My Top Tips for DisneyWorld – Spend less and enjoy more!
I can’t possibly put all of my Disney tips in one post so this covers the highlights! Feel free to add your tips in the comments section below.
Our family in Disney just after my Today Show appearance. We like to wear lanyards to keep our tickets handy while in the parks.
Our family LOVES Disney World. I honestly don’t know who loves it more, me and Ricky or the kids. As much as the kids love it, I’m pretty sure we have them beat. We both actually tear up when walking through the magic kingdom gates for the first time. I often say “The only reason Ricky and I work and stay honest is so we can go back to Disney World.” I’m only half kidding.
Of course, we have an advantage over a lot of folks in that the happiest place on earth is within driving distance (12 hours by car), saving us a small fortune over having to fly to get there.
Today I thought I’d bring you my personal tips on how to go to Disney for a lot less and have a much better time of things once you’re there. There are lots of ways to save and have a better time on your trip so I’m just gonna dive right in here. These are not necessarily in order of importance, just in order that they came to me so be sure and read the entire list because the one nugget you need most may be towards the bottom. This post is going to be rather long but I could easily write ten more and still have more to tell you so bear with me and know that if you are going to Disney anytime soon with your family, I really think this information will be useful.
Goofing off with Stitch on Main Street USA
1. Buy this book.
Seriously. This isn’t a normal vacation, this is the trip of a lifetime and if you’ve never been before (or not in the last ten years or
so) you are going to be overwhelmed by all that there is to do.
It’s best to get your game plan up ahead of time, know what all is there before you get there. This is where planners have the best time.
Honestly, some of the best things about Disney are things you’d walk right past if you didn’t know they were there ahead of time. This book is also very important if you have never been to Disney before and for those taking small children for the first time. It is divided up into sections and each park section has a ride section where each and every ride is described and age reccomendations are given. If a ride is listed as ages 7 and up, it will say “dark sections, younger children may not enjoy” or something like that. This is important for those of us with little kids because if you take a two year old on a ride that scares them, you’ll likely lose their trust and end up with a screaming terrified kid at the start of every ride. The last thing we want is an untrusting toddler greeting It’s a Small World with skepticism and tears.
They usually come out with a new edition each year and it is so helpful that whenever I find out we’re going to Disney, I go and get the latest one. Click on the photo of the book to be taken to the purchase page on Amazon.
2. Don’t go during peak season.
There are two main reasons for this.
- The heat. Even those of us from the South who have lived here all our lives have problems handling the extreme heat of Florida in the summertime. Walk around all day in a paved amusement park standing in direct sunlight and it takes on a whole new meaning. I could devote an entire blog post to the humidity but I’m hoping my heat warning will be enough. If it isn’t, you’ll learn about the force that is Florida humidity soon enough
.
- The crowds. Disney World costs a lot, but let me tell you, it is entirely worth it. There is so much to do, so much fun to be had, and so much to see that it will truly be a trip your entire family will remember the rest of their lives. This is the ultimate bonding experience for families where we’re no longer parents and children, us and them, we’re all together as playmates. Whether its waltzing in a restaurant beside Prince Charming and Cinderella (Katy and I did that this last time), riding on a boat through a mock Mexico, learning swordfighting tips from Captain Jack Sparrow himself, speaking with a native of Africa while he helps you design a mask, or just watching a parade of all of your favorite characters who stop and wave at you. There is no place like Disney. However, go during the summertime or another peak season and you could easily end up standing in line all day to get to ride four or five things in the extreme heat and then head back home disenchanted and disheartened – Not feeling altogether happy.
Peak seasons change from time to time at Disney but it is always best to check with them and go during an off season. See the book in my #1 tip for a listing of the current dates of peak and slow seasons.
Our personal favorite time to go is just before or directly following Christmas, anytime during February, anytime during October. The weather is beautiful and springlike and the parks aren’t very crowded at all. Some of these days it feels as if they’ve opened the parks just for us! If you time it right, you just walk right onto everythig you want to ride. Yes, the kids miss a few days of school but I plan our trips to take up at least one weekend and then we just miss three or four days of school at the most. I always check with the principal ahead of time, of course, and get his or her permission. A family trip is an educational and fun memory that your children will never forget. You’ll have to go with your gut on this one but I feel our time together as a family is fleeting and priceless and I aim to harness every moment I can get .
If you MUST go during peak season, here is what I suggest:
- Rethink it. Seriously.
- Bring extra clothing. It’s gonna be hot in a way that only Florida can be. It is doubly important that you take some time out of your day midday and go back to your hotel room to help rehydrate, rest, and get out of the sun a bit (if you have young children, this will avoid Disney Meltdown later in the parks). This is a great time to refresh with a nice cool cloth and change into some fresh duds. You’ll be so glad you did!
- Stay hydrated – Every counter service restaurant in Disney World will give you cups of ice water with straws and lids (great if you have kiddies) free of charge. All you have to do is ask. This will save you a fortune and also make you feel much better in the heat and crowds. I like to carry those little Crystal Lite single serving things with me to flavor the water a bit for the kids (and sometimes myself!).
- Really, really, truly, truly, see if you can go at another time. If not, take your best attitude with you and keep the fact that you are in DISNEY WORLD with your family in perspective. This is a wonderful place to be and how blessed we are to be able to go any time of the year!
Remember, if you as an adult are hot and tired, your children will be doubly so.
Setting an example by having a positive attitude and finding joy in the moment will go a long way with everyone!
P.S. No matter when you go, it’s probably gonna rain at some point. I go to Wal Mart ahead of time and buy the little dollar and two dollar rain ponchos to keep in our backpacks. We just put them on and keep on going. They sell ponchos in the parks but you’ll save a lot of money bringing your own. Disney World is just like life, you have to bring your own sunshiney attitude and disregard the weather at times!
Even dressed as a Princess, Karo still has proper footwear on!
3. Wear Proper Footwear
- You will be walking, running, hopping, skipping, jumping, and likely dancing. I love you and just the thought of you in flip flops or high heels is enough to make my arches scream in anguish on your behalf.
This is especially important with children. Remember, their legs and feet are having to go twice as fast to keep up with you!
4. Ignore The World
- My best advice, although hard to follow, is to let the entire world know that you are in Disney World with your family and then pretty much ignore them as best as you can. It’s hard for me to do this having come off the Today Show and then two days later leaving for Disney. I had emails piling up and phone calls coming like wildfire. My answer: A great autoresponder and click to voicemail. I kept up on Southern Plate by working on posts and comments during our daily rest time (while the kids were asleep).
5. Stay on Property
- Staying on Disney Property is very affordable and offers lots of perks! There are three levels of Disney hotels or “resorts” as they refer to them. Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. As a family, we usually go for the value resorts and regardless of how much you are paying for your room, you are always treated as an honored guest anywhere on Disney property.
With a deal, I generally pay $50-$60 a night for value but have paid as little as $45. We have stayed at Moderate resorts twice when I managed to get a big room discount (I’ve never paid more than $85 a night for a moderate resort room). If you go during off season, you can usually get a room at a Disney Value Resort for fifty to sixty dollars a night. Later in this post I will tell you how I watch out and where I go to look for discounts.
Perks of Staying on Disney Property:
- Transportation – while staying in a Disney resort gets you free parking at all of the Disney parks (This can easily save $20 a day), the hotel transportation can’t be beat. There are special Disney buses that pull up right in front of your hotel at frequent intervals to take you to any Disney property you want to go to. When you’re ready to come back, hop on the bus again and you’ll be sitting by a Micky Mouse shaped swimming pool in no time. We drive on occasion even though we are staying in the resorts, but bus transportation is by far the easiest and most fuss free way to go.
- Package Services – You know that two foot tall Mickey Mouse stuffed animal you saw that exhausted dad carrying through the park all day? He obviously wasn’t staying on property. If you are a Disney Resort guest, whenever you purchase something in the park all you have to do is give the cashier your resort name and room number and it will be sent to your hotel. Packages are usually ready for pick up at the end of the day but sometimes it may be the following day.
- Cups - Resorts have these great cups that you can purchase for about eleven dollars each. That may seem steep at the start but you can use it to get free drinks at your hotel food court for the entire length of your stay. It really adds up! (By the way, I LOVE the coffee in Disney’s food courts). When you are done you also have a great souvinier travel mug from your trip. We have mugs we got ten years ago that we are still using at home.
- Extra Magic Hour - Each day one of the parks opens an hour early and one of them stays open a few hours late just for Disney Resort Guests. This can really be a wonderful time to be in the parks with the least amount of other people. We hop from ride to ride during extra magic hour, laughing and loving every minute!
Chances are you can stay on property for the same price or possibly even less than staying off property. The perks are plentiful, the hotels are always super clean and nice, and regardless of whether you stay at a value resort or a deluxe resort, ALL Disney guests are treated like royalty!
Note: You will only find Coca Cola products for sale on all of Disney property. Coca Cola has exclusive rights to sell their products there and even the gas stations on Disney Property will not have another brand. I take a case of Diet Dr Peppers with me to keep from going into withdrawal as there is not a drop to be had the entire time we are there. This is the one and only thing keeping Disney from being the happiest place on earth for me. Also, if you are a gum chewer, bring your own. They do not sell chewing gum inside Disney Parks.
Interesting fact: Did you know that all of the Coca Cola products sold within the Disney parks are given to them free of charge by Coca Cola? That is how powerful the branding is to them!
6. Save The Money
Saving money at disney is easy if you know where to look and when to go. I generally start looking six months before I hope to go and am always flexible with my dates based on the best deals.
First of all, there is absolutely no reason to ever pay full price for a Disney Vacation.
There are a slew of websites but these are the ones I usually check out first:
DisneyWorld.com – Most of the time if there is a big special (free dining plan or major room discounts) Disney will have it right on their homepage so go check it out and nose around a bit!
WDWInfo.com is also a great site. This link will take you directly to their discounts page. Often you’ll need a specific code in order to get the discount and this page will tell you what that is.
MouseMisers.com is another great site and makes it very easy to find current discount codes.
Allears.net is an all around great site for any type of Disney information, including menus at all of the restaurants, latest news, and pretty much anything you can’t find on other sites.
If you are active or retired military, give Disney a call at (407) 939-7830 (this is a special number for military personnel only) and see what they have for you. There are always GREAT discounts available in this area as well.
Whichever deal or package you choose, once you book your vacation through Walt Disney World you can put down a deposit (usually $200.00) and make regular payments on your vacation until two weeks before it is time for you to leave. I love this option because it allows me to budget and pay for it over a period of time with no finance charges.
Not finding a deal you like?
At the time I am posting this, I have been glancing around for a good deal myself. I’d like to book a Disney vacation and pay the $200 down and make payments until time for us to go. However, there isn’t a deal that I like right now or that I think is good enough to justify me booking it so I am just going to be patient and continue checking back every few weeks until I find the one I like. The only months we go to Disney are between October – February (excluding holidays) so I’m looking out for a free dining deal during that time and they will most likely release some new free dining dates soon.
So what I’m saying is, if you are planning on going to Disney but are flexible on your dates, keep watch on the discount codes and be patient because this is Disney World – and your Prince will come!
Katy Rose and her 1 carrot smile!
My favorite deal is the free dining. We really enjoy character meals where we can sit at our table, enjoy our food, relax, and get periodic visits from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and whatever other characters reside where we are dining. However, a character meal for the four of us can easily be over $100 dollars. When the free dining plan is offered, I book it fast! We upgrade to the table service dining and get one table service meal a day, one counter service, and one snack per person. Here is how that breaks down with a little more information:
- Table Service Meal - These are at the sit down restaurants. Some, but not all, of the restaurants offer a character meal experience. We tend to go exclusively with these because that is just what we like best. Note: Some character meals (Cinderella’s Royal Table) require two table service credits. Don’t worry because you’ll be told that when you make reservations. Most require just one. We tend to avoid the restaurants that require two table service credits but did eat in Cinderella’s Castle one time and honestly, the food was kinda bad. Katy wouldn’t eat a single thing they served her and for once I felt just about the same way. It was a neat experience but there are easier ways to meet the Princesses. Note: Most of the Disney food is wonderful and just about all restaurants offer kid friendly alternatives on their bar as well as fresh fruit, carrot sticks, etc.
- Counter Service Meal – This is any restaurant where you go up to the counter to order and then get your food and sit down. Starlight Ray’s in Tomorrowland is our favorite. They give you a TON of food and your dining plan includes dessert and a drink (I love the sugar free brownies). If you prefer, just ask if you can get a bag of grapes instead of dessert. They make a great snack later. We often split a dinner and save our counter service credit for breakfast. There is a LOT of food!
- Snack - A snack can be many things, from a 20 ounce coke to a full bowl of fruit salad. We tend to get fruit salad for breakfast at the hotel food court and use our cups to get free drinks in the food court as well.
Please note that there is another dining plan which includes two counter service meals and one snack per person per day. These are still great deals but we always try to upgrade to the one with a table service meal. You can usually do this simply by upgrading from a value resort to a moderate resort and just paying 20-30 or so more per day, which is a fabulous deal.
This is from 2009. Katy Rose zonked out after a busy morning in Magic Kingdom
8. Take A Break!
My husband and I both love our parents dearly and consider ourselves very fortunate to have been born into the families we were born into . There, I got the disclaimer out. Now I gotta tell you that we both had dads with the vacation attitude of “You’re gonna go and you’re going to have fun whether you like it or not!”. They were the types who were at the gates when the park opened and stayed til it closed. I admire that drive and zeal to get yor money’s worth – BUT this is the first thing that we agreed we’d NOT do. It has been wonderful and helped us to avoid “disney meltdown”. Each day we go back to the hotel room around lunch time for a one to two hour nap. Even us. The kids sometimes say they aren’t sleepy and then five minutes later you have this…
and this….
Hey, There is a lot to take in and you’re probably going to have more fun in a few short days than you have in the past ten years. The need for a nap is understandable and then you can go back to the park in the afternoon refreshed and ready for more!
I always keep fruit and snack bars in our backpack for quick snacks!
9. Bring your own food!
Disney is incredibly family friendly and has no problem with you bringing outside food into the parks. If we aren’t on the free dining plan I usually keep the makings for PB&J’s in our hotel room and make everyone sandwiches before we go. I pack them in those little rubbermaid sandwich containers and stick them in our backpack along with some granola bars and fruit.
You’re gonna get a lot hungrier in the parks than you would during the course of a normal day and the less “park food” you eat, the better you will feel for the duration of your trip. Plus, this is a great time and money saver! I have seen moms on more than one occasion sit down with their backpack and pull out entire jars of peanut butter and loaves of bread! Seriously!
Oh, while I’m thinking about it, bring a backpack to hold that food and anything else you end up needing.
Brady eats one of the granola bars from my purse.
10. Bring your own souvenirs!
This is something I’ve always done. It is inevitable that when you and your children get into the parks you’ll get Disney fever and want Disney
merchandise and souvenir. Children are especially prone to this but adults are not immune by any means. A few months before our trip I start scouting out places like Wal Mart, Target, and even grocery stores for Disney themed things. You can pick up little Mickey Mouse ink pens, stickers, books, coloring books, stuffed animals, and even t-shirts. I once found Mickey Mouse iron ons and made us all our own Disney shirts before we left home! All of these things can be very inexpensive at home but worth a mint in the parks. The one thing I make an exception for is those little lighted spinning toys that they sell at the nighttime parades. They usually run about fifteen dollars each and I always try to allot the money for each kid to get one because, honestly, they’re just really neat!
Here is where I do something that may seem strange to you but it has saved us a lot of whining and money over the years. Each day when we come back to the hotel, we find that Mickey left the kids a surprise on their pillows. This is one of the things that I brought from home and I pull them out bit by bit during the trip. An ink pen one day, a small stuffed animal the next day, I never spend more than five dollars (max) on the “surprise” from Mickey but it is really something we look forward to and it gets the kids to go to the hotel for a little break during the day without whining about it. It is also great when they are asking for something they see in the parks and you can redirect them by saying “Oh, but I wonder what Mickey is bringing you today?”
Me getting Minnie’s autograph
……. But buy the Autograph book
Autograph books run anywhere from 6-10 dollars in the parks and are one of the best values around when it comes to spending your fun dollar! We get them each time we go and the kids have a great time getting autographs from every character they meet. Me and Daddy enjoy it, too!
You might want to take advantage of more extra magic opportunities, too.
As if Disney World and all it offers were not enough (it really is for us, though) Disney offers countless extra magical experiences which can be arranged ahead of time but can also be pretty costly. They may be worth it, though. We have done something special like this for the kids one time each as a special event but we don’t take advantage of them each trip as they just add too much to our vacation budget.
Here are a few of them but they change pretty regularly so be sure and consult the book back in #1 for the latest offerings:
- Pirate Experience. This is a two hour cruise for kids only (they are very well chaperoned) where they take a pirate pledge, get a special pirate bandanna and temporarty tattoo, then head off in search of real treasure! During their time away they go to a few different islands on a boat and enjoy a picnic lunch provided by the castmembers. Brady did this a year or so ago and had a wonderful time. *Must be scheduled ahead of time by calling Disney reservations.
- Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique – This is a special boutique where your little princess gets a complete princess makeover. This can be pretty costly but it is possible to get out on the low end if you reign in your little Princess’s big dreams of buying everything the boutique offers. Princesses have a choice of getting just their hair done, nails, or can even buy a princess dress, crown, and shoes..oh and sceptor, too. You can buy one or all of them, there are various packages to choose from. *Must be scheduled ahead of time by calling Disney reservations.**Very expensive. Can easily top $100.**There is a cheaper option though, keep reading
- Pirate Makeover – Okay so they don’t really call this a pirate makeover but we’ve never done it and I don’t know what else to call it. Either way, it is the princess makeover but for boys. Can be very costly as well and can include pirate makeup (think Jack Sparrow when he has all those eyes painted on his face), pirate wig, hat, costume, and more. **No idea what this costs but is likely in the same price range as the Bibbidy bobbidy Boutique**Cheaper option below *Must be scheduled ahead of time by calling Disney reservations.
- Main Street Barber Shop – ALAS! Affordable (and fun) magic! We LOVE going to the Main Street Barber Shop. As you walk in the gates of the Magic Kingdom, look on your left for the barber pole and head on in. No appointments taken so you may have to wait a few minutes but it is well worth it. Barbers may end up singing to your child as they cut their hair and they are PROS at entertaining them in so many ways. More about the Barber shop experience in the next paragraph…
A haircut runs around fifteen dollars and for kids it includes glittery pixie dust, colors sprayed into their hair, and all sorts of things that make it fun for boys and girls. Brady once had his hair spiked, confetti put in it, and a big red mickey mouse stamped on the back of his head with washable hair paint (and it really did wash out, with blonde hair you never know but I can vouch for this stuff!).
Katy Rose had her first hair cut there and they really make that special by giving you a certificate with a lock of hair and a special set of mouse ears that says “My first haircut” at no extra charge. My best advice for this is to get there when the park opens and go straight to the barber shop. Your kids will have a blast with their crazy colored hair all day long!
The kids and their masks from Animal Kingdom
Enjoy the free stuff!
Everywhere you turn in Disney there are activities for family fun for everyone. Be sure and ask about KidCot Funstops and also keep an eye out for special stations in Animal Kingdom as well. Your Passporter (that book I told you to buy back at #1) will tell you all about these and the latest and greatest free offerings inside the Magical Kingdoms of Disney!
Character meet and greets are always special regardless of your age and characters are located throughout the parks. If you are looking for someone in particular, just ask any cast member (the name for Disney Employees) and they will be glad to help you!
Favorite places:
- Ricky and I love Epcot. I especially love the World Showcase. Chocolate in Germany, shopping in Mexico, and Brady loves listening to the Beatle’s cover band in England. The boys really enjoy Test Track and Soaring in Epcot. Katy loves those, too. I’ve never been on either one and plan on keeping it that way ~giggle~. If you can get a night with just you and your honey, this is the place I’d go. I dream of taking a leisurely stroll through the world showcase one day. Favorite restaurants: the food in Mexico is excellent.
Outside Mexico in EpcotB
- Katy Rose and just about all kids young and old love the Magic Kingdom. This *is* Disney for all of us, really, with the other parks just being icing on the cake. She loves Dumbo’s flight but her daddy takes her on that because it makes her Mama waaaaay too dizzy.
Brady says Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain are awesome (I’ve never been on those, either, but I take his word for it!). Katy Rose said to be sure and tell you about the Haunted Mansion and to tell you that it is really dark but it is a good ride and “the ghost doesn’t really come home with you, they just tell you that”. Be sure you arrive early enough to watch the opening ceremonies at the Magic Kindom one day and stay late enough to see the fireworks show. They will set the most wonderful tone for your entire vacation!
- Brady is a Hollywood Studios fan with the Star Wars attractions and Indiana Jones stunt show and all that and our entire family LOVES the Toy Story Mania ride there. That is my all time favorite ride, with Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in the Magic Kingdom coming in at a close second. If you are lucky enough to go at Christmas time, check out the Osborne Spectacle of Lights and be prepared to experience all of the full blown wonder of a child again.
- None of us get too excited over Animal Kingdom but prefer to spend our time in the other parks instead. We’ll give Animal Kingdom half a day at best and then head back to our favorites. If you don’t live close to a zoo this might be different for you.
We often go to one park in the morning and another in the afternoon so Park Hopper tickets are a must.
Most importantly: WEAR THE EARS!
You don’t have to actually buy a set of ears (although it wouldn’t hurt) but you do need to shed that adult skin of stress and strain and let your carefree side come out.
This is DISNEY WORLD and it’s time for YOU to get out and play!
In the end, it’s not the vacation itself they will remember but the time spent with you so keep that all in perspective and have a Magical Time!
“The important thing is the family.
Keep the family together–and that’s the backbone of our whole business,
catering to families–that’s what we hope to do.”
~Walt Disney
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Mar 6 2011. Filed under Family Adventure Day, Life at Bountiful.
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Great post! Now I really, really want to go to Disney World! I just checked though and it’s over 5,000 miles away. We will have to go sometime though! Kind of funny story- when I was 3, I remember begging my dad to take us to Disney World. He said ‘no’ because I wouldn’t remember the trip and if we were going on a vacation like that, he wanted to be sure I’d remember it. It turns out that I have a very long memory though (as you can tell since I remember the conversation quite vividly…) so I surely would have remembered the trip
My family did finally go when I was 12 though, we went over Thanksgiving. My favorite park was Epcot. This was a good 13 years ago and they must not have had the Animal Kingdom yet because we definitely would have gone!
Animal Kingdom opened Earth Day (April 22nd) 1998.
This was an awesome post! Thank you, Christy. I’ve been intending to plan a Disney vacation for many years now and I always change my mind because I become so overwhelmed. I’m going to run right out first thing and buy that book. My daughter is old enough that we’ll probably all enjoy Epcot more than the Magic Kingdom, but it will be a once in a lifetime trip and we want to do everything!
THANK YOU thank you thank you! I’ve been dying to go to Disney World for a few years now, I haven’t been for years but couldn’t justify spending that much money right now. =( I’m so incredibly ecstatic that you posted this, I’m honestly just so grateful I can hardly express it! I’m going to take your advice and do some research and be patient to find a great deal. I hope to take my son there soon and it will be his first time.
This post came at a crazy time I am actually planning a trip to disney world as we speak for the week after thanksgiving my daughter will be two and a half and my mom sister and brother will be coming as well great tips by the way
Christy,
You rock!!! Thank you so much for putting together this very informative overlook at DW!!! We are planning our first trip this fall and I know I will be referring to your post and taking notes!
Wonderful Tips Christy being raised in Orlando I was constantly asked questions by friends dealing with Disney issues and amazed how many people just show up not having a clue about what is involved at Disney World. I would suggest to purchase an annual pass if you are within driving distance and can go frequently whenever you like as it can be expensive not to mention they are constantly upgrading and changing the attractions so some rides may be closed. Also Universal Studios, Sea World and the beaches are other attractions I would advise seeing if you hit Florida as most are within a few hours driving distance. Plan on about 2 weeks I always laugh when people think they can do everything in a week. I think (March, April, May or Sep-Oct) are the best times as it avoids the holidays and you miss the hot daily muggy showers and long lines of grouchy people. I read that the average family spends about $5,000 when visiting Disney World. One tip I could advise is above all is have fun and be flexible to everything around you. Realize you are on vacation to rest and have fun not to see how many attractions, parades or rides you can squeeze into one week. Enjoy.
Thank you for posting this. Even though Ive been to Disney 4 times, I still learned from the post. Its funny that you posted it today, as Ive been pricing an inclusive for about a month now.We were looking at the moderate resorts,but now Im going to look at the value ones too!!! Just reading about it, really wants to make sure it happens now. thanks!
I’m 55 (and hubby is 60). Kids are grown and no grandkids. I’m going to plan a trip for just him and me. I love Disney and haven’t been since my son was 5…(He’s 26 now.) So it is past time for me to go again. Thank’s for all the helpful tips.
I LOVE Disney World!!! I have taken my daughter 3 times…1997, 2003, 2006. The last time was for her 18th birthday & oh my my…..do they ever make abig deal out of birthdays there!!! She was given a huge birthday button to wear in every park (& in Downtown Disney) & was greeted by every cast member there. She was personally welcomed to the Magic Kingdom by the mayor, danced with the African dancers in the Animal Kingdom (they also had the crowd sing to her), & had a pair of Moroccan waiters play the drum & sing to her in French!! She was also taught to hula at the Polynesian luau (expensive part of her birthday present, but so, so worth the $$). It was funny to watch because she does NOT like to be the center of attention. She told me on the way home that maybe getting that much attention wasn’t that bad after all. The best part is she will always remember how special her 18th birthday was. Bittersweet for me to know my baby was all grown up, but I got this chance to watch her be a little kid again. Disney World is truly a magical place!!!
We just went in October and we pretty much do the same as you. Only we have never stayed on site. I’d love to do that one year. My kids are not fond of “water” so I got some of those Walmart sticks that flavor the water. They loved it!
Well, we are headed out to drive there this Friday. We’ll be in the spring break peak season, but our kids are too old to miss a week of school. It is a fabulous place- I think this will be about our 8th trip because we used to be Florida residents and get that fabulous Florida resident discount. We haven’t been in about 5 years. The excitement is palpable. We’ve been doing disney art all weekend here! I even put mouse ears on some of our photographs of long dead ancestors!
We love Disney World. I didn’t get to go when I was a kid but we have gone as a family when our son was 2, 4, 6 and 9. When he was 6 I was pregnant so I had to sit out for most of the rides and when he was 9 our daughter was 2. (On a funny note…I have a picture of the whole family from the 2006 trip and I was pregnant with our daughter. She asked me where she was and I said she was in my tummy. Her response was : “You ate me!?” LOL ) Every time we go it’s a family deal. My husbands’ parents go and 2 times his sister’s and their significant others have gone too. This came in handy the last time we went in 2009 because my hubby was sick with double pneumonia and H1N1 and was in the hospital for 3 days so they took the kids to the parks. He got to go to the parks later but had to rent the electric scooter at the park. The dining plan is great and it used to include tips but now you have to add that to your bill. Another great idea is connecting your credit card/debit card to your room card/park card then you just have to carry one card for all your transactions at the parks. I like the value parks and we have stayed at every one, each has a different theme. They also have a laundry area if you have the need. Those purex laundry sheets would be easy to pack. We also took a cooler with us for our room, free ice down the hall, and keep juice, milk, and bottled water in it. We stocked up at the local Wal-mart for food to keep in our room. We have always driven but my in-laws fly and there is Disney bus that brings you from the airport. The family is going again this Sept but we can’t afford to go this time….our son is tagging along with the grandparents though, they are paying for him.
I LOVE the post!! My family and I are trying to plan a vacation for the summer (none of us are really bothered by the heat) and we want to go to Disney!
I’ve been once when I was 20! SO much fun! Now I have 3 children, ages 2, 3, and 6. I really want to take them soon but don’t know if they are old enough to really enjoy it. What’s the best age for a child to go to Disney?
Your kids are definitely old enough to enjoy Disney! Even the two year old! There are very few rides that your two year old will have to miss. I took my son the first time when he was around 21 months old and he had a blast! I wouldn’t trade that trip for anything because it was just magic to him. My daughter was three the first time she saw Cinderella and to her, that WAS Cinderella and not just a character. We just took it a little slow for them. The best advice I can give you is to rent a stroller in the parks and not take your own. This will save you the burden of lugging those things on and off buses etc. And if you rent a stroller in one park and park hop, your rental is good in each park for that same day. They are so convenient! Your kids are at the perfect age that everything in the park and all the characters will be pure magic to them!
I totally agree with everything you said!! I was also glad to see you mention the Passporter book….we buy one every time we go to Disney. Allears.net is also a great planning website. Thank you for this post. We were planning a trip next year, but now I’m thinking Christmas break would be awesome!
As a Floridian, I’ve been to Disney a LOT, and never get tired of it. Your post hit it just right. There are so many things to do that people just don’t know about. Here are a couple more…
Special events – Candlelight Processional at Epcot (a must see – if this doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, not sure what will).
Hotels – check them out!
Animal Kingdom – I spy a giraffe!
Wilderness Lodge – My favorite hotel – there is a real geiser like Old Faithful every hour and a really fun restaurant – Whispering Canyan Cafe.
Grand Floridian – must go see at Christmas the gingerbread house (life size) and the gorgeous Christmas tree.
Outside the Parks –
Most people find their way to Downtown Disney but I love the Boardwalk – especially at night. Take a stroll on the boardwalk at night. and you’ll love it too! You can walk all the way around and check out the pool at the Yacht and Beach club (great stop for ice cream too). Very cool. Eat dinner right on the boardwalk at Big River Grill and check out the pool at the Boardwalk Hotel (it looks like a roller coaster). For adults – Jelly Rolls piano bar is so fun!
Mini golf – Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. Disney is always 1st class, so these courses are terrific! We particularly like Winter Summerland.
We last went at Thanksgiving 2000. Our son was 10. Very crowded and weather varied. 80 the day we arrived and 60 the next day. Doesn’t make the water rides very pleasant. We stayed onsite but it wasn’t warm enough for swimming. Would like to go again when it’s warm enough to take in the water parks.
we also did Universal Studios and that was a blast. Been twice to Disneyworld and twice to Disneyland. You learn something with every trip.
This is wonderful and very helpful information. Thank you so much!!!
My husband and I both grew up not far from Disney and went numerous times growing up, but when we decided to take our kids we knew we needed a guide book. I agree with you right off the bat – a guide book is a MUST. A lot of people think we are crazy, but we also waited until our children were 40″ tall because most of the rides require you be so. We also wanted them to get through the day without needing a nap. As far as time of year goes, both times we have been it was in August. Our school system is very strict about days off and we didn’t have any other options. Yes, it was hot, but it wasn’t as crowded as you might think. Utilizing fast pass, we didn’t wait very long for any rides. We also stayed on property and got there 15 minutes before the scheduled opening. That’s one of my biggest tips – get there at opening time. By getting there while others were sleeping in, we were able to get a fair amount of stuff in during the first 2-3 hours. Then we didn’t feel bad sitting for an hour at lunch in the air conditioning. Thanks for your tips!
I live near Disney and used to work there. Your tips are right on and I plan to save them and pass them along to friends who write me for advice. Only one tip I disagree with—you don’t have to buy the over-priced autograph books. I have seen families bring home-made books into the park that were much cuter than the purchased ones.
What a great idea and tip!!! Thank you so much for sharing Suzanne!!!
Love, love, love Disney! Great tips as we have used many of them in the past also. One note on strollers – if you are taking little ones that don’t like to walk a lot, then take a stroller with you as the rental ones are pricey – although I have rented if I was going to be there for an extended period of time. However, after you take your mid day break and go back for more afternoon fun – many people have left strollers abandoned near the entrance that you can pick up for free! They have already paid for the whole day, but leave it as a “gift” for you to enjoy for the rest of the day! But remember if you rent, to share the love also!
Thanks for the great post. Even though I grew up and still live in Orlando and have gone to Disney World at least 50 times (love it), I learned some new things with your great tips.
Love WDW, great tips! We like going in October as well.
Have you ever checked out disboards.com? I will admit that I’m addicted and read it almost daily. My favorites there are the budget and community boards and you will find many others to help with trip planning. I’ve learned so much there and not just about Disney!
Thank you!
You look Awesome!!!!! Weightloss is coming along.
Yay! Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips. We are taking our seven year old daughter in May for the first time. We are so excited that we (my husband and I) can’t hardly stand it. It’s going to be a surprise for her birthday. She’s going to be tickled pink!
Thank you so much for the wonderful post. I love Disney so much and love going as much as possible. My baby is 28 and I miss the days at Disney with him. Maybe grandbabies one day. Who knows. My husband has only been to Disney once and only to the magic kingdom, Maybe he will go for it now with all of your wonderful tips.
I am trying to plan a surprise trip for Christmas break and was curious how far in advance do you usually find the good deals?
Thank you for all your great tips!
We went the second week in November this past year, I picked my son up at school a little early on a thursday he missed Fri, Mon and Tuesday was only a 2hr day, you can always look at your schools calendar to find a week with a day off or early dismissal day. He told his principle in fact he told everyone:) and when I went to pick him up his principle just happened to be in the office and was like “what is this Wyatt tells me you are headed to Disney” I was all like um I don’t know what your talking about he is sick. we had a good laugh he joked and told Wyatt he had to do a 200 word report on his trip:) so in other words he was totally cool with it.
Ditto on the good shoes I had nice tennis shoes and still me feet have never hurt so much! I took a small stroller for Abby sure she was almost 5 and hubs was against it but dang it was SO nice to b able to push her in it when she was tired of walking.
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge it was Awesome! We did the mugs as much coffee and soda we drank in them they were well worth it.
We found out at Hollywood Studios you can do Jedi training, Wyatt was all about it so we were there the moment the gates opened and hubs and wyatt bolted straight back there and got him signed up in time. They only allow so many and it is full FAST! the child must b there to sign up we found out the hard way since Abby wasn’t with him she couldn’t b signed up. but it was awesome they learned how to fight with a light saber from a Jedi and then got to fight Darth Vadar!!
We did breakfast at the Castle and did the first time available so we got to get into the park before it opened, nothing beats walking down main street with only a couple other people! Oh and u gotta make that reservation 6mths before ur trip they are always booked up and I mean on the first day u can make it, make it!
Love Love Love Disney! I love it more than my kids! I plan everything down to the last detail. Where we are going to eat, what times shows start. I have a backpack I wear and my family calls it my jetpack because once I put that on I am gone. If you have never been on a Disney Cruise you have to check it out. It can be a bit pricey but totally worth it! Your kids would love it! They have a great Kids Camp and it really helps give some time out for just you and your husband.
LEAVING SATURDAY FOR 6 DAYS 10 OF US TOTAL. FIVE ARE OUR GRANDSONS . TAKING AN ADULT PER CHILD . EVERYDAY DAY WE GET TO PICK A DIFFERENT ONE TO WATCH US, I MEAN THEM (LOL) . WE CANT WAIT!!! AIN’T FAMILY GRAND(SONS)
You forgot the most important tip…find an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner that knows the parks! A good travel agent specializing in Disney travel can save you tons of money, tons of time both planning and in the parks and gives you your own personal resource if you have any problems. And the best part is that travel agents are free when you book through them!! Travel agents watch the discounts and make sure your package is the cheapest available. We keep up with the discounts and can go back and change the discount code if something better comes along before you pay your balance. And the best part is that if you were to encounter a problem, you can just text or call your travel agent for help. If you book directly through Disney, you are on your own!
I haven’t seen anyone mention the airport service Disney offers for FREE! For those who do have to fly, once you supply Disney with your airline information they will send you special tags to put on your checked bags. Once you arrive in Olrando all you have to do is head for the Disney arrival area (signs everywhere!)
They handle getting your luggage from the airlines and transporting it. You are taken right to your hotel on a shuttle bus. Our bags were in our room before we were!! Very nice not to have to drag them around and pay for a taxi to get there! Of course they take you and your bags back to the airport at the end of your stay.
Hi Christy!
Can you believe that my husband and I have lived just south of Tampa for six years and we’ve never been to Disney?
As a personal goal to aid me in losing weight {I need to lose over 100 lbs}, I decided that I will compete in the Disney Princess Half Marathon – but that probably won’t happen until 2012. As a mini goal, I’ll be running/walking in my first ever 5k {3.5 miles} at the Disney Wine & Dine event on October 1 of this year.
Plus, hubby & I just bought the yearly Disney pass for Florida residents, which is wonderful because you can make monthly payments and you can go to any park, any day you want for a year. We’re going to go in May for our very first visit {our wedding anniversary combined with our back to back birthdays!}, then we’re taking my cousin & her son there again in September and of course we’ll go back for Halloween & Christmas! I should be a true Mouseketeer by this time next year.
Thanks for your very helpful post – love the pictures!
Also if you are a pin collector there is a Disney character store in the Prime Outlets off International Drive – great pin prices – at least half off the park prices. Also if you are in town for Christmas or Halloween Disney has night time parties for both. The park shuts down about 6pm and then they re-open it for the special party. With the special night time ticket i think you can get in about 4pm. The tickets are cheaper. We buy ours online – go for the weekdays when all the FL kids have school the next day
The Christmas party has hot chocolate and cookies through the park and the Halloween one has trick or treating. Both have great parades and the rides have no lines! Also the Epcot Food & Wine Festival in the fall and the Flower & Garden festival in the spring are both terrific!
I would not go to Disney without a current copy of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I like Passporter, but Unofficial Guide rules!!!
Another great resource is a website named couponingtodisney.com
I totally agree with Margaret – The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World totally rocks!! I had that book as well as the Passporter – and found I hardly used the passporter at all.
I am one of the few who recommend staying off site. You can get soooo much more room for the fraction of the cost. We have two boys ages 6 & 10 and we need extra room just to separate them at the end of the day. We stayed at a wonderful 2 Bedroom 2 bath condo with a wonderful pool area during our October trip. It was literally minutes from the parks and it was cheaper than a stay at your average Hampton Inn! Nice as it had a full kitchen and we were able to stock up on snacks and drinks. Oh and I didn’t have to get “dressed” to go get my morning cup of coffee!
We didn’t miss the Disney Transportation as my husband is one who wants a rental car so he can always be in charge of his own destiny! LOL!!
Also check out the Disboards.com – best information by far!! Oh – there are also a few aps for your smartphone which will give pretty accurate wait times for the rides and also a crowd predictor calendar!!
I use tourguidemike.com cost around $30. I never get Park Hoppers and that saves quite a bit. Go to one park a day. I plan my park days based on his “green” days and the best tip I have is understand and use the fast passes. They will honor them anytime after the return time on the fast pass. We used tour guide mike’s plan and we never waited in line more than 5 minutes! Awesome. Other people were standing in lines with 90 minute or more wait!
Love love love everything that is Disney! Thanks for the tips! I’m curious…Have you noticed an advantage (or disadvantage) over booking your vacation through the Disney website or calling the Disney phone line and talking to an actual person?
I live 30 minutes from Disney World and have been there maybe 4 times in my lifetime, maybe Disney three, Epcot once. Epcot… wasn’t so crazy about. mostly food and shops=$$ ,Just wasn’t that impressed to the degree that i wan’t to go back. there are rides, don’t get me wrong and my daughter loves it.. just really wasn’t my thing more than one time.
Just wanted to say, in this economy, people struggle to have a Disney experience and i loved it. Central Florida residents on a budget, listen up! If you can’t go to the Parks b/c of expence…. go over, park at Downtown Disney or a Buena Vista Hotel lot, or the like… Hop the free bus to Disney… get on the Monorail and travel all of the “in park” hotels. You obviously don’t get into the park but you go to the Polynesian, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and the Wilderness Hotels… beat the system and enjoy the Disney Properties! Have lunch, shop the shops, enjoy the beautiful scenery and partake of the parties, (do you dare to bring a swimsuit?) You are bringing money in, don’t feel guilty! We must do something if we can’t do otherwise to enjoy.
You sound like someone I wanna hang out with someday! Lol
I am so excited that not only do you offer great recipies but also tips on a disney world vacation. How awesome are you! Our family has never been so this will be very helpful. Thanks!!
Thank you for your post! A friend of a friend, shared your talent with my family & I decided to check out your site. Needless to say, I am very impressed. We are planning our first trip to W.D.W. this coming July. Our dates weren’t flexible however, we are very excited! Hopefully, the research I have done this past year will have help us enjoy our trip. Thx again!
Whoo-hoo!!! I am going again!!! 50th birthday in November, so my sister & I are going to Disney World to celebrate!! Whoo-hoo!!! again!!
We are the opposite on our park choices! We went down to Disney a couple of weeks ago and spent an entire day in the Animal Kingdom plus a couple of hours of another one to catch the things we missed- mainly the meerkats!! They were having a siesta when we went on the afternoon of the first day, but when we went in the morning, they were in full action! Since we don’t have kids and time was limited, we totally skipped Magic Kingdom! All my husband had wanted to do there was Space Mountain since he was too scared to open his eyes when he went on it as a child!
We could have planned things better, but the trip was my husband’s doing since I’m busy with grad school and taking care of the house (not to mention a full-time job). We missed a couple of shows we wanted to see at Hollywood Studios since they wrap around sunset and we went just before dusk. I loved the Tower of Terror, though, and my husband was thrilled with the new Star Wars 3-D ride! We missed Soarin’ at Epcot as well because the wait was 85 minutes and we didn’t figure it could possibly be *that* good. If we’d known the wait would be that long, we would have grabbed fast passes immediately before going to Mission Space.
If we go back, it will be in cooler weather when school is in session! Being from North Florida we are somewhat used to the heat, but we don’t typically spend all day out in it!
As a teacher, I’ve only been able to go to Disney World in August so I know everything you wrote about the heat & humidity is true. However, attitude is everything & we always have a wonderful time. The FastPass system certainly helps with this, plus we “open” the park of the day & head for the favorite rides first (as we pick up our first FastPass of the day). Our favorite character meal is breakfast with Pooh & The Gang at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. Great food & with reservations, you can enter the park early, eat, and still be ready when the rope drops. PLANNING IS EVERYTHING! Thanks for the tips, Christy! PS Our elementary schools don’t say too much over the “unexcused” absences for family vacations, but it all changes in middle & high school. You can’t make up ANY work (including tests) from an unexcused absence. Just an FYI.
Just curious with the recent storms on East Coast we had to use some of our Disney money. We were told we had to have it all paid 45 days before but in here you said up to 2 weeks before. Do you know if the 2 weeks is still valid? Thank you!
I am not sure Kari. I would call and talk to someone and see what they say.
Any thoughts on the Photo Pass Plus – we are debating whether to buy it ahead of our trip. I’d love to hear other people’s experiences with it – is it worth it?
Personally, I know it’s very expensive, but on our last trip I bought it. If you’re one of those families ( like we are ) who always have family pics with someone missing, you’ll dearly love and treasure your photopass pictures. Some of our most treasured family photos are from photopass. However, if you’re going to get it I think it’s important to make it a point to make certain pictures a priority. We have our photo made in front if the castle in the morning and at night each day we are in magic kingdom. I also get photos of just the kids in front of the castle, just my husband and myself, and each of us individually with each of the kids. Also make sure you get restaurant pics put on it, and they give you the hard copy package free with photopass, those are usually around thirty dollars each so with just two or three you can see a better justification of the cost.
You can so visit the deluxe hotels for a family portrait. We always get one in the grand Floridian, they have a photographer in the lobby who just does family sittings.
Rides that take photos will also put your ride photos on it, each and every time you ride.
It really is a lot of money but if you look at it that way and what you’d pay for one portrait sitting with a professional photographer it makes it easier.
I hope this helps. Holler back if I can answer any questions!
P.S. you save a good bit if you order the photopass plus two weeks before you go. I didn’t do that and had to pay more in the park for it.
Thanks! I’ve been leaning towards ordering it since I don’t know when we’ll get back to Disney and I really would like to capture pictures of all of us. Thanks for all the great tips! 20 days till we leave for our trip!
Have a wonderful time Margaret!!!
Thanks for that wonderful info!We are grands,and are planing on going in February with them.I would like to know,which hotel onsite would be most economical for us.We would have 2 rooms.(2 families)
And does one get tickets there,or is one better off getting them online?
I believe I will get that Passporter .Looks like that will be a good choice for us.
And again,loved all the advice!!
We r going in August(kids can’t skip school easily). Thanks for the tips. I love the idea of the Mickey surprise in the room! I made each of our kids an autograph book out of card stock paper and embellishments and had it bound at a office supply store. They also fit into small ziplock bags so if we go on a water ride they don’t get ruined!