We asked what Disney tips changed how people experienced the parks, and some of the answers surprised us.
Cinderella Castle
There’s A LOT to know about visiting Walt Disney World. So much in fact that even the most seasoned, veteran park-goers are still learning tips, tricks, and hacks that change their Disney trips for the better. We reached out to our Facebook community and asked “What life-changing Disney World tips have you discovered that made you say, “I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner!”?” These are some of the answers we got back.
While some of these answers may seem like “old hat” to some, it’s important to remember that that’s not the case for everyone. For example, reader Leslie had been to Disney World four times with her family before they stayed on property. However, they eventually got sick of driving, and instead decide to stay at a Disney World hotel. As she told us, “The last two times we stayed on property and it was amazing. Being in the Bubble. The Disney transportation is flawless. Sure sometimes you have to wait but you have to wait for a city bus sometimes too.”
EPCOT
Several readers reached out with advice for dining reservations. Some noted that since many dining reservations are canceled the day off, it behooves guests to continue checking for open reservations at in-demand locations the day-of for openings. Others stressed the idea of making table service restaurant reservations for lunch instead of dinner, and then taking advantage of the free time during typical dinner hours. As reader Annie succinctly put it, “If you want a sit down restaurant, do it at lunch time. It’s crazy outside at that time, it’s hot, crowded, the lines are long… and after that, go to the pool at your resort or take a nap.”
©Disney || Check for reservations daily!
Reader Matthew stressed a similar line of thinking, saying he and his family have begun going to the parks early in the morning, heading back to their hotel around lunchtime for a nap or dip in the pool, they heading back to the park around the mid-afternoon. According to him, this has left them feeling “great and refreshed.”
Reader Angele chimed in with a reminder that theres plenty to do at Walt Disney World outside of the theme parks themselves, which is all-too-often overlooked by visitors who devote all their time to the parks. As Angela said, guest should take to enjoy, “Exploring resorts, touring Disney vacation club rooms (especially the overwater bungalow at the Polynesian & and the 3 bedroom at the Grand Floridian), spending time at Disney Springs, going on the little boat rides, going mini golfing at one of the two Disney courses, riding the monorail, riding the Skyliner, eating at restaurants on property, enjoying the art shop on the boardwalk…”
Great photo background in Disney Springs!
We asked a second, similar question to our Facebook community recently, and got equally useful results. Some of the most interesting responses to “What’s a Disney World hack you didn’t learn until recently?” included reader Sally extolling the virtues of parking at EPCOT and taking the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, thereby skipping the Transportation and Ticket Center all together.
Reader Maria provided a fun end of night tip, suggesting that guests should, “Ride big thunder mountain over and over again during the nightly fireworks ! Not only can you go on the ride over and over again because no one is ther(e) , but you got the best seats to see the fireworks and it’s fun in the meantime.”
©AllEars
With all these tips, tricks, and hacks, we wanted to end with the sage advice for reader Warren, who advised that the smartest thing to do involved, “Slowing down, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells, looking for the pixie dust in others rather than exhausting myself chasing a good time myself.”
It’s so pretty
These are just some of the many helpful tips we’ve received from our ever-growing community of Disney experts. Stay tuned to DFB for more.
4 Disney World Tips from Experts That Either Make a Lot of Sense or No Sense at All
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Reader Sally is mistaken. The EPCOT monorail does not go to the Magic Kingdom. It goes to the Ticket and Transportation Center where guests then have to transfer to either the ferry boat to the Magic Kingdom or to the monorail. There is no avoiding the TTC. I can’t speak about whether or not parking is easier at EPCOT or the TTC.