1st timers without a clue [Archive]

ppow

2 Mar 08, 05:13 PM

Jedi_Angie

2 Mar 08, 05:25 PM

By my reckoning, you've got at least 10 days in the parks/water parks, plus two evenings (Cirque & MNNSHP), plus shopping days - good luck fitting it all in! :grin:

Our first year, we managed a day at each of the Disney parks (with an old hand who helped us get the most out of them), US & IOA, and Seaworld. We didn't do Busch or any water parks until our second visit. Our once-in-a-lifetime Florida holiday has since turned into an annual event, in an effort to finally see everything!

While it's perfectly possible to do everything on your list (we've managed 4 Disney parks, US & IOA, MNNSHP + shopping in a single week), you're going to feel exhausted, and it could work out pretty expensive with all those park tickets. My first suggestion would be to maybe prioritise - get the planning DVDs given out by the parks' websites and try to figure out what everyone might want to do (but, of course, keeping them a secret from the kids!).

DIBB is a great resource to help you plan. October is a great time to visit - have a wonderful holiday!

Scotsmomma

2 Mar 08, 05:26 PM

Ohhhh how excited are the kids going to be at the airport......My only advice is to spend as much time as possible on here ....you'll soon see the expert planners in action [I'm not one of them...lol ] Just be prepared for the fact that you're packing a lot into a fortnight and you'll be exhausted ....but it really is worth it....

Happy planning

ppow

2 Mar 08, 05:29 PM

Yes I do know that it is a lot to fit in but this may be our only ever visit.... :(

That is partly why we are going in October when hopefully it will be quieter?

wickesy

2 Mar 08, 06:08 PM

My advice would be to plan your late nights (MNSSHP, Wishes, Cirque etc.) first. Then plan the following morning as a lie-in or rest day and then plan your early mornings.

BONDY LAD

2 Mar 08, 06:19 PM

rest days are essential to recharge batterys, say after 3 or 4 have one bythe pool,impritive u do this,, another tip from bondy,,is dont pack loads of stuff,,,travel light then you can hammer walmarts its dead cheap, they sell everything,,,have a great time,,,,,,,bondy

tinacooper

2 Mar 08, 06:26 PM

i would say you will not fit all that in. i would advise get a good guide book and look up all the parks , make a list of the parks you think will suit you best then put those on a must do list.
i would try to be flexible and do leave your self a free day with nothing planned.
on our first trip we had a busy itinery but we found some parks we thought boys would not like as much they loved so we ended up dropping others to return to these ie i o a
we found getting to parks early worked for us but could not go back later or for the eveningfireworks as to tired. aout the 3 or 4 th day in our boys both felt ill so we had a rest day.
this time ( we said we would only go once ) we have a much freeer itinery with some must do parks but are not doing any disney parks.
happy planning

Nikki'Andrew

2 Mar 08, 06:44 PM

It can be done but you will find it a struggle with regards energy levels, I would suggest that you drop Bush Gardens as it is 1.5 - 2 hours away and there are plenty of other thrill rides in the other parks especially IOA. The best suggestion I have is to go into all of the old itineries that have been done and pull some off and there will be loads with the same parks that you want to go to. Then write one out for yourself to see what fits, I do suggest you put in rest days as it does get tiring. If you want some advice on it then post it on here and you will get loads of advice.Once you have got an idea of what you want to do you can then ask all your questions on here i.e restraunts shopping ect

susieb

2 Mar 08, 09:01 PM

i started out with a list that inlcuded Kennedy, Busch Gardens, Universal, all Disney, an airboatride, Seaworld and Discovery Cove!!! But I gradually whittled it down to just Disney, an airboatride and Seaworld with a free choice day to choose something extra, and its our second trip!! Although our kids are younger than yours.

Dont underestimate how hot and tiring it is, and make sure you do all Disney, Seaworld and stay sane!!

PLUTOXX

2 Mar 08, 09:57 PM

ur find it hectic, just to warn you. but its great fun, and is important that u fit it all in, coz it could be a once in a life time trip (even though im sure when u get back ur be wanting to book another trip). i think its important to plan, but because its ur first time, u may see-or want to do something that you didnt know was there. you be able to fit in everything you want to do, but it will be tiring-this all adds to the funt though. and uve made a good choice of going that time, spet/oct is my fav time of year!
were all here to help, so any questions. just ask awayxx

hayleyandhilda

2 Mar 08, 10:03 PM

thats an awful lot to try and pack in 2 weeks
when we went we were absolutly exhusted we didn't do any evening stuff and totally missed out universal and IOA

we had 14 day ultimate disney
sea world + busch gardens
had 1 day shopping in mall
and the only park that was revisited was magic kingdom with the littlies

susieb

2 Mar 08, 10:51 PM

Forgot to say too - even if you just did Disney alone, it would still be the most incredible thing youve ever seen, will render you speechless at times, you will not believe what you see!! Enjoy!!

loadsapixiedust

2 Mar 08, 11:14 PM

I'm a compulsive planner! I start with things which are fixed then work out park days around the EMH and busy day guides. Once park visits are fitted in you can move on to looking at booking dining reservations and even making a touring plan for each park.

In October you'll have MNSSHP which is well worth doing. Your kids are probably too young for HHN, although you say your DS isn't fazed by anything, I think HHN might just be a scare too far! :eek:

You've a lot to fit in but it can be done, have a look at some of the itineraries posted on here and you'll see how they work. Don't be afraid to ask for help or even borrow someone else's plan and tweak it to suit yourselves.

Happy planning, October is a great time to go!

debs2028

6 Mar 08, 12:15 AM

I agree with everyone here while its tempting to do everything, you will end up rushing around and not enjoying your trip.

I would prioritise what you most want to do then make an itinery and post it on here and people will be able to give you ideas and hints.

Have a look at the busy day guides and try to do water parks early in the week. you might like to spend a night at one of the universal hotels to get FOTL passes which will speed up your time here(If you decide to do these parks?)

Personally as someone else has mentioned I would give BG a miss and perhaps just do the 2 disney water parks and just buy a seaworld ticket.

Good luck planning :)

princessfiona

6 Mar 08, 03:12 PM

There is so much hints and tips that will help you. My best piece of advice is to read the DIBB and post as many questions as you feel you need. I did last year and it helped so much. Remember is is your holiday and do what ou want and what is best for your family. Everyone is different.

colufan

6 Mar 08, 03:20 PM

We also said our first trip would be our only trip - now counting down to our fourth trip, you will be hooked!!!

simon06

8 Mar 08, 06:54 PM

Hi everyone.... we are going over on our first ever trip in October 08 for 2 weeks.

This is a surprise - the kids no nothing!!! They will only discover that we are NOT going to egypt when they get given their Disney Dollars at the airport (thanks to our DIBB villa owner who is getting me these)

So we are mum 40 (and has bouts of vertigo),
DH 45 loves all the thrills and spills and will go on anything (thankfully) DD13 who loves animals and swimming but is cautious with rides
DS who makes up 8 the day we come home who loves life to the max! NOthing phases him and he wants to have a go at everything (quite tall for his age 1.3m so height restrictions wont bother him too much.

We have been to DLR Paris years ago - I know it doesnt compare!

We want to fit in all disney parks, Aquatica, Univeral Studios & IOA, one of the other water parks, Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Shopping, Cirque, MNSSHP!

Any advice would be much appreciated. Have bought the Brits Guide but really dont know where to start

On our first trip we did all disney parks, blizzard beach, ioa, universal studios, seaworld and busch gardens. You may only need one day of rest. The parks arent as big as the guides make out. Some of them arent even as big as Alton Towers. This year we are doing all disney parks, ioa, universal studios, seaworld, aquatica, wetnwild, busch gardens and on our last day after dtd checkin typhoon lagoon. If you have visited loads of theme parks in the uk and europe you will easily do everything you want to do

winnie97

8 Mar 08, 07:07 PM

my only bit of advice is make sure you have rest days
you will never get to see everything so dont exhaust yourselves trying :cry: or youll all end up grumpy
why dont you before you go each choose 1 thing or park that you must do let the kids choose on the plane theve got 9hrs to choose and start from there.
we thought we were only going to go once and then we went and we were hooked and its turned into an anual affair.

erkeyderkey

8 Mar 08, 07:30 PM

By all means try to fit in as much as you can. However, dont kill yourselves in the process! Have a think about the things that you definitely dont want to miss, anything you manage after that is a bonus. Have a plan, but dont let it dictate your holiday too much.

I would give Busch Gardens a miss this time as I think you could spend the time on other activities. Seaworld is a must!

It is tiring, but sooooo worth it! I'm sure you will make it back there at some point. Even if it takes you 5 years to save for it, you will definitely be going back. Mark my words!

You will get tons of tips from the dibb. This will be my fifth trip and I've still picked up loads of useful info.

Have a great trip. Happy Planning! :wave:

Dee1234

8 Mar 08, 07:50 PM

Hi there... were are in exactly the same boat as you. 1st time trip for our family (apart from my daughter who will be on her 6th trip !) I think from your count down we are going at the same time too ! We fly out from Glasgow on 6th Oct. I am planning like mad and hope to do as much as we possibly can without us all keeling over ! We are staying in a villa too as I think it will give us a bit of a break away from the parks.

ppow

11 Mar 08, 10:18 PM

we cant miss out Busch - this is where my DD will come into her own. SHe just loves animals and we want to take her on seregeti safari.

derynifan

15 Mar 08, 01:55 PM

OK so here's one who doesn't put in rest days!

Last trip out we did 4xDisney parks (some of them one more than one day), BB, TL, Seaworld, IoA, US. We did all the Disney evening stuff plus Cirque. We also ate at Polynesian, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge, and went for a look around Port Orleans Riverside/FQ and Coronado Springs to see where we might like to stay the next time. We shopped at DTD (but not the malls) and did a behind the scenes tour at Epcot.

If you really want to schedule in all that you will find a way, and you can rest when you get home.

alxzar

15 Mar 08, 02:52 PM

hi
we did this in 04 first time and we did everything...knackered but it was great , we had the time of our lives.
we did epcot,mgm,animal kingdom,magic kingdom,blizzard beach,typhoon lagoon,wet and wild,universal studios and ioa,seaworld and discovery cove , one day shopping and the pirates dinner show and one day at the villa.
we thought that it would be our only trip but we are going for the forth time in may and just as excited as the first time.
if you do epcot start at lunchtime and you can have an easy morning and not be too tired to stay for the illumination fireworks which are out of this world...a must see and also mgm start midday so you can stay for fastasmic .
get a breakfast buffet (ponderosa..cheap and cheerful)and you probably wont want lunch as they are really filling.
The best thing about doing all the parks first time is that you will have your faves if you go again.
anyway have a fab time , just keep coming on here before your trip and you,ll find out loads!

disneycarla

15 Mar 08, 03:26 PM

our 5th time said we were only going the one time how wrong were we ist time for 2 wks did disney parks 3 water parks ioa us and seaworld 2 shopping days i think we got some rest not much lol we have done bush grds love it if getting 5flex ticks can go free on the bush shuttle you can pick up from prem outlets there are some more pick up points

Villainlover

15 Mar 08, 03:51 PM

I think you should fit it in fine .. you can rest when you get home ;)
you could always class your water park as a rest day and seaworld is more relaxing too.

I wouldn't miss Busch Gardens its the best park in Florida got everything all in one park. it really isn't far away when you look at how far Disney and universal are apart.

my advice is read the brits guide, dont do Busch Gardens or Islands of Adventure on a weekend ( local teens are out to play enmass :erm: ) Universal studios or Seaworld are great for weekends

I would go to Busch Gardens early in the week Monday tues or Wednesday

ppow

15 Mar 08, 04:29 PM

thanks everyone 4 the advice so far.

My DH keeps saying this is a trip of a lifetime......... little does he know i have already priced up next year! :pgig: :pgig:

What he doesnt know cant harm him!!!!!!!!!

bookswin

15 Mar 08, 06:00 PM

I personally would try to cut a bit and enjoy more what you are most interested in doing, and leave the rest for another time. You could EASILY spend the entire time at Disney and not see everything. I think I read once that The World is the size of Manhattan in New York City.

Don't forget that things may also happen to derail your plans.

October is a great time to go, but there may be days that are so hot and humid you get worn out by 2 pm and are forced to take half a day off to nap or sit by the pool.

On your scheduled waterpark days, it may be terrible weather, so you should plan to shift to something like shopping and Cirque.

Many times we have tentative daily plans way ahead, but a day comes up that is so absolutely perfect for a waterpark, we go there instead. This of course may play havoc with meal reservations.

And someone in your party may become laid up with illness or blisters, or who knows what? So you should probably try to do your most cherished things first.

Flexibility is of great importance.

ppow

28 Mar 08, 10:39 AM

The great thing about my family is that DS is a real live wire who is always up at before 6 in this country and we struggle to get him to bed (and asleep) before 10pm. He is a really active kid with at least one, if not two activities, every evening after school plus we dog walk/cycle for about 90 minutes each day so as long as he has well worn comfy sandals he will be as happy as a pig in sh1t!

DD12 is fast approaching her teenage years and just :heart: her bed!! She will be my biggest problem (I know it already) She hates walking ANYWHERE! She hates the sun!! (Remind me why are we taking her) Lets hope Disney can work its magic (please) :grin:

We are staying in a DIBB villa so plan is to be up and out early each morning (sorry Hannah - DD) and then to return about 2ish to have a swim/chill by pool and to then go out again in the evening.

I am going to count waterparks and shopping as rest days ! :spin:

Am going to have a go at an itinery this week and will post later and ask for all your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks guys :thumbs-up

mickeyears

28 Mar 08, 10:45 AM

Both times we have been we did every disney park plus bb, wet and wild, both universals, sea world and busch gardens. Managed to leave ourselves with 2 shopping days (you shop in the parks too). We tend to stay in one park all day and do as much as possible as we won't get back to that park on that holiday. The adrenaline kept us going and it was the best lay-in I've ever had, the day after we return lol

ppow

28 Mar 08, 11:04 AM

The adrenaline kept us going and it was the best lay-in I've ever had, the day after we return lol

LOL - that is my theory also!!!! Kids and DH have 5 days to recover before going back to school and work :D :D

I will keep reminding its a once in a lifetime opportunity - and tell them when we get back that I've already priced next year (infact I may have booked by then :spin: :spin: )