When we are on vacation, we declare "Vacation Mode" as our mental state. That means that we must relax. We aren't in a hurry - ever. This really helps when you're standing in line and/or somebody else is rude or unhappy or whatever. Just be grateful that you're healthy and able to be on vacation. Many people aren't, so count your blessings! And keep smiling! [Just smiling lifts your spirits.]
Yes this ! I try to explain this to people. Getting annoyed doesn’t make anyone hurry up so just relax and if you’re stuck in a queue somewhere just take in your surroundings, play a game 🤷🏻♀️
This was the attitude I had while at Disney three weeks ago. We had an epic time, but we mainly relaxed! We were relaxed so our little girl was relaxed and loved everything!
The only thing that Ever irritates me on a Disney vacation is other people screaming out or spoiling the surprise on when something is going to happen on a ride you haven’t been on yet. People screaming out at the animals on the Kilimanjaro Safari, people talking through flight of passage, things like that. It seems they’re Purposefully trying to burst your bubble
Oh yeah- tons of obnoxious people looking to start trouble and upset others. I feel like there’s been more in recent years. I rode pirates and a supremely loud group of teens were turning their flashlights on and shining them on parts of the ride. Nothing happened to them of course.
yes! we were on thunder mountain and the cast member operating the ride was like "do you guys wanna just stay on and ride again?" we were the only people on the whole train!
Glad it worked for you. Since I couldn't take off any extra days from work, I had to cut my vacation short. Never again will I go during hurricane season
bbkangs Definitely!! We left juuuuust in time for the hurricane (Thursday) so I’ve been back for a little over a week now. Going through Disney withdrawals at the moment and I’m ready to go back... or move to Florida. 😝
This couldn’t be truer. I recently visited and DROPPED my brand new phone in the water at Pirates. While very disappointing .... it couldn’t ruin my trip. Waterproof floating case for next time, that’s all. Jack Sparrow has a new number!
And here’s another tips before leaving to Disney, Universal, or Sea World, 1, Get your tickets or Annual Passes months ahead way before your trip. 2, Watch the news and found out how the weather is gonna be before you go to any park. 3, If you have an empty bottle refill it with the water fountains it’ll save you money. 4, Months way before you leave for your vacation, work extra hard and make more money and never give up. 😊
Andrew Fontanez In regards to #3: You can do like us and forgo Florida’s funky-tasting hard water and catch a cab to Walmart (bout $25) and buy a couple cases of bottled water for $4.98 each. We went through 2-1/2 (out of 3) cases and gave the rest to another family. Saves money, water tastes good and there are recycle bins everywhere. Win-win!
Tip for Disney night owls - if you plan on being at the parks past 10 pm, I always like to get some food to-go at my hotel before I leave and keep it in the room for when I get back; the restaurants at the parks, particularly Magic Kingdom, often close much earlier than the park itself. It will be room temperature when you return, but it'll help you to avoid those pricey late-night dining options, because you'll definitely be hungry, especially if you're doing extra magic hours. I've been going to Disney world since 2004 and everything in this video is great advice!
I thought WDW food was expensive until I went to other theme parks/zoos and realized their prices are just as high and they will not allow you to substitute/minus food items like at WDW which is super accommodating.
It's been my experience that the food at other parks often isn't as good as it is at Disney, and the service isn't as friendly/helpful. No complaints at Universal, I'm talking some of the seasonal/local parks I have attended over the years.
I love how accommodating Disney is. One of my children is a major textural eater and Disney has been so good about it at restaurants and even quick service places.
@@BuzzDoesDisney Went to the San Diego Zoo over the summer and my 3yr old wanted just a hotdog, just the hotdog. They wouldn't let me sub or just get the hotdog. It was $8 with a side with no drink. I missed the WDW food and accommodations on the spot.
Don't be afraid to buy tickets and go to the park that's going to be closing early on those rare occasions oftentimes if the park is going to be closing early many people won't go there leaving very very short lines
The only thing I would add to this list is germs! Its so easy to get sick in theme parks especially with rides like buzz, midway or FOP. Me and my family always have a little purell sanitizer in our bags and wash our hands regularly because we've got first hand experience of how much it sucks when one of you catches a bug! Aside from being hydrated its one of the most important things to keep on top of In my opinion.
@spiralout72 I have an autoimmune disease and am immunocompromised. Hand sanitizer, hand washing, and a face mask help me to be less stressed in a crowd. 🤷♀️ Don't assume precautions are from being "pussies," because that kind of toxic thinking will ruin your own vacation.
Souvenirs are expensive in Disney parks. If you really want to get Disney souvenirs, I recommend going to *Disney Characters Outlet Warehouse* before hitting Disney World (Google for address). This outlet store is in Orlando Florida and has many Disney merchandise at a great price. You’ll be saving so much money.
MytokyokittyStudios By complete coincidence, we were staying in a hotel which was a 10 minute walk from there. Went there for the outlets without realizing there was a disney one. So amazing! Went there almost everyday and made some amazing savings!
Grand gatherings with family members... and from multiple experiences, have every family plan their experience and just book dining together. There are too many factors that will either speed up or slow down your experience by trying to make everyone 'happy' -- well see you at dinner!!
One thing I would point out is that my body is not used to eating out for every meal or such rich/bad for you food. I was kinda thrown off and not a happy camper after a few days of eating out every night and trying to keep up with everyone. Next time I will pack my own lunch more and pace myself
We do last minute trips every year, so we know we won’t get the ADR’s and the fast passes.... and I’ll be honest it makes all the difference. We don’t stress. We enjoy the time we have, eat where we can, snack on the cool new snacks, and ride what’s available. If there is a ride we really do want to ride, we rope drop and move on from the park if it gets too crazy. We also know we’re going to be spending hard earned money on the trip (we did book it after all) so we stick to budget but also don’t worry about it as we’ve already put aside the money for it, so it is what it is. We pay for everything in cash from a prepaid card that’s we’ve loaded with our vacation budget and that makes all the difference in not stressing too much about money. ❤️
birdwell2427 Yup! My brother-in-law keeps telling us he wants to go on our next trip but I always say no. I enjoy going with just the 4 of us-husband and two kids. Plus, his brother always has/brings an entourage to everything we plan. He invites evvvvvvveryone and it drives me nuts!
Ha! My mom is trying to plan a family reunion at Disney. Granted, my dad's a veteran so they can book multiple rooms at Shades of Green, but I'm a bit apprehensive
@Cheap business guide Guyana Your guess is as good as mine. He goes to CA all the time by himself but all his other trips - 4+ people. He’s a people-person. Probably also wants to split the expenses and room together to save even more money.
Emily Curtis we did a family reunion there. We didn’t always do everything together. Split up and meet again later if nothing else, or meet up for meals.
Great advice! Expectations and lack of preparation are the top biggest downfalls I see people experience. I see many kids complaining how they don’t wanna wait in lines are walk to things and parents yelling “Well we’re doing this for you!!” And it always makes me sad.
it's telling to knowing what kids actually want. most of the time, the kids would rather just be at the pool, and not be on some crazy schedule made by mom in a laminated binder.
I have never been on a real vacation, but when my mom would do things with us, there was always this sort of feeling that, damn, we're only doing this really expensive thing because of you. It's annoying and painful, especially since she still does it! I love my mom, she's great, but it's annoying. And she's not the only one I know who does it.
After experiencing the Florida rain and I mean RAIN......a cheap poncho and umbrella is a life saver! While everyone else is running around trying to get cover you can continue on trooping! Just got back from a week in Aug WDW weather and it did rain everyday BUT we were prepared this time! Thanks to DFB and others suggestions we were good to go, thanks AJ for these!!
In Louisiana it rains a lot. So when my family went to Disney, it was pouring all day, and we were jumping in puddles in a less crowded EPCOT. That was the least crowded I’ve ever seen it. It was so fun, and I’ll have those memories forever.
The last time we went my husband got sick (he ate something that didn't agree with him) and had to stay in the resort room for a day. Once he recovered we went to guest services and explained that he had to miss a whole day and why, and they refunded his one park ticket that he missed and gave us extra fast passes to use over the rest of our time there. It was awesome!
As for children schedules. Every child is different. I was able to do 7 am to close which included MVMCP. With my daughter 6 at the time. She passed out right after the fireworks. She had a blast. My son who was 3.5 at the time joined us at 9 and made it till about 10. There is no sleep schedule at Disney, we roll with the what we got, nap in the stroller or in arms if needed.
@@dominiquehughes7070 nope, my nickname in Disney is "Disney Daddy", I spoil them rotten when we are there. Who says a giant shortbread cookie filled with jam can't be breakfast
If we stay off property most of us will need a rental car. The cost of the car per day, gas and off property hotel will cost the same as staying at a moderate hotel. Why not stay on property for the amenities?
Not necessarily. I paid 750 for 4 night/ 5 days off site with a rental car. Hotel was clean and included breakfast. Much cheaper than even a value resort.
@@rybelknap that sounds about right I suppose. Hotel cost around 450 and the rental car was the rest. I think the saved money on the breakfast was worth it too though.
We are local Disney pass holders AND big fans of this channel. If there is only one video to send to Freinds or family trying to prepare for Disney, THIS is the one! This video covers all the suggestions we give to people including cost saving tips, bring your own food and poncho, go when the crowds are lower, (this is huge) and understand that things take time and it will be expensive. Great Job!
Hydration is a BIG ONE. Dehydration (even minor dehydration) can express itself in a myriad of ways, and some are often overlooked; headache, fatigue, even irritability. I know it sounds unpleasant, but check your pee during restroom breaks, if it isn't clear or nearly clear, you could stand to drink more.
Aphex28 I agree! But your pee shouldn’t be as clear as the water or else you might be over-hydrating! But definitely people over look drinking enough water
@Dana Hernandez Fair point, but clear urine isn't automatically a cause for concern. From Healthline: "Urine that occasionally looks clear is no reason to panic, but urine that’s always clear could indicate that you need to cut back on how much water you’re drinking." I do a fair bit of distance running and preemptively hydrate when I am able, especially when it's hot. During these (pre-run) times, for me, clear urine isn't at all uncommon, but (to your point) it also isn't maintained over a prolonged period of time since I loose a lot of fluid through sweat.
Here's another thing to avoid..... Place sunglasses and hats in your backpack and keep your backpack on you. Have you ever been hit in the forehead by either of those things while on a coaster?! 🦱🕶🧢 It hurt! 😫
i once got to be surprised by my own reflexes on tower of terror; a man's cap flew off his head, and i managed to actually catch it! never felt more like an xman in my life
AJ. When my husband and I were late for our dinner reservation, we were told that they HAVE to honor our late arrival no matter what. They do have to fit you in within the list on hand but that because we made the reservation, we have 24hrs to show up and honor it. This came from a cast member at the dining location we arrived late for.
Debbie McGinley I didn’t know that!! I thought you had to show up on-time or within whatever grace period (was thinking 10-15 minutes-ish) they gave or else they charged you. Good to know.
With all the info from DFB and the other Disney based channels I was able to have plan Bs and even plan Cs in some cases so basically...staying flexible is the key....if you don’t get to everything it gives you that excuse to go back 😉
We just went this past Monday-Sunday (with hurricane Dorian on the rise) and we got to do everything!! It was so enjoyable! We had walkthrough lines and we finished each park by 2/3 pm! Thanks to these videos, we knew what to do!
I’m a little worried about traveling with a kid that has a gluten allergy. With all the snacks and yummy food, she is already feeling like she will be missing out. Do you have a video that highlights the gluten free foods that are amazing?
Pre-trip: Weather. Even if blizzards/hurricanes don't hit you directly, they can still cause major delays when airports in other areas close or reroute. No fun :-( To avoid that, we fly in to MCO the evening before and stay @ Quality Inn $79 (by AK area) 2945 Entry Pt Blvd, 34747... & hot breakfast included! Serves as a time cushion to offset possible travel delays and prepares us to rope drop with a full belly Day 1. In the afternoon we'll take a break to check-in, unpack and nap at our WDW resort and then back to a park for the night.
It's very annoying to pick the wrong security line where Barney Fife is slowly checking every speck of every bag, when the guard at one queue over is efficiently doing just as good a job, but is more mindful that there's a long line waiting to get through. Since prices are always going up, I don't think it makes sense to wait to go. On the other hand, you can travel to Europe for a week for the cost of spending 3 or 4 days at WDW, so it might make sense to consider what's the best value.
That stroller tip is very true. I remember my first trip to Disney was on my 6th or 7th birthday, and by the end of the day, I was fighting my little brother for a turn in the stroller!! 😂😂 And I definitely fell asleep during a few nighttime attractions.
WDW is surrounded by Publix grocery stores. They also sell prepared food/meals. Just detour through one on your way to your hotel. No extra fees and no delivery screw-ups.
OMG how did I not know you lived in Dallas?!?! I've been using your videos to plan my upcoming Disney trip for almost a year now and just now caught that. I also live in Dallas and will be visiting Disney World for the first time at the beginning of October.
THIS FIRST ONE OMG YES! XD That is the one thing I try to tell people all the time. temper your expectations. You won't be able to do everything. You will forget things in your hotel room. your spouse may not be a morning person (okay, so these may be more about me :/). However, prepare yourself mentally and find out what to expect and PLAN to be FLEXIBLE
Maybe this sounds crazy to some of the die-hard Disney World fans, but if you can't budget going there, consider Disneyland/California Adventure. It seems quite a bit cheaper and you can do everything in less time (much more compact with almost as many rides! ) And it's so much fun!!
I’ve only been to Disneyland, so I can’t compare the two, my husband and I took our two little girls and we LOVED it!!!! We were able to go on all the rides multiple times except for soaring and the cars race one, those we were only able to do once☹️but the weather was amazing and the girls were never fussy!!! We stayed ALL day till closing!!!definitely recommend to anyone with little ones!!
#9 Bringing your young children with you. I say this tongue in cheek of course, but I remember pre-kid trips vs. post-kid trips and oh boy, pre-kid trips certainly were less stressful by like a million percent.
2 years ago, my In-laws(MIL, FIL, 2 SILs), my wife, and I all went to Magic Kingdom and while we are in breakfast, it started to rain cats and dogs. We stuck it out and, man, what a great day. 10 minute waits to meet Princessses, small lines, shops were not crowded. If you can stick out those rainy days, I suggest you do.
On the part about not trying to do everything and spending 19 hours straight in a park, my family has always been a go go go family and wants to do everything. But on our last trip, we decided to get to the parks super early, stay until noon, and then go back to the hotel for a while and nap/relax/eat and then head back to the park and stay until 2 am. OMG it made SUCH a huge difference! We were all in such better mood, we skipped the hottest and most crowded part of the day, AND there are less lines really early and really late! Plus, our feet felt a lot better and we got to walk down Main Street and see the castle for the first time TWICE in one day! Highly recommend!
My favorite method for avoiding things that run my trip is to keep a positive mindset. Each day, I look for the most helpful cast member. After all, most are very helpful and if you look for the good, you will find it. This keeps me always looking on the bright side of things, even when there are breakdowns, fussy guests, or really long lines (yep, I'm going during Thanksgiving week). At teh end of the day, I make sure to fill out a comment card at guest relations of the last park I'm in or at my hotel so that the cast member knows their positive work and/or attitude is appreciated. Plus, I have heard that cast members may benefit from Disney when guests put in positive guest cards. So besides keeping the magic in your mind amidst some potential non-magical experiences, you are also spreading some magic to the very people who have helped you experience it. :)
We went to Disney for Christmas last year. Yes, it was VERY busy, but the experience was worth it. We had 6 in our group and only one had never been to Disney before. We planned well in advance for all the restaurants and attractions that we wanted to visit and just got into vacation mode. Staying on Disney property works best for us. We stayed at Ft. Wilderness cabins and had a car as well as a golf cart to get around. We used Lyft a few times when we wanted to be at the park before rope drop. I watch all of your videos and love the tips and tricks.
My top tip for Disney is take something to do while you’re waiting. Disneyworld unfortunately involves a lot of waiting - waiting in lines, waiting for parades, waiting for fireworks, waiting on transportation etc etc. I personally take a book with me but this could be a podcast, some music or even just downloading some group games on your phone. Getting stuck into a good book makes 90 minute line fly by.
A couple more things to be aware of are ride closures, which can happen if they break down or they are being renovated, and construction work, especially if it is at the hotel where you are staying.
The first time I tried to visit Disney World with my boyfriend, we got in a train crash on the way... so that ruined it. But now we’re married and we’re trying to go again next month, but this time we’re taking a plane and not the Amtrak.
We're going to Disney in April. These videos have been so helpful in planning ( I haven't been as an adult so the previous ones were all planned for me and my best friend has never been).
When I go, I stay at a Homewood suites (a 5 -10 minute ride to park) with a kitchenette. They have free breakfast. I pack a lunch / water for the park, I cook dinner at the room and I get souvenirs off site.
The #1 thing ruining my Disney vacation is the cost!! The problem with waiting til you save up enough is by the time you do, the price has gone up even more. This is what happened to us for the last two years.
Book and make payments. That makes it easier, and locks prices. Call the reservation line and see what they offer. I never thought I would be able to go, but I'm heading down for the 4th time this December!
@@witchingblue1 we just hired our Disney travel agent to book a trip for the 50th Anniversary in 2021. Our booking window is less than a month away. Best decision we've made so far.
One thing I'm concerned about is packing the right clothes. We go in October. I've been planning for HEAT, and RAIN, but I'm wondering....does it get cooler in the evenings at all? Should I pack light jackets, or just plan to sweat some more? LOL. (Also, we are planted in Texas, so we are used to the heat/humidity, however still not super excited about being sticky, haha!)
I always pack a jacket or sweater for my October trips and always use it in the evenings. It can get breezy (not windy) and I always feel a bit chilled without something like a nylor jacket or tight knit cotton sweater. I have frozen on October. A few years ago it was in the low 50's for the Halloween party!
Very true, if something is too expensive for you at the moment, start saving so you can have a better experience that your budget can accommodate. You shouldn't be so stressed at a place like Disney, that's supposed to take you from the outside world to a magical world
wish me luck i’ll be there the week after presidents’ day but i don’t have much of a choice or chance to change it because: 1. my cousin’s wedding(the reason we’re going to florida is the weekend after) 2. we’re going for my sweet sixteen which is that thursday 3. everything is booked but at the end of the day crowded disney is better than no disney
We are planning now for Disney's 50th/my 50th in 2021 and all of your videos are SOOOOOOOO helpful!!!!!!! Thank you so very much for this content!!!!!!
We always go during the school year when there are no holidays, and have never had to wait in lines longer than 45 minutes to an hour. The parks are pretty much always crowded, but this definitely helps. One of the upsides of homeschooling.
6am flight out of buffalo landing in orlando at 830am to spend the day in epcot/mk.. spending the following day in MK to fly out of orlando at 830pm and landing back home in buffalo at 11pm.. quick, packed 2 day trip for my dad and i... were addicted!
The meal plan kept bus from being so stressed. We'd already paid for food, so it wasn't a worry. We had one TS, one QS and 2 snacks a day. We followed AJ's suggestions on snacks to the T. Didn't waste snack credits on things like water and M&M's. Not worrying about what we were paying to eat relieved a LOT of stress.
2 extra comments and/or modifications to AJ's excellent advice: a) It _may_ be worth the extra expense of booking a DVC room for the kitchen alone. When everyone is "park" tired and you have gotten tired of "park" food, a simple frozen Stouffers from the on-site store can look like the best food ever. (They also sell a limited, but decent to good, selection of beer, wine and liquor....) And, as pointed out elsewhere Publix Supermarkets are all around the park. They are good. b) Virtually _all_ southeastern rains come with thunder and lightening included. Southerners don't usually notice. I have noticed that this appears to be a sign of concern in the northeast (where I travel often for work) and other areas of the country. Watch the cast members and more local guests (hint - we all have distinctive accents, whether we admit it or not). If we aren't concerned, you shouldn't be either. c) Bonus tip - in the summer, or whatever qualifies as hot to you, it will be miserably humid for ~30-45 minutes after the 20 minute rain as the ground dries and the water evaporates/runs off.
3 members in my family got some food poisoning while at Magic Kingdom on NYE at maximum capacity. The worst one was my 7-year-old son. He had diarrhea all down his leg and in his shoes as I grabbed his hand and busted through a major line at the women’s restroom. I had to rinse his jeans and tennis shoes out in the sink. Luckily, I had just purchased a travel size set of baby wipes at the baby center in the park. After a trip to the Emporium to spend almost a $100 on underwear, socks, a new pair of pants, and Imodium, we finished out the night with the early countdown to the New Year with the most magical fireworks ever!
We are at WDW right now. Keeping hydrated is key, as is kids' schedules. Crowds were light yesterday. We walked onto many rides like 7 dwarves mine train, splash mountain, big thunder (several times). But we just learned that you cannot get buses to the parks from the TTC; you have to get them from the resorts. We have also had to change Fast Passes; 60 days out is too far out to plan.
Such great ideas...we're gearing up for a family trip in December, and I'm doing my best to keep my Disney expectations in check...Christmastime...yikes!!
Speaking of holidays - as a native I can say that if you want to see Christmas at Disney go the first week of December. Right after Thanksgiving and before halfway into December tends to be great weather AND a Little less crowded because everyone is getting over one holiday and prepping for the next.
I had to do a double take when you said your in Dallas too :) I think being here is a good midway point to fly between both parks so that is exciting!!
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve found when vacationing to Disney: Try to match the park you’re choosing fast passes for with your dinner or breakfast reservations. Transportation can cause lots of headaches and stress if you are relying on it to get from park to park on a tight timeline. Also, try to stack your fast passes as close as possible to each other. Once the initial 3 are used, you can start picking out new ones, one at a time. Definitely helps to save time waiting in line and sometimes you can luck out with some great extra fast passes.
Your videos are my favorite to watch. Been an avid fan of Disney World for many years and know most tips and tricks to the parks but I still learn some new things from you. Keep up the great work!!
The hurricane kept it a lot cooler than usual. and we didn’t get any rain during this weekend!! One thing I’d like to add PROPER SHOES! My friend was use to Disneyland and didn’t expect as much walking as we did
Best advice I ever got was, if it rains jump on the safari at animal kingdom. The animals act completely different in the rain and it was such an amazing experience. Ours experience was slightly terrifying at the same time though because what we thought was going to be a little rain, turned out to be a thunder storm. The heavens opened up and the lady driving had to put the covers down on her cabin so she could drive and we played a fun game of "Describe what you see and I'll try and guess what you are talking about!" because with the rain hitting the window she could barely see anything. We were the last vehicle to go out because they deemed it unsafe :D. It was so much fun seeing the lions (who for the past 20 years of me going to Disney, have always been asleep) playing in the rain and the elephants getting excited about it too. 100% recommend! :D
The biggest one in my experience: Don't overdo it, especially early in your trip. There's nothing that will ruin your trip faster than something like getting a blister on your foot or wearing yourself out early on, and having to deal with it for the next five days of the trip. This is something to watch out for especially if you are traveling solo, as you don't have anyone else to slow you down.
I agree! On my last trip, I had to make myself sit down every 90 minutes just so I wouldn't get exhausted or dehydrated. A 10 min break is perfect for recharging your body and mind!
I hate people whp worry about the price of things too much. Now, I'm a frugal budgeter. I am not rich, but dammit, there's a difference between that and just complaining about price constantly. And they complain and make you feel bad for spending your own money!
I agree! Yes, there are a lot of Debbie Downers posting here! This channel is for those of us who want to get the latest info for their trips. Yes, there are a lot of repeated themes. Yes, there are a few ambiguous items from time to time and even errors. But there are constant valuable updates on attractions, restaurants, hotels, transportation, tickets, etc. that are very, very useful to many of us. Before posting your diatribes, keep these points in mind: 1) Is your post true?; 2) Is it necessary?; 3) Is it kind? If you truly hate this channel, silently unsubscribe and don't bring everyone else down.
Carly Crays right! Prices won’t change and you’re there to have a good time, if you budgeted and planned ahead you should enjoy your Mickey shaped treats and let yourself just enjoy things like a kid would
@@demoldbones My thing is that these people exist and they are everywhere. I have been shamed for wanting a milkshake. Yes, it was overpriced, but it was my money and I wanted a milkshake!
Or when someone says, “You’re there AGAIN?!” Yes, doggone it! I’m here again, and will be again, and again, and again. It’s our happy place so lay off! (That’s usually what I want to say but I don’t.)
One thing practically nobody thinks about it sickness. My mom got sick during our last trip, and because we didn’t expect it we didn’t bring medicine. The medicine in Florida isn’t always the same as at home, so we weren’t able to get what works best for us. She ended up having to go back to the hotel and only spend half days at Disney because of this. Plan ahead. Bring your Advil’s and your Tylenol’s and whatever else cures your migraines and your colds.
When we took young ones, once we took a 6 month old, and once I was preggers, we did what we could every day. The baby swap gave the kids some downtime while we still got to ride things. Also, we would go for 2 days to parks, then take a day off. We did all the parks in Orlando, including those OTHER parks. We also planned for 2 weeks, every other year. Our kids still love Disney, they are 26, 24, 22, and 20. One went for her honeymoon, one got engaged at Disneyland in front of the castle, the 3rd has an Annual Pass to Disneyland, and the 4th is anticipating his next trip! Your vacation is what YOU make of it. Don't let ANYONE tell you any different. If you are going with a larger group, make sure everyone gets to do something they want to do, or you CAN split up! My hubby and I can't do 4D rides! We meet up with our group after they are done. ENJOY your experiences, just like you enjoy your kids! Have fun, and have a MAGICAL time!
Great tips. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people spend like they’re millionaires at WDW and then a month later when the credit card bill comes they’re cursing and regretting so many purchases and expensive meals. Budgeting and spending within your means is definitely part of having a vacation you will cherish.
After being surrounded by thousands of people, I was coming down with some sort of virus on my last day. The very last day where I was packing up my suitcases, mailing a box, and getting myself to the Tragical Express. I was dragging! I didn’t even realize I was getting sick and thought I was just tired but it was so hard to get my room packed up. Unless you know of a service to come pack your bags up for you, I don’t know of a fix for this. I’m considering a split stay next time to make myself pack up at some point and not unpack completely in preparation for the last day.
Thanks for mentioning the "each resort is kind of different..." when referring to the $5 per box fee. We were surprised last April with a charge for a Garden Grocer order when we picked it up ourselves from Bell Services.
Funny thing about hurricanes. Back when my husband and I were still dating, I was at college in Vermont and he was living in Massachusets and he and his friends planned a trip to Orlando. And as they were leaving a hurricane was moving up from florida and their flight left right before all the other flights got cancelled. So it was the ideal time to be in orlando. They went to the parks and there were hardly any lines because it was mostly locals and he said it was amazing. Not saying you should plan your trips around hurricanes but sometimes it can work in your favor lol
I was at Disney World right when Dorian was supposed to hit. We knew going down there that it was a possibility but stay alert. When we arrived it had slowed down and wasn't supposed to hit Orlando until the evening after we left. I tell you what the crowds were fantastic because of it! We only got caught in the rain a few times but overall great weather and lower crowds! Plus if you are gonna right out a hurricane what better place than the most magical place in the world :) thanks as always AJ for the tips
One of the best tips I've learned it to always talk to Cast members when you have a problem or need some extra magic. The best time was my first trip when my father had just got home from Iraq. One of the only things my little sister wanted to do was go to Cinderella's Castle with our dad. When he called the waiter at the desk told him there was no opening, but when he said he had just gotten home from serving there was a big "thank you for your service and your reservation is at 8:30 tonight". Gotta say that was a great meal and I even got a kiss from Belle.
My friend and I had an ADR at Blue Bayou at Disneyland on the day of the 60th Anniversary opening. We got into the bag check security line at 3:30. It wasn’t moving because Disneyland had reached capacity and there was some sort of other issue where they weren’t letting anyone through. I went up to security and explained that we had an ADR and we would lose money if we missed it. Even though the CM’s seemed disorganized, we were “escorted” into Disneyland with only 5 minutes to spare. The weird thing was that Disneyland was definitely not at capacity. It seemed like there weren’t that many people there at all.
DFB had been essential in planning our WDW trip this week! We were at Epcot yesterday & it was a wonderful day! Crowds were low & the longest line we stood in was for Frozen Ever After & even that wasn’t bad! Hopefully we will be as lucky at Hollywood Studios today!
@@ChristinaBozinovich I use a scooter all the time. Know that on some rides you will ned to transfer to a wheelchair to get onto the ride. For example on Pirates, you will be made to leave your scooter at the entrance and hopefully you will have someone to push you in a wheelchair to go to the ride. I go alone so I have been having to skip that one. Otherwise, if you do not take your own scooter, rent one to be delivered to your resort if you are at a Disney Resort you must get an authorized vendor who will leave the scooter with the bellman. That way you have it to get to the parks, get into the parks and be in the parks. I'm there in October also (29-3rd). Hope you hae a great time. Disney has a brochure for guests with disabilities which might help. I think they have it online also, but they used to send it so you could plan.
When my girls were young my husband and I always took time out in the middle of the day. We eat lunch back at our resort, then let the girls go swimming, then rest, and go to whatever park is open late. Now my thing is that I try to do or see 1 or 2 things I haven’t done before. We get up when we want to and just go on our own schedule (mainly because I have to do to illness),, but that’s what works now for my husband and myself.
One thing I’ve never seen anyone talk about is that Disney World gives out free cups of ice water if you ask! Florida Themeparks have that rule, so it applies to Universal too!
Jessica Carlton I waited until mine was 6. I highly recommend that to start. Mine has always been mature beyond her years and never threw any kind of tantrum or anything like that, but some six-year-olds are different and might need to wait longer before going.
Just a note about going to guest services, ALWAYS make sure that you go to the one inside the park, unless there's literally no line outside. Guest Services outside the park takes forever and there's far more cast members at the inside ones.
"Manage your expectations. Know that things aren't going to be perfect. And budget some emotional energy to handle a few fiascos, and put out a few fires, and then be ready to laugh about them afterwards..." Very well-put.
On my last trip to WDW we mixed up our plans for our days and ended up spending most of our day at Hollywood Studios sitting down figuring out what we did wrong. Luckily our night was salvaged, with the kids (including me) going to Springs and everyone else going for Fantasmic!
