Tips for First Time Disney Visitors
There is no doubt that a holiday in Orlando is great fun but can be verytiring. The first time we went, we made sure we were at the parks as soon asthey opened and left when they closed - we have now learnt to pace ourselvesotherwise you need a holiday to recover!! If you are staying for two weeks, aday at a park and the next day by the pool has to be the best way to enjoy yourstay, but there is such a lot to fit in. Also, recommended is get to the Parksearly, do a good six/sevens hours and you can get back to villa early afternoonfor a sleep/relax by the pool and then return in the evening for a meal and thefireworks. On certain days Disney hotel guests are allowed into the parks one hourearly. On these days you will find the rides already swamped, (don’t try tosneak in early - hotel guests have identifying armbands.) So try and avoid theearly-entry days. It is alternate, so if it’s early-entry at Magic Kingdom goto Epcot or MGM. These days are subject to change, but you will find brochures detailingtimes, events, parades etc all over Orlando. Disney distribute a different oneevery month - they are an essential part of your planning. Also pick up the“info” leaflets that are everywhere ie the airport, supermarkets – as the park’sopening times change every month. The times can change daily because Disney mayhave not anticipated the crowds so if it is busy you will find that sometimesthey add an hour onto the closing time (ring from the villa (407 WDWINFO) theday before you are due to visit the park and check the opening/closing times –it is an automated service). It is advised in the hotter months to visit AnimalKingdom at opening as the animals are at their best then – get there when thepark opens and the characters greet you at the gate. Also, bear in mind, that Americans visit their Parks on the weekends as manydrive down for short breaks, so Saturdays and Sundays can be busier than in theweek. Don’t forget to write down your parking row at every Park (parking $7 – ifyou move your car to another Disney Park, simply show your ticket, you do nothave to pay again), otherwise 12 hours later you may well forget and you trulycannot walk around the immense car parks hoping to come across your hire carthat looks just like the other thousands there! Also remember your numberplate, as you can so easily get your car mixed up, this number is usually onyour key fob. If you cannot start your car, simply raise the hood and wait andwithin minutes a security guard will come and start you. This is free butremember you always tip in America (approx 15%). Disney transportation is a great way to get around during the day. We tendto park in the Park we are all going to meet up at the end of the day and jumpon the buses near the Parks entrances to wherever we want to go. Dad sometimesdoesn’t come to a park (we leave him doing the DIY in the villa!!) so we justtell the attendant that he is dropping us off and they let you through anddirect you to the front of the entrance as opposed to the parking areas. There are now “bag check” areas and you should have all bags ready forchecking before entering. All Parks have children’s buggies for hire at a very reasonable price. Onepayment at a Disney Park entitles you to a buggy at all their Parks on that day.The kids love them and they are handy for putting your bags on etc (We sometimesfreeze bottles of water in the freezer at the villa put them in a small cool boxthen you have ice cold water as they melt during the day.) Towards the end ofthe day it is not unusual to see children asleep in their buggies, we used toget a double buggy even when the eldest was 7 years old as she was only toograteful to sit in it late at night. Don’t worry about leaving them (the buggiesthat is, not the kids!) when you go on rides, every ride has a buggy-parkoutside it. Most of the parks have water areas (springs, fountains etc) and when it’shot, it’s handy to have swimsuits for the kids in a bag or under their clothesand they can get truly soaked. Mind you, ours have gone in fully dressed andare dry within 15 minutes! You will see lots of kids in swimsuits and shorts –good idea as a lot of water rides too but please remember your sun block. Wekeep our children with Factor 25/30 on at all times. Page added on: 20 July 2004
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