Best Tip or advice

[mickey+minnie91]

Hubby and I have never been to WDW, what is your most used or best tip or advice?

 

[Timandalicia]

Hubby and I have never been to WDW, what is your most used or best tip or advice?

Best tip ever... Do your homework.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Don’t focus on any one ride or experience and make that the ‘make or break’ for whether or not you enjoy your holiday. Also, get to the parks as early as possible and have a plan of attack.

 

[auntlynne]

You don’t have to do everything. You’ll be back.

 

[Elle :)]

Take a break! Sometimes we have a tendency to go into full park commando mode. It’s great while it lasts but by day 2 or 3 you’re completely wiped.

 

[fly girl]

Honestly, wait until more normalcy resumes to go. Right now you’re not getting all the magic, and imho it’s not ideal for a first visit.

However, if you are set on going, my advice would be read the most current (last 10 pages) of the “here now” thread before your trip. Take in advice given that will help maximize your time.

Also, enjoy one sit down meal a day.

 

[ajgardner]

Honestly, wait until more normalcy resumes to go. Right now you’re not getting all the magic, and imho it’s not ideal for a first visit.

However, if you are set on going, my advice would be read the most current (last 10 pages) of the “here now” thread before your trip. Take in advice given that will help maximize your time.

Also, enjoy one sit down meal a day.

I agree with this, I would hate for this to be my first experience with Disney World. We have already prepared ourselves for this watered down version and know it will not be the same as the other times, but we know we will be back. If you are ok with getting a half version and are just looking to get away (that’s like my family) then I do recommend planning on coming back when it’s back to normal so you can truly experience everything.

With that said, advice is to read a bit in these forums regularly, plan ahead and don’t expect to just “wing it”, make dining reservations as soon as possible and know that you won’t be able to do everything. Also, know your vacation style and take it into consideration when planning - for instance, rope dropping is one of the number one pieces of advice most people give but my family would hate that and it’d make for a not very fun time. So, we make our plans knowing that we will not rope drop. We also very much like table service dining and therefore schedule at least 1-2 every day, much advice is to do counter service in the park to save time - again, that’s not for us. My point being, use the advice you read and get but also factor in your own personal style to make it work.

 

[chris benton]

Do your research and figure out what is important to YOU, and not what is important for other people. You will be paying far too much money not to customize your vacation for what YOU would like to do.

Also, in my heart, I agree with the other poster that said you'll be missing a lot in the pandemic, but if you are set on going, make the best of it, you'll still have fun.

 

[Marionnette]

Don't over pack your suitcases and when in the parks, don't try to lug everything you own around in a backpack or oversized purse.

 

[Eastern]

Realize that you WILL be walking 5-20 miles/day and plan accordingly. Bring an extra pair of shoes and definitely make sure that both pairs are comfortable. You can have the best plans in the world and if your feet are killing you, you won't be able to do much.

 

[loves to dive]

Slow down and enjoy the details. You will not be able to see and do everything so it's not worth worrying over it, instead go at your own pace. If you don't ride that "must ride" ride or eat at that "must eat at" restaurant, it's not big deal. You can't miss what you've never had so don't stress about it.

Do your own thing. Read advise but in the end do your thing. We don't rope drop, we don't plan in advance, we are on the fly sort of people but that is how we do most vacations no matter where we go. We do the research to find out what is there and sort of decide what we might want to do and then just wing it. It's rare on these boards but there you go. Since you can't do, see or eat everything/everywhere, why stress about what you didn't.

 

[easyas123]

You don’t have to do everything. You’ll be back.

100% good advise

Don't over pack your suitcases and when in the parks, don't try to lug everything you own around in a backpack or oversized purse.

Going to the parks hands free is the best thing we ever started doing! You'd be surprised by what you don't really need -

You will not be able to see and do everything so it's not worth worrying over it, instead go at your own pace.

Again, good advise


Have a fun trip!

 

[4Ds4Diz]

I agree with this, I would hate for this to be my first experience with Disney World. We have already prepared ourselves for this watered down version and know it will not be the same as the other times, but we know we will be back. If you are ok with getting a half version and are just looking to get away (that’s like my family) then I do recommend planning on coming back when it’s back to normal so you can truly experience everything.

With that said, advice is to read a bit in these forums regularly, plan ahead and don’t expect to just “wing it”, make dining reservations as soon as possible and know that you won’t be able to do everything. Also, know your vacation style and take it into consideration when planning - for instance, rope dropping is one of the number one pieces of advice most people give but my family would hate that and it’d make for a not very fun time. So, we make our plans knowing that we will not rope drop. We also very much like table service dining and therefore schedule at least 1-2 every day, much advice is to do counter service in the park to save time - again, that’s not for us. My point being, use the advice you read and get but also factor in your own personal style to make it work.

While we are rope drop people, that has eased up as my kids grew. Relax and enjoy your resort too. We always include a down day or two. Example, our upcoming trip we are staying 8 nights and only doing 4 park days. My family has been several times over the years so we have done most things. My family wants to enjoy a relaxed trip. We ran commando our first trip when the kids were young, definitely not our best trip.

Plan based on your wants and needs and by your vacation style. You won't see it all. Stop and smell the roses, so to speak. That can be the best part!! Disney is about the details!

We also do 2 sit down meals a day. We like a big breakfast and that takes us til a sit down dinner. Snacks are always available at the parks for a midday break. The sit down meals add to the experience, they have become a big part of our trips. My sound silly to some, because it seems like you are wasting park time, but for us it is park time. Plan, but focus on a relaxing vacation, and yes, you will be back!

 

[easyas123]

Plan, but focus on a relaxing vacation, and yes, you will be back!

So true, we find with each trip we plan that we chill out, relax & enjoy the down time more and more. WDW is the place we go to for relaxing long weekends these days - when before we took week long trips and in the parks all day long!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I'd hold off on a first trip to WDW until it's back to "normal." Right now with Covid and restrictions, it's a shell of what it was. No fireworks, no dessert parties, no character interactions....the list goes on and on. When ready to book a trip and start planning...research. Use these boards (and others), watch you tube videos (DFB Disney Food Blog and Dis Unplugged and many more). A WDW vacation is a lot of planning. Try to do all that you want but know you probably won't get to everything. Take resort day(s) and relax too.

 

[heresabe]

While some planning is necessary, I would leave some time for spontaneity. One of the best experiences is exploring something one finds unexpectedly.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

Research and pick a few "must do's". Then everything else is icing on the cake and you won't be so stressed.

 

[wendy3]

Pack your "patient pants" and know that it's not going to be perfect. Something is going to go wrong but don't let it ruin your trip or your attitude. It's Disney! Live in the moment. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[pwdebbie]

Study the park maps so you have a feel for where everything is before you get there.

 

[DisneyGrammyT]

Planning is definitely necessary as there is much to do, but be ready to go with the flow if things don't work out.