Instructions for Your First Visit to Walt Disney World

By Dave Shute

RECENT AND NOTABLE POSTS:

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…

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!

1,261 comments

1 kristin { 05.02.16 at 9:09 am }: Hello. I’m planning a trip for April 2017. I contacted ‘It’s a Small World’ travel agency. Any experience with them? trustworthy?
TIA
2 Dave { 05.02.16 at 11:39 am }: Can’t speak for them, Kristin, but my general experience is that it’s the agent, not the agency. That’s why I recommend Kelly.
3 Kelly B - Destinations In Florida { 05.02.16 at 3:21 pm }: Hi Kristin – I just wanted to say thank you for reaching out to me. Thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of your Disney vacation. And Dave – It truly is an honor to work with your fans. They are amazing clients . You provide so much information that after spending time on your site they know exactly what they want.
4 Kevin { 05.13.16 at 12:46 pm }: Is it too early to ask for park guidance for a trip arriving Saturday, November 26th and departing Sunday, December 3rd ? I have until May 30th before I must set ADR’s.
5 Dave { 05.14.16 at 10:53 am }: Kevin, yes, as the December calendar is not out yet. It should be out in a week or two.
6 Shelly Floy { 05.20.16 at 9:02 pm }: Hi Dave-I’m planning a trip to WDW for my 10 yr old son Nov 20-28, 2016. I realize I am hard pressed to make the reservations but could you please provide Itinerary ideas for the week of Thanksgiving? Thanks. Our plan is to arrive Sun 20th and attend MVMCP on 27th -depart 28th.Thanks.
7 Dave { 05.25.16 at 9:05 am }: Hi Shelly, see this. Scroll down to your dates.
8 kevin { 05.31.16 at 3:27 pm }: Any chance that you are able to offer advice for which parks to visit for our trip arriving late on Friday November 25th and departing at noon on Sunday December 4th ?
We had to set adr’s (fortunate to have free dining), but will adjust plans as suggested.
Thanks for your help.
9 Dave { 06.02.16 at 9:41 am }: Kevin, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2016/04/19/november-2016-at-walt-disney-world/#comment-508130
Add to it:
11/25 avoid MK and HS
12/4 avoid HS
10 Mona { 06.01.16 at 4:15 pm }: Kevin – see Dave’s post from today: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2016/06/01/december-itineraries-pneumonia-2017-crowd-calendar-update/
We are going at that same time. Because of many things up in the air, we made all our ADRs for breakfast and lunch so we can hop as needed for the unknown evening things (Star Wars fireworks, AK event, etc). Hoping we know more by the time we need to pick FPs!
11 Heather { 06.15.16 at 11:52 am }: Hi! Is it true that it is best to avoid a park if they have extra magic hours and you don’t want to take advantage of them? We want to make a second stop to Magic Kingdom on our last day (which is a Friday) but see that it is usually Extra Magic Hours. Will the crowds be that bad? We’ll be going the end of April 2017. Thanks!
12 Dave { 06.16.16 at 6:55 am }: Heather, crowds on evening EMH days on nights MK is open late (as it likely will be then) are less of an issue than on days MK closes earlyish, or morning EMH days. So with a good plan you should be fine!
13 kevin { 06.24.16 at 2:07 pm }: Regarding the Water parks, Blizzard Beach has been listed for refurbishment Oct-Dec 2016.
Just got word that it switched and that now Blizzard is open and Typhoon closed Oct-Dec 2016.
Do you have access to any updated information ?
14 Dave { 06.25.16 at 9:21 am }: Kevin, I don’t have any inside info. Disney’s website has BB closed 10-23 to 12-24. See e.g. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/2016-12-15/
15 Maggie { 07.27.16 at 4:47 pm }: Hi Dave, It’s time to ask for your advice again. We just booked for Feb. 28 – Mar. 9, 2017. Is it too early to ask for which parks to avoid on which days? I won’t even think about planning until I have your advice!! Thanks
16 Dave { 07.28.16 at 8:12 am }: Yes, Maggie, it’s too early! Ask me in three weeks…
17 Mark Saxton { 08.08.16 at 6:22 pm }: Hi:
Recently discovered your website – it’s GREAT, thanks. We’re planning a trip for August 2017. I’m looking forward to getting your book. But I am in Canada, and order from Amazon.ca, not .com. I don’t see the 2017 edition on the Canadian Amazon site yet, even for Pre-Order. Any idea why. Small problem, and patience is all I really need to solve it, but would love to get it sooner than later and saving a buck or two on shipping (can’t get free shipping from U.S. Amazon site) would be nice. Please let me know if you have any idea when that will happen.
Thanks Again for the great site!
18 Dave { 08.09.16 at 9:50 am }: Hi Mark, we have no influence over what Amazon does with our book, so I’m sorry that I can’t help…
19 Alfonso { 08.10.16 at 5:31 pm }: Hi Dave, great site, thanks for all the advice. I booked a trip for mye and my family for Feb 04 – feb 12. For what I’ve been reading in your site, this is a great time to go crowdwise but we might have some rides close to refurbishment. Do you have any info on which rides might be closed on this dates? thanks again for all your insights, this will help my family trip even better!!!
20 Dave { 08.12.16 at 11:54 am }: Alfonos, there’s no word yet. Typical is 3-5, one of them major.
21 Allison { 08.12.16 at 9:55 pm }: Hey Dave! My family is heading back to WDW (via kelly B) with another family April 29-May 6. Park suggestions for these dates yet? Anything we should know? We’ve never gone this time of year…we usually go in October as the kids are big halloween fans but it’s just become way too crowded. Do you expect avatar to be finished by then? And lastly and maybe most importantly, any news on why they pulled the plug on the electric parade?! So disappointing as that’s one if the most memorable nights at MK. News of anything taking its place?
Thanks!
22 Dave { 08.13.16 at 6:59 am }: Hi Allison! I won’t have park suggestions until Disney releases it calendars for then–5 weeks or so for April, and 9 weeks for May.
I don;t know why they are retiring the MSEP (again) and hope that it will be replaced with a new parade, but can’t confirm.
23 Maggie { 08.22.16 at 3:19 pm }: Hi Dave,
Wondered if you could tell me what parks to avoid for Feb. 27 – March 9? It’s almost time to make dining reservations, but I need to decide where we’re going to be on what date. Wouldn’t think of starting my planning without your advice!! Thanks
24 Dave { 08.23.16 at 2:55 pm }: Hi Maggie!
2/27 avoid AK
2/28 avoid Epcot
3/1 avoid MK
3/2 avoid Epcot
3/3 avoid MK and HS
3/4 avoid MK and AK
3/5 avoid HS
3/6 avoid AK
3/7 avoid Epcot
3/8 avoid MK
3/9 avoid Epcot
25 Jane { 09.23.16 at 3:14 pm }: Hi Dave, just wanted to say that even though I don’t know when we’ll be back to WDW I check your site sometimes just because it’s a great site and I like to read it. 🙂
26 Dave { 09.24.16 at 7:21 am }: Thanks, Jane!!
27 Chera Tinker { 09.28.16 at 12:22 pm }: Do you recommend spending the extra money to do the very merry christmas even if we will be able to take advantage of the extra magic hours and stay and MK till 12am with a regular ticket?
28 Dave { 09.28.16 at 2:49 pm }: Yes, Chera, I do, unless you will have 3 MK days anyway.
29 Chera { 09.28.16 at 4:53 pm }: Dave, we will have at least two full days at MK in addition to the Very Merry Christmas. Also do you recommend the fantasmic lunch at brown derby at 12:55???? I booked it but second guess myself. Would it just be better to see that show at 7:00?
30 Dave { 09.30.16 at 9:58 am }: Chera, see my response here.
31 Chuck F { 10.07.16 at 11:38 am }: Hi Dave,
I am thinking about using “Destinations In Florida” to purchase some Universal Studios passes and shuttle tickets, but I wanted to ask you first if they are a reliable seller? I have read a few reviews online about them and the reviews seem to be split evenly, although the reviews are mostly for travel packages, and not just WDW passes/shuttle bundles. Any opinion?
Thanks!
32 Dave { 10.08.16 at 7:39 am }: Chuck they are reliable!
33 Chris { 10.18.16 at 8:50 pm }: Our plans changed due to a work conflict. (Four adults with jobs complicates things.) The good news is that we have more days! Now we are going to Disney World and Universal Studios November 8- 13. We are mainly interested in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. What days do you recommend for which parks in both Disney and Universal?
Thanks!
34 Dave { 10.19.16 at 7:43 am }: Chris, I don’t really track Universal crowds by day, so take a look at this instead: http://orlandoinformer.com/universal/crowd-calendar/
35 Tracy { 11.04.16 at 9:42 pm }: Dave, great site.
We are going to Disney for the first time (since we were kids) May 13-20. Our boys will be 6 and 7.5. My 6yr old is on the autism spectrum, but is very verbal, but will need sensory breaks (who wouldn’t?). We’re staying at the Polynesian. (Haven’t gotten plane tx yet). We have 6 day park hopper passes and the basic meal plan. I think we’ll all like the rides. My family LOVES Star Wars. 6yr old loves animals, and 7 yr old will love Epcot (history, space, etc). I don’t see them getting too excited about a character breakfast (unless its Vader LOL)… but Mickey and Pixar characters would be a win. And they are picky eaters, but the older one will be fine so long as we get our hands on enough pizza and grill cheese, and the other I’ll pack snacks for and he’ll enjoy treats at the park, but typically a sit down restaurant for him means a snack and his ipad. I’ve made note of lots of things on your site, but any other guidance you can offer on itinerary and dining options is appreciated. THANK YOU!
36 Dave { 11.07.16 at 12:37 pm }: Tracy, honestly you will be best off with a copy of my book, using it to customize your trip.
Re autism, see also this: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/
37 Johnna { 11.21.16 at 8:27 pm }: Spent the first week of Nov. at Disney World for our 25th anniversary, which was our first visit ever! I can not express how helpful your site was to our planning this trip, I would have been lost and overwhelmed without your valuable information. Thank you, we loved our busy trip but felt like we were well prepared for crowds and had our plan.
38 Dave { 11.22.16 at 7:48 am }: Oh Johnna, I’m so glad it went well and to have helped!
39 Rochelle { 12.02.16 at 7:54 am }: Hi Dave,
I’m planning a trip for myself and my sister in November/December next year and was wondering how many days you’d recommend in the parks to two Australian first time Disney World goers.
I don’t want to have to spend an excessive amount of time, but also don’t want to miss out on anything.
Thanks,
Rochelle
40 Dave { 12.02.16 at 8:22 am }: Hi Rochelle, see this.

Leave a Comment | Ask a Question | Note a Problem