Need suggestions, it’s been a long time.

Hi All!

My last visit to DW was October 2009, with my now, late dh. We had an epic adventure that year, the trip report was titled “She Said - He Said”. Anyhow, my adult dd and I are planning our trip for May 2019, staying at the Port Orleans -French Quarter neither of us has stayed there before, so we want to give it a try. I feel like I’m just waking up to an overwhelming number of changes in the parks that I need to get up to speeding. I am beginning to read trip reports in that effort.

My question is- what do I need to know and what not to miss....
We will be there 6 1/2 days and are both diehard Disney park doers. :mickey:

Thanks in advance.

I don't even know where to start.

You must do, and get FastPasses for:

MK: Seven Dwarves Mine Train, eat at Be Our Guest
AK: Flight of Passage (New Avatar section)
Epcot: Updated Soarin'

I have yet to see the new Toy Story Land, so I cannot comment on that. Epcot hasn't changed much, other than a few updated rides, like Soarin' and Mission: Space (also haven't experienced). The updated Test Track is OK, but it just feels like a Tron overlay on the original ride, TBH. Once they add another pavilion, finish the new Ratatouille ride in France, and update the Canada and China films, and the scheduled update for Spaceship Earth (all of these are a few years off, I think), then that park will feel different.

Disney Springs is very different as well...at least, the West Side is. We always enjoy an evening of shopping and people watching there, especially if Ghiradelli sundaes are involved.

A lot has changed since 2009. Since there have been so many changes in rides, resorts etc as well as very significant changes in operating procedures such as Fastpass, I'd suggest you continue reading trip reports and other posts to continue to educate yourself to how things are now. And, given that it has been such a long time, I'd suggest you get a Disney guide book such as Birbaum's which will quickly show you what is new and different.

Good luck with your planning!!!

Disney Springs is remarkable now.. Totally different.

First, I would get yourself acquainted with My Disney Experience. You and your DD should make accounts on it and link them. Pretty much everything you do goes through My Disney Experience.
You will get a magicband which is linked to your My Disney Experience also.

Second, you have to book your fastpasses 60 days ahead of time - kind've like booking your dining reservations.

Third, the planning DVDs are gone, but you will find something similar to watch online through the Disney website which may help you see what you want to do.

The Flower and Garden Festival will be going on at Epcot then.
There is a new Pandora area in Animal Kingdom.
There is a new Toy Storyland at Hollywood Studios.
Downtown Disney has been revamped and is now called Disney Springs.

There is a lot of new stuff. I don't want to overwhelm you with too much.

Get the app. The only way to eat at a sit down restaurant is to make a reservation. I tried walking up to get a table, and it was like they didn’t know what to do. They couldn’t seat me without a reservation. So I got on my app, clicked for a reservation, and then they would seat me. The sad thing is, there were a lot of tables open around me.