Every Day is Magic!
Live, Love, Disney
20 Helpful Hints
01
Never Follow The Leader
When entering the parks, go the opposite direction of the crowd. For example, in Magic Kingdom we always notice everyone goes to the right or down the middle so we always head straight to the left, Adventureland! We know we'll get to everything eventually and this keeps us from waiting in long lines the majority of the day!
02
Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes
This may seem like a no brainer but quite frankly you'd be shocked how many people at Disney complain throughout the day because they've warn nice clothes that get wet or dirty or more than that, they wear uncomfortable walking shoes like flip flops or boots. Tennis shoes are key in my book!
03
Bring A Bag But Travel Light
Only take what you absolutely need to the parks. Your Magic Band doubles as a charge card and room key so you shouldn't need much. Take a small backpack or fanny pack that's easy to carry for things like ponchos so you don't have to carry them around.
04
Bring Your Resort Mug
The resort refillable mugs are well worth the money. You may not get free refills in the parks but you can get free ice water. This saves a bundle on drinks!
05
Ignore The World
Remember that this is a family vacation. Don't sweat the little things. It might rain, there might be lines, something might not go quite as planned. Lord knows that's happened to us multiple times! Shake it off, relax, find the silver lining and make the best of it! It's Disney World!
06
Saving On Souvenirs
Buy a couple souvenirs from your local Walmart, Dollar Tree etc to surprise the kids with. This will hopefully limit asking for too many souvenirs. Likewise, if you have driven to Disney stop by the local Walmart for a TON of lower priced souvenirs!
07
Take A Break
On our first trip we tried to do everything all at once each day. By the time vacation was over we were exhausted! Take time to relax at the resort. We have begun staying at the resort in the morning and going to a park in the afternoon or visa versa. Likewise, we try to book an extra day on the trip (money allowing) to spend the entire day relaxing at the hotel and visiting Downtown Disney. Just for some R&R.
08
Plan In Advance
I always make an itinerary for my family based on which parks we think will be less crowded each day. I then base my dining reservations around this. The way I see it, you can always change your mind once you get there but this keeps us from doing the old "what do you wanna do today? I dunno, what parks gonna be best? I dunno, lets look it up". I don't like wasting time :)
09
Book Now, Pay Later
Take advantage of the fact that Disney allows you to book with only a small deposit and pay the trip off 45 days prior to arrival. This allows you to book your dining reservations right at your 180 days mark to ensure you get what you are wanting!
10
If You Take Multiple Trips
If you plan to take more than one trip in a year look into to pricier ticket options. For example, if my husband and I had realized we'd be going in March we would have bought 7 day tickets when we went in September and added the no expiration option rather than buying 4 day base tickets. This would have allowed us to get our 3 day tickets for March at a cheaper rate. If you go more than twice per year, look into the cost of annual passes and weigh it again the cost of travel, room and food. You may find the price isn't bad at all! Especially with all the discounts that come along with the Annual Passes!
11
Two Words..Cosmic Rays
Although we listed Be Our Guest as our favorite quick service restaurant we have to admit, when it comes to getting more bang for your buck Cosmic Ray's beats any other hands down. Larger portions of food for the same cost as other restaurants general meals. For example, you can get a 1/2 and rib combo with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. for $15 or a qk service credit. This meal easily feeds two adults!
12
Pin Trading
I have two tips for pin trading. One is to buy your pins from Amazon and then trade them in Disney. or at the local Walmart in Orlando. Much cheaper. The second tip is to buy the cheaper pins in the parks and trade cast members for the ones you really like. No sense in spending a bundle on something you can trade up for right?
13
Free Drinks At Epcot
Take advantage of Epcot's Coca-Cola Cool Club. In this facility you can smaple soda from all over the world. Some you'll like, some you may not but it's nice to cool down and get refreshed for free either way and it's a fun experience!
14
Characters Meals vs Meet and Greets
If you are on the dining plan, don't waste your time waiting in long lines in the heat to meet your favorite characters. Book a couple of character meals like Chef Mickeys, Ohana, The Crystal Palace or Garden Grill and let the characters come to you!
15
Utilize Bell Service At Your Resort
Did you know bell service will store luggage for you? So if you arrive prior to check in or check out later than your designated check out time, let them store it for you so that you can have fun every minute of your trip!
16
Don't Forget About Free Fun
Did you know you can order a wake up call each morning or even a special event call? Not just any call, a Disney character call! Mickey and Minnie called to wish me happy 30th birthday! Then Mike Wazowski called to wake us up! It's a super fun free benefit for the kids! Just make sure they answer the phone or put it on speaker!
17
Disney's Memory Maker
If you are someone who takes and develops a lot of pictures and can't help but buy a photo or two from the photopass photographers in the parks the Memory Maker is a great option for you! With the Memory Maker you get ALL of you park, attraction, and even dining photos taken on your vacation. Plus, it can be hooked up to your Magic Band so you don't have to worry about carrying a card around with you! And if you book before you leave it only costs $149!
18
Two Runs Of Fantasmic!
If you are visiting Hollywood Studios on a night when Fantasmic runs twice, go to the second showing. Lines are often shorter due to parents who want to get their children back to the hotel sooner and people who want to "beat the bus rush" at park closing. Instead, use the first showing to take advantage of some shorter ride lines!
19
Single Rider Lines
If you don't mind splitting from the group for a ride or two, keep your eyes peeled for rides that offer "single rider" lines. This is where the cast members have seats to fill so they fill them with single riders. This is very beneficial on rides like Test Track where the line is usually very long and single riders are almost always needed.
20
The Kiss Goodnight
If you have stayed in a good seat for wishes and are now dreading the bus line from everyone trying to get out of the park, hang around! About 30 minutes after the park closes Cinderella's Castle will begin to twinkle. When You Wish Upon A Star begins to play and a goodnight message from the park is played. It's nothing overwhelmingly special but if you're wanting to avoid the bus line it may be worth it to hang around and watch.