New to planning a Disney trip???

Here's the info that I recently gave to my boss who has two young girls and is planning their first trip to Walt Disney World. I hope some of it can be of help to you as well!!! If the links aren't clickable, you may need to copy and paste them to get to them.

Cheers!
Laura

Here is a good site to get started, Tour Guide Mike. It's a bit pricey but well worth it. You need to plan or you'll have a miserable trip. Seriously. And you need to plan on arriving at the parks at the park's opening. It will only get more crowded as the day continues...not to mention hotter. Disney is not like vacations where you get to sleep in. Forget that idea now. Our second trip where we did this converted my husband over to that reality. Get up and get there as soon as it opens.

http://www.tourguidemike.com/index.asp?promoCode=AG9MF-AQ#TGM-home

clicking through that link will save you $3.

*****He will tell you which parks are better on which days and why. Since you're going in the summer when crowds are high, this info is VERY important. He will also give you a touring strategy for once you're in the parks. Always hit the most popular attractions first. And use the FREE Fastpass system. Just make sure you know how it works. He has articles about this.*******

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You can buy tickets at a discount through these sites. Compare them to see what is the best deal. Some may not list tax with their price so consider that.

http://www.orlandofuntickets.com/Disney-Special-Offers/

http://www.dwtickets.com/ (sign up for their email to get addl savings)

http://www.mapleleaftickets.com/

One thing you need to decide is if you want base tickets (you plan to only go to one park a day) or if you want Park Hopper tickets (can go to Epcot in a.m., then switch to Magic Kingdom p.m.). I always get PH but we stay on site and often do switch parks. If you're driving there and paying for parking, you may want to just stay at one park the whole day. Although I think I've read that if you show your receipt for parking in one park, you can get in at another. Not sure though.

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http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php

Figure out your 180 day mark (NOW). This is when you will need to get online (or on the phone) to make your dinner reservations. They will fill up quickly.

Make reservations here:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/

You can see menus of every place at www.allears.net (will help plan dining expenses as well as help figure out which menus appeal to your family)

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Our 2 most favorite dining options that are must-do's every trip are:

Both of these are at Epcot, so you might end up doing breakfast that morning (early) with the princesses with Dinner later at Garden Grill.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/dining/akershus/

Breakfast with the princesses (for a lot less than at the Castle)

Mary Poppins also made an appearance last time....you never know which ones you'll get but it will be good.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/dining/garden-grill/

Garden Grill- has Chip and Dale, Mickey and Pluto

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Then by park (depends on how much you want to spend)- I'll mostly just recommend sit down (table service) restaurants that need ADRs (advance dining reservations)

MK-

Most counter service (cheaper, think fast food, don't need reservations) places are about the same, just pick what flavor -Mex, Chicken, burgers or by where you are located at the time you're hungry:

The Crystal Palace

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/dining/the-crystal-palace/

Disney's Hollywood Studios-

Both of these are "retro" but fun.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/dining/50s-prime-time-cafe/

50s prime time cafe, a couple of our pics for our Christmas card this past year were taken here

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/dining/sci-fi-dine-in-theater/

Sci-Fi drive in movie theater

If you can't decide between the two, do lunch followed by milkshakes here and then have a later dinner at the 50s.

Animal Kingdom-

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/animal-kingdom/dining/donalds-safari-breakfast/

We haven't done this one, but it's another good character breakfast.

Not much in way of table service here.

Flame Tree BBQ is a popular counter service option as well as Pizzafari.

Epcot-

The two above must do's. They have counter service options in every country so whatever type of food suits your mood. They have a kiosk outside of Germany that sells beer in big plastic souvenier steins and huge pretzels.

Canada's Le Cellier is also an extremely popular place and is easiest to get in at lunch.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/dining/le-cellier-steakhouse/

yum, yum, yum. But the others are character dinners so you might limit yourself to those.

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Now you just need to figure out if your girls are dare devils or chickens to see what type of touring plan you need to take. MOST rides, you need to be 40 inches tall to get on.

http://www.orlandowelcomecenter.com/disney-height-requirements.htm

Kylie will get on ANY roller coaster she can. But she has NO fear. In fact, we HAVE to go back again in Nov. b/c she's just now the 44 inches that she needs to be to get on Expedition Everest....and she HAS to see the Yeti!!