We started the summer out with our first family trip to Disney and this mama learned a lot about the parks; things that I wish I had known sooner! Don’t get me wrong, we had an absolute amazing time and I’d definitely do it again (and we plan to do so!). But do you know how sometimes when you do something for the first time (in my case, first time with kids), and you have those “aha” and “gotcha” moments of things you wish someone had told you before you got there? Yeah, that! Well, I’m going to share all of that with you, so that you can plan an even better trip and know exactly what to expect!
Disney Tips:
1. Download the Disney Parks mobile app: The app helps you with estimated wait times, FastPass+ reservations, dining experiences, showtimes, and even mobile ordering at select restaurants.
2. Plan Ahead: It’s important to have a general outline of what you want to do and see during your trip. This should include rides, shows, dining experiences, and character photo shoots. The character photos shoots were especially important for my 6-yr old. You can also make dining reservations in advance. I suggest looking through the restaurant menus ahead of time to plan out your meals.
3. FastPass+: Be sure to make FastPass+ reservations for popular rides. For my family, the FastPass+ didn’t make sense to purchase for all rides (charged per person). We learned this after purchasing it the 1st day. On Day 2, we purchased a single ride FastPass+ for the Avatar experience in Animal Kingdom (our favorite ride to date!). This allowed us to ride it a second time with minimal wait time. I’ll explain below how the FastPass+ works so that you can decide what would be best for your family.
- The Disney FastPass+ allows you to reserve access to selected attractions, entertainment, and character meet and greets in advance with minimal wait times. Many of the popular attractions have FastPass+ availability, allowing you to bypass long standby lines.
- FastPass+ selection availability is based on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of FastPass+ reservations for each attraction is limited, and once the maximum capacity is reached, no more FastPass+ reservations for that attraction will be available for the day.
What No One Told Us About the FastPass+:
- Typically, the first available reservation for popular rides will be at least 2-3 hours from the time you reserve which leaves you having to find ways to kill time until your reserved time slot. This can be a challenge in a hot and humid park with little ones!
- You can only reserve one ride/experience at a time. Imagine reserving a ride that wasn’t available for another 2 hours, and it doesn’t allow you to reserve anything else in the interim. You can’t reserve another ride until you’ve completed your current reservation. At most, when you purchase the FastPass+ for all rides, you might be able to reserve 2-3 rides/experiences in an 8-hr period and prepare to wait in regular standby lines for any additional experiences, in between your reservation times. This is mainly why we didn’t feel that purchasing the FastPass+ for all rides was worth the money for us (a family of 4).
4. Pack Wisely: Pack comfortable clothing, sunscreen, neck fans or stoller fans and comfortable shoes for your trip. You may also want to bring a stroller or rent one in the park, especially if you have little ones who are easily worn out.
5. Use Rider Switch: If you have a child who can’t or won’t ride a certain ride, use Rider Switch. One adult can wait with the child while the rest of the party rides, and then switch so the waiting adult can ride without waiting in line again.
6. Take Breaks: Don’t try to do everything at once. Take breaks throughout the day to rest, rehydrate, and recharge. Florida can be hot and humid, so be sure to stay hydrated with lots of water.
7. Meet Characters: Meeting characters is a big part of the Disney experience, but long lines can be a hassle. Consider booking a character dining experience or try to meet characters during parades and shows. We were sure to do this and the pictures make the best memories!
8. Prepare for Weather: Watch the weather forecast in advance so that you can be prepared for any rain predictions: Pack ponchos or rain jackets just in case it rains. We tracked the rain predictions down to the hour and were able to plan lunch during a rain segment to avoid getting soaked. Luckily, we only experienced light showers for a brief period during our time at Animal Kingdom.
9. Memory Maker: Get it! Be sure to purchase the Memory Maker when you plan your trip. It is so worth it! There are photographers all throughout the parks who are ready to take your family pics. With the Memory Maker you can get your pictures taken any time and as many times as you want! You simply swipe your park card, then the photographer will take your picture, and it literally uploads directly to your Disney Park mobile app in a matter of seconds! Leaving you not having to worry much about phone storage or battery life for pictures! And not to mention the memories that you’ll make with being able to get the entire family in every picture. Be sure to save the pictures to your personal device (from the app) before they expire within a month.
10. Have Fun: Above all else, remember to have fun and make magical memories with your family!
I hope these tips were helpful! With everything that I now know, I’m super excited to plan our next Disney experience!
