Are you thinking about planning a trip to Disney World?

You have come to the right place! Here at DFB we know a thing or two about Disney World and we always want to share our knowledge with you! There is so much that goes into planning a trip to Disney World like travel, park tickets, hotel reservations, dining reservations, and transportation. We know it is a lot to think about, but we don’t want you to miss out on all the tips and tricks that can make your vacation even easier! We compiled a list of 50 things you need to know before you visit Disney World!

There is so much to cover so we are going to get right into it!

1. Avoid Long Wait Times

Some rides in Disney World should NOT have long waits. Just as a general rule. These are the rides that aren’t as popular, like shows like Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom, or super-fun and adorable rides that we can’t understand why they’re not popular but alas, like Living With the Land in EPCOT. 

Or rides that load so quickly that Cast Members can get a lot of guests through, such as omnimover rides like Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth. If you see long waits posted for rides that usually have low wait times, then just skip those for now and come back later. The wait time will go down unless you’re there during the holiday season and on busy days like Christmas.

To get a good idea for which rides these are, download the My Disney Experience app a few weeks before you go to Disney World and keep an eye on the wait times list. You’ll quickly get an idea of which rides always fall under that 30 minute wait, and which ones verge on 60 minutes or more all day.

 

Along the same lines, be wary of the “artificially increased” wait times for some rides. Nope, we are not claiming that Disney falsifies their posted ride wait times (though that CAN happen). But there are some circumstances that make rides that usually have low wait times into uber-popular attractions all of a sudden! For example, as soon as that parade passes through Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom, everyone is gonna go get in line for Haunted Mansion. Suddenly that wait time will swell, and you don’t want to be in the middle of that!

The same happens when two rides are next to each other, and one shuts down for some reason—whether it’s an electrical problem or it’s an outdoor ride and a storm is coming through. The next-door neighbor will suddenly take on everyone who was in the line for the other ride, doubling the wait time.

AJ’s Proven Tricks to Avoid Long Wait Times!

Another example is the Spaceship Earth madhouse that happens when EPCOT opens each morning. Spaceship Earth is the first ride everyone sees, and it’s the icon of the park, so everyone immediately gets in line first thing. But not YOU, dear reader. Not you. You’re gonna bypass Spaceship Earth and head directly to Frozen, Test Track, or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and ride with no line while everyone else is waiting forever to hear Dame Judy Dench take them through the history of communication. Spaceship Earth’s wait time will be almost nil by the afternoon. Head there on your way out instead.

2. The Complexity Of The Ticket Purchases

In Disney World, not all days are created equal when it comes to theme park admission prices. Essentially, Disney uses a calendar system for its prices that’s all based on demand. So, “peak” days such as holidays and days that Disney expects the park to be busier—are priced higher.

Cheapest Days to Visit Disney World in 2024

If you go during a slower period, when the demand isn’t as high, the tickets will be cheaper. Prices can jump up or down depending on when you’d like to visit, so scouting out a slower time could mean big savings.

Also, you’ll want to keep in mind that park tickets have an expiration date. So, while your parents might have tickets from the ’90s that are still totally good, the tickets you buy tomorrow will always have a set expiration date. You’ll want to mark that down in your calendar and make sure you get the full use out of that ticket before it expires.

You can get tickets that give you access to 1 park per day, or you can opt for a ticket with the Park Hopper option. With the Park Hopper option, you can HOP between all 4 Disney World theme parks. Park Hopper DOES add a fairly significant cost to your tickets, but if you’re looking to jump around to different parks for meals or are trying to do it all in just a few days, it might well be worth the extra moolah.

3. Bypass The Front Desk

If you’ve already checked into your Disney World resort online, you’re all set! THE END.

But for real — Your resort will text you your room number once it’s ready for you, and you can use your My Disney Experience app or MagicBand to unlock your door without having to stop by the front desk and speak to a Cast Member. 

What to Do While You Wait For Your Room to Be Ready

That way, you can either go directly to your room as soon as you arrive, or you can hop right on a bus and go straight to the parks! 

Don’t Make These Five Check In Mistakes!

Of course, if you wanna swing by the front desk to pick up any free “I’m Celebrating” buttons or maps to save time at the parks later, you can always stop by and get them before you go! The front desk is a treasure trove of buttons and maps — and you can pick them up without waiting in the often long lines at Guest Relations in the parks!

4. Don’t Trust The Disney World App or Website For Third Party Dining

Some restaurants in Disney World aren’t owned directly by Disney. This is especially the case for restaurants in EPCOT’s World Showcase, Disney Springs, and some Disney World Hotels.

We spoke to a Cast Member at The Basket at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs who informed us that there have been times where new items are added to the restaurant’s menu, but the Disney World website/app doesn’t show them for WEEKS after they’ve been added!

So how can you combat this? Find the restaurant’s website online (that’s NOT connected to Disney) and check out their menus listed there. Or, you can call the restaurant directly to verify if an item is or isn’t on their menu.

5. Where To Find POG Juice

POG Juice stands for Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava — the fruit juices that come together to make this staple Disney beverage! Of course, in order to drink POG Juice, you’ve gotta know where to find it first. And that’s where we come in! So here’s EVERYWHERE that you can get POG Juice in Disney World!

On Animal Kingdom menus, where it’s available, you might see POG Juice referred to as “Jungle Juice,” but don’t you worry… it is POG, indeed! You can enjoy POG Juice with your all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet at Tusker House, Animal Kingdom’s own Character Meal.

Or you can get the Ngumu Jungle Juice served up at the Dawa Bar (which is basically a POG cocktail that also features Snow Leopard Vodka and Bols Peach Schnapps)

You won’t see POG Juice specifically listed on the menu at Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle. But it is a featured ingredient in The Tropical Serenade!

There are a few spots that serve POG Juice at the Polynesian Village Resort! POG Juice is best known at ‘Ohana, where it’s served as a drink option during the ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch.

Just steps away at Kona Cafe, you can also enjoy POG with your breakfast — however, here you’ll see it as “Liliko’i Juice” on the menu.

Stepping outside to the Barefoot Pool Bar (perched next to the Lava Pool), POG is featured in a few cocktails. In fact, just recently, a new POG Mimosa popped up at the Barefoot!We’ve also enjoyed a POG Margarita here — it’s the Niue Rita featuring Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila with cointreau and lime juices along with POG.

1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian reopened in April 2024 with a brand new Character Meal: Wish Makers Enchanted Dining! Just imagine how stoked we were when we were able to enjoy POG Juice during BREAKFAST with Aladdin, Mirabel, Cinderella, and Tiana!

If you’ve ever partaken of the bountiful Breakfast buffet at Boma in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you may have enjoyed POG Juice (again, as Jungle Juice) during your meal!

You can also make a quick stop at The Mara, where the POG Slush has made its victorious return! For all you adults out there, you can get this slush spiked with Starr African Rum or Vusa African Vodka.

And if you just can’t get enough POG, there’s a little Gelato Cart in the Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where POG Sorbet is served. The offerings at the Gelato Cart are brought to you by the folks at Vivoli il Gelato in Disney Springs — where you may just catch the POG Sorbet as one of the featured flavors, too!

6. Consider Hitting Up THIS Restaurant EARLY

For most people, rope-dropping a Disney World park means making a beeline for a popular ride. But in EPCOT, we’ve got a surprising spot at the top of our priority list!

One of our go-to places in EPCOT is Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie — a bakery in the France Pavilion that offers tons of both sweet and savory treats.

Les Halles has a huge selection of options — including fresh pastries, sandwiches, soups, and desserts. It’s also the home of one of the best “bang for your buck” snacks in Disney World — a whole baguette for less than $4! But because it’s so tasty and affordable, it also gets BUSY as the day goes on. 

Ranking Every Menu Item at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie!

While not every restaurant inside the World Showcase opens right when the park does, Les Halles does. That means this is the perfect time to swing on by and grab breakfast with a potentially much shorter line.

7. MyDisney Login

Besides the My Disney Experience app, Disney has so many other apps and websites — so it can get confusing remembering all your passwords for each and every one of them. In order to combat this, Disney has created MyDisney — which is basically one portal with one username and one password for all of your Disney accounts. 

This portal makes life so much easier because all you have to do is just remember one login! Only ONE! Not only is logging in easier but so is logging out, managing marketing preferences, as well as handling any other settings, since these can be changed for all Disney sites with just this one nifty portal!

8. The Mobile Order Photo Gallery

Want to know what a restaurant looks like as well as some of the menu items before you decide to eat there? Disney has made this so much easier. 

Before, if you wanted to see what a menu item looked like, you would need to start a Mobile Order on the My Disney Experience app to see a picture of the dish. You didn’t have to complete the Mobile Order, but would have to act like you were starting one to view it. And that was kind of a pain.

While you can still do this, Disney just added a new feature making it easier to see some restaurant photos. It’s like looking at someone’s social media “stories” on Instagram and Snapchat. 

So here’s how it’s done:

1. Open your My Disney Experience app and head to the “Order Food” option.
2. Now, filter which park you’re wanting to mobile order from to see a list of food options. 
3. Next to each restaurant’s name, you’ll see a little circle featuring a little picture of food (like an IG profile picture.)
4. Tap on those circles to see a little “stories” slide show of what the dining room look like, as well as what some of the location’s most popular entrees look like, too.

9. Don’t Purchase Park Hoppers Too Late

This is so so so so SO important to keep in mind! If you don’t get a theme park ticket with the Park Hopper option at first, and later you decide you want it, that’s fine. You can always add it on once you’re in Disney World, and you can even add it to your tickets in the middle of your trip. 

But Disney will charge you for adding the Park Hopper for the full length of your trip (meaning that even if you add on the Park Hopping on day 3 of 5, you’ll be charged Park Hopping for the full 5 days of your trip.) So, if you ARE going to add it, you’ll want to add it BEFORE your first park day to take full advantage of it.

Is a Park Hopper Ticket Worth It?

10. Avoid The No-Show Fees

Change your mind about a dining reservation? No problem?

Well… MAYBE a problem.  You can change or cancel your dining reservations later if you decide you’d rather NOT sit down and pay the big bucks for a full meal. But please note that most Disney reservations will charge you a cancellation fee (usually $10 per person) if you don’t show up for the meal or cancel up to two hours in advance for most dining experiences. 

This policy does not apply to restaurants like Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Victoria and Albert’s, and Monsieur Paul — so make sure you read up on their specific cancellation policies before you book

Also note that Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom DOES have that 2-hour window cancellation policy, HOWEVER if you miss your dining timeframe here, you will have to forfeit the entire price of the meal per person. (And that’s gonna be waaaaaay more expensive than just $10 each.)

11. Check For Walk-Up Waitlists 

Are you hoping to dine at a Table Service restaurant in Disney World, but don’t have an Advance Dining Reservation? The Mobile Dine Walk-up Waitlist feature on the My Disney Experience app allows guests to view Table Service restaurants that have available seating for walk-up guests!

There are a few options to check Walk-up Waitlist availability. One option is to check for a specific restaurant’s availability by using the search feature in the My Disney Experience app and typing in a restaurant’s name. Once you’re on the restaurant’s main page, you’ll be able to see if it offers a “Join Walk-Up List” option.  If you’re a-ok with the Estimated Wait Time, simply tap that icon and go through the prompts from there to reserve your spot on the Waitlist!

One of our favorite money-saving hacks is to buy a Disney gift card at Target if you have a Target RedCard and get 5% cash back on your purchase. 

But guess what? You can do the same thing with UberEats gift cards! Target does sell UberEats gift cards, too — so you may wanna consider grabbing a gift card or two ahead of your trip if you’re looking for a more affordable way to dine back at your Disney resort!

15. Take Your Balloon To Daycare

Okay, this is actually super cute! Every Disney World park is cool with you bringing your Disney balloon along with you. Every park, that is, except for Animal Kingdom (since the latex can be a choking hazard for our animal friends.)

So if you’re hopping from, say, Magic Kingdom and heading over to Animal Kingdom — and you don’t have enough time to take your kiddo’s balloon off at your resort — you can actually drop your balloon off at Animal Kingdom’s balloon daycare before entering the park!

Just head over to guest relations and let ‘em know your little balloon needs a sitter for the day. Once you return to pick it up, your special balloon friend MIGHT have a note attached to its string letting you know how well it “behaved” in daycare that day. Seriously, the cutest thing EVER.

16. What Happens When Your Lightning Lane BETRAYS You

Picture this: You’re in Disney World using Genie+ like a pro. All of a sudden, the ride you had a Lightning Lane booked for has to shut down…right before your arrival window. 

No need to worry, though! When this happens, you’ll receive a Multi-experience Redemption Pass — which is basically a free Lightning Lane pass that you can use at any time for select attractions. 

Problem solved, right? Well, maybe not so much. The big mistake that we’ve been seeing people make with these Passes is that they don’t look at the attractions that the Redemption Pass is eligible for. In fact, we watched Cast Members turn away a whole line of people who thought they could use their Multi-experience Redemption Pass at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train after Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed. 

Trust us — Cast Members are BEGGING you to read the fine print on those special passes! When you receive one of these redemption passes, it’ll tell you where you’re allowed to use the Lightning Lane and other important details so you can set yourself up for success while using it. 

Recently, we’ve been seeing a lot of guests get turned away when trying to use these Multi-experience Redemption Passes at rides that use the Individual Lightning Lane system. And that’s because those specific rides do not apply to the Multi-experience Redemption Pass, since they’re a separate cost that’s NOT included in your Genie+ purchase.

Also keep in mind that with Multi-experience Redemption Passes, you can only use them in the park where your original Lightning Lane was booked. For example, if you book a Lightning Lane for The Haunted Mansion and it closes down during your return window, you’ll have to select another ride at Magic Kingdom to use the multi-experience redemption pass for, even if you’re planning to hop to another park later on in the day.

 

17. You Can Bring Luggage To The Parks

If you don’t want to wait ONE SECOND getting to the Disney Parks once you touch down in Orlando, this new Disney World rule is going to make you VERY happy!

You planned your trip and finally GOT here — either by plane, car, submarine, whatever — and now you’re here. FINALLY here. But if you wanna hit the ground RUNNING and head IMMEDIATELY to the parks once you arrive, then heading to your hotel to drop off your stuff might feel like you’re taking a huge chunk of time out of your day. 

But guess what?? You don’t HAVE to do that. During a recent park visit, one of our reporters did some extra digging and discovered the process of checking luggage at — legit — the Disney Parks! 

So if you’d like to grab an early morning flight and head straight to a park, here’s what you can expect:

When you bring luggage to the Parks, you will get flagged over to a search area. We talked to security and sometimes the search will be done by security staff, and other times it will be conducted by a specially trained search dog. If the bags are small enough, you can head over to the locker rentals and rent a small locker (12″ x 10″ x 17″) for $10 per day, a large locker (15.5″ x 13″ x 17″) for $12 per day, or a jumbo locker (these fit bags under 17″ x 22″ x 26″ and are ONLY available at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT for $15 per day).

For especially large luggage, Guest Relations told us that sometimes the Electric Conveyance Vehicles (EVC) rentals will hold larger items for guests but for a fee. Unlike the lockers, at the EVC rentals, you’re charged $10 per item, regardless of size.

Each item then receives a special yellow tag. If you’re looking to save money but want to take this route, you can store your large suitcases at the ECV and stroller rental for $10 each and then consolidate your backpacks into a $15 large locker, which holds between three and four backpacks depending on size and how tightly you squeeze them in.

18. There Are HUNDREDS Of Places To Eat! AHHHHHH!!!

Want a BIG comprehensive guide to all things Disney FOOD related? Well, lucky you — because that’s EXACTLY what the team and I have created to make sure YOU have the best time dining around the parks EVER.

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is a 3 part digital book that’s split up to cover EVERYTHING you need to know before you head out for vacation:

1. You’ve got the 101 Plan that covers the basics for an AMAZING Disney trip
2. You’ve got the Printables & Resources — where you can find all the planning sheets, top lists, and guidance to tailor your vacation towards your specific wants and desires
3. And you’ve got the Reference Guide — which is all the nitty gritty details that’ll give you more of a deep dive into Disney vacation planning.

19. You May Want… Post-It Notes?

There are a lot of benefits to self-flushing toilets. (The main one? Not having to touch the handle to flush. Hurray! Less germs) But some of these self-flushing toilets will sense any tiny movement and flush before you’ve even had a chance to stand up. And getting sprayed with toilet water did not make my list of must-dos in Disney World.

All jokes aside, this can be tough for parents who are still in the process of potty training their kiddos. That sudden loud “flush” is like a jumpscare even for me! If your kiddo is nervous when it comes to those self-flushing toilets, it’s not a bad idea to invest in some post-it notes. That way, you can cover the sensor without having to directly touch the sensor yourself. (Just don’t FLUSH the post-it note after. Make sure you’re throwing it away in the trash. Otherwise, you might wind up accidentally clogging a Disney toilet.) 

And don’t forget — Practice makes perfect! It might be a good idea to track down a self-flushing toilet at your local mall or other local area and take it for a spin ahead of time! That way, you can get some self-flushing potty training practice in a low-stakes environment before your trip!

20. An EPCOT Dining Hack

Let’s face it. When it’s hot in Disney World, the last thing you want to do is eat outside. But sometimes, it can’t be helped — especially at a lot of Disney World counter service locations that only offer outdoor seating. But believe it or not, ONE EPCOT counter service restaurant has SECRET indoor seating (as in AIR CONDITIONING) 

La Cantina de San Angel, over in the Mexico Pavilion, is pretty much the fastest way to get tacos and margaritas in this area of the park. Upon first glance, it appears like the only available seating at La Cantina de San Angel is outside. You’d mostly be right in assuming that, but — as it turns out — you can actually pick up your food at La Cantina de San Angel and sit INSIDE the nearby table service restaurant called La Hacienda de San Angel. 

How?? Well, sometimes, La Cantina opens up a section of seating inside La Hacienda before the restaurant opens up so that there’s more seating available for everyone who dines there (freeing up the outdoor seating). So, if you get to La Cantina de San Angel early enough, you might be able to place your order and then grab your food and sit INSIDE this section of La Hacienda de San Angel.

21. Take That Vital Extra Step With Your Good Neighbor Hotel

MANY Good Neighbor Hotels are less expensive and still have the same hotel perks as Disney-owned resorts. But in order to ACCESS those hotel perks, you’re gonna need to make sure Disney associates your Good Neighbor Hotel booking with your My Disney Experience account.

Simply, go to the Disney World website, click on the My Disney Experience tab, select the “My Plans” option from the drop-down menu, and log into your account. Click on the Resort Hotel and then choose to Link a Reservation. You’ll be asked to type in your last name and your hotel confirmation number.

22. Don’t Fall For The “Fake” Lines

Disney World hotels have a lot of perks that, for many people, ease the pain of that hefty price tag. Not only are you immersed in the Disney magic, but you can also use complimentary Disney transportation to get wherever you need to go. 

With that being said, we have a MASSIVE gripe with some of those bus stops at select Disney World hotels. Because at some Disney World hotels, there really isn’t a physical LINE at the bus stops. What do we mean by that?

Let’s set the scene — you’re at Port Orleans Riverside waiting for the bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Your bus is arriving in about ten minutes, and everyone else around you is waiting for the same bus. Some people are sitting, some are standing. A loose “line” is starting to take shape near the road, but the bus hasn’t arrived yet. You’ve been waiting at the bus stop for about fifteen minutes, but out of the corner of your eye, a large group is approaching the bus stop. Uh oh.

Finally, the bus arrives. Predictably, everyone swarms for the bus, and the next thing you know, you’ve ended up at the back of the line. YUUUUUCK. Fortunately, at Disney World’s value hotels, there seem to be clear lines for each bus — meaning you’ll never be worried about accidentally cutting in front of someone else or feeling frustrated that someone has cut in front of you.

But if you find yourself waiting at a bus stop with no distinct line, here are some tips to help you get through this situation:

• FIRST: Make sure your stroller is folded up BEFORE the bus arrives. This will save you time when it’s time to board the bus.
• SECOND: Be prepared. Don’t waffle around once the bus shows up! Once you’re near that bus and in that semblance of a line, the only way to move is FORWARD.
• And THIRD: Pay close attention to the screens at the bus station, which will tell you what bus is arriving and update in REAL TIME. So if your bus is suddenly arriving 5 minutes early, you’ll know!

23. Visit EPCOT Mid-Fest Season

EPCOT has four seasonal Festivals throughout the year: The Festival of the Arts, the Flower and Garden Festival, the Food and Wine Festival, and the Festival of the Holidays.

If you’re looking for the least-crowded time to attend one of these specialty events (to experience all the new shows, merch, and — of course — FOOD), consider visiting AFTER the Festival has kicked off, as opposed to the very busy Opening Day and following weekend when the crowds are at their highest. 

Likewise, Festivals can also be ultra-busy towards their end date, too, with everyone trying to get those last Best of the Fest bites and sips in! You’ll likely find that a mid-season Festival visit (even better if it’s on a weekday) tends to be a more relaxing experience overall.

24. Some Restaurants Are Not Great For “Supersensors”

We might love dining at the Disney World restaurants, but those immersive atmospheres for some dining experiences are VERY high-energy (and a whole lot “louder”) than others. So if you or one of your loved ones struggles with anxiety or perhaps has any sort of auditory sensory issues, then select table services might be more stressful than enjoyable. Take the character dining experiences, for example:

Chef Mickey’s at Contemporary Resort is a hustlin’-bustlin’ good time, but one of the LOUDEST character dining experiences just because there’s a LOT going on. You’ve got all five characters to meet, you’ve got kiddos getting up and dancing, you might be encouraged to join a napkin-twirling parade, and then there’s the monorail which is traveling above you all the while. 

The Disney Junior Play and Dine breakfast at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios ALSO gets pretty rambunctious — since it’s tailored to a much much younger crowd (meaning squeals and crying galore). 

For a more calm character dining experience, we tend to book reservations at restaurants like:

• Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT
• Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends at Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Story Book Dining at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• And Cape May Cafe Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

25. Don’t Rely On The Buses When You’re Running Late

It’s easy to get caught up in your room (or oversleep!) and forget you have a dining reservation starting in 30 minutes. And if that DOES happen, you might be tempted to just hop on a Disney bus with the hopes that you’ll make it there in time.

But remember — buses only run every 10 or 20 minutes or so from the resorts to the parks at the busiest times of day (morning and evenings). Around midday, you might be waiting even longer!  And THAT means if you just missed the last bus, you could be in for a long wait and miss your reservation ENTIRELY. 

That’s why we recommend using a rideshare service instead — like Uber, Lyft, or one of Disney’s Minnie Vans (which you can book through Lyft). You WILL have to pay out of pocket for these options, but you won’t have to worry about waiting for a bus and you’ll probably get to your destination a lot more quickly.

Just don’t forget — if you’re trying to take a rideshare to quickly get over to Magic Kingdom, you’re still gonna have to manage the whole “Transportation and Ticket Center” middle-man — which will STILL require you to get on a monorail or ferry to carry you the rest of the way to the park. Your best bet in this case is to go on the Lyft app and book one of Disney’s Minnie Vans instead, which will skip over the TTC entirely and take you up to the front gates. 

And for the chronically running late, Disney typically offers a grace period (usually about 15-20 minutes for dining reservations) — but, still, I wouldn’t try pressing your luck if I were you!

26. Guarantee The BEST Seats For The Shows

If watching the Disney shows is your number one priority, then THIS next tip may lead to one of your best investments YET. Disney’s Dining Packages allow guests to reserve a meal at one of the select park restaurants to be paired with guaranteed reserved seating for a show.

Options include — but aren’t limited to — Fantasmic! Dining Packages in Hollywood Studios, the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Parties in Magic Kingdom, and the Concert Series (or Candlelight Processional for the holiday season) that take place during EPCOT’s Festivals.

27. Opt For Fantasmic’s SECOND Showing (When Available)

Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios is a fan-favorite performance for a reason. You’ve got the fireworks, the water effects, the lasers, the projections, the live characters, and LOTS of classic Disney songs! I mean, what more could you ask for, right?

Fantasmic is typically performed only once per night. However, during Disney World’s busier seasons, TWO showings are often offered. And we’ve found that it’s WAY easier to get a seat (and is generally less crowded overall) during the second, later showtime. If that works well with your group’s schedule (and you think you can stay awake late enough to actually enjoy the second showing), we highly recommend it!

28. Keep Tabs On Construction

When you go to Disney World, you expect to be TRANSPORTED to “a whole new world.” But nothing pulls you out of that immersive atmosphere faster than construction. So. Much. Construction. While construction around the Disney bubble DOES mean we can expect new additions and refreshed experiences, it also means closed attractions and lots of “pardon our pixie dust walls.”   

Make sure to check the Disney World website for construction updates on each attraction and hotel’s main page. Construction notices will be listed toward the top of the page in orange text to let you know what you need to be aware of BEFORE you go. But… then again… you don’t HAVE to do all that extra work if you don’t WANT to. 

We send out these construction updates through our FREE DFB newsletter just as soon as we hear about them. That way, you can always stay in the know (without having to lift a FINGER).

29. You Can Talk To A DOG

“Oh, HI THERE!” Everyone… meet Dug. He loves squirrels, toys, shaking hands (or paws), smelling birds, and — oh yeah — he TALKS, TOO! Recently, Dug’s hi-tech collar was upgraded to help him TALK to his friends in Animal Kingdom. 

Now keep in mind that this NEW character interaction is a little different than the traditional character meet-and-greets we’ve seen with Dug before. Dug can be spotted roaming around Discovery Island, but his Character Attendants confirmed there is currently no set schedule for his appearances. 

That means you won’t find him on the My Disney Experience app at this time, but keep your eyes out for changes!

30. A WEIRD Parking Rule

We love stopping by the Disney World hotels to check out all the latest happenings, but we especially love stopping by for a meal! 

When you book an Advance Dining Reservation (a sit-down meal booked in advance) at one of the hotels, parking is free — meaning you don’t have to pay to park just to eat your meal. Instead, you just pull up to the gate and let the guard know you have a reservation, and they’ll direct you where to go from there.

But sometimes, there’s an extra step in the process — which includes a parking pass. When we recently stopped by the Grand Floridian hotel to check out the reopened 1900 Park Fare for breakfast, the guard out front gave us this Resort Dining paper parking pass — which included the date as well as a three-hour time limit notice. We were instructed to display it on our windshield.

Now, Disney hotels don’t always do this with dining reservations. But since 1900 Park Fare is at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, which puts it on the monorail loop and close to Magic Kingdom, Disney could be hoping to discourage folks from parking here and then hopping on the monorail to get over to the park and taking away parking spaces from other guests.

Also, keep in mind that Grand Floridian parking as a non-hotel guest might also still be pretty far away from the hotel itself — all the way out in cast member parking, at times. So if you’re coming here for a dining reservation and planning on parking, give yourself plenty of time to make that extra trek.

31. Ride Seats DO Matter

Alright, adrenaline-seeking enthusiasts — this one’s for YOU! If you’re seeking “maximum thrills,” ask the boarding Cast Member if you can sit in the very last row of coaster-type rides such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom or Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios. You’ll get whipped around like a ragdoll — which makes an otherwise more tame family coaster a LOT more intense. 

Orrrr, on the flip opposite side of things, try sitting toward the front of the coaster to make your ride experience a WHOLE lot more smooth-sailing.

32. ECVs Can Sell Out

Perhaps a member of your group has mobility issues, and you plan to rent a wheelchair or electric conveyance vehicle (or ECV). If that’s the case, then lemme warn ya: ECVs can sell out on busy park days.

So, we recommend arriving at your chosen park as EARLY AS POSSIBLE to minimize the risk of not getting an ECV. If you are a Disney Resort hotel guest with the benefit of Early Theme Park Entry, take full advantage of that extra 30 minutes, since it can make all the difference.

If ECVs are sold out once you arrive, you can be placed on a Wait List for one. But, as with the Waitlist feature for dining we chatted about earlier, those wait times can vary widely. And if you can’t go without an ECV, you may find some peace of mind by renting from an outside company (many of which can deliver an ECV to your Resort).

33. These Hotels Are The BEST Disney Resort Dupes Of ALL

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels aren’t owned by Disney, which can confuse some people because they’re literally right in the heart of Disney World. But, as it turns out, these hotels are actually owned by Marriott properties. This can play in your favor in many, many ways. 

In terms of the downside, you won’t really find Disney theming here since they are NOT Disney hotels. But you can use Marriott points here, which can make these hotels an awesome pick if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member and have the points to spend. (A loyalty program that’s FREE to join, might I add.)

Plus, these hotels are within walking distance to EPCOT, Disney’s BoardWalk, Yacht and Beach Club, the Skyliner, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

They also qualify for some great perks like Early Theme Park Entry, and Extended Evening Hours (which is a more exclusive perk generally only open to Disney World Deluxe Hotel and Deluxe Villa guests — along with select other hotel guests). And they’re also home to a multitude of unique restaurants!

So if you want to get great perks, use your Marriott points, and have access to a bunch of awesome eats, don’t ignore the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin (OR their newer Swan Reserve hotel, either!).

34. Bring A Sewing Kit

Several Disney resorts used to provide rooms with little sewing kits back in the day and while you can still sometimes request one at the front desk, the safest bet is to bring your own.

Mini sewing kits usually come equipped with a small pair of scissors, a needle, thread, safety pins, and sometimes a spare button or two. These kits can really save the day if you have a sudden wardrobe catastrophe and can be found on Amazon for as little as $5.

35. Don’t Pay Rack Rate For Your Hotel Room

This might be the MOST IMPORTANT money-saving tip! Disney regularly releases hotel and ticket discounts throughout the year. Now, if you’ve already booked your hotel room and THEN find out that a super awesome hotel discount is going on, DON’T PANIC!  You might still be able to apply that discount through the My Disney Experience app.  

Go to the “My Plans, Reservation and Tickets” section and look for the option “Change/Modify Reservation”. From there, find the exact date and times of your vacation, select your room, and check the top options listed. One will be for “Room-only,” but if there’s a discount that you can still apply to your room, there should be another option listed as “Special Offers.” Select that, follow the prompts, and get your trip rebooked with the special offer. 

When in doubt, you can always talk to a Disney representative by calling 407-939-1936 or work with a travel agent like our friends over at Small World Vacations.

36. Our Weird Tip About Deodorant

Stay with me, y’all. This stuff’s important. If you’re not a fan of stick deodorant, we totally get it. Getting a spray deodorant in an aerosol can be a great alternative, but there is a time when we do NOT recommend bringing this type — and that’s when you’re planning on flying.

When you fly, the pressure in the cabin is regulated, but not necessarily the pressure in the belly of the plane where the luggage is being kept. Even so, in either location, the pressure can cause your aerosol can to malfunction, meaning your deodorant could get all over the contents of your bag. 

If you do want to bring an aerosol deodorant, we recommend having it in a ziploc bag to ensure it won’t get over all your stuff, just to be safe! But honestly? Maybe you should stick with the stick deo… just this once? Or purchase an aerosol version AFTER you’ve landed in Florida.

37. There’s SO MUCH TO DO In Disney Springs!

There’s always TONS to do in Disney Springs — from shopping, to dining, to watching live entertainment, to NOW watching the NEW drone show spectacular towards the end of the night (AKA: Disney Dreams That Soar). 

But can you REALLY fill a whole day just exploring Disney Springs alone? ABSOLUTELY you can! (And best of all — you DON’T even need a park ticket to pull it off!)

If you wanna learn about ALL the AMAZING things you can do in this shopping district area (besides shop, of course), check out our “50 Amazing Things You Never Knew Were In Disney Springs” video when you get the chance!

38. Split Your Stay

Have you ever thought about doing a split-stay at 2 different resorts, but didn’t want to move your bags from one resort to the next? Call Bell Services and they’ll do it for you!

All of the Disney World resorts (including Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort) work together and they can save you the hassle of getting an Uber or Minnie Van to shuttle your stuff over to your other hotel. That way, if you want to, you can get a taste of multiple resorts on the same stay!

So consider picking a Value resort — like Art of Animation — for the first half of your trip and end with a splurge at a Deluxe… like the Polynesian! It can take a few hours to have your luggage brought over, so make sure you have any personal items you might need with you before you hand over your bags!

39. Disney WiFi Can Be Spotty

Disney World’s Wi-Fi can be a little unreliable. (Ok, A LOT unreliable.) In fact, you might find that your own phone’s service is WAY more reliable than connecting to Disney’s free wifi — which could seriously mean the difference between getting a boarding group for the NEW Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride in Magic Kingdom… or NOT. 

Recently many buses at Disney World have been Wi-Fi enabled as well — which is super nice to use while you’re on the way to the park (but again, not always the most reliable)! So when the situation isn’t dire, you can try switching over to Disney’s Wifi. But if you’re doing something super time-sensitive on your phone (like grabbing a virtual queue), you’re probably better off relying on your 5G, if you have it.

40. What To Do When Your Flight Gets Canceled

Being trapped at the Most Magical Place on Earth doesn’t sound that bad… until it happens to you! Then suddenly you find yourself saying, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…”

If your flight gets canceled due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, you’re gonna want to know about it JUST as soon as it happens. So make sure to set up your phone to receive flight alerts and keep tabs on the weather, both back at home as well as at Disney World. Some airlines might let you switch your flights in advance if bad weather is expected. 

The more advance notice you have, the better — because if you know before you head to the airport that you might need to plan on staying at Disney World for another day, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and aggravation. Your Disney World hotel will be happy to arrange for you to stay another night — or if there isn’t a room, they’ll help find you a different resort with availability and get you moved over quickly and safely.

If you need to leave Disney World early because a hurricane is coming, ask the front desk about refund policies (or check the Disney World website so you know exactly what hurricane policies you need to ask about).

41. STAY SO HYDRATED Y’ALL

The Florida heat and humidity is WILD, y’all. And it impacts you even WORSE after you’ve been out in it all day walking for MILES on end. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to — repeat after me — stay hydrated. 

To keep from having to spend a bunch of money on water bottles all trip long, bring a reusable water bottle and fill it at those water bottle refill stations throughout Disney World. (You can find them listed on your MDE app!) 

You can also get free cups of water at most quick-service restaurants. And don’t forget to order water at table service restaurants too! Even if you’re planning on drinking a soda or cocktail, you’re STILL gonna need the H20 on the side to keep you going for a good ol’ hydration replenishment once you’re back in the park again.

42. Book Dining During The Hottest Parts Of The Day

And since we’re already talking about Florida heat, lemme hit you with ANOTHER important tip to help you stay cool: We highly recommend booking table service meals during the hottest part of the day (which is typically around lunchtime).

Not only is it usually smack dab in the middle of your park day (A.K.A. the perfect mid-day break time) but it also allows you to get in the shade and air conditioning while you grab some grub!

43. Baby Care Centers

Each Disney World park has a baby care center. And if you’re someone traveling with a little one, you’re gonna want to use this place every chance you get. 

Baby Care Centers are fully staffed with Cast Members ready and willing to assist Disney World guests with infants. You’ll find private nursing rooms, changing rooms, feeding areas with highchairs, KID-SIZED potties (for the potty-training littles!), and a shop with essential baby supplies like diapers, baby food, wipes, clothing, and more.

And best of all? These centers are FREE for guests to use!

44. Pack Cards And Small Games

Sure, Disney World is the land of entertainment, but what about when the unexpected happens like a downpour or power outage?

We learned that packing a small deck of cards or other small games can be a lifesaver if you’re stuck indoors when one of those unexpected challenges happens. 

Also, if you make sure the games are small and portable enough, they’re not going to take up much room in that suitcase of yours.

45. Download THIS App For Major Flight Savings

We’re always on the hunt for the latest ways to save on tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations. And one of our favorite tricks is using the Hopper app — which can save you a lot of money when all is said and done. 

Hopper is an app for Apple and Android users that searches for the cheapest flights and hotels. The price prediction ability allows you to know when booking your flight or hotel will be the cheapest. 

All you need to do is select your desired route (one-way or roundtrip) or hotel stay, and Hopper will show you a color-coded calendar. Green days are the cheapest, yellow and orange days are mid-range, and red days are the most expensive. The app also tells you the average price for each color to help you plan your trip for when it’s cheapest.

Once you choose your dates from the calendar, Hopper will provide suggestions for your next steps. If the fare or stay is at its cheapest (per the price prediction tool), Hopper will recommend you book now!

46. Know How To Talk To The Characters

If you’re like me, then you might wait in line to see a character, get up to them, and then completely BLANK. Like, what am I supposed to SAY to these guys whom I’ve never met?

While the characters will be more than happy to lead the conversation, it’s not a bad idea to come up with a few solid questions while you’re waiting in line that you can ask them yourself.

Here — you can borrow a few of OUR go-tos if you’d like!

• For Goofy, ask him about his favorite hot dog toppings! (Or maybe pizza toppings… or burger toppings?)
• Meeting Princess Aurora? She might have a few tips for a good night’s sleep. (Minus the whole “prick your finger on the spinning wheel” trick — though I heard that works every time.)
• Ask Minnie about her favorite bow in her entire collection (which could be quite difficult to narrow down — I hear she has HUNDREDS)
• And for Belle? Ask for book recommendations, of course!

47. Wear Socks At The Airport

Apologies beforehand, since this one might be a bit triggering to all my germaphobes out there — but this tip is an absolute MUST. You’ll not just need — but WANT — to wear socks at the airport, especially since you’ll be asked to remove your shoes during those security checks.

Socks will keep your feet clean and comfortable, and you’ll be able to avoid the unpleasantness of walking barefoot on the airport floor.

48. Modify Your Quick Service Meals

Using Mobile Order makes it SO much easier to modify your meal choices. Let’s say you’re Mobile Ordering a burger on the MDE app (just press the “+” button on the bottom of the screen to order food!) — but you don’t want a certain topping on it.

PRESTO! You can modify the ingredients and choices on the app and kick that topping to the curb! (Buh bye, tomato! I hardly knew thee.)

Modifications can be made at the register too, but it can be much easier for you to pick your modifications directly in the app just to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want with your food.

49. STACK Your Lightning Lanes

It feels illegal, but I promise you it isn’t. If you purchased Genie+ for your park day — to help you bypass those thick ride and attraction lines — then you’ll want to really milk this service for what it’s worth. Meaning you NEED to know how to stack Lightning Lane reservations.

Here’s the thing: You can make your next Lightning Lane selection after you’ve used the first one you booked, once your return time window has ended, OR if 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one. 

So… what does that latter point mean? It means that you can book another Lightning Lane two hours after reserving your previous one, essentially allowing you to have TWO (or more) Lightning Lane return times at a time.

50. Do NOT Skip Breakfast

Please, we’re begging you — get something in your tummy in the morning before you start the day. Even if you’re not a breakfast person, just a little hit of protein can do WONDERS for ya before you start to conquer the parks!

There are Starbucks locations and Joffrey’s Coffee kiosks in all four Disney World parks, and every Disney World hotel has some variation of a food court with grab-and-go breakfast foods. 

Or you can grab a box of protein bars from the grocery store ahead of time and snack on those each morning of your trip. TOTALLY up to you. Just don’t start your day off on an empty stomach. Because you’ll QUICKLY regret it.

I think y’all are now FULLY equipped with some of the MOST IMPORTANT Disney World tips out there. But make sure to keep checking back in with us for more Disney planning tips and the latest Disney news!

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What are your favorite tips for surviving at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!