Do you want to have a smoother Walt Disney World vacation? I am sure you do! Considering Walt Disney World takes up about the size of San Francisco, planning your way around the parks is a must! Even frequent Disney travelers like myself need to do a bit of planning. Even if you don’t use a hard core Touring Plan, or plan every meal down to the sprinkles on your Disney cupcakes during the 3 o’clock parade, some planning is necessary. So today I am going to share Ten Planning Tips to a Smoother Walt Disney World Vacation!
- Rent a stroller from Kingdom Strollers, or bring your own. The Walt Disney World strollers are bulky, uncomfortable, and annoying to others. I know that getting a stroller on and off the Disney transportation can have its challenges. But, the Disney Parks strollers are very cumbersome and it costs about the same to rent a comfortable stroller, that moves well along the park with a nice sunshade. Plus, they will deliver to you!
- Study the Disney Park maps before you visit. If you have not visited the parks before, or find that you are fairly unfamiliar with a specific park, the maps can be very helpful. It can be a waste of time to go from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom-when you could enjoy either more attractions in Tomorrowland or Frontierland before moving on. Much time and frustration occur when you find yourself criss crossing the park, and you’ll miss out on attractions right there in front of you.
- Schedule your FastPass Plus for early in the day. When the third one is used, or the time has expired on it, you can start getting another one. Try to time them for about two hours or so apart. This allows you time to enjoy the other attractions in that immediate area, as well as make it to the next FPP. The FastPass Plus kiosks are, for the most part, where the old FastPass machines were in the parks. Very easy to find and CastMembers there are always happy to help!
- Keep your family together. Do not, I repeat do not, send one parent ahead in line while you take the little one to the potty or park the stroller. This has become such a common thing at Walt Disney World lately. It is rude to others, and just doesn’t make any sense. Everyone can wait in line together. There really is no advantage to sending someone ahead, and expecting the others who are being polite, to be understanding when you cut in front of all of them to get to the rest of your family.
- Use the My Disney Experience App when you are in the parks. It is so nice! I prefer the web version when I am planning from home. But in the parks, the MDE App works well. Wait times are accurate, you can change/make ADRs from it, change your FPP, and all your reservation details are at your fingertips.
- Invest in an external charger for your phone. This is the best thing my husband and I packed for Disney. We were able to keep our phones charged in the parks. This allowed us social media opportunities, picture taking, and using the MDE App. It was so awesome!
- Allow yourself plenty of time to get from one place to another. Depending on crowds, park attendance, etc., Disney buses may be a bit sparse. You need to allow that wait time in your plans. It’s a good idea to allow yourself 90 minutes of travel time when traveling to a Dining Reservation or to the park.
- Stay on Disney Property. At Disney, time is of the essence. Staying on property allows you access to Extra Magic Hours, continuous transportation, and FastPass Plus pre selections really help manage your time well and take advantage of the perks on Disney property. Even the value resorts are comparable to the nightly rate at off site hotels.
- Allow yourself 5 or 6 days at Walt Disney World. When you are at Walt Disney World, there is so much to do! Plan yourself 5 or 6 days, with only 4 or 5 days of park tickets. That gives you a down day to enjoy your resort, the Downtown Disney area, or even miniature golf. Being in the parks every day all day is exhausting-and the magic is lost quickly! Take your time, and enjoy yourself.
- Plan on an afternoon break from the parks. For some families, the recommended break time is about three hours. I know that seems like a lot of time-but remember, there is waiting for the bus, travel time, walking to your room, and then actually resting. So that is about right. Even if you are a family with older children-or just two adults-a resort rest is a must for any fun and magical Disney trip.
Carrie believes that Disney travel is an experience unlike any other, and the best family memories are made at the Happiest Place on Earth. Book your next Disney vacation with Carrie at 937.209.9473 or carrie@destinationsinflorida.com. Mention this article on Chip and Co for a free gift when you book with Carrie!
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