Disney World is said to be one of the happiest places on earth! Families from all over travel the distance just to spend their vacation enjoying the amusement parks, and gorgeous weather. It is not just families that visit the parks, though. Disney world brings out the kid in adults, too! There’s a lot of Disney Tips that you Need to know before you plan your trip though, they will help you save money and have more fun!
Many marriage proposals even take place in front of the magical castle, that makes for a memory that will last forever! However, Disney World is such a large park, and full of many visitors that there is never enough time to experience all of the magic. Here are twenty awesome tips and hacks that will make your future Disney World vacation extra magical. We have some great tips for your FIRST Visit to Disney World too – you won’t want to miss these!
20 Disney TIPS to Know Before You Go
#1. Saving money on dining isn’t that hard!
While you are researching about the parks, also be sure to check out the restaurants’ websites online. Look over their menus, and if you think the food sounds appetizing, book your reservation in advance, to guarantee a table. You can make reservations up to 180 days in advance.
We would eat breakfast at our hotel and take snacks with us to the park to hold us over until a later lunch. We would try to find something reasonably priced and smaller at lunch and then have a larger dinner later that night.
I’m kind of a foodie so I’m always on a lookout for the Best Food at Disney World.
#2. A secret for saving water…
You will want to stay hydrated while you are outside, however purchasing water at the parks can get very expensive. Save money by bringing your own refillable water bottle, and refilling it at the park. You can also get a free cup of water from counter service food spots if you simply ask.
I like to bring water bottles with filters so that we can fill them up at the drinking fountains around the park.
#3. Don’t forget to carry markers for autographs.
If you plan on getting autographs from your favorite characters, be sure to bring a Sharpie marker so that it will be darker, and more legible. Packing a couple of extras will not hurt in case you leave one behind.
#4. Don’t forget to rent a stroller.
Are you worried about having to bring your stroller on the plane, or leaving it in the stroller parking outside the restaurants, or while waiting in other lines? Rent Strollers from the park. You can even reserve them ahead of time.
#5. Grab a rider switch pass.
This pass is perfect for the family with a baby, and older children. Obviously, one parent will always have to stay off of the ride, to hold the baby. However, as soon as the ride is over, the rider switch pass allows the person holding the baby to swap with the adult that just went. This allows the other parent to get back on the ride with the older kids. No more waiting in line twice.
#6. Download the Disney App ASAP!
Download the Disney app to your smartphone. You will have access to maps of all the parks, the ability to make or change reservations, and even character wait times at the tip of your fingers, the entire trip!
#7. Bring in your own snacks!
You are allowed to bring light snacks, as long as your cooler is small enough. Make sure not to pack any glass bottles, and pack some paper cups, as you will not be able to bring in juice box straws.
We like to grab a few boxes of granola bars, fruit snacks and even some fresh fruit to throw in our backpack. Just remember NO CHOCOLATE – it will melt in the Florida heat! Finding out that we could bring our own snacks into the park was one of the BEST Disney Tips ever!
#8. Riding the Safari?
Do you plan to go on the Safari? If so, sit at the back! When you turn around to see animals that you missed you will have a much better view, instead of turning around to basically see other passengers.
#9. Buy Disney Entertainment gift cards at Target.
If you have a Target REDcard you can purchase Disney entertainment gift cards and get 5% off with your card. It may not be huge savings, but every little bit counts, especially when you are already going to be spending so much on your trip. Doing this will help you stay on budget at Disney World!
#10. Don’t forget to ask where your favorite characters are hiding.
If your little ones have their heart set on seeing Anna and Else, stop by the information desks. The attendants cantankerous a look at their tablets to find when and where to find all of your favorite characters.
Also, your kids might LOVE Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios but you need to know how to get them in so check out our post!
#11. Head to the back of the park, to get on the rides first.
If you arrive early, head straight to the back of the park as you enter the gates. Most people just want to get right on the rides, so they will jump in the first line they see, meaning the further back you go, the smaller the lines will be.
If we’re at Magic Kingdom, we like to jump on the train and ride it to the back of the park and start there.
#12. Go during the off-peak season.
Disney’s busiest times are when the kids are out of school. Avoid going in the summer or over winter break if you are looking to fight smaller crowds. January and September are great months to go.
We have gone during February and it was pretty quiet as well as the first week in December!
#13. Don’t wait until official dinner times to eat at restaurants.
Most people wait until the end of their day at the parks to sit down at the restaurants. If you want a shorter wait at the restaurant and possibly better prices, go earlier in the day, for your meals!
#14. Make your FastPass Reservations as early as possible.
You can do this 30 days before your big arrival. And you will definitely want to do this early, because everyone entering the park will have three free passes to reserve, just like you!
#15. Ride the popular rides, while everyone else is eating dinner.
At dinner time, the lines will be slightly shorter, because, well, everyone will be eating. So while everyone is sitting down in the restaurants, head over to your favorite ride.
Or skip the parades and ride the rides! Everyone is stopping to watch the parades so you’ll have shorter waits in line!
#16. Pack an extra pair of shoes for the park.
Shoes can take up precious space in your luggage, but your tootsies will thank you after a long, sweaty day at the park. Wearing a different pair the next day will allow your other ones to air out.
#17. Use your Fast Passes wisely.
It does not make much sense to reserve your FastPass in the morning when the lines are just beginning to grow. Use them during the busiest hours, to make the most of them.
#18. Don’t head to the Magic Kingdom for fireworks.
The fireworks display will be much more enjoyable if you are not scrunched next to tons of people. Instead of going into the Magic Kingdom for the show, view them from a distance. The Polynesian Resort is a great place to see them from a distance.
If it’s your first time to Disney, make sure you DO NOT miss the fireworks! I cry every time, they’re so magical!
#19, Get to the parks early.
You may be thinking that everyone is just as eager as you are, but in reality, a lot of the guests that stay on site are likely still sleeping, or just rolling out of bed when the parks open. Get to the parks early before they really start getting packed.
BEST DISNEY TIPS – If your kids want to do the Jedi Training you need to be to Hollywood 60 minutes before they open! Trust me!!
#20. Download Line Apps
There are a handful of apps out there that will tell you the estimated wait times for rides. This is useful if you have a short amount of time to kill before your next reservation. Matter-of-fact, this information is available right on the Disney App itself.
There you have it, 20 Disney tips that will help your vacation be even more successful!
BUY THESE THINGS BEFORE YOU GO TO DISNEY WORLD!
Portable Misting Fan – It’s HOT in Florida and the lines can be really long. These seemed crazy when on our first trip when I saw people using them but quickly realized that we needed our own!
Autograph Book – Instead of spending $20 for a book at Disney make sure you buy one ahead of time!
Disney Costumes – Especially if you have a little girl who wants to look like a princess! These costumes are quite expensive at Disney so do yourself a favor and get one before you go!
Portable Cell Phone Charger – I travel with these everywhere but especially at Disney because there are very few places to charge your phone and you may need it to locate your party if you split up!
