There’s something really special about your first time visiting Disney World…
I’m so jealous of people who are visiting Disney World for the first time. There’s something quite awesome about seeing the castle for the first time; feeling that little flurry in your heart that only comes with a first viewing. Don’t forget I also run a Facebook group called #CLROhana where you can come and speak with lots of lovely, like minded people who will help with any Disney World questions you may have!
10 Must Do’s at Disney World for First Timers
I get a ton of questions from people about what they ‘must do’ on their first visit so using my experience, I’ve written a list of 10 must do’s at Disney World for first-timers.
Get a First Timers Badge
It’s the worst-kept secret that Disney has guest badges for just about any occasion – birthdays, weddings, special occasions. But the other one they do is a ‘first visit badge‘ for you to wear with pride. First visit badges show cast members and other guests that it’s your first time in the park which can sometimes lead to an extra sprinkle of magic!
See the Night Shows at all the Parks
Each park has a night show – some even have two! Make sure you catch them all!
Magic Kingdom – Happily Ever After
Hollywood Studios – Fantasmic
Animal Kingdom – Rivers of Light
Epcot – Illuminations
Most start just before the park closes so check your show times on the My Disney Experience App.
Eat something Mickey Shaped
You’re certainly in the right place; sweet or savoury, there’s a Mickey shaped treat for everybody. My favourites are the Rice Krispie treat, the sugar cookies and the ice cream sandwiches of course! Other fan favourites are Mickey breakfast waffles and the famous Mickey shaped pretzel.
Have photos at ‘The Walls of Disney World’
If you’re an Instagram fan, you’ll have seen that ‘The Walls of Disney World’ have become quite famous in recent times even though many of them have been there for years. There are quite a few photo spots around the parks but the most famous ones are:
The Purple Wall – Tomorrowland Terrace, Magic Kingdom
The Bubblegum Wall – Exit to Spaceship Earth, Epcot
The Toothpaste Wall – The Seas (by the entrance to Coral Reef), Epcot
The Moss Wall – Exit of Flight of Passage shop, Pandora, Animal Kingdom
Watch Festival of Fantasy
The Magic Kingdom day parade is the stuff of legends and should be right up there on your first-time bucket list. Grab a drink or an ice cream and head to the parade route to grab a spot about an hour before the parade is due to start. There are limited shady areas so if you want one of those you’ll need to be quick!
Meet Mickey in one of his costumes
Did you know you can meet Mickey in all four theme parks? The best thing is, is that he’s in a different costume in each one which gives you an excuse to meet him over and over. If you want to see him in his ‘original thread, he’s at the Character Spot in Epcot. If you want to see him with Minnie, you can catch them in Animal Kingdom in their Safari Gear. Hollywood Studios has Sorcerer Mickey while Magic Kingdom has Magician Mickey!
Ride the People Mover
I couldn’t write my list of 10 Must Do’s at Disney World without including, The People Mover! The People Mover is one of the most classic and iconic rides for old-timers at Walt Disney World. In a busy park, the People Mover provides a moment of tranquillity. It’s also a great way to get off your feet for 5 minutes.
Visit One of the Water Parks
Disney has two water parks and if you’re there when they’re open it’s certainly worth checking at least one of them out. My favourite is Typhoon Lagoon but Blizzard Beach comes in a very close second! You can spend a whole day at a Disney water park, or you can just spend half a day there. There are rides, wave pools and sunbeds in the shade in case you feel like a nap!!
See ‘The Kiss Goodnight’
One of my all-time favourite things to do at Disney World is staying behind in the Magic Kingdom after closing and getting some photos on a quieter Main Street lit up to the nines. Another benefit of this is seeing ‘The Kiss Goodnight’ – the farewell show on the castle which is just over a minute long and is Magic Kingdom’s final wave off before you go home. It’s usually around half an hour after closing.
Take The Time to Stop and Take it All In
Disney World can be overwhelming on both the body (all the walking) and the eyes. Make sure you spend some time just taking in everything that is around you. Grab a drink and sit on the hub grass in Magic Kingdom, wander the World Showcase in Epcot taking in each countries culture, have a walk up The Boardwalk watching the street performers… Breathe it all in. There’s so much to see, don’t try and see it all – because you won’t so take some time to see whats around you!
So there you have it, my 10 must do’s at Disney World for first-timers. If you’ve been before, what would you add to the bucket list?
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