Tips for Visiting Disney
We add to our list every visit – I think it’s a never-ending process. We hope these new additions might help a bit with your planning!
When our oldest graduated from high school last year with an excellent GPA and a great run at state on his sports team, we asked him what family vacation he would like to take, anywhere he wanted to go! His answer both excited and terrified us: Walt Disney World, Orlando.
You see; this wasn’t our first rodeo with the Mouse. We had taken our two sons to Orlando twice before over the years, also, to the OG in California, Disneyland, 3 years ago…and we have just (barely) recovered from that trip, financially. Please don’t misunderstand. We LOVE Disney…but the investment in blood and treasure that a family makes there is daunting, to say the least.
Fortunately, we are a military family, so we can take advantage of Disney’s “Veterans Salute” 4 Day
Park Hopper passes, that discounts substantially over the gate rates.
For logistics: We drove the 12.5 hours from Kentucky to Lake Buena Vista, Florida to save on airfare.
Water Bottles: $4 each in the parks! OUCH!! We didn’t think to bring our own Yeti cups with holsters/shoulder straps that we could have filled with ice every morning…and with 95+ degree days every day and a heat index making it feel like 105 degrees, we needed a family of 4 water break every 90 minutes and in total, we spent OVER $200 in water bottles over 4 days!! Never again. Pack your Yeti or Stanley cups with holsters with straps. You do not want to pay $4 each for water bottles on Florida summer days! It adds up so fast.
Uber/Lyft: Time is precious at Disney and the clock never stops ticking down on your very expensive passes, so when you just can’t wait another 30 or 60 minutes for your shuttle and you do not want to pay $30 for parking your own car at EACH park, we found Uber to be super-fast and super affordable, every time. You can get them to pick you up from ANYWHERE on the Disney massive campus in under 10 minutes, and it was typically $10-12 for a drop off at our Disney Springs resort from any of the parks. Life saver/time saver.
Consider the ‘lesser marketed” Disney property resorts. The Disney Springs Wyndham was EXCELLENT and a third of the nightly rate you find at their big-name properties like Swan/Dolphin or Saratoga Springs. Nice as they are, YOU ARE NEVER THERE, ONLY TO SLEEP, so why not get a place almost as nice and closer to Disney Springs and all the shuttles you need…for a third of the price? Yes!
Build in just one day to relax by your resort pool or add one of Disney water parks. The 4-day Park Hopper Passes are awesome, but you need that one “down time day” to soak up some Florida sun and pool time without trying to “beat the clock” at the amusement parks. We didn’t do it this time, and we felt it. It also sets you up for a lazy stroll to Disney Springs for dinner / shopping, instead of collapsing, exhausted in your hotel room and not making it over.
If you find yourself closed out of dining options for lunch at Hollywood Studios, try the “50’s Prime Time Cafe” restaurant and book via the app. They got us in when EVERY other eatery at Hollywood Studios was pre booked and sold out (we wanted “Brown Derby”, but now glad it didn’t work out). Not only was it delicious but it transports you back to your mom (or Grandmas) 1950’s kitchen. We enjoyed it as much as some of the attractions and rides! Try the pork chop…and keep your elbows off the table! (they will get you) Just great home cooking “comfort food”. We loved it!! Disney dining is exceptional!
Final thought this round – if you get in line for an Official Disney Photo and then get impatient and
jump out of the line with a promise to yourself that you will circle back to it…you won’t. Just get the picture. It’s the most important souvenir you will take from the Kingdom, besides your memories. No matter how much they complain about taking the photos, this pic is the one your kids will find 30 years from now and realize just how amazing their family, and family vacation, was.
Always say yes to Disney…no regrets! But you must plan well and tactically about it, or the mouse will eat you alive!
