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Every one of us would love to spend a week or two strolling about Walt Disney World taking our time to discover all of its magic. But let’s face it; reality doesn’t always work that way. The clock has struck midnight, the ball is over, and we are back among the cinders with no prince or reprieve in sight. Between work, school, sports, and other extracurricular activities, we don’t always have the option, or luxury, to stay at Disney World for an extended amount of time. So, whether you’re taking a shortened trip or Disney is just a portion of a much larger Florida vacation, these tips and tricks should help you better navigate a Walt Disney World stay of less than 4 days.
Once again we are happy to be partnering with Marie Stewart the Travel Consultant in Disney Vacations who will be adding in her own professional knowledge as a Disney vacation planner.
So grab yourself a quick-service, slap on those MagicBands, and please step out to the left as we bring you this month’s Top Three Tips for Discovering Disney!
This month: Discovering Disney during a Shorter Stay
TIP #1: PLAN TO GO WHEN IT'S LESS CROWDED
While there used to be a more defined difference between Peak Season and Off-Season at Walt Disney World, the ever-increasing number of hotel rooms and timeshares (both on and off Disney property) as well as numerous off-season promotional deals and events have caused these exact times to waver greatly throughout the year. Traditionally, post-Labor Day and pre-Memorial Day were your slow times with the holidays and summer months being the more crowded. However, with different marathons and festivals taking place year-round, “off-season” has become less defined.
Christmas week is known to be one of the worst weeks to visit as far as crowds go. Parks often reach capacity and they have to start turning people away. Imagine trying to squeeze in as much as possible when you can’t even squeeze in yourself. If you have only a day or two at Disney, it will be difficult to fit in all of your “must-do’s” during these times, so plan accordingly.
There are many “crowd calendars” available produced by numerous Disney Bloggers. While this is, of course, not an exact science, it is not a bad idea brush up on when and where the crowds will be. Here are some of our favorites: Undercover Tourist, WDW Prep School, Dad’s Guide to WDW.
| → EXTRA TIP: When entering the parks, everyone has to go through a security check. People with bags will find they have to wait a tad longer. So, designate one member of your party to wait with all of the bags while the rest of your party goes through (anxious little ones will find it easier to wait among the sights and sounds inside the park rather than outside), though you might want to have a reward ready for the bag-holder, be it a treat or first-choice of ride for their trouble. |
TIP #2: STAY AT A RESORT WITH MULTIPLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Rides and restaurants are not the only places you’ll find long lines at Walt Disney World. While Disney has made great strides lately in streamlining its transportation system, one can still find increased congestion during peak hours of the day. Buses are typically the main transport for all the resorts (delivering guests to and from all four theme parks, both water parks, and Disney Springs). However, the buses tend to fill up quickly and the wait times between them can vary greatly. So, if you’re able to, book a room at a resort with multiple modes of transportation. This includes the Monorail, boat and ferry service, and the all-new Disney World Sky Liner. A few resorts are even in walking distance of a park. These are as follows:
- By Boat
- Yacht & Beach Club Resorts (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Boardwalk Resort (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Fort Wilderness Campground (Magic Kingdom)
- Wilderness Lodge (Magic Kingdom)
- Walking Distance
- Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom)
- Yacht & Beach Club Resorts (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Boardwalk Resort (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Monorail
- Grand Floridian Resort (Magic Kingdom & EPCOT)
- Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom & EPCOT)
- Polynesian Resort (Magic Kingdom & EPCOT)
- Sky Liner (coming soon)
- Pop Century (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Riviera Resort (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Art of Animation Resort (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
- Caribbean Beach Resort (Hollywood Studios & EPCOT)
→ EXTRA TIP: Disney World Sky Liner will be up and running soon on 9/29/19! This will connect 4 resorts (Pop Century, the new Riviera Resort, Art of Animation Resort, & Caribbean Beach Resort) |
→ EXTRA TIP: If you stay at a Disney World Resort, you are able to get into the parks at times when the rest of the public is not. These “Extra Magic Hours” allows you into a park early or lets you leave late. More details can be found here. |
TIP #3: PRIORITIZE YOUR MUST-DO'S
Nothing will slow a day down faster than an argument over what to do or where to eat. Whether you’re a couple of newlyweds or an extended family of eight, you don’t want to waste time (or happiness) bickering and compromising. So, before your trip, prioritize your “must-do’s,” and I don’t just mean the rides. Restaurants, shows, parades - figure it all out. Not a fan of fireworks? That’s a perfect time to jump on some rides. Do you want Chinese food but your wife wants Mexican? Grab a quick-service to-go and meet her in Norway. You can now use the Disney World app and mobile order for your food at many quick-service restaurants. Instead of waiting to order, you can just pick up your food and cut some of your wait time. (View all participating locations here.) And of course, use the FastPass+ system to help save you valuable time waiting for rides.
| → EXTRA TIP: Use the weather to your advantage. A sudden rainstorm will send most running for cover, leaving the usually congested walkways open for a brisker pace. Just have those ponchos ready. |
All-in-all, a day at Disney is a day of magic. And however long or short that day might be, the memories you make will last a lifetime.
MAGICAL TIP FROM MARIE STEWART THE TRAVEL CONSULTANT FOR DISNEY VACATIONS | ||
| For many of us time is limited and when juggling work schedules and school schedules it’s hard to pin point the best time for you to take a Disney Vacation. Something to be mindful of is utilizing a holiday weekend that makes a regular weekend extended. Also when looking at flights, look at an evening flight the night before the first vacation day. Sometimes flights are cheaper than the typical first flight out. And my best tip ever- is to call me, I can handle that and all your Disney needs free of charge when booking with me! Contact me today! | ||
Thank you to Marie Stewart The Travel Consultant for Disney Vacations for sponsoring this article series to keep Macaroni Kid a FREE local family community resource! Please support our sponsor. |
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Contact Marie Stewart at (631) 804-5897 Free Disney consulting and planning with any booking client. Ask for details! I consult with you and get a feel of what you’re looking for in a Disney vacation. I will explain options that I think would best fit you and your family’s needs. I walk every step of the way with you during the planning process which includes resort choices, Disney reservations, fast pass selections and much more! Call today for a free no obligation quote. Recently booked a reservation in the past 30 days? Want Marie to be your advisor – contact her today! |
This article is for entertainment purposes only. All opinions are that of the authors.
Discovering Disney: Top 3 Tips (Click Image for Article) | ||
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