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Sometimes planning a trip to Disney World can be overwhelming, and the more people and age groups involved, the more overwhelming it can be.
After reading this post, you’ll know a bunch of “insider secrets” and quick hack to help you save money, time, and aggravation on your family’s Disney World trip.
But first …
If you feel like pulling your hair out because you can’t figure out where to find Rapunzel:
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* Disney World character restaurants
* Where to find them
* Which characters you’ll meet
All in one convenient, two-page printout!
1. Check the Crowd Calendars before planning your trip.
This may seem obvious, but not everybody thinks to do this, and it can make a huge difference in how much time you spend waiting on line during your trip. Here is a detailed Crowd Calendar for 2019.
2. The Unofficial Guide to Disney World is a great reference for planning your vacation. I’ve bought 3 different versions of this book over the years, and have referred to them again and again. We’ve had times where our family sat together in the living room while I read sections out loud, and of course I’ve read it to everybody in the car as we’re driving down to Florida. Not only is it easy to read and a great wealth of information, but it is laugh-out-loud funny in places.
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You also might want to check out my post on the best Disney World guide books and planners.
3. You can request a free wake-up call each morning from either Mickey or Stitch on the resort hotel phone.
4. If you decline housekeeping service at a Disney resort, they’ll email you a gift card for $10 each night of your stay. This has to be all nothing; you can’t, for example, decline service for just one day.
(On our last trip, my teenage daughters both gave me horrified looks when I asked them if we should take advantage of this. Needless to say, we ended up getting the housekeeping service.)
5. Sit in the middle of the monorail for quick and easy access getting out.
6. Arrive at the park before rope drop. Not only does this make a huge difference in avoiding crowds, but at the Magic Kingdom there is a sort of “mini-show” at rope drop that is fun.
7. If you are celebrating a special occasion, like a birthday or an anniversary, make sure to pick up a free celebration button at your resort hotel or in the parks from Guest Services.
You may get a little special treatment if wearing the buttons. Don’t expect free food anywhere, though, unless you are really lucky.
8. Don’t let closing time at the park keep you from getting on line for an attraction. Even if you get on line one minute before the park closes and the line is 90 minutes long you’ll still get to ride.
9. Take advantage of the single rider lines.
There are three rides with single rider lines:
Of the three rides, the Rock n Roller Coaster moves the slowest because of the way the ride loads.
If you’re at least 7 years old and don’t mind sitting next to a stranger, this is worth considering if you couldn’t get a FastPass — or just want to ride a second time.
10. If you accidentally break a souvenir you bought, Disney will replace it for free. Just go to the nearest store that carries the item and you’ll get a brand new one.
11. Avoid going to a park on the day that they have Extra Magic Hours.
Extra Magic Hours sounds great … until you realize that it sounds great to everybody else too. Avoid Extra Magic Hours, and you’ll avoid the worst crowds for that day.
12. Your shoes and socks can make or break your trip.
Believe it or not, you might walk up to 10 miles a day during your Disney vacation, and if you don’t have shoes that are up for the job, your feet will be hurting before the end of the day.
Avoid cotton socks (I personally like to wear these sandals and avoid socks altogether, rub some Body Glide on your feet every morning, and wear some sturdy shoes that are not brand-spanking new.
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If you really want to be kind to your feet, bring two pairs of shoes so you can switch out every day.
I go into a lot more detail in my post where I review the best shoes for walking in Disney World, but you can at a quick glance below some of the specific shoes that I recommend.
Saucony Women’s Triumph ISO Running Shoe
Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk SneakerASICS Women’s Gel-Venture 5 Running ShoeASICS Women’s Gel-Venture 5 Running ShoeKEEN Women’s Clearwater CNX-W SandalTeva Womens Women’s W Original Universal Premier Sport SandalSkechers Performance Womens Go Walk Pizazz Flip FlopSanuk Women’s Yoga Sling 2 Flip FlopSanuk Women’s Yoga Sling 2 Print Vintage Flip Flop
13. If you’re staying at a Disney-owned hotel, you can have merchandise you purchase in the park sent to your hotel. This is so convenient, because the last thing you want is to be giant stuffed animals and bags of mugs around the park all day.
14. You can request to sit in the front row of Soarin. These are the only seats where you can enjoy the view without seeing people’s feet dangling in your face.
15. Go back to your hotel in the mid afternoon. I almost didn’t include this one because I think of it as common knowledge, but I’m sure there is someone out there that hasn’t heard this yet, and it’s an important one. We almost always go back to our hotel at around 2:00pm for a nap and/or a swim, then head back out again for the evening. I’m sure there are people who stay at the park for 10+ hours straight, but I know I would be miserable if I tried it.
16. Consider using Uber instead of the Disney buses. We’ve never done this, but there were certainly times on our last trip where I wished we had. The buses can run late, take forever with all the stops, and you may have to stand up for the entire trip. If that sounds miserable to you, it might be worth paying for an Uber instead.
17. Bring a portable phone charger. You don’t want to have to spend time looking for outlets — or worse, have your phone suddenly die when you’re about to take a great photos.
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18. Take the time to learn FastPass strategies. Amazingly, there are people who go to Disney World without using FastPass at all, either because they don’t know about it or because they think it costs money, or you have to “be someone special” in order to use it. Spending just 30-45 minutes learning about how FastPass works, which rides are better to get a FastPass for than others, and making the reservations before your trip can save you several hours of waiting on line.
19. Kids under 3 years old don’t need a ticket OR a FastPass. This means if you’re planning ahead to when or if you should go to Disney with little kids, the ideal situation would be to go about a month or two before their third birthday and do everything you can to get them toilet trained before then.
20. Don’t forget about Downtown Disney Disney Springs. (Sorry, old habit.)
Disney Springs is particularly nice in the evening, when you’re had enough of the parks for the day. They have some great quick service restaurants (Wolfgang Puck Express and Blaze Pizza come to mind), several shops (my girls had fun shopping for clothes there on our last trip, while Benjamin always loves the Lego Store), and live music. We’ve particularly enjoyed taking the boat there and back when we stay at Port Orleans. It makes for a pretty and peaceful outing.
I found these tips for Disney Springs at Undercover Tourist:
21. Get a Frogg Togg Cooling Towel. These really do work, and there’s great not only for staying cool, but also protecting your neck, back, and shoulders from the sun.
It’s worth noting that on our last trip, Rob borrowed my Frogg Togg towel for a while and then decided he wanted to buy his own. The parks sell a different brand of cooling towel, and he said that, while it was better than nothing, it definitely did not get as cool as my Frogg Togg did.
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22. If you want to ride Flight of Passage in Pandora but don’t enjoy standing in line for 3 hours, get to Animal Kingdom 80-90 minutes before the park opens. Yes, that’s right — arrive over an hour before it open. (BTW, someone might have told you that the Disney buses don’t start running until an hour before the park opens. This is NOT true.)
23. Consider doing some Pin Trading. My daughter Rebecca got really into this on one of our trips. We bought this pin starter set from Amazon before our trip, and she was constantly keeping her eyes open for trading boards and cast members with pins. It made the trip really fun for her, was a nice way to interact with Cast Members, and is much cheaper to do it that way that to just buy pins you like at the park.
Why are they so cheap? Because, technically, they are “scrapper pins.” Do we care? Nope.
24. Buy things on Amazon and have them shipped directly to your hotel. This is particularly helpful if you’re flying and/or if you want to avoid paying a fortune for things on Disney property.
Some items you might want to consider having shipped are:
Make sure to include the word “Guest” with your name in the shipping address.
Snow Queen CostumePrincess Belle Layered Costume DressPrincess Snow White CostumeDisney Pluto PlushDisney EeyoreDisney Baby Winnie the PoohDisney Mickey Mouse Plush ToyDisney Bambi PlushDisney Tigger Plush Toy
25. Be nice to all the Cast Members.
This may seem obvious, but I’ve heard stories (and seen a couple scenarios) where guests just let loose on a cast member.
(Of course, I know that you, one of my wonderful readers, would ever do such a thing … but let’s take a moment to talk about it anyhow.)
There are a few good reasons to be nice to Disney cast members.
26. The shops in the Emporium on Main Street are all connected. Walking inside through is a great way to travel down Main Street quickly, especially if it’s raining or you’re trying to beat the heat.
27. Sit on the left side of your boat in Pirates of the Caribbean to get the best views.
28. Take advantage of the Walt Disney World Railroad. This is a nice change of pace from walking all over the park, and is a ride in itself. There are stops in Adventureland, Fantasyland, near the front gate. When my son Benjamin was a preschooler, riding the train was one of the highlights of the trip for him (along with riding the monorail).
29. The parade is a great time to ride the most popular rides. On our last trip, we rode both Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad during the afternoon parade with hardly any wait time at all.
30. Ask the cast members at the Haunted Mansion what their bats are named. If gives you something to do while on line, and some of the names are clever, ie “Batness Everdeen..”
31. The “Lame Rides” are great for taking a break.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (um, let’s just call it the PeoplMover) and The Carousel of Progress may not sound as exciting as some other rides in the Magic Kingdom, but they’re both a nice way to rest, cool off, and take a tour of Tomorrowland. Plus the lines for them are almost non-existent.
This is a pretty funny video by Jenny Nichols that talks about all the “Lame Things” she loves to do at Disney World:
A Disney trip is almost never going to be a “budget vacation,” but there are several things you can do to make it less expensive.
32. See if you qualify for discounted tickets.
If you’re active military, a AAA member, or a Florida resident, you may be eligible for certain discounts. You can read more details on discounts here.
33. Skip Memory Maker. The PhotoPass photographers will be happy to use your phone or camera to take a picture for you, which makes it hard to rationalize spending $169 on Memory Maker. If you’re torn, check out my post Is Memory Maker Worth It?
34. Consider camping at Fort Wilderness. Um, yeah, I’m a city girl and am unlikely to do this any time soon (and one of my daughters would definitely raise holy heck if we even suggested it). But if you’re into camping, you can save a bundle and still get all the benefits of staying on property.
35. Buy Disney gift cards entertainment cards at Target.
If you have a Target Red card, go to Target and buy up a bunch of Disney gift cards — you’ll get 5 percent off with your Red Card. (Target classifies these as “entertainment cards,” not actual gift cards. This can add up to quite a bit of money if you use the cards for merchandise, food, and parking.
36. Purchase your souvenirs at Disney’s Character Warehouse. There are two locations: one at the Orlando International Premium Outlet and the other at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlet. This can be a huge money saver on Disney merchandise; I have heard of families literally saving of hundreds of dollars by doing their shopping here.
37. Collect pressed pennies for cheap souvenirs.
There are many pressed penny machines around the park that crush a Disney-themed design into pennies. Not only is it fun to keep your eyes open for them, but it’s a way to get cheap souvenirs. You can use an empty M&M’s mini tube to stack layers of two quarters and one penny so you’re not fumbling around for change all day. If you like, you can buy a book to organize your pressed pennies after the trip.
Disney Parks Tinkerbell Pressed Penny Collection BookWalt Disney World Pressed Penny Book Collection Album
38. Buy your park tickets from Undercover Tourist, an authorized seller of discount Disney World tickets.
39. Skip Park Hopper tickets. Don’t get me wrong — Park Hoppers are great, but definitely not necessary. Skipping them and just getting the Base tickets can easily save your family over $200 without creating any real hardship.
40. Save on multi-day stroller rental by prepaying online.
There’s a discount for prepaid multi-day Disney stroller rentals. Stroller rentals at Disney parks are $15 per day for single, or $31 for double. When you purchase online, your price drops to $13 per day single or $27 per day double.
41. Another alternative is to buy a cheap stroller and have it shipped to your resort. I know if I were flying to Disney World, I wouldn’t want to be hauling a couple stroller around the airport. Buying an inexpensive umbrella stroller and having it waiting for you when you arrive is cheaper and easier than renting (and the stroller they rent at the parks are cumbersome and uncomfortable-looking, anyway).
Disney Winnie-the-Pooh Umbrella Stroller with CanopyDisney Pink Umbrella Stroller with BasketKolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Stroller with Multi-Positon Reclining SeatWonder Buggy Jumbo Umbrella Stroller with Rounded Hood
42. Pack a picnic lunch to bring into the park. You can save a bundle (and probably eat better, too) if you take the effort to pack a lunch, especially if have a large family.
Foods that work well include:
Don’t forget to bring plenty of ziploc bags, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and plastic utensils, and pack it all up in a sturdy, reusable grocery bag like the one below.
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Some of the best spots to picnic at are Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom (one of the most underrated attractions in Disney World), the picnic tables behind Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom, and various spots in Future World in Epcot.
43. Plan A Non-Park Day.
If your vacation will be, say, 6 days long, consider getting park tickets for only 5 days and having a “non-park day” in the middle. There’s plenty to do for an entire day without setting foot in a Disney park. In addition to hanging out at the hotel pool, you can go to Disney Springs, ride the monorail and visit various resorts, walk along the Boardwalk, and in the evening watch Wishes (the Magic Kingdom fireworks show) from the beach at the Polynesian Resort.)
44. Counter service meals on the Disney Dining Plan come with a drink, but you can ask for side or a snack in its place. This is especially handy if you have your refillable resort mug with you.
45. Signature Restaurants are a poor use of Disney Dining Plan credits. A Signature meal costs two Table Service Credits, but it almost never going to be twice the price of a regular meal if paid out of pocket. Just something to keep in mind.
46. If you want to have the amazing milkshakes at 50’s Prime Time Cafe but don’t want to eat an entire meal there, you can get just a milkshake at the Tune In Lounge located in the same building as the restaurant. These milkshakes are fantastic, but also huge, so I would recommend getting just one for two or three people.
47. You can get free unlimited soda at Epcot’s Club Cool. Located in Future World, Club Cool offers samples of different Coca-Cola products from around the world. It’s also air conditioned, which is a nice plus.
48. Ordering a kid’s meal or splitting a counter service meal between two people is a great way both to save money and avoid wasting food. There is no rule against an adult a kid’s meal, so you don’t have to be sneaky about it.
49. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you can order a regular OR a large fountain drink at counter service restaurants. They will automatically serve you a regular-sized drink unless you specifically ask for a large.
50. If you’re on the Dining Plan, don’t feel limited to ordering soda for your drink option. Not only are alcoholic drinks included in the Dining Plan these days, but you can usually also get a smoothie or a shake, which is both more interesting and a better value.
51. Don’t waste your snack credits on stupid things. I would personally define “stupid things” as bottled water, bananas, or Rice Krispie treats (although my kids might disagree with me on that last one.) Just a few of the much better choices would be a Napoleon at the France Pavilion, a Dole Whip in Adventureland, or a S’mores Cupcake at the Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian Resort.
52. Some snack credit menu items are really more like a meal. You don’t have to use a snack credit on something sweet. The Fried Rice at the Yak and Yeti, Ham and Cheese Croissant at the Boulangerie Patisserie, and the French Fries with Pulled Pork and Cheese at Flame Tree Barbecue each would make a decent lunch.
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is an annual food festival that typically runs from August or September to mid-November. (At the time of this writing, the 2019 dates have not been set yet.) You do not need to pay extra or get a special ticket; entrance to Epcot automatically gets you entrance into the Festival.
The Festival includes food booths in the World Showcase, live concerts, and culinary and beverage demonstrations.
Our family was at the 2018 Food & Wine Festival, but my kids were more interested in riding Test Track and Soarin’ for the second time and finding a good spot to watch Illuminations than they were in the Festival, so all I managed to grab were some Vegan Greek Nachos.
If, unlike us, you’re planning to truly “do” the Festival properly, here are some tips:
53. Bring a tray. Yes, this sounds totally dorky, but if you are going to be doing some serious eating and drinking, you’ll want a tray (something like this)so you don’t have to constantly juggle all those little cardboard dishes all day long.
54. Make a plan of attack before you go. Get familiar with the layout of the Festival before you arrive, and consider going past the front, most busy booths and starting further back. Check out some of the menus beforehand and come up with a “must eat” list.
55. Use your snack credits if you’re on the Dining Plan. Some of the food booth samples cost as much as $8, which makes using a snack credit here a great value.
56. Get a Festival Passport. These are free and available all over Epcot. They include a detailed menu for each booth and stickers that you can use to keep track of which booths you’ve visited. Not only is it a great guide, but it makes a nice free souvenir.
57. Try to avoid the heaviest crowds. Easier said than done, but there are a few strategies you can take that will help. Visiting the booths from around 11am-noon, and then again from 4-6pm is probably your best bet. Also, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will most likely be the least crowded days to visit.
I hesitated to include this section because it seems a little condescending, as if all seniors are decrepit and incapable of either walking through the park or riding anything other than “It’s a Small World.” (Personally, I hope I’m still screaming my head off on the Rock n Roller Coaster in 20 years.)
I’m sure there are senior that can easily leave 30 year olds in the dust during a day at Disney. Being 65 years old (which, of course, is seeming less and less old to me as the years go by) doesn’t mean that you need a motorized car and a hearing aid — and, at the same time, there are plenty of 25 year old who needs to refrigerate their medicine and use the handicapped parking.
Still, with that caveat, I’m sure these tips will be helpful for someone out there, so take them for what they’re worth, regardless of what age you are.
58. Consider signing up for a behind-the-scenes tour, especially if you anticipate spending a lot of time waiting for the other people in your family to ride roller coasters. You find more information on them here.
59. Handheld captioning devices are available for the hearing impaired. You can pick up your handheld device at Guest Services and enjoy the captioning device free with a refundable credit card charge upon its return. You can even hang it around your neck for convenience.
60. Get a scooter if you need it. If you require a bit of assistance getting around the park – Disney rents electric scooters to park guests. There are also independent scooter rental companies in Orlando that will deliver a scooter right to your hotel, both on or off Disney property. If this sounds silly or unnecessary , keep in mind that you may be walking 10 miles a day in the Florida heat.
61. If you do bring a wheelchair or ECV of your own, most of the Disney buses can accommodate them. If a bus arrives that is not equipped, the driver will contact transportation on your behalf.
62. Special parking at Disney World’s theme parks is available for those with disabled permits.
63. All Disney Resorts have a small fridge in the room, which is helpful if you have medication that needs to be refrigerated.
64. All Disney Resorts have handicapped accessible rooms. If you have a special request, be sure to make it before arriving at your resort.
65. Take the heat seriously. The Florida sun can be brutal, especially in the summer months. Get plenty of water, take breaks, wear hats, and use plenty of sunscreen.
EltaMD Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 for Sensitive SkinBlue Lizard Australian Sunscreen – Water Resistant Sport Sunscreen SPF 30+Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 100+
Now I want to hear from you. What are some of your favorite Disney vacation hacks and tips? Let us know in the comments!
Ultimate Walt Disney World Trip and Travel Hacks List!
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* Disney World character restaurants
* Where to find them
* Which characters you’ll meet
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When one of my daughters was about five years old, she was obsessed with mermaids. She would wrap blankets around her waist to give the effect of a mermaid tail (we didn’t know at the time that they make special blankets just for this purpose), […]
Are your kids learning about ocean animals and sea creature at home or at school? Is your family planning a trip to the beach? Do your kids just think that sharks, dophins, and jellyfish are pretty cool? These are all great reasons for your kids […]
Do you want to:
— just by whipping up something in ten minutes that barely cost any money?
Then you need to check out these 12 sensory activities!
In addition to being fun (and keeping a toddler out of trouble for a relatively long period of time), sensory activities help kids with:
Instead of adding plain rice to your sensory bin, why not make Rainbow Rice? Not only does it look more fun, but it will help your toddler learn and recognize primary colors. Glow in the dark toys are always a big hit with kids. This Glow in the Dar Sensory Bottle is simple to make and provide lots of fun, non-messy play and entertainment. Feeding wild ducks bread is a controversial issue ... but you can safely feed your ducks all day long with this Duck Pond Sensory Bin. This Bubble Foam is super easy to make and provides hours of entertainment. Are you looking for a slime recipe that easy to make and taste-safe for toddlers? Then look no further. This recipe for Edible Slime only requires two ingredients. So many people -- including me -- love the smells and feels of autumn ... so why not create a Fall Nature Sensory Bin to enjoy them more? The great thing about this sensory bin is that most of the items you can just find outside. Did you ever make homemade fake snow, only to be grossed out by the smell of it? Well, you won't have that problem with this Unscented Fake Snow Recipe. You can have kids can play with this snow by itself, or add it to an existing sensory bin. In the mood for some fun messy play? Just grab a tarp (or go outside) and let your kids go to town with this Jello activity. Looking for something similar to sand, but less messy and safer for infants and toddlers? Here's a simple DIY Moon Sand that your toddler can even help you create. This Garden Sensory Bin is a great way to let your toddler "play in the dirt" without destroying your garden. This No-Mess Indoor Sandbox is the ultimate toddler mom hack that provides hours of indoor sensory play. Have you recently received flowers for Mother's Day, your birthday, or just because you got a good deal on them at Costco? Put them to good use when they start to fade and make this Flower Sensory Soup.
Sensory Activities for Infants and Toddlers
1
Sensory Play Rainbow Rice
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momwifebusylife.com
2
Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle
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momwifebusylife.com
3
Ducks Pond Sensory Bin
Photo Credit:
www.tootsmomistired.com
4
Super Crazy Bubble Foam (with a secret ingredient)
Photo Credit:
rootsoftruth.ca
5
Two Ingredient Edible Slime (Without Borax or Glue)
Photo Credit:
theplaybasedmom.com
6
Fall Nature Sensory Bin
Photo Credit:
thegrowingcreatives.com
7
Unscented Fake Snow Recipe
Photo Credit:
momscollab.com
8
Jello Sensory Play for Infants and Toddlers
9
DIY Moon Sand
Photo Credit:
allaboutbabyblog.com
10
Garden Sensory Bin
Photo Credit:
thegrowingcreatives.com
11
No Mess Indoor Sandbox For Toddlers
Photo Credit:
gluesticksblog.com
12
Flower Sensory Soup
Photo Credit:
www.livinglifeandlearning.com
Nothing makes a better Mother’s Day gift that something that was hand-made by your child. These 7 Mother’s Day crafts are simple, cute, and kids will love to make them. Many of them require nothing other than crayons or markers and cardstock to print them […]
This group of the best toy garages for toddlers make playing with cars extra fun, particularly for little boys, who in my experience are always fascinated with them. When my son Benjamin was very little, he loved toy cars and trucks more than anything else. […]
What gift do I want the most on Mother’s Day?
Those are all perfectly fine gifts (especially the massage). But what I really want more than anything is some genuine, specific appreciation.
Something more than just, “Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks for being a good mom.”
Rather, something that really makes my kids think a little. What do they really appreciate about having me as a mom?
Well, you can find out by using these “I Love My Mom Because” printables. (Maybe give them to your husband to give to the kids — you know, make it a little less obvious.)
I made them in three slightly different designs so you can pick the one you like best. Or maybe give each kid a different design!
Just click on each image to download and print.
Enjoy reading the answers. Happy Mother’s Day!
I Love My Mommy Because…The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Mom!I Love Mom with The Very Hungry Caterpillar (The World of Eric Carle)Biscuit Loves Mother’s Day (Biscuit)
Planning a unicorn-themed birthday party? Well, all birthday parties need cake … or cupcakes. Or both. Here are 8 ideas for homemade unicorn cakes and cupcakes. While they all look amazing, many of them are more easy to make than they appear. Several involve using […]
