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Instructions for Your First Visit to Walt Disney World

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR FIRST DISNEY WORLD VISIT

Follow the instructions that follow for your first family visit to Walt Disney World to save thousands of dollars, and avoid dozens of hours waiting in line, while seeing all the best of Walt Disney World!

1. When to Go to Walt Disney World:

Most years, I suggest that if you can, you should arrive at Walt Disney World one of the first two, sometimes three, Saturdays after Thanksgiving. In 2026, I recommend the first three weeks after Thanksgiving. More… Next best dates to go…

2. How Long to Stay:

You can have a wonderful trip spending as few as 5 days. However, if you can, be in Orlando for 9 days–a Saturday through a Sunday. More… Going for a shorter trip…

3. How Old/Tall Your Children Should be:

Kids of any age can have a wonderful time at Disney World. However, if this may be your kids’ only childhood visit, consider going when your youngest child is at least 8 or 9, and your shortest child at least 48 inches tall. More… Planning for going with younger/shorter kids…

4. Where to Stay at Walt Disney World:

Stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort if you can afford it, or at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort if you can’t. More… Next best resort options…

5. How Much to Budget:

You can have a wonderful first visit for $3,000 or less. However, to see all the best of Walt Disney World at the best time of the year to visit, budget if you can $14,000 if you are staying at the Polynesian, or $9,500 if at Art of Animation. More… Developing a much lower or a different budget…

6. When Your Plans Need to be Firm:

Your plans should be firm at least 181 days before your arrival date. More… Planning if it’s already later than that…

7. How to Eat at Walt Disney World:

8. Where to Eat:

The Basic Itinerary tells you exactly where to eat (as do the Other Itineraries). More… Next best dining choices…

9. How to Spend Your Time at Walt Disney World:

The Basic Itinerary tells you exactly how to spend your time in Orlando (as do the Other Itineraries). More… Other Itineraries…

10. What to do When:

See the To-Do List for an exact list of what to do when to prepare for your trip. More… To-Do Lists for Other Itineraries…

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1,261 responses

Joanna
January 5, 2014
Can you tell me if you have a favorite decade to stay at in the Pop Century? Where is it the quietest? Is there a best location?
- Dave
  January 6, 2014
  Joanna, see this page, near the bottom: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/05/29/review-disneys-pop-century-resort-2/
Melissa
January 5, 2014
Hi Dave. When is the seven dwarfs ride expected to open?
- Dave
  January 6, 2014
  Melissa, the best I have on this–which isn’t much–is here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/01/01/disney-world-in-2014/
Veronica
January 2, 2014
Hello Dave,
I love your site. I’d like to pick your brain and expertise. I’m planning a trip for 10/25/2014 – 10/30/2014 for me, my husband and our 7 yr. old daughter. We live in Louisiana and are not sure if we should fly out of New Orleans or just drive . Where should we stay that would be easy on our budget. I’m so nervous about planning this trip. Please help me so we get the most out of our 1st trip to WDW.
THANK YOU!
Veronica
- Dave
  January 3, 2014
  Hi Veronica and thanks!
  On the drive, that’s a tough call. It’ll be 10+ hours each way, but likely will save hundreds compared to flying the three of you–plus you’ll have a car at WDW which, while not required, is handy…
  There’s no good place to stay that’s also easy on the budget! The lowest cost place that your daughter will also love is likely the Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation–see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/09/23/review-standard-little-mermaid-rooms-disneys-art-animation-resort/
  These rooms book fast so I’d check now to see if any are available…
Anna
January 1, 2014
Hi Dave,
Your site is spectacular! I’ve been using it to plan our April 2014 trip. One question for you – are there any activities/restaurants you specifically recommend for boys? We will be traveling with 2 girls and 2 boys, all age 6 and younger. There are so many activities and restaurants geared toward girls and princess themed, but the boys are “all boy” if you know what I mean. Character dining with Pooh or Mary Poppins will probably not be up their alley. I have made reservations at the Pirates League, but is there anything else you would recommend? Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!
- Dave
  January 2, 2014
  Hi Anna, and thanks!!!
  For the boys, besides the Pirates League, also consider Jedi Training at Hollywood Studios. See this: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/star-wars-jedi-training-academy/
Katt
December 30, 2013
Nice interactive blog. It’s 12/31 and we are going to risk arriving at Epcot mid-day tomorrow. We are staying close enough to be turned away without too much disappointment and no children in tow. I will say that years past we ventured into the MK mid-day on NYE and I would not subject myself to that kind of mass humanity en masse again, ever. Thanks for the information. I will let you know how it goes so you can pass it on.
- Dave
  December 31, 2013
  Good luck Katt!!!
Gregory Wallace
December 27, 2013
I am planning a trip in August and I am arriving mid week. Since I am arriving mid week will it be hard to get reservations for the “Be our guest Restaurant” for that first weekend?
- Dave
  December 28, 2013
  Gregory, all arrival dates have had a rough time getting BOG reservations. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/07/09/why-you-cant-get-be-our-guest-reservations-even-at-180-days/
leandro sollaci
December 25, 2013
Hi. I am from Brazil and I intend to go to disney on 12/30/2014 to see the new year eve. I´d like to know if the best view to watch firework is the Tomorrowland Terrace or in front of the castle ? Could you give me this clue ? I think to watch it in front of the castle I need to spend more than 4 hours waiting there that´s why I am concerned about it. Tks.
- Dave
  December 26, 2013
  Leandro, there’s many other good spots to see the fireworks from that won’t require so long a wait…I don’t know if 4 hour is right, but that viewing location isn’t worth 4 hours. See this http://www.disneytouristblog.com/magic-kingdom-best-fireworks-views/
Jodi
December 14, 2013
Hi Dave -Been fortunate enough to have 2 prior trips (1 gift & 1 last minute – we can do this) and have always used your site for help. Well this year was the planned trip – our perfect weather time & crowd time falls just around our daughter ‘s birthday – and probably the last year I can take her out of school!! Thanks to everything on your site, things are working out great!! Had our reservation set prior to 180 days. Got on ADR site at 6 am at 180 days and got all reservations I wanted – even Be Our Guest for dinner – going on your info I went for the last night of our stay, first and no problem. Was hoping for Fast Pass +, however this will be our third time at Wilderness Lodge (perfect for a family of 3!) so I didn’t know if that would happen. I was so thrilled when I got a package from WDW today in the mail for My Magic +! I will be ordering our bands and scheduling attractions shortly!! Happy Holidays and as always,
thanks for your help!! I’m sure I’ll be back for guidance!! Best!
- Dave
  December 15, 2013
  Oh Jodi, how sweet of you to write, and I am so glad the site is helping!!!
Maria D
December 12, 2013
Hello – Yes… I am going to Disney the week after Christmas 2013. I arrive late on Fri. 12/27 and will be checking out 1 week later on Fri. 1/3 and we are staying in a time share about 5 minutes from the magic kingdom. We were thinking about getting a 4 day single park pass, thinking it would be too much to hop and just too crowded. I have 2 children 5 and 7. I know it is going to be crowded but was looking for some tips. This is their first visit to Disney world but they have been to Disneyland 2 times. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
- Dave
  December 13, 2013
  Hi Maria, I don’t really have any tips that will help much, other than to delay your park visits to the end of your dates (except skip the 31st entirely). The parks will still be crowded then, but will be much better than they will the 28th-1st…
Daniel (from Brazil)
December 10, 2013
Fantastic site! thank you!
I’m planning to go with my family (wife and 3 kids, aged 17, 11, 4), but my options are July (expensive air tickets and high crowds), right after Christmas (highest crowds), or January (rides under maintenance). It will be a first-time and possibly the only visit, and I’m considering to stay at the Polynesian. Could you share your thoughts regarding my best option of when to go? other possibility would be a reduced trip from March 1st to March 5th. thanks a lot!
- Dave
  December 11, 2013
  Hi Daniel! I’m not keen on your choices. Rule out after Christmas (too crowded, and expensive) and March (too short). Then you are left with July–hot, crowded, but most rides will be open vs January–cold, uncrowded, a few rides unavailable. I have a slight preference for July but it’s not strong…
alice
December 6, 2013
good post
- Dave
  December 7, 2013
  Thanks, Alice!
Cathy Perry
December 1, 2013
Dave, I have learned so much from your site. One thing that I learned is that we are not spending enough days. My family, that includes a pregnant daughter and a 5 year old grandson, is going for one of the ideal December weeks, arriving on a Sunday and leaving the following Saturday. We have already purchased 4 days of tickets. Do you think it would be better to try to include Sea World on the fifth day or extend our WDW tickets to five days?
- Dave
  December 2, 2013
  Hi Kathy! I’m so glad the site is helping! At that age…I think I’d just wait and see. You can add a fifth day on the fourth day of use, and it’ll be a lot cheaper than a SW ticket. Or you may find that you just need a day off…
Jeanne
November 14, 2013
I was just reading through your December recommendations for the Polynesian lodging, and I see that you are recommending Tahiti and Rapa Nui for their convenience which is a super high priority for me. Is that for next year because I thought you wrote that for December it would be best to go with Tokelau, and I know that is not as close to the Ticket Center and I guess that is also an express monorail to MK. Am I even close with that thought? I will be there the first week in December and I will be confirming everything with the travel agent on Saturday. So, what’s the call for December this year? It is our first visit and convenience has a high priortiy for me—I figure we will do enough walking at the parks. Thanks for the Epcot info.
- Dave
  November 15, 2013
  Jeanne, go with Tokelau. It’s the only one of the three that was renovated this year, and the convenience difference is pretty small…
Jeanne
November 8, 2013
Should I avoid EPCOT on days when it has late evening Magic hours? I planned to be there all day since it is our last day and we have luncheon reservations for the Biergarten as part of our pkg. I do not think we will be able to alter the reservation since everything is booked up. Should we worry about the crowds for the whole day? Should we go as planned and stay there all day from early morning or should we go elsewhere in the morning and arrive only at our luncheon time?
- Dave
  November 9, 2013
  Jeanne I actually like Epcot on evening EMH days, becasue you don’t have to leave right after Illuminations. Yes it’s more crowded than other days, but arrive before it opens and it’ll be fine!
DB
November 7, 2013
Hi Dave:
Heading to WDW 11/18-24. Need to finalize park days on 11/19, 21 & 22…which of those days should we go to MK, AK and HS for lowest crowds?
Thanks!!!
- Dave
  November 8, 2013
  DB, of those three days, MK will have lowest crowds the 22nd–partly because it has an early close of 7p. Next best is the 21st (also an early close) and most crowded–though not bad– will be the 19th.
  Ak will be fine those days, tho i like the 19th best.
  HS will also not see much difference…
Karen Venable
November 4, 2013
Hi Dave. We are from Louisiana and I am a school teacher. The vacation is for myself, my husband, daughter 16 and son 12. I am trying to plan a trip to WDW either during our Mardi Gras holiday 3/5/14-3/9/14 or sometime during Easter. Mardi Gras day is 3/4/14, but my daughter is at the age where it is a sin to miss Mardi Gras Day! We are off for Easter 4/18/14-4/27/14. Again, I am a school teacher so we are on a budget. Do you have any suggestions on better times for prices and crowds? Where could we get the full experience hotel wise? Thanks so much,
Karen
- Dave
  November 5, 2013
  Karen, I do think that Mardi Gras week will be less crowded than the week after Easter–though crowds will go down quite a bit starting around 4/22. Prices vary both periods–see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/07/11/walt-disney-world-2014-price-seasons/
  For my recommended hotels in order by price, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/
  Was this even remotely helpful?
  Well then mosey on over to the home page, and like it on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest!
Jodi
November 2, 2013
It’s that time again, thanks to your wisdom-to book trip 3 since 2011. Seriously could not make this happen without your insight. You’ve provided enough info to let us book at the 181 day mark this time (had PIN’s the previous trips, we can make it happen this time with all your $$ saving tips, though still hoping for a pin is attached before we leave!) So that being said, I am just about set to do my ADR’s in a few days so I checked the park schedules (taking week ranked #5 2014 ). I get the Magic Hours to assist in my ADR’s, however all schedules for MK Wishes and HS Fantasmic are only list one show (10 pm Wishes, 9 pm Fantasmic) per night. Have they scaled back Fantasmic to one performance per night and Wishes to a later time for good or is 6 months too early for the correct show schedule? As always – much thanks!!
- Dave
  November 3, 2013
  Jodi, thanks for the kind words, and I’m so glad the site is helping!
  Two answers:
  1. the Wishes time is normal–it shifts over the course of the year with the later sunset, stabilizing at 10p as the latest time…there’s pretty much always only one per night, with 4th of July and New Years Eve being exceptions
  2. Ditto on Fantasmic, which can be as early as 6.30p and a slate as 10.30p. One show per night most nights is typical during the less crowded periods of the year. Sometimes a second show is added–usually about the middle of the prior month (e.g. around April 15) but sometime even the week before.
  See this for the final 2013 schedule for the equivalent week; https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/05/03/next-week-may-4-through-may-12-at-walt-disney-world/
  Was this even remotely helpful?
  Well then mosey on over to the home page, and like it on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest!
Anonymous
October 27, 2013
I am looking to save some money mostly. We stayed at the Polynesian and thought it was great. We did 8 days with 7 days of park visits, with the Dining Plan. I have twin 5 year olds (will be 6 in Dec.) and a 3 year old. I would like to do an 8 or 9 day visit every year or two. I’m wondering if you think Vacation Club is a good option, or if there is another route to take?
Chad
October 25, 2013
Great site Dave. We are finishing up our first visit and your site was extremely helpful, unbelievably thorough, and very accurate. Now that we’re winding the trip up, my question is this… What is the best route to take if we plan to visit every year?
- Dave
  October 26, 2013
  Chad, thanks for the kind words!! The best route to take–well some take 95, others swear by 75, and others the Florida Turnpike.
  Ha ha, I’m funny.
  Tell me a little more about what you are wondering about…how to minimize ticket costs? Hotel costs? And what hotel type (values, deluxe etc)…and what else you are thinking…
Jeanne
October 25, 2013
I see that part of the question was deleted, and I thought it was simply too much for the box, and was hidden behind. My question: Is the $149 cd photo pkg. from Disney something to consider? It is expensive, but is appealing in that I would not have to be setting up photo ops all the time. I was also wondering about the quality of the photos. Please advise.
- Dave
  October 26, 2013
  Jeanne, I have mixed feeling s about value for money here. If you would buy ride/meet n greet photos anyway–see for example the three photos in the middle of this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/09/26/fastpass-and-magicbands-a-report-on-my-field-trip/ then it’s a good deal. Otherwise I’d just go with your own cameras… the photographers will take shots of you with your camera, so you can get everybody…
  Was this even remotely helpful?
  Well then mosey on over to the home page, and like it on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest!
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