This list include some of the best kept Disney secrets, advice on how to make the most of your Disney World vacation and tips on how to save money and avoid long lines.
Resort Tips
1. The Disney website will automatically charge you rack rate price (regular price) unless you go through their special offers page. You can book rack rate now and when specials come out, you can call and ask them to apply the special to your vacation. They will not do it automatically.
2. Disney Vacation Planners (also called Disney travel agents) are FREE to use. You’ll get the same specials as you’ll get through Disney (and pay the same price) plus you will get extra perks and planning tips. I recommend Destinations in Florida.
3. When consider where you want to stay, make sure you consider how long you will actually be in the room. If you will spend the majority of your day in the parks, opt for the least expensive resort that is on your list.
4. Most resort rooms allow for 4 adults plus a crib baby under 3. So if you have 3 children but your youngest is under 3, you can still stay in a room that sleeps four. Disney will even provide the Pack and Play for FREE!
5. The biggest difference between the pools at the Value and Moderate resorts is the water slide. Value resorts don’t have one! So if you love to swim, you might want to use the pools as your deciding factor on which resort you choose. Be sure to read about all of the differences between Value, Moderate and Deluxe resorts
6. If you stay on site, you can take the Magical Express from the Orlando Airport to Disney World for FREE! The bus will even drop you off in front of your resort. Just remember to tip your driver $1 per each bag that he handles.
7. Staying on property gives you access to the parks that have Extra Magic Hours. This is a special time when a specific park is open either 1 hour early or 2 hours late. But keep in mind that many people who stay on property take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and there are over 20 resorts on property.
8. Disney World Transportation – Buses start running about 2 hours before the park opens. If you want to make it to the park in time to be at the front of the line, you need to get on a bus at least one hour before the park opens. That will give you time to make it through security and still get up near the front of the park’s entrance.
9. The resorts will accept packages on your behalf starting 2 weeks before you arrive. You can use this amenity to ship items to the resort including food, a stroller, a case of water, etc. Just Google for your resorts address.
10. Mousekeeping is Disney’s version of Housekeeping. The rule of thumb is to tip $1 per person in your room plus an extra $1. So a family of four would tip $5 per day. Sometimes Mousekeeping leaves you magical touches such as towel animals, turn down service, extra towels or extra shampoos. We love returning to our room each day to see what they have done.
11. Bring Disney stuffed animals, stickers, etc to decorate your room and window. As long as nothing is permanent, you are welcome to decorate your resort window however you wish. Plus Mousekeeping has fun with the stuffed animals and often rearranges them while you are in the park. We have come back to the room to find our stuffed animals watching tv, sleeping in the bed, etc.
12. A good way to make your kids behave during your trip is to do Tinker Bell gifts. Bring a bunch of little Disney themed toys with you (from the Dollar Tree) and have Tinker Bell leave one each night for the kids that were good that day. Tinker Bell usually leaves our gifts on the window sill.
13. If you get sick at Disney, let a Cast Member know. They can advice you on how to get over the counter medications, transportation to the nearest doctor’s office and more. Disney is very good about taking care of their guests that are under the weather, you just have to remember to ask them!
14. You can visit any Disney resort on property. You can take a bus or a monorail or a boat and browse the resort (you can also drive, just let the guard know you want to browse the resort. You are usually allowed 2 hours.). You can dine in the resort’s restaurants, shop in their stores, walk on their beaches. You just can’t swim in their pool.
15. Every night, beginning at 9 pm, the Electrical Water Pageant makes it’s way around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. It can be seen at 5 of the resorts. You could go for dinner at 1900 Park Fare (located at The Grand Floridian) and then walk down to their beach and see the Pageant and the fireworks at Magic Kingdom.
16. Enjoy a FREE campfire sing along with Chip at Dale at Ft. Wilderness. It is usually around 7 pm during the fall/winter and 8 pm during the spring/summer. You can enjoy a FREE Disney movie, make smores (don’t worry, they sell them by the campfire if you don’t have your own fixings) and hang out with Chip and Dale. This event is held by the Meadow Trading Post.
17. Animal Kingdom Lodge has over 100 grazing animals on property. You can view them for free. While you are there, you can stop by the gift shop and there is a place set up for kids to play musical instruments from Africa!
General Park Tips
18. When you enter a park, you must first go through security. To make this process move quickly, go ahead and unzip all of your bag’s compartments. Also the security guard will first check the bag to the person on his left and then he will check the person on his right. Try to go thru the shortest line! Don’t just follow the crowds.
19. It’s important to know where the crowds are going to go as soon as the park opens.
At Magic Kingdom, they will head towards Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan’s Flight, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain.
At Epcot, they will head towards Frozen Ever After, Soarin’ and Test Track.
At Animal Kingdom, they head to Flight of Passage, Na’Vi River Journey and Kilamanjaro Safaris.
At Hollywood Studios, Toy Story Mania and Slinky Dog Dash are the main attraction with some people heading towards Tower of Terror and Rocking Roller Coaster.
20. Don’t follow the masses. It’s common human nature to go with the crowds. Take a moment to look at all your options. A lot of time people will all be headed to one turnstile and there will be a long line, while there are 3 open turnstiles on your left hand side that people aren’t using. So keep your eyes open. If you can go left, go left! (Everyone else will be going right).
21. When the park opens, you want to head towards the most popular rides first. Your goal is to beat everyone else there, but if that is impossible, you still want to be in front of as many people as possible. The queues for these rides will be the shortest they will be all day early in the morning. It’s best to get these rides out of the way as soon as you can.
22. FASTPASS is a wonderful program that Disney offers all their guests. Fastpass essentially reserves you a spot in a shorter line during a specific hour during that day. If you are staying on site, you can book your Fastpasses 60 days in advance. If you are staying offsite, you can book your Fastpasses 30 days in advance. When the time comes for you to redeem your Fastpass, return to the ride but use the Fastpass entrance. You will then get to skip ahead of all the people in the regular queue and you will feel like a celebrity! See the park map for all the details on which rides have Fastpass.
23. If you are going to Disney with little ones, you need to know about an unadvertised Disney amenity called Rider Swap. Rider Swap enables a parent to ride with the older children while the other parent waits with the younger child. After the older children ride, the parents swap places and they ride again. To use this feature, just approach the Cast Member at the entrance of the ride and let them know that you want to do Rider Swap. Get your needs for a trip from ALDI Weekly Ad.
24. Before you leave for your trip, you can buy Memory Maker for $169.00 (it’s $199.00 if you wait to buy it after your trip begins). The Photopass photographers are located at picture perfect spots throughout the parks and also at the character meet and greets. They take pictures of your family for you with their camera and the photos are stored on your MagicBand or Park Ticket. If you don’t want to buy Memory Maker, don’t worry! The Photopass photographers will use your camera to take pictures too.
25. As soon as you have your park ticket and Photopass card, take a picture of the back side of the card(s) in case you happen to lose it. Disney can usually look up your tickets by the credit card you used, your receipt, a photo/copy of the back of the ticket, or narrowing it down with the other tickets in the group, but if you lose the Photopass card it is a lot harder to replace.
26. Love to meet characters? Every single character meet and greet for the park is listed on the Times Guide that is available when you enter the park. You can also find the Times Guide by the register at many souvenir shops or you can even ask a Cast Member for one. You will also find the show times and parade times listed in the Times Guide.
27. Need to know where a character is meeting? Just ask one of the Cast Members in the blue shirts. They are the character handlers and they can help you find any character that is currently meeting in the park.
28. When you get into line to meet a character, make sure you ask the handler when the character will be going for a little snack break. This way you can either exit and re-enter the line later or at least warn little junior that the character might have to leave for 5 minutes.
29. If you see a Photopass photographer standing somewhere kind of random, it usually means he is waiting on a character to arrive. Don’t be shy and ask him if/when the character is coming. This might help you meet a character with little to no wait.
30. Only face characters (like the Princesses) speak. You could explain this to your child by saying that the other characters have to save their voices for the parades and shows (where they do speak).
31. Disney has a selection of special occasion buttons that you can wear. They have everything from Birthday to Family Reunion. You can pick up your button at the concierge desk or Town Hall in the parks.
32. Each park contains a First Aid center. Here you can get single dosages of select over the counter medicines. They can also help with blisters, heat exhaustion and loose teeth! If you need their services, use them. It’s FREE!
33. Have a little one? Each park also contains a Baby Care Center. This center includes a nursing room, changing stations, high chairs, toys and more.
34. Planning on renting a stroller? You don’t receive a discount when the stroller is returned at the end of the day, so why not pass it on to a family that is just entering the parks? This is a great way to sprinkle a little Pixie Dust on another family.
35. Renting a stroller from Disney is very expensive. You can bring your own or you can rent one from an off site company. You could also order an inexpensive stroller on Amazon and have it shipped to your resort. When you leave, offer it to a family checking in with a little one.
36. Need to rent an ECV for a member of your party. It is so much cheaper to rent one from an off site company (we have used Scooter Vacations). They will even deliver it to your resort and have it waiting on you at luggage services.
37. Rope Drop – Want to experience shorter lines, cooler temperatures and smaller crowds? Just make it to the park about 45 minutes before it opens. This will ensure that you enter the park in front of the crowds. We can typically squeeze in about 10-12 rides in the first hour the park is open. It will take you 3-4 hours to ride that same number of rides later in the day!
38. If anyone in your party has special needs, Disney offers a Guest Assistance Card. A Guest Assistance Card will enable those will special needs to fully enjoy their vacation by offering alternative entrances and waiting areas for attractions.
39. In order to visit 2 parks in one day, you will need to add the Park Hopper option on your ticket. If you aren’t 100% sure that you will want/need/use Park Hopper, you don’t have to buy it ahead of time. You will pay the same exact price if you buy it before you leave or if you buy it at the gate. You can add Park Hopper on at any time, including the moment you decide you want to Hop to another park. I suggest you put the amount Park Hopper will cost your family on a Disney gift card. If you decide not to Hop, you will have $55 per person to spend on souvenirs.
40. Cast Members are there to help you. If you have a question, concern or just want some insider tips, be sure to strike up a conversation with a Cast Member. I also suggest that you verify your parade or fireworks watching spot with the nearest Cast Member that you see. You don’t want to pick a spot that doesn’t have a good view or a spot where they will make you move from.
41. You can get in line for an attraction up until the park closes. So if the park is closing at 9 pm, as long as you get in the queue at 8:59 pm, you will get to ride!
42. Even though the park has a listed closing time, that doesn’t mean that everything shuts down at that exact moment. Stores are usually open 1-2 hours after the park closes and by browsing the stores, you’ll avoid the mad rush to the buses. We once waited over an hour for a bus, now we shop instead!
43. Each park has a wait time board that is manned by a Cast Member. This board will have up to the minute wait times. Be sure to check the board each time you pass it.
Dining Tips
44. Staying hydrated in the park is essential to having a great trip. You are welcome to bring in your own beverages or food in a soft sided cooler. You can also get water for FREE at any snack or counter service restaurant that serves fountain drinks. Just ask for an ice water! We always bring flavor packets (like Crystal Light or Hawaiian Ice) to add to our water.
45. Dining with the characters is a great way to collect autographs while feeding your family. Each park has at least one character meal. At Magic Kingdom, it’s Crystal Palace (with the gang from Pooh) and Cinderella’s Royal Table (with Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine, Belle and Sleeping Beauty). At Animal Kingdom, it’s Donald’s Safari Breakfast at Tusker House. At Hollywood Studios, it’s the Playhouse Disney Characters at Hollywood and Vine. At Epcot, it’s the Princesses at Akershus in Norway or Mickey and the gang at Garden Grill near Soarin.
46. The Dining Plan is a great way to save on the cost of food if you normally eat all the food that you will receive on the plan. I suggest that you check out the menus on AllEars.net and plan out a mock day. If you would save money using the dining plan, then it is for you! For your mock day, you will need to choose one counter service restaurant and one table service restaurant. If you have kids, you might choose to have lunch at Cosmic Rays in the Magic Kingdom and dinner at Chef Mickey’s just outside the park.
47. The counter service order stations are set up to take orders from both the left and right sides. So if everyone is on one side, don’t follow the crowd. Go to the other side to place your order.
48. If you have the dining plan, you can get either the medium or the large size drink on the plan at the counter service restaurants. They will not ask you if you want a large size drink, so make sure you tell them when you order.
49. There are a few different Disney Dining apps. I always download one to my phone before we leave for the parks. We choose our table first and sit down and browse the menu on the phone. Then we leave one person to reserve the table and the rest of us order the food. This keeps us from having to hunt for a table while holding a heavy tray. (My favorite is the WDW Dining App) Note: They do not allow you to select a table before you get your food during peak busy times.
50. Animal Kingdom only has paper straws which can be difficult for children to use. I suggest you bring some sort of a sippy cup or thermos for the kids to use. (Their cups also do not have lids.)
51. Disney is a Coke only resort. If you must have a Pepsi fix, you will have to order it in or bring it with you.
52. Eating breakfast in the room is a great way to lower your costs. You can bring poptarts, dry cereal, breakfast bars, donuts, etc. I have even brought Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat plus paper bowls and plastic spoons and made a delicious and filling breakfast. Every resort room now has a fridge (for FREE!) so you can keep drinks cold.
53. If you are a big soda or coffee drinker, you can purchase a Resort Refillable Mug  in the food court of your resort for $15.49 (it is included with the dining plan at no additional charge). This mug will enable you to receive unlimited refills during the duration of your stay. The major drawback is that it is only 12 oz and it is only valid at your resort where you are staying. Try to figure out how many refills you might use to make sure it is worth your investment.
54. If you are planning on seeing a parade or watching a fireworks show, consider timing your meal around your wait time. Pick up your food to go from a nearby counter service restaurant and sit and enjoy it in your parade/fireworks viewing spot. This will help pass time and kill 2 birds with one stone.
55. Sunshine Seasons is an awesome counter service restaurant in Epcot. It is located in the Land Pavilion just outside the entrance to Soarin. They have a variety of food choices and they offer FREE refills. Not many restaurants in Disney do that.
56. If you are dining at a counter service restaurant, consider buying a large soda with light ice and asking for a cup of ice to go with it. Once you get to the table, you can split the soda with your partner. (Most counter service restaurants do not offer refills, so this is not cheating the system. I am not advising you to do this at a restaurant that does offer refills. I think there are only 2 that do.)
57. If you are paying out of pocket for a table service meal, choose breakfast or lunch. The prices are cheaper than the dinner prices.
Merchandise Tips
58. If one of your souvenirs breaks while you are on vacation, Disney will replace it for FREE! Just take it to the nearest store that carries that product and let the Cast Member know the issue. On the last trip, we had to replace 3 different items including a pen that ran out of ink and a lanyard that broke.
59. Before you head to the parks, buy your souvenirs ahead of time! I always pick up little things for the kids at The Dollar Tree or the Dollar Spot at Target or Michaels. I also pick up items on clearance from ShopDisney.com and hide them in the suitcase and give them to the kids when we are on Disney property.
60. Most Cast Members wear a lanyard that contains Disney themed pins. You can trade up to 2 pins with each Cast Member. Before we go to the parks, we always buy a lot of Disney pins on Ebay. Just make sure the seller has positive feedback and the pins have a Disney seal on the back.
61. Another great and inexpensive souvenir is Pressed Pennies. There are over 175 Pressed Pennies machines on Disney property. Each Pressed Penny costs $0.51. I take my coins in a Mini M&Ms tube and arrage it 2 quarters and 1 penny so it is easy to access in the parks. You can also buy Pressed Penny books at the souvenir shops to keep them organized.
62. You do not have to carry your packages around with you all day. You can either have them sent up to the front of the park to pick up on your way out or if you are staying on Disney property you can have them sent to your resort’s gift shop (next day).
63. You can make your own autograph books at home and save money! Characters will sign anything really… shirts, hats, pillow cases, canvas, etc. They just won’t sign anything that you are currently wearing.
64. Disney Springs contains many different stores that sell most of the souvenirs you’ll find in the parks. There is no admission to visit Disney Springs. There are full size statues of Disney characters that you can pose next too for memorable pictures. There is an amazing Lego store there with plenty of Lego structures that you can check out. They also have a big play area where kids can build Legos for free. Also be sure to visit the Ghiradelli Chocolate store. They are always giving out free samples! And if you walk towards Pleasure Island, you can watch the hot air balloon take off. It is also a great place to trade pins. There are so many things to do here!
Magic Kingdom Tips
65. Magic Kingdom has a wonderful welcome show that starts about 12 minutes before the park opens. Your kids definitely need to see this, so make sure you stand in the middle of the queue where you can see the clock at the top of the train station. The show will involve the train, so make sure you can see it!
66. If you time it just right, your walk down Main Street could be with a few of the characters! When the welcome show ends, I have seen Peter Pan, Wendy, Alice, Mary Poppins and more exiting from the train station and walking down Main Street to their Meet and Greet locations. They won’t stop for autographs, but it’s fun to walk along side them.
67. Want to enter the Magic Kingdom before other guests? Just book a dining reservation in the 8 o’clock hour with either Crystal Palace or Cinderella’s Royal Table. You should be able to get a picture of Cinderella’s Castle without any other guests in the photo! Sometimes the Photopass photographers are out to capture the moment for you.
68. The Celebrate a Dream Come True and Main Street Electrical Parade starts on Main Street and ends in Frontierland by Splash Mountain. Most people sit on Main Street, so it’s easier to find a seat near Splash Mountain. Just make sure you don’t sit in the walk paths or the Cast Members will make you move. If you are unsure of your seat, just ask the nearest Cast Member if it is ok.
During busy times, the parade might follow a reverse route on busy days. Be sure to check the Times Guide for accurate parade routes.
69. Exiting the park after Wishes is a mission in and of itself. If you are planning on leaving as soon as the Fireworks are over, try to find a seat towards the entrance to the park instead of near the castle. This will help you to make a speedy exit as soon as the show is over. But remember Tinker Bell flies from the castle to the top of the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station.
70. The Magic Kingdom is not the only place you can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks. You can watch the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian Resort. You do not need to be a guest of that resort to enjoy the show. Just let the guard know you want to tour the resort when you arrive (if you are driving) or you could just take the monorail or other Disney transportation to the resort and head back to the beach. My favorite place to sit is in the swings.
(Note: during busy seasons, you may not be able to park at the resort unless you have dining reservations if you are not staying there).
71. Most guests do not realize that you can meet almost all of the characters in other parks. Therefore, the lines for characters at the Magic Kingdom are very long! I suggest that you only meet the characters that do not meet in any other park. This includes Rapunzel, Tiana, The Fairy Godmother, Wendy and Peter Pan.
72. Main Street closes half to a whole hour after the Magic Kingdom closes. Just because the park ‘closes’ at 9pm, you do not have to rush out. Take your time enjoying the shops and attractions on Main Street. Plus most of the shops are connected inside, so you can walk shop to shop without having to go back to Main Street.
73. Fantasyland is the most appealing land for little ones. Make sure you go to this land first thing in the morning. Crowds starting to increase around lunch time and will stay crowded for the rest of the day.
74. Main Street slats uphill towards the castle which makes the morning rope dash harder on the legs. However when you are exiting in the evening, the journey is easier and it leaves you with a good impression of the Magic Kingdom.
75. If there are 2 evening parades, the second one will always be the least crowded.
76. There is a sled located outside Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. This would be a great place to take your Christmas card photo.
77. There is a really great play place beside the entrance to Splash Mountain for little ones to play on while their siblings ride Big Thunder or Splash with Dad.
78. There is a working barber shop located on Main Street. At Harmony Barber shop, you can get your baby’s first haircut. Your package will even come with a pair of commemorative ears. You can also get a gel style for just $5 complete with mickey shaped confetti.
79. Want to grab a quick bite and recharge your batteries without going all the way back to your resort? Jump on the monorail and head to the Contemporary and eat at the Contempo Cafe. Prices are reasonable, crowds are low and you’ll have a great view of the Monorail.
Epcot Tips
80. Epcot has 2 sections: Future World and World Showcase. Future World opens at 9 am and World Showcase opens at 11 am. Most of Future World closes at 7 pm, but a few rides remain open including the Character Spot.
81. The World Showcase is an excellent place to meet characters and it is the only place you will find Mulan. Be sure to check The Times Guide when you enter the park for exact Meet ‘n Greet times.
82. The World Showcase isn’t very appealing to children. In order to make it enjoyable, Disney has added 2 kid friendly activities. One is the Kidcot Stations located in each country and staffed by people native to that country. Kids can get their Duffy Bear stamped as well as their name written in the foreign language. The other activity is called Agent P which is missions for kids to complete. You can get your device on the bridge that leads into the World Showcase and then complete the missions at your pace.
83. One fun way to enjoy the World Showcase is to purchase a specific item from each country. Here are a few ideas: snacks, candy, magnet, pen, hat, doll, musical instrument. You could also get an autograph mat (from Michael’s) and have a Cast Member in each country write a phrase in their own language. A few choices for phrases could be love, vacation, family or your name.
84. A fun souvenir for the girls is Pick A Pearl in Japan. You can choose your own Oyster and they will open it for you. You can also purchase settings for the pearl there in the shop or you can purchase them ahead of time on Ebay. I bought my daughter a Cinderella Carriage that caged the pearl.
85. Instead of eating in a restaurant at Epcot, consider buying a snack for everyone to share in each country. We usually only make it about 5 countries before we are so full we can’t eat another bite.
86. Stop by Club Cool in the Innoventions building and test Coke products from around the world for FREE! There is one very bitter drink called Beverly. Trick your family into trying it, but avoid drinking it yourself. It is so nasty!
87. When Epcot opens, head to the Character Spot to meet with Mickey and his friends. If you can be the first one there, you’ll get a picture with all 5 characters! I also hear that they do this for the last person in the line when the park closes.
88. Do you have a Disney Chase Visa? If you do, you can stop by the Innoventions West building between 1:00 and 7:00 and get a private meet and greet with Mickey and his friends. You’ll also get a FREE 5×7 photo.
89. There is a play place located in the Mission: Space building that is great for kids under 5. To get to it, you will need to enter the exit of Mission Space (it’s like a gift shop area, it’s not an exit like other rides). This is a great place for little ones to play while their sibling rides Mission Space or Test Track.
90. If you don’t mind splitting up from your group, Test Track has a single rider line. This line is used to fill the cars when parties that waited in the regular queue are a rider short. Don’t expect to ride in the same car as your own party though! But the line is usually about 1/5th of the wait time of the regular line.
Animal Kingdom Tips
91. Animal Kingdom is the best park to meet the characters. It is my favorite park to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald. Many people don’t even think about meeting characters here, so the lines are usually not too long. Just be sure to check the Times Guide for accurate Meet ‘N Greet Times.
92. Did you know that there is a secret entrance to the Animal Kingdom? If you go through the Rain Forest Cafe’s gift shop and out the doors at the back, there is a fun garden type area with oversized vegetation. There is also a working turnstyle with a CM that you can use to get into the park! A lot of people don’t know about this and thus it isn’t very busy.
93. Animal Kingdom has an amazing playground for kids under 10 called The Boneyard. It is a great place for the younger kids to hang out with mom while the older siblings ride Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, Expedition Everest or Kali River Rapids with Dad.
94. The Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade in Animal Kingdom both starts and ends in Harambe. I suggest you head back to Harambe and enjoy the Safari or explore the trails and then make it back to the parade route about 10 minutes after it started. You’ll have your pick of viewing of spot and there won’t be much of a crowd.
95. The Animal Kingdom has a program for kids called Kids Discovery Club. As you tour Animal Kingdom, look for the Kids’ Discovery Stations. Each station has a different activity and your child will receive a special stamp in their free activity book (given to them at the first station they visit) when you complete the activity. When you have received all your stamps, you can turn it in for a special surprise.
96. There is a semi-secret path located off the trail to Harambe Village. it is the very last path to the right after the Tree of Life and just before the bridge to Harambe Village. It’s entrance is somewhat covered with vegetation so it can be easy to miss. Because very few people know about this path, you can take your time and get an up close look at the Tree of Life. And if you see rocks with holes in them, be sure to look through the holes for a nice surprise.
Hollywood Studios Tips
97. If rain is in the forecast, Hollywood Studios is definitely the best park to avoid the rain. Almost every single attraction and queue are indoors.
98. The most popular ride at Hollywood Studios is Toy Story Mania. Almost everyone at Rope Drop will be heading towards the ride. Your best option in the morning is to send one person from your group to FASTPASS the ride. You can take everyone else to meet the characters near the Chinese Theater followed by Buzz and Woody (located across from the Toy Story Mania ride).
More Tips
99. If you have the ability to take a picture with your phone and use it as your phones lock screen. Take a photo of your key to the World (room key). If you lose your phone, a cast member can see the photo with key information and have your phone returned to your resort. – Casey
100. If you like a dish at a Walt Disney World restaurant, you can request the recipe. Check out this story:Â When I asked our waitress for a recipe for one of my favorite dishes, (which was not on the menu this time) she quickly brought over the head chef. Not only did he supply me with the recipe, he sat and spoke to us for at least 45 minutes, gave me instructions on how to prepare one of the desserts, brought out a steak for us to try, and informed us that if there is anything we ever want on the menu, call ahead, and he would have it ready for us when we arrived. – Lisa
101. I will also suggest that if you’re going to watch the fireworks at Cinderella’s Castle, DON’T get stuck BEHIND the castle. They rope it off and they have heavy security so that no one can get through until the fireworks are over. You don’t even see Tinkbell ride across the sky from this viewpoint (it was our 1st time, but we knew something happened by the crowd’s reaction) plus the view isn’t as interesting – and be careful if you are stuck back there…depending on the way the wind blows, there are cinders from the fireworks floating around. I had one land in my eye after the first firework and I missed the entire show, plus people were getting the cinders and ashes in their ice cream. Just be aware of where you are about 15-20 minutes prior to the fireworks – even if you aren’t going to watch them & don’t eat anything during them. – Beth
This is the great review and experiences from you. I love to read and remember all. Thank so much for your tips and sharing. Hope to hear more useful things from your site.
What about the Florida Resident discount/ lines etc? Can someone go w/a resident & get in as friend/family? And is it really that much better?
My sister wants to take her son and daughter to a Disney park this spring. It is good to know that pressed pennies can be a fun thing to collect around the park. I know that she wants to do one of those dining events with the characters. It seems like she should look and see how early in advance you need to book.
HI,
Can you advise any ebay Disney pin sellers you have used in the past? I would lobe to buy from a reputable seller.
Thanks!
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This has been the BEST list I have found (and I have scoured almost EVERY Disney site). So glad I found this all the other ones I found to be a bit of a head rush you’re is detailed and simple making it the perfect go to reference. My vacation isn’t for another 411 days (who’s counting) but I’m one of those obsessive researchers and you have made it easier.
Surprised that I didn’t see any mention of the Transportation Cards. . There like trading cards with fun facts about about the monorail. Just ask any of the Cast Members at the transportation center or at a monorail station. One other note, WDW doesn’t allow selfie-sticks in the park.
I know this list is a few years old but I still appreciate it now nonetheless! This has helped me plan our DW trip this year and I feel much better about the ins and outs. Thanks so much for all your effort!
A lot of people don’t know this, but if you have or had a relative that worked at General Motors, than you can go to a special room and get a fast pass, but you have to have their work papers(proof)
The mini m&m tube for the penny press machine is a great idea. However, do NOT fill them and take them through the airport, We found out the hard way that they look very suspicious on the xray screen. Fill them once you get to WDW if you are flying.
Good point!
Just curious. Is the gel style at the Harmony Barber Shop something separate? I checked the WDW website and they list a childs haircut at $15
I’ve been to Disney World multiple time and I was not aware of over 1/2 of these things…thanks so much for the tips!!!
Glad I could help you learn more :)
Another pro tip: The wait times are not always accurate. One time, we were going to meet Disney Princess’ and a Cast Member handed us a time card to give to the Cast Member at the front of the line. When I handed it to him, he radioed the front person to change the time to a 45 minute wait, while the actual wait was 30 minutes! When I asked why they did this, he said “It’s to add to the magic. When you get to the front, it won’t feel like your waited 45 minutes.” Disney is the absolute best! This made my day.
Great tips! Saving this website while we plan our honeymoon to Disney World!
We visited Disney Hollywood Studios in a day that the forecast was not good. We got the fastpasses for Fantasmic in the morning, but since it was almost raining at the moment that the show was scheduled, it got cancelled. We went to guest relations to check if we could get access to the park to enjoy the show some other day, and they gave us free tickets for an extra day in the park and advanced fastpasses for the show again!
Love the list! There were a couple of items I had questions on though. I grew up going to disney and now I am bringing my babies there and we were always told if you are staying on property you could swim in any of the resort pools and use the refillable mugs. Did a disney employee say otherwise?
This was probably one of the coolest thing I have ever read. I have been to Disney so many times, but some things on this list I NEVER knew. Really cool thing about the recipes too! The Lobster ravioli at the Coral Reef in Epcot is one of my favorite dishes ever in Disney. I will maybe have to ask for the recipe!
This is amazing. My head is so filled now, I couldn’t read it all. However I love that Disney offers a Guest Assistance Card. My brother has special needs so I am so going to look more into that as soon as I start really planning for my trip.
On #62……DO you know if they’ll send packages up to the front even if you don’t stay at their resorts?
Yes they will
Wow, awesome tips! Thanks so much for sharing this. These will definitely be useful on our upcoming Disney family vacation!!
We booked breakfast at Cinderella’s castle as late as possible. That way…everyone else finished breakfast and left and we had all the characters at our table. We also ate breakfast with Winnie the Pooh early and went over to Cinderella’s castle. Since we were there so early, they chose our daughter to wave the magic wand and open DisneyWorld that day. This ended up being the best vacation we ever took. We went around November 5th. Fewer people and better weather. My daughter died at age 16 and we still talk about this vacation with her.
There is character dining at many of the hotel dining rooms. We plan to eat at Chef Mickey’s to meet some of the characters.
Also, there seems to be a change with Fastpass- they will now let you book your Fastpass choices 30 days in advance, even if you aren’t staying in one of thier hotels.
Looking into going to Disney world but not at any of the resorts, where could I get the best deals for tickets to the parks?
Wow! You are a Disney expert!! We have one son who is 3, and I would love to take him to Disney now, but the funds just aren’t there. Your website has inspired me though! Hopefully I can do what you are doing and start saving for in a couple of years. I have a couple of questions for you…what is your opinion on the annual pass? Like is it worth it if you are going to go two or three trips in one year? And do you know anything about the Wyndham Resort which is very close to Disney World? Thank you so much!
Awesome tips! Quick question..what do u do with backpack of sunscreen, snacks, etc. When u go on a ride?
Most of the rides have a pouch where you can stick your bag or you can put it on the floor or the side of the ride. If you choose to put it on the floor do what I do and loop one of the straps (assuming it is a backpack) around one of your legs so it can’t accidentally fall out.
I live in Florida and have annual passes, just a tip for souvenirs, there is a Walmart close to Disney, has a HUGE souvenir section for a fraction of the price. Tshirts, coffee mugs, bags, stuffed animals, and so on!!! Helps when you have many children that would like a souvenir. Have a fabulous time!!
I’ve been to Disney 10+ times and had to write a few of the tip down! Great info, Thanks!!
Two other small tips. If you use the first aid station they give you a neat nurse Minnie sticker,great if you are s collector. Also even though characters won’t sign things you are wearing, they will sign your cast if you are broken when you go to Disney!
We are a family of 13 coming to Disney world in June. Our children are ages 10 to 2 years old. We had planned on visiting Magic Kingdom one day and Sea World one day. We only have 5 days and for our first trip I thought a taste of Disney for one day would be perfect. Any suggestions on this plan. Would you visit Sea World? What would you suggest for our kids to do as Magic Kingdom based on the ages?
thanks, I am getting excited.
We just returned from a 7 day trip to Orlando yesterday so I hope this is helpful. I loved Sea World as a kid so we did take one day to visit however it was disappointing. There is currently no “Shamu” show and it is unclear when or if it will return as well as several shows that were cancelled the day of our trip with no explanation from staff members. You are not allowed to bring in outside sandwiches or things that may be considered “meals” unlike the Disney parks. We were a group of 6 and all agreed we wished we had spent another day at Disney, probably Animal Kingdom rather than SeaWorld. It just left a bit to be desired after the “magic” of Disney.
I have bought Disney trading pins for my grandchildren to trade when they visit WDW, but I am unsure of what the best kind of lanyard to buy them. I have seen a lot of different ones. Can you give me a suggestion.
If one member goes ahead for a fast pass does he need to bring everyone’s tickets? Or is one pass good for how many riders?
No, you would need everyone’s
My fiance and I are getting married in mid-July and going to Disney the first week of October. This will most likely be our honeymoon, even though we are going with his mom, brother, sister, 3 nieces, and nephew. Is this too long after our wedding to get the “Just Married” buttons? I wouldn’t get them if we do decide to do another honeymoon, of course.
No, you should be able to get them since that will be your honeymoon. We originally planned to go for my daughter’s birthday but then changed the dates of the trip. They said since that is the reason we were coming that we could still celebrate her birthday at Disney.
The BEST place we have found to watch the fireworks is outside of Pecos Bill Cafe. There is hardly anyone over there and the shoot them off right there from Tom Saywer island, so it’s perfect as long as you don’t mind a little extra noise. :) We were told, however, that Mousekeeping is NOT supposed to accept tips.
We are planning a Spring trip with our teenage children (who have never been!)! Your tips are great and are so helpful, thank you! Any suggestions for the teenagers? We are debating on Disneyland or Disney World, thoughts? Thanks again!
I don’t know if you will be checking back in but…. My 15 and 12 year olds insist on going to Disneyworld EVERY YEAR – so we’ve been there alot!
1) We always get up early and at parks before opening. Then leave at around 1:30 and spend afternoon napping/vegging out at hotel. Then we head back to parks at around 4ish to close. This gives then a chance to get their “web withdrawals” taken care of LOL. We also usually only buy snacks/popcorn at the parks – the afternoon break gives us a chance to eat our “big: meal of the day at the hotel – if you get dining pass this is irrelevent ( we NEVER get dining plan!).
2) There is a McD’s near Animal Kingdom which is a great place to grab breakfast and good coffee on the fly.
3)There is a super Walmart 10 minutes away – search online for directions. We grocery shop there during our afternoon break as needed for munchies – which teens need so much of!. Just remember to bring plenty of quarters for the toll – I once got stuck because I forgot and ended up getting change from a cabbie in the Walmart parking lot!!
4) Rainforest Cafe for at least one lunch – it’s pricy but so very “cool” . We go to the one at Animal Kingdom – my kids favorite park – they love the ambiance of the different continents.
5)We get each child a gift card (usually $100) for the trip that they can use for all those things that a parent says no to; like the $6 ice cream!! And to use for souvenirs for themselves. It keeps them from asking us for money every 5 minutes and gets them to be more finicky about what they buy.
6) If you can afford it, get the hopper passes and hit 2 parks each day – believe it or not you will feel less rushed, not more, knowing that you will be back to the park again another day.
(ya know what – I’d be happy to put together an itinerary based on park hours while you are there etc if you want – I do it for friends all the time and its fun for me- gets me in Disney mood. PM me @ [email protected] I’m actually putting together a book about planning a Disney trip so I have tons of suggestions.)
I recommend calling the concierge doctor if someone gets sick. She was at our room within an hour with medications in her bag. We had to pay up front but submitted to our insurance and what whey did not reimburse the travel insurance did. Can use at Disney as well as universal Studios.
kristen,
don’t forget to update #38 about the GAC cards!!!!!!!~
#95 is now called The Wildnerness Explorer program it’s AWESOME! As you walk into The park be on the look out on the Right hand side for a Troop leader station you’ll get your book and earn your first badge. It was great and so much fun. It’s based on Russell from Up
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/06/become-a-wilderness-explorer-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-at-walt-disney-world-resort/
The phone booth numbers didn’t work. Do they change them?
I believe they have disconnected it. :(
A fun thing to do before the trip is to make your own autograph books for the characters to sign. We used small sketch books and scrapbooking supplies. In the park, a plain white book is around $20; my sister and I made 3 fun and colorful ones for about $30! Plus if you personalize each page (hearts for Alice, a shoe for Cinderella, bubbles for Ariel) the characters love it! We even had some envious cast members! It was so much a great way to get excited for a trip!
207
When we went I went to my local Office Max store, bought a pack of no line recipe cards one size bigger than the standard size. Like a 5 X 7 and had Office Max put it together with one of those spiral binders. In the back of the book I put a list of each park and what rides/shows we had to see, wanted to see, and if time to see. Then I made a list of what to pack for each person. (Came in handy for other trips) A list of what restaurants we wanted to eat at. And If I made any reservations all those numbers were in there. I had a list of all important numbers and address’s for people I wanted to send postcards to while on vacation. Please a list of tips I wanted to remember.
In the front of the book I used for the autographs. I used the Sharpie retractable permanent marker and used a different color per park. The Characters loved the markers for they were a nice big size and only needed to click them and start writing.
I use this book for so many trips and have a great souvenir and it only costed me about $15 to have made.
I still use it and keep adding autographs to it. To make the pages special I bought stickers to decorate them.
The cover was in black so I decorated that also with stickers.
Very nice project and souvenir for anyone for a good reasonable price.
You just made my mom’s 65th birthday trip extra special. We’re going to DL to celebrate, having a mini family reunion and she’d said instead of gifts she really just wants some good pictures of all of us having fun together. I read your tip on buying a PhotoPass before you go. Great tip! Thanks.
what is the best item for autographs? i have two boys and really don’t want to carry around autograph books….
I’ve heard taking a pillow case and having it signed can be neat. You can have all the characters sign that. Maybe they wouldn’t mind carrying that around in a day bag, or even a pocket if it’s big enough, like on cargo shorts. Just might want to keep it in a ziploc bag so it doesn’t get wet on rides.
Hi!
Great list! I didn’t take the time to read through every single comment, so someone may have already mentioned this, but… I called yesterday to make appointments for my sons at Harmony Barber Shop. I was hoping to schedule one for a first haircut and the other for a styling with Mickey gel. She said they no longer do the stylings, only haircuts. :(
Awwww…… :-( Was really hoping to do this with my son. We are doing pirates league too but this would be a cheap thing to do one day too. :'(
How many photo passes can you hook up to one CD? We have a large group going and I am hoping to give each family one photo pass (possibly 5 passes) and then get one CD with all of our photos.
I think it is 8-12. :)
hello! my family leaves for disney in 38 days, and this is the first time for all five of us, including my 3 little girls. i have looked up all kinds of tips and tricks for the trip and this has been the best so far!!! my youngest is 4 and my oldest is 7, is there anything you suggest we do straight off the bat? id like to plan out the day and see as much of the park as possible.
This will be our first time to Disney World. We are a family of 9. The youngest being 14. What would you all suggest for adults that we should not miss? Tips for us?
The list is wonderful! Just wanted to ask veterans for suggestions.
Thanks!!
All the roller coasters, they are thrilling but not too extreme
There are 4 HUGE Disney fans in our family- with the youngest being 15. Of course we love the roller coasters, & larger more popular rides – that goes without saying: ) Here are some other “can’t miss” rides that we love…. In Magic Kingdom – Mickey’s Philharmagic, The Tea Cups – one of our favorites for taking fun pics of each other while spinning! I especially enjoy grabbing an ice cream cone & hitting the neat shops on Main Street. Epcot – The World Showcase cannot be beat. We enjoy all of the different snacks the various countries sell. And my DH especially enjoys trying the different foods from the restaurants. Though it requires a reservation, his favorite is Chefs de France. There are plenty of beautiful photo spots in The World Showcase too. In Hollywood Studios – My fave is definitely Muppet Vision 3D, Star Tours (don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to love this ride), Studio Backlot Tour, & Academy of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza. Animal Kingdom – Dinosaur, It’s Tough to Be a Bug!. Try to schedule some time for Downtown Disney – we love to eat at Wolfgang Puck Express & Earl of Sandwich. But you can’t beat Goofy’s Candy Co or Ghiradelli for dessert! We find most of our favorite souvenirs here too. Our 1st trip to WDW was in May ’07 & we’ve been HUGE Disney fans ever since. I hope you & your family have a magical time!
Going in September to celebrate both my girls birthdays…so excited! This is the best site I have read ( and I have read alot) about tips! Thanks so much! Do you happen to know when free dining will be offered this year/
Lori, one thing we did for our children on their birthday was the Sunrise Safari at Animal Kingdom, and they have a breakfast afterwards. During the breakfast, the chef came out and gave our children a pin for each of them and told them happy birthday. He also sat down and talked to us. Made us feel very special.
Lori, September is great month to go because its usually really slow. But make sure to check out parade and firework times for that week since a lot if TE time the parks may close earlier and might now the parade or fireworks that night.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is so informative! Also I save $1,000 following #1!!
For Downtown Disney our little ones love to go into TREX for the dino dig area just adjacent to the gift shop. It is a DTD must stop. Plus, collecting the Disney Transportation Trading cards there for the buses and ferries is fun. You can also collect monorail cards from the attendants there. All attendants/drivers don’t always have cards or have the entire set though.
What a great tip Amanda!
I reprinted thid
When went to DW in 2008 our girls were 7 and 10. The 7 year old did not enjoy any fast moving rides, so we used rider swap A LOT! One great thing for our 10 year old, is that when the second parent went after switching waiting with the 7 year old, the 10 year old could ride a second time with the 2nd parent, bonus for her.
That’s awesome!
Hello, there! I have a few tips speaking as a castmemeber at WDW.
For strollers- the little tiny heap ones work best to actually transport your child. The big jogging strollers are hard to move around crowds, and you’ll be temped to leave purchases on them(both purchases and stroller can get stolen, and even if its a personal stroller you can’t take them through most lines)
ECV- You can rent from off site, but if it happened to die, then your struck with it until they deliver a charged one. lLso- they can’t get wet, and most ECV parking at rides is outside, and while CM try to move them inside if it rains(and it will) the situation is not always allowed. It may be more expensive, but in the long run its less hassle if something does happen to rent from Disney.
Purchases- I really recommend purchasing near the end of the day, especially items from the Main-street Shops. Unless you get them shipped to your hotel, carrying them around and trying to avoid messing them up is a real hassle. I once had a lady with a $150 picture frame. You’re purchases have to go on the rides with you, you can have them taken to the exist usually. In this case, always ask a the CM if he/she can hold you’re purchase or have it sent to City hall or you if not your hotel.
Thanks so much for these tips!
I was always at Disney growing up but didn’t know you were allowed to take snacks in. I will deffinatly be bringing some when I take my brother tomorrow. I always thought that you had to leave the snacks outside of the park.
So glad I was able to clarify that for you!
My husband and I are annual pass holders – have been for a couple of years. We actually really enjoy watching the fireworks from Fantasyland. If you’ve never seen them before, definitely fight the crowd to be front and center! But if you’ve seen the show, Fantasyland offers a unique vantage point. The big fireworks are launched off property, but some smaller ones are up around the castle, so you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action! I guess it would depend on the weather – maybe avoid it on a windy day. Embers and ashes sound awful!!! We’ve been lucky and never had a bad exerience. There is usually a cast member back there “conducting” the fireworks, which is pretty neat to watch. However, in my opinion, the BEST way to watch the fireworks is on a fireworks cruise. If you can fit it in your trip’s budget, I highly recommend it. They take you on a boat ride around the lagoon in a private pontoon (room for 10 I believe), you get to watch the water parade up close, and then you sit right in front of the castle and watch the fireworks, relaxing on the water!! They provide chips and drinks, included in the price. My husband surprised me with this for my birthday and we also got a banner, balloons, and a minnie mouse cake! If it’s cold on your trip they supply warm blankets for you as well.
Love your advice, by the way. We don’t have kids yet so some of these tips will be tucked away for future reference!!
Oh wow that sounds so wonderful!!!
I absolutely love this! Great tips and the comments about renting from the dvc members was awesome! I am booking a stay at the animal kingdom resort for barely more than what I was planning on paying for the value resorts!!!! Im so excited it saved over $1000 for what youd pay going through the disney site. Cant wait! Thanks for this post!
That is so freaking awesome!! So happy for you!
I feel like I have to add one of my favorite Disney tips: if you stay on site and do the extra magic hours, go to Animal Kingdom when it opens early, and head straight to the safari ride (get a fastpass and then get in the line if your kids love the animals). Sit on the far side of the ride when you get in the buggies and the cheetah enclosure is on the left near the end of the first savannah. The only time I’ve ever seen them is first thing in the morning, and they’re always super active then.
How cool!
We are taking at trip in Feb 2016 for my daughters 5th birthday. Do you update and add tips every year?
Brandi – I post all kinds of Disney content on the blog. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you get the tips right in your inbox:
http://www.couponingtodisney.com/signupfornewsletter/
Hi There!
My boyfriend and I are heading to Disney world for the first time at the end of April. We are only buy a single day pass each, but was wondering if it is possible to get there right at 9 am when it opens, and stay until noon-ish, then leave and come back later in the evening for the parades and fireworks? Or will our day pass expire as soon as we leave the park?
I found this list so helpful, and I learned a lot!
Thanks so much in advance!
:)
Lauren you can come and go all day!!
Sara’s right. You can come and go as often as you want to that one park!
What about the car park? Can you leave and come back?
I thought I had heard all the Disney trip tips there were to hear! Thanks for giving me some new great ideas and tips I hadn’t thought or heard of!
Last time we went to Disney we were able to go to Magic Kingdom two nights. One night (knowing we would be back another night) we decided to do some of the rides during Wishes and watch it the next night. The line for Thunder Mountain Railroad was extremely short and we were able to race through the que and ride repeatedly during the fireworks show. So, if you are willing to miss the fireworks one night, lines are super short!
Hey! Great tips! We are frequent Season Pass holders, and I wanted to add onto one of your tips. You mentioned the value resorts vs. the moderate resorts as far as the pools go. Even if you are staying at a value resort, you have access to any of the amenities at any of the other resorts as long as you are staying there, including the pools. A good thing to know if you want to see the cool stuff at some of the nicer resorts!
Unfortunately they do not allow you to hop pools unless you are a DVC member. :(
Another thing to mention in regards to #24, the actual photopass card is free and you can go online (I believe we could go online by that night and see the pictures and it was a month or two after the trip before they took them down) and order individual pictures if you don’t want all the pictures or don’t want to spend over $100 on Disney pictures.
We did this since we had them take pictures with our own camera as well as scan the photopass. There were a lot of pictures that weren’t that great and I was glad I could pick and choose which ones I wanted. If you think you will want everything buying the cd in advance is a good idea, if not I would order the pictures you want later. They offer deals on pricing for the individual prints too.
If the acutal photopass is free, is there a way to get one ahead of time before our flight so I don’t have to waste time getting one?
Shawnda, it literally takes seconds to get a photopass. When you have your first photo taken, they’ll scan a card and give it to you.
Good tip! Thanks for reminding me of that. :)
They now have the Memory Maker which you can buy when you book your trip. It will include every photo that they take of you and your party while at Disney World. Since I did not want to bring too much with me into every park, and have to worry about dropping phones/phones, iPods, etc. getting wet – and because we are bringing my college-aged daughter’s best friend for her first EVER trip to WDW, I felt like it was certainly worth the money. We will be able to print every picture if we want, once we return home! And we will have it forever!
In response to walking down Main Street with the characters after they preform when the park open, you can stop and take a picture with the mayor. This past summer my best friend and I went by ourselves for our senior trip and got up early every day and went to the parks to watch the shows before the park opens, went back to our resort for lunch and a nap and went back to the parks for dinner and extra magic hours. I also suggest that if you’re on the dining plan, before you leave your resort for the park on your first day go to the front desk and make dinner reservations for every night you’re there. The cast members will help you if you’re unsure and give great suggestions. (Like the liberty tree tavern in magic kingdom) I’ve been going to Disney world since I was very young and I will be twenty this year and going for spring break and have found that doing the parks and dinner reservations this way is the most effective.
I totally agree about the break in the middle of the day!
Does taking a break in the middle of the day affect your tickets? i.e. We can go to the hotel in the afternoon, and use the same ticket to get back in to the same park later in the day?
I was wondering how do people get picked to be on a float in the parades
My son has always loved to do this ? Thank for all your tips love them
Kelli
Sometimes they pick one of the first families to the park that day (so get there 1-2 hours before it opens) and other times it is Make a Wish kids
My family was selected to ride in the Christmas parade at Animal Kingdom – we went to the early character meet & greet and cast members invited us to be on the Mickey float. That is one of my favorite memories. Thanks for all the great tips.
That is really cool!!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! We leave for Disney World in a week and a half and I found many of your tips so helpful!
This is a fantastic list! I just wanted to share that if you aren’t at Disney for your child’s birthday, the Disney store, including outlets give birthday “crowns” and buttons too. Nice for those of us far away.
Oh really?? That is so cool!
Just a suggestion for those with little ones. Pack some dum-dums in your bag so that when you are waiting in line, you have a special treat to occupy your children’s time with. They have been such a lifesaver.
Smart!
Love the tips! We have been going for years and I too think I am an expert but several tips were really great. We will be taking our granddaughter for her 3rd birthday in October. One thing I wanted to mention is that you can ask to ride up front in the captain’s cabin on the monorail. While we were waiting we asked a cast member and he said sure he would check when it came around. Sure enough they let all four of us sit in the front and it was big fun.
Unfortunately they stopped this in 2010. :(
These are particularly awesome….be sure to update the following tips:
#6: Disney’s Magical Express only works with specific airlines, not all of them.
#7: EMH are now only two hours for evening hours, this just changed recently.
#52: Refrigerators have been added to the rooms at NO COST, making breakfast in the room even cheaper. I know for certain Pop Century got newly designed dressers to accommodate them.
Andrea – The Magical Express transportation and luggage work with any domestic flight into MCO. For the international flights, the only change is they have to pick up their own luggage and go through customs. Then when they get to the ME desk, they can leave their luggage and get the same services as the other guests.
This list is awesome! I am 34 and have been the biggest Disney fan ever! I have been too many times to count and worked there through the College Program! Working for Disney was a dream of mine since I was able to talk, they chose 3 students from my school out of over 300 applicants! Still can’t get over that, it was the best experience ever! Was so excited to take my then 4 and 8 year old in 2000 that I cried when we entered main street (I’m crazy I know)! Anyways on to my questions. 1. I just recently heard of being able to buy (maybe they used the word rent) DVC points from members and stay at Disney resorts for a much cheaper rate. Does anyone know how this works? How do you find someone to rent/buy from? Second question 2. I know where many of the hidden Mickey’s are but no where near all of them, I love hunting for them myself, but found it useful when standing in line, eating, etc to occupy my kids while waiting. I was wondering if there is any list anyone has ran across of where some of their locations are, or clues etc. Sorry for such a long post, I get a little over excited thinking of Disney! Just found this site tonight and can’t wait to save $$$ so we can go again!
Kelly – Here’s info on renting from DVC owners:
http://www.couponingtodisney.com/2012/06/26/disney-world-training-renting-a-disney-villa-from-dvc-owners/
Also I’d order the Hidden Mickey book. It’s great!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1887140921/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1887140921&linkCode=as2&tag=couptodisn-20
Thank you for saving me $50 on PhotoPass! This is a fantastic list!
Wonderful!!!!
we have had disney passes since my daughter was 1 1/2 and she is now 5 and some of these tips are amazing we are going to disney in march and i will def use some of them
thanks
I loved reading your tips..there great and I am a Florida Native who has been to Disney too many time toocount. The only question I had was you mentioned that you could drive to any of the resorts to visit? My hubby and daughter and I tried to go to the Contemporary last year(think we stayed at Coronado Springs) and were told it was only for guests
The Contemporary is a hard one to get into because it is right by the Magic Kingdom and they want to make sure that no one going there is going to park and walk over to the Magic Kingdom. We were able to visit the Poly with no issues.
Hi my mom is letting me use her timeshare so i jsut ned to pay for airfair .. i found a deal on that. now i am working on car rentals and tickets to the parks. i was looking at the 3 day passes. anyone have any help with the car rentals or park tickets thanks. my duaghter is 5 this will be her first trip and i havent seen sicne 2000…..i am very excited!
Thanks for your help!
I don’t really have any advice on car rentals, but I wanted to tell you that i hope you have a great trip!
Would also promote getting buttons from town hall for special occasions. Have worn them for my b’day and my son’s b’day. Cast members were AMAZING with the buttons. Special confetti at meals, signed card in our hotel room from Buzz for my son w/ balloon, cupcakes w/candles, etc. Celebrating at Disney is THE BEST!!!!
The buttons are so much fun! We try to get one on every trip.
GREAT list – thanks much!!!! One fun tip is when riding the monorail to try to sit up front with the conductor. Much easier to do during off-times. My son even got a little certificate when we did it.
Julie just wondering when was your last visit when you were able to ride upfront with the conductor? This use to be one of my favorite things to do when I was little so when we took our own 2 children in 2010 and asked for the ride upfront I was told they can no longer do this. I was so disappointed! So I am hoping you have been more recent and have the great new that this magical moment has come available again!
Kelly – Unfortunately a Monorail driver was killed in a collision with another Monorail train which is why they stopped this experience. I don’t see it ever coming back. :(
HI what great tips! I was wondering where people stay that have a large family? We have an 11yo, 9yo, 4 yo and twins that are 8 months. I know they will provide a pack and play for one baby but what about 2…or can I put them both in the same one because they sleep together anyways. Any tips out there from moms of multiples?
Those are some good questions! Here’s a post on where to stay with a family of 5 or more that might help some.
http://www.couponingtodisney.com/2011/07/08/disney-training-where-to-stay-on-site-with-parties-of-5-or-more/
Check out Disney ‘s Art of Animation resort. It’s a newer value resort with many suites for larger families…room for 6 plus one more if you get the free pack n play. Then you can decide whether or not to put the twins together in the pack n play.
I have been doing research for a year for our trip and this list is AMAZING!!!!!!
Thanks Patty for the wonderful compliment. :)
These are awesome tips. I’ve been to Disney more than 50 times and you gave me many I didn’t know. Thanks!
Awesome!!! I love that. What a great compliment. :)
Maybe I skipped it, but I didn’t see any comments about how to deal with food allergies while at Disney. I have a child with nut and fish allergies. We called ahead to Disney, and they took down all of our information, so that each time we ordered at ANY Disney restaurant, they had the information on hand. We even ate at Norway (Princess meal) and most of the stuff on their buffet is fish. The chef came out and talked to us, and told us to tell our server to get new/fresh anything from the back that she wanted from the buffet, so as not to cross contaminate. Her meal was also prepared separately in the kitchen. (The chef also came out at the restaurant inside the Polynesian and the Beach or Yacht Club.) They were WONDERFUL when dealing with food allergies!
Wow that is very wonderful! So glad to hear about your experience!
Some resorts have trundles if you have a smaller third child.
My husband and I went to DW on our honeymoon and we purchased the Park Hopper Passes. When you go to Epcot, don’t miss the light show because it is wonderful. What we did was watched the light show one night and then went back another night and rode all the popular rides during the light show. There was NO WAITING. We walked right in to Soarin and Test Track. We will definitely do that again.
Very smart!
Wow! That is a lot of tips. While they don’t all help me out, there are enough here to really make our next trip great. Thanks for posting.
Just a quick question in regards to tip #88. I have a Disney Chase Visa and was planning on taking advantage of the photo opportunity. However, I have read on another site that Innovations West Character Spot is closed until February. Does anyone know if they moved the area where they will be having photo ops??
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
It is still open and it is now open daily from 1-7 pm!
I also wanted to add, in case no one mentioned, you can get SO many souvenirs at the outlet mall near Disney. They have a DisneyWorld outlet with lots of things that have been discontinued or not in the shops at discount prices. I ALWAYS pick up gifts there.
We went in Dec ’12 & found many souvenirs at significant savings – great gifts for Christmas! There were many items with the 2012 date clearly printed or sewn onto the front of the item, & were greatly reduced in price- some 50% off, as they were trying to move them out before the new year rolled in.
On our first trip, we found a Target that had much cheaper items than the souvenir stores.
Love the list!!
Just one comment ;-) hubs used to work at stroller rentals (and ECV rentals) at Magic Kingdom. while renting a scooter or electric wheelchair off property can be cheaper, it can be a lot longer of a wait to get it fixed if it breaks down. Because you sign a contract with that company, Disney CANNOT help you of your scooter runs out of juice or jut plain ole stops working. If you rent from Disney, they will usually be able to get to you in an hour (depending on where you are in the park it could be 10 minutes or up to about an hour if you are on the other side). They can then bring you a new ECV and will worry about getting the other one back to the front for you. Free to enjoy the rest of your day! With a Disney ECV you just need
To go inthe nearest shop (for airconditioning and theyre more likely to have a phone) and have them call the number on the key chain(some newer cast members aren’t always told this) and a stroller cast member will e dispatched to help you out :-) just make sure you leave one person with the ECV :-)
This is excellent. My sister and I are taking my niece for her first visit in March (she’ll be 5). This is the best list of tips I’ve seen thus far! Thanks for all the advice!
WHat did you search for on ebay for you daughters cinderella necklace for the pearl, is it expensive?
No it wasn’t but about $5 if I remember. Search pearl carriage necklace to find it.
I found this through Pinterest as well. I am thrilled to be going as it is my first time! It is my kids first time too, but I honestly think I am more excited than they are. My daughter is 6 1/2, and my son is only 2. I can not wait to use these tips! Thank you so very much to all of you who shared any and all the great tips!! We are leaving first thing in the morning and staying until Tuesday.
I just found your list on Pinterest. My family and I have been to Disney several times and will be returning this spring. Even though I think of myself as a well-seasoned Disney planner – this is a great list! There were a bunch of things that were new to me. Thanks!!
Thanks so much for the awesome compliment!
#16- To attend the campfire, do you have to stay onsite or have park hopper option?
The campfire sing-along is not in an actual park, it is at the Ft. Wilderness Resort, so you wouldn’t need the Park Hopper. Just tell a cast member that you want to tour the resort, and they should let you stay at that resort for a few hours. You can tour any other resorts, as well.
Madeline is right! You do not have to have park tickets or stay on site to attend the campfire sing along
Ha! I laughed when I read about Beverly. I tasted it at the coke factory in Atlanta and it’s been a joke between friends ever since! Great tips otherwise. I hope to go to Disney soon!
We went to the coke factory in Atlanta with a friend of mine and I had her try Beverly too. So fun!
thank you so much for all of your wonderful tips. we are taking our 4 y/o for his 1st time and i haven’t been there since i was 8 y/o, so it should be awesome. with all of your tips, we will be able to make the most of our visit. we will be there for 8 days and have 5 day passes. thxs again.
FYI: I pinned this when you first wrote it and am now over 130 repins!! People LOVE Disney.
Woohoo!
when my son was 4 we coaxed him through Epcot World Showcase by having him model the “funny hat of the country”. ie – fez in morocco, beret in france, bobby hat in uk, etc. every country has a related hat. they sell these items in the gift shops. rather than buying each hat, we took a picture of him in each one. this has now become a family tradition every time we go there. to see him in the hats as the years go by makes for great memories.
How fun! We did that and lost one of our ball caps so be careful! ;)
The tip about the buttons is a great one…to elaborate a little, my husband and I wore “Just Married” buttons when we went to Disney for our Honeymoon (we’re too bashful to wear the bride and groom Mickey ears) and Disney cast members really went the extra mile to make our trip wonderful, from little things (the cast member at the Mexico ride gave us our own boat) to big things (we got a free dessert at Le Cellier!). We totally did not expect the response we got from all the cast members–and park guests too! Definitely do wear the buttons if there is a special occasion!
My husband and I wore the “Just Married” buttons too, and even the bride and groom ears!! Disney did go out of the way to treat us special. Special parking, upgrades, free food and snacks, and lots of congrats!! A very nice memory!!
Oh it sounds like such a wonderful time you both had! We loved our anniversary trip. It was so magical!
In regards to number 87: we were actually the last ones through the line at the Character Spot and we got our pictures with all five characters. It’s a super fun experience where you really get to interact with the characters. It was the first night of our honeymoon and we were really excited to be there: I was wearing bride Minnie ears while my husband was wearing Mickey hands. The characters loved that and really played around with us. We also got a special shot with Minnie and Mickey, where they were kneeling in front of us touching noses and we were standing behind them kissing. Disney really goes the extra mile to make everything special.
Oh wow! That is so great to hear. And I bet that was a truly magical experience.
My fiance and I are wanting to do Disney as part of our honeymoon. Any suggestions on the best hotel for honeymooners?
Congrats! My husband and I went to Disney for our honeymoon 2 years ago. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort and we really loved it. They upgraded us to a king bed for free (without having to ask), which was really awesome. The Caribbean is now our go-to resort on property. It’s really pretty and there are a lot of quiet, private spots including white sand beaches. Wherever you stay, I am sure you will have an awesome time!
That sounds incredibly romantic!
I also say go for Caribbean Beach Resort! That’s where my hubby & I spent our honeymoon almost 5 years ago. And make sure you get the “Just Married” buttons and wear them proudly! My husbby was a little embarassed about wearing it until we started getting free stuff and attention. Our favorites – chocolate covered strawberries complliments of the chef at Hollywood & Vine, Aladdin yelling out “congratulations” to us during a parade and during the Very Merry Christmas Parade, Mickey pointed and my husband & me and made a heart with his hands! (which we have on video). You’ll have a very magical honeymoon at with Disney!
When using the meal plan you can use it for adult or kid meal. A Disney employee told us that the card doesn’t specify if the meal is child or adult. So we’d buy 3 adult meals and the kids would split one. Then if they were hungry later on, we’d get the other meal.
Can you add the mealplan if you are not staying at one of the resorts?
No. You have to stay on Disney property to get the meal plan.
If you split one meal for 2 kids (ages 5 and 2), will they split it in the kitchen for free or should we ask for an extra plate and split it ourselves?
I’d ask for the extra plate and split ti myself.
The meal plan does specify on Disney’s website that children age 3-9 must order from the children’s menu where available.
When we went we had the Deluxe meal plan and some places made my son order from the kids menu but most told him to go ahead and order from the regular if he wanted.
We love Disney. Here’s a tip that a Disney employee told me. When using the meal plan, it does not specify if you are using a kid or adult meal. So we would buy 3 adult meals and let the kids split it….then you can buy another meal later on if needed.
We are planning our first trip to DW in Sept this year & I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the tips listed above. I should rephrase that “our first trip” I have been BUT has been soooo long that Epcot wasn’t even built yet! Just me & my husband going for our anniversary of 14 years!! Very excited!!!
Congrats!!
I’ve learned so much with these tips! I’m going to take this list with me when we go again in Oct.
I will also suggest that if you’re going to watch the fireworks at Cinderella’s Castle, DON’T get stuck BEHIND the castle. They rope it off and they have heavy security so that no one can get through until the fireworks are over. You don’t even see Tinkbell ride across the sky from this viewpoint (it was our 1st time, but we knew something happened by the crowd’s reaction) plus the view isn’t as interesting – and be careful if you are stuck back there…depending on the way the wind blows, there are cinders from the fireworks floating around. I had one land in my eye after the first firework and I missed the entire show, plus people were getting the cinders and ashes in their ice cream. Just be aware of where you are about 15-20 minutes prior to the fireworks – even if you aren’t going to watch them & don’t eat anything during them. LOL!
That’s a really great tip Beth. I’ll add it to the post!
My new favorite place to watch the fireworks is actually behind Cinderella castle (between the back of the castle and Beast’s castle)! It’s SO much less crowded, and they actually launch the fireworks from behind Beast’s castle. Plus the past several times we’ve gone to see the fireworks they haven’t done the Tinkerbell thing. :(
they don’t do it if it’s windy or rainy, on my last trip to the Magic Kingdom it was undecided if she’d fly right up until the show.
Is there a way to find ut if Tinkerbell will or will not ne flying? We missed her last time and are headed back in a week, so definitely want tomsee her flly!
These tips are fantastic for first timers!! I have shared it with the group going with us for an upcoming conference. I have always picked a pearl from Japan! I actually picked an oyster one time that had 2 pears inside and they were the same color and size! The lady was so amazed. I have also picked a pearl at a stand outside of the Beach Club Resort. It was outside back by the beach. It was $2.00 cheaper to get the oyster there and the pearl was just as beautiful as the one from Japan!
How neat about the double pearl! I beat that was a really neat experience.
do they still do the pearls? My aunt and I are planning our next trip and we would love to do it!!
#84 The pick a pearl in Japan.
What is the cost of this pearl? What do I search under on ebay for settings? When I went in the 10th grade I wanted to do this so bad. We watched them do this and it would be very special for my 8 year old to have something this nice to remember our trip.
I am very curious about this too. I didn’t know you could bring a setting with you! What do you search for when looking for settings?
The one I bought is called a Pearl Cage Carriage. It was like $5 on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=carriage+pearl+cage&_sacat=0
Also, I read somewhere (maybe even your site) that picking the ugliest hairiest clam will get you the biggest and prettiest pearl.
I think we paid $20 each for the pearls we purchased for our girls at Christmas. We brought our pearls home as well rather than having them set there. We have several jewelers in our town who will set them for a much cheaper price! They make such a production out of getting the pearl & make your child feel so special….SO worth the price!
You can also get this done in downtown Disney and there are shorter lines, but they don’t make quite a spectacle out of it.
The actual pearls cost $15. You get to pick your own oyster. Some even have two pearls in them! (P.S. The hairiest, ugliest oysters are more likely to have two!) The settings I have seen range from around $27 for a pretty cage or around $50 for the carriage. Heads up, you can find them for around $3 plus shipping on eBay.
Y’all will love Pick a Pearl! It is such a neat experience.
Great tips! I’ve been to Disney a bunch myself and am also a former cast member. I just wanted to mention one point that I’ve taken advantage of on my last several trips as far as accommodations go. Have you ever rented DVC points from a member? I’ve done this for my last 3 trips and it has been an amazing experience. The points typically rent out for $10/point (give or take) through the DVC rental boards and, depending on the time of year, can afford you some incredible deals. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity of staying at Boardwalk Villas, Animal Kingdom Villas, and Old Key West for FAR less than the nightly rate (OKW=$81/nt, BWV=$126/nt). I’ve always wanted to stay at Boardwalk, but I don’t think we would’ve been able to afford it without this option…. and it was AMAZING! =)
What is DVC? We love staying at nice hotels. The 1st time we went to Disney we stayed at one of the All-Star Resorts. It was nice with all the Disney themes but we do like staying at the nicer hotels. The 2nd time we went to Disney we stayed at a condo right next to the Disney parks. Although it was a very nice place to stay I missed having all the Disney themes all the time. I just didn’t feel like we got the whole Disney experience. So once again what is DVC? THanks!
DVC is the Disney Vacation Club. It’s like a timeshare through Disney. We had been to Disney 5+ times when we were first introduced to this concept, and now my parents and I both have separate memberships. The DVC resorts are fantastic (our favorite is the Wilderness Lodge, although we’re ‘Members’ at other resorts), and we’re combining the memberships to celebrate Thanksgiving with our extended family this year. If you’re a frequent Disney-goer, this will pay for itself (IMO). I’ve also used mine to travel internationally (Egypt). Fantastic!
We are DVC members and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Two years ago we used our points to go to NYC–the hotel we stayed at was on Park Ave. just a few blocks from Central Park! It was amazing and we would NEVER be able to afford a place like that without DVC!
We are DVC members also and LOVE it!!! It was the best purchase we have ever made HIGHLY recommend it!!!!
The DVC is definitely on our list of to buy list!
I’m a cast member at Disney and you pretty much hit everything I could think of and taught me a few things! If anyone has any questions just reply to this and I’ll answer/find out what you need!
Hi, Megan,
We are planning an extended trip with grandparents and sister and family. This is a celebration of life for my sister-in-law who is battleing Multiple Myloma – bone marrow cancer. We are not staying on the grounds, but wondering if there is special recognition or extra special way to celebrate her while we are there?
I don’t think Megan ever came back to this post, but I hope you had a wonderful trip. If you haven’t gone yet, stop by City Hall in the Magic Kingdom and get her an I’m Celebrating button. You can write the reason on the button if you want.
HI Megan
Can you tell me if Disney still does the paint brush on Tom Sawyers Island? If so can you tell us what the brush looks like. The tip said the reward was for a fastpass. Is that just one or for all the rides in Magic Kingdom that offer fastpass. Thank you
I’m pretty sure the brushes won’t be back out until Big Thunder re-opens. If you do find one of the 5 brushes, you will receive a fastpass to either Big Thunder or Splash.
I believe Taylor is correct. If they do away with the program, I’ll let you know. :)
They did away with the brushes because people had been going off of the trail to get them and it became a safety issue.
THANKS for such great tips! I’m surprised I did not know about the water pageant! That will be a definite must for our next trip. Thanks!
I was feeling so overwhelmed planning our first Disney trip with kids! Thanks for all the amazing tips and tricks! I so appreciate it!
I am so glad it helped! I remember feeling the same way before our first trip too.
Pinned this & love the tips..
Great tips…The Kim Possible feature in Eopco is going to be changing to Agent P by summer’s end and I believe Test Track is closed until October. I have also heard they are more strict w/ FastPass times and parts of Fantasyland will opening in July.
I am so excited that they updated this to Agent P’s!
Great tips!!! Its funny that you mentioned Club Cool and the Beverly…my brother LOVES it and every time we go to EPCOT we have to stop by there so he can drink some. One of the cast members even gave him a certificate for liking it because she’d never met anyone else who did!
Wow!! That is amazing that he liked it. Love the certificate thing! How cool!
My other half loves it it’s the only drink he goes for but I think he kind of like’s the reactions of everyone watch him drink the stuff *bleugh* someone kindly warned him about it once they looked so shocked when he said he liked it lol. He never got a certificate so maybe now he’s got an excuse to drink more trying to get one.
I live in Florida, and I have since I was 7, and we have always gone to Disney more than once a year. This year my husband, my 13 year old daughter and I have got to enjoy annual passes. And another thing we had thoroughly enjoyed is a bit of the Disney Magic, I have always heard about. We just got back from our last trip on our annual passes, so we had to go visit our favorite restaurant in Epot, the Biergarten. Love the food, and the atmosphere of the Oktoberfest. When I asked our waitress for a recipe for one of my favorite dishes, (which was not on the menu this time) she quickly brought over the head chef. Not only did he supply me with the recipe, he sat and spoke to us for at least 45 minutes, gave me instructions on how to prepare one of the desserts, brought out a steak for us to try, and informed us that if there is anything we ever want on the menu, call ahead, and he would have it ready for us when we arrived. He could not have been nicer, and made us feel so special. But if I did not speak to him, I would not have known that if you have a particular item you like on a buffet and are planning on returning, you can request that item, and it will be there when you arrive. They really do everything they can to make your time Magical, don’t they???
Going to Biergarten when we visit in 2 weeks. So glad to see such a positive comment about it!!!
Oh my Biergarten is my favorite of all time. You will love it!
I’m taking my dad for his very first Disney trip in October. This is where we are celebrating his first trip at 78 years old. Glad to hear good things.
if you go there the lunch is cheaper than supper/dinner and it only had maybe 2 items less
What an incredible story! I am so glad you shared. :)
hey guys,
one more really cool thing about the Biergarten is the great live show with the Octoberfest Musikanten,there is a dance floor and kids and adults are welcome to dance, if your are celebrating a birthday just tell your server the name of the Person with the Birthday and they will announce the name during the show, sing happy birthday or have a drink on your behalf. I used to work there for one year as “cultural representative” and I had a blast. People also like to share thinks about their countries, so don’t be afraid and as them, the will teach you some words or fun facts about the country…I think it is a great to teach the kids something the fun way.
Uhh also during christmas time, the band sings holiday themed songs and each show one child gets to light the christmas tree.
Good tips! One note on #49, at our visit last month, there were cast members blocking the way to the tables during one of our counter service lunches and only letting people through that had trays of food in hand. I don’t know if it was just this particular restaurant (Pinochio’s Village Haus) or a busy time but head’s up to other Disney Diners.
We had the same experience on one of our trips. It was every restaurant and during main dining hours. They even blocked a poor mother who had a double stroller and a child in a wheelchair. She waited until her husband had their food. That was during a really busy travel time, and I haven’t seen it since, so perhaps just when it’s a peak season?
I investigated and it does look like it is something they do just during peak season to avoid table squatters.
Awesome collection of tips! I consider myself a complete Disney expert, and I even learned a few new tips! Thanks!
That’s awesome! I am so glad you learned something new from me. :)
Wonderful list! Another tip I learned from a bus driver. If you have the ability to take a picture with your phone and use it as your phones lock screen. Take a photo of your key to the World (room key). If you lose your phone, a cast member can see the photo with key information and have your phone returned to your resort.
Oh that is so smart!! Thanks for the tip!
Excellent tips! Our travel agent sent this to us and I am definitely printing out a copy, highlighting pieces I don’t want to forget and bringing it with us! Thanks so much for putting this together!!!
So glad you found this useful!
Some awesome tips, I will be passing this info along.
If you have little kids, but mom and dad still want to ride the “fun” stuff, there are single rider lines not only for Test Track, but other the other big coasters as well. I rode “single rider” on several rides, like the Yeti ride at Animal Kingdom. I walked right up to the front of the line, with an hour wait for the regular line. Look around the entrances for a special single line, or ask an attendant.
Also, on rides like Space Mountain, although there isn’t a separate line for single riders, you can fast pass it, and pretty much walk to the head of the entire line if you are alone. They are always looking for singles to fill up seats!
Single Rider Lines are awesome!!
You can also do the parent swap. If there isn’t a single rider line, everyone gets in line (including the little one), then let the CM know you will be doing a rider swap. The first parent gets on when you get to the front of the line and rides while the second parent and little one wait near the loading area. When the first parent is done you pass off your little one and the second parent gets on the ride without having to wait in line again. At this point the first parent and kid can go out and wait at your designated area. You can do this with fastpass as well, just make sure to fastpass the little one as well (we had no wait at tower of terror!).
Great tips! Thanks so much for posting them. I can’t wait for my family’s trip in May!
I wish you had one of these for Disneyland! We live in Washington and we are trying to plan a trip there right now. I know a bunch of your tips can be used at both parks, and they are super awesome!
I will put that on my to do list for sure!
I am also from WA and planning a trip in October and was thinking the same exact thing! Definitely love your ENTIRE site though!
Thank you so much for all the work you’ve put into it!
Great comprehensive list! One more tip I would suggest is that you can see Tinkerbell fly at night by the Magic Kingdom! It doesn’t seem to be a very well known thing. Even a cast member wasn’t aware of that when I asked.
Wow! I can’t believe that isn’t well known. It is the coolest part!
To add to #44, we always bring in the singletube packs of kool-aid packets or crystal light and add them to the water, the $ tree has 10 in a box. Now they have MIO from gatorade and bringing in a container of that is great as it is small. :)
We did this on our visit last month. My mom said that was one of her favorite sights of the day was watching me whip out the drink packets for my kids to make some cheap lemonade. :)
Such a great idea! I’ll add it to the tip. :)
This is a must! The water in Orlando has a distinct taste and smell. I brought Mio on our last trip and added some to each of our drinks. It was such a nice change from soda and plain water!
We went even one better for the water – I invested in refillable water bottles for each of us with Brita filters built in – took care of that yucky chloriney taste! We would get a cup of ice at a food service counter and then just fill up at a water fountain. Was also fun to decorate with sharpies before the trip! Only about $10 each on amazon and we had them as keepsakes one we got home.
LOVE the tip on pressed pennies and mini M&M tubes. i have been collecting pressed pennies across the US since my husband and I started dating… this is a great way to be prepared both at Disney and anywhere else too!
What a wonderful thing. I love pressed pennies!
We <3 pressed pennies. I've been collecting for years. This website gives a break down by state and city of locations of penny machines. It also tells what the designs look like. Some even have photos of the pennies. http://www.pennycollector.com/arealist.aspx
Great tips! I love your site and all of the tips you offer related to saving money AND Disney World, two of my favorite subjects! I did not know you could ship packages to the resort, great to know for future planning!
I have shipped packages down ahead of time through FedEx. Filled a box full of snacks and things. It is waiting in your room when you arrive. It is great!!
That’s awesome! So glad this tip works well for you!
How much did it cost to ship vs. savings?
It is probably more a matter of convenience than savings. It is difficult to get to a grocery store once you are there. Economically, if you ship through USPS on their cheapest rate a 20lb box was only about $12 to ship.
We shipped a box and it was with things that weren’t coming back so we didn’t have to pay another suitcase fee. It was about $15. However, I would confirm the address with your resort and let them know you’re shipping a package. They’ll note it on your reservation and be on the look out for the box. Our box was shipped to the correct street address but had Orlando’s zipcode, not Disney’s. It took 2 extra days to get there. We were without our water bottles and toiletries for 2 days LOL. Luckily I packed deodorant in our suitcases =)
Thanks for all of the great tips! I had a few that I needed to write down so I could remember. Love tip #25 and 91. I will be doing those on our next trip.
I love calling the payphones! It is so much fun!!
Just be prepared to have your carry-ons hand inspected at the airport….the coins in the mini m&m tubes look suspicious on the x-rays….I’ve had this happen a couple of times.
Quick question. #24 mentions the characters wont take a picture using my own camera unless it has a strap. What kind of strap? My camera has one of those little hoops that you can put your hand through. I’m planning a trip to Disneyland CA and I want to make sure I’m prepared! Thanks!
Not sure about this one. We were in DL for 1 day last year and they were willing to take one with DH’s i-phone (no strap of any kind).
The Cast Members are required to put their hands through the strap on a camera if it has one (less likely to drop a guest’s camera if they are using the strap). If it does not have a strap they will still take a picture, but I would recommend having a strap on your camera so that with so many other people holding it/taking pictures for you, it will not get accidentally dropped because cast members will use it if it has one.
We go to Disney about twice a year They have never refused to take a picture with my phone…
They have with mine many times. Maybe they judge the phone by the case?
Hmmm–it must have just been the CM who decided not to take it, maybe to cover themselves? I am a former CM and this is not something we were trained to do or not to do.
You do not need to have any sort of strap on your camera or phone, however sometimes if you ask a character to take a picture holding the camera they won’t because of their huge gloves
Great tips!!! I am going to have to print this out to keep handy for our trip in June!!
I’m so glad you find it helpful!