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Visit Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is a great place for a family vacation full of fun, imagination, and memories.
But many who visit there seem to spend more money, time, and effort than they need to.
Here is a guide to help you get the most of your money and time- while having fun.
Steps
Determine when you want to go.
As the parent, you should decide the best time for your family to visit the "world". "Off times", such as the fall and certain times in the spring, offer cheaper rates and fewer lines, but you might have to take the kids out of school and the weather may not be ideal. If your children will have a hard time keeping up, consider going over a break, when your children will miss less school. Keep in mind, then there might be more lines. If you decide to take your child(ren) out of school, ask if you can have some or all of the homework before hand so they can do it on the plane or in the car.
Decipher how long you are going to stay. Disney recommends a seven-day stay. Keep in mind that there are four parks, three seperate shopping areas, two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon),and all of central florida. Some families take 10-11 days to do it all, giving two or so days to "rest".
Book a hotel or condo {if you have a larger family (number wise, not size wise)} Find one close to WDW, possibly on Disney property if you can afford it. If you stay on property, parking is free at the Disney parks, and you have unlimited use of Disney transportation as well as many other perks only offered to WDW Resort guests, such as Extra Magic Hours, which allow you to stay in the park after non-resort guests leave. If you are interested in returning numerous times, you can get a cheap condo at Orange Lake Resorts, just west of Animal Kingdom.
Book a flight. Find a flight to Orlando International Airport, and if you purchased a rental car, use a courtesy shuttle to get to your car pick-up. Try to get one early in the morning, like 6am-8am ,or whenever it would be easiest for your family. Remember to leave time for checking and getting your luggage.
Buy your tickets, if possible, before arrival. You can get tickets from a Disney store or you can get discounted tickets online. There are automated ticket machines at parks, if you need to. Also, keep in mind there are diffrent types of tickets, so choose the type best for your family. I'd recommend Magic Your Way tickets if you are going to every park.
Choose what you want to do each day. There are four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), three seperate shopping areas (Boardwalk, Downtown Disney, and Celebration) and more to keep in mind.
I recommend (for a 7 day vacation): Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Rest with shopping at the three places, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and then on the last day, do whatever YOU want.
Arrive early in the parks. They usually open at about 9 am, but there are Extra Magic Hours. At the Check-In Desk for a Disney hotel, there will be maps and a Times Guide. In a Disney Hotel, you can also look on your TV. It has all the day's info.
Tips
Plan your trip on the plane/train/boat/car or even at home before you get there. It'll save you tons of time!
Eat a medium-sized breakfast. Eat a late or early lunch to not get caught in the lunch rush. and a dinner of however hungry you are. Dinner is the most expensive meal, so be cautious to the prices so your bill isn't sky high.
An alternative to having three meals is to eat a larger breakfast and just munch on things during the day. Disney is full of fantastic places to eat dinner so you do not want to spoil your appetite with eating lunch too late.
There are several good rides to experience while it's raining. These include the Haunted Mansion, the Hall of Presidents, Universe of Energy and The American Adventure at Epcot, The Great Movie Ride at Disney Studios, and Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. Keep in mind that rain in Florida only lasts about 20-30 min.
At the Magic Kingdom it is best to approach the park systematically. Do not simply go to the "good rides" like Space Mountain and then to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Best practice would be to walk down mainstreet and pick a direction and move either clockwise or counter clockwise and visit all of the rides for a section while in that area.
If you somehow become bored during your visit, or want to add something else you can do, looking for "Hidden Mickeys" is a very entertaining way to pass time.
Warnings
"Bring a small, cheap notebook and large pen for character signatures, don't buy the overpriced one there," is what most people say, but if it's small and cheap, maybe someone in your family will throw it away! Be cautious of red-cent savers that don't wanna splurge on ANYTHING. You are here to have a good time, so spend some money on things you really enjoy.
Read through those guide books to make sure you really need them. Avoid ones full of fluff like pictures and graphics, find ones with real information. birnbaums are top-notch, but can be expensive.
Wear and bring sunscreen. Preferably one that is waterproof, sweatproof, and a high SPF, like Bullfrog.
If a blister forms, put on Neosporin and a Band-Aid. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE DUCT TAPE. Many people are allergic to the glue on the stick side.
Shower twice a day. Or more. It keeps you refreshed and happy. Do it once in the morning before you leave for the park and once before bed, especially if you were swimming. But be cautious of the time in the morning if you have a large family.
But many who visit there seem to spend more money, time, and effort than they need to.
Here is a guide to help you get the most of your money and time- while having fun.
Steps
Determine when you want to go.
As the parent, you should decide the best time for your family to visit the "world". "Off times", such as the fall and certain times in the spring, offer cheaper rates and fewer lines, but you might have to take the kids out of school and the weather may not be ideal. If your children will have a hard time keeping up, consider going over a break, when your children will miss less school. Keep in mind, then there might be more lines. If you decide to take your child(ren) out of school, ask if you can have some or all of the homework before hand so they can do it on the plane or in the car.
Decipher how long you are going to stay. Disney recommends a seven-day stay. Keep in mind that there are four parks, three seperate shopping areas, two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon),and all of central florida. Some families take 10-11 days to do it all, giving two or so days to "rest".
Book a hotel or condo {if you have a larger family (number wise, not size wise)} Find one close to WDW, possibly on Disney property if you can afford it. If you stay on property, parking is free at the Disney parks, and you have unlimited use of Disney transportation as well as many other perks only offered to WDW Resort guests, such as Extra Magic Hours, which allow you to stay in the park after non-resort guests leave. If you are interested in returning numerous times, you can get a cheap condo at Orange Lake Resorts, just west of Animal Kingdom.
Book a flight. Find a flight to Orlando International Airport, and if you purchased a rental car, use a courtesy shuttle to get to your car pick-up. Try to get one early in the morning, like 6am-8am ,or whenever it would be easiest for your family. Remember to leave time for checking and getting your luggage.
Buy your tickets, if possible, before arrival. You can get tickets from a Disney store or you can get discounted tickets online. There are automated ticket machines at parks, if you need to. Also, keep in mind there are diffrent types of tickets, so choose the type best for your family. I'd recommend Magic Your Way tickets if you are going to every park.
Choose what you want to do each day. There are four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), three seperate shopping areas (Boardwalk, Downtown Disney, and Celebration) and more to keep in mind.
I recommend (for a 7 day vacation): Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Rest with shopping at the three places, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and then on the last day, do whatever YOU want.
Arrive early in the parks. They usually open at about 9 am, but there are Extra Magic Hours. At the Check-In Desk for a Disney hotel, there will be maps and a Times Guide. In a Disney Hotel, you can also look on your TV. It has all the day's info.
Tips
Plan your trip on the plane/train/boat/car or even at home before you get there. It'll save you tons of time!
Eat a medium-sized breakfast. Eat a late or early lunch to not get caught in the lunch rush. and a dinner of however hungry you are. Dinner is the most expensive meal, so be cautious to the prices so your bill isn't sky high.
An alternative to having three meals is to eat a larger breakfast and just munch on things during the day. Disney is full of fantastic places to eat dinner so you do not want to spoil your appetite with eating lunch too late.
There are several good rides to experience while it's raining. These include the Haunted Mansion, the Hall of Presidents, Universe of Energy and The American Adventure at Epcot, The Great Movie Ride at Disney Studios, and Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. Keep in mind that rain in Florida only lasts about 20-30 min.
At the Magic Kingdom it is best to approach the park systematically. Do not simply go to the "good rides" like Space Mountain and then to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Best practice would be to walk down mainstreet and pick a direction and move either clockwise or counter clockwise and visit all of the rides for a section while in that area.
If you somehow become bored during your visit, or want to add something else you can do, looking for "Hidden Mickeys" is a very entertaining way to pass time.
Warnings
"Bring a small, cheap notebook and large pen for character signatures, don't buy the overpriced one there," is what most people say, but if it's small and cheap, maybe someone in your family will throw it away! Be cautious of red-cent savers that don't wanna splurge on ANYTHING. You are here to have a good time, so spend some money on things you really enjoy.
Read through those guide books to make sure you really need them. Avoid ones full of fluff like pictures and graphics, find ones with real information. birnbaums are top-notch, but can be expensive.
Wear and bring sunscreen. Preferably one that is waterproof, sweatproof, and a high SPF, like Bullfrog.
If a blister forms, put on Neosporin and a Band-Aid. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE DUCT TAPE. Many people are allergic to the glue on the stick side.
Shower twice a day. Or more. It keeps you refreshed and happy. Do it once in the morning before you leave for the park and once before bed, especially if you were swimming. But be cautious of the time in the morning if you have a large family.