Hi all,

I have a good friend who is planning a trip to WDW for the first time in many years, later this month, and he asked me to put together some hints and tips for him. After I wrote my email to him I realised it would make a great article! So here it is - enjoy!

So first off let me start by providing some really useful links that I hope will help you, and then I'll write my bit :)

The first set of links are to the individual park pages on our website. Each page has lots of character greeting info on it, but to get more detailed information about a show, attraction, land or anything else just click on it and it will take you to another page.

Walt Disney World Main Page
Magic Kingdom main page
Epcot main page
Animal Kingdom main page
Hollywood Studios main page
Hotels dining main page

I thought it might be useful to you if I linked the Walt Disney World collections pages on my Flickr and Jon's so that you can find them easily.

My Walt Disney World Flickr Collection page
Jon's Walt Disney World Flickr Collection page

I shall also link here my trip reports page for Walt Disney World in the event you want to read those for reference. They might give you some useful hints and tips.

First off, hiring a car - if you have a car please use it. Walt Disney World transport from resort hotels is slow and gets very busy. You always need to allow at least an hour when getting between places if you decide to use their system. Monorails aren't so bad, but can also get busy. The busses are slow and inefficient. As a resort guest you will get free parking so that is no bother.
When you park at the parks, they are all very well sign posted and the resort roads are generally very good to drive on.
When you have parked your car at Epcot, Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios you will have two options - walk or take the tram. When it is busy, it is probably just as quick to walk, as at those three parks the parking lots are more or less at the park entrances. If you got there early enough you should usually get a good spot near the front. Trams are more useful for the back. At the Magic Kingdom it is a different story.
Parking at the Magic Kingdom is an experience in itself! The parking lot is vast and is situated across Seven Seas Lagoon from the park. You cannot walk it. There is no bus. You have to first either walk to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) (if you are parked close enough), or take a tram to the TTC. Once at the TTC you then have two options, to take a monorail or a ferry. If running a normal service, technically neither should be faster than the other, and run all day everyday constantly back and forth.
Ok, I think that has parking and driving covered!
Now to the parks themselves.
The Magic Kingdom is vast and open in comparison to what you are used to at Disneyland. There are wide walkways, large open concourses and the hub is significantly less crowded. This is nice when it is very busy as the park does not feel so cramped. The downside to its size is that sadly there are too many open areas, and much if the park feels sparse and unthemed. Large open areas of concrete and rather flat facades, along with some rather dated buildings and areas makes the Florida park the least desirable of all the four Jon and I have visited. The best attraction in the park is probably Splash Mountain. Splash is vastly superior to the CA version. Other attractions are either copies or worse. The attractions upkeep can be lapse, with animatronics looking unloved and worn. Peter Pan's Flight is probably the best example if this. The attractions in the MK that have like for likes in DL are overall less themed, less pretty and are actually shorter rides too (Pirates of the Caribbean being an example of this).
So why do I mention all this? Well seeing as this is such a big trip to a lot of people, time is probably better spent focussing on the other three parks that are unique to WDW. Based on a six day trip I would allow for probably a day and a half Magic Kingdom. Spend a whole day then either a morning or an evening thru afternoon. Both have their benefits. Mornings can be good for the cooler weather and shorter lines. Evening is nice again for the same reasons, but the park is prettier at night than in the day. If the park has late opening hours, and you don't mind staying up, then evening would be my recommendation. A good tip here is that unlike the other parks at both WDW and round the world, the character meets still run at night right up until closing. The princess hall of fame and Pixie Hollow are best at night, with the lines being a fraction of what they are in the day, and more often than not no line at all! They normally close the line an hour before park close and the characters will remain until the last guest has been met. In the past Jon and I have literally walked through the fairy line, exited and gone straight back round again to the princesses! The lines for both are in the same place.
Other notable characters that you will probably want to meet in the MK are:
Main Street - Citizens, periodically throughout the day.
Adventureland - pirate Goofy by Pirates of the Caribbean.
Frontierland - Davy Crockett Donald Duck (cute hat and jacket).
Fantasyland- Peter Pan behind the castle near Tinker Bell's Treasures.
Toontown - as I mentioned already, the fairies and princesses. Note that Vidia has now started meeting in Pixie Hollow.
Tomorrowland - Stitch near the Carousel of Progress. Chip and Dale in cute space outfits near the Tomorrowland Stage.

Other noteworthy attractions besides Splash in the MK would probably be the unique ones that you don't have in CA. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, the Carousel of Progress and Stitch's Great Escape are all in Tomorrowland. Of all three, the CoP is probably the best one.
If you're feeling deathly serious and patriotic, then the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square, but Epcot's American Adventure is far superior.
In Fantasyland I would definitely make an effort to see Mickey's PhilharMagic. I love this show and recommend it to everyone.
There really are no other unique attractions or others worth making a special effort for. You of course will want to see the parade, which for the most part to all who have seen it, is pretty dire. I don't know anyone in FL of all our friends who have any affection for this parade whatsoever, but for you it is new, and is good to see at least once for pictures I guess.
Also in the day don't miss Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! This can be quite fun, has some very unique characters in it which I'm sure you have never seen before (Sebastian and Lumiere for a start!) and happens multiple times a day round the hub. The best place depends on which characters you want to focus on. The best place to stand for an overall view is in the central hub itself (I.e. Where the partners statue is) so that you can easily move between the sections while they are dancing in the street. When it ends it will make a circuit round the hub and all the characters will pass by the castle on the floats, which makes for good picture opportunities.
The only other thing that I would recommend, and this is probably the biggest one of all, is to see Dream Along With Mickey at the castle stage. It is a really neat show, has lots of characters and is great for some pretty pictures. Again, happens multiple times per day.

Now to Epcot!
First off, Epcot is massive. It is easily double the size of the MK. You should probably spend at least a day and a half in Epcot, if not two days. But we'll go with a day and a half for now, as a day and a half per park equates to a six day trip.
In Future World, unique experiences that I would recommend are:
The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends - a beautiful attraction and exhibit not to be missed. If the ride has long lines then the exhibits can still be reached by entering thru the gift shop :)
The Land - nothing exceptional here (Soarin' is identical to DCA) except the whole area is rather unique, and the boat ride is relaxing and educational.
Imagination - Figment!! Never a wait and fun to ride.
Spaceship Earth - interesting and different, that's all I'll say.
I would also say if you have time visit Test Track and Mission Space (green version is less intense). Although cool and unique, they probably aren't too spectacular enough for you to dedicate any special amount of time. Maybe fastpass them.

In World Showcase I would recommend the Mexico boat ride and the Norway boat ride. If you are feeling like an intense sugar coated American history lesson then head to the American Adventure, though it does take the best part of an hour of you day!!
My only other advice for World Showcase would be to just wander round, take in the exhibits and unique perspective each country offers.
To meet characters at Epcot, head to the Character Spot where you can line up to meet all the Fab Five in one hit. Epcot also hosts WDW's Visa meet, and this can be found in Innoventions on the same side as the Character Spot.
Round World Showcase you can meet:
Donald Duck in his Mexican finest, in Mexico (shocking I know!)
Mulan and Mushu in China
Random pals at the American Adventure
Snow White and Dopey at Germany
Marie, Belle and Beast and Aurora in France
Mary Poppins and Alice in the UK
Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie in Morocco

No characters normally meet in Japan, Italy, Canada or Norway. Characters also do not meet in World Showcase outside of the Char Spot.

At night be sure to catch IllumiNations: Reflections if Earth. It is a lovely show, and can be viewed from anywhere around World Showcase that has a view of the water.
A piece of advice regarding opening hours of Epcot. The park, basically forever, has operated the following times:
Future World 9am - 7pm
World Showcase 11am - 9pm
So basically, no last minute dash for Mission Space or anything before park close, or while everyone else is watching IllumiNations!
They do sometimes offer EMH, but not always. Extra Magic Hours tries to be spread evenly between the parks, but usually Magic Kingdom fares best, with longer times and more frequently.
A word on EMH by the way. EMH can be used by any resort guest at any park during their stay, providing that park has it that day. No need to choose in advance and you aren't restricted to just the "once times one hour" like in California!

Click here to continue reading Part Two, to read about Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

Dan :)