doing Disney…part I
A couple weeks ago hubby and I ventured to Disney World (DW) with all three kiddies in tow. Although it wasn’t the first time we had been with kids (we brought our oldest in 2018), it was the first time since the pandemic when Disney subsequently rolled out changes to keep crowds in check and started up-selling sh*t for convenience. 🤪
Now that we are back from our trip and have had a chance to recap and get through Christmas, I wanted to share a few tips and tricks that might help if you are planning to head to DW, and a few tips for road trips with kids in general. Keep in mind that this post won’t include super specific cost saving tips because there are so many variables (and prices for specific add ons fluctuate), but there are a few suggestions for saving money in general. Note - I’m not saying I did the best job planning, because I definitely could have saved some more dollars, BUT we were able to have a successful trip and maximize our time at the parks. I split this post into two - this one is focused mainly on pre-trip things… and part II includes tips once that can help on your park days. Even still the post is long as hell and for that I do apologize, BUT I did my best to put everything into (mostly) one place.
Start Planning Early
Disney offers a few different options when it comes to tickets including single day, multi-day, and the Park Hopper option, for example. Be sure to narrow down which park, or parks, make the most sense for your family to visit, and how many days will be necessary to accomplish this, so you can get the most bang for your buck. One way to do this is by checking height requirements on rides and park availability (which changes daily). Keep in mind that ticket prices and availability vary based on the date and the park you are planning to visit, so check the calendar on the Disney site before purchasing your ticket and immediately make reservations for the park(s) you plan to visit. Reservations are not necessary for one-day, single park tickets, and for those with Park Hopper tickets, you only need to make a reservation for the first park you will visit each day.
If you are considering the Park Hopper option (which allows you to visit multiple parks in the same day), be realistic about how that will work for your family logistically. After you check in to the fist park of the day, you won’t be able to “hop” to another park until 2 pm. Getting from park-to-park might require a tram ride, shuttle, ferry, monorail, or drive… so park hopping can easily turn into a long day which may or may not be ideal with littles in tow. Not to mention that the park hours may vary depending on the day and any special ticketed events that may be taking place later in the day. In other words, if you plan to park-hop to Magic Kingdom and don’t make it there until 5, but the park closes at 6, it will not have been worth the price of the park hopper for that day.
Once you have an idea of which park(s) you want to visit and if the park hopper option is necessary start checking for deals. If you are a member of a wholesale food store (like Costco), check there. Also check any rewards or benefits you might have with your credit card, place of employment, hotel rewards programs, military discounts, etc. As soon as you are able to - purchase your tickets. Generally the earlier you can grab your tickets the better, especially if it is before the window to make dining reservations begins.
Download the MyDisneyExperience app. This is a necessity and is a one-stop shop for making/modifying reservations, getting real-time info on wait times, booking Lightning Lane selections using Genie+, and purchasing Genie+ for any days you might wish to do so. Once you purchase your ticket(s) you will be able to sync them to your MyDisneyExperience account.
Have a good idea of the shows and attractions you would like to book, and be sure to research the timing in which you are able to start making reservations.
As of the date of this post (12/23) dining plans are temporarily suspended; however, check part II for some tips on dining and staying within budget.
Be flexible.
As I mentioned, prices fluctuate based on the park, and the date of your visit. If you have flexibility on dates you may be able to save a few dollars (for example, by going in an “off-season,” which is basically any time when most children are in school.)
Also check “crowd calendars” to determine when crowds are expected to be higher or lower. It goes without saying, but the more popular the date(s) you choose for your visit, the more you will need to plan and strategize to secure reservations and enjoy as many rides as possible. It is also likely that you will see some increased pricing.
Decide on lodging.
Staying on the Disney property may sound amazing - especially considering some of the benefits (easier transportation, earlier access to ticket purchases, etc.); but off-site options are plentiful and may be a bit less pricey. While you may not have ALL the perks that staying on site offers, you will have some - including shuttles to and from the parks and Disney-themed amenities and rooms/suites depending on the resort.
A word of caution about staying off-property. Choose your location wisely as traffic to/and from the park via I-4 is trash. 6 miles can easily take 40 mins, especially around the time the parks open and close.
Decide on transportation.
Flying or driving - that is the question. Whichever you chose, be prepared. If you are traveling with kids think through all the essentials in addition to any thing you might need to keep them fed and entertained while traveling (and be sure to bring more than you think you will need.)
Anytime we are on a long road trip - we bring our portable potty for the littles. The idea used to gross me out, but after a few public restroom fails, our little portable potty feels like a dream in comparison. (Mom hack - to avoid - ummm “messes” in the actual potty, you can line it with a diaper or pull-up at the bottom).
This time around I also grabbed some Dollar Tree shower caddy’s and added coloring books, crayons, cheap toys, ImagineInk books, and snacks (pictured here) and didn’t show it to them until we got in the car so it was all “exciting” and new. I saw a post where someone got the caddies with suction cups and stuck it to their windows which could be genius.
Timelines are your friend.
Being able to maximize your visit relies just as heavily on timing as it does on strategy. Once you have nailed down a date for your visit, create a timeline that backs in from that date. Dining requires reservations which you are able to book months in advance (60 days in advance at the time of this post). So, at a minimum you will want to secure your tickets by then for the best chance at getting into the restaurants you prefer.
Keep in mind that special events may sell out faster than park tickets as some events don’t require the purchase of a park ticket.
Set reminders on your phone as the dates to make reservations/book events start to approach. *There are hundreds of post dedicated to Genie+ and all the details on how to utilize it, so I will spare all the details here. But once you get the hang of it and understand some of the limitations, you will be able to leverage it and maximize your LL rides. While we were told we could expect to get 2-3 rides a day without waiting in the standby line, we actually did about 6-7.
Okay - if you made it through this entire post pat yourself on the back. If you did so and feel more prepared to plan your trip - even better! :) Once you have completed the above, take a peek at part II for some tips that will help as you prepare in the days before your Disney trip. Until then - happy planning!