Disney Do’s and Don’ts of Disney World
It is pretty much every little boy and girls dream, to go to Disneyworld and see Mickey Mouse and his friends silhouetted by the iconic Disney castle, and have the time of their lives. The unfortunate part of this little dream is that quite often the parents have had to pay through the nose to get everyone there, and wind up having very little time to take everything in.
I have been one of the fortunate children who have been taken to see Mickey Mouse in all his costumed glory, but that trip came with its fair share of headaches, mostly endured by my parents who tried valiantly to do the Disney thing properly, and also have a holiday themselves.
I have come up with a list of ‘do’s and don’ts’ to assist anyone currently planning or thinking of taking a trip to the Disney resort in Orlando. This list will hopefully help you to manage your excursion with efficiency, and grant you more ‘bang for your buck’
Do’s
- 1. Buy a park pass.
It may seem expensive at first glance, but buying your party an ‘all-encompassing’ park pass will save you money compared to buying your tickets on the door of each individual theme park. It also gives you the freedom to move between the theme parks if you have a change of heart half way through any given day.
- 2. Fast track.
One of the worst things about visiting a theme park is the amount of time you spend queuing for all the rides. Most of your day will be spent in a never ending line, and if you have kids or teenagers with you, the wait in the blazing sunshine can be unbearable. Buying a fast track pass will save you the hassle, and allow you to visit other attractions too.
- 3. Pace yourself.
There is so much to see and to do within the theme parks, that you might find yourself a little overwhelmed. It is advisable to grab yourself a guide of the parks you wish to visit, and then decide upon the attractions that you want to see, and make a ‘priority list’. Map out a route through the park using the maps that are available (usually found at the ticket office), and ensure that if you want to see any time-specific shows that you give yourself plenty of time to get there.
- 4. See the shows.
Going hand in hand with pacing yourself, is seeing the shows in the parks. These are fantastic ways to slow the pace of your day, and have a sit down in most cases. Most of the parks will usually run several performances of each show, and if you are travelling over the holiday seasons, then you can expect some special shows to cater for the season.
It is useful to work out what you would like to see, and then cross-reference your own shortlist with the reviews of the shows. I found this particularly useful, as the show titles themselves can be more exciting than the actual show. A good time to schedule a show would be during the hottest part of the day, especially if you can see a show in a nice cool auditorium. It will drastically reduce your chance of getting heat stroke, and will allow you to gather your thoughts before heading back to the roller coasters.
- 5. Protect yourself.
The most important thing to do in any circumstance is to look after yourself and the people you are with. So many times I’ve wandered through theme parks and spotted people who are suffering from heat stroke and dehydration. It is important therefore, to stock up on bottled water and sun screen to be kept with you at all times. Drinking regularly throughout the day is one sure fire way to prevent dehydration, and with so much to see, and with the noise levels being quite loud at times, it will also help combat headaches which could spoil your day. A sunhat is also advisable, especially if it is a bright sunny day, and especially if you have a fair complexion.
Don’ts
- 1. Spend all your money at once.
I might be teaching grandma to suck eggs here, but the lure of souvenir shops and fast food can rapidly lighten your money bag. It is advisable to give yourself a daily budget, so you have a little spending money for each theme park. You might find that you want to spend a little more in one park, and then have less to spend in another. Be aware that if you do choose to compensate, you may not have enough at the end of your trip. I speak from experience, and sticking to a budget allowed me to enjoy all the parks, and I even had enough at the end of my trip for duty free shopping.
- 2. Stay at Disney hotels.
I say this as a caution rather than as a rule to obey. The Disney hotels are fantastic, but are quite pricey. I’ve always preferred having a cheap and cheerful hotel, and then have more money to spend during my stay. There are hotels all along International Drive, which will provide a comfy bed, and the option of breakfast/dinner, with the added bonus of a bus route which regularly takes passengers to the theme parks.
- 3. Just visit the theme parks.
Whilst you may have spent a small fortune on a set of passes for the theme parks, don’t forget that they also provide access to the Disney themed water parks, and other attractions too. If you are time restricted, try picking a couple of the theme parks that you are desperate to go to, and then pick one of the water parks. A day at a water park can be rescheduled if the weather is not great, and will give you time to relax whilst the kids splash about in the pool. There are also plenty of great sights to see around the local area, and if you don’t have a car, there are regular bus services that run from points along International Drive.
- 4. Feel like you have to do everything
One of the problems that I encountered with my parents is that they tried to cram everything into this 13 day schedule that we had. Even if you have a month at your disposal, chances are you won’t be able to see and do everything that you want to. It is important that you take your time to enjoy what you do decide to do, because if you rush everything it will seriously dent your enjoyment factor. Remember, it’s about quality not quantity.
- 5. Leave yourself vulnerable.
It is really important to keep yourself and your possessions safe, especially in a foreign country. Countless people have had their holidays ruined through lost or stolen money/passports/tickets. It is a good practice to always leave some emergency money aside, and keep it secure for the duration of the holiday. Hotels usually have a safe, or deposit box where you can store valuables from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. If you prefer to keep things with you, then invest in a body pouch. These are relatively inexpensive material bags that can be strapped to your body and are very discrete. Useful if you are going on a lot of rollercoasters and don’t want your things to go flying!
So there you have it, a few practical tips which will hopefully make your trip a little easier and a lot more practical. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself, and soak up as much as you can. Your memories will last you a lifetime.
Tom is a UK based travel writer who has first-hand experience of Florida holidays and Orlando holidays. As well as writing, Tom enjoys playing guitar, and watching movies.
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