The New Walt Disney World Tips I Learned On My Trip :
1. Photopass photographers are on Main Street before the park opens. So if you have dining reservations, make sure you get there early enough to allow time for photographs on Main Street.
2. They have a rope drop in Fantasyland for those that had early dining reservations and finished their meal early. This rope drops at the same time as the rope on Main Street.
3. Pay attention to the little details. The shutters in Liberty Square droop because people used to hold shutters on with leather straps.
4. Magical Express has set times that it leaves. Be sure to allow an hour or two from the time you land at the airport to the time you arrive at your resort. Magical Express also makes multiple stops.
5. Test Track stops running if there is inclement weather in the area. If it looks like rain lightning is in the area don’t get in the Test Track line. Our line went from 10 minutes to 35 minutes due to the weather.
(I know it doesn’t run in the rain, but they stopped the ride without it raining or thundering where we were located.)
6. If you want to ride in a certain seat, just ask the Cast Member. You might have to wait on the next ride cycle but they will usually accommodate you.
7. Big Thunder Mountain is a different experience in the dark.
8. Do not ride It’s A Small World with a full bladder. The loading and unloading zones are bumpy.
9. Get a snack before you get in line for Fantasmic to pass the time.
10. The second showing of Main Street Electrical Parade is going to be less busy.
11. Be sure to ask a Cast Member if the spot you are staking out for the parade or fireworks is a good spot. You don’t want to wait on a spot only to find out you won’t be allowed to sit there!
12. If you want to get across the street after a parade, just follow the parade down the street. We walked behind the last Cast Members in the Electrical Parade until we got to where we wanted to be on Main Street.
13. They are going to make you move down the row when you are waiting on shows to start. Even if you have been sitting in that perfect middle spot for 20 minutes, they will make you slide.
14. If it’s raining, they will cancel the parade. Don’t plan on seeing it if the weather is nasty.
15. Always ask for water with your meals too. That way if your waiter is scarce, you still have something to drink on when your soda runs out.
Learn more tips and tricks for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Destinations in Florida can also help you add tips and tricks to your next vacation.
Here are things to do at Walt Disney World that do not require tickets.
Lisa Pembleton says
I agree…. Test Track runs in the rain. We rode it in the rain in 2008 AND 2010. Granted it was not a heavy rain, but the freezing rain pellets hitting our faces in December 2010 were hard to miss, but still worth it!
nichole waggoner says
can you tell me what you mean by “rope drop” at Fantasyland?
Lynn says
i love reading your blog at the end of a stressful day. even when i’m not couponing, posts like this are so fun.
Amy says
Actually, Test Track will run in the rain, if it’s a light rain and there is no thunder/lightning. We did Epcot one day in the rain and decided to do TT since we were already wet and it was SO FUN! The rain in your face made it feel like we were going even faster than we were!
Diana R. says
It rained while we were waiting for Test track and we ended up waiting about 30 minutes because it started to pour! It wasn’t fun to wait but after the lines were much shorter to get back on!! Because everyone leaves.
kelli says
Thanks for the tips. My mom has been a cast member for 13 years and we didn’t know about being able to make dining reservations for before the park opens–That is too awesome and we may have to try that for dd’s 16th bday! Also had no idea that the fastpasses reload for EMH !!
Carol Lindsey says
If you want to ride something again, rather than get off and walk to the end of the line…ask a CM if you can go again. If the lines are short, most CM’s will allow you to just stay on provided it can be done safely. We have done this on TTA, Spaceship Earth, Kali River Rapids and Living With the Land.
Dawn says
We received our boarding passes in the door hanger. We were at the departure area early and were able to take an earlier bus since there was room. I am always nervous about getting to the airport on time and getting through security. Magical Express hasn’t failed us yet.
Jeanne R says
Big Thunder Mountain is amazing to ride during fireworks from Wishes. The line is shorter also. We rode it during this time, and my daughter said, “mom, this a great memory.”
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
awwwwwwwwwwwww!
Shawna says
Please clarify the Magical Express Times. We dont want to be late. Thanks
Autumn says
When leaving from the airport to the resort, you just get what you get. They leave when they have a certain number of people and if you’ve signed up for it, they will have you in the count and wait for you or put you on the next bus. When leaving from the resort headed back to the airport, you will be given a time that your Magical Express bus will leave. That’s the one you need to make sure you are on time for! They will let you know what your time is.
jodie says
they put a hanger on your door the last night / morning you’re there with your ME departure time. make sure you’re at the bus by that time. go early (even call ahead of time to confirm how early) if you want them to check your bags from the resort. you can have them check your bags right from the resort, and you don’t have to lug them to the airport. but you have to be there early enough for them to make the plane. not sure how early this is.
AND….i’m a little fuzzy on this because our departure morning was a bit of a blur….i think that they have your boarding passes printed and in this door hanger as well. saves more time at the airport, but of course we didn’t realize this until we waited in line. someone, feel free to elaborate / correct this.
Jen G says
Fastpasses are actually good for the remainder of the day! As long as you don’t try to use it BEFORE your scheduled time you should be fine! :)
Jodi says
Great tips and yes, like you said don’t be too eager to be the first one into a theatre performance (Muppet movie, Bug’s life, Philharmagic) or you will have to go to the very end and not be able to sit more towards the middle…so always let a bunch of people ahead of you.
Liz Sanders says
don’t fret if your fast pass expires. they don’t want you to be early but if you are late because of dinner reservations you can still use your fast pass. Or if you are just late for the fast pass period, don’t toss it out or give it to someone else they will let you use it! *I wish I had known this before I gave away my Expedition Everest fast pass tickets because of a dinner reservation conflict!*
denise says
Photopass photographers are also on Main Street when the park closes. We were there when the park closed at 10pm. We had dinner reservations at the Castle for 9:30pm. As we were leaving we were able to get a family picture in front of the castle with it all lit up.
Lauren says
Great tip! Yet another thing to add to my “to do” list.
Mary W says
If you have purchased a Disney ponch and if it becomes ripped, you can have it replaced for free at any location.
Mary W says
If there is a second showing of Fantasmic, it is usually less crowded than the first.
Kristen says
Also, if you eat at specific restaurants (with reservations) for dinner at Studios then you can get priority seating for Fantasmic… (Hollywood and Vine, Brown Derby, and Mama Melrose)
Carrie says
I learned on our last trip that if your 4 year old son sees Pluto on Main Street before the park opens, he will want to stop and say hello, even if he can’t. Pluto and Goofy were taking some promo pics before the crowds came in so the CMs were directing everyone to stay on the other side of the street. All of a sudden, Pluto became my son’s favorite character (Jake and the N’land Pirates are his favorite people in the whole wide world.) If I hadn’t been in an unnecessary hurry to get to Adventureland for a 9 am appt at Pirate League, I would have stopped and let him watch (for as long as the CM had let me). He was in no mood to get his Pirate Makeover…until he got to spin the wheel on the Paradise Box. :)
Tricia says
Do they have any Jake and the Neverland Pirate stuff at Disneyworld in FL?
Carrie says
They are in the Disney Junior – Live on Stage Show at Hollywood Studios. I didn’t see them at any Meet and Greets though. Doesn’t mean they’re not there, though. We missed a LOT of characters this time.
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
They are in the Disney Junior show at Hollywood Studios but that is all I have heard.
Kelly Hess says
Always ask a cast member for a quick place to eat, they will point you in the right direction!
jodie says
Magic express from resort back to airport does not run every so many minutes. You are scheduled on a bus based on your flight time, and they only run as needed. Make sure you are not late! They are prompt, will not wait, and there may or may not be room on the next bus, which may I’d may not get you to the airport in time for your flight.
Carol Young says
We caught a taxi from the airport. Took us directly to our resort and cost no more than the tram. He gave us his card and picked us up for our return trip.
Hope says
Most quick service meals do not differentiate between kid and adult meals on the dining plan.
‘It’s Tough To Be a Bug’ scares the daylights out of more children (including my very tough six year-old) than any of the thrill rides.
Leslie Viles says
BUT, you may only order as many adult meals at one time, as there are adults on your dining plan. We just shared the entire time. I shared with my 8 year old and my husband shared with the 5 year old (7 and 4 last time).
Amber says
If there is lightening WITHIN 5 miles of the park, all outside rides and outside food vendors will close until management deems it safe again. The rain could have stopped and the thunder in the distance, but if the lightening is within 5 miles, they will keep it closed until a specific amount of time after the last lightening strike within that 5 miles.
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
Wow! I didn’t know that!
Lauren says
Great info!
terri moser says
If you only drink water ask for two in case your server is busy.
jennifer says
thanks for the tips, after making at least 10 trips that I can remember I still want more info to help keep things sail smoother!