Below are the articles I have written that include my best tips and tricks for making the most of your Walt Disney World vacation. Posts are in order of newest to oldest.
You can also browse all the articles I have written in an easy to use outline that is arranged in the order you should read these Disney World posts.
If you are staying on-site during your Disney World trip you might want to check out these super cute Mousekeeping envelopes you can print:
You can also do a Google image search for Mousekeeping envelopes and find a ton of other designs that you can print out.
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Disney recently launched a new version of their Chase credit card. The new Disney Premier Visa Card now earns you 2% in reward dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations. You will still earn 1% on everything else. Unfortunately they charge a $49 annual fee on this card which could make it less appealing to you.
Since we are an existing Disney Rewards Visa Card holder, we got an offer in the mail to receive 5% in reward dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations for 90 days. In order to break even since we paid a $49 annual fee, we must charge at least $980 at one of the qualifying locations. Since we spend $500 a month on gas (for 3 vehicles), we decided it could easily be done and it would be beneficial to us to upgrade to the Disney Premier card. Based on our budget, we will earn approximately $165 in 3 months just by charging our grocery and gas purchases on the card.
So which card should you personally choose if you do decide to apply for a Disney Visa? Here’s a breakdown of perks (I will bold the difference between the Disney Rewards and Disney Premier):
Disney Rewards Visa Card
Charging a $2,000 Disney Vacation Package? You’ll get $20 in Reward Dollars!
Disney Premier Visa Card
Charging a $2,000 Disney Vacation Package? You’ll get $40 in Rewards Dollars!
Be sure to check out the complete list of perks for each card before you make a decision. And remember the credit card is not worth having if you can’t pay it off every month because interest will end up negating any Reward Dollars you earn for Disney.
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I am not the least bit crafty. I have tried, but I am never happy with how my craft turns out. So instead, I just buy crafty items on Etsy. And they have a ton of Disney items to choose from!
And lots more!
What items do you buy on Etsy? Feel free to share the links to either items you have bought or your own personal Etsy store.
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This Disney Reservation Tip comes from my reader Kelly…
It’s pretty common and widely known to use Disney’s Dining Reservations line to make reservations. Of course, you can even use them online, and they make it so easy. However, they’re not always the best option because restaurants apparently only releases a certain amount of reservations to Disney Dining Reservations and when those fill up, you’re out of luck.
I ran across this issue when trying to get a reservation for the new T-Rex Cafe at Downtown Disney. I searched and searched Disney’s reservation system and there were no available spots for the entire week we’d be at Disney World! Not for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner. Nada. Zilch. “That can’t be,” I thought to myself. “They’re new but they can’t be THAT packed, could they? Especially since a friend of mine just ate there this week with no problems getting a table.”
I Googled the restaurant, found their number and called them directly. Much to my surprise, not only did they have a spot for us, but they had availability every 15 minutes of every day I was looking at wanting to eat there! There were PLENTY of reservation spots available…just not through Disney Dining. I’m not sure if the trick would work with Disney owned restaurants, but it couldn’t hurt to try contacting the restaurant directly if you’re really wanting to eat there on a specific date or time. You can easily Google the restaurant’s name and pull up their address and phone number.
Do you have any dining tips?
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Walt Disney World might be all about the attractions, but they have also sneaked in a few playgrounds too. My kids love playing on the playgrounds and it is a great break from the crowds.
Located under Splash Mountain is a small play area for little ones. This is a great place for junior to play while the older kids ride Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain. To get to this playground, just go under Splash Mountain like you are heading towards the restroom. It is on the right side.
On Tom Sawyer’s Island, there is a small play structure at the top of the hill. There are also some nice benches for the parents to sit while the kdis run off more energy.
There is also a playground type area in the queue to Winnie the Pooh. And your kiddos can play in it even if you aren’t in line for the ride.
Located in the exit area of Mission Space is a play gym for kiddos (like what you would find at a Fast Food restaurant). To get to this play area, you will go in the exit of the ride (it’s a gift shop) and walk back towards the right side.
This park’s playground is actually an attraction called Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Playground and it is located in the backside of the park. This is fun for the kiddos of all ages and it has a special play area for little ones.
This park’s playground is also an attraction. The Boneyard Playground is the best playground in all of Disney. It features a large area for the kids to run, climb, slide, dig, etc. And it is manned by Cast Members. So grab a seat where you can see the one and only exit to the playground and let the kids run wild while you have a nice breather.
The following resorts all have playgrounds and you are allowed to play on them even if you aren’t staying at the resort. So if you want to take a break from the parks but don’t want to go all the way back to your hotel, just hop on a resort bus or a monorail and head to a Disney Resort, grab a bite to eat and let the kids play on the playground.
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Pin Trading is a popular pastime at the Disney Parks and a great way to add some extra fun and magic to your vacation.
What is Pin Trading?
Pin Trading is available at both Disney World and Disneyland Park. Cast Members wear lanyards that contain a selection of Disney themed pins. Guests are able to trade their Disney pin(s) with the Cast Member. Each Cast Member has a different selection of pins, so it’s always fun trying to find that specific pin you want.
The Rules of Pin Trading
How To Trade Pins:
Pin Trading Tips
Do you have any Pin Trading tips and tricks?
Disney World is the Most Magical Place On Earth. Be sure to learn how to make the most of your trip by reading the Disney World Training series. You can also browse all the articles I have written in an easy to use outline. And if you are ready to book your trip, be sure to read about the perks of using an authorized Disney vacation planner (plus it’s FREE!).
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My reader Michele had the brilliant idea of putting items she needs for Disney World in a basket as she gets them for FREE. I love this idea…
The items to the left of the basket are items that were $1.00 or less. Some items literally cost only pennies but I still wanted to put them in the group of $1.00 or less. The items to the right of the basket (shredded wheat and everything to the right of it are items that were FREE except for tax. The “Cinderella blue” basket was $1.00 at Dollar Tree. As you can probably tell, all of this will not fit in the basket so I’m going to have to upgrade to a larger container. Wouldn’t it be cute to allow your children to paint / decorate a plastic tote (with a Disney theme, of course) to hold all the items?!? Please let me know if the pictures don’t show up or if you need additional information. I also plan to type up a checklist kind of like a Disney trip “wishlist.” I think it would be fun to have an idea of what you need for the trip and to be able to check off items as you acquire them. If I get around to doing this I’d be happy to send you a copy.
P.S. You may take comfort in knowing that most of the items in the picture were bought as a result of your website. Thanks for all you do and keep up the good work!
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This pic isn’t really relevant but it is so fun!
If you are headed to the parks with young children, you are probably wondering how you will manage to ride those rides they aren’t allowed to ride. Disney actually has a program in place for just that. It’s called Rider Swap an it’s easy to use but can be difficult to explain.
Rider Swap is available at rides that have a height restriction such as Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Soarin. Essentially you will be allowed to ride with your older children while your partner waits with the younger child and then you swap places and your partner rides again with the younger kids.
For rides with Fastpass
Obtain a Fastpass ticket for yourself and the older children in your party who will ride
When it is time to redeem your Fastpass ticket, everyone in your party including your partner and the child who is not riding will go to the Cast Member stationed at the Fastpass entrance
Let the Cast Member know that you want to do Rider Swap
The Cast Member will take the Fastpass Tickets from the riders entering the queue
The Cast Member will give your partner a Rider Swap ticket that resembles a Fastpass ticket
While your party rides, your partner and younger child are welcome to do anything they want in the parks. They don’t have to stay near the ride or sit in a special holding area. I like to use this time to meet characters with my little one.
When your partner is ready to ride, they will return to the Fastpass line with the Rider Swap ticket and up to 5 other people. That’s right! This ticket is good for up to 4 people! That means your older kids get to ride twice!
For rides where you are not utilizing Fastpass
Everyone in your party including your partner and the child who is not riding will go to the Cast Member stationed at the entrance to the ride
Let the Cast Member know that you want to do Rider Swap
The Cast Member will give your partner a Rider Swap ticket that resembles a Fastpass ticket
While your party rides, your partner and younger child are welcome to do anything they want in the parks. They don’t have to stay near the ride or sit in a special holding area. I like to use this time to meet characters with my little one.
When your partner is ready to ride, they will return to the Fastpass line with the Rider Swap ticket and up to 5 other people. That’s right! This ticket is good for up to 4 people! That means your older kids get to ride twice!
Here are some important things to remember:
Disney World is the Most Magical Place On Earth. Be sure to learn how to make the most of your trip by reading the Disney World Training series. You can also browse all the articles I have written in an easy to use outline. And if you are ready to book your trip, be sure to read about the perks of using an authorized Disney vacation planner (plus it’s FREE!).
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Emily’s sick doll
I like to be prepared when we got to Disney. I take all the regular over the counter medicines for every ailment that I can think of. But on this last trip, I forgot cough syrup. And of course Jacob came down with a nasty cough and there was not a bottle of children’s cough medicine anywhere on Disney property. And the medicine they do carry, can cost 1.5 to 2 times more than what it would sell for at Walmart. Luckily I have a friend that lives in Orlando and she was able to bring me a couple bottles.
But what options do you have if you get sick at Disney World? Here’s what my reader’s had to say:
Drive to the local Walmart or drugstore
Did you know that each resort has a map with directions to local drug stores, walmart, etc? I ask for directions from Pop, where we stayed, and they gave me this nice map with all the listings. – Melody
They are located in Orlando and will deliver to your resort or the parks first aid. They will deliver prescriptions and OTC meds that they carry. We needed cough meds for my 4 yr old and they charged $7.50 to deliver to MK. I had them with in a few hours of calling. $7.50 may seem high but it was worth it to me. – Melody
Disney Services
About a month ago, my family took a vacation at Walt Disney World in Orlando. I have
a two year old little boy and I was so excited about his first trip to see Mickey Mouse.
I planned for months, reading travel guides and blogs. As you know, things don’t often
happen as planned and the first night we arrived, my little boy had a high fever. I did
not bring a thermometer but my MOMeter said it was about 102. We stayed at the
Wilderness Cabins and in the middle of the night, he woke up vomiting. I looked in the
brochure we were given when we checked in and learned that Disney World offers a free
ride to a nearby walk in clinic for guests staying in Disney Resorts. I called them early
the next morning and they arrived in about an hour. They even had a car seat already in
the van so we did not have to transfer ours. They even take you to a Walgreens Pharmacy
if you need a prescription. The driver cut through parking lots and down service roads
to get us there and back much faster than if we had to drive around ourselves; he really
knew the area well. The company operates more than one nearby clinic and the driver
called ahead to see which one was the least busy. I would recommend this service to
anyone who finds themselves in need of semi-urgent care. The walk in clinic was clean
and the staff was friendly.
Luckily, my son just had a stomach bug, but the physician recommended we skip the
parks that day. However, we found plenty to do just in the Fort Wilderness Resort, just at
a slower, more relaxed pace. They have several playgrounds and an awesome pool area.
We had a great time visiting the horses at the ranch. The campgrounds are beautiful and I
even saw an otter!
Overall, even though almost nothing went as I had planned, we still ended up having a
great time.- Misty
Disney First Aid
Each park has First Aid services. They can give single doses of many medications including Tylenol and adult cough medicine.
Disney World is the Most Magical Place On Earth. Be sure to learn how to make the most of your trip by reading the Disney World Training series. You can also browse all the articles I have written in an easy to use outline. And if you are ready to book your trip, be sure to read about the perks of using an authorized Disney vacation planner (plus it’s FREE!).
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Photo Credit: PrincessAshley
Disney World has so much to do. From extreme thrill rides to spas, there is so much to choose from.
But what if you want to have some fun on the water during your vacation? Disney’s got that too. You can rent Sea Raycers, sailboats, SunTracker pontoon boats, Boston Whaler Montauk boats, pedal boats, kayaks and canoes from various resorts located around Bay Lake and from the Epcot area resorts.
If you are a daredevil, you can also book parasailing, Jet Skis, water skiing, Wakeboarding, inner tubes and more from Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at the Contemporary Resort Marina.
There really is something for everyone at Disney World.
Disney World is the Most Magical Place On Earth. Be sure to learn how to make the most of your trip by reading the Disney World Training series. You can also browse all the articles I have written in an easy to use outline. And if you are ready to book your trip, be sure to read about the perks of using an authorized Disney vacation planner (plus it’s FREE!).
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A Magical Moment at Disney is when something extremely amazing happens to you or your family. This Magical Moment can include being given an extra FASTPASS, experiencing an incredible Meet and Greet with a character, being sprinkled with Pixie Dust, etc. If you have had a Magical Moment at Disney, [...]
My name is Kristin and I am a coupon addict. My coupon addiction feeds my other addiction, Disney. How are the two related you ask? Well I have learned how to use the money I save by couponing to pay for my yearly trips to Disney World. And I am eager to share that knowledge with all of you!
