Your Planning advice to First Timers.

[real mad hatter]

Good Morning Disneyaerians. Now I hope you think I didn't come down too hard on " Bravemouse " this morning.A 21 year old female from Canada,but she asked on the site " What is the DDP all about " ? I have gave her a article to read on today's Disney food blog.And of course her homework.But imagine your a Disney tutor and are taking your first class of first timers.How would you go about spreading the pixie dust of your knowledge? Where would you start,? And what is the most important things to teach them to make their Disney vacation a dream come true.?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I really hope you're not giving people with allergies benadryl...any allergist would scream at you for this and you can cause some serious problems using benadryl to fight allerigies the antihist actually causes more problems then it solves and will eventually have a terrible inverse effect (I know this cause I'm allergic to everything in the State of NJ, have been to numerous allergists, and lets face it, benadryl doesn't do anything for allergies except put you to sleep to begin with and who wants to sleep the day away at WDW)...

Are you a doctor???

Do you grasp that we are talking about life threatening anaphylaxis?

I'm not talking about itchy eyes or a runny nose. You take other things for less serious allergies like that. But if your throat is rapidly swelling shut...Benadryl and Zyrtec act fast enough to save a life. Pediatricians even tell you to keep it handy for infants starting solids as Benadryl is the go to med for anaphylactic reactions to food as early as 6 mos.

You seem to "think" you know an awful lot about Benadryl, but CLEARLY you have 0 experience with anaphylaxis as you'd NEVER leave home without it if you or a loved one had a true life threatening allergy. Having seen my own child swell up and start to struggle for air as her throat and tongue began to swell...I can tell you that Benadryl works. Oh yea...and no allergist would EVER yell at you for using it in this scenario...NEVER.

 

[Stu bailey]

Have your own wheels. Sleep until 9AM or so and stay as late as you can at the park(s) at night. Rest a bit at the halfway point of the days prior to dinner. Make ADR'S. Have an itinerary or general touring plan per day.Maximize the fast pass system in place as much as you can. Take as long a vacation in terms of the amount of days there that you are able to.

 

[wdwstateofmind]

Are you a doctor???

Do you grasp that we are talking about life threatening anaphylaxis?

I'm not talking about itchy eyes or a runny nose. You take other things for less serious allergies like that. But if your throat is rapidly swelling shut...Benadryl and Zyrtec act fast enough to save a life. Pediatricians even tell you to keep it handy for infants starting solids as Benadryl is the go to med for anaphylactic reactions to food as early as 6 mos.

You seem to "think" you know an awful lot about Benadryl, but CLEARLY you have 0 experience with anaphylaxis as you'd NEVER leave home without it if you or a loved one had a true life threatening allergy. Having seen my own child swell up and start to struggle for air as her throat and tongue began to swell...I can tell you that Benadryl works. Oh yea...and no allergist would EVER yell at you for using it in this scenario...NEVER.

There are many, MANY studies that warn against taking benadryl for anaphylaxis...don't get p'ed at me because I keep current with a lot of my problems and read recent studies having my science background AND a concern for my own health...so before telling me I have zero experience look beyond the first page of google and not very progressive clinics like mayo, and THEN get back to me...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

There are many, MANY studies that warn against taking benadryl for anaphylaxis...don't get p'ed at me because I keep current with a lot of my problems and read recent studies having my science background AND a concern for my own health...so before telling me I have zero experience look beyond the first page of google and not very progressive clinics like mayo, and THEN get back to me...

You took an aggressive tone without ever being provoked, so you deserve every bit of the negative attitude being dished at you. You might not like my tone, but it's merely a reflection of your nasty tone. So, if you don't like it- learn to write like a civilized person. There are a million and one ways you could have approached this, but you took the ugly path- so you received an ugly reply.

You are not a doctor and are not qualified to decide what should be used to treat anyone's life threatening allergies. And I've read the Mayo Clinic's recommendations for dealing with a severe allergic reaction...and all I've seen them say is that Benadryl not sufficient to treat a severe reaction. Every doctor we've spoken to about this has said that the footnoted interpretations in their literature is that it shouldn't be your sole source of treatment. Even the lead doctors in the field will tell you to give a person Benadryl or Zyrtec while waiting for an ambulence or on your way to the ER...even if you have an EpiPen- they tell you to take both.

So, if your doctors have told you to do something else- that is the recommendations of your doctors. Still, you are not a physician- so you have no business telling me to disregard the directions of over 15 highly respected physicians... including one of the lead researchers in the field.

And better yet...you get back with me when you learn to converse with people like a human being. Your rant is not Disney related and I'm on here for enjoyment...not to be dealing with a TROLL!

 

[bethymouse]

Oh dear! Not the "troll" thing again! Seriously though. An advanced dining reservation is truly a necessity to enjoy a nice table service meal, unless you're ok with just counter service/quick service meals. Eat on the early side for lunch around 11 am or early dinner around 4:30. I guess I'm an early bird when it comes to WDW, but it is much quieter at the parks, and you can basically get everything done by 11am before the crowds come. We do stay on site, so we take advantage of the extra magic "morning" hours. Also, it's nice to book an early breakfast at the parks because you're there before anyone else is. We love to go back to the resort and chill out at the pools in the afternoon and go back at night ( if we're in the mood for the crowds) to watch the fireworks and night parade. I wouldn't plan every second at the park. Study the map, get a general idea of what you'd like to do ( must dos), and just know that you just can't possibly do it all! If you try to do too much, then you will not enjoy your vacation. It's an overwhelming place to visit, but you will find magical things happen throughout your entire time at WDW. ENJOY!

 

[toasty]

I just want people to know that you can have a successful trip to WDW without having to plan every last detail of your trip and that there is something to be said for having a little spontaneity in your life once in a while.

I think this is a critical point that I always make sure I underscore to people if they are feeling overwhelmed. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of people go to WDW and just wing it and have a fantastic time, so that's essentially the starting point. The fact that someone is doing some research and thinking about a plan at all will give them a leg up on probably 80-90% of park guests and make it that much better/easier.

There are certainly ways that a person can enhance their trip by doing some advance planning, but it's not like a trip is going to be ruined if you don't plan out every moment.