Instructions for Your First Visit to Walt Disney World

By Dave Shute

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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 2025 I recommend the first two 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 comments

1 Bruce E. Garland { 08.21.12 at 1:42 pm }: AARP and/or AAA discounts?
Both I & my female companion (I’m 59, she is 81 {stop laughing now…she is more “youthful” than me!}) are AAA members but I am the only AARP member. But is the fact that she is no doubt a “senior citizen” & I may not be (& what is, if any the “cut-off” age for a possible “senior citizen” eligibility discount?) applicable? Thank-You..she’s calling me from the “boudoir”!
2 Dave { 08.21.12 at 2:46 pm }: Bruce, you are cracking me up…there’s definitely AAA stuff out there–see this: http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-vacation-discounts-and-deals/disney-world-resort-hotel-discounts-codes/#AAA
AARP is a little unclear–I’m not seeing any direct evidence that WDW hotels offer them, but off-site hotels do, according to this: http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-vacation-discounts-and-deals/disney-world-area-hotel-discounts/#aarp
3 Patricia { 08.21.12 at 2:02 pm }: I wish I had found your sight last January. It would have saved me so much time. You really are the best. You had the Military updates for 2013 days and days ahead of everyone. Many still do not have the details on line or by phone. My question for you is … My family of 5 – 4 adults and 1 child will be going to WDW for a 6 night 7 day stay. We would like a 6 day park hopper pass for everyone. We of course would like to take advantage of any Military Discount available. The problem is the first day of our visit is the last day of the Military fiscal year. The prices for everything we have tried to book has fallen into this “dead zone”. We will arrive by 10 am on Sunday September 30, 2012, and depart on October 06, 2012. The Park Hopper Special which is available now for purchase by the 27th of September, is only available for 1 day of our stay, the 30th of September. The tickets available on the 1st of October would then be good for the 1st through the 5th of October, and we would need to purchase tickets for the final day, the 6th of October. Do you know an optimal savings way to plan this purchase??? You are one smart guy. Ever think of running for president??
4 Dave { 08.21.12 at 3:09 pm }: Ok Patricia you win in the kind words department! You wanna be my press agent?
Tickets first: a regular 6 day park hopper WDW ticket (that is, not a military salute ticket) costs, pretax ~$333 (you can get them pre-tax if you buy on base or at shades), and a military ticket plus a regular two day hopper ticket will cost pre-tax ~388, and a military ticket plus a two day non hopper ticket will cost ~$331.
So for 6 days of tix, you are better off or about a wash just buying the straight Disney tix pre-tax…see this for the details (though everything on it is after tax, so you have to multiple by .935 to get comparable nums) :https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/06/03/disney-world-ticket-prices-2012-to-summer-2013/
And if you just buy 6 day regular WDW tix, you can “bank” the four day military tix for 2013…
On hotels, the party of 5 with four adults is not easy to house except in the Alligator Bayou section of POR, a deluxe, or Shades of Green. So I’d advise staying at Shades your first night, and using a military discount rate for either POR or a deluxe after…see also this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/special-circumstances/special-circumstances-large-families/
You could also just stay the whole time at Shades, which I’m not keen on–see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/22/review-shades-of-green-resort-at-walt-disney-world/
Hope this helps! Dave
5 Steve from militarydisneytips.com { 08.21.12 at 8:32 pm }: Hi Patricia,
Dave asked me to tag in on your question.
I do have one question though, you said you needed a 6-day ticket, but talked about using it on 7 days, 30 Sept – 6 Oct. (You mentioned using the 4-day Armed Forces Salute Tickets for the 5 days 1-5 Sept).
So for 6 park days an adult 2-day hopper from Shades of Green is $239 total plus the Armed Forces Salute Ticket at $156 would be $395. Whereas a 6-day hopper from Shades is $326. for the child, 2-day $227 plus $156 is $383 vs the 6-day hopper at $309. Base ITT/ITR Offices have very similar prices on the non AFS ticktes.
For 7 days it’s adult 3-day hopper $291 + $156 = $447 vs $336 for a 7-day hopper, and child 3-day hopper $276 + $156 = $432 vs $319 for a 7-day hopper.
So as Dave said you will be better off saving your Armed Forces Salute tickets for another trip before 28 Sept 2013.
One other ticket option to consider it the Stars and Stripes Pass from Shades of Green. This ticket can only be purchased by those staying at Shades or a Disney Resort (no off property hotels etc). The Stars and Stripes is a length of stay pass which includes both the hopper option AND the Water Park and More option. It is a great value compared to the military discounted Magic Your Way tickets we’ve talked about so far.
The prices for the Stars and Stripes Passes are
6-day: Adult $329/Child $313
7-day: Adult $338/Child $322
So very comparable prices to the MYW but many more options.
As far as the hotel, Shades is certainly an option. Their rooms sleep 5 comfortably with 2 queens and a fold out couch. pictures of the couch bottom of this page: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Shades-of-Green-Room-Pictures/index.htm
But I prefer Disney resorts for the themeing and with the Armed Forces Salute Discount, 35% at moderates and 40% at deluxe resorts it’s hard to say no.
Even though you are “bridging” two different Armed Forces Salute offers the military rates will be in effect for your whole stay (based upon availability) so I’d say just do a Disney resort.
Other options for where to stay would be the Fort Wilderness Cabins at 35% off and the All Star/Art of Animation family suites at 30% off with the AFS discount.
Hope this helps!
Steve
By the way I’d like to hire you as my press agent too!
You said Dave had the Military updates for 2013 days and days ahead of EVERYONE, I can’t wait to hear what you say about me. 😉
Had to stick that in Dave…
6 Dave { 08.22.12 at 7:37 am }: Patricia–I asked Steve to weigh in as he’s the acknowledged expert on the web for Disney and military stuff ( he writes at http://www.militarydisneytips.com/ ) And if I am ever earlier or better on military stuff than most, it’s because Steve is earliest and best, but gives me a heads up!
7 Candice { 08.22.12 at 12:37 pm }: Hello Again Dave…..any word on room discounts for October 2012? Still patiently waiting…..haha!!!
8 Dave { 08.22.12 at 12:49 pm }: Hi Candice, no word yet! I was kinda expecting one on Monday…I’m still thinking “soon”…
9 Patricia { 08.22.12 at 12:41 pm }: Many thanks Dave and STEVE, – Sorry Steve, Dave gave you credit, but alas, I did not.
Appreciate the quick response from both of you. I will do the math again. We will be able to do the Parks on our check-in day (30th) but not on check-out day (6th). Our flight is too early. I had considered a purchase of 2 sets of Armed Forces Salute – 4 day passes. That would cover 8 days – and even though I would only be able to use 6 days, it may work out slightly cheaper. I really appreciate you help. I am headed straight to Steve’s sight when I sign off here. I plan to study both sights to make “sense” on this trip. This will be my 4th trip…. ’72, ’83, ’99, and they have all been too rushed and a little crazy . This will be the first time I have stayed more than 3 days and as I expect this to be my last visit I plan to make the most of it. Your sights will help me do that.. We will be staying on property this time. You have helped me decide on Dining options and Shows already, and which days are likely the best for each park. I love you guys… I’ll check back in when I get back to let you know how it went.
10 Dave { 08.22.12 at 12:50 pm }: Hey Patricia, and thanks again! You can’t do back to back Military tix–there has to be at least 7 days between activation…
11 Shelley { 09.04.12 at 12:17 pm }: Hi Dave, love this site! I have a few questions for you. We are planning to take our oldest two children (girls, will be 9 and 4.5 yrs old at the time of our planned visit) sometime in Feb/March 2013 or possibly April 2013. This will be the 4.5 yr old’s first visit. We are not a fan of crowds or heat; but ESPECIALLY crowds! Our last visit in 2008, we stayed offsite and we want to stay onsite with the dining plan this time but we aren’t sure where to stay or what dining plan to do. Last time we drove; this time we plan to fly down and take the shuttle to the hotel and just do Disney with no plans to go offsite or rent a car.
My questions are: When would be the best time to go? We have been looking at Feb 26 to March 3. I wish we could stay longer but we will be pulling my oldest daughter out of school for four days (I am that serious about avoiding crowds!!!). So we will have 4 full days for the parks. Also, any suggestions for hotels and dining plans? What about doing an itinerary? Everything is so confusing and we want to experience as much as possible but not kill ourselves.
We plan on going back to Disney when our twin boys are older (they are 3 years old right now and would make the trip miserable for everybody!).
Thanks for your help and sorry for all of the questions!!!
12 Dave { 09.04.12 at 12:47 pm }: Hi Shelley!
There’s good weeks at the end of Feb, including the one you’ve targeted, and in later April, but not in March. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/19/2013-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
For where to stay, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/
I don’t have four day itineraries, and all my itineraries are pitched at kids 8 and older, but take a look at this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/how-long-to-stay/other-trip-lengths/designing-your-own-walt-disney-world-itinerary/designing-your-own-itinerary-continued/ Note that it too is for kids 8 and older–at the ages of yours, skip Epcot entirely and think of 2 days at MK and one each at HS and AK
The regular dining plan may make sense, but one sit-down meal a day may be too much for a short trip with young kids…see https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/
13 Shelley { 09.04.12 at 3:35 pm }: Thanks for your response, Dave! Thank you for taking the time to help the clueless navigate WDW!
14 Dave { 09.04.12 at 5:01 pm }: You bet, Shelley!
15 Earthsage { 09.09.12 at 12:34 pm }: Hi Dave,
My family of 5 is arriving at Disney on Sept.28,2012 (2 adults / 3 kids 12,10,8 – birthday girl). We are driving and plan on getting there early in the morning before the parks open. We are staying at the Disney Port New Orleans Riverside with a checkout date on Oct.6th. Our First day is at MK. My daughter has Bibbidi Boutique reservations at 2PM and we have dinner reservations at Cindy’s Royal table at 4:10 PM. We have purchased our tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We do not have park hoppers and are also visiting the MK on October 3 rd to see the parades and fireworks and do whatever else we weren’t able to accomplish on the 28th, or would like to repeat. Do you have a recommendation for a plan of attack that would include us doing the Halloween Party at night, and perhaps for round 2 at MK? I am thinking that it might be better to save some things for the evening that might otherwise be a good idea to do during the day if we weren’t going to the party. Maybe some of the lines might be shorter for some of the popular attactions during the party? Since we are going another day to the MK, I am also thinking that may give us more of a chance to enjoy our experience and less rushing to squeeze eveything in on one day. I really appreciate the information you have provided thus far and would love any other suggestions you may have to help this vacation to be a great success. Our last family vacation to Disney was in 2008 and I didn’t do such a great job at planning and we missed a lot of events and attractions. This year I plan on doing it differently thanks to your website. Thanks!
16 Dave { 09.10.12 at 7:13 am }: Hi Earthsage, and I’m glad the site is helping!
I don’t have a specific plan for MK in context of the Halloween party, but in general MK is a two-day park, and the Halloween party is a great time to get on some rides with lower waits than you’ll see except first thing in the morning. I would watch its parade and fireworks, and during the “regular” parade and fireworks on your later date, go on rides while they are on–lines drop because of people watching these…
See also the MK days in this, which is framed around the Xmas party, for a general plan of attack: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/basic-itinerary-daily-links/
17 Lily from Destinations in Florida { 09.11.12 at 9:36 am }: Earthsage,
I agree with Dave, parade times are the best times to enjoy rides. We walked in to Splash Mountain during a parade the wait earlier was 100 minutes!
18 STEFANIE { 09.13.12 at 12:08 pm }: I’m trying to plan & pay for a vacation of all adults. My first choice would be Old Key West (2 bedroom villa). But I don’t think I can afford it. I am thinking maybe 1 value resort suite plus one extra value resort room. I would like some time of Kitchen. Would this be the best option? and which resort would appeal more to adults. (By the way I loved this site)
19 Dave { 09.13.12 at 6:49 pm }: Hi Stefanie and thanks! It’s hard to advise not knowing how many adults you have and how they split up (e.g. 3 couples, each of which wants their own space…), but to make OKW more affordable see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/20/the-tightwads-guide-to-where-to-stay-at-walt-disney-world-3-deluxe-resort-hotels-at-rock-bottom-prices/ And get back to me with numbers and who goes with whom and I’ll see if I have more to offer…
20 Shelley { 09.13.12 at 10:12 pm }: Hi Dave; I’m the “Shelley” from the Sept 4 question. We finally booked our dates…arriving Tuesday afternoon, Feb 26 2013 and leaving Sunday late morning, March 3 2013. Yeah!! We are taking a 9 yr old girl and a 4.5 yr old girl. We will basically have one day for each park (no hoppers) with an extra park on the day we arrive (Tuesday–)thinking MK. What days do you suggest we do the parks? And do you have character dining, etc. suggestions? We are trying to get the reservations for dining or shows set soon but we aren’t sure what day is best for what park. The girls love princesses so Cindrella’s Castle is a must and I would like to do Chef Mickey as well. Thanks for your help!
21 Dave { 09.14.12 at 3:01 pm }: Hi Shelley! With kids that age, and that short a visit, skip Epcot entirely, and do at least 2 days at MK.
The are parks to avoid by day:
2/26 Epcot
2/27 AK
2/28 MK
3/1 Epcot
3/2 HS
3/3 MK
My dining recommendations are all in my itineraries–see for example this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/itineraries-for-the-rest-of-the-year/v2-of-2009-autumn-winter-spring-itinerary/
22 Shelley { 09.14.12 at 4:14 pm }: Thanks, Dave! Can’t wait to get everything planned!
23 STEFANIE { 09.14.12 at 5:00 pm }: 4 couples. My husband & self, my sister & husband, nephew, niece and their significant others. My nephew & niece don’t get along so I can’t put them together. I was thinking of putting my sister and her son together in one room. I want a bedroom to myself (since I paying for the trip) and my niece can go on the sofa bed. The tight wads guide was extremely helpful. Thanks!!!
24 Dave { 09.15.12 at 8:28 am }: Hi Stefanie! That’ll work and I can’t think of a better option than OKW that’ll be as comfortable…and I’m glad the tightwad page helped!
25 Freddie { 09.16.12 at 8:31 pm }: I am trying to find a great deal on disney ticket packs for disney parks only no park hopping. My wife and i want to spend five days doing disney, four parks and then one day to return to the one we liked the best. As we are going with three kids over 9 who need adult tickets and two adults trying to get best deal possible. The best deal i have found is $270 per adult, do you know of any websites that offer a better deal?
26 Dave { 09.17.12 at 5:27 am }: Freddie, deals on WDW tix are few and far between unless you are US Military. See this, including its warnings: http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-vacation-discounts-and-deals/disney-world-ticket-pass-discounts/
27 STEFANIE { 09.17.12 at 2:02 pm }: Someone told me only Florida residents can get an annual pass to the parks, Is that true?
28 Dave { 09.17.12 at 2:10 pm }: Nope!
29 Marion { 09.27.12 at 2:03 pm }: I am in my 60’s and would like to take my sisters in law to Epcot for the 2013 flower festival. Which hotel is closest to Epcot (easy walking) and will hold 3 comfortably. Thanks
30 Dave { 09.27.12 at 3:16 pm }: Hi Marion–for Epcot either the BoardWalk or Beach Club would be best. See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/02/16/the-epcot-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/ For holding three comfortably… depends on what you mean by comfortably. You can get rooms at both that have two queens and a daybed that fits one more…
See the image for the daybed, which I measured at 6′ inside. (The photo is from the Beach Club’s sister resort the Yacht Club, which is more of a walk, but what you’ll find at the BoardWalk and Beach Club is pretty much the same.)
31 Dee { 10.10.12 at 4:34 am }: Is there a free touring plan for kids ages 3.5, 5, 6, 7 for 2 days a MK in mid oct and 1 day AK? Less walking is best & staying on site. Thanks
32 Dave { 10.10.12 at 9:43 am }: Hi Dee, all my itineraries are aimed at older kids. Check out touringplans.com–they have a mix of free and paid plans there…
33 Dee { 10.10.12 at 4:35 am }: Dates 10/11 to 10/16
34 STEFANIE { 10.11.12 at 5:11 pm }: I’m wondering about renting DVC points, I am looking at your points calculator. 188 points for 2 bedroom OKW. Is there a minimum/maximum amount of days you can stay?
35 Dave { 10.11.12 at 5:46 pm }: Stefanie, this would be a private transaction between you and a point holder (or a broker) so it’s up the the two parties of the negotiation to decide if there’s a minimum or maximum amount of points you can rent–and its the points you have that shape how long you can stay…

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