15 Disney World Tips From Someone Who Has Done It All

Let's Recap! 15 Disney World Tips From Someone Who Has Done It All

1. Always Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel guarantees you free transportation to and from the parks, other resorts and Disney Springs. While you may be saving some money by staying off property, you’re missing out on some great conveniences.

2. Don’t Waste Your FastPass on Rides You Can Stand to Wait In One of the biggest mistakes guests make when going to the parks is wasting FastPass on rides that don’t require them. This is not to say that there are only certain rides that have lines and the rest have no wait; that’s not true. Certain rides that have higher popularity than others meaning that the wait time is going to be longer and more substantial.

3. Bring Your Own Water Bottle Regardless of the time of year you go, you’re still going to fall victim to the Florida heat and humidity. My recommendation is to bring your own reusable water bottle and fill it up throughout the day.

4. Ride the Big Rides Late in the Day It can be hard to wait until 8:00pm to take a ride on Splash Mountain or whirl through space on the iconic Space Mountain, but from experience, it’s best to do so if you want to cut back on your wait-time.

5. Plan to Visit the Hidden Gems of Disney By whizzing through the parks in an effort to get to the next attraction, chances are you’re missing a lot of the magical touches Disney has to offer. As much as it may not sound like fun to take a leisurely stroll throughout the parks, it’s necessary to discover how much thought these Imagineers really put into the parks.

6. Watch as Many Shows as You Can It should go without saying that the shows in Walt Disney World can’t compare with the rest of the outside world.  They’re not only entertaining, but a great way to cool off and get some rest from walking around the parks.

7. Try the Famous Foods Around the Park Do your research and be sure to try their iconic snacks like a turkey leg, Dole Whip, churro and Mickey-shaped ice cream bar! They make for great photos, too!

8. Make Restaurant Reservations I’ve had many trips where I’ve stuck to a budget and tried to economize my meals. There’s nothing wrong with it, but at least once on every Disney vacation, you should make a reservation to eat at a fancy restaurant.The one thing you’ll discover is that, while the meals are pricer than what you’d find at Casey’s Corner on Main Street U.S.A, there are still affordable options starting at $15.

9. Spend a Day at the Pool It goes without saying that the pools at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel are beautiful and unique to your hotel’s theme. You’re spending the money to stay at one of their lovely resorts, so get your money’s worth and actually enjoy it! You’ll feel rested and ready to start your day at the parks again.

10. Opt for a Park Hopper Instead Regardless of your itinerary, paying the few extra dollars for the Park Hopper option is worth it. It enables you to plan your day uniquely, allowing you to have breakfast in Magic Kingdom, lunch in the World Showcase in Epcot and finish off the night with the Rivers of Light in Animal Kingdom.

11. Skip “Lame” Experiences I hate to call any ride or experience in Walt Disney World “lame” but the truth is that there are areas that are in need of desperate renovation.  Don’t waste time on these attractions that could be spent on something else.

12. Link Your Credit Card to your MagicBand Linking your credit card to your MagicBand has a several benefits. One, it makes purchasing so much easier and eliminates the risk of leaving your card on the counter. Secondly, though, it eliminates the need to bring your purse into the park. If you’re like me, you’re lugging your bag with you.

13. Book Your Trip Early I’ve done spontaneous, last-minute trips and while fun, we couldn’t get into any of our favorite restaurants or get a FastPass for popular rides - in our case the Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom. By booking your trip early, it gives you the opportunity to book dining reservations and FastPass selections in advance.

14. Order Personalized Gifts for Your Stay Whether this is a first visit, an anniversary, birthday, graduation or honeymoon, Disney offers personalized gifts you can order to surprise your children or significant other.

15. Purchase Disney’s Memory Maker It gives you access to every photo taken on rides such as Splash Mountain, but different photo opportunities across each and every park. It’s a great way to download and share with friends and family all the magical memories you made in the Happiest Place on Earth.