Walt Disney World is known by many nicknames. “The Happiest Place on Earth.” “The Place Where Dreams Come True.” For me, Walt Disney World is my home away from home. It’s a place where some of my best family memories are shared. Even today, I still count down the days until a trip, just like I did when I was a kid! With nearly 25 trips under my belt, I’ve become a sort of expert on all things W.D.W. If you have never been or have not visited in a while, don’t think that this vacation destination is just for the kids. In fact, I think I have more fun now than I ever did when I was younger! So to make sure you have the trip of a lifetime, here are a few helpful tips to plan the best Walt Disney World vacation:
Know Before You Go
With 25 hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping district, and recreational activities, it is easy to become bewildered by all the options. Whether you’re a Type-A Planner or like to just see what happens, before you go, sketch out a rough plan of what you would like to do each day. It will help you to decide what kind of tickets you will need and will also help with budgeting. You can research ahead of time via Disney’s own planning website to view park maps, make hotel and dining reservations, and buy tickets.
Insider Tip: Look at an unofficial planning guide like AllEars.net or Disney forums like MiceChat to get the scoop for which you should get Fastpasses (Toy Story Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!) and the best times of year to visit the parks.
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But Really, It’s All about the Food
It’s kind of a running joke in my family that we go to Walt Disney World just for the food, and the reality is – it’s totally true! Think you’ll be eating french fries and burgers the whole time you’re there? Only if you don’t know where the best spots are to eat! I recommend visiting The Disney Food Blog for reviews on every counter and table service restaurant in Walt Disney World. Whether you are on a budget or are ready to splurge, there are many great eats that go beyond your basic theme park food.
A few of my favorite W.D.W. eats: Zebra Domes from The Mara at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier at EPCOT, Fried Green Beans from Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom, Sweet Potato Pancakes from the Wave at the Contemporary Resort, Chicken Flatbread from the Mara at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Cinnamon Sugar Waffle from Sleepy Hollow at the Magic Kingdom
Buses and Monorails and Ferries! Oh My!
If you are staying at a hotel in Walt Disney World or off-property, getting around the resort is simple and fun. Disney’s buses, monorails, ferries, and boats are always free and open for any guest to use, whether they are staying at a Disney hotel or not. One of my favorite “must-dos” is a Monorail hotel tour. One of the Monorails that visits the Magic Kingdom also stops at the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Hotels. Take a trip around the Seven Seas Lagoon and go inside the hotels. Each one is unique in its own right and has great restaurants and shops to visit.
Insider Tip: At the Polynesian Hotel, there is a self-serve Dole Whip machine at Capt. Cook’s. This is the only place at Walt Disney World to get the cult favorite outside of the Magic Kingdom.
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The Early Bird Gets the Shorter Wait Times
For most people, vacation means sleeping in late and taking in the sights at their leisure. At Walt Disney World, getting to the parks at opening or taking advantage of early morning hours, if you are staying at Disney hotel, is the way to go. Why? Because while most of your fellow theme park guests are snoozing, you can visit many of the most popular attractions before the crowds start to hit around 11 AM. Besides, there is really no better place to wake up in the morning then the Happiest Place on Earth!
Insider Tip: After you hit the parks early, spend the afternoon at your hotel pool or relaxing. Have dinner and go back to the parks at night. You’ll be well-rested and will successfully miss the heaviest crowds (and the worst of the heat during the summer!).
Clock inside the Magic Kingdom, just after 6 a.m. during the 24-Hour Monstrous Party
Take Time to Explore
It is just as easy for a first-time visitor as it is for a 100th-time visitor to get caught in the ride trap, mainly because the attractions at Walt Disney World are so much fun (Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Expedition Everest, Maelstrom, and PeopleMover – I could go on and on)! But in between ride hoping, take time to experience some of the unique things that makes Walt Disney World such a special place. Walk around the World Showcase at EPCOT where you can taste wines in France and eat cannolis in Italy. Visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the evening where you can roast marshmallows by a campfire and use night vision goggles to see giraffes and zebras out on the savannah. There is so much more to Walt Disney World than roller coasters; you just have to know where to go!
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