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[HildeKitten]

wow this is quickly becoming quite the master-trip planning post
Good on you for starting it Tink!

[bad-pink-tink]

thanks HildeKitten

I just thought it might be handy for people who come here who have booked or are planning their first trip. It might just give the first timer a better experience so that they don't get disillusioned with the parks and come home angry and upset as what they experienced was different to what they expected.

Maybe some nice kind mod or admin might make it a sticky 

[Puffin]

I wish I had known how fun it was, so I wouldn't have waited until 2012 before going for the first time.

[michaelj1973]

My tips:
budget your money. As you can buy a lot of goods. And pay a lot on food.  So make a budget for every day and stick to it.

If your hotel offers breakfast eat much in the morning. Chocolate bread also make a good midday snack.

Buy in your own country some biscuits and some drink to take with you. As long as you don't bring a big cool box taking snacks  with you is allowed.

Bring a smile with you, don't let others take that of you. There are everywhere idiots and how magical disney is. They don't check on the gate for them.

If you go with children do the park at their pace. If they are sleepy go back to the hotel. That way it stays funny and enjoyable. There is not a lot of fun with a child that's over sleepy.

[michaelj1973]

At the entrance there are leaflets with the show times take one with you. They are in multiple languages.

[bad-pink-tink]

thanks michaelj1973 I have added them to the first post

[HildeKitten]

I think it's worth mentioning that you can make restaurant reservations in both English and French

[Mollieben]

Just got back from our second trip and my top tips would be:

*If you have a child under 6, consider hiring a stroller from the park entrance. I really wish we had done this as we had an overtired 5 year old for much of the holiday.... It is an awful lot of walking for a small child. Also you will then have somewhere to hang your bags!

*Take some tupperware from home and some snacks.  We brought some muesli bars from home and bottled water. We refilled them in the morning at the hotel buffet and I bought some of that little squeezy concentrated squash. We then packed some rolls, butter and ham from the breakfast buffet in the tupperware box for a light lunch. Food prices are high at dlp and we wanted to spend our money on the evening meal.

*Get in a queue for a big ride in the studios as soon as the park opens - they open their gates at 930am . We did this for Crush's coaster and were very glad we did as the waiting time didn't go below 70mins the whole rest of the week.

[bad-pink-tink]

thanks Mollieben and HildeKitten, both added to first post

[stifle]

Restaurants
Don't always eat fast food and buffets. (I did until 2014 when I got a free half board plus plan and have never looked back.)

The table service restaurants are a little more expensive but worth it. You can get a 2 course set menu for about €30 per adult and around half that per child at Blue Lagoon, Bistrot Chez Rémy, Walt's, Silver Spur, The Steakhouse, or Annette's. It's only a few euro more than the buffet but a more relaxed atmosphere and better quality food. And there's none of the queueing, pushing, or walking around for ages trying to get a table that you get at places like Toad Hall or Café Hyperion.

Parade tips
The parade takes a good 10-15 minutes to get to the park entrance so plan for extra waiting time if you view it there.

During parades, it's difficult to get between Fantasyland and Discoveryland other than by the Disneyland railroad, as it is all blocked off.

Thrill rides
Try everything once! You'll genuinely be glad you gave Rock & Roller Coaster avec Aerosmith/The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror/Big Thunder Mountain a try.
From a few minutes before

[amee]

our first and second time there it was very VERY hot, there was a heatwave in 2010 and summer of 2011 was also hotter than average, we spent a fortune on drinks and bottled water before realising we could fill up at the buffet any time of the day or night as there was a big one at the bar in the cheyenne, we were kicking ourselves when we found it and wish we knew sooner im not sure if all hotels have this and we werent too sure about the bathroom taps as it seemed to taste a bit strange also a stroller/ buggy is a great idea with kids up to even 5-6 years old and we got a buggy board which is a small attachment with 2 wheels and a platform that can hold the weight of our 9 + 5 year old while the 1 year old was in the buggy, i looked like a pack mule pushing it around but it recharges them for more walking and saves on tiredness and grumpy moods

[RockNRoller]

I once heard someone ask a cast member what time the parade started, the cast member replied with "It starts at 4 but get there early for a good spot". Sound piece of advice, turning up as the parade starts means you will be at the back of the crowd and only annoy people as you try and push to the front.
Also suggest to prevent sore feet take a good look at the maps provided, there are shorter routes than the signs around the park suggest.

[bad-pink-tink]

Thanks stifle, amee and RocknRoller, I added your tips to the first post

[bad-pink-tink]

Bumping this back to the front page as there are a few new members planning their first visit

[seraphelle]

Sore Feet
All that walking and standing means sore tired aching feet, known as Disney Feet At the end of each park day I always have fill the bath and soak my feet. Some people buy hiking socks, some people bring blister bandages. Having some over the counter pain relief tablets is also a good idea.

Take (in your hold luggage!!!) some Epsom salts. Really helps when soaking your Disney Feet at the end of the day and takes the aches away.