101 Helpful Disney World Tips, Tricks, & Hacks

Some of these Disney World tips, tricks, and hacks you may have heard of and some maybe you didn’t already know. Hopefully, this will help with your Disney trip planning!

Edited 12/2021 to Update on New Disney World Changes. For Example Genie+ instead of Fastpass+. Disney is changing every day so please check their website or call to double-check the updated policies.

1. Learn the locations of the First Aid Stations and Guest Service Areas.

This is especially helpful if you have small children. If you have a medical issue or injury (even need meds for a headache) – head to the nearest First Aid Station. Of course, if it is an emergency – CALL 911. Guest Services offer a variety of amenities like nursing and changing areas, sinks, microwaves, etc.

2. Get discounted Disney Gift Cards.

The best places to get discounted Disney gift cards are Target, Costco, and BJ’s Wholesale. You can use these to pay for your trip or save them to buy snacks and souvenirs in the parks. Also, if you use credit cards, Disney offers one that will give you a $300 credit on your first statement and reward dollars on each statement (based on purchases, always read the fine print – I personally have the Disney Chase credit card.)

3.  You Can Pick a Slow or Fast Teacup at Magic Kingdom.

Disney cast members (employees) claim that the orange and purple teacups spin the fastest at the Teacup/Alice and Wonderland Ride. If you have the NEED FOR SPEED, these are the teacups for you. I personally don’t like to get dizzy and feel sick after a ride, so I like the slower teacups, so I snag the ones with the heart designs. These are supposed to spin slower. 

4. If you see it and want it, you better get it.

Don’t assume that you’ll see that special souvenir somewhere else or that every Disney gift shop is the same (sometimes that is true, we wanted purple Minnie Ears and looked everywhere, but it seemed that we found the same ears at every gift shop. But, then we noticed that some had specialty-themed ears that you could only get at that one store). You can even ask to have the souvenir sent to your room (if staying on-property it is sent within 48 hours) or you can always send your merch to the front gate and you can pick it up on your way out.

5. The best times to avoid super long lines are right after rope drop, during parades, and during fireworks.

Don’t want to pay the individual ride fee, but still want to ride Frozen Ever After (or Slinky Dog Dash or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train)? Don’t want to wait in line for 1-3 hours? Your best bet in finding shorter lines is while there is a parade or fireworks going on or as soon as the park opens (rope drop).

6. Have a plan, a backup plan, and be prepared to throw them both in the garbage.

Yes, plan your day and Dining reservations ASAP. This will make your visit run smoothly. BUT…be prepared for bad weather, rides to break down (for a few hours or for the rest of the day!), kids to lose their minds from exhaustion, etc. So, maybe you spend 40 minutes on the People Mover so the kids can nap instead of riding Space Mountain a second time. Or, you do something indoors because it’s raining instead of standing in line to meet a certain Princess. It’s okay…just make the best of it.

7. A stay at a Disney Resort includes a parking pass for every Disney Park. If waiting for and sitting on crowded buses (or boat, Skyliner, or Monorail) is not your thing – you can park your own vehicle at the parks. And, it’s free if you are staying at a Disney World Resort. (Honestly, we enjoy Disney transportation, but they can get crowded and you find yourself next to the occasional crying/barfing child)

8. Get to the parks early.

I know…I know…you’re on vacation and want to sleep late. BUT… The crowds only grow as the day wears on and the lines to rides get longer and longer. On one trip, we arrived at the Magic Kingdom Park early and rode 6 rides by 10:00 a.m.

9. You can rent strollers. If you have small children, a stroller is a must-have for a Disney trip. If you are flying into Orlando, you can actually rent a stroller from companies such as Kingdom Strollers. You can pick up your stroller at their location or they will even deliver the stroller to your hotel!

10. You can watch the fireworks without being in the parks. Some great viewing spots include The Ticket & Transportation Center (Magic Kingdom fireworks), Polynesian Resort (MK fireworks), Yacht & Beach Club (Epcot fireworks), and Boardwalk (Epcot fireworks).

11. Make restaurant reservations ASAP.

If you want to eat at one of Disney’s fancier restaurants or a character meal, you will need to make an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR). It is possible to get a last-minute reservation at some restaurants (SEE #27), but the best guarantee of reserving a spot is to make your reservation early.

12. Lightning Lane (on Genie+) times are (semi) flexible.

You do have a whole hour to use your Lightning Lane. Running late? Got to your ride a little early? You can board your ride up to 5 minutes ahead of time or within 15 minutes after the ride time. It’s really up to the cast member manning the Lightning Lane ride (and how busy they are). The key is to BE NICE to the cast member (which we should always do anyway).

13. Bring a portable phone charger.

You will use your phone a lot using the My Disney Experience APP and taking photos. The new Genie+ system will DRAIN your battery even more than the previous APP version. You can buy an inexpensive portable charger on Amazon or buy Fuel Rods at Disney World.

14. Use a crowd calendar when planning your trip. You can’t always avoid crowds at Disney World, but using a crowd calendar will show you which parks have the least amount of people on certain days of your trip.

15. If you are on the dining plan, Starbucks drinks count as one credit.

And, it doesn’t matter what size coffee drink you choose. So, you might want to get the LARGEST size available! Currently, 02/2022, the dining plan isn’t available. But, look for announcements since Disney is changing every day

16. Meet Pluto & Goofy and save $$$ by having a character breakfast near Disney Springs.

The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista is located near Disney Springs. Each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, this hotel hosts a Disney character breakfast in their Lakeview Restaurant. You can meet Goofy and Pluto at this breakfast. The meal and experience are not rushed and is very low-key. The kiddos will get to spend a generous amount of time with Goofy & Pluto and can get autographs and photos. The breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The breakfast is an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet with Mickey Waffles. It is 26.95 for Adults and $12.95 for Kids. In comparison, the Buffet Breakfast at Akerhaus is $45+ per adult and $28+ for kids. Cinderella’s Breakfast Buffet is $60+ for adults and $35+ for kids. So this character meal at Wyndham is significantly less expensive (and it’s perfect for your departure day or day off from the parks).

17. You can get a free wake-up call each morning from either Mickey Mouse or Stitch on the Disney resort hotel phone. The kiddos will love it and it can serve as your alarm for the day!

18. PhotoPass Cast Members will take (free!) photos of you with your camera.

Don’t even worry about asking! Just make sure your camera settings are dialed in before handing them the camera.

19. Refresh/Reset the My Disney Experience APP right before entering the parks (and honestly, refresh the APP all day as you use it). This will help you keep your app in real-time and it will help with notifications and Lightning Lane availability on Genie/Genie+. BONUS: Also, if 2+ family members are trying to get Lightning Lanes at 7:00 a.m. (when they become available daily) -get away from each other! Don’t ask me why but it’s harder to get things to show up and work on the APP if you are sitting next to each other while trying to book LL’s. Trust me, we learned this the hard way! Either just let one person book the LL’s or one family member step outside of the room while you both try.

20. Lightning Lane reservations can be made while in another Lightning Lane

Normally, you make a Lightning Lane Reservation (skipping to the front of the line in Genie+ for $15 per person/per day). But, you can make a Lightning Lane reservation any time you enter the Lightning Lane line. This ensures that you don’t need to wait another 120 minutes to make a new reservation if your Lightning Lane reservation is sooner than that. For, example, let’s say, you make your first Lightning Lane for Tower of Terror at 10:00 a.m. As soon as you get in the Lightning Lane for the Tower of Terror ride, you can get on your APP and make another Lightning Lane for, let’s say, Rock and Roller Coaster, at 12:00. Then, when you’re in line for Rock N Roller Coaster, check the APP and get another LL for Slinky Dog Dash at 2:00 p.m. THEN, when you’re in line for Slinky Dog Dash, check the App, make another LL….. IMPORTANT: Pick the earliest LL you can get. If you pick an LL for Toy Story Mania for 5:00 p.m. and it’s only 9:00 in the morning, you can’t pick another LL until after 5:00 which seems like a waste of your day and $15/Genie#. Pick an earlier time (even if it’s a different ride), and keep adding on LL’s every 2 hours.

21. If you are celebrating a special occasion, you can get a free celebration button. Whether your family is celebrating your first Disney visit, a birthday, or an anniversary, you can get a free button from your Disney hotel or at Guest Services in the parks. Sometimes, this alerts cast members to your celebration and may open up some other perks and great conversations. My daughter and SIL (on their honeymoon) got free cupcakes at Beaches & Cream, Mickey-shaped Grey Stuff, and a card from the Beast at Be Our Guest. They also got lots of good wishes and congratulations throughout the whole trip.

22. Get on rides more quickly by taking advantage of single-ride lines.

If you don’t have a Genie+ (or don’t want to pay for the Individual ride option $7-$15 per person/per ride for premium/popular rides) or want to ride again, you might want to use the single ride option. You must be at least 7 years old and you will be riding with strangers. We have done this with our 8 & 10-year-olds with no problem. We all just met up at the exit of the ride.

Rides that offer single-rider lines:

• Expedition Everest- Animal Kingdom
• Flight of Passage – Animal Kingdom
• Test Track- Epcot
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster- Hollywood Studios
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run -Hollywood Studios

23. If you’re staying at a Disney-owned hotel, you can have merchandise you purchase in the park sent to your hotel. 

This way you don’t have to carry that giant stuffed BayMax and breakable souvenirs through the park all day. The merch will be delivered to your hotel within 48 hours. If you are leaving within 48 hours, you can always send your merch to the front gate and you can pick it up on your way out. PLEASE NOTE: This has been put on hold recently. I’ll keep you posted if/when it returns. I MISS this!!

24. Take care of your feet!

You will walk up to 10 miles each day at Disney and your feet will hurt. It is best to bring at least 2 pairs of very comfortable shoes (tennis shoes, sandals, Crocs, etc) and switch them out during your trip. It’s not fun to put the same shoes on the same blisters and walk 100 more miles at Disney. I also bring a pair of flip-flops for our “day off” or pool day to let those footsies get to rest. We have invested in some moisture-wicking socks, foot powder, and some Mole Skin bandages. You can also bring or buy Epsom salts for a nice foot soak at the end of the day.

25. If you make late dining reservations, you will have the whole park to yourselves afterward.

We learned this by happy accident. I was determined to get my family of 6 into Be Our Guest while we were at Magic Kingdom. I stalked the Disney website and APP looking for reservations. Finally, I got reservations at the last minute, but we would have to eat dinner at 8:40 after the fireworks. At first, I was disappointed at the time, because I usually like to head straight to bed after the fireworks (Magic Kingdom is a LONG day). BUT, we had the best time at dinner, and afterward, it felt like we had the whole park to ourselves! We were able to get photos in front of the castle without a crowd!

26. Take a FREE Art Class at Art of Animation Resort.

Call ahead for exact days and times. When we visited, the art classes were offered every day at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. UPDATE: This is temporarily not available but will hopefully be added back soon

27. Use the My Disney Experience APP to make last-minute reservations.

Here’s the deal: People can cancel their reservations up to 24 hours before their meal (to avoid paying a fee). So… if Suzy Q. and her family decide they can’t make it to Be Our Guest for breakfast on Wednesday…she will probably cancel her reservation on Tuesday morning (or sooner). So…if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, you can check the Disney Experience APP starting Tuesday morning to see what is available after all of the last-minute cancellations. Have a Credit Card available to make the booking!

28. Split or Share meals to save money. Disney is very generous with its portions and many meals can be shared between 2 people. See a full list of sharable meals at Disney World HERE. And, adults can also order a kid’s meal. The portions are generous and the meals come with a dessert and drink.

29. Kiddos (and adults) can get an arcade gift card for playing trivia at the pool at the Disney Resort Hotel.

If you participate in the trivia at the pool, they usually give away gift cards to the arcade. You don’t necessarily have to win the gift cards, you just have to participate (every resort may be different, but at All-Star Sports, all participants got a gift card). My daughter got a $20 Arcade gift card just for playing. Look for the pool trivia times on your resort’s schedule (usually posted in the lobby). P.S. We also had a rainy day at our resort and (in the lobby), the kids were offered drawing lessons and arcade gift cards.

30. Take the little ones to the FREE splash pad at Disney Springs. The free splash pad is located in the Marketplace area of Disney Springs -right next to Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique and Earl of Sandwich. It is a great activity for little kids.

31. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you can order a regular OR large fountain drink at counter service restaurants.

The cast members will automatically give you a regular-sized drink with your order, so make sure to specify large if that’s what you want. Please Note: Disney Dining Plan is on Hiatus right now. I’ll keep you posted if/when it returns.

32. Bell Services at Disney hotels will store your luggage.

This way, you can enjoy the parks if you arrive too early on check-in day or have a late flight out on the check-out day! We did this at Art of Animation. We left our luggage at Bell Services (our room wasn’t quite ready and we had reservations at Beaches & Cream). When we returned from our dinner, our luggage was already in our room. It was so nice!

33. Use the My Disney Experience APP to keep up with Disney Bus arrival times.

Instead of waiting a long time for your bus, you can check the app and head out to the resort bus stop just a few minutes before your bus arrives.

34. You can experience Turtle Talk with Crush without doing the Nemo dark ride.

Simply enter The Seas pavilion through the gift shop at the exit!

35.  Get FREE Drink refills.

In the parks, Sunshine Seasons and Electric Umbrella at Epcot, Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, Backlot Express in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Restaurantosaurus & Satu’li Canteen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom all have drink refill stations for free refills. There is water available at these stations if you want to refill your water bottle. Also, see #52 about Disney’s new water refilling stations

36. Shops on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom are open up to an hour after the park closes.

My kiddos get souvenir money from family and they usually beg for everything they see on Main Street. So, I tell them if they still want that souvenir at the end of the day, we will get it after the fireworks. Sometimes, they find something else in the parks, but many times we go back to Main Street for the toy they had their heart set on.

37. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe both have toppings bars. If you have a big appetite or just want to stretch your dollar, use these topping bars to really add to your entree! For example, get some nachos at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe and ask for an extra plate. Head over to the toppings bar and load up on guacamole, roasted corn, and salsa, cheese, etc. UPDATE: The toppings bars are not available (as of 02/2022) but hopefully will be back soon.

38. Bring a cooling towel.

These are a great way to keep cool while at the parks. For, example, Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios has little to NO shade. Part of the lines are indoors or under a pavilion or umbrella, but it is still HOT! You might want to bring a freshly wet cooling towel before getting in a long line. *Slinky Dog Dash has fans to cool you off some while in line, but you are still mostly under the blazing sun.

39. Enjoy the FREE campfire sing-a-long with Chip ‘N Dale at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

When I first visited Disney World as a kid, we camped at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. One of my favorite memories was the nightly sing-a-long with s’ mores and a movie. Even if you’re not staying at the campground, you can still visit and enjoy the sing-a-long and movie. You can bring your own s’ mores fixing’s or purchase them at the campsite.

40. Meet (and get a picture with) the Coke Bear at Disney Springs.

Meet the Coke Bear at World of Coca-Cola – If your kiddos love meeting characters, they will love meeting and getting a hug from the Coke Polar Bear. It is also a great photo opportunity. Your pic can be added to your Photo Pass account. The Coca-Cola Bear is on the second floor of the Coke building. You can also head to the top of the Coke Building for a rooftop view of Disney Springs. No purchase is required to visit this area, but they do offer drinks for sale. See the Coke Polar Bear availability calendar HERE.

41. Get FREE rounds of mini-golf or visit the ESPN Wide World of Sports for free if staying on Disney Property.

We were staying on property at a Disney Resort so we were given a “gift” of 4 free rounds of Mini Golf at either Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland. Disney also gave us a coupon to visit the ESPN Wide World of Sports for free. We were given our free coupons/tickets when we checked in to our resort.

42. Ride attractions even after the park closes! 

Attractions don’t close when the parks close. That means that you can get in a 90-minute line right before closing time and be in the park well past closing. This is a great way to experience rides with long lines, like Frozen Ever After, Avatar Flight of Passage, Slinky Dog Dash, or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Check the My Disney Experience APP to find out the very latest time you can enter rides.

43. You can bring your own food into the parks. YES! You can pack food, drinks, and snacks to bring into the parks as long as they are not in glass containers (and in a soft cooler). This is nice if you have picky kids or food allergies in your family (even though Disney World is VERY allergy-friendly). It’s also nice if you don’t want to spend $3.00 on a bottle of water. I’ve seen people whip open a Tupperware of pasta while waiting in line and moms who have bread and peanut butter ready for their kids’ lunch!

44. Get discounted Disney merchandise at the Disney Character Warehouse Outlet in Orlando.

This is a great place to get Disney shirts, Princess dresses, and souvenirs. And, the prices are so much less expensive than the Disney Parks & Resort souvenir shops. Keep in mind that this huge outdoor mall is very popular and crowded. And parking is crazy! Disney Warehouse Character Outlet // 4951 International Drive //Orlando, FL 32819 P.S. There is also one at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlet but I heard they started charging $10 for parking.

45. Take advantage of the rider swap option. If mom and dad are visiting with really small children but want to ride a roller coaster, they can use the rider swap.  That way a mom can ride while dad waits with the children, then mom can wait with the kiddos while dad rides (without waiting in line again).

46. Bring a rain poncho.

If the weather is calling for a quick afternoon shower, a cheap dollar-store poncho will do. If the weather is going to be rainy and drizzle-y all day (like our last trip to the Magic Kingdom), you will need a more durable poncho or jacket. We bought the $10 ones at the Disney gift shop and they were destroyed by the end of the day, so I recommend bringing a lightweight waterproof jacket (with a hood) just in case! I always buy the cheap $1 ponchos at Dollar Tree or Walmart (hunting section) and give one to each family member if they don’t want to get wet on certain rides (like Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids). Honestly, if it’s a hot day, we welcome a nice, cool water ride. But, we love visiting in January and February and prefer to not get soaking wet.

47. You can cancel your Genie+ reservation!

We learned this on our last trip. We had a Lightning Lane for Alien Swirling Saucers at Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. After getting in early, we noticed that the line was super short. So, we canceled the LL and saved it for another popular ride with longer lines. To cancel your LL, just use the My Disney Experience APP/Genie+. Just cancel the ride, and search for a new Lightning Lane option.

48. Order 3 Kids’ Meals for a cheap dinner! This works especially well with couples staying at a Disney Resort. Order 3 kids’ meals – pasta, pizza, chicken, etc. (each meal with a side, drink, and dessert). It’s plenty of food and it will end up costing around $25 total!

49. Breakfast is the least expensive character meal.

If you have a kid with his/her heart set on a character breakfast – breakfast is your cheapest option. Plus, you get into the park early and can even head off to get in line for the rides after you eat (even if the park hasn’t opened yet).

50. To get the most value out of your Dining Plan investment, order meals or snacks that cost more than what each credit is worth. Quick Service credits are worth around $18 and Table Service credits are worth around $41. Table Service credits are worth more if you’re on the deluxe plan because an appetizer is also included. Snack credits are worth about $5, but many snacks and sides are $6-$9. So…check the menu and try something new even if it costs more! You can even get alcoholic beverages or smoothies as your drink option!

51. You can use Genie+ in different parks if you have the park hopper.

The trick is to use Genie+ for Lightning Lanes in the first park before heading over to a new park. You can start selecting Lightning Lanes for your 2nd park at 2:00 pm.

52. Bring a refillable water bottle and refill at water-filling stations for FREE Water.

Walt Disney began installing hydration stations/refilling bottle stations that are controlled by censors. You can refill your own bottle or a plastic water bottle that you purchased. There are also many soda fountains that dispense water and ice. Find stations here (keep in mind that more are being added):

• Animal Kingdom – in the stand-by queues of Nav’i River Journey, Expedition Everest, and in the queue of Flight of Passage in Pandora in Animal Kingdom.
• Hollywood Studios – Head over to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (between Droid Depot and Black Spire Outpost) and you’ll see a water filling station between two water fountains. The bus/Skyliner bathrooms have a bottle filling station. At the exit of Smuggler’s Run, you find a few filling spots. There is also one at the stand-by queue of Slinky Dog Dash. Also, Backlot Express Restaurant has a soda machine that dispenses water.
• EPCOT – at the Odyssey Building and at the new restrooms built between Future World & World Showcase. Also located at the bathrooms next to Starbucks.
• Magic Kingdom – At Cosmic Ray’s Restaurant
• Animal Kingdom Lodge – at the Kidani Village Bus Stop (at the water fountain)
• Saratoga Springs– At the main pool
• Yacht Club Convention Center
• BoardWalk Resort Tennis Courts
• Quick-Service Restaurants – Get a cup of ice or ice water at any quick-service locations at the parks. It is best to get this at Joffrey’s Coffee or Starbucks since their water is filtered.

53. Switch your extra meal credits to snack credits on the last day of your trip.

We honestly eat/use all of our credits, but if you have extra dining credits at the end of your trip – you can change them over to snack credits. You can use these for snacks to take home or give as souvenirs.

54. If you love a meal at any Disney restaurant, you can ask for the recipe! A Disney cast member will be happy to give you the recipe!

55. Don’t forget to tip Mousekeepers! If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you have the option of “Mousekeeping” and need to tip these hard workers $1-2 dollars per person/per day. D

56. Plan but don’t OVER Plan.

This is my advice: make your dining reservations and any special event reservations. Make time for parades and fireworks shows. Then familiarize yourself with the attractions/character meets/etc at the Park. You can also check out the Genie portion of the My Disney Experience APP. That way you feel prepared.

On the day of your park visit, especially if you’re EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, get up at 7 a.m. and try to get in a Virtual Queue/Boarding Pass for Ratatouille at EPCOT and/or Rise of the Resistance in HS. You can also try at 12 p.m. if you don’t make the morning queue. If you don’t make any of the Virtual Queues, you can pay to ride the ride. It can cost you anywhere between $7-15 per person/per ride. I’ve honestly talked to people who got on the 7 a.m. queue and again at 12 p.m. I know some have had to pay. It really depends on how busy the park is on the day of your visit.

If there is a line for a new ride that is NEVER short (and we don’t want to pay $15 to ride it), we get in line after we eat lunch. That way we can digest our food and take it slow before we get on another ride. Sometimes, the best memories are made taking it slow and enjoying the moment so I also try to space out time to just enjoy our surroundings.

57. If you get the chance/have the time head over to the Boardwalk at night! Watching the sunset alone is worth the visit – it’s beautiful! It’s also a great spot to get some food and see some live entertainment.

58. You can trade your quick-service meals for snacks. If you would rather have snacks vs. a meal, you can get 3 snacks instead – BUT keep in mind that you have to use all 3 credits in 1 transaction.

59. If traveling with small children, you might want to consider staying at the Pop Century Resort.

Pop Century doesn’t share its transportation with any other resorts. This makes for quick trips to/from the parks with tired and cranky kiddos. The layout of the rooms is different also. They offer a queen bed and a queen-sized Murphey bed. This bed lifts up into the wall offering more space in the room and kids can play with more floor space. Pop Century is also right next to the Skyliner and Art of Animation Resort. After a short walk, you can tour the Art of Animation Resort and take free art lessons there.

60. Book the Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose at Hollywood Studios if you have the dining plan.

This will cost you just one table service credit. Not only will you get an appetizer, entree, and drink – you will also get reserved seating for that evening’s Fantasmic show! Please Note: Fantasmic is returning sometime in 2022. No word on if/when the dining plan will be reinstated at Disney World.

61. Register your entire traveling party on the My Disney Experience APP to familiarize yourself with the new Genie and Genie+.

Make sure to register everyone under your Family and Friends list. You can learn about how to make plans for your day. If you have paid for Genie+, you can see what times are available for attractions. Of course, these plans NOW must be made the DAY OF your park visit (but you can still visit Genie+ to get an idea of what to expect. Please Note: Genie and the My Disney Experience APP are FREE to use. You can make plans while you’re in a specific area of a park and check wait times at attractions. However, you have to pay for Genie+, which lets you ride almost every ride once without waiting in line (by using the Lightning Lane). This costs $15 per person per day.

62. Label your stroller. Yes, of course, you know what your stroller looks like. But, it can be hard to find in a sea of identical-looking strollers! You can put on a colorful sign with your family name to help your stroller stand out.

63. Get some anti-chafing balm.

You will walk about 7 million miles at Disney World – well it will feel like it anyway. This can cause some chafing problems and you’ll be happy to have some anti-chafing balm. Your thighs will thank me later!

64. Pack for all types of weather! We love visiting Disney World in the off-season. On one trip, in February, one day was sunny and blazing hot and the next day was rainy and cold! Pack for the expected warm Florida weather, but pack a few things for rainy and cooler weather.

65. Use your snack credit at Goofy’s Candy Company at Disney Springs if you are on the dining plan. Just pick out your snack (marshmallows, candy apples, Rice-Krispy treats, cookies, etc.) and how you want it decorated – and it’s only one snack credit. Please Note: Dining Plan is currently on hiatus. Hopefully, it will return soon!

66. You can do a load of laundry at your Disney Resort.

This also applies to most hotels since most have washers and dryers available. If you and the kiddos end up changing clothes more than you expected, you can wash some clothes so that you don’t run out of clean things to wear. Don’t forget to pack some laundry soap and dryer sheets.

67. If you need a break from the kids, send them on a 2-hour pirate cruise.

If your kiddos are between the ages of 4 and 10 and are potty-trained, they can set sail on a pirate adventure cruise. There are two departure points that both leave at 9:30 a.m. You and the hubs can enjoy a few hours alone!

68. Take the kids to watch the Electrical Water Pageant.

This free light parade is held on Bay Lake right outside of Magic Kingdom. Here are the showtimes:

• 9:00 p.m. at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
• 9:15 p.m. at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• 9:30 p.m. at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• 9:45 p.m. at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground
• 10:00 p.m. at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

69. Avoid waiting in line for food by using the Mobile Ordering Option.

You can order meals, snacks, and drinks. Order ahead from the My Disney Experience APP and avoid precious time waiting in line to order and waiting for your food! This option is WONDERFUL!! We ordered lunch at Catalina Eddie’s and Rosie’s Cafe while in Lightning Lane for Rock N Roller Coaster. After the ride, we clicked on “I’m HERE, make my food” in the APP. We didn’t have to wait in long lines and by the time we found a table, our food was ready. It was such a time-saver!!

70. Ask for a side instead of a drink if you’re on the dining plan.

Counter service (QS) meals come with a drink, but you can ask for a side or a snack in its place. This works great especially if you wanted to drink water anyway. Just ask for a free cup of ice water or refill your mug with water.

71. Visit the parks 30 minutes earlier if you are staying on property

If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you can enter the park 30 minutes before other guests.

72. Purchase the refillable drink mug AND the refillable popcorn bucket ASAP.

If your kiddos drink soda, tea, and lemonade, you might want to get the refillable drink mug as soon as you arrive. These mugs can also be used for coffee in the mornings and hot cocoa at night (these are only used at your Disney Resort). If you or your kiddos are popcorn-a-holics, you might want to get a refillable popcorn bucket the hot minute you see one in the parks. A souvenir popcorn bucket costs $10-$17 but once you have it refills are only $1.50 (instead of $5) – for the rest of your trip! Plus, you get to keep the drink mug and/or popcorn bucket to take home as a souvenir. P.S. The refillable drink mugs are ONLY for use at the resort – you CANNOT refill these in the parks and you don’t want to carry them around all day. So…it’s best to just leave them in your room.

73. Use Walmart’s Grocery Pick-Up Service. Order groceries, snacks, bottled water, sunscreen you forgot to pack, etc. You can drive yourself or take an Uber to Walmart to pick up your order. Easy-Peasy! **Be sure to check if your room has a fridge and/or microwave. Ours had a fridge in the room and a microwave and toaster oven we could use in the food court.

74. Take the kids for a free movie and popcorn at Movies Under the Stars. Each Disney resort has a different movie schedule, so make sure you check out the schedules. Movies range from Disney Classic to the new Star Wars movies. Learn more HERE.

75. If you’re on the dining plan, don’t waste leftover snack credits!

You can buy treats and snacks at Goofy’s Candy Company or your resort gift shop. These can be treats for the trip home or souvenirs/gifts for friends and family.

76. The first parade of the day will be the most crowded.

If you can work it into your schedule, watch the second parade for smaller crowds. UPDATE: As of 2/2022, there are several parades all day and the crowds were small.

77. Walk past Space Ship Earth. This is the first ride you come to when you enter Epcot -and YES it’s tempting because you get to ride inside the big golf ball/Earth…But, you should just keep on walking because most people will stop there. Avoid the line and visit the characters or rides that usually have long lines. You can always come back to Spaceship Earth later in the day.

78. You will get soaked on Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom.

It’s honestly nice on a very hot day. But, if you don’t want to walk around in soaked clothes, you might want to bring a poncho or a change of clothes.

79. You can interact with the Stormtroopers at Galaxy’s Edge.

In the above photo, you can see Kylo Ren and two Stormtroopers approaching a man (who was filming them on his cell phone). Kylo Ren asked him, “Are you sending transmissions to the Resistance?” Of course, everyone laughed, but Kylo and his troopers were committed to their roles! I watched a Storm Trooper approach a young boy (maybe 9-10 years old). He told the boy that he was watching him. The boy wasn’t intimidated at all! He told the Stormtrooper, “I know Luke Skywalker!”. The Stormtrooper threw up his hand and said, “Good for you!”. I think these interactions were part of what made visiting Galaxy’s Edge a really special experience. UPDATE for 2022: Because of social distancing, the Stormtroopers and Chewy and Kylo Ren keep their distance. But, you can still talk to them, and they will interact with you. See more of our visit to Galaxy’s Edge HERE.

80. How to score more points on Buzz Lightyear’s Ranger Spin Game in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom:

• As you are leaving the first room, spin your car all the way around. After you find yourself facing the opposite direction, shoot the ORANGE ROBOT’S LEFT ARM, the BACK OF THE BUZZ SAW, and/or the BACK OF THE ORANGE ROBOTS. If you hit the back of the orange robots, you can get up to 100,000 points for each hit.
• One of the rooms has a huge Zurg. When you are in here, try to shoot/hit the target right below him. This is worth 100,000 points if you hit it!
• Instead of shooting individual shots (like I did), hold down your trigger and fire continuously.
• When you feel your car leaving a room, stop shooting in that room and start shooting in the next room you are headed into.

81. Take a picture of your parking lot name and row number. It’s no fun to look for your car after a long day! This will save you some time and your sanity!

82. The best way to get pictures on an EMPTY Main Street is to make early breakfast reservations before the park opens.

83. You can decorate your Disney Resort Windows and Doors!

This is a lot of fun to do and see and the kids will love it. Use stuffed animals, posters, twinkle lights, pictures, removable stickers, etc.

84. Go horseback riding at Tri-Circle-D Ranch!

Check-in at the entrance of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The trail rides are about 45 minutes long and are about $55 per person (07/2020)

85. See more animals right after the rope drops at Animal Kingdom. Animals are fed in the morning, and you and your family will be able to see more of them right after the rope drop. Most people will be heading to Pandora, so the crowds will be lighter as well.

86. Kiddos ages 4-12 can train to be Jedi and fight Kylo Ren or Darth Vader. At Hollywood Studios, kids can train to be Jedi and fight the Dark Side. Participating is free/included in park admission. The sign-up spot for Jedi Training is at the Adventure Outpost and it’s important to sign up early to reserve your spot (kids must be present when signing up). See our experiences with Jedi Training HERE.

87. Go Snorkeling at Epcot Seas Adventure- Aqua Tour.

88. You can eat in an Aquarium – or go Scuba Diving in one.

Coral Reef Restaurant is a table service restaurant that is located in the middle of an aquarium. Epcot DiveQuest is a 3-hour experience – with about 40 minutes spent diving in the 5.7 million gallon Seas tank. Your family can watch from any of the 56 windows as you swim with dolphins, sea turtles, and even sharks. *Must be scuba certified ahead of time for scuba diving.

89. You can get Joffrey’s Coffee & Starbucks Coffee (and Coffee Drinks) at Disney World.

Joffrey’s Locations:

• EPCOT – Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Stand near Mission Space
• Animal Kingdom -Royal Anandapur Tea Company serves Joffrey’s Coffee (located in Asia near Yak & Yeti Restaurant)
• Hollywood Studios – Tower of Terror Cart or Pixar Place
• The Landing at Disney Springs
• Skyliner Station at Caribbean Beach Resort (at bottom of ramp)

Starbucks Locations:

• Magic Kingdom – Main Street Bakery (on the right side of Main Street as you enter the park)
• EPCOT – The park is under construction, but the temporary location is at Traveler’s Cafe located close to the Refreshment Port at the entrance of the World Showcase. This could change as construction/renovations continue.
• Hollywood Studios – Starbucks is served at the Trolly Car Cafe which is located on the right side at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset.
• Animal Kingdom – Served at Creature Comforts before the Discovery Island Bridge in the Africa section (on the left).
• Disney Springs – One is near the World of Disney store and a second larger location is near the AMC Springs theater (near the water).

90. Take a fun horse-drawn carriage ride!

• At Port Orleans Resort, you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride along the beautiful Sassagoula River.
• At the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, take a ride through the forests of the resort.

91. You can take the Monorail from Magic Kingdom to other restaurants outside the park.

This tip is especially helpful when Magic Kingdom is really crowded or you just prefer the food at one of these (very GOOD) counter-service restaurants:

• Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
• Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

92. Ask for a window seat/view at Sanaa.

This is arguably one of the best restaurants at Disney. By asking for a window seat, the animal lovers in your groups will love the views!

95. Join Chip ‘N Dale for a campfire Sing A Long. At Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, there is a fun nightly campfire – with songs and a meet-and-greet with Chip & Dale. You can bring your own S’ mores fixings or buy some at the campground. These shows usually start at 7 or 8 p.m. depending on the season.

96. Character Meet & Greet lines are the shortest in Animal Kingdom.

The lines are the longest at Magic Kingdom.

97. Some restaurants offer views of the fireworks at Epcot (called Epcot Forever).

You will need a late-night reservation and you will need to arrive early (15-20 minutes early). Ask for a window seat and let the server know you are willing to wait.

• La Hacienda in Mexico Pavilion (has the BEST View)
• Rose & Crown in the United Kingdom Pavilion (some say this has the BEST views from the outdoor patio)
• Tokyo Dining in Japan Pavilion (ask for a window seat – there are actually floor to ceiling windows, but there are large columns throughout the restaurant)
• Spice Road Table in Morocco Pavilion (outdoor seating area – try to get as close to the lagoon as possible)
• Monsieur Paul in France Pavilion (limited seating – try to get a window seat in this second-floor restaurant)

98. Watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Frontierland or Adventureland.

These “lands” are less crowded and it’s easier to interact with the characters!

99. In Epcot, the World Showcase doesn’t open until 11:00 a.m.

You can get to the park at 9:00 a.m. (or 8:30 if you are staying at a Disney resort) and try to do as much as you can in Future World and The Land before the World Showcase opens. BONUS: While exploring The World Showcase in Epcot, start in Canada. Most people start in Mexico so Canada will be less crowded.

100. Learn to Surf at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

You’ll start your lesson on land with surfing professionals. Then you can practice your skills in the wave pool. If you already know how to surf, you can make reservations before the water park even opens for a private surf session.

101. Prep your Magic Band. We’ve never had any trouble keeping the Magic Bands on our arms, but this could be a problem with little ones. You can order some BitBelts off of Amazon (you get like 2 for $3.00) to keep them secure. Even if you do lose your Magic Band, it emits an RFID signal and a Cast Member can help you find it. Just let them know as soon as you realize it is missing. You can also write your name and phone number inside the band with a Sharpie in case you get separated from your child. P.S. If you don’t want to wear a Magic Band on your wrist, you can buy a MagicKeeper lanyard clip or carabiner.

Whew! That was a lot! Any other tips we should know about? Any new updates you’ve heard about? Let us know in the comments!

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