if you have small children, follow their lead. we just returned from a wonderful trip, and i must say, i think a lot of it depends on the amount of rest that those little ones get. i saw so many screaming miserable tired children being drug around by miserable tired adults.
let the kids rest and take naps and chill out as close to their normal schedules as possible and you will not regret it. we were all happy go lucky folks because we did not do a million things in one day. get up early though. that's the only demand i make.
Here are some specific tips:
1. go to the specified parks that have early admittance. be there before the park opens, ride the big rides that are "musts" then leave and go to another park around noon. not sure why this works, but i swear by it. it's my trick that works even in the summer. and also, do the parks backwards. what i mean is, everyone goes to MK first( like on Sunday or Monday, at the first of the week), then epcot, then mgm or ak. go the opposite. do ak first, then mgm, get it?
2. do at least one character meal. they are worth the money. i say chef mickey for breakfast. ask for a table by the window. amazing view.
3. when you do the safari at ak, if you go immediately as soon as the park opens, you will see 4x the amount of animals. it's amazing the difference. those animals love those fla. mornings and hate that afternoon sun.
4. do a bug's life at ak. and walk the tiger tour at ak also. they have these real bats that are truly the biggest most disgusting coolest things we had seen.
5. do prime time cafe at mgm (it's a restaurant). ask the hostess for the most obnoxious waitress. you won' t regret it.
6. also at mgm, see the parade and you must do the new who wants to be a millionaire. even my five year old thought it was cool.
7. fast passes for everything. i am amazed at the people who don't use these things.
8. the buzz lightyear ride is our new favorite. my goal is to beat the world. play to win!!
9. do not miss the fireworks at epcot! make reservations at the rose and crown in england for 8:30. request to sit on the water outside. you can have fish and chips and a good english beer and watch the most amazing firework show you have ever seen. we do this every time. the view is perferct.
and finally, i recommend that you buy birnbaum's guide to wdw and read and highlight stuff now. then read and highlight on your way down there. then, take it with you to the parks. the people who read it for the first time on the way or at the park are too overwhelmed and overloaded.but it is so helpful if you read it now and you'll be amazed at the stuff you;ll just remember! even though these sites are great and the maps they give you at the park are great too, the book just seems to have the right amount of tips, info, nifty cool things, and maps also. i really do like this book.
and also, hopefully this will be the first of many trips so try hard to relax and enjoy your family. whatever you do, take a deep breath before you lose your patience if things go wrong. i was just dismayed at the grouchy folks we saw this time. don't forget, it is the happiest place on earth- god knows it is especially right now. cuddle and love and chill and plan, and don't fret !
please let me know if you need any more advice. i think i know it all these days about wdw. i am becoming an addict. it's the best place in the world- except of course my mama and daddy's house!!