We love Disney World, enough to have gone there five times over the past ten years and have learned from each holiday.   See our highlights from each park and Disney World Top 5 Tips & Tricks below.

Our first visit to Disney was during the late fall when our kids were toddlers and I was pregnant with our youngest daughter. We’ve since spent three spring breaks at Disney and a fall getaway during Halloween and Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Disney Park Highlights

Magic Kingdom 

• Memories: Take pictures just before you get into the park and in front of Cinderella Castle, I highly recommend using Disney PhotoPass (no charge unless you purchase the pics & these are some of our favorite pictures).  Enjoy the walk down Main Street.
• Rides: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain & It’s a Small World.  Disney Mine Train is a blast but definitely use a FastPass+. Tip:  Wait times drop during the parade, so carpe diem!
• Dining:  Enjoy a sit-down meal at Crystal Palace (Disney Resort guest make dining reservations 180 days in advance).  If you’re going to spend a full day at MK, strongly suggest a sit-down meal to recharge. My girls also loved breakfast at Cinderella’s Castle which was a good breakfast and got us to the park earlier to deal with the crowds, a win-win!  Quick service favorites include Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe and Pinocchio Village Haus. Auntie’s Galactic Goodies in Tomorrowland is our go to afternoon ice cream stop.

Animal Kingdom (wow, possibly the most underrated park at Disney)

• Memories:  Take a picture in front of amazing Tree of Life and take in all of the nature and birds as you walk through Animal Kingdom.
• Rides:  Avatar without a doubt but use a FastPass+.  This ride was simply incredible as is the new Pandora – the Land of Avatar (“Discover an all new land that celebrates the magic of nature”). Expedition Everest is the best roller coaster at Disney, embark on a guided tour of African savanna, home to live exotic animals on the Kilimanjaro Safari, hang on tight and be ready to laugh and get soaked on Kali River Rapids.
• Dining:  Enjoy the music and African dancing at Tusker House in Africa.  Our favorite quick service is Pizzafari (kids loved the garlic knots).

Epcot  

• Memories: We debate whether the spaceship earth is really a giant golf ball?  Take a picture in front of the beautiful gardens by the Main Entrance and in from the Eiffel Tower in France.  We love to enjoy Epcot at night. Pretend to travel internationally while strolling through the World Showcase with a glass of wine or champs (France) or beer (Canada or Germany) while the kids solve the Agent P challenges in the countries.   Stay for IllumiNations, a spectacular light show.
• Rides:  We used our FastPasses on Soarin’ (a breezy airborne adventure as you hang glide above some of the most breathtaking wonders of the world) and Test Track (design a virtual concept vehicle and then go for a high-octane spin).  We still ride Two Seas with Nemo & Friends (a favorite when they were little).
• Dining:  Enjoy spectacular views of a living coral reef (with 4,000 living creatures) at Coral Reef.  We want to go to La Hacienda de San Angel for Mexican food with premium margaritas right on the water.  Our favorite quick service was Via Napoli Pizza Window in Italy.  We’d love to grab as slice of pizza while the kids danced at the Italian Pavilion.  This was closed during our last trip (April 2018), but looks like it may be moving to a new location off the main strip.

Hollywood Studios  

• Memories:  Stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, stop by the Trolley Car Café for Starbucks (if the line isn’t too long) and stroll down Hollywood Boulevard.
• Rides: Toy Story Mania is our favorite ride at Disney!  It’s a favorite for all ages, so the wait can be loooonnngg, so use a FastPass+!  Toy Story Land is coming June 2018 and can’t wait to see it! Kids loved The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Roller coaster.  Disney Junior was the highlight when our kids were younger. If you have a Star Wars fanatic, s/he will love all of the Star Wars attractions at Hollywood Studios (definitely sign up for Jedi Training).
• Dining:  We usually spend a half-day at Hollywood Studios, so haven’t had a dining reservation but if we did, we would want to try The Hollywood Brown Derby.  Grab a quick bite at Oasis Canteen.

The Water Parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach

• Take a break from the parks for some fun in the sun at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.  You’ll need to have a park hopper plus ticket. Plan to spend a day here and head to Disney Springs for dinner.
• Our favorites:  We loved most of all of the attractions.  Some of our favorites include: Typhoon Lagoon surf pool, Castaway Creek lazy river, Teamboat Springs (one of the world’s longest family whitewater raft rides) & Toboggan Races (a little friendly family competition).
• Treat:  Cool off with a sand pail full of ice cream, chocolate sauce and other goodies at I.C.

Disney World Top 5 Tips & Tricks

1. FASTPASS+ LIKE A PRO:  No matter the age, no one wants to wait hours in line for a ride.  Disney Mine Train was up to a four hour wait during our last trip. You can book three FastPass+ reservations per day (all at the same park and 1 in the Group A and 2 in Group B) 60 days in advance if you’re staying on property, 30 days otherwise.  Mark your calendars for 7a ET 60 days in advance of your 1^st day and be ready to book your Fast Pass+ reservations.  We scheduled a park each day often planning for the “least” crowded park that day (Disney crowd calendar)  and book our three Fast Pass+ reservations at that park.   Once you finish a Fast Pass+, you can book another easily on your phone (using the My Disney Experience App) or at a kiosk in the park.  If you can’t book your whole group for a Fast Pass+ reservation, trying splitting up (e.g. we split into 2 and 3 within minutes of each other).    You need to purchase your tickets before booking FastPass+ reservations.  We opt for Park Hopper Plus tickets that allow us to “hop” among the parks during the day and go to the water parks.Our Fast Pass+ reservations recommendations by park:
   • Magic Kingdom: Disney Mine Train, Space Mountain, & Splash Mountain (if it’s warm, otherwise Big Thunder Mountain).  Dumbo the Flying Elephant for little ones (it has a great play area).
   • Epcot: Soarin’ and Test Track (both are Group A, so you will need to book on different days); Spaceship Earth and Mission Space (both Group B).  The Seas with Nemo & Friends and Turtle Talk with Crush are perfect for little ones (both are Group B).  We have not tried Frozen Ever After, but book if it you have an Anna, Elsa and Olaf fan.
   • Animal Kingdom: Avatar and Mount Everest both are Group A, so you will need to book on different days); Kali River Rapids and Kilimanjaro Safaris (both Group B).
   • Hollywood Studios: Toy Story Mania! (Group A) and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Tours (both are Group B).  Disney Junior – Live on Stage! is perfect for little kids.  Consider Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! if you want a chance to be on stage (Mike was!).
2. MONEY SAVING TIPS: A man wore a t-shirt that said “most expensive day ever” which can be so true.  While Disney is magical, it comes at a price.  Here are a few tips to defray some of the costs:
   • Pack lunch, snacks and water:  Grocery shop near the hotel and stock up on breakfast, lunch foods & snacks and bring a packed lunch & S’well water bottles into the park.  This saves money and ensures everyone eats a bit healthier.
   • Plan for souvenirs:  The Easter Bunny always gives our kids a Disney gift card to use for souvenirs.  This teaches them budgeting, gives them the freedom to purchase what they want, and is a win-win for parents!
   • Buy Disney merch in advance:  Gap has a great selection of Disney merch for all ages at a fraction of the price. Stock up on glow sticks and necklaces.  Disney’s lighted souvenirs are really cool, but really expensive.
3. PLAN FOR BREAKS:  Go back to your hotel for an afternoon recharge for everyone.  It’s so easy to keep going (and we’ve done that), but inevitably someone crashes.  When our kids were babes, either Mike or I would stay in the room while they napped while the other relaxed at the pool and as they got older we all would play at the pool and then head back to the parks for dinner.
4. GO OFF SEASON: Our favorite Disney vacation was over Halloween and going to Mickey’s Not -So-Scary Halloween Party.  The lines were short and we were able go on a lot of rides and still have pool breaks.  Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was the highlight of our trip.  It was an additional cost, but there were no lines (our son rode Space Mountain over and over) and the kids made out with a ton of candy.    Spring is convenient with kids’ school spring break, but be ready for the crowds.  Some of the least crowded times at Disney are September, October, May, and January.  Highly recommend going during one of these months if you can!
5. CONSULT WITH A DISNEY VACATION PLANNER: Planning for Disney can be a bit overwhelming, but alas a Disney Vacation Planner can take the stress out of planning and is free.  Melissa McCallister loves the magic of Disney and is an amazing authorized Disney Vacation planner and can help plan your Disney vacation.

“As an Authorized Disney Vacation planner, I can book your hotel, dining, tickets, special events, share special offers/promotions, provide travel tips, personalize an itinerary for your family, and much, much more! Plus, there is no charge for my concierge services!!! I can provide you multiple options and help tailor your trip to meet all of your needs (and of course price point). Contact me today at dreammakermelissa@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook at Dream Maker Melissa Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” – Melissa.

We love the magic of Disney and hope this post is a helpful guide to your next magical adventure.

What are some of your Disney World tips and tricks?

xoxo, Bridget

Family Galavant