"Wish I Had Known!"

[mickeys_princess_mom]

What mistakes have you experienced, or seen other people make in the parks that you wish you had known about? Maybe we can head some off for our Intercot family here...One of the first that came to mind was the huge backpacks I see so many Dads and Moms carrying. I can't imagine they're having much of a good time, especially in the heat. I've seen lots of them trying to be a sport and tough it out, and felt bad for them.We've streamlined what we bring in to the parks, cause we don't need as much as we used to think we did. Everything you can take out and not have to carry is a plus. You'll last longer and feel better.
I realize, of course, that those with babies and special needs may need to bring more, but perhaps a break during the day would cut down on some of this.
Which leads me to the second thing....Let those little ones have a rest! Marathon ridehopping is not worth dragging exhausted children around. Just thought of another---princess costumes are wonderful, but a light tank underneath may help with the heat, and make sure the princess feet are in comfy shoes!
Her royal feet will thank you, and you won't end up carrying her.

[GoBlueLacheta]

First, I wish I could pick out what park is going to be slammed on a particular day. A lot of the time there is not much rhyme or reason. EMH factor a bit into it but some days everyone decides to go to one park it seems. You realize this go to another and you're stunned by the difference.

Second, I wish people would recognize the rides aren't going anywhere. Is it really necessary to trample my shoes off because I'm not sprinting toward the attraction.

And C, Stable planning goes a long way to relieving stress. It does not have to be a military conquest, but just a firm timetable with plenty of afternoon relaxation by the pool and time out of the crowds and sun.

[Alligirl]

I wish I had known where the first aid station was before I needed it!!!! We were in AK and I lost the map but thought nothing of it, until I got a strange spider bite, a very bad reaction, and had no idea how to find the first aid!!

No we have looked for them in every park so we can find them if need be, but I would tell everyone to take note of the location at least on the map since you never know!

[ransam]

For me it is to hit Disney the first day....you do all your planning and you're excited, and counting down days, and then when you get to orlando, and your first day you want to hit it big.....once we went and our first day went to Space Kennedy. I love Space Kennedy, but honestly it was a downer cause i was so excited to be walking down main street...so now that's the very first thing we do.

[Friend of Figment]

Use your ADRs to help plan your route in the parks. No one really wants to have to run from Germany to Coral Reef when they realize their reservation is in 15 minutes.

Often, less is more. There is no special prize for being on every single ride and never sitting down except on rides. Everyone -from baby to Grandpa - will be happier with some breaks in the day.

Please, no matter how stressed you are, don't tell your kids to "Start having fun right now or I will spank you/because this is very expensive/ or I'll make sure you never have fun again". Ugly words don't really make for precious family memories.

[illini]

It's OK to let older kids ride in a stroller. Most 4 year olds can't walk 10 miles a day, particularly in the heat. Save the little legs, and the sanity of people around you.

[gueli]

1- Dont push the kids too far.
this includes us big kids. take a real break, do not look to drag the kids through high heat & humidity than attend a fireworks show/whatever as the kids are having a meltdown.

2- Be flexible. Plans can change do to circumstances. dont insist on waiting for the 3 hour line when you can come back & do it tommorow.

3- Dont try to fit it all in on one trip/day. Leave something for the next time. goes back to my first line. You do not need to complete everything in a park in a day.

4- Have fun. dont forget it while trying to keep up an imposible pace.

[sisterslovindisney]

The first time we went I had a step by step plan from morning to night. I was so worried about being able to get through a park that we left out a lot of things. The problem with that plan was we went in January. Our longest wait was less than 15 minutes. We were done with some parks by noon. So I wish I would have known that wait times are very different depending on when you go.

Also I wish we had went to a value or mod for our first trip. Now we are so spoiled I always want to stay at the Poly

[DVC2004]

ADRs are a MUST now if you want to do any sit down dining, and make sure everyone wears comfy, broken in shoes.

[jusandnew]

The first time I was there we wanted to ride everything. Boy did we learn fast that everyone will get stressed out and have meltdowns.
Now we get to the parks around 9am and about 12- 1 pm we go back to the room for about 2-3 hours and relax. We also realized letting the kids swim during that time they get tired and when you go back to the parks they are very cranky.
Breaking the day up helps a lot. We also take a "snack" break in the evening.

We also know what rides to go to in the evening.Certain rides have no wait around 7-8 pm.

[tinkerddeedee]

WHAT A GREAT THREAD!

I don't have any advise, just wanted to say thanks! Leaving in 2 days!!!

[Soph and Han's Mom]

SUNSCREEN!!!

Don't forget to put it on your toes if you're wearing flip flops! Burned feet don't feel awesome.

Take breaks, and we also realized that we don't eat as much as we thought we would, so we eased up on the ADR's.

[c&d]

How big and exciting Disney is for a toddler. I remember our first trip with our son and he just kept going and going. We should have been more forceful about taking naps and breaks. Lesson well learned for the 2nd trip with him.

[JabberJaws]

I have always been a vacation planning freak so I typically learn from the mistakes of others before I ever set foot in a place.

Having said that, some common mistakes I have seen from guests between visiting the parks and working as a CM several years back are:

• PLANNING! This is the #1 mistake guests make. WDW is not the kind of place you can just buy and ticket to and hope for the best, especially if you aren't a seasoned visitor. When I was a CM at the RnRc gift shop, I once had a guest come up to me on July 4th and state "Unbelievable! I had to wait 2 hours to ride this ride. I have been here all day and only ridden 2 rides. I want a full refund on my ticket." Here is a tip, perhaps DON'T visit on the 4th of July if you don't want crowds!!!
• Ladies - lay off the crazy high-heels. Especially when I went to DLR, but at WDW, I see far too many girls trotting around in high-heels at the parks. It just painful to even look at!
• Be prepared for the heat and sun. A little SPF 30 can go a long way towards keeping you from looking like a lobster by the end of day 1.
• Make ALL full service dinner reservations in advance.
• Learn how to use FP correctly, and use it. When used properly, FP is a great asset. It can also be a nightmare if you don't know how to use it!
• Finally - Just use common sense. There are far too many folks who visit the parks who seem to lack the most common of sense when it comes to making park-related decisions.

[maxrebo77]

My mistake was to believe someone that the Idol press day at DHS wouldn't be a big deal and wouldn't change crowds that day. Taking a short trip to use up the last day of a parkhopper and had planned to go to 3 parks. I already had picked EPCOT and AK. My choice was to either do early magic at MK or MGM at park opening. I picked MGM. HUGE mistake. At opening the park was already full, and FP for TSM was already 11:45. Everything was already roped off for the parade, and you had to walk the back way just to get to RnR and ToT. Tried to get a dinner ressie for Hollywood Derby, but they had changed the late park days for the press thing and would only honor the old ressies. Wandered around ugly white press tents and cables to use my FP and got out of there. I zipped to EPCOT to SOar, SE and MS and see the boys in kilts, but then I was late for my 3:30 lunch ressie at Y&Y and didn't even get to go on EE.
I wish I would have picked early MK.I'll take my Buzz anyday over that disaster at DHS just to ride TSM.

[marlaine]

I wish I would have known more about Magic Express. The first year we used it, I got all wigged out because it took around 3 hours for our luggage to show up in our room. We had reservations at CP and had to wear our airport clothes! YUCK The next year I waited at the baggage claim to take our suitcase with us on the bus. I waited and waited. I finally asked someone and they told me that if you put the luggage tags on, they don't go to the baggage claim. The ME people take them right from the plane. This year, I will not put the tags on, get my own luggage and drag it to the bus. That way I won't have to worry!
Also, the first year we went I didn't know MK was closing down at 7:00 for the P&P party. We had 5:00 ADRs at CP at 5:00. By the time we ate, we had to leave the park and wasted a whole day ticket for 3 hours!

[cmsizzlin]

I agree with planning but people have to remember that they need to be flexible as well. We start with a basic plan of which park/which day, ADRS ect and go from there. The past 2 trips the kids were 6 & 7 and this trip in August we are adding a 2yr old to the mix. I find it less stressful if you can be flexible w/your plans.

Definitely Sunscreen and comfortable shoes and a water bottle In the summer months, loose fitting clothes. The heat can wipe you out fast especially young children.

Pack light for the park, they make small very useful backpacks nowadays that hold alot of stuff.

And remember you are on vacation so relax and have fun

[gaffz70]

I would never have a Friday night be our last night again...all of the parks closed at 7pm...it had been raining that afternoon and I told my kids not too worry that it's their last night and we can go to the park as late as they want... that was a big mistake, everything was already closed what a disappointment (it looks like they changed that this year)

I didn't know that we could get a wake up call from Mickey - definitely doing this year

[Lisaj13]

I read this somewhere:

Your group is only as happy as its crankiest member.

So now we take a break if someone's not having fun. It can be something as small as sitting and having an ice cream or as big as heading back to the pool. It makes a big difference.

Also, last time we were at WDW it was HOT! I had thought temperatures would be mild, it being October, but you can never be sure about the weather. As an afterthought I'd brought my youngest's fan. I was so glad we had it, it made life possible!

[Niecyboo]

If you are traveling during rainy season, my #1 piece of advice is to bring 2 rain ponchos per person! During out first August visit, between the daily afternoon rain and the humidity, our ponchos never had a chance to dry out. We'd hang them up in the room in the evening, then repack them in the morning, still wet. If you have 2, you can leave one set to dry.