So you have made the decision to go to Disney! WOOOOHOOOO! Your whole life is about to be filled amazing amounts of magic and wonder. But what if I told you there are little teeny things you can do to make your next Disney vacation even MORE magical than ever before? Well, here are 10 fantastic ways to do just that.
#1 Free Vacation Planning!
Find a use a FREE Disney vacation planner. That’s right. Bring in a professional! These people make it their business to know the ins and out and ups and downs of Disney vacation planning. They can help you plan as little or as much of your vacation as you like. Your personal Disney Vacation Planner can help you choose travel days based on crowd calendars, choose and make advance dining and FastPass reservations based on your preferences, help you navigate through resort, ticket, and dining package choices, all the while watching your reservations for new promotions and discounts that could save you more money…all for FREE! Now that is MAGICAL!
#2 Make a plan!
The thought of an overly planned vacation doesn’t sound like a lot of fun to some people, but neither does standing around in super long lines or not being able to find a place to eat dinner. When it comes to Disney, a little planning can take you a long way. So make some dining reservations. Make those FastPass reservations. These things are there to make your vacation more enjoyable, not to make it less fun. There are even websites to help you make full blown step-by-step itineraries to help you maximize your time in the parks. If you are an uber-planner, websites like ChipandCo offer an endless supply of information that can help you navigate every little detail of your next magical adventure.
#3 Stay on site!
Staying in the Disney “bubble” certainly has its advantages!! Here are just a few of amazing perks you get for staying on Disney property: make your FastPass selections 60 days before you arrive (instead of 30), Extra Magic Hours, free parking, Disney’s Magical Express, and all of the awesome and amazing activities you can find at your resort like movies by the pool and children’s clubs! Plus, you don’t have nearly as far to drive to get to the parks and you get to live the Disney life 24/7 for the duration of your vacation!
#4 Travel off-season!
Go when crowds (and prices) are low! September is great because most children in the US are starting back to school. Those two weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are pretty fabulous too since everyone is waiting for the holidays. The biggest rule of thumb to remember…school breaks= big crowds and big crowds=big prices. It’s no coincdence that promotions like Free Dining are available during slow times of the year.
#5 Early Dining Ressies!
Ever wanted one of those super fantastic pictures in front of Cinderella’s Castle without everyone else in the whole world in your picture? The key is to get those early morning breakfast ADRs (reservations) at Crystal Palace, Be Our Guest, or Cinderella’s Royal Table inside of Magic Kingdom. You get to enter the park way before anyone else, so the earlier, the better! When can you make these reservations? Dining reservations start at 7am CCT (Cinderella Castle Time) 180 days BEFORE your vacation even starts.
#6 Get those FastPasses!
A FastPass is like a reservation for a ride. The popular ones like 7 Dwarfs Mine Train go super quick. But without a FastPass the wait time for this ride and others like it can really eat up a good portion of your day. FastPass selections begin 60 days before arrival for guests staying on Disney property and 30 days for off site guests. So as soon as your window for selection opens, get those FastPasses!
#7 Be a Rope Dropper!
In this case, the early bird really does get the worm. Being at rope drop, or a park’s daily opening, can help guests in a lot of ways. First, most people don’t want to get up early on vacation so crowds are naturally a bit lower first thing in the morning. Second, those rides you couldn’t get FastPasses for may have much lower wait times first thing in the morning. If you are at rope drop you can zoom right on over to the things you didn’t get FPs for and then move on about your day.
#8 Ship it in advance!
Breakfast bars. Snacks. Toiletries. So much of this you can order in advance and have shipped to your resort before you even get there! For dry goods you can order from Amazon.com (especially if you are a Prime member) and have all of your stuff delivered right to your hotel! That’s great way to cut down on luggage! I always have full sized shampoo, toothpaste, and sunscreen shipped ahead so I don;t have to check (and pay for) and luggage at all. Need milk? Sandwich stuff? Beer or wine? Try Gardengrocer.com! They will deliver all types of groceries to your resort for a small fee. And since all Disney Resort hotels have those awesome mini-fridges, you can have quick breakfasts in your room and save those dining/snack credits for something more fun like a Dole Whip!
#9 Plan some “down” time!
When going to Disney most people want to fit in as much as possible during their vacation. But it’s important to schedule some time down time. Whether it’s a daily afternoon nap or swim or even a full down day, plan some time away from the parks. Yes, AWAY from the parks. All of the Walt Disney World Resorts have some amazing amenities. Take some time to enjoy them! From resort theming to pools to dining each resort has its own special personality. So, spend some time exploring your resort. Enjoy the pool. Rest. Relax. Recharge!
#10 Stay Hydrated!
This seems pretty simple, but people can get a bad case of the grumpies super quick when they get dehydrated. Even when it’s not hot, you’ve got to drink up while in the parks. You are walking way more than you think! But, there’s no need to lug around those heavy water bottles or have to jockey them around on rides. If you find you are thirsty simply walk up to any quick service food location and ask for a free cup of ice water. It’s that easy. The best thing in life really is free! Even at Disney! This may be the simplest (yet most important) Disney hack EVER!
BONUS: Want even more insider tips and info to help you experience Disney in the most magical way possible? Let me, or one of my fabulous friends at World of Magic Travel help you plan your next magical Disney adventure! Whether it’s Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines, Adventures by Disney, or Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa, we can help you design your biggest Disney dreams. Visit me at www.letgoonvacay.com or www.worldofmagictravel.com.
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