Plans on visiting DisneyWorld in Orlando, Florida, in the coming months? You can never start strategizing too early. You’ll have tens of thousands of fellow travelers, as well as four theme parks and two water parks to contend with.
Seeing it all requires careful planning. In the following article, we’ll be covering the 10 tips that will help you make the most of your trip. Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
1. List the Rides and Attractions You Absolutely Have to See
DisneyWorld is comprised of theme parks, water parks, rides, shopping, restaurants, and varying attractions. You could spend weeks there and not come close to experiencing everything.
Most families only have a few days or a week to pack it all in. And while it’s true that not every feature will be your cup of tea, you’ll find enough where time could become an issue.
Therefore, sit down and make a list of the parks you want to visit, the rides you must ride, and the other attractions you cannot leave without experiencing. Doing so allows you to break down how you will spend each day, and it will allow you to plan out contingencies.
2. Stock Your Carry Bags
For your Disney vacation to go smoothly, you’ll want to bring a certain number of items yourself. That could mean ponchos and umbrellas for rainy days, plenty of water bottles for those hot walks from ride to ride, and snacks so you don’t have to spend all your time in lines whenever the kids get hungry.
Of course, you’ll need your bags checked as you enter the park. That only takes a few moments, though, and the Disney staff are the friendliest people on Earth. Snacks and water will also keep you from exhausting your budget in the first day.
3. Arrive Early
It’s not a bad idea to arrive 45 minutes to one hour before the park opens. DisneyWorld’s pre-pandemic attendance was around 57,000 per day, and those numbers are now steadily increasing after a reduction to 35 percent capacity in 2020.
That means crowds of people and more lines. Getting there early will allow you and your brood to get off on the right foot by not having to stand around just to get inside.
4. Keep Tabs on Tickets and Specials
Your Disney holiday can be purchased through a number of options. You can buy a one-day pass, an annual pass (worth it if you’re going there multiple times per year), a four-day/four-park pass. It’s worth it to lock down good deals as they become available because the options are always in motion.
You can always look into the option to sell your DVC later if something comes up that doesn’t allow you to go. (And might even make a healthy profit doing it!)
If you can handle the cooler weather, you might plan a DisneyWorld trip for October or November. This time beats the summer and holiday rushes, resulting in more ride experiences and less time standing in line for stores and restaurants.
5. Employ the Disney Staff
Another great way to make the most of your DisneyWorld vacation is to realize what tremendous resources are at your disposal with park staff. They’re friendly, don’t mind taking photos for you and your family, and can help first-time attendees adjust to the sometimes overwhelming nature of the park.
They also know the answers to all park-related questions, or are at least never far from connecting you with a solution.
6. Download the Disney App
Before your big family break to DisneyWorld, it kind of goes without saying that the Disney mobile app is essential. The app allows you to modify your stay as needed, see attraction wait times, and make reservations so you’re not always having to depend on chance to experience all there is to experience.
Disney’s app can also provide push notifications that help you stay on top of any news related to DisneyWorld. Particularly, it’s useful for communication regarding vital changes and information that can affect your itinerary.
7. Break Time
At last count, DisneyWorld was over 40 square miles, which places it close to the city of San Francisco in size. If you planned on traversing that in just four days, then you and your family would have to be ready for four, 10-mile jaunts, likely with bags and strollers to boot.
In other words, it’s exhausting. You’ll need to find time to take breaks. That means looking ahead to see things like where you’re going to eat, how long waits are, where shaded areas are, and anything else that can help you save time and grab a breath or two.
Remember that your major objective is to have fun and create memories. You can’t do that with your tongue dragging the ground.
8. Know Where the Indoor Rides Are
Indoor rides like the Little Mermaid experience or Star Wars Tours are particularly wonderful because they can keep your family vacation on track whenever it rains. And in Orlando, it rains a lot!
These rides can also bring welcome relief if you and your other weary travelers are struggling to make it to dinner time under the hot sun. Always leave some space on your itinerary to take in one of the indoor attractions, and you’ll be able to re-energize.
9. Remember Where You Parked
Failing to remember where you parked when beginning your Disney excursion is a sure way to get off on the wrong foot. Energy levels wane near the end of your day at DisneyWorld, and the last thing you want to do is be hunting down your vehicle when your legs are too tired to move.
Take special care to note where your parking row is in relation to the rest of the park. Consider taking a picture with your phone to assist.
10. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
It may be a small world after all, but don’t sweat the small stuff. You might not get everything you’ve planned for the day accomplished.
With a plan for each day, though, you can make the necessary adjustments and get as much checked off your list as possible. If you don’t quite pull it off, there’s always next trip!
Visiting Disneyworld Is the Experience of a Lifetime
Visiting DisneyWorld is certainly an experience you and your kids will never forget, but it doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-lifetime deal. The park isn’t going anywhere, and the company makes it easy to adjust your plans on the fly.
Use the suggestions here before planning your next trip, and you will be happy with the results. For more travel tips and information, check out some of our related posts!
