Conquering Disney World
1. OFF SEASON. Every year, millions of people visit Disney World so the parks can get quite crowded during peak travel season. Off season travelers not only get the benefit of lower rates but also get to share the park with smaller crowds. Holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter see the biggest attendance and you might find the lines taking hours instead of minutes. Disney actually bases their pricing for reservations on four different seasons – value, regular, peak and holiday. Consult their schedule when making your arrangements (and note that rate of the whole trip is based on the arrival date alone).2. EXTRA MAGIC HOURS. Guests that stay at Disney resorts get the added bonus of Extra Magic Hours when one of the parks open an hour early or stay open three hours late. The crowd thins out considerably at night so you can get a second chance to speed through the park and enjoy your favorite rides a second, third or fourth time. The parks also take on a different ambience after closing (take a spin on the Astro Orbiter after dark) and you can’t help but feel like you are on Walt’s VIP list. Please note that the little ones might need a mid-day nap if they are going to make it through this late night adventure (might be worth a late start for the day on EMH nights).
3. FAST PASS. This might be your most useful tool in making the most of your day at the park. The Fast Pass is a ticket that allows you to virtually jump to the front of the line. Fast Pass kiosks are located next to select rides. Stick your card in and you get a FP (just like a movie ticket) that tells you a time range when you should return and bypass the regular line. Since you can only have one Fast Pass at a time, use them strategically. Fast Pass is most effective when the estimated wait is more than 30 but less than 75 minutes.
4. WATER AND SNACKS. The concession stand items are very pricey so bring a backpack and fill it with snacks and water (and the pack can serve double duty for stowing cameras and glasses that might fly off during the more extreme rides). Also consider the Disney Dining Plan, a flat price program which provides 1 snack, 1 counter service meal and one sit down meal per person (and with the Disney portions, this is a lot of food). Cost-wise, you should make out on this deal as the plan rate definitely beats the menu prices.
5. RESERVATIONS. Advanced Dining Reservations, are essential and need to be secured months in advance especially for Character Meals. These meals provide an up close and personal interaction with your family’s favorite Disney characters (and bring your camera as these will be shots for the photo album). Make your reservations as soon as you are eligible by calling 407-WDW-DINE. You can always cancel if necessary. If the reservation you are seeking is not available, you can check again closer to the date.
6. RELAX. A Disney World vacation is not just a job; it’s an adventure. Take breaks from the park and enjoy an afternoon by the hotel pool. Consider taking the afternoon off and heading back to the parks later in the evening (especially during Extra Magic Hour nights).
7. THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED. The parades draw the big crowds everyday so if you’ve already seen enough or otherwise do not feel compelled to watch, this is a good time to take advantage of the momentarily shortened lines. Enjoy a few rides while everyone else heads to Main Street.
8. DIVIDE AND CONQUER. Don’t be afraid to split up especially if you have kids with different interests. One parent can take one child on the Tower of Terror while the other can enjoy the Beauty and the Beast musical show next door. There’s also a great feature called Child Swap where parents with babies can both get a chance to enjoy a ride without having to wait in line twice. While one parent rides the attraction with the older kids, the other stays with the young ones, then they switch places without having to stand in line. And the kids surely won’t complain as they get to go for a second spin.
9. OLYMPIC COACH. Training with a coach for a marathon or the Iron Man competition is your best bet to prepare for your Disney vacation because you will be walking and walking and walking. Wear the most comfortable shoes you have and bring a stroller if your tykes aren’t already in training for the Olympics. Strollers are available for rent at each of the parks. And prepare for Day 2 by having something on hand to deal with the blisters or sore feet (mole skin is a great quick fix and can be purchased at your local drug store). And whenever you can try to take transportation…
10. TRANSPORTATION – Take advantage of the free Disney transportation between parks. The buses are frequent, with routes that cover the entire Kingdom and the monorail is a ride unto itself. Request a ride in the front car with the driver for a POV tour around the parks. Another benefit for guests staying at Disney resorts is Magical Express, a complimentary bus service that takes you from the airport to the front door of your hotel and vice versa.
