Are you planning your very first Walt Disney World vacation as a family? Or maybe your first visit to Walt Disney World ever? If so, the planning process can be overwhelming to say the least. With so much information on social media, friendly advice from your friends, and even the Disney website itself, getting your mind around this magical trip can take a lot of work! One of the best pieces of advice I give time and again is to break your trip down. Decide on a resort, then work on park days and dining, then add on your flights, special events, and finally start planning your route in the parks. But before we get to even those steps, I’d like to share some First Disney Vacation Tips and Tricks with you today!
What are some first time “must dos” for my children? In my opinion, there are a few things every first Disney vacation needs One, a character meal. Regardless of the ages of your children, character meals are a great experience. There are many to choose from, and they are perfect for all ages. Second, Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom should be on your list of “must dos”, as well as the Festival of Fantasy and Main Street Electric Parade at Magic Kingdom Park. Third, be sure to enjoy Downtown Disney as well. There’s live entertainment, fun shops, and great food. It’s a perfect place for guests of all ages!
Do I really need to be at the parks 20 minutes before their posted opening time? Yes, if you want to start your day with little to no waits. Part of a great Disney vacation experience is knowing when to get to the parks and when to leave. If you can get to the park about 20 minutes before opening, you can go straight to a headliner attraction and enjoy it with little to no wait, and then move about the park from there. Plus, you may even catch the opening show or greeting at a park like Magic Kingdom or Epcot.
Should we try to go to a park on our arrival day? I don’t like to waste a second of park time, but I highly recommend using your arrival and departure day as a down day. Enjoy the resort pool, recoup from traveling most of the day, and perhaps get a nice dinner at a resort or Downtown Disney. If you really wan to visit a park on your arrival day, I think Magic Kingdom or Epcot are your best option. Magic Kingdom is typically open later than the other parks. On the other hand Epcot’s World Showcase can be seen in a couple hours, and is a great place to start off your Disney trip.
How much should I budget for souvenirs? One of the best parts of a Disney trip is shopping! And coming home with something extra special. A great money saving tip is to stock up on Disney themed items from your local store before going, and leave your children “Tinkerbell” gifts in the room. However, my kids also like to shop at Disney. So we set a budget of $50-$75 for each of them as spending money. We purchase Disney gift cards before we leave, and that is their spending money.
We decided on a 3-day park hopper. What is the best way to split our time in the parks? First, devote one full day to Magic Kingdom. Second, start one morning at Animal Kingdom, and then hop to Epcot. Third, start your day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and then hop to Magic Kingdom.
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