STRESS - FREE PARK PLANNING
Best Disney Vacation Ever: Our Favorite Tips & Tricks for Making it Magical
A Disney vacation is a big investment - money, time; it’s also full of your greatest hopes for making memories with the people you love best. Most guides and blogs will share tips on how where to eat or the best place to see the fireworks or when to get in line to see your favorite characters. We have all of those tips and more and love to share them. But today we’re giving you something more - something we think is especially valuable.
These are our best Disney tips and tricks from decades of travel - with kids, on honeymoons, with friends, with the whole family…you name it. Here’s how we make the most of our time at Walt Disney World (or Disneyland) and actually manage to make it relaxing too.
This is one of our most valuable tips, especially if you’re traveling to Florida or California from a cooler climate or during the heat of the Florida summer (or spring…or fall…) Take it from us: 90 degrees in Florida in August is not 90 in Pennsylvania. The intensity of the Florida sun cannot be overestimated.
Don’t get us wrong: we think any time is a good time to visit Disney. But preparing for heat they way you would for rain or other other conditions is a smart way to start your trip. Here’s how we prepare for our annual visit to Disney in July and August:
Hydration.
Seems obvious but you’ll be mighty busy at Disney and most people don’t notice the dehydration until they’re…well…cranky (what are you looking at us for?) Bring lightweight, refillable water bottles that are easy to open, won’t spill in your bag - and keep filling them. You’ll thank us (this is a marathon, not sprint).
Cooling towels and misting fans.
These work, they’re portable and lightweight, and they can be a lifesaver. Even a few minutes of relief in the heat can give you the boost you need to ride Rise of the Resistance one more time.
Give yourself a break.
Classic wisdom says start early, stay late and in between, skip the afternoons in the park for pool time and naps. We couldn’t agree more. We’ll also add that, in our experience, seeing “less” and enjoying it more is a better way to make the most of the price of admission. Don’t push ’til you drop. Float in the pool, grab an ice cream and a catnap in the air conditioning. For heaven’s sake, you’re on vacation! Do what you’ll truly enjoy most - even if that means another circle around the lazy river or slip down the hotel pool slide rather than another spin on the teacups.
Do cool (literally) indoor stuff.
Powering through? If your group is gung-ho (we’re looking at you, honeymooners) stick around the parks but plan to spend the heat of the doing doing the cool indoor stuff - check out the shows or do a little souvenir shopping. We spent a particularly memorable day in the air conditioning of EPCOT’s Canada attraction enjoying hard ciders and tasty bites courtesy of the Food & Garden festival. Now that’s how you power through.
Plan a water park day.
You guys. These are not your neighborhood water parks - don’t miss them! Disney puts every bit as much magic and imagineering into their water parks as any other park, and a day at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon could just be among the most fun you’ll have (really - they’re pretty great.) If you have the Park Hopper option (if you do happy to visit during the hottest seasons, we doubly recommend it) you can spend the day splashing at the water parks and then still get over to the parks in the evening for rides, fireworks and fun. It’s win-win!
Don't skip the parks on rainy days!
When it comes to making the most of your time at Disney, rain is your friend. A) it’s the best time to enjoy lower crowds and shorter wait times and B) you don’t risk sunburn. We love all of this. Rides still run in the rain, only closing if there is lightning in the area - and only fully outdoor rides. Bring your hoodies for the cooler weather and in the summer, lightweight ponchos can be found for a buck or two at most discount stores - they fit right in your pocket!
PLAN AHEAD!
We’re sorry about the caps lock but the further ahead you book, the better. You’ll get better prices, better room availability, and more time to make payments on your trip. You’ll also have plenty of time to work with your travel planner to decide exactly how you want to spend your time at Disney - what you’d most like to see, do, and of course, eat. The further ahead you book, the more likely you are to get the restaurants of your choice as well.
Enjoy the " lesser known " activities.
This is a really fun tip - a bunch of them, in fact - that actually has us smiling as we type. Make your trip extra magical with lesser known magical activities. Get a first haircut at Harmony barber shop (talk about a great memory!) Take a backstage tour, like Up Close with Giants. Make the most of your souvenir dollars with the more unique souvenirs, like hand cut silhouettes or personalized Christmas ornaments (they make us smile when we unpack them every single December.)
Pack smarter.
This one is harder than it seems - especially if you aren’t a seasoned Disney traveler (it really is a unique vacation.) This one we can really help with - just download our free packing list!
Step outside the parks.
There is so much to see and do outside the parks - and you won’t need to stand in line to do it (well, mostly…but the cookies at Gideon’s are worth it.) Breaks can make the trip more fun, and remind you that this is indeed, a vacation. Take a day to eat, shop, sip and explore! We love an afternoon meandering through Disney Springs. Stay into the evening for live music at Disney hot spots, or to sip great wines and enjoy leisurely meals - things that aren’t easy to come by inside the whirlwind of activity that is the park experience. If you’ve booked a package, make time to use your free round of mini golf at one of the two mini golf courses at Disney and just have some fun and down time with your travel crew. It’ll be worth it.
To that end…
Don't over do it.
So many of our friends and family express feeling the pressure to “do it all.” Let us relieve that pressure for you: Disney can't be done in one trip. It’s not meant to be, so don’t try to do everything. Just relax and enjoy your time and let the magic encompass you - let it be magical, not an endless checklist. You worked so hard to make this trip happen - relax and soak it all in!
A great way to see the things that matter most to you is to plan your “style” of trip. Are you a Star Wars buff? Classic Disney aficionado? Dedicated foodie? Coaster connoisseur? Our friends at Willow & Wand specialize in customizing Disney itineraries to help you make the most of your time and make your Disney trip unique to you. Get a quote from them here in just a few clicks.
And last but certainly not least:
Pay with Disney gift cards.
Stores like Target and Sam's Club offer 5% off Disney gift cards, which may seem small but when it comes to planning a Disney trip, that 5% can really add up.
Book a “split stay.”
If a deluxe resort looks great but isn’t in your budget, trying splitting your time between value/moderate and a deluxe resort to give you the best of both worlds - the budget friendly, and the best-in-class.
We hope these tips have helped. Got one we missed? Tell us in the comments! Want a little more? Email us or subscribe to our newsletter for deals, dirt, and all the best Disney magic we can bring you.
