With 4 parks to cover and over 100 rides and attractions to experience, a trip
to Walt Disney World may seem overwhelming at first. Many people rely on tips
and hints from fellow travelers to improve their chances of seeing and enjoying
everything that Disney's Orlando Resort Area has to offer. While there are
thousands of hints out there, many of them do not give visitors the necessary
insight to truly enhance their experience. It is with this in mind that
Go2Orlando is proud to present the Top 10 Tips to Remember while visiting Walt
Disney World. These 10 hints are designed to give travelers the very best
insight into how to make the most of their Disney vacation.1. Use FastPass. FastPass is Disney's computerized system designed to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the need to wait in line. Many rides are connected to the system, which invites users to visit the kiosk outside each ride and pick up a FastPass voucher. The voucher provides a specific time window, usually an hour to an hour and a half later, when the visitor can come back and experience the attraction without waiting on line. During the time that would normally be spent in line, visitors can now freely explore other areas of the park before returning to the FastPass ride at the specified time.
2. Disney transportation is your friend. While at the parks, you'll notice that Disney provides a wide variety of transportation options both between parks and inside the parks themselves. These transportation options are the ideal way to move around and between parks very quickly. The Monorail system is the link between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Use this elevated train system to quickly move between the two parks. The Monorail is also directly accessible from many Disney Resort hotels. Making your way between any other combination of parks is just as easy. Disney shuttle buses are available at the entrance to every park, and provide free transportation to other Disney venues. The Walt Disney World railroad is an easy way to get around the Magic Kingdom, while boat and tram services operate in Epcot between Future World and World Showcase. Using these quick, easy transportation options will help free up extra time to spend enjoying the magic of the Disney parks.
3. Buy your tickets before leaving home. Avoid long waits at the ticket window by purchasing the tickets for your Disney vacation before leaving home. On the first day of your trip, you'd much rather be stepping off of the Monorail and into the park than into a long line at the Disney Box Office. Disney also offers special discounts for guests who purchase tickets in advance, a big money saver, especially if you are purchasing a large number of passes.
4. Bring extra clothes. Many of Disney's attractions feature water. In some instances, such as Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids, you will likely get soaked. It is very uncomfortable to walk around any of the parks all day in wet clothes, so it is important to have some extra, dry clothes to change into, otherwise you will find yourself spending unnecessary money buying new clothing in the park. The best thing to do is bring a back pack or tote bag with everyone's extra clothes inside. This way, the extra clothing will stay dry, and everyone can share in the job of carrying the bag. If you don't feel like carrying a bag around, lockers are a great idea too!
5. Wear comfortable shoes. Many people do not realize the importance of good footwear when spending time at a theme park. Over the course of the day, you will easily walk the equivalent of a few miles back and forth around the park. It is imperative to wear good walking shoes to avoid the blisters and soreness that could put a damper on your trip. Sneakers with rubber soles and good ankle support are ideal, while shoes that are too tight or tend to rub up against the feet should be avoided. Athletic sandals with support straps are also a good choice, but sandals that lack the necessary straps should be avoided, as they can quickly lead to soreness and blisters.
6. Prepare for the sun. On a vacation to Disney World, you could easily find yourself spending 10-12 hours walking around under the Florida sun. Avoid having your time ruined by sunburn or dehydration by following these simple precautions. Always wear sunscreen when going to any of the Disney parks. Getting a bad sunburn on your first day in town will ruin your fun for the rest of your trip, so it is important to protect yourself. Don't forget to reapply your sun block if you get wet on a water ride. It is also very important to drink plenty of fluids while walking around the park. The hot sun can often burn away your energy faster than you can replace it, which can lead to dizziness and fatigue. By staying hydrated, you'll be keeping yourself in top condition to enjoy the parks.
7. Take advantage of what Disney has to offer. In addition to the magic and excitement of the parks, Disney offers a wide array of amenities designed to take the hassle out of your trip. These include baby-changing stations and kennel facilities in every park, as well as stroller and wheelchair rental facilities along with lockers that are available for daily rentals. These features are all available to make the guest more comfortable, so take advantage of them.
8. Make Reservations. If you are planning on enjoying any of the fine dining options that Disney offers, plan to make reservations. Disney's restaurants fill up quickly during dinner hours, and without reservations it is often difficult to get a table in many of them. This is especially applicable to the restaurants in Epcot's World Showcase, many of which require advanced reservations. Reservations are available well in advance, which makes vacation planning easy. For reservations, just call (407) WDW-DINE.
9. Be Patient. No matter what strategies you have for optimizing your time in the park, there will always be lines. Walt Disney World is a very popular destination for thousands of people every single day. There is no use in ruining anyone's time by complaining or becoming impatient with the line procedures. Just relax and wait your turn, you'll be happier in the long run.
10. Plan, plan, plan. Before you go to Walt Disney World, it is important to plan your trip thoroughly. Know what parks you are going to, what attractions you want to see, and what kind of time you will have. Consult maps of the various parks so you will know where things are and can see the easiest routes between attractions. This will help save time once you are in the park, and provide you with a road map of your own as you prepare to venture into Walt Disney World. A little planning beforehand will help you get the most out of your visit to Orlando's Walt Disney World Resort.