Planning a Disney trip can be daunting and once you get to the park it can be overwhelming. Disney is not the type of vacation where you can plan last minute or not plan at all. I’m not an expert by any means and to be honest, I’m still learning our family’s Disney way. With that said, there are a couple tips we’ve picked up along the way that we thought was worth sharing and hopefully will help you through your future Disney adventures.
- Disney Travel Agents are FREE, so if you’re not a planner use one. Disney World is not a place you should go without upfront planning. There are so many to choose from (e.g., Enchanted Escapes Travel, Key to the World Travel, Pixie Vacations).
- If you have a Target Redcard you can purchase Disney Gift Cards at a 5% off discount. You can use these cards throughout the park on souvenirs, food, snacks, etc.
- Each park has a First Aid/Baby Care Center, so if you have little ones OR accident prone ones, it’s always good to know where to go.
- Strollers not just for babies and toddlers. If you plan to stay a good amount of time at the parks and you have kids under the age of 8, I would get a stroller. It’s a lot of walking for an adult and so if you want to enjoy your time, it’s best to keep the kiddos happy. There are a lot of Stroller Rentals services available outside of Disney. We typically use Kingdom Strollers (kingdomstrollers.com). They deliver to the stroller to your Disney resort and you just return it to the front desk when you’re done. You can use it throughout the parks, resorts and Disney Springs. The strollers we’ve always received have been City Minis; the quality cannot be beaten. You also get a rain cover and cooler (which you can detach). You can also order a case of bottled water, which we do every time.
- Mobile Ordering allows you to skip the line for food. There are now several locations that hare mobile ordering accessible, (check out the My Disney Experience app for details). You can order your food/snack via the app and once you’re ready to pick up – skip the line and grab your order at the mobile pick up location.
- Fast Passes are continuously being updated, so even while you’re on your trip, keep your eyes open.
- If you have a little one that is below the height limit, Rider Switch/Baby Swap service is available. A Rider Switch ticket allows you to use the FastPass line for up to 3 people.
- Character Meet and Greets are only allowed to meet people for 20mins at a time, so plan your time and ask the cast member so the littles are not disappointed.
- Minnie-van service pickup from the parks is not at the same location as the Taxi Pick-up (or Lyft/Uber). Each park has a designated location, which is less congested, allowing for the more efficient way to get in and out of each park
- If you’re planning to get on a ride at rope drop, come 30-45mins before the park opens. Lines build up quickly before the park opens.
I think the biggest word of advice I could give, takes your time and relax. I know it’s cliche, but so true. Don’t rush, I know Disney for some is a once in a lifetime trip, but if you rush through it, you’ll miss out on the magic. Just walking around and tasting new snacks with our kids, seeing their smiles and just the amazement in their eyes (when they see something for the first time), is so gratifying. Trust me I know, you want to get the most out of the trip because it’s so much $$$$, but if you rush through it and stress about getting to the next ride/place/character, you’ll miss out on the most important part….having fun and experiencing the magic.
And with that, we hope you’re having a magical day!