Your First Walt Disney World Vacation: Five Tips for Rookies

So, you've booked the room and bought the tickets. You and your family are on your way to Walt Disney World for the first time-and you couldn't be more excited! But what can you expect on your WDW vacation? By knowing these top five "rookie" mistakes to avoid, you and your family can spend more time enjoying the magic-and less time fighting heat, crowds, and each other.

Don't be a "commando tourist" your first time. Walt Disney World is an immense place-twice the size of Manhattan, with four theme parks, three water parks, a shopping and dining marketplace, and numerous resorts with unique recreational opportunities in each. Too many families on their first trip try to see and do everything, going from sunup to sundown for days on end-this is a recipe for vacation disaster! Your family will be happier and less tired-and likely less disappointed-if you make a list of "must-sees" before you leave home. Make these attractions and shows a priority; then anything "extra" you see is just added magic.

Don't go without a plan for each day of touring. Sure, it's nice to wander around, seeing what you want on a whim-but unless you are visiting WDW in the slowest of seasons, you will likely spend more time wandering and waiting in lines than experiencing attractions. There are many good resources, both in print and online, with well-researched touring plans for each park. My personal favorite is The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This hefty softcover is full of indispensable, unbiased information about all aspects of WDW, and contains many scientifically-tested touring plans that promise to minimize your wait times at attractions-therefore allowing you to see more in a day. The guide even has plans for different groups of people-families with young children, for example-that focus on certain types of attractions. Their website offers even more specific plans, for a small fee.

Don't forget to build in time for breaks. Even with a perfect touring plan in hand, you (and your kids) are bound to get tired or fussy. Don't be afraid to take a midafternoon nap/pool/rest break-Disney's on-property hotels make the commute easy, and you can return to the parks in the evening, once the heat and the crowds have subsided. Even if you opt not to go back to your hotel, or you're staying off-property, there are plenty of places within the parks to cool off and relax-find an air-conditioned movie or show, or even a table in a restaurant. Build these breaks into your touring plan--once the midday crowds hit, you'll be glad you did!

Know when and where the crowds are-and avoid them if you can. The Unofficial Guide website has an invaluable "Crowd Calendar" that predicts crowd levels for each day. A portion of the calendar is free to browse (a few weeks' worth of predictions); anything farther in the future is available to site subscribers. Also, remember that most visitors arrive at the parks an hour or so after opening, with crowd levels at their highest by midday. Getting an early start to be there at "rope drop" will almost ensure an hour or so of short wait times at even the most popular attractions. Finally, if you choose to park-hop, start your day at a more-crowded park, and hop to a less-crowded one. (Epcot is generally a good afternoon park, because of its immense size--it can handle large crowds well.) By being aware of crowd levels and getting to parks early to beat the rush, you can maximize the amount of attractions you can experience in a day.

Relax. Don't forget: This is your vacation! Of course, you've spent thousands of dollars on this trip, and you want to maximize every cent. But what fun is it for you, or your family, if everyone is hot, miserable, and pushing themselves to their physical limit? Be flexible, and take a moment every once in a while to slow down. Half of the magic of Disney is in the details, which most first-time guests miss in their rush to Space Mountain or Tower of Terror. Your trip will be more enjoyable, less stressful, and just as filled with memories!