PassPorter’s Disney 500: Fast Tips for Disney World Trips Giveaway

135 thoughts on “PassPorter’s Disney 500: Fast Tips for Disney World Trips Giveaway”

2. I’m a former cast member and I take that knowledge with me every time I visit with my family, but I do Google various spots of interest if I want to know more trivia, if there have been any changes, menus, all that. I like to be armed with knowledge.

3. I also do a google search for tips and hints, which gives something new to do when we are visiting, such as hidden mickeys, hidden gems in the park….super secrets that not many know about, it is just fun to learn something new each time we visit.

4. I also get tips from the Disney websites as well, as the chip and co one.

5. I get all my tips from friends and family that go there often.

6. I know that you wanted a comment about how we save for Disney, but we’ve
   never been able to go in the 18 yrs we have been married!  Now that our
   3 sons are 16, 13 and 12 we really want to be able to go before they
   are off to college!  We have been wanting to go to Walt Disney World for many, many years!  We save all of our change, but every time something comes up and we have to use that money for an emergency!  Hopefully we will be going next June…so, back to saving our change again!  I am open to any suggestions about another way to save with a 1 income family.  Since I discovered Couponing to Disney and all of the great advice and websites she has put me in contact with, I am beginning to see our vacation in the future. 

7. While we are in disney we always pick one attraction that we never wanted to do before becuase we though it may be boring and normally after we visit the attraction we are pleasantly suprised and add it to the list of attractions for next time

8. When planning a Disney Vacation I make a paper chain link to count down the days until our trip

9. Thanks for having a site to help with Disney info.

10. I love the ideas on how to  save for such a fun trip.  Thank you!!!

11. My famly is saving money for a disney trip right now. We take all the change we get and we each picked a letter that is on a dollar bill (example: Letter F and K )and every time we get one we put it with the change in a savings acct. we have been saving for 8 months and have just over $1000.  We really want to do stuff as a family and this is the only way we can afford it!

12. For my last trip, I was paying extra when making my car payment.  The extra monies was in my savings account and I would then take that extra money and get Disney Gift Cards and used those on my trip.  I had managed to save over $1,000 over a two year period and it really helped.   

13. For my last trip, I was paying extra when making my car payment.  The extra monies was in my savings account and I would then take that extra money and get Disney Gift Cards and used those on my trip.  I had managed to save over $1,000 over a two year period and it really helped.   

14. For my last trip, I was paying extra when making my car payment.  The extra monies was in my savings account and I would then take that extra money and get Disney Gift Cards and used those on my trip.  I had managed to save over $1,000 over a two year period and it really helped.   

15. Congrats Amy you are the winner!

16. Invest in the PassPorter’s guide to Walt Disney World when you decide to go to WDW. This guide gives you loads of info on everything in the “World”. There is alos a section to writ down your reservation numbers. It also has places to write down what you done on a certain day. That is great if you scrapbook. You can keep up where you went on what day and what Magical experiences you had. I Highly suggest this book to everyone.

17. Go resort hoping. If you havnt been to the other resorts, you may just find a resort you may want to stay at on your next visit. Check out their pools(but you are not allowed to swim in them unless you are staying there), lobby and gift store. Their gift shop will have merchandise that you may not be able to find anywhere else in the “World”.

18. I liked both on FB and shared the info. Thanks for the entries. I havent ever been to Disney. I dreamed of going as a child. Now my daughter is turning 7 and we have decided to all go for the first time ever. I know that I will be as bad as my daughter with wanting to do everything. THis book would provide some helpful tips!

19. When buying rain ponchos for your trip, buy an extra one for your stroller. If it looks like it’s about to rain when you’re heading into an attraction, drap the poncho over the stroller to protect it while you’re away.

20. Our family loves to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach of the Polynesian and my 5 year old loves the monorail, so after we arrive in Orlando and check into our hotel, we always head over to the Polynesian. We then ride the monorail around the loop of hotels, and end back at the Polynesian to watch the fireworks. It’s a fun way to begin our vacation and to soak up some Disney magic.

21. You don’t just have to experience the activities at your resort. You can also go to other resorts and do their activities. The campground has many activities to do like the campfire and petting zoo.

22. Some people may want to take a light jacket with them to the parks. Some of the indoor attractions may be a little cool for some people.

23. We always carry a large ziplock bag to the parks with us. In case of a summer rain storm, we put our camera in it and then, put the ziplock bag into our camera bag. This offers extra protection from the rain for our camera.

24. Don’t forget the sunblock!!!! Can’t stress that enough. The FL sun will burn you.

25. If you are on a tight budget and did not opt for the dining plan, to save money, adults can order a child’s meal at the counter service restaurants.

26. WDW is not a vaca to be lazy. Get up early and head to the parks before they open. You may be picked for Family Of The Day. If you are not at the parks early, you will miss out on a lot of rides and shows. The parks get more crowded by lunch and lines get longer. You can rest after lunch then head right back out to another park.

27. Before you go, hit your local dollar store and pick up some ponchos. The ones in the park can be $10 and hard to find on a rainy day. They also work great for wet rides like Splash Mountain if you don’t want to walk around soaking wet all day!

28. always talk to cast members at the stores, attractions, ect. you never know what insider infirmation they will tell or what type of disney magic they can provide

29. After fireworks in MK, you can cut through the gift shops along Main Street to miss the Main Street crowds heading toward the exits.

30. During the raining season be sure to cover your stroller every time you go into a building. We have went inside when it was nice and sunny and came out to pouring rain. We cover our stroller with a clear shower curtain and clip it with binder clips..nice and big and easy!!

31. During the raining season be sure to cover your stroller every time you go into a building. We have went inside when it was nice and sunny and came out to pouring rain. We cover our stroller with a clear shower curtain and clip it with binder clips..nice and big and easy!!

32. Before thr trip, I buy the glow sticks, either thr sticks, necklace or bracelets. When it gets dark and the parades start I bring them out for the kids. They play with them instead of wanting the cool glow toys they sell before the parade on the carts.

33. Before thr trip, I buy the glow sticks, either thr sticks, necklace or bracelets. When it gets dark and the parades start I bring them out for the kids. They play with them instead of wanting the cool glow toys they sell before the parade on the carts.

34. We definitely take advantage of fast pass…and the best news about fast pass is that you don’t have to use it during the hours on the ticket ~ just anytime after the start time.

35. We definitely take advantage of fast pass…and the best news about fast pass is that you don’t have to use it during the hours on the ticket ~ just anytime after the start time.

36. Rice Crispy treats are great snacks that can be thrown in your backpack. Even if they get smashed they can still be eaten without making a mess!!

37. Bring ponchos from home! They’re easy to carry and MUCH cheaper than having to buy them in the parks. You’ll be able to carry on without missing a beat!

38. If you’re traveling with a stroller make a sign with your family’s name on it (you can find templates on the DisBoards). This makes it easy to find after you get off rides and can help prevent someone mistaking your stroller for their own!

39. I bring small disney theme souvenoirs from home and surprise my kids with them on the first morning we are there. We set it up as if it is from mickey or tinkerbell. I usually include a cute personalized shirt, a book for autographs, some snacks, ect.

40. Store your autograph book(s) and marker in a plastic bag so it does not get wet. It also makes it easy to find when you are trying to get it out quickly

41. When we are visiting the parks, Mickey stops by our room and leaves the kids a special surprise (usually sale or cheap Disney items I have stashed before our trip). It helps stop the GIMMEs in the park if they know Mickey’s gift will be waiting!

42. Share quick service meals. And get all adult meals even if you have children so you have more food to share

43. We always pack a power strip to plug all our electronics in

44. Make your dining reservations exactly at the 6 month mark. If you wait too late you may not get the places and times you want!

45. To make WDW an adventure, have the kids try to find Hidden Mickeys. This will keep them busy. And when you find one, take a picture of it. When you get home, make an albulm just for Hidden Mickeys. Kids will love it.

46. If you are like me, you want the Disney T-shirts. Instead of paying big bucks at WDW, go just a couple of miles away from WDW to WalMart. They sale T-shirts and other souvinEARS at a much cheaper price. And they still have the Disney logo on their tags.

47. Wear Crocs. Crocs are very comfortable shoes. Most peopl wear tennis shoes but you don’t want to get them wet. Crocs can get wet and dry with in minutes. They may not be stylish but at WDW you want to be comfortable. If they rub your feet, wear socks. It is much easier to take a pair if socks to the parks with you than another pair of tennis shoes. Also Crocs are easy to keep clean. Just rub soap and water on them. I am always getting ice cream on them while trying to feed it to my kids. Just go to the restsooms and clean them. My whole family wears their Crocs to WDW.

48. Always go back to your hotel after lunch and cool off and relax. You and the kids will feel much better and the kids will be able to enjoy the rest of their day in the park and not be ill.And they will be awake for the fireworks.

49. Do not use your snack credits for drinks. Use snack credits for the more expensive items that can be a meal. You can get a muffin for breakfast, chili from Casey’s corner can be a lunch. Snacks are usually up to a price of $4. If you want a drink, use cash.

50. Get a Disney Visa credit card. When ever you make purchases, you earn Disney Dollars. I always use it to pay for my reservations then pay it off. When I get to DTD, I redeem my dollars and that is free money. You also get discounts using the card at some restaurants and shops.

51. There are several great grocery delivery services in Orlando and for a small fee, you can have all your staples delivered directly to your hotel. This not only ensures having healthy choices and snacks to keep the kiddos healthy & on an even keel, but that you won’t go broke buying bottled water!

52. If you plan on taking souvinEARS back home for co workers and family, save the Mickey shampoo, lotions, etc.. from your hotel room and give as gifts. These are fun gifts. You can’t just buy these in stores, except maybe eBay.

53. For those with little ones: most airlines will allow your carseat and stroller to be checked in at no charge…I find it much easier to have the equipment we trust and are used to with us instead of hassling with rental equipment. To take that option a step further, make a small investment in a travel bag for them, which allows you to toss in your shoes and other heavy items in with them instead of weighing down your suitcase and risking overweight fees.

54. Buy a spray bottle with a fan. These not only keep you cool but also keeps the kids occupied when they get bored waiting in long lines. You can get the bottles at WalMart for a lot less than at Disney.

55. On the rides, if there are two lines, always go to the line on your left. People usually automatically go to the right, so the left line is usually shorter.

56. On the rides, if there are two lines, always go to the line on your left. People usually automatically go to the right, so the left line is usually shorter.

57. Before you go into the parks, take a picture of your child on your cell phone. If you get seperated from your child, you can tell the Cast Members exactly what they look like and what they are wearing. Do this every day and every time they change clothes.

58. Before you go into the parks, take a picture of your child on your cell phone. If you get seperated from your child, you can tell the Cast Members exactly what they look like and what they are wearing. Do this every day and every time they change clothes.

59. For older kids and adults- Tell everyone in your goup a meeting spot if you were to get seperated. Don’t pick out a popular spot like in front of the castle. For example:EPCOT meet at the huge fountain just past Spaceship Earth. Don’t meet up at Spaceship Earth.

60. For little kids- Introduce your kids to a Cast Member when you get in the parks. Tell the kids if they get lost to go find someone like this person that wears this kind of name badge. The Cast member will be more than happy to talk to you kids so the kids won’t be afraid of them.

61. If you have kids, make a small tag with their names and your cell phone number. Laminate the tag and then attach the tag to their shoes. If they get lost and seperated form you, they will have their info for a Cast Member to get a hold of the parents.

62. Every person in your group wear the same shirt or wear the same colors. This makes a great pic. It also helps you keep up with the group.

63. Instead of buying the autograph books, take a picture mat. Have the characters sign it. When you get home, put a picture of the characters with the kids (and adults) in a framw along with the mat. The autograph books usually get lost through the years but the pic and mat can be hung up and you will always remember that Disney trip.

64. If you can’t afford the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, take your kids to the Barber Shop on MainStreet at MK. They can color hair and put sprinkles and glitter in the hair. They are much cheaper.

65. When you book your reservation, go start buying Disney gift cards every week or so. Before your trip, you will have saved up lots of money to use at Disney.

66. To help save money, get free samples from the internet and at stores before your trip. Collect samples like shampoo , lotions and sunblock. Take them with you and throw them away when empty. Saves money and space.

67. Make your dining reservations early in the day or late in the day. You will be able to enjoy the park with a little less crowd during the popular 12:00 lunch and the 5:00 diner. Those times are the most popular times for everyone to eat. So people will be eating while you can enjoy the rides.

68. Make your dining reservations early in the day or late in the day. You will be able to enjoy the park with a little less crowd during the popular 12:00 lunch and the 5:00 diner. Those times are the most popular times for everyone to eat. So people will be eating while you can enjoy the rides.

69. We watch yard sales for cheap strollers. That way if something happens to it, we don’t have to risk our big expensive stroller. Last year we found one for $5 and it worked amazingly. And then after we were finished, we left it in the trash at WDW and didn’t have to worry about lugging that thing back home.

70. Tip for the hotel. Take cut outs, strand of lights and other decorations to decorate your hotel room window. The kids and adults will love it. This is also a way to easily find your hotel room, instead of looking at the hotel room number. You may can even find those vinyl clings to put in the window. Put stuffed animals on the window seal. This is a very fun activity for the kids. Be sure to remember to take a roll of tape with you.

71. I always take advantage of the free glasses of ice water at the counter service locales.

72. There are sooo many strollers in the parks. To make yours a little different and easier to spot, tie a brightly colored scarf or some other piece of cloth around the handle. This will help you find your stroller after you get on a ride. The Cast Members are always moving the strollers around so your stroller may not be in the same spot that you put it.

73. ALWAYS check to see if friends or family will be going to WDW within the same month that I am and split the price of the pre-ordered photo-pass.

74. ALWAYS check to see if friends or family will be going to WDW within the same month that I am and split the price of the pre-ordered photo-pass.

75. we always invest in the park hopper ticket. it is worth it to us to be able to jump from one park to another if the crowds are heavy, or if it is raining. i do not care for AK in the rain, so we head to MK or Epcot, where there are lots of indoor things to see.

76. we always invest in the park hopper ticket. it is worth it to us to be able to jump from one park to another if the crowds are heavy, or if it is raining. i do not care for AK in the rain, so we head to MK or Epcot, where there are lots of indoor things to see.

77. we always invest in the park hopper ticket. it is worth it to us to be able to jump from one park to another if the crowds are heavy, or if it is raining. i do not care for AK in the rain, so we head to MK or Epcot, where there are lots of indoor things to see.

78. we always invest in the park hopper ticket. it is worth it to us to be able to jump from one park to another if the crowds are heavy, or if it is raining. i do not care for AK in the rain, so we head to MK or Epcot, where there are lots of indoor things to see.

79. we rent strollers from orlando strollers, to save money and to be able to use the strollers between parks.

80. we rent strollers from orlando strollers, to save money and to be able to use the strollers between parks.

81. my girls love to learn to draw from the animators at HS. this takes about 30 minutes, and is a nice, relaxing break, and quite interesting too. it also makes a wonderful free souvenir.

82. we always take drink mixes and ask for cups of water and then pour them into our water bottles with the mix.

83. Pre-Buy costumes on sale after Halloween for your kids to wear at the parks.

84. Pre-Buy costumes on sale after Halloween for your kids to wear at the parks.

85. Buy Ponchos before you leave home. The ponchos you buy from Disney will cost you $6. I found a local dollar store here where you can buy 2 for $1. This will save you lots of money.

86. Never miss the opening ceremony for the parks. This will really get you into the *Magical* mood and gets you excited.

    I have lots of tips. I need to write my own book. LOL

87. If you want to ride Toy Story Mania, get to HS as soon as they open, head to the ride and get in line then or get a FastPass (or do both). The line will get huge soon after opening and will stay huge. And the FastPass will sell out quick, usually before lunch.

88. Stay on Disney property. It is worth the money. You can ride the buses and not have to worry about driving through traffic and save on gas. Also save you from being in the middle of the crowd while trying to leave the park at closing when everyone else is trying to leave. And staying on Disney property means you are still experiencing the *MAGIC* even at night while sleeping.

89. If you plan on buying the PhotoPass, buy before you go leave your house. It will cost you $200 to buy at WDW but if you buy before you leave , it will cost you $99. You save 50%.

90. Always take advantage of FastPass. Get a FastPass for one ride then hop on to another ride or two then it will be time to head back and use your FastPass.

91. Do not wait till the last day to buy souvinEARS. I know this from experience. They may sale out of an item you are wanting and not restock it.

92. Do not go to the park with opening extra magic hour. Everyone will be at that park. Go to a park that is opening on their regular hour.

93. Instead of waiting in long lines to meet the characters, make reservations for character meals. You will spend some alone time with the characters to get great photos and autographs.

94. When it rains, put on a ponch and go out to the parks. It is less crowded. Great time to ride or go shopping. And in the summer months, the rain makes it a lot cooler.

95. Relax and have fun. You will not be able to do everything and sometimes you need to “stop and watch the magic”!

96. To keep kids from wanting everything they see at the parks, purchase Disney items before you go and suprise them everyday with a new toy. I have purchased lots of Disney items at our local dollar store.

97. If you need to carry items with you in the parks, use a clear backpack. You wil go through bag check a lot quicker.

98. When you have young kids, choose three things you really want to do for the day. If you get those done, be happy! If you get more done, that’s a bonus!

99. Pre-purchase the photo cd. It was worth the money to have no missing mom shots, not to mention all those magic shots.

100. Magic Shots. My kids LOVED seeking out the photographers and if they had any Magic Shots.

101. Have characters sign a postcard and send it to someone as a souvenir. Cheap and little kids love receiving mail.

102. Come to terms with the fact that you won’t be able to do everything. You need to pick your favorites and prioritize… but you need to leave some time unplanned. You can miss too much of the Disney magic if you’re too focused on a schedule.

103. We like to prepurchase the PhotoPass CD. You can get a much better price ordering the CD before you leave and even though we give the photographers our camera to use, it allows us to enjoy more without feeling the need we need to take pictures all the time. Disney has captured many precious moments we never would have gotten or thought to get.

104. Leave time to just explore your resort (and maybe a few others!). The attention to detail is amazing in and of itself.

105. We love going to the Epcot character spot to save time meeting characters. We get the main Disney faves and only wait in one line.

106. We try to dress everyone, especially the kids, in the same outfit. Easy to spot in a crowd, easy to remember what someone was wearing, and easy to show someone what they were wearing if your party gets separated.

107. I also like the idea of shipping groceries down there – no need to stop at a supermarket, no need to pay super high prices at the resort shop. We can have snacks/breakfast in our room and save some $$

108. I also like the idea of shipping groceries down there – no need to stop at a supermarket, no need to pay super high prices at the resort shop. We can have snacks/breakfast in our room and save some $$

109. If you can go left, go left – works like a charm!

110. If you can go left, go left – works like a charm!

111. You can buy small lots (of 25-50) of Tyvek wristbands on ebay and use them to list your cell phone number for your kids in case they get lost. These are the plastic wristbands that they use at amusement parks and concerts, and they will not come off unless you really want them to. A pack will cost less than $3, and you can draw and write on them with Sharpies.

112. Try to ride the most popular rides during the fireworks!

113. I load all of my planning info (ADRs, stroller rental confirmation, resort info) onto Dropbox and then use my smartphone to access the information on the trip.

114. My Best planing Tip is to use a Site like evernote to collect all the tips, hints, must do and other information into one location so that way you will have it all with you on your trip.

115. Did you know about the Disney Transporation collectors cards? There are 3 buses, 3 boats, and a number of monorails (some of the cards were retired last year, so I’m not sure how many there still are). I had a bus driver hand them all out to the kids on our bus. Before then, I didn’t even know they existed. If you want to start your kids collecting, all you have to do is ask. The bus drivers carry them, anyone who works on the monorail platforms, and we were able to get all of our boats at the information booth at MK, right when you get off of the ferry. Stopping there also meant that the whole crowd from the ferry walked right past us while we spoke to the nice man in the booth, and we had a nice, easy time of walking through the gates.

116. The night before a trip to the park, my family sits down and discusses the must see shows and rides. We circle those places on the map and pick which attraction we will head to first and which ones we should get fast passes for. It saves a lot of time and confusion that would otherwise occur when we reach the park in the morning.

117. Always leave a day or two in the middle of your trip to take a break from the parks. Either stay at the hotel and enjoy the pool or go hotel hopping and think about a new place to stay for your next trip.

118. Take a moment during the day to just stop and take it all in. Too many people are so busy going from one ride to the next that they miss all the little special touches that all of the Disney Parks have.

119. Before you leave your hotel in the morning take a picture of everyone so you know what they are wearing in case someone wanders off. Sometimes in a panic you may not remember what everyone had on.

120. If you are not using the Disney Dining plans, a great way to save some money is to split meals. Flame Tree BBQ, Sunshine Seasons, and Cosmic Ray’s, to name a few, all have huge portion sized meals that are more than enough for 2 people.

121. Another tip is when you are taking the monorail, go all the way to the last cars to ride. Most people won’t walk all the way to the back so your chances of getting a seat in the back are very good.

122. My favorite park tip,especially during the hot summer months, is to go see a show in the afternoon. Most of them last long enough to cool off and rest your tired legs and feet. Also drink plenty of fluids!!

123. Disney lovers already know this, but we love to make advanced reservations at our favorite restaurants 180 days before our trip. Eating at my favorite places at Disney World can’t be missed and its hard to walk in and get a table during summers when we go!

124. When packing, I put each kid’s outfit in a separate ziploc bag. I write their name and the date for the outfit on the bag. It includes shirt, pants/shorts, underwear, socks, and anything special for that day. Each morning we can quickly locate the bag and the kids have everything they need. It avoids spending time picking out outfits and figuring out what goes together each morning.

125. When packing, I put each kid’s outfit in a separate ziploc bag. I write their name and the date for the outfit on the bag. It includes shirt, pants/shorts, underwear, socks, and anything special for that day. Each morning we can quickly locate the bag and the kids have everything they need. It avoids spending time picking out outfits and figuring out what goes together each morning.

126. First thing after getting a photopass card, we take a picture of the back of it. That way, if we lose it, we still have the number to access our pictures.

127. To make your kids more interested in World Showcase at Epcot, buy them a Epcot passport. They are about $10 and you can find them in almost any gift shop in Epcot. It is a kit that includes stickers, passport, and a Epcot button. The kids get their passport stamped in each country. The cast members in places like Morocco, China, and Japan wrote the kids names in their respective alphabet or characters. My kids loved seeing their names written in the symbols of Japan and China.

128. We bring refillable water bottles with us for the parks. Fill them up the night before and when they are empty-most CS places will give you free ice water or we just fill up at a water fountain. That way we are not spending all that $$ on drinks.

129. If you are have a Chase Disney credit card, make sure to get your picture taken with the characters in Innoventions. You get a free 5×7 picture.

130. Bring a small collapsable cooler from home. It helps keep water and drinks cool at the pool and in the park.

131. Our kids do chores around the house and earn Disney gift cards. They know this is their only spending money in the parks. When it is gone…it is gone. This prevents arguements and teaches them to spend wisely!

132. We freeze water bottles the night before. They are nice and cold the next day in the parks.

133. We pack lots of ziploc bags. It is amazing how they come in handy in so many different ways.

134. We have many people go with us, and we rent a 4 bedroom villa off property but only 5 mins from the Magic Kingdom.

135. Also doing the more popular rides during lunchtime meant shorter lines.

136. I think one of the best things we did when we went to Disney World was get there early and go straight to the ride we wanted to do most, got a fastpass, then got in line. So we could pretty much do it twice in a row!

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