Top 10 Tips - UPDATE!!! :D

[*NikkiBell*]

I don't know how it happened, but one of my brothers was born without the "Disney gene." However, he decided to take his family on a vacation to FL and they are going to WDW for two and a half days. He booked a room at the Contemporary with a theme park view (because he said he wanted to "do it right" if he had to go) and they will arrive at the end of this month. They get in on a Sunday afternoon and leave for St. Petersburg Wednesday morning. They're planning on going to MK and Epcot. He wants me to email him tips that he can print out even though I've been on his case to plan a little beforehand. I'm having a difficult time narrowing it down so that he doesn't have a ton to read and remember. What are your top 10 best tips for a WDW trip?

UPDATE: Well, I have won this war! My nephew is totally hooked! Monster Inc. Laugh Floor did it and he now loves Disney. My brother is also loving it! Heh. And they thought they were immune to the Disney bug! Thanks for your help everyone!

[wdwscout]

Nikki- how many people and how old are the kids?
I have tons of tips I have saved for helping people plan trips- but a lot are age specific (traveling with toddlers, etc.)

[dalt01]

get up in the morning, be one of those people who watch the opening ceremony. go to the back, FP Splash.....ride Thunder, come back through Fantasyland and ride everything, the stroller crowd is still in bed or eating breakfast. then watch your FP window and when it opens get FP for Space. go back and ride Splash and come back through Adventureland and ride all but maybe Jungle cruise, use your next FP on that. go ride Space, stand in line for Buzz. the rest is

[MinnieGarden]

I would suggest talking to the kids to find out their likes/dislikes and going from there. Even kids who haven't ever been know if they like roller coasters, characters, and parades. By figuring out what they will like and gearing the trip to that, everyone will have a more enjoyable time.

For example, maybe parents would like Space Mountain and kids would like Buzz Lightyear. They are both in the same area, so you divide and conquer and everyone rides something they like.

Regardless, tell them to ride the monorail as much as possible!

[jcb]

1. Be sure to tell the kids, at least once, "do you know how much I paid for this vacation? The best time to do this will be the second day, in the afternoon, after you have had a full day and a half in the parks, going full bore commando.
2. Get to the parks around 11 am and complain (loudly) about the long lines at the attractions (see number 1 for help on how to complain).
3. Do not go back to the CR and relax when it gets hot. The pools are average at best so it is better to swim in the lakes.
4. Insist on riding the monorail to the MK every trip, even though the walk is fantastic. Insist on walking back to the CR no matter how tired the children might be.
5. Never watch wishes fireworks from your room balcony. The sound on the television is terrible so don't bother listening to wishes music on it, either.
6. Wait to get a spot for the 3 pm parade until five to 3. There will be plenty of people in wheelchairs and small children along Main Street that you can stand in front of. They've seen it before and probably didn't pay as much as you have for this vacation.
7. The games in the standby line of Soarin' really are worth the hour and a half wait so don't bother with a fast-pass. Same for the test track queue. Oh, everybody in the family should run from Soarin' to Test Track at least twice a day.
8. Ride Spaceship Earth first thing, especially if you get to the part at 10 am. SE is best experienced after a long wait in line so you can really appreciate the importance of modern communication.
9. The free drinks at Club Cool aren't any good so don't bother stopping in there, even if it is cool.
10. Don't get your children first trip buttons. No sense memorializing the trip, no matter how much you paid for it.

You might need to reword this slightly.

[wendydarling826]

[Happy 2 B Me]

Nice list JCB. Did you forget one tip -- going to the most popular sit down restaurants and insisting you are hungry and want to eat NOW. Well of course you don't have a reservation. Let hostess know how much you have paid for this trip that should be your reservation to get right in. Oh, almost forgot don't stop before hand for any food, snack, or drink that way you will have hungry, loud, and mean kids.

[*NikkiBell*]

My brother, his wife, and their younger son who graduates eighth grade tomorrow.

Keep the tips coming!

[disneydreamgirl]

DS is in grade 7 and loves planning our trips...maybe your nephew would want to plan with you and then your brother would have to comply! There is nothing like a kid who has spent time and effort...that's a plan that will happen!

[MinnieGarden]

THIS!

Originally Posted by disneydreamgirl

DS is in grade 7 and loves planning our trips...maybe your nephew would want to plan with you and then your brother would have to comply! There is nothing like a kid who has spent time and effort...that's a plan that will happen!

Sounds like quality time with Aunt Nikki to me! When we were getting ready to go with Ian the first time, Mike kept showing him Disney vacation DVD's, and various things like Professor Scientific. At the age of 3, Ian declared we must ride the monorail and we must ride the "little green train inside Spaceship Earth". We did both, and the rest is history.

Also, be sure to send them to Downtown Disney, so your nephew can check out the new Lego store!

[*NikkiBell*]

My nephew is like his father and totally unexcited. He didn't get the gene either. Oy vey.

The Lego Store is a must hit though. They're planning on DTD the first night so he could see that and MK the next day.

[wdwscout]

If they're doing DTD- maybe they might like RideMakerz over on the West Side (in the old Virgin store)? Some guys like cars- and this might be something they enjoy that doesn't feel like "kids stuff."

I guess since they are non-plussed about the whole thing (so I'm not sure why they are even going ) the regular "tips" may not apply.

- I usually tell people to make sure to get the "First Trip" buttons- for everyone in the family- NOT just the kids. Or perhaps a "Celebrate" button for your nephew for his graduation.
- Use Fast Pass.
- Go to one character meal.
- Talk to the Cast Members (especially in World Showcase!)
- Don;t just east burgers and fries- there's so much GOOD food out there and dining can be just as much fun as attractions.

But I would suggest making sure they know where things are- read web sites, view maps, etc before the trip so they don't go in asking where Harry Potter is!

What DO they like? Would they like the live entertainment? Thrill rides? Food? Fireworks? Renting water sprites on Seven Seas Lagoon? Getting a World Showcase Passport and getting all the stamps? KimPossible?
I would highlight things that have a touch of something they already like- so they can see how Disney makes that even better.

And hopefully they will stumble upon some surprises that help turn on that recessive gene!

[disneydreamgirl]

Originally Posted by *NikkiBell*

My nephew is like his father and totally unexcited. He didn't get the gene either. Oy vey.

The Lego Store is a must hit though. They're planning on DTD the first night so he could see that and MK the next day.

I thought the gene was much stronger than this!!!
Too bad he is not into it...maybe you could appeal to his teenage side and plant the seed that this will make sure he will get to do what he wants...or not! Sometimes our talents are wasted for our nearest and dearest.

One thing I thought of is to make sure that you explain the Fastpass system to them...our friend has the most hilarious picture of himself with one Fastpass to make us proud and then when they went to use it, it turns out he did not grasp that he had to put all of their cards in the machine. Way too funny (well not until after that day for him)!

[BriarRosie]

Originally Posted by jcb

1. Be sure to tell the kids, at least once, "do you know how much I paid for this vacation? The best time to do this will be the second day, in the afternoon, after you have had a full day and a half in the parks, going full bore commando.
2. Get to the parks around 11 am and complain (loudly) about the long lines at the attractions (see number 1 for help on how to complain).
3. Do not go back to the CR and relax when it gets hot. The pools are average at best so it is better to swim in the lakes.
4. Insist on riding the monorail to the MK every trip, even though the walk is fantastic. Insist on walking back to the CR no matter how tired the children might be.
5. Never watch wishes fireworks from your room balcony. The sound on the television is terrible so don't bother listening to wishes music on it, either.
6. Wait to get a spot for the 3 pm parade until five to 3. There will be plenty of people in wheelchairs and small children along Main Street that you can stand in front of. They've seen it before and probably didn't pay as much as you have for this vacation.
7. The games in the standby line of Soarin' really are worth the hour and a half wait so don't bother with a fast-pass. Same for the test track queue. Oh, everybody in the family should run from Soarin' to Test Track at least twice a day.
8. Ride Spaceship Earth first thing, especially if you get to the part at 10 am. SE is best experienced after a long wait in line so you can really appreciate the importance of modern communication.
9. The free drinks at Club Cool aren't any good so don't bother stopping in there, even if it is cool.
10. Don't get your children first trip buttons. No sense memorializing the trip, no matter how much you paid for it.

You might need to reword this slightly.

[*NikkiBell*]

Update in first post!