link will give you a break down of individual characters and where they can be found. http://allears.net/din/cbchar.htm
- How do you guys plan leaving when you are driving? We have around a 20 hour trip. Should we leave at night? Day? When your vacation is done do you drive back at night? I like driving at night. The traffic is less and the kids tend to sleep.
- Are fannypacks/backpacks allowed on the rides? Yes
- Is bringing a big DSLR camera too heavy to lug around or should I bring a point and shoot? Bring both and leave the DSLR in the room on days where you want to travel light.
- What do you do to get the family excited for months before you leave? Say Disney. That is pretty much all it takes around my place. Ordering the planning DVD can help as well. https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US/VacationPlanningDVD/index


Whew that is a lot! Thank you all so much! I appreciate your time!! <3

...

 

[njDizFan]

I'm excited for you guys, the first trip is always amazing. You will be overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to do and see. Espcially with a 5 year old try to go at a slightly relaxed pace and enjoy yourself. Do a lot of planning if you want to fully experience all you can at the 4 parks, various resorts,water parks, Downtown Disney etc. You want to make an initerary to keep yuourself at least a little organized and plan ahead for special dining reeservations.

Plan a little downtown to see your resort and take a trip around the monorail and see some of the other resorts(Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge not on the monorail but definately worth seeing).

All 4 parks are worth experiencing and alldeserve at least 1 day to see everything.

Are you staying on site? How many days are you planning to spend in the parks? Are you considering Univeral or Sea World?

 

[Aloha]

- What tips do you have for first time visitors?
Take your time, don't rush everything because if you slow down a bit disney has a lot of awesome details. Get fast passes earlier on, and use them frequently to save a lot of time! The next one is on more of a personal note but i'd recommend riding splash mountain (it's my favourite ride), if your son is tall enough that is.

- Is there any news about the free dining for autumn 2012? I'm not sure sorry


- Which character dining is best but doesn't cost an arm and a leg? My Favorite is Ohana in the polynesian, there you can see Goofy, Chip, Dale, Mickey, Stitch and whole lot more.

- How do you guys plan leaving when you are driving? We have around a 20 hour trip. Should we leave at night? Day? When your vacation is done do you drive back at night? We don't drive to disney, so sorry.


- Are fannypacks/backpacks allowed on the rides? I have always brought a pack and i've worn it on things like thunder mountain, tower of terror, splash mountain ,expedition everest and pretty much every ride without being told to remove it (except a couple of times in universal if you plan to go there). And i've never brought a backpack.

- Is bringing a big DSLR camera too heavy to lug around or should I bring a point and shoot? Point and shoots fit nicely into packs, but if you bring your DSLR you can take some awesome photos and pick up more of the detail and such. So i would say it's your own personal preference on that one.


- What do you do to get the family excited for months before you leave?
Just everything really. Mostly just what we call the magic! The whole experience really, the plane ride, the walking out of the terminal into the tropical weather, then settling in and really getting into the full on disney spirit!

 

[coachwnh]

we made the drive from eastern PA at night last summer. left about 5 pm sunday night and drove all night and checked in at 10:10 am monday morning. (just over 17 hrs) i would not recommend that!! the benefit was no traffic. the obvious drawback was the fatigue by Georgia. i was a game though waiting for the sunrise, then it was easy. be safe and enjoy!! youll love your trip:sohappy:

 

[disneyjes]

...

Thank you so much for all of your advice!

 

[disneyjes]

I'm excited for you guys, the first trip is always amazing. You will be overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to do and see. Espcially with a 5 year old try to go at a slightly relaxed pace and enjoy yourself. Do a lot of planning if you want to fully experience all you can at the 4 parks, various resorts,water parks, Downtown Disney etc. You want to make an initerary to keep yuourself at least a little organized and plan ahead for special dining reeservations.

Plan a little downtown to see your resort and take a trip around the monorail and see some of the other resorts(Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge not on the monorail but definately worth seeing).

All 4 parks are worth experiencing and alldeserve at least 1 day to see everything.

Are you staying on site? How many days are you planning to spend in the parks? Are you considering Univeral or Sea World?

Thank you!! I keep crying whenever we talk about Disney now. I CANNOT wait!!!

We can't figure out if we want to do 4d3n, 5d4n or 6d5n. Cost is an issue, but, I don't know when we will be able to go again so I really want to enjoy it!

We will be staying at Pop Century or the Value Movies - not sure which yet. I wanted to go to Universal JUST for Harry Potter, but I can't see spending around $300 for tickets just for Harry Potter and not the rest of Universal. So I think we'd rather spend the money on Disney for an extra night or something instead.

 

[disneyjes]

we made the drive from eastern PA at night last summer. left about 5 pm sunday night and drove all night and checked in at 10:10 am monday morning. (just over 17 hrs) i would not recommend that!! the benefit was no traffic. the obvious drawback was the fatigue by Georgia. i was a game though waiting for the sunrise, then it was easy. be safe and enjoy!! youll love your trip:sohappy:

Thank you! I am not looking forward to being super sleepy, but since we don't want to fly...this seems to be the best way to go!

 

[AndrewnPatricia]

Hello fellow New Yorker..

Very happy for you guys! Truly is a magical and addicting place.
We love to go to Walt Disney World during the fall/winter months for Christmas because of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It's an extra ticket to buy but well worth it.
We advise you to get a Birnbaum or Frommers vacationing book about Walt Disney World. They have pretty good suggestions about what to do for you and the little guy. The Pirates league would be cool for the little guy, starting at $29.95. He can be done up to look like a pirate for the day and if Dad is game, him too.
BUDGET. The dining plan WILL save you a lot of money, especially if you plan on having meals at places that take 2 table service meals. The choice of resort is another thing to take into consideration and get theme park tickets with the Hopper Pass.
We agree Princess's at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is worth it, also Chef Mickey. Tusker House in Animal Kingdom with the characters is a good breakfast buffet too. Also, Crystal Palace for breakfast and lunch buffet has Winnie the Pooh and friends.
Now driving. We like to leave early but not that early, maybe like 5am. The key is to get through Washington D.C. before rush hour. Check out Walterboro, SC as a stopping place for the night. A lot of hotels, which is good for price competition and plenty of places to eat. Then it's about 5-6 hours to Disney.
Before your trip just keep watching for deals and offers that may come out late which could help save you money either through AAA or Kingdom Konsultants. Do a countdown or maybe create a change jar and keep throwing change or loose bills in it. By the time your ready to go you have some more spending money to shop with, seeing how if you're driving, you'll have room to bring things back.
Good luck and keep looking here for responses with more ideas!

 

[DrummerAlly]

- What tips do you have for first time visitors?

Use fastpass as much as possible if the lines are long.

If you're staying on property, take time to enjoy the resort you're staying at and stop and smell the roses. What makes WDW special is the atmosphere - if you just run from ride to ride with your schedule in hand, you'll miss it!

Definitely get yourself a WDW tour book like Birnbaum's or Frommers.

- Is there any news about the free dining for autumn 2012? This would help us out financially so much!

stay tuned!

- Are fannypacks/backpacks allowed on the rides?

There is a safe spot on each ride for a small pack or backpack to be held. You'll have no problem with it as long as you're not carrying a ton of things.

- Is bringing a big DSLR camera too heavy to lug around or should I bring a point and shoot?

On days when we know we'll be riding lots of rides that jostle around a bit (space mountain, tower of terror, rock and roller coaster) or any rides with water (splash mountain, kali river rapids), we leave the DSLR at the resort. We usually take two or three trips to each park during a trip with park hoppers, so we designate days with and without the DSLR. My husband enjoys photography at the parks just as much as the rides - on days with the nice camera we tend to hit the slower rides and all the shows. I've seen people with pretty expensive cameras and lenses just tuck them under a poncho on splash mountain or throw them between their legs on space mountain but this makes me pretty scared.

 

[sbkline]

I live a similar distance from WDW, so I'll tackle your question about how to leave for the trip home.

It depends on your budget and whether you mind paying an extra night's stay. Myself, after a full day at WDW, I don't want to pack up and leave that night. I prefer to just go ahead and sleep at our resort that night, then get up bright and early the next morning, pack up and leave, then you have a whole day's driving ahead of you and you're well rested up. That gives you one last night to enjoy being at WDW. Finish up the trip at a theme park, then come back to your hotel and enjoy an evening in the pool, one more night with the ambience of the resort, have supper if you didn't already do so in the park, etc.

I realize that you're paying for the hotel for one more night, but do you drive straight through or do you stop to sleep somewhere? I don't really like the idea of leaving in the evening, only to drive a few hours before stopping for bed. I like to make the best time possible and get as far as I can before stopping, and I would hate to only get a few hours under my belt before I have to stop...and keep in mind you would probably all be tired from your activities that day at WDW.

So like I said, I would suggest (if your budget allows) to take your time at the park and then just come back to the resort for one final night, then get a good start home bright and early in the morning. Drive until 9 or 10 PM, pull off somewhere and then finish up the next day. Or if you prefer to switch drivers and drive straight through, more power to ya.

 

[harveyt0206]

Congrats on your first trip!! You are going to have so much fun. For my first "adult" trip with my husband, I knew there was just too much to try and see and do in a week so we made a list of our top 20 must do items. The list included everything from restaurants we wanted to try to parades and shops. It really helped us organize our days. Also, if you are staying on property, extra magic hours can be a great way to get into the park early and see a lot of things in a short amount of time. If you do use morning extra magic hours, you can then head back to your resort in the afternoon to take a break at your pool and let your little guy nap/rest.

My final tip for first timers is simply to stop and breath. It becomes very easy to push yourselves beyond the point of enjoyment when you are at WDW. There is so much to experience that it can feel overwhelming. As Richard already mentioned, it's impossible to see it all in one trip. But you sure can see a lot! .

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[CaptainShortty]

QUOTE=disneyjes;4844071]Hello! My husband, son (5) and I are planning our very first WDW vacation! It has been my dream for as long as I can remember and now it is my sons dream as well. I am BEYOND excited but I am feeling very overwhelmed. I have a few questions if you guys don't mind! (I hope this is the correct forum as well.)

- What tips do you have for first time visitors?
Don't go crazy running yourself around trying to do everything on your first trip. Of course you're going to want to see as much as you can but you don't want to do what most first timers do in literally running around the parks for a week and then feeling exhausted by the end. Schedule breaks during the middle of the day at your hotel for a nap, a swim or just enjoying the other low key activities they have there. You'll be happy about it by the end of the trip! Also, make a plan but don't over plan. The best way IMO is to pick what parks you're doing on each day, schedule your ADRs and since it's your first time, have a rough idea of what rides you'd like to see. Beyond that, let yourself just see what happens. If you see something cool, go check it out. That's half the fun of being there!!
- Is there any news about the free dining for autumn 2012? This would help us out financially so much!
I'm not sure if there is but I highly recommend the dining plan even if it's not free. If you're a person who enjoys food, you can certainly make it to your advantage money-wise.
- Which character dining is best but doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Mickey and Princesses are the ones we'd love to dine with most!
I'm a big fan of Chef Mickeys although some on these boards will disagree with me. I think it's classic Disney and for a first-timer, just perfect. The princesses can be booked in Epcot at Akershus which is in the Norway Pavilion. Maybe not as exciting as eating in the castle with Cinderella but for the price difference it'll give you exactly what you need and you'll still come out happy.
- How do you guys plan leaving when you are driving? We have around a 20 hour trip. Should we leave at night? Day? When your vacation is done do you drive back at night?
I've never driven so I can't really help with this one.
- Are fannypacks/backpacks allowed on the rides?
For the most part, yes. The only exception is rides like Rockin' Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest. You may also not want to bring them on rides like Kali or Splash where it may (aka probably will) get wet.
- Is bringing a big DSLR camera too heavy to lug around or should I bring a point and shoot?
A point and shoot will certainly be easier but you can definitely bring your SLR. Just depends on how annoying you find having it around your neck. My sister brought hers on our last trip and it was great to have it. If it changes anything, your quintessential "first trip pictures" (in front of the castle, with Mickey and Minnie, etc.) can be shot by a photopass photographer who uses an SLR. Of course you'll have to buy those pictures but it may be an alternative to lugging yours around that you'll like.
- What do you do to get the family excited for months before you leave?


Whew that is a lot! Thank you all so much! I appreciate your time!! <3[/QUOTE]

 

[JIMINYCR]

Take lots of photos. My son was younger when we went on our first trip and he doesn't remember a lot of details about that trip. Having photos help him connect with the details later on when he's older.
Take advantage of the web sites and planning guides available. Plan out those rides, areas, events that you would like the most to do, instead of trying to do it all. Having a daily plan, goal in mind gives you a better use of your time. Give yourselves time to do spur of the moment things as well if something catches your attention as you go through the parks. Involve your son in the planning too. See what he wants to do, planning his vacation too. Read the guide books to him, visit the web sites watch the planning dvds together.
Before we went we watched a disney movie each week, planned Disney nights to get the excitement building before taking off
Mostly relax and enjoy the first one - that will set you up for many more trips back!!!

 

[PoppinsFan]

What tips do you have for first time visitors? Use the fastpass system, it is free and saves you time from waiting in line for the most popular rides. When you go to Hollywood Studios, go directly to Toy Story Mania and get fastpasses. The passes for this ride usually are gone by early/mid morning.

- Is there any news about the free dining for autumn 2012? This would help us out financially so much! I hope it is offered soon

- Which character dining is best but doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Mickey and Princesses are the ones we'd love to dine with most!- We have gone to Akershus at Epcot and really enjoyed it. They were several princess and they came to each table, plus we got a big picture with Belle.

- Is bringing a big DSLR camera too heavy to lug around or should I bring a point and shoot? My husband has only ever brought his DSLR, he loves it. Make sure you have a nice strap and you should be fine. I always bring a small backpack type of purse to carry anything extra. Wet wipes are always a plus!!

- What do you do to get the family excited for months before you leave? There are so many really neat books available, the first time we went I bought one that was just for kids. Had great pictures, they would look at it almost evderday Every time we have gone I have purchased an updated book, helps with the planning.

On your dining, make sure you plan ahead to where you would like to go, reservations fill up quickly. At this time, I believe you can make reservations 6 months in advance. I have used the online system and have found it to be very convenient.

Enjoy your vacation, it is truly one of the most magical places to go with your family!!

 

[disneyjes]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for the wonderful advice!! You guys are fabulous!

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

Thank you! I am not looking forward to being super sleepy, but since we don't want to fly...this seems to be the best way to go!

Just recall those nights about 4 to 5 years ago being up with your son at any and all hours, and you'll summon the strength.

Seriously, do lots of searches in the trip planning forum for any topic that pops into your head. You should come up with relevant answers.

 

[bmarkelon]

Plan, plan, plan! You have plenty of to to do your research and prepare you and your family for a magical trip. Be sure to read up on which dining experiences you want on your itinerary and book those ADRs at your 180 day mark. I agree that the Birnbaum's guide is a great purchase especially for a first timer, it's not as overwhelming as some of the thicker guides and my kiddos love looking through that one too.
Yes, every park deserves every park deserves a day but that being said you can't spend enough time in Magic Kingdom. We are waiting for our kids to get past the MK age so that they are more interested in the other 3 but at 6, 4 and under 2 we are still all about MK!
Spend any time you can browsing these boards, they are great for a Disney overload of information. Happy planning! :wave:

 

[pixiesteno]

Hi fellow New Yorker,
One place that I have not heard mentioned for character dining is the Character Breakfast at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort. You will have your car so it will be easy to go over for breakfast. I will also vote for the character dining at the Garden Grill - it is a fantastic meal and lots of character interaction. Two years ago Mickey preformed a vow renewal ceremony for my husband and I on our 22nd anniversary dinner. Quite impromptu and completely mimed - priceless!
As far as travel, you know what works best for for your family, check your route and then try to avoid certain places at rush times. We are from western NY so we leave home and head down Route 15 to Harrisburg and then follow Route 81 to just past Winchester VA and cut across VA on Route 66 to Route 17 and come out in Fredericksburg to pick up Route 95 South. We pull a 29 foot travel trailer and find that it works best for us to pull out between 10 am and 12 noon. We make it to the second rest area on 95 south and crash for the night. That puts us merging on to 95 South in the evening after the dinner rush. Spend some time reviewing your route and how long it will take you to reach those very busy areas and plan to work around rush times. You'll be fine
Take your time to enjoy, get as many photopass pictures as possible - their free and then you can put something together when you get home like photo books, calendars, CD. Check out the Disney photo pass web site before you go. Have a wonderful time

 

[disneyjes]

I just wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to help make our first trip magical! I appreciate all of your replies! Thank you!!