An (amateur) Guide to Disney World
Just FYI, this page may contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you shop through my links, I may make a small commission at no added cost to you. Please know that if you do shop through any of my links, I am extremely grateful as it supports the blog (and buys dog treats for Jackie, Lola, and Lady). Mouse ears, Dole Whips, princesses, roller coasters, fireworks… Suffice to say, Disney World was a truly magical vacation. We flew back to reality over a week ago and I’m already wishing I could go back (okay, that’s not true…I started wishing before the plane took off). Visiting Disney World proved to be an entirely different experience as an adult then it was as a kid. It was just as magical, but this time I was able to notice and appreciate more of the details involved in creating that magic (and being able to enjoy a few drinks didn’t hurt either.) So, without further ado, here’s my top five tips and tricks for the most magical vacation on earth. (Side note: I’m not an expert by any means, and many of the tricks I used on our trip were courtesy of a few Disney aficionados like Dammit, Hali. Check out her blog here for some real insider info.) We lucked out and managed to book our trip during a promotion that included the basic Disney Dining Plan. Because Scott and I always go all out for food on vacation, I upgraded to their second-tier plan (largely based on some friendly advice.) So, so, so worth it. Disney’s mid-tier dining plan entitles each person on the plan to one table service, one quick service, and two snacks per day of their resort stay. If you’re thinking that doesn’t sound like much, trust me, it is. We actually failed to use all of our snack credits for the five days we were there, but not for lack of trying. Snacks at Disney World can include a pretty broad range of items (Mickey Mouse ice cream bars, Dole Whips, funnel cakes, cupcakes, etc.) And Disney has some seriously awesome quick service options that add a great value to the plan (my favorite: Flame Tree Barbecue at Animal Kingdom. The portions on their sampler entrée are huge). Even better, just this year Disney added the option for adults to include an alcoholic beverage as part of their quick service or table service meals. The Fastpass+ system went under a big upgrade since my last visit. I have vague memories of printing off paper copies of Fastpasses during my last trip. These days, everything is tied into your MagicBand (a nifty little device that basically does everything). At an appointed time before your vacation (60 days prior if your staying on a Disney World Resort property, 30 days if you’re not), you can book Fastpass+ reservation times for the attractions you most want to enjoy (or just don’t want to wait in line for). There are some limitations that I won’t get into too much detail on but, in a nutshell, be prepared to have to choose between some of the most popular or newest rides and attractions as you’ll only be able to reserve a Fastpass+ for one. Now for a lesson I learned the hard way: schedule your Fastpass+ reservations for as early in the day as you can. Once you cycle through all three you’ll be able to book additional reservations one at a time (which is how we ended up riding Expedition: Everest three times without ever waiting in line). We purposely planned to spend one of our days at Magic Kingdom in order to enjoy Extra Magic Hours (a perk afforded to guests staying at Disney resorts). We had already taken a trip on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad earlier in the day but decided to take advantage of the super short lines for another ride. Highly recommended! It was a fun ride during the day but it was even better at night. Hurtling down the tracks in the dark made the ride feel faster and more exhilarating. It was awesome and I wanted to check out how other attractions would differ in the dark. Sadly, a combination of ride closures, dinner reservations and just bad timing didn’t let us. But next time, it’s on the top of my list. Namely, I plan to ride Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, and Expedition: Everest at night. We took a friend of ours advice and specifically booked our trip to coincide with this festival. Best. Decision. Ever. In between enjoying attractions at Epcot (Soarin’ is a must), we explored the World Showcase and test drove snacks from all over the world (Bonus, we were able to use our snack credits for everything…except alcoholic beverages, which were worth the extra money). Most snacks were big enough to share so we were able to try something at almost every booth. Most memorable snacks: Lobster Roll from Hops & Barley, Kahlua Pork Slider from Hawaii, and Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip from Ireland (Ireland also served a Guiness and Bailey’s Shake that I could have happily drank a gallon of). Prior to making our trip, I came across several articles that advised skipping the Happily Ever After fireworks show at Magic Kingdom to enjoy the shorter lines for rides. I have to politely disagree. There is no other fireworks show in the world like this one. The fireworks themselves are magnificent, but even more amazing are the projections displayed on the castle. In time to all of your favorite Disney songs are scenes and animations from your favorite movies playing right on the walls of the castle (someone please, please tell me how they managed this). It’s truly an experience not to be missed. Neither is the Fantasmic! water and pyrotechnics show at Hollywood Studios. In fact, Scott enjoyed Fastasmic! even more than the Magic Kingdom fireworks. There’s also any number of parades, fireworks shows, and stage shows throughout the parks (For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is so worth a trip. Even my musical-hating husband got a kick out of this hilarious retelling of the beloved Frozen). So, there you have it folks, my (novice) tips to the happiest place on earth. Additionally, I’ll also offer a few other quick tips. Prepare for the heat (sunscreen, misting fans, etc). Pack a refillable water bottle (it’s easy to get dehydrated running around those parks and the price of bottled water can add up. Disney has hydration stations placed throughout the parks. Any quick service restaurant will also give you a cup of ice water for free). Speaking of running around the parks, pack a variety of comfy shoes and sandals (even your comfiest sneakers can wear a blister on your ankle after walking miles around the parks in the Florida heat. You’ll be real glad to switch them up). And lastly, if you’re debating booking a trip to Disney because it might be crowded or it’s expensive or it’s meant for kids… Book it. You won’t regret it. Because no one delivers a magical experience quite like Disney.
