Disney ParksPlanningTips

Tips for a Quick Trip to Disney

Although we always love to have week-long vacations at Walt Disney World, that isn’t always possible. If there are times when we can sneak away for a quick trip, we are still going to take advantage of that opportunity to see the magic. Unlike our extended vacations, these trips take a little different planning.

If you want to experience the Parks in a few short days, there are some tips you will want to be aware of before you arrive. Let’s look at some essential tips for having a magical time during a quick trip to Walt Disney World.

TRON Entrance
TRON Entrance

Have a Must-Do List

Before you even head down to Walt Disney World for your quick getaway, make sure you know your goals for the trip. Make a list of your must-do experiences. Having these written down and planned before arrival will make your days in the Parks more successful.

You won’t be able to see and do it all on a short trip. Narrow down your must-dos by focusing on your top experiences. Having this list can help ensure that you won’t leave out any of those must-do experiences and will help everyone be on the same page.

When you enter Disney Park, knowing what you want to go will help you get the most out of your time.

Disney Skyliner and Disney Monorail
Disney Skyliner and Disney Monorail

Consider a Park Hopper

Guests can add a Park Hopper to their Walt Disney World tickets. This allows them to move/hop between the four Disney Parks after 2 p.m. Park Hopping can be tricky during a Disney vacation as it takes time to move between the Parks.

During a short stay, you might consider adding a Park Hopper to see more Disney Parks in less time. You can start your morning rope-dropping Magic Kingdom but then hop on to EPCOT to wrap up the evening strolling around the World Showcase.

Park Hopping during a short trip can be a great way to get those must-do experiences at all four Disney Parks. You can focus on hitting the must-dos at each instead of spending the whole day in one Park.

Park Hopping does take time, so consider that as you plan for the trip. If you go to Park Hop, think about hopping between nearby Parks. Splitting a day between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is easy with the skyliner. The monorail makes it easy to move between Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Also, if you want to utilize your time, consider ride-share options. Don’t forget that Minnie Vans are back as well.

Satu'li Canteen, Disney's Animal Kingdom
Credit: Disney

Skip Sit-down Meals

We love the table service restaurants throughout Walt Disney World. These restaurants provide extraordinary dining experiences and an excellent way to relax during a Disney vacation. When you only have a short time to be in the Parks, there might be better uses of time than a table service experience. These meals can last between an hour to two hours. If you are only in the Parks for a quick weekend, that is a big chunk of your Park time.

Instead of having sit-down meals during a quick trip to Disney, take advantage of the quick-service locations throughout the Parks and Resorts. These allow you to have a quick and delicious meal and then move on to your next adventure.

Don’t forget to use mobile ordering when eating at quick service locations. This feature is found in the My Disney Experience app and will save time. Guests can place their orders via the app, and then when their return window opens, they can have their food prepared, pick it up and be ready to enjoy. This is a huge time saver when the ordering lines at quick service locations get long.

Save time by eating and quick service locations during your short Disney trip, and use mobile orders to skip those long lines. Both of these will allow you to have a good meal without spending much time doing so.

Coronado Springs Pool Area
Credit: Park Savers

Use Disney Resort Perks

We are huge fans of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort during our vacations, but staying at one of these fantastic resorts is even more critical during a short vacation. You can take advantage of early entry by staying at a Disney Resort during your trip. This gives you thirty extra minutes each morning at any Disney Parks. Although this might seem like a little time, those thirty minutes can make a huge difference when getting ahead of the crowds.

If you stay at a Deluxe Disney Resort, consider planning your trip to take advantage of the extended evening hours. This gives Guests of these specific Disney Resorts extended time at night in specific Disney Parks.

These extra perks can be great during a short weekend as it gives you spare time in the Parks.

Adults at Disney, Magic Kingdom
Credit: Inside the Magic

Be Flexible

This is important during all Walt Disney World vacations, but it can come into play even more during a short vacation. If you have limited time to enjoy your must-do experiences, you must be flexible with your plans.

Rain storms could shut down rides for a while, wait times might be longer than expected, or you might need to hit the pool more than anticipated. The unexpected happens during all vacations, and Disney is no different. You can adjust when needed if you go in with a general plan.

Being flexible with your must-do list will allow you to have a more enjoyable trip and make the most of the special time together at Disney.

Quick trips to Walt Disney World are just as magical as those long vacations. These shorter trips need slightly different planning, and we hope these tips help you as you prepare for a fun, quick trip down to the magic.

 

 

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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