Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be A LOT. I have heard people tell me that they want to avoid the task so much that they are waiting until they can go with their grandkids - and they are parents of toddlers! Don't wait. You know our belief at RTTR - take the trip.
First, if you are going full-in (plan to visit 5-7 days, stay on property, get a dining plan) use a travel agent. They don't charge a fee and they can help you book your dining reservations, schedule fast passes, chart a course...it is 100% worth it.
If you are not (quick trip, staying off property, trying to save a few $$), here's my
quick, no-frills list of Disney dos and don'ts:
Do visit in the end of January - pull the kids out of school (if possible) and travel off-peak.This will be our 2nd visit at this time of the year and it’s so worth it. Even if you don’t stay on property, book your fast passes ahead of time, or schedule your dining 180 days out, if you travel at this time of the year, you will still be able to do (almost all of) the things you want to do.
Do buy the park hopper - I promise, every park has a star attraction or two, and if you are making the trip and spending the cash on tickets, the extra is worth it. Nothing turns a magical experience into a meltdown faster than having to skip the attraction your kids were most looking forward to because it’s being repaired on the one day you are there, or the line is too long, or you missed your fast pass...
Do take the nap - if traveling with young kids, start the day when the park opens, leave around lunch, eat off site and get a nap in. You’ll all arrive back later in the afternoon refreshed and ready for the magic of Disney at night. If you took our advice with the park hopper, you can head on over to whichever park has the latest hours that day. Lines are typically short after 9:00 or 10:00 because the families who didn’t take the nap...well, let’s just say you avoided a crisis.
Don’t buy the dining plan - I have clients and friends who swear by it, and I am not saying Disney does not have delicious food to offer, I just feel that the cost for us was not worth what we got. You can bring in your own snacks and drinks (this works best if you have a diaper bag or stroller, of course), eat before you head to the park in the morning, and once again off property if you take the nap. We average one meal per day in the parks - there are only so many character dining experiences and overpriced foods you can handle. On that note…
Do eat at the castle. There is no more exciting Disney experience than being whisked away into the dining room while all the other visitors stare enviously as they pass through the castle walkway. Money saving tip - book the latest breakfast seating! It is the least expensive meal of the day here, and it is delicious. If you book the 10:45 am slot (does depend on the day, that's what it was for us), you can still have your off-site breakfast before heading to the park, eat a delicious breakfast-for-lunch meal - in a castle, with princesses - and take your nap break late that day, grabbing dinner before you return for the nighttime festivities.
Do buy Disney trading pins online before you go. An Amazon assortment is mostly junk, but it does not matter. Your kids can trade that Disney trademarked pin of Lilo from 2002 for a storm trooper or Elsa from any cast member. If you ask, and you have a Disney-backed pin, they have to trade!
Do take advantage of the little-known magical freebies Disney offers. You've already dropped a small fortune on this trip and now your daughter wants to spend $100+ on hair and makeup at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique? If it's the most important thing for her on this trip, go for it. If it's not...head to Castle Couture in Magic Kingdom and any cast member will give her a free sprinkle of pixie dust. Also at Magic Kingdom, visit the Main Street Fire Station and pick up a map and card pack for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Kids follow a map to race all over the park and defeat Disney villains and the best part? The cards are collectible so you can get a new pack every time you visit (hello free souvenir)! First visit? Birthday? Grab a free button at Guest Services or a Gift Shop in any park and get the added bonus of special attention from cast members all day long.
Don't let the planning turn you away. A trip to Disney truly is one of the most magical trips you can take when your kids are young. Seeing our 3 year old's eyes light up when she met her favorite (Snow White), or our 6 year old's expression when he got picked as the rebel spy on Star Tours, are some of my favorite memories.
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