Anyone planning a first trip to Walt Disney World Resort may very well become quickly overwhelmed with the entire experience. You’re in luck because so much of the confusion can be cleared up by choosing a travel agent who specializes in Disney destinations. You might be asking which resort? What kind of ticket? Should we get the dining plan? The internet is full of great resources, but there’s so much information out there, it’s easy to get lost. Your travel agent can guide you, knowing your family’s personal preferences when it comes to tightening up those nuts and bolts.
You can relax knowing all these details will be figured out, so what next? Walt Disney World comes with big expectations and while these are understandable and justified, remembering a few things will help to make the most of your park days.
Manage your expectations and be realistic with them. Unfortunately you’re not like to walk into an empty park and stroll up to Cinderella who’s waiting for you at the castle door (wait, didn’t I see that on the commercial!?). There will be crowds and there will be wait times. More often than not, it’s also going to be hot. Go in with the knowledge that you won’t be able to see and do it all. Prioritize what you want to accomplish with your travel agent using fastpasses and dining experiences and then fill in the gaps with a good touring plan that doesn’t have you zig-zagging back and forth all day.
Get up! Don’t sleep the day away. Early mornings are a great time at the parks. The crowds do tend to be a little lighter first thing in the morning and you can knock out a couple of attractions before wait times grow too long. (Extra tip: Schedule your first fastpass a couple hours after park opening to minimize your wait times during the busier part of the day). Bonus – the weather is most pleasant in the morning before that Florida humidity kicks in.
Be flexible. I know it’s hard when you’ve spent thousands on a dream vacation, but sometimes things don’t pan out and you have to be willing to be change plans, big or small. Maybe your little prince is getting hangry and you only have 15 minutes to get to a show you had planned to see. Choose your battles – check and see if there’s a later showtime. Every time I can think of my own kids melting down or wearing out at Walt Disney World, it has been because they were thirsty (extra tip: Stay Hydrated! There’s free ice water at all quick serve dining locations!) or hungry. Within 10 minutes of eating and drinking, they were back to their happy selves.
Wear shoes that are broken in. Trust me on this one. I ran from Frontierland to the Main Street Emporium and back in 95 degree heat while my family was in the fastpass line for Splash Mountain because I made the mistake of gifting my children new Crocs the day before we left. Six hours into our day, they had blisters and their bandaids wouldn’t stay put and it was surprisingly difficult to find socks. That’s right, socks with Crocs was our only choice!
Be prepared. Pack a bag with a few non-perishable snacks, empty plastic baggies, sunscreen, lip balm, bandages (maybe some moleskin for blisters!), cooling towels, and whatever else you can think of that might make your day more enjoyable.
A Disney World vacation is a wonderful opportunity to create lasting memories with your family, and a little advance planning on your part will make your days a lot easier!
Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and STRESS FREE!
Candice was raised in east Tennessee. While in college, her best friend dragged her to a Walt Disney World College Program recruiting session at the University of Tennessee and the rest is Disney history. In the Fall of 1999, Candice became a quick service food hostess for Sunset Ranch Market and Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios – or what is now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While soaking up her time as a cast member, she met Ryan, a neighbor and a fellow college programmer who worked as a custodial host at Epcot. Four years later, Candice moved to the Midwest and married that boy from across the hall. They now live in Greenwood, Indiana with their two little boys. The Disney-loving foursome took their first family trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2013 and Candice is eagerly planning their return. Candice also works full-time at a community mental health center and enjoys taking photographs and blogging at Mommy in the Midwest.
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