Disney World Tips to Make the Most of the Magic

After months of planning and saving, there’s nothing like walking down Main Street and seeing that first glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle. But, now that you’re finally here in the Most Magical Place on Earth, what should you do? Which attractions should you make a bee-line for at rope drop? Which ones should you wait to ride? And does it matter where you ride on certain attractions? What should you do if it rains or if it’s too hot? I’m here to help by sharing my Disney World Tips & Tricks to Make the Most of the Magic.

Can’t get enough Disney tips & tricks? Check out this post to help budget and save for your trip and this post to make sure you’ve packed all the essentials.

And if you still can’t get enough, check out DammitHali.com. If there’s one person who’s more obsessed with Disney than me, it’s my friend Hali. On her blog, you can find useful tips like the best shoes to wear for Disney and cute and comfy Disney outfits.

Rope Drop

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, rope drop refers to the moment the parks officially open and guests are able to make their way to the attractions. Many guests take advantage of rope drop to make a dash for the most popular attractions that typically have long wait times. I’ve broken down the most popular attractions by park that you might want to consider planning to rope drop.

Magic Kingdom– Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise (this one has surged in popularity since the film based on it was released)

Animal Kingdom– Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safari, Na’vi River Journey

Epcot– Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Test Track

Hollywood Studios– Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad, Millennium Flacon: Smugglers Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rockin’ Roller Coaster

One thing to note when it comes to rope-dropping Slinky Dog Dash. The queue for this attraction offers very little coverage. First thing in the morning the sun shines directly on anyone waiting in the queue. Even at rope drop, you can expect to experience a wait so come prepared with a fan or wait until later in the day.

Timing Is Everything

Would you believe that the time of day you ride an attraction makes a difference in the experience? It does!

If you’re a thrill-seeker that’s looking for speed, wait to ride any of the coasters at Disney World until later in the day. On our last trip, my husband and I had the chance to ride Big Thunder Mountain first thing in the morning and later in the evening. In the morning, it’s much tamer and feels slower. The later in the day, the more thrilling. From what I’ve heard, this has to do with the tracks heating up as the attraction runs throughout the day. (Although, I’m not an engineer, so don’t quote me on that.)

On the other hand, if you’re riding with a little one that’s nervous about thrill rides, it might be better to ride early. A tamer ride might be better to ease them into the more thrilling rides.

The one ride that I didn’t notice much difference in between early morning and later in the evening was Space Mountain. 

Get The Best Seat

Some people save and plan for years to take a trip to Disney. For others, it may be a one-and-done trip. Or, if you’re like me, you can never get enough of the magic. Either way, you’re going to want to get the best experience possible. With certain attractions, that means requesting to sit in a specific location. And it’s super easy to do, just ask the cast member at the front of the queue. You may have to wait a few extra minutes, but it’s worth it! So, which rides should you request a specific seat for, and which seat do you request…

Magic Kingdom

Space Mountain: Ask to sit in the front of the first car. It will feel as if you’re hurtling through space completely solo.

Splash Mountain: Want to get soaked? Make sure you’re right upfront. Trying to stay as dry as possible? Ask to sit towards the back and scoot in towards the middle of the bench if you can.

Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest: Ask for the front seat…but I’m not going to tell you why *wink*.

Pandora: Ask to sit somewhere in the middle for the most immersive experience. Towards the sides, the 3D tends to distort slightly (although it’s much less noticeable on this attraction than some others). 

EPCOT

Soarin’: Ask to sit in Row 1, Concourse B! This will put you in the center of the screen and in the highest row once the attraction “takes off”. You’ll have an uninterrupted view (no dangling feet) with the least screen distortion.

Hollywood Studios

Rock n’ Roller Coaster: Ask for the front row to get the most thrilling experience.

Slinky Dog Dash: Unlike the other coasters, we suggest asking to sit in the back row for this one for the most thrills! It will feel faster as the back of the coaster whips around the turns.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run: Full disclosure, we only rode this once on our last trip. But, we lucked out and got what many recommend as the “best” seats…the pilots! And I have to say, it was a lot of fun. As the pilot, you’ll be right upfront with the best view and you’re right in the action.

Take A Break Without Missing the Magic

There may be many times throughout your trip when you need to take a break. It’s Florida so, with few exceptions, you can expect the weather to be hot and humid. You’ll likely need to step out of the sun and cool off at some point. You can also count on a pop-up rain shower or thunderstorm at least one of the days you’re there. And then there’s just the sheer amount of walking you’ll be doing so your feet may need a rest. 

There are plenty of gift shops and restaurants you can step into when needed, but there are also several attractions that are perfect for taking a break without feeling like you’re missing out on the magic.

Magic Kingdom

Carousel of Progress– An indoor attraction with traditionally low to no wait times.

Mickey’s PhilarMagic– This 3D musical movie typically has low wait times.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover– While not indoors, the PeopleMover is a relaxing attraction that’s fully covered. It also continually loads so wait times tend to be low.

Animal Kingdom

It’s Tough to Be A Bug- A 3D film featuring characters from a Bug’s Life. Wait times are usually really low and the queue to wait for the next show is covered. (Word of caution: parts of the show are loud with unexpected surprises.)

Na’vi River Journey– This attraction is the only one I’ll list that has a substantial wait time. But, the queue is pretty well covered so if it’s raining, go ahead and hop in line.

EPCOT

Living With The Land– This boat ride attraction through The Land Pavilion tends to be a walk-on and the queue is located completely indoors.

Gran Fiesta Tour– This dark ride located inside the pyramid of the Mexico pavilion is my number one recommendation if you need a break from the heat. It’s cute, calm, and cool.

The Seas With Nemo & Friends– Hang out with Nemo and his friends under the sea, and in the AC, on this attraction. Wait times are typically very low as this is another attraction that continuously loads.

Spaceship Earth- This iconic dark ride takes you on a trip back through time to witness the evolution of human communication. It’s another ride that loads continuously so you can expect lower wait times.

Hollywood Studios

Muppet Vision 3D– Another 3D show with traditionally low wait times and an indoor queue.

Walt Disney Presents– Rest your feet in the AC and enjoy this 15-minute documentary about the life of Walt Disney. 

Bonus Tips!

There are so many shows happening at the different parks, from the Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom, to For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Hollywood Studios. And enjoying a fun show in an indoor theater is a great way to take a break and enjoy some Disney magic! 

Another tip? If you’re on Main Street in Magic Kingdom and it starts to rain (or you want to avoid the crowds), head into the gift shops on the left-hand side! They’re actually all connected so you can walk almost the entire length of Main Street indoors.

Get The Best View

Something I’ll never get tired of? Watching the fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom. I firmly believe that everyone should experience this at least once in their life because it truly is so magical. And yes, I am absolutely one of those people who cries during the fireworks…every single time.

But if you’re only going to see the show once, make it count and get a good viewing spot.

And no, that spot is not right in front of the castle. The “best” view to enjoy both the incredible fireworks and the castle projections is, in my opinion, between the end of Main Street and the hub.

However, I should note that my personal experience is based on viewing the Happily Ever After fireworks show. In October, Disney premiered a new show called Enchantment which features new projections along Main Street. From what I’m hearing, the best place to view the fireworks and all the projections it’s along the center of Main Street.

You can also check out this map from Disney Tourist Blog that breaks down the best and worst viewing spots.

Bonus Tip!

On our last trip, we were clued in on this tip by accident. We initially only planned to see the show on our first day in Magic Kingdom and use the second the rise attractions during the fireworks. (Bonus bonus tip perhaps? Wait times for attractions drop during the fireworks so it can be a good time to ride them without the long waits.) But, it rained the first day and while the show still went on, it wasn’t quite as enjoyable. We decided to get in a bonus view on our last day but chose to wait until the last minute to get to the castle, fully expecting not to get a good spot. However, when we entered the hub from Liberty Square, we scored a great spot! A seasoned pro that was standing near us let us in on this secret: Because people tend to stake out spots hours ahead of time and usually sit down, once it gets close to show time and everyone stands up, you might luck out and find some empty space. This isn’t guaranteed by any means, but it’s worth a try if you don’t mind a little risk.

Your Phone Is Your Friend

I’ve mentioned this in other posts but it bears repeating; if you’re planning a Disney World vacation, download that My Disney Experience app and get familiar with it.

Trust me, you’ll be happy you did.

Looking for the nearest restroom? Check the map in the app.

Want to check wait times to see what you should ride next? Yup, go to the app.

Looking for directions from one attraction to the next or even from one park to a resort or different park? Not only does the app have a map but it also has a navigation feature to give you directions.

And if you don’t want to wait in line to grab a bite to eat? You’re going to want to utilize that Mobile Order feature. Not only does it help you skip the line to order but you can also use it to preorder your food for a later pickup. This is especially helpful with some quick-service locations that can get insanely busy. We made the mistake of not thinking ahead last time we were in Hollywood Studios. When we went to order food from Woody’s Lunchbox (one of our favorites), it was a two-hour wait for pick up and no walk-up option. 

Don’t Plan for Perfect

My last, and perhaps my most important tip, is this: Something is going to go wrong. A ride is going to go down right as you reach the front of the queue. Or maybe you’re going to get caught in an unexpected downpour. You might get blisters on the very first day of your trip. Or your little one might have a meltdown when they get tired. You might have a meltdown when you get tired.

Disney is a magical, wonderful place full of so many amazing things. But it’s also a lot. And it’s impossible to plan every little detail perfectly when there are so many things you have absolutely no control over. So, plan for the eventualities you can. And when something inevitably doesn’t go according to plan, take a deep breath, and then do like Else and let it go.

You will create so many magical memories and moments. Don’t let a few not-so-magical moments be the ones you remember.