11 Tips To Survive Disney World With Your Family
Yes, I've jumped into 2018 head first. I'm already thinking about Spring Break because we are now planning ours. I figured it NOT too early to share with you some things I learned from our 2017 trip to Disney...
It was spring break. Peak season!
We went anyway.
We only visited one park, Magic Kingdom, but that was an 11 hour adventure. So yeah, plan accordingly. I can't give you the scoop on the parks I didn't visit, but I have a feeling the experiences are (probably) mutual.
It was EPIC and I have to mention that this was a surprise trip for our daughters. They had no idea what we were up to. Don't believe me? Watch it here.
That's right... we planned a spring break road trip leaving our kids totally in the dark. Like I mentioned in my first spring break post, this was a you'll-know-when-you-get-there situation. Luckily, and no thanks to our ability to keep our mouths shut, we pulled it off.
As a mom who loves to explore, I take mental survival notes wherever I go. Consider these a few cliff notes to tackle the entity that Disney is.
1. Disney will remind you that there are many people breathing & walking this glorious earth. Enter with patience, kindness, and take any medication you've been prescribed. I offer this advice sincerely.
2. Go as late as you can if you prefer less people and sun. Even on hot-as-Hades days, people show up early and ready to kiss Mickey's ears. Around 6 or 7 p.m., the crowds noticeably started to thin out. That made for a much better walking and riding experience.
3. If you want to arrive early, don't mind the crowds, and you really want to experience as much as possible, get yo'self a FastPass. Get as many as possible to bypass all the madness.
4. Bring (and wear!) your sunscreen, sun visors, sunglasses, and hats. The sun in Florida is a player of no games. The more prepared you are to protect yourself (and your hair), the better.
5. Drink water and hold on to the bottles. Luckily, the brilliant minds at Disney placed water fountains throughout the park. If you're not picky about using them, you can fill up as much as you need to. Otherwise, have mucho dinero handy to pay for water. One bottle is almost the cost of your admission ticket! Exaggerating but IJS...
6. We got lucky and didn't get caught in any downpours. They are frequent I'm told and you want to be prepared (especially with small kids). Feel free to bring umbrellas but I suggest ponchos or something lightweight/waterproof. I couldn't imagine navigating those crowds with umbrellas. Seems like a scene from Gladiator waiting to happen.
7. We drank a lot while walking around. I suggest visiting the bathroom often, particularly before getting on a ride. Don't wait until the last minute, just to have to wait in line again. I forced my kids to try to empty something, anything, whenever we went in. "I don't have to go" is not okay with this mama!
8. Have a plan. Go online before your visit or get a map and figure that ish out. Magic Kingdom is big and packed with fun. You don't want to waste your time wandering aimlessly while everyone decides what they want to do next. Some parts of your plan may not work out but at least you have an itinerary.
9. Plan for meals/snacks. You cannot bring coolers into the park but if you have small kids, a medical condition, big appetite, etc, bring small snacks. You'll need them! Have a break time planned to purchase lunch/dinner. The fuller your bellies are, the less cranky and likely to commit crimes you will be.
10. I can't express enough the importance of supportive, comfy shoes. I saw people in flip flops, heels, dress flats, and sandals. Why, people??? Just why? It's not a ballroom, it's an obstacle course! Your feet may get hot in sneakers but I'd rather have hot feet than hurting feet! I dare not forget to mention the strollers, wheelchairs, overly excited adults, and overly excited oblivious kids your feet will be in contact with. Think about it. Thank me later.
11. Capture the moments. Be sure to charge your cameras, phones, & other devices beforehand. Disney is truly a place of wonder & having visuals to look back on is the greatest gift to your family. No matter how tired of photos everyone gets, take them anyway! The best ones are the candid moments. By all means, don't forget to include yourself in the pics/video.
(See our Disney experience here (beginning), here (middle), and here (end).)
I am no expert but I hope my tips make your Disney visit more enjoyable. I will add more if they come to mind. In the meantime, let me know some of your own. One last thing... expect full hearts, rejuvenated imaginations, exhausted adults, and very tired kids! Disney never fails!
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