Disney: Where the Magic Lives (as long as you do it right!)
Disney World is truly one of my favorite places on the planet! Part of this is because I spent many childhood vacations there and part of it is because it is JUST SO MAGICAL!!! I’ve been as a child, a young adult, without kids, with kids, with grandparents, with my KIDS’ grandparents, Tokyo Disney, aboard a Disney cruise ship, and with friends, and I honestly have loved it ALL! I had to look back through the archives to come up with my number of times I’ve been and I’m getting 15 over the years! The thing about Disney is that no matter how many times I go, I always miss it and want to go back! So I do! And I will continue going back for years and years and years <3
Okay, you’re right. This pic is technically from Universal, but how cute is this outfit??!
Quick shoutout to Walt Disney for fighting for his dream so that we can all enjoy it now. Did you know that he died before Disney World was complete? He had the vision and started the work, but it was his brother Roy who finished it for him. I think this example of the American Dream coming to fruition is part of why Disney is just so joyful, or it CAN be so joyful if you keep a few things in mind. As guests we are actively taking part in someone’s dream! AMAZING! Okay ready? Let’s dig in!
Tip #1: Who you go with matters.
If you are visiting Disney with a Disney hater you’re probably not going to have as great of a time as if you are going there with a first-timer or a Disney lover. It’s like going Christmas caroling with someone who thinks it’s the dumbest thing ever vs. going with someone who loves it: they FLAVOR the experience for you. I realize that we can’t always travel with people who are super excited about ALL THE THINGS, but it’s just something to keep in mind if you’ve had a bad experience there before, or if you are preparing to visit Disney with some naysayers. You might have to put a little distance between your expectations and excitement and the Grumpy of the group (see what I did there?!).
If I were traveling with a Disney naysayer I would make sure to have some time without that person, where you are indulging in ALL the magical activities. You can meet back up later for dinner (everyone loves dinner!). Another thing you could try is implementing the following tips so said grumpy person has a better chance of enjoying the experience 😀
Taking a break and being silly! We were there over St. Patrick’s Day so I ordered these cute shirts from Etsy.
Tip #2: Arrive when the parks open. No seriously. Do this.
The reason I recommend arriving when the parks open is because most people aren't going to do this. It's very tempting on vacation to sleep in, but that's why you have to do it, because then you can experience the park when it's not quite as busy, and also when it’s not so HOT (especially if you are going during hot Florida months). Also, if you're going to spend all that money on the tickets, you want to get the most out of it. This doesn't mean you have to stay from open to close; actually I don’t recommend this. More on that later. But you do need to start when it opens because you’re the most fresh! And if we’re talking about maximizing the magic, you want fresh.
When you get to the park at opening, I encourage you to go straight to the ride or the attraction that everybody most wants to go. Most people start at the front of the park and work their way to the back, but not you! You’re going in with a plan and this will help the line situation a bit, as well as making sure your family gets to do what’s most important to them. Another tip for managing long lines is signing up for the Genie. This does cost money (surprise!) but we find it to be worth it for shorter wait times. The Genie helps you get fast passes for one to three attractions at a time (it depends if you're staying on Disney property or not). I think the Genie guide you on what to do next, which can be really helpful when managing kids. It tells you when you have to be where for your fast passes. Note: The Genie doesn’t offer fast passes to ALL rides. The super popular rides are often not available to use in conjunction with the Genie, so use my tip of going to those rides FIRST when you enter the park.
The Safari at Animal Kingdom is a great place to sit and cool off.
Tip #3: Have a plan, but make it flexible. Let’s call it a Flexible Plan.
Just like in parenting, it’s important to have a plan for how you want your kids to turn out, but you also have to realize that it’s not entirely up to you! Disney is the same. Yes. Disney is exactly the same as parenting, LOL. You want a plan for the day, but you’ve got to be willing to make adjustments along the way depending on wait times, how the group is handling the heat, etc. We talked a lot with the kids about setting expectations for the days at the park, “We will do our best to make sure everyone gets to do their #1 pick, but it’s not entirely up to us.” However, I think when you go to the parks and you don’t have any sort of plan as far as some of the rides/activities you want to do it is harder to be fully present and enjoy it. This isn't like another theme park like Dollywood or Cedar Point where you can just walk to the next thing if your ride is busy. If you don't have a plan, you're probably going to end up walking back and forth and not really doing anything. Then you’ll leave, feeling like, “What did we even do today?” And Disney is way too expensive not to cross some of your must-dos off that list!
In our family we have a point person for the Disney game plan. This person is Chris. He manages the Genie app and we give him all of our requests, LOL. And he enjoys this! I do not, so it’s perfect. My job is interjecting his master plan with what’s happening in real time, “Babe, Owen has to find a bathroom.” “We are starving.” “Zoe’s feet hurt so we need to sit.” One person is the master planner and one can run interference. Guys, enjoying Disney is a WHOLE THING.
Tip #4: Enjoy the Freebies!
Believe it or not, there are some great free things in the parks! I say “free” like the tickets aren't $1,000,000, but the free parades are actually some of my happiest Disney moments! The music, the costumes, the characters, sigh!! I always cry a little during these parades because they are just total joy! Disney is also known for scheduled shows near the castle that are magical as well! You don’t need to be right next to the castle to enjoy them; they pipe the music out on speakers and spread the performers out wide. I also love the Dapper Dan's and the other random pop-up performances. These surprise performances are actually one my favorite part of Disney! It’s what sets Disney apart from other parks; they're just so joyful and light and a great opportunity for you and your family to sit and rest a bit, or to stand and lean up against a building. These little moments are truly where the magic lies. So even though you need a plan and you should be intentional about where you're going for the day, make sure that you carve out some downtime in there too, so that you can sit back and enjoy this free magic.
Tip #5: Don’t try to cram everything into one trip
As I am currently planning our 20 year anniversary trip to Italy, I am learning that you just cannot cram an entire country into one trip! I mean, can you imagine seeing all of the US in 7 days??! LOL! Disney is kind of the same. It’s massive! And trying to do ERRRRRYTHING is not only impossible but will be miserable. My family loves to get there first thing (see tip #1) and hit it hard for about 5 hours, then go back to our hotel or house for the afternoon to rest, swim, recalibrate, and then go BACK around 5 when it’s not so hot and we are fresh. It’s our favorite way to enjoy the parks. Anytime we skip this afternoon break and power through, we end up grouchy and exhausted.
How many parks you go to will depend on your length of stay, the ages and desires of your group, and what your vacay vibe is! There isn’t one right answer for that. But just pace yourself and know that if there are rides or activities you didn’t get to this time, you can always come back for more!
I hope these tips help make Disney more magical for you! XO