(Updated January 2009)

If you go to Walt Disney World without a game plan and knowledge, you'll be one of those families we always see, standing in the middle of Main Street USA with jaws dropped and a blank stare.  But go prepared and you'll have an absolute blast. 

Avoiding Jaw-Drop, Deer-In-the-Headlights Syndrome

How large is Walt Disney World?  Try twice the size of Manhattan Island!  At 43 square miles, there's four large parks, two themed water parks, a sports complex, several PGA-level golf courses (and several cool miniature ones), Downtown Disney shopping area, over 100 fabulous restaurants, over a dozen resorts on property, a huge campground, lakes, busses, monorails, trains...it gets staggering.

The key to a great vacation is taking time to plan and educate yourself ahead of time...not only will it make your vacation happier, but planning will get you and your family even more excited.  Here are some ways to get started:

• GET THE FREE DVD.  Calling 1-407-W-DISNEY gets their free Vacation Planner.  Great motivation, lots of info and plenty of smiling faces and great scenes to get you excited.
• Check out two excellent places on the internet:  Mousesavers.com is not affiliated with Disney, and has lots of great information on saving money on hotels, tickets, meals, even souvenirs.   Allearsnet.com (also known as Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information) is by far the greatest resource in my opinion Walt Disney World vacationers (outside of Disney's official site).  Deb's has every base covered to help you select your on-property resort (dozens of photos of each resort - rooms, shoppes, surroundings - give you the flavor of each choice), restaurant menus and reviews, planning tips, theme park news and more.
• Invest in a book.  Although Disney's official book is nice, the best one in my opinion is Bob Sehlinger's "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World."  It gives a more honest look at the parks, giving vacationers a very workable plan to make the most of time (we used it when vacationing in the packed months of June, once, and it really did keep the lines short for us).   It rates rides and shows by age group, offers queue line information, loading speed and other tips.  Updated periodically, we can find the book on eBay for added savings.

The Top 10 Biggest Mistakes First-Time Guests Make

Some of the biggest mistakes first-time Guests to Walt Disney World are listed below.  Learning from these errors will help keep your vacation running smoothly.

1. "We're going to save money by sleeping off-property."  Big mistake.  Though you can get lower prices outside WDW, you will spend time, gasoline and parking fees if you do.  We've stayed at Disney's All-Star Movies, Music or Sports for under $70/night.  Check Mousesavers or other places for details and make the most of AAA rates and specials.  Staying on-property, you have Disney magic 24/7.  If you want to go back to your room for a nap, hop on Disney transportation and let someone else drive!  Rooms are clean, nicely designed and at cost-point levels to suit anyone.  From the Pop Century basics to the beauty of Animal Kingdom Lodge, you'll love staying on property.  Our first two visits, we were off-property; since then (19 more times), we've always stayed on property.
2. "We'll just find a place to eat when we get to the parks."  HUGE mistake, especially since Disney added their Magic Your Way meal plan.  Guests staying on-property may make Priority Seating requests months in advance.  At Epcot or Disney-MGM Studios for dinner, it is now mandatory to get Priority Seating months early to get the restaurants you want.  Make Priority Seating reservations as soon as you know your schedule.
3. Lunch at Noon, Dinner at 5:30 p.m.  Humans are creatures of habit.  Most Guests will stick to their normal eating schedules, which means restaurants will be hit heavily at the traditional lunch and dinner times.  We usually have our main meal at lunch (when prices are less and portions are still good), eating right at 11 a.m.  Then, we catch dinner between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. (many of the sit down restaurants have "early bird" specials too).  Then, while others are eating, we enjoy shorter lines.
4. "Let's just wait until we get to the parks to see the parade and fireworks schedules."  If you go in the summertime, the parks usually have their nighttime fireworks and parades all the time.  But during other seasons, there are nights in the Magic Kingdom when the Wishes fireworks and SpectroMagic will not take place.  Before you leave on vacation, get online at Disney's official site to see all four parks' hours of operation and what parades and fireworks displays take place.  One advantage to being on-property and having Park Hopper passes is being able to jump around from park to park, catching the wonderful special displays and shows.
5. "You've seen one fireworks display or parade, you've seen them all."  One of the families from our church made this mistake, though we told them, "Absolutely don't miss the night-time shows."  Epcot's nightly Illuminations is amazing, with lasers, fireworks, flaming water and great music.  The Magic Kingdom's "Wishes" will take your breath away (we like the lower eating area of the Plaza Pavillion, between Main Street USA and Tomorrowland for a nice, not-too-crowded view).  Also catch the SpectroMagic parade (if it runs twice in the night, the 2nd one is much less attended...stand in front of the Pin Trading shop in Frontierland - between Country Bear and the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon - for excellent viewing).  Fantasmic at Disney's Hollywood Studios is also spectacular, but can be frightening for preschool and early grade school children (arrive at least an hour early for decent seating...and beware of the "wet zone")...and the Pixar-inspired Block Party Bash parade is cute and a great way to catch lots of stars.  Even Animal Kingdom has a fun Jungle Jammin' parade in the late afternoon.
6. "We HAVE to go to the Magic Kingdom first for the kids' sake."  For younger kids, this can be a major mistake: The Magic Kingdom (especially Fantasyland) is a young kid's dream world.  If you go there first, there's a real risk of kids measuring the other parks at that same standard and being bored.  We suggest going to Epcot first (which still has lots of stuff for the kids...even in each country of World Showcase, there's crafts for the kids to do).  Then Animal Kingdom, then Disney's Hollywood Studios and finally the Magic Kingdom.
7. "Surprise Mornings and Extra Hour time isn't worth it."  Every day, one of the parks will either open an hour early for on-property Guests, or will remain open up to 3 hours later.  Especially in the summertime (but anytime, really), this is a wonderful way ride some of the parks' most popular rides without the super-long lines.  It's a great perk for on-property Guests.
8. We're in THIS park...We're going to STAY in this park.  While Surprise Mornings are great for on-property Guests, the park where Surprise Mornings take place end up being the most crowded park that day (since most resort Guests will go there and remain).  Go for Surprise Mornings, but then evaluate the crowds...it takes just 10-15 minutes to switch parks, and the decision could mean much less crowded lines.
9. "We have to see everything in 3 days."  I understand having to budget funds, but I would rather wait a few more months to have the money to stay at least a week than to rush rush rush, trying to fit in everything...it won't happen and you'll end up more tired at the end of your vacation than at the start.  Even staying a full week, realize that you're just not going to be able to take in everything Disney has to offer.  Settle that in your mind, catch what you can at a relaxed pace, and then plan to return in the future.
10. "FastPass isn't worth the effort."  I'm constantly amazed at how many people don't make use of this great time-planner.  Go to a popular ride early in the day and get a FastPass ticket for each member of your party; it will give you a ticket with a return time (an hour's spread)...return at that time to walk to the front of the line!  Look for shows and rides that have longer than a 30 minute wait time.  Once you've used your FastPass, you can get another one.  NOTE:  Most FastPasses sold on eBay are EXPIRED...and even if they're not, getting FAST PASSES are simple.  Save your money!

• BONUS:  "Just put it all on VISA or MasterCard."  If we don't have the money in our vacation account, we don't vacation...period.  Pretty much every time we're at WDW, we see some couple or family where the dad or mom is making a scene, screaming about "spending all this %$&# money, so you'd better @&+! enjoy that Mickey Mouse ice cream!"  How sad is that?  You're on vacation to relax, and if you're worried about money, you won't.  If this means postponing your Walt Disney World vacation a year while you save up your dollars, do it...it makes a world of difference.

Little Things to Make Your Stay "Magical"

There are pages of other ideas to help make your trip special, but that's where the Guidebooks, websites and all can help.  But here are a few final thoughts...

• In Animal Kingdom, do not miss "Festival of the Lion King."  Get there early for up front seating and your little ones might get picked to be in the show!  The "Finding Nemo: The Musical" is quickly becoming a challenge to "Festival" for its excellence...it too is a wonderful show - full of giant puppetry and songs - and is not to be missed!
• Also in Animal Kingdom, get your FastPass to the Expedition Everest rollercoaster ride and then do the Kilimanjaro Safari first thing (when the animals are more lively).
• If  someone in your party is a show-off, show up early for the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios (which is rumored to be closing in coming years).  Make a huge amount of noise ("Pick me!  Pick me!") when they're picking people and you might get one of your party into the show.  And catch the Toy Story Midway Mania very early in the day, as it's the newest E-ticket ride and guaranteed to be popular.
• Also at Disney's Hollywood Studios, if you want a nice air conditioned break for the kids (and not a bad show), catch "One Man's Dream" which is a mini-museum and short film about Walt Disney...a good place for the kids (or you) to take a 15-20 minute power nap.
• At Epcot, Soarin' is a must; so is Turtle Talk with Crush in the Living Seas, where Crush interacts with the audience in a technically amazing way.  Spaceship Earth has recently been renovated and is worth seeing, though not early in the morning when many people do it.  The Wonders of Life pavillion is now, to my understanding, closed...but if by chance you ever find it open, be sure to catch our all-time favorite, Cranium Command.  Also, The American Adventure highlights some amazing animatronics and gives a great history lesson about our country's struggles and successes (and is another good nap zone for youngsters).
• In the Magic Kingdom, It's a Small World is a great cool area in the afternoon (and it's been newly refurbished, so it's not as hokey as it used to be.  Mickey's Philharmagic 3D film is absolutely amazing (as with all 3D movies, sit near the back for best effect).  There are quiet nooks around the castle for some rest (if you search), and Tom Sawyer's Island is a wonderful place to let your kids burn off some steam while you sit and relax with an ice cold drink.
• In the evening, take the monorail and explore.  There's one monorail that goes from the Magic Kingdom through the Contemporary resort and to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts, as well as to a transfer point where you can hop another ride to Epcot.  The Epcot monorail actually goes into Epcot (a great site at night).  We make the monorail our first-thing tradition when arrives in Orlando.
• If you have the chance, explore the Disney resorts...different flavors, different features, lots of beauty and some of the best restaurants.
• Leave the rental car...if flying into Orlando (MCO) and are staying on-property, contact Disney a few months in advance to use the Magical Express Service.  You'll get special luggage tags and once you check in at your hometown airport, you won't have to touch your luggage again until you're in your resort room.  Disney takes care of getting your luggage and transporting both it and you to your resort (this is currently a free service, though there has been talk about them thinking about charging in the future).

If you find this article beneficial, please take a moment to mark it "HELPFUL" so that others will be able to read it more.  I have other articles on making the most of your time at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and several articles on Disney Pin Collecting as well.

Have a GREAT vacation (and don't forget to enjoy a Dole Whip in Magic Kingdom's Adventureland)...