first timers

[nig50]

:jump:
JUST JOINED THIS SITE .AFTER READING SOME OF THE THREADS EVERYONE SEEMS SO HELPFUL.
MYSELF MY WIFE, & 6YEAR OLD SON LEAVING FOR WDW AT THE END OF MAY. ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR A SUITABLE ITINARY FOR OUR STAY OF 14 NIGHTS. ALSO SOME REASURRANCES ABOUT DRIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME ABROAD.

[fumbo]

Driving is a doddle - the cars are small, the lanes and parking spaces big and traffic is fairly slow compared to the UK. If you miss a turn or take a wrong one , the streets are generally on a grid pattern so it is easy to find you way back. Signposting is generally excellent. Because you are on the other side of the road, turning right is easy, but pay attention when turning left.

As for itinerary - it is generally advised that you don't go to MK first thing as your son will expect every park to be like this (i.e. lots of Disney characters) and some parks don't have many e.g. Epcot. Have a look at the 'busy' days for each park and avoid those and the early entry days for Disney guests unless you are one. You will probably need to schedule a rest day every three days with a six year old either lie in, pool, water park or a bit of shopping or the pictures.

I am not sure there is really too much for a six year old in IoA but Universal is good. Make full use of child swaps, fast passes etc

Hope this gets you started - post lots of questions, everyone is very helpful - I found this site after I had vbeen 3 or 4 times and I have found out so much!
:D

[ceri]

Driving is no problem, even I had a go!! although I have to say that DH does most of the driving. As previously stated just take care when turning left.
As far as itinaries go, We always have a basic plan of 'must do's' and 'would like to do's' but be prepared to be flexible and plan in rest days. Don't be dissapointed if you don't do everything, We are planning trip no 4 because we still haven't visited Kennedy space centre. Also be prepared for a LOT of walking around the parks, your DS may get very tired. We ended up hiring a double buggy for two days on our 1st trip when DD and DS were 7 and 9!!! Have fun, Relax, and go with the flow Ceri

[dave41]

Hi welcome to the boards......theres a list of the busy days somewhere..now where did i find it/ ah well someone will tell us :)
dave

[signtalker]

hi and welcome to the boards:wavey: Youve picked a great time of the year to go(we love May)

Okay be aware that the last weekend of May is memorial weekend holiday in america, so you will encounter some serious lines at rides!, so if possible try to arrange some alternative things other than parks on these days.

most important, buy a guide book.the majority on here would say "A Brits Guide",by Simon Veness.
Make a basic plan, what do you want to do/go/see etc.

No doubt at some point, your son will like to dine with characters(a must do in my book),again there are lots to choose from, which is why a basic plan is helpful.Character meals can be booked from the UK in advance.

You will be dazzled by how much there is to do when going to WDW, but everybody on here will help as much as possible, the planning is the exciting part,if you need any help please PM me or email and I will help put a basic plan together.

Where are you staying?.

Jules

[nig50]

Thanks for the help jules,

Lifes quite chaotic at the moment and I need as much help as I can get sorting the planning for this holiday out. We are staying at the Holiday inn intl Drive. Ive read some really good things and bad things about this hotel, so still a bit apprehensive about when we arrive and take a look for ourselves, but at least I think the location is good from what Ive read on the message boards.
Nathan (my son) is quite exited about his character meal which you get included with the 10 day world hopper passes that were getting. Im still shopping about for these but I think that Virgin have the cheapest so far at £185.00 each and £159.00 for Nathan.

The guide you mentioned sounds great, I think i'll nip into the city center after work and get a copy. keep in touch with anything you might think may be of any use to me.

all the best

NIG

[mapman]

Just to let you know, if you do decide on Islands of Adventure - there's a brilliant place for youngsters called Seuss Landing.

The Brits guide is full of excellent info.

Take a look at the DIBB Home Page - there's a menu down the left hand side with masses of info, including all you need to know about driving. It's a good idea to plan around the less busy park days too.

Don't miss Fantasmic at MGM, IllumiNations at Epcot (on late, but I'm sure your 6yr old will manage), Wishes at MK (and keep an eye out for Tinkerbell). The parade at MK is fantastic too.

Also - don't forget that you can go to the Disney Hotels for eating at their restaurants (even if you're not staying on-site). You'll need to make a PS (priority seating - see elsewhere for explanation) and then you can get a 3hr car park pass at the security gate (you'll need ID). I can highly recommend Ohana's for families at the Polynesian, and you'll get a chance to look round the hotel and it's grounds - fantastic.

Make a plan - but don't stick rigidly to it.

Go and read a few 1st timers trip reports on that board - you'll get a better feel of what to expect - you're going to have the time of your lives, and you'll be hooked like the rest of us - it's pure magic.

Oh yes, take lots of photo's and video if you've got one, and write a trip report while you're there - I guarantee you won't regret it - I still read my first one from time to time and the details and images come flodding back - it's all to easy to forget the little things that make a holiday like this very special.

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Hi Nig

Have you been to the US before? I haven't been to WDW before, but I have been to Texas and Pennsylvania and driven out there in the summer. Some of the big highways have slip roads which join by going over the carriageway you are driving along and coming down next the the central reservation - most disconcerting! I have also seen dual carriageways with a railway line down the middle in Philadelphia - very strange! You will be amazed by the vast feeling of space as you drive along.

It will be extremely hot and there will be some intense rain showers so you will need very high factor sunscreen and a thin "mac". I have heard that Disney used to sell nothing but yellow rain "ponchos" which made it very difficult to spot people in your group, but according to my Unofficial Guide, they have now started selling clear ones - why didn't they think of that before!! I suggest you don't get yellow ones anyway as loads of other people might have yellow. (What are other people's experiences of this who have been out there recently?)

I will be getting my kids one-use cameras which are very cheap, I have even seen one-use waterproof cameras for less than £10. This might be a fun treat for your son.

Take something to drink which can be refilled at the drinking fountains around the parks. In the intense heat and all that walking you can easily dehydrate - make sure your son drinks plenty of water.

But - number one best tip - Buy the Brit's Guide to Orlando and if you can spare the cash to buy another book, I would also recommend the "Unofficial Guide to WDW" by Bob Sehlinger. Both are excellent and impossible to put down!

Make sure you read up on tipping as the Americans seem to tip more people and more (percentage-wise) than we do in the UK.

Zoe

[Big_Mark]

I'll also recommend the 'unofficial guide to WDW' we used this for our first trip and found it great for planning but this was before I found the DIBB.

Any questions on the Dibb and people are only to willing to give the best advice.

Remmember you can't do everything in one trip, I thought the first time was going to be a once in a lifetime holiday and here I am saving like mad for the 3rd.