Tips for Disney First Timers

If you are planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort for the first time, we know that it can seem like a daunting (but exciting) task. Not only do you not know what to expect at Disney, you also probably don’t know how to go about even starting your vacation planning. But don’t worry – your friends here at OrlandoFunTickets.com have you covered! If you are a Disney first-timer, this article is just for you!

The first thing you will need to do as a Disney first-timer is lock in your vacation dates. This is important for many reasons – 1) you need to get your hotel reservations as soon as possible and 2) now that you know how many days you will be staying at Disney, you can purchase your tickets! As a first time vacationer, you may not know that your Disney theme park tickets can be purchased ahead of time – and actually mailed right to your home if you would like. And, you probably also didn’t know that OrlandoFunTickets.com cannot only do all that for you, but we can also do it at a discounted price! OrlandoFunTickets.com is your No. 1 online source for discounted Disney theme park tickets, so click here to see all of our discounts and get your first Disney vacation off to a good – and cheap – start! While you are here, you may also want to peruse our discounted tickets to Universal Orlando, Sea World Orlando, Discovery Cove and other area attractions so that you can take full advantage and see more of what Central Florida has to offer you and your family.

Now that you have your tickets lined up, it’s time to get you other preparations started! Below are some good Disney first-timer tips to help you make the most of your first journey to the Happiest Place on Earth!

• If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, which we suggest if you plan to spend the majority of your vacation at Disney, take advantage of Extra Magic Hours at the theme parks, which are extra hours before the parks open and after they close just for guests at Disney hotels. This can be the best time for you to see and do many of the top attractions without the long waits you will encounter during the day.
• Do your research! There are many books and web sites out there with a wealth of information about the Disney theme parks that can be very beneficial to Disney first-timers, with information on Disney restaurants, the attractions and other things to do around Disney in your down time. Read up, but remember to not do everything the books tell you to do – this is your vacation, not theirs!
• Plan ahead! After you have read up on all of the best restaurants and character dining experiences, you will need to call (407) WDW-DINE exactly 180 days in advance to make your reservations if possible. Phone lines open at 7 a.m., so be ready and guarantee your family a meal of a lifetime!
• Have a plan of attack in case your family gets separated. Anything can happen when there are thousands of people all in the same place who happen to all be wearing the exact same pair of Mickey Mouse ears that your son/daughter was wearing. We suggest that when you get to each park in the morning, as soon as you enter, set a particular place (not a crowded place, like in front of Cinderella Castle) just inside the park’s gates where you can tell everyone in your family to go if you get separated. It might also be a good idea to write your phone number down and put it in each child’s pocket or on a bracelet so that they have it on them in case they get lost.
• Plan ahead for rain, especially from May through August. Central Florida has lots of sunshine, but that also makes for lots of afternoon thunderstorms. While there are very few whole days that are washouts, be prepared for at least one rain shower each day, particularly in the afternoon/early evening hours.
• Read up on Disney’s FASTPASS system! This can save your family oodles of time inside the parks and alleviate the stress of having to wait in lines for an extended period of time. Use these wisely, however – remember that you can only get one FASTPASS at a time and you cannot be issued another until the time on your current FASTPASS is expired!
•  Purchase tickets with a park hopper option, especially if you have small children. The park hopper option helps you go to multiple theme parks in one day, which can also help you take full advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, as the morning and evening extra hours are at different theme parks each day (for example: the morning Extra Magic Hours for a specific day may be at the Magic Kingdom Park but the evening hours may be at Epcot). Plus, the park hopper option can also help break up the monotony of the day as well, allowing you to enjoy all of your favorite Disney attractions in one day.  
•  If you are at the Magic Kingdom Park, head to the Guest Relations station just inside the park’s gates. If you mention to a Guest Relations Host/Hostess that you are a first-time guest, you will get a special Disney pin as a keepsake!
•  See more of the Magic! The Walt Disney World Resort may be known for their theme parks, but there is so much more to do and see! Take time out to visit one or both of their water parks, and be sure to hit up Downtown Disney for shopping and entertainment, especially at night. Take a stroll (or rent a family surrey bike and ride) around Disney’s BoardWalk, hop around to the various Disney resorts to sightsee or eat dinner (and even possibly scout out your favorites so that you can stay there on your next vacation!), rent a boat on one of Disney’s many waterways, visit a Disney Spa for a relaxing massage, go to a luau at Disney’s Polynesian Resort or the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – the possibilities at Disney are endless! While there is lots of that Disney magic inside their four world-class theme parks, there is just as much, if not more, for you and your family outside the parks. You won’t be able to see it all, but hey – that is what next your vacation is for!