by It really doesn’t matter how old you get, a trip to one of the Disney parks is always going to be a magical experience for everyone. Whether you’ve visited as a child, an adult, or a parent with your family, it is usually a fun time had by all. You get to see all of the characters from your favorite Disney films. And then there’s of course the great restaurants and gift shops. However, of course, the best part of the trip is always the rides. How many times have you been on Splash Mountain? Lost count? Us, too! Seasoned vets of the Disney parks may already know about the tricks, tips, secrets, and hacks to get the most out of a trip. Other people who are even better at making a trip to a Disney park the best possible experience are those who used to work there: the former cast members and staff. These folks know everything there is to know about the theme parks, and they’ve shared some great advice to us commoners.
Plan your itinerary in advance
A great first tip is to plan your trip’s itinerary beforehand. This will help save time and prevent snags in your plans once the day of your trip arrives. Things to keep in mind are what restaurants you want to go to and if they need reservations, which shows you want to make sure you catch, which rides you can’t miss, and maybe mapping out your route so things go smoothly upon arrival. Obviously you can’t plan everything out, but thinking in advance always helps.
Bring a Sharpie for autographs
If you’ve never worked at Disneyland or Disney World – so, probably almost all of you – you most likely don’t know how difficult it can be to see out of the giant masks that the characters have to wear. This means that, when they are signing autographs, there is a good chance they actually have no idea what they’re writing, so they just scribble something and move onto the next waiting guest. You probably don’t want your autograph to have a signature that says MRONNR instead of MINNIE, do you? There’s an easy fix: bring a Sharpie marker along on your visit. This way, the characters can probably see their signature better and are able to make sure it’s legible.
Know when to make dinner reservations
It’s a well-known fact that restaurants at the Disney parks tend to be crowded. They usually fill up quickly at meal times because you have to make a reservation months in advance to get a table. This can be extremely frustrating, especially for hungry visitors who didn’t plan ahead. No need to fret. While sometimes there is no getting around a reservation at some restaurants, that is not the case for all. Some eateries are so popular that people make reservations to multiple. This means they obviously cannot go to each dining place, and that’s when cancellations and no shows happen. Take your chances and try to reserve a place the day of. You may be surprised.
Avoid visiting during peak season
There are obviously more popular times to visit Disneyland and Disney World. These times are over holiday vacations and during winter, spring, and summer breaks. No matter when you go, it will be still be a wonderful experience. However, if you want to skip the crowds and avoid long lines, you should probably not plan a trip during those times – known as peak season. You can usually enjoy all of the same attractions if you go to the parks during the off season. The best times to go in order to get around crowds are from the end of January until the beginning of February, the end of September, and the days between Halloween and the week before Thanksgiving.
Use the MyDisneyExperience app
The MyDisneyExperience app pretty much turns into your personal travel guide while touring through the parks. Making dinner reservations and arranging FastPasses has never been easier because you can do it all straight from your phone. Some other great features are: directions to attractions and special services or amenities, a map of the full park, show time updates, live waiting times, and this list goes on. Possibly the best part of the app is that it’s accessible prior to your trip, so you can start using it to plan before you even enter the park. Beware, though, it does use up a lot of battery, so keep this in mind during your visit.
Visit on the day of a runDisney race
runDisney is a great way to have a fun day with the family and get some exercise in, too. They have runs, walks, 5Ks, 10Ks, 1 miles, half-marathons, and full marathons. If you want to go to a race, that’s okay, but we recommend going to the park instead. This is because they are practically ghost towns during runDisney. Everyone is out running the races, so there are fewer people going to the attractions, which makes for shorter lines, less crowds, and easier reservations.
Take a boat ride at sunset
They say that the Disney parks can be pretty magical, and if you’ve ever been, you probably already know this. Apparently, though, there is an extra special time of day where things just light up: sunset. Former Disney staff members recommend a boat ride from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge during this time in order to take in the most epic views you’ll ever see. It also sounds like a romantic thing to do with a significant other, if you ask us.
Start at the back of the park and move forward
This really makes sense for any amusement park, but is especially true for Disney. If you head first to the back, you might have a better chance of skipping the lines. Think about it: people rush in at the entrance and head straight for the closest rides. If you start with, say, Splash Mountain, you will not only have the rest of the day to dry off, but you’ll probably get to the ride before it starts to become crowded.
Purchase magic bands
If you’ve visited a Disney park before, you know how much a long line can make or break your experience. Avoid all of the stress of waiting in the heat by purchasing a Magic Band.
Link it to your park ticket and use it for easy scanning in every line, allowing you to speed past the rest of the crowds and get your family on the rides as fast as you can.
Visit during rainy days
No one likes to be outside in the rain. Your hair gets all wet; your clothes get soaked; you become freezing cold; and you risk getting sick. What does this mean for Disney parks? Well, they’re still open on rainy days, but less people want to go. This means you should grab your poncho, rain boots, and umbrella to head on over so you can avoid the normal crowds. Apparently the safaris in Animal Kingdom are extra special during the rainy season, as well.
Go solo
Trying to fit your entire party on a ride can often take forever, especially as thousands of people wait in line alongside you. Here’s a hack you might never have thought about before—go solo!
Not only do single riders often get to go on rides quicker than others, but you can control how you spend your day without having to please everyone in your group. Talk about fun!
Have breakfast on the go
If you’ve ever been to a Disney park, you probably know that the food is a bit pricy, and a meal can also waste valuable time. When the parks first open is the best time to run toward the best rides before they get super packed. Because of this, it’s recommended not to sit down for breakfast, but to either eat it later in the day, or pack something to have while waiting in line. This will not only save you money, but time as well.
Store everything you need
If you were looking for the best stroller hack eever, we found it for you. All you need is a hanging shoe rack or something like it, and you’re all set.
Bring snacks with you
Most people dread the money they’ll have to spend at the expensive parks, but they don’t do anything to make it cheaper for thenmselves. Next time you head to Disney, bring with you some of your own refreshments.
Individually wrapped chips and snacks are allowed in the parks, as are plastic bottles—just don’t bring any glass bottles into the park, or you’ll have to throw them out at the entrance. This way, you’ll never go hungry standing in line again!
Differentiate your stroller
There are definitely vendors within the parks and outside of the parks where you can rent a stroller for the day. But it’s highly recommended to bring your own. Why might that be?
Not only will it cost less to bring your own with you, but it’ll make it a whole lot easier to differentiate and know exactly which stroller is yours. Don’t get caught up in the hustle and bustle of stroller traffic where every one looks the same.
Have your kids earn money
Parents often have an allowance system set up with their kids to encourage them to finish their chores and other tasks. But some parents came up with the idea to turn their cash into Disney dollars.
Now, motivate your kids to do things around the house by giving them Disney cash, which they can then cash in and spend when your family actually gets to the park.
Protection from the sun
If you follow no other hack when attending the parks, at least refer to this one. That’s right, we’re talking about sun protection.
Walking around all day in the heat is exhausting, and strenuous on your body. Make sure to pack and reapply sunscreen as much as possible. Drink lots of water, and of course, wear a hat to keep the sun from beating down on your children’s and your own face. We can’t emphasize it enough.
Buy a signature book
If you’re staying at any of the resorts in the Disney parks, you’re bound to run into your favorite characters wandering around. For the best way to make memories, purchase a signature book for you and your children!
That way, every time you meet a new character, they write a special note in the book that your child will treasure forever. Take photos with them as well and add to the book every time you go! Talk about a cheap way to make memories.
Know your stroller well
This may sound silly, but if you’re traveling with a family, knowing your baby stroller will become essential – not only knowing what it looks like, but also how to maneuver and fold it closed. This can be important when getting to the front of lines because if you’ve already got your cart closed, it makes it easier and quicker to hand off to the attendant. Also, you should write your family’s name visibly on your stroller because then you’ll spot it right away in the sea of similar carriers.
Carrying your baby
For all those new moms out there that just can’t wait to bring their babies into the magical world of DIsney, we have the simple hack for you. Do some trial and error to find the best baby carrier for you.
Not only will your arms thank you for now having to carry your baby all day long, but you’ll be able to move freely without having to worry about big bulky strollers.
Use Fast Passes strategically
The whole idea behind Fast Passes is to save time and enjoy as much Disney magic as possible. Figuring out how to get the best out of these time savers may get a little confusing, if not stressful, but don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. Former staff members suggest getting the pass for Space Mountain, but heading first to the back for Splash Mountain and other rides, and then going toward the front to use the pass once the initial Space Mountain buzz has died down.
Customize your ears
While there are all kinds of souvenirs to buy at the Disney parks, there’s nothing quite as iconic as the Mickey Mouse ears. But when the customized versions tend to be more expensive than they should be, you might want to opt out of buying them.
Instead, buy the original plain versions and customize them yourself with things you already have. For example, your baby’s bow is the perfect addition to make your Mickey ears shine!
Take advantage of long lines
Everyone knows that the worst part of Disney is the long lines. Don’t get annoyed by them, though. Instead take advantage of the wait. If you’re with a group, use this time for bathroom breaks while others hold the place in line. If you’re with a family, have the kids take a nap or give them an iPad game to distract them. You can also use this time to snack if you haven’t had lunch yet. Another great option is last-minute planning for the rest of the day.
Doubt the wait times
While on the topic of lines and waiting in them, we must bring up how unpredictable they can be. The wait times can always be inaccurate or misleading. Sometimes, the app takes a while to refresh, so it may not portray the most updated results. Additionally, even if a ride looks like it has a short line, there can be more inside people that you can’t see, and vice versa when a line looks long, but it moves quickly anyway. When in doubt, ask a staff member for an estimate.
Learn about guest services beforehand
Disney parks really are intended for you to have a magical experience and the employees do everything they can to make sure you have the best possible time during your visit. To do so, there are some great guest services available that many people don’t even know about. If you’re planning a trip, definitely check these out beforehand. Some provided services are First-Aid stations, lost children areas, daycare-like facilities, and shops for family items like sunscreen, diapers, and more.
