If you were me...

[lola1]

Hello!
I am planning on going to Disney May 14th for one week, but the whole thing is so overwhelming..I have the plane tix and am staying at POP with two other girls we are all around our twenties..My question is..
If you were me, what would you start doing now to make sure this trip is awesome..like, suggestions for itineraries, websites, i don't just want to show up and be overwhelmed! :eek: Thanks all!! :sun:
And, of the parks (MK, Epcot, etc.) you buy the tickets separately for each one, and you can only be in that park? Can you leave to go the resort and come back? (I do know about the hopper tix, I was just wondering if you did not do that)...:overhere:

[wdwgrandma]

Well, you joined this site, so you are off to a great start already!

If you buy single day tickets, they are only good for one park. If you buy park hoppers, that allows you the flexibility of "hopping" from park to park!

If I were you, I'd begin by checking out the menus for the various restaurants. I'd look at info on each park and check out the attractions. And you can do all that right here by scrolling to the top of your screen and clicking on the appropriate link! Then, if you have any specific questions, you can come back here and ask!

[marivigi]

This website is a ver good place to start, I doubt that you will need to look anywhere else

As for park tickets.. I believe you can buy a day ticket for each park, but your best bet is to buy length of stay tickets called "park hoppers".... that allow you to visit all the parks on the same day (if you wish) and yes, with the park hoppers you can leave as many tuimes as you like during the day and then go back....

[OKWTink]

Get a good feel for what is in each park. Attractions, shows, character meets, parades, that sort of thing. Decide what you must see, what you want to see, and what you'd hope to see and sketch out a rough plan for each park. Don't be rigid. Leave room for spontaneous events and spur of the moment opportunities.

Pop Century is a really neat resort so you'll want to spend some time exploring it and lounging by the pool. You're paying to stay there, so enjoy it!

You may want to "tour" some of the other resorts. The Monorail Resorts over by the MK and the EPCOT area circle of resorts (boardwalk) are two groups of resorts that lend themselves well to being toured.

DTD is a nice place to spend a few hours, as is the boardwalk. The boardwalk is best seen in the evening, when the live acts come out, and the folks are renting surrey bikes and strolling. DTD is good most any time of day, but if you go in the evening you can get on PI for a sneak preview from 7-9pm without paying an entry fee. (If you try to enter one of the clubs you'll have to pay the fee though). There is a live band at one end and a DJ at the other. You can purchase food (snack types) and drinks from little kiosks. There are shops there too.

So, take a look at the main pages of this site to get you started. Joanne has packed them chock full of just about everything you'll need to know!

Have fun planning, that's part of the holiday. :ears:

[Greg]

Hey Lola1,

Welcome to the site. I too agree with the park hopper vs the one day. For the cost difference, it's more economical to go with the Park Hopper. With you staying on the Disney properties you can also use their transportation for free. This way if you want to go to another park you can get there for free and of course enter the park without having to buy another ticket. There are different park hopper tickets out there so make sure you get the one that will best fit your needs. For example if you want to Pleasure Island at night make sure you get one that will allow entrance into PI at night.

Regarding planning- I would suggest, along with asking all the fabulous folks on this site, which you will get a lot of great and valuable information, buying a book on the parks and read up on what each park has to offer: shows, rides, restaurants, parades, etc. There is a lot to see and do, but take it all in with small steps and you'll be fine. If there is anything else you need just ask. :D :sun:

[lola1]

hello,
I just wanted to post to thank all of you for the replies. well, it turns out as my friend works at the park, i had nothing to worry about--she was the best tour guide! we did about a park a day, and we were lucky, since the week we were there they were piloting the "extra magic hours" at night, so certain nights at certain parks resort guests got to stay an extra 3hrs! and, we took a day off here and there to just chill. It was an awesome vacation!!

[marivigi]

Im glad you had such a good time!

I would love to have friends working in WDW

I have heard of some people working for Disney down here who get incredible discounts, CMS backstage entrances and many more things..... I will do my best to get to know them... :lol:

[lola1]

hi, totally late with this response but oh well...
yes we got amazing discounts on our rooms and free entrance to the parks, and of course the know-how of my friend for everything...if you know someone it is def worth it! t.

[kradatz87]

I think that park hopper tickets are the BEST, they offer a lot of flexibility so that if one park is overly crowded you can always leave and go to another park.