Without further delay, I present to you "A Newcomer's Guide to Disney" as delivered by my newcomer husband and summarized by yours truly.
1. Plan a Resort Day
I was very surprised to hear that this was Patrick's number one tip but it made perfect sense after he explained it. Anyone new to Disney or theme parks in general will probably be exhausted after the first day and the top complaint is "do we REALLY have to wake up at 7am again tomorrow?" I recall hearing these words uttered by Patrick on our first trip together although he loved every minute of it. The truth is that most newbies are completely unaware of the amount of walking that is required to enjoy a day at any Disney park (we logged 10-12 miles every day on our last trip!) The best way to combat the exhaustion is to plan lots of breaks each day but also be sure to take a full day off whenever possible. Disney resorts provide a great escape because the pools are always the perfect temperature, there are plenty of food options at each property, and the resort transportation will take you anywhere you need to go. Turn off the alarm and sleep in one day, kick off your shoes and head to the pool, spend an hour in the arcade, and grab a fruity drink at the bar (or all of the above!) How many times have you said to yourself, "I spent $XX on this hotel room and only used it to sleep!" Get your money's worth and take at least one day to enjoy the surroundings. Your body will thank you for it when the alarm is ringing at 7am the next day!
2. Marry a Vacation Planner (or use a concierge service)
This tip started as a joke but it's not one to take lightly! Most families plan a trip to Disney to take a break from the stress of life but it's no secret that Disney is stressful in its own way. The best approach for eliminating undue stress is to have the trip planned out - arrival and departure, lodging, transportation, food, and souvenirs - in advance. If you don't have a type-A vacation planner in your family, then search for a concierge service that will handle the heavy lifting for you. There are some things that can't be planned, such as emergencies and last-minute issues, but most of the Disney stress can be handled months ahead of arrival. -- FYI you can always message me with questions or to ask for assistance. I'm a Disney-certified travel agent but I will never charge a dime to provide help or take a commission. I want everyone to love Disney as much as I do!
3. Try at Least One New Restaurant Each Trip
We love food! If we're not eating then we are thinking about our next meal (no shame!) Our fondest memories from each trip revolve around food and we actively plan our vacations to coincide with festivals where we can try new dishes. In fact, we'll be headed to the Lunar Festival at Disney's California Adventure next January and we can't wait to try all of the Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese delicacies! Our favorite way to get in the Disney spirit is to look up menus for new restaurants and discuss which ones we'd like to try someday. We often take it a step further and find videos on YouTube so we can see the food up close! You don't have to take it to our level, but actively researching and preparing for both the cost and selection of food at Disney is a great way to avoid sticker shock when you make it to the parks.
4. Keep an Open Mind
This tip is a little vague but Patrick specifically meant that keeping an open mind is the only way he's been able to push himself out of his comfort zone to enjoy new experiences and handle unforeseen circumstances. For example, we went to a Disney water park for the first time last May and we were dropped off at the wrong location (our mistake, we wanted Blizzard Beach and ended up at Typhoon Lagoon). Instead of catching the first bus out of there, we decided to stick around and see what Typhoon Lagoon had in store for us. It was the best mistake we've ever made! We really enjoyed the lazy river and all of the water slides. This tip also extends to rides and restaurants; don't avoid a ride just because it's "for kids"- jump on and see if you like it! Disney is very adult-friendly and size-friendly for nearly all experiences so try it once and if you hate it then you'll never have to do it again :)
5. Research and Use Packing Lists
This tip follows #2 pretty closely, but the cost of sundries at Disney is understandably expensive and you don't want to be caught on vacation without the necessities! Patrick's requirements include sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, blister band-aids (as well as regular band-aids), a fan or mister, and LOTS of water. In his words, "Drink lots of water. Even if you think you aren't thirsty, drink it anyway!" The average temperature in Orlando is much warmer than most areas of the United States and the added crowds don't make things any easier. Stay hydrated to keep yourself cool, ward away headaches, and keep muscles and joints pumping while you're walking all of those miles at the park.
I hope you've found this list useful; I know I've added a few of these tips to my own list! The best advice is to stay positive and have fun; take time to enjoy the little things as much as the big things and recount your memories often!
