The best advice I can give is advice that would do me a lot of good if I'd use it more. Ready?

Practice every day for about 15 minutes. You can go longer if you want, but decide that you are allowed that little amount of time and stick to it. I have always made the most progress when I do this. By setting a minimum time that is easy to find (while my wife is showering, for example), I know that I can succeed in my practice routine every day. And that little bit of practice makes a huge difference when it comes down to actually learning to play my pipes. If you can't be sure of 15 minutes a day, perhaps you need to unplug the computer and TV for a week. I am often shocked when I think how much time I waste on message boards instead of learning to play music better...

I don't have time for this, but I'm doing it anyway.

Beyond that, just enjoy the music and enjoy the process of learning it. There are lots of frustrations in learning any instrument, so be ready to say something like "gimme your best shot - I can take it." If you love bagpipe music and have a reasonable sense of rhythm, you should be able to learn to play well.

Also, have an idea of whether you want to be a solo piper or a band piper. You can always switch focus later on. There are several members of the local pipe band who seem not to have wanted to be anything other than band members. I personally prefer to play solo, though I am working on the band tunes so I can be a more well-rounded piper. But my personal focus is on playing for my own pleasure.

And when you get your pipes, here's a line that inspires me:
"It is supposed to be hard. If playing bagpipes was easy, everyone would do it."

Welcome to piping!

-Patrick