I've been to Disney World seven times. Yes, seven. And just like Peter Pan, it never gets old. I'm already planning my next trip. However, for first-timers or those of you who haven't been in a *really* long time, the Disney experience could be overwhelming. So this one is for you my fellow Disnerds! Here are the best tips I could think of for if you are planning on heading to the happiest place on earth for the first time or anytime soon!
If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with all things Disney: the characters, the movies, and the parks. So when I hear from my close friends or coworkers that they have never been to Disney World I am shocked! Lucky for me, they gave me the inspiration to put together this guide for you all as I was able to ask them what they would want to know if they were going to Disney World tomorrow.
Transportation
One of the main concerns that my friends expressed was transportation! They worried about navigating a rental car in Orlando, and trying to figure out how to get to their destination and the parks. Not to worry! There are quite a few options for transportation in Orlando that can suit your needs.
1. If you book your vacation directly through Disney and stay at a Walt Disney World Resort property, they actually have a bus called Disney's Magical Express that constantly runs back and forth from the properties to the airport and it is FREE (well...included with your stay)! The airport has clear signage that will help you get to the bus after you have claimed your luggage. Furthermore, all Disney Park properties have Disney shuttles that will take you to and from the parks, hotels, and Disney Springs so you won't have to worry about any transportation unless you are trying to move from Disney property to another theme park in the area. This option is what I would highly recommend!
2. If you're doing Disney on a budget and stay at any of the other Orlando hotels (like my boyfriend and I did a few weeks ago) an Uber/Lyft costs roughly $25-35 dollars. If you're not familiar with Uber (or Lyft), it's a ride share app on your phone that allows you to call for a car to come pick you up from your current location and drop you off at your next destination. The prices vary based on type or size of the car, the distance you are going, and if it is surge pricing due to rush hour traffic or a high influx of users in one area. In both the airport and parks, there are specific ride share lots (or areas) where you can call your ride and wait to be picked up. Also, there is a loophole that we did during our stay. Our hotel was located within a 20 minute walk from Disney Springs so we were able to take the Disney buses from the parks to Disney Springs and walk to our hotel that way.
PRO TIP: Try to purchase an Uber gift card prior to your trip, load it to your account, and then you won't have to worry about how much you are spending on transportation and in turn you will have more cash/money for food or souvenirs!
3. You can always rent a car! You can schedule this ahead of your visit or approach one of the rental car desks that is attached to the Orlando (MCO) airport. I have not personally done this, as you have to be 25 years old to rent a car in the U.S, or you must pay an additional underage fee on top of the rental cost. This option would be ideal if you're doing more than just Disney during your time in Orlando. If you go this route, you're going to want to get your ducks in a row and make sure your phone is equipped with GPS navigation, and make sure your hotel allows you to park you car/whether you have to pay more to park your car there, and figure out the cost of parking at the Disney Parks for the day.
4. Try and book a hotel that has a shuttle bus service to and from the parks! My boyfriend and I stayed at an "off property" hotel close to Disney Springs when we were there this past May. Our hotel had a shuttle bus that picked up people from 3-4 hotels in the area before making its way to the park. The way it worked was we could sign up in the lobby for one of the 3 times they were picking up/dropping off at Epcot and from Epcot we made our way to one of the Disney Shuttles or the Monorail to get to the park we were going to for the day.
The Parks
The second thing my friends wanted to know was what parks they should do first and then what rides and attractions they should be sure to prioritize while there. I struggled with this question because everything is so subjective. What I like about one park, someone could despise (though how could one truly despise anything about Disney? I'm not sure.)
First, I would suggest visiting https://disneyworld.disney.go.com for planning your trip and getting a sense of what the parks have to offer. You know yourself and your company's interests so I'm sure something will stand out to you; start from there. I would say park order doesn't really matter, unless you only have a limited amount of days to experience Disney. If you only have, for example, 2 days in Disney World, I would suggest DEFINITELY visiting the Magic Kingdom because of the iconic Cinderella's Castle picture. I mean, did you even go to Disney if you don't have a picture in front of Cinderella'a Castle? I think not.
The following lists below are my personal suggestions for rides and attractions at each of the parks, not including the water parks. These suggestions are based on what I love and enjoy, as well as what I know are very popular amongst everyone. Hope you find this helpful!
Magic Kingdom
- Mickey Mouse Character Meet & Greet
- The Teacups
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Space Mountain *
- Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade (afternoon)
- Happily Ever After Fireworks Show (evening/park closing)
- Pirates of the Caribbean *
- Splash Mountain *
Hollywood Studios
- Tower of Terror *
- Aerosmith's Rock'n' Rollercoaster *
- Indiana Jones Stunt Show
- Toy Story Land (newly opened!)
- Beauty & the Beast Show
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid (show)
- Fantasmic! (Park Closing Fireworks Show)
Animal Kingdom
- Expedition Everest *
- Festival of the Lion King
- Kilimanjaro Safari *
- Avatar's Flight of Passage in Pandora *
- Primeval Whirl in Dinoland
- Finding Nemo the Musical
Epcot
- Test Track *
- Soarin' *
- Eating Your Way Around the World
- Flower & Garden Festival
NOTE: The rides/attractions with a (*) symbol beside it indicates that the ride/attraction tends to have lengthy wait times and a FastPass would be recommended. You can manage your FastPasses via the Walt Disney World app that you can download on your phone. You get 3 FastPasses per day.
Food
Disney World has so much incredibly delicious food. And everything tastes better when it's in the shape of Mickey ears, just saying.
Again, food is so subjective and there are SO many blogs and content out there that can help you narrow down your search in order to have a foodie's dream holiday. You can also find specific price and menu information on Disney's website. To get you headed in the right direction, here are my suggestions:
Quick Service:
1. Try the Dole Whip (P.S For all of you 21+, you can get boozy dole whip) @ Tamu Tamu, Africa, Animal Kingdom
2. Mac n' Cheese @ Eight Spoon Cafe in Animal Kingdom (It's Kevin the Bird approved)
3. Corndogs @ Casey's Corner in Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom
4. Check out the Electric Umbrella @ Epcot
5. Pinocchio's Village Haus @ Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
Sit Down Meals:
1. Cinderella's Royal Table @ Cinderella's Castle in Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom - Great for kids!
2. Be Our Guest @ Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
3. Yak & Yeti @ Asia, Animal Kingdom
4. Sci-Fi Dine In Theater @ Hollywood Studios
Buffets:
1. The Crystal Palace (Winnie The Pooh Character Dining) @ Magic Kingdom
2. 1900 Park Fare (Character Dining) @ The Grand Floridian
3. Chef Mickey's (Character Dining) @ Disney's Contemporary Resort
Overall, be open minded to trying new and different food!
The Bare Necessities
I wouldn't be able to send you off on your vacation without at least touching upon packing. If you take anything from this article, let it be this right here: PACK FOR COMFORT & DON'T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN. You get your steps in really quick when you are at Disney, so make sure you pack comfortable shoes and clothes. And ladies, it is possible to pack for comfort without sacrificing style, I promise. Just do yourself a favor and don't try and break in a new pair of shoes during your vacation, you'll have major regrets. Also, pack sunscreen. That Florida sun is HOT, and in parks like the Magic Kingdom shade is few and far between. These two things are packing essentials for your vacation. However, here are some more suggestions:
- An autograph book: This is especially wonderful for those of you traveling with kids, it enhances the meet & greet experience and is a forever keepsake!
- A reusable water bottle: Staying hydrated will battle the hot and humid temperatures and keep you energized for all of the rides you have to be sure to hit! Also, this is more cost effective than spending $5 on a bottle of water.
- Backpack: Carrying a backpack around the parks is great because you can store your water, sunscreen, and other essentials in it while also allowing you to keep your hands free from souvenirs.
I hope you found some helpful hints within this guide and I hope you have a magical time in the happiest place on earth!
"Think of the happiest things, it's the same as having wings" - Peter Pan
xx,
The Blue Eyed Bostonian
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