What Words of Wisdom Would You Give Disney "First Timers"?

rnese

rnese

Well-Known Member
1. BEWARE OF THE WALKING COLORED FLAGS!!! If you see a walking colored flag...RUN AWAY!!!
2. If you want breaking WDW news and secrets, be sure to strike up a conversation with the bus drivers. THEY are actually DWI interns and have access to classified Disney info!
3. Visit the "Tangled Restroom". It is Disney's Fantasyland's hottest attraction! Take many, many pics and please post!
4. Don't miss the YETI on EE! It is truly a DWI masterpiece!
5. Please take lots of pics and update us on the progress of Avatarland in DAK when you get back home.
6. Don't drink any water. It'll only cause cramping and make you more dependent upon it.
7. Wear your seatbelt on Spaceship Earth! The final decent is steeper than you think.
8. Don't miss HORIZONS! It's the hidden jewel of EPCOT.
9. Get plenty of pics taken with "Duffy", the EPCOT bear. If you don't, it's a wasted trip.
10. Don't worry about the quality of shoes you purchase for the trip...rent a scooter to navigate the parks, regardless of your health status.
11. Have your picture taken in front of WDW's most iconic symbol...the big, blue sorcerer's hat in DHS.
12. Skip the "riding" tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris. Opt for the "Unguided Walking" tour instead. Feel free to explore!
I hope you found this helpful! ;)
 
Dads 2 Boys

Dads 2 Boys

Well-Known Member
Soak it all in! I told my buddy this in February when we went and he did alright...lol he's now a full blown WDW addict.

I always mention 4 other things......
1) Remember that just because something says it's a 30 minute show doesn't mean it's only 30 minutes of your time. There is the waiting to get in, the waiting once you're in and then the time to leave (i.e. Fantasmic).
2) Plan as much as you can but don't be a slave to it. Plan your dining around what park you are in so as to maximize your time. If you've never been, eating dinner @ Epcot every night is kind of stoopid as you will wate a lot of time travelling.
3) When u go to MK....do the welcome show and then when walking down Main St...go left!
4) Do all four parks (whenever possible). Go for at 8 days and make sure you have an off day!
 
Dads 2 Boys

Dads 2 Boys

Well-Known Member
rnese said:
1. BEWARE OF THE WALKING COLORED FLAGS!!! If you see a walking colored flag...RUN AWAY!!!
2. If you want breaking WDW news and secrets, be sure to strike up a conversation with the bus drivers. THEY are actually DWI interns and have access to classified Disney info!
3. Visit the "Tangled Restroom". It is Disney's Fantasyland's hottest attraction! Take many, many pics and please post!
4. Don't miss the YETI on EE! It is truly a DWI masterpiece!
5. Please take lots of pics and update us on the progress of Avatarland in DAK when you get back home.
6. Don't drink any water. It'll only cause cramping and make you more dependent upon it.
7. Wear your seatbelt on Spaceship Earth! The final decent is steeper than you think.
8. Don't miss HORIZONS! It's the hidden jewel of EPCOT.
9. Get plenty of pics taken with "Duffy", the EPCOT bear. If you don't, it's a wasted trip.
10. Don't worry about the quality of shoes you purchase for the trip...rent a scooter to navigate the parks, regardless of your health status.
11. Have your picture taken in front of WDW's most iconic symbol...the big, blue sorcerer's hat in DHS.
12. Skip the "riding" tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris. Opt for the "Unguided Walking" tour instead. Feel free to explore!
I hope you found this helpful! ;)
Click to expand...


Awesome......but for #9 my wife would really agree with that!
 
draybook

draybook

Well-Known Member
Another piece of advice from me would be to stay on-site if you can afford it. Our first trip was off-site and while it was beyond awesome crowd wise, it sucked not having EMH and the dining plan.
 
rnese

rnese

Well-Known Member
I forgot a few...
13. Wait until about 5pm to grab your fastpass for Toy Story Mania. There should be plenty left.
14. If you notice the big, gold dome in EPCOT's Future World, be sure to check it out. It contains hours upon hours of family fun!
15. Be sure to be on the lookout for moving trashcans in the MK. Save all of your trash from the day and make one large deposit once you find it.
16. Contrary to what some said about the 3:00 parade...it ACTUALLY begins at 3:08. Don't listen to any of these wise-guys who are purposely trying to mislead you!
17. Once you enter EPCOT, go straight to Imagination. That line gets crazy around 11:00am. They don't offer a fastpass for some reason.
18. Ride the train in Germany.
19. Visit Camp Mickey and Minnie in AK. You can literally spend an entire day there.
20. If you go to Hoop-Dee-Doo Review in the Fort Wilderness Campground, I highly recommend the Lobster.
21. If you choose to dine in the Whispering Canyon Café in the Wilderness Lodge, be sure to ask for ketchup....and a fork.
22. Don't get your hopes up on seeing any princesses. There are never any to be found.
23. Be sure to ride the new Harry Potter ride in Fantasyland.
24. If you want a really good lei...(hehe) go to the Polynesian resort. They'll take good care of you!
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
I'd like to add....

Do what works for you!

There are so many different ways to do things. Everyone has their preferences. Do the thing that's pulling you. It's your vacation, do it your way. :)
 
IWantMyMagicBand

IWantMyMagicBand

Well-Known Member
Dads 2 Boys said:
Awesome......but for #9 my wife would really agree with that!
Click to expand...
We totally love Duffy. Very disappointed that Duffy in Paris has a stamp as "he doesn't sign" which totally confused my kids as they have his signature in their books. And where else can you hug a real life teddy bear. OOOOOH soft fluffy Duffy, my boy goes to bed with him every night, and my girl gets him build-a-bear clothes with her pocket money.
Anyhoo - back on topic........
I would say to a first-timer: go on to this forum, and also the WDW Moms Panel and browse (which is what I did) and you will soon generate questions of your own. I have a friend who refuses to plan. I said to her, "well, if you're not planning, someone else is!". She left for her wdw vacation BUT not before showing me her spreadsheet lol
My local travel agency even gives out my number for free advice, and calls me if they have a question!
 
l4dybu6

l4dybu6

Active Member
  • If you're staying on property, take advantage of the early and late night extra magic hours!
  • Bring and drink LOTS of water!! I've witnessed people passing out before in line for attractions. You do NOT want to be one of those people!
  • Utilize the fast passes. And get there early to make sure you get on the rides you want to go on! More popular rides run out of fast passes earlier on in the morning (TSMM usually runs out around 11 am)
  • Plan a little. Maybe a few restaurants you want to try! But not too much, since wandering around exploring is some of the most fun you'll have :)
  • Remember to eat. Especially if you're one of those people that gets really angry when hungry. Don't ruin things for the rest of your party :p
  • Don't sweat the small stuff! Rides break down, people get your order wrong, something may not go as planned. RELAX! You're at Disney :) Breathe and enjoy it!
  • I don't want to drag this out too much longer, but remember to book a return trip! That way, you won't stress about not seeing everything :D
 
mattdenine

mattdenine

Well-Known Member
I wish I had known about this site and this forum before our first trip in April. You really underestimate the amount of things to take in. Going to be way more prepared this April.
 
BrittanyRose428

BrittanyRose428

Well-Known Member
Don't try to see everything during the first trip, and wear comfortable shoes. Oh and split up if you're in a big group and everyone doesn't want to do the same things.
 
WDWDad13

WDWDad13

Well-Known Member
plan ahead and don't try to do everything because you can't and your feet will thank you

hopefully MyMagic+ will help the preplanning phase and first time visitor enjoyment
 
wendysue

wendysue

Well-Known Member
Stu29573 said:
Go on off season if at all possible. The hours are shorter, but you get to do more because of lower crowds...
Click to expand...

Yes, Sept. and Oct. are good, also the first part of Nov. is awesome. Also, don't take kids the first time. (nothing against families or children), but the first couple times my husband and I went, (actually it's been 6 times) we got to see and do all the exploring that the little ones might not want to see. Now we are ready to tackle the parks with those grandchildren! We are just waiting for them to get old enough to whisk off the the world....
 
P

Princess Jemma

Member
rnese said:
1. BEWARE OF THE WALKING COLORED FLAGS!!! If you see a walking colored flag...RUN AWAY!!!
2. If you want breaking WDW news and secrets, be sure to strike up a conversation with the bus drivers. THEY are actually DWI interns and have access to classified Disney info!
3. Visit the "Tangled Restroom". It is Disney's Fantasyland's hottest attraction! Take many, many pics and please post!
4. Don't miss the YETI on EE! It is truly a DWI masterpiece!
5. Please take lots of pics and update us on the progress of Avatarland in DAK when you get back home.
6. Don't drink any water. It'll only cause cramping and make you more dependent upon it.
7. Wear your seatbelt on Spaceship Earth! The final decent is steeper than you think.
8. Don't miss HORIZONS! It's the hidden jewel of EPCOT.
9. Get plenty of pics taken with "Duffy", the EPCOT bear. If you don't, it's a wasted trip.
10. Don't worry about the quality of shoes you purchase for the trip...rent a scooter to navigate the parks, regardless of your health status.
11. Have your picture taken in front of WDW's most iconic symbol...the big, blue sorcerer's hat in DHS.
12. Skip the "riding" tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris. Opt for the "Unguided Walking" tour instead. Feel free to explore!
I hope you found this helpful! ;)
Click to expand...
What's the deal with the walking flags?
 
erwinalber4

erwinalber4

Well-Known Member
My best advice would be to know what you want to see and then go have a great time. After all, most of the fun is in discovering it for the first time. :)
 
jkl2000

jkl2000

Well-Known Member
rnese said:
1. BEWARE OF THE WALKING COLORED FLAGS!!! If you see a walking colored flag...RUN AWAY!!!
2. If you want breaking WDW news and secrets, be sure to strike up a conversation with the bus drivers. THEY are actually DWI interns and have access to classified Disney info!
3. Visit the "Tangled Restroom". It is Disney's Fantasyland's hottest attraction! Take many, many pics and please post!
4. Don't miss the YETI on EE! It is truly a DWI masterpiece!
5. Please take lots of pics and update us on the progress of Avatarland in DAK when you get back home.
6. Don't drink any water. It'll only cause cramping and make you more dependent upon it.
7. Wear your seatbelt on Spaceship Earth! The final decent is steeper than you think.
8. Don't miss HORIZONS! It's the hidden jewel of EPCOT.
9. Get plenty of pics taken with "Duffy", the EPCOT bear. If you don't, it's a wasted trip.
10. Don't worry about the quality of shoes you purchase for the trip...rent a scooter to navigate the parks, regardless of your health status.
11. Have your picture taken in front of WDW's most iconic symbol...the big, blue sorcerer's hat in DHS.
12. Skip the "riding" tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris. Opt for the "Unguided Walking" tour instead. Feel free to explore!
I hope you found this helpful! ;)
Click to expand...

You forgot to mention the 360 deg loop on Space Mountain!
 

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