Tips to Doing Disney!

I am an avid Disney-goer. Most of you definitely know that if you follow me on any social media platform, but some don’t! I have been going to Disney every year, more than once, for 16 years. For those who have never been to Disney or for those who have and need a little more advice, this is the post for you!

Tip #1: Try not to bring a big bag of stuff with you to the parks. If you must then pack a small bag and travel lightly. 

• I always found this to be a problem for myself. When going into the parks try your best not to bring EVERYTHING with you. Its best if you pack either a small bag with maybe your wallet, small camera, and something else or nothing at all. The reason for this being is that when you’re about to enter the parks, if you have a bag, you MUST go through the really long lines to have your bag checked by security, but if you don’t have a bag they let you skip the lines and head straight to the parks. What Disney is doing now though for people with small bags like a fanny pack or a purse is letting them go through with the people who don’t have bags but when passing by the security will still stop you to check your small bag.

Tip #2: If it is possible, try to hit the “bigger” rides as soon as the park opens or right before it closes if you don’t have a fastpass for it

• This tip is actually way more fun than it sounds. I know not a lot of people don’t like getting up so early or staying out late but I promise you it’s worth it. If you have younger kids I recommend waking up early. If you have teenagers or kids maybe 10+ then attempt to stay out late! Two things I learned from going out early is its A. VERY HARD to wake up and B. Worth it! Lets say the park opens at 8AM and you’re staying at a Disney resort. I recommend waking up at 6:30AM and catching a bus at 7:25AM. You’ll probably get there around 7:50AM and be able to watch the little morning shows they put on before the park opens! Once you’re there immediately decide what ride you’re going to, how you’re going to get there, and where to meet up if you get lost (this is good to do because it gets CRAZY in the mornings). You will most likely be the 5th-10th family in line for the ride. Okay now if you’re wanting to stay out late and not wake up earlier THIS is for you. Let’s say the park is open until 1AM. The firework show Wishes starts at 10PM and the parade starts at 11PM (some nights, times vary).  By the time Wishes ends 25% of the people will leave. By the time the parade ends 50% of the people will have left the park. At around 11:45PM almost 75% of the people have left or making their way out. By the time it gets to 12:15AM most of the “bigger” rides should be pretty cleared out. You might still have a 30-40min wait, but it won’t be as bad as waiting 100-something minutes!

Tip #3: Plan on it taking an hour to get from one park to another or from a hotel to a park. 

• Okay so this is VERY important and something most people don’t know. When you are park hopping or leaving you’re hotel make sure you leave yourself 30-40mins to wait for a bus and to ride the bus because it takes about 30-40mins to get anywhere in Walt Disney World! This is good to know if you have dinner reservations or fastpasses at a certain time  and don’t want to get there late. If you’re planning on taking the ferry into Magic Kingdom or the boat to Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht & Beach, and Swan & Dolphin you need to leave yourself a little more time because it does take longer for the ferry or boat to arrive, so in this situation make sure to leave yourself 40-50mins.

Tip #4: Best places to eat in each park

• I know its super hard to find a really good place to eat in Walt Disney World, so here are just a few places I recommend eating at in each park for counter service!

Magic Kingdom: 

-Pinocchio Village Haus: This is right next to Small World and has very good pizza! Try and get a spot near the windows inside and you’ll get to see the Small World boats go by!

-Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn and Cafe: This place is sort of in front of Splash Mountain. It has a very good burrito and nachos!

-Casey’s Corner: This place is at the very end of Main Street and has the best hot dogs EVER! Try the Barbecue Slaw Dog!

Epcot:

-Sommerfest: In the back of Germany in the World Showcase holds this yummy place! Sommerfest has the best Bratwurst ever and really awesome pretzels. It’s a great place to grab a quick lunch or even dinner!

-Yorkshire County Fish Ship: Just as you enter England from Canada you’ll see this place up ahead on your left. I have never had anything else there besides their fish and chips and they are incredible!

-Sunshine Service: This is more of a quick service buffet in the Future World inside the pavilion that also hosts Soarin’ Around the World. It holds lots of great foods if you want a variety of American foods!

Hollywood Studios:

-Starring Rolls Cafe: Right next to the Animation Courtyard holds this breakfast and lunch place! Starring Rolls Cafe has yummy breakfast pastries and ham and cheese lunch sandwiches! It’s very quick to get when in a hurry!

-Toluca Legs Turkey Co: Here, across from the Beauty and the Beast stage show,  you can get some phenomenal turkey legs and chicken tenders! It’s also a great place to sit and get out of the sun or rain!

Animal Kingdom:

-Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe: I am only recommending this place in Animal Kingdom because it is by far the BEST. About 20 steps from Flights of Wonder is Yak and Yeti! It has delicious egg rolls, stir-fry, and honey chicken! I would definitely try and eat here at least once!

Tip #5: The My Disney Experience app is your BEST FRIEND

• The last tip I have is that your My Disney Experience app is your absolute BFF in Walt Disney World. This is one thing that i’m about to tell you that most cast members WON’T tell you! When creating fastpasses for the day you can arrange them to your advantage. One way I like to do this is setting 3 fastpasses for the morning and going to that park early. Once I’m done with those fastpasses I can make ONE more for any other park. Here is what people don’t know… You can now make that one last fastpass from your phone! It use to be that you would have to go to the park you want the fastpass for and then head to the nearest fastpass kiosk to create that one last fastpass and by the time you got to that park, the fastpass you wanted is gone. Now you can make that last fastpass from your phone so you don’t miss it or anything which is super awesome!

Those are my tips! Hope this helps and if it does then definitely leave a comment or even subscribe to get an email about my next post! I’ll be posting two more this week so keep an eye out! Byeeeeee!!!