Disney Trip Dos and Don’ts

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One thing my family loves (not so much) about vacationing with me is I will pack in all the fun I can every single day.   I have learned to make this enjoyable there must be a plan, especially if the trip includes a day or two at a Disney park.  After one very miserable, no, I would go as far to say wasted, trip to Disneyland in 2006 I vowed to never let that happen again.  After one successful follow up trip to Disneyland and one super fun trip to Disney World I feel I have some Disney trip dos and don’ts for creating a magical day at Disney!
Dos & Don'ts for a Magical Disney Trip
Let’s start with what not to do!

Disney Don’ts

Don’t choose the busiest day of the year!  The first time we ventured into Disneyland it was the day after Christmas which is one of the busiest.  People everywhere, screaming kids everywhere and my family who has no tolerance for crowds was the perfect combination for a miserable day.

Don’t set unrealistic expectations.  Kids may decide after standing in line they don’t actually want to meet a character.  Better yet your kid may do something crazy like bop Goofy on the nose (gasp).  Thankfully in true Disney fashion, Goofy will then follow your kid around and harass him back.  Not everyone is going to love the same rides and sometimes there will be some whining and general sibling bickering.  Don’t set yourself up for disappointment for picture perfect behavior.

Disney Trip Dos and Don'ts

Don’t show up mid day.  I was so shocked at the floods of people still arriving as we were already leaving to take our first break for the day.  At this point many of the ride times were already 45 minutes plus.

Don’t go to the park on “magic hours” day.  Disney Resort patrons are given the opportunity for an extra hour in the park some mornings.  Be sure to check the schedule and avoid the park with the early magic hours or you will show up at 9 and wonder where the heck all the people came from.

Don’t wander!  If you are not familiar with the park and where everything is located you can waste a lot of time just wandering around and that leads to so much frustration for everyone.

Disney Trip Dos and Don'ts

Don’t buy a park hopper ahead of time.   We knew we had limited time and really wanted to park hop but without knowing exactly how the day would play out ahead of time this could be a huge waste. The park hopper can always be added at the ticket counter if you realize time allows.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!  Every person at Disney both inside and outside the gates seem to be fully prepared to answer questions.  If you are unsure of something just ask.

Disney Dos

Do choose a time to visit during a non peak period.  The very busiest times for Disney are the week after Christmas, Spring Break and summer.  While your kids are young take the opportunity to pull them from school and head to Disney when the crowds are low.

Do arrive before the park opens!  I cannot tell you how big of a deal this is.  If you arrive early you will make it through the gates and be allowed to wander just inside which will allow you to take a few pictures, etc before the official opening time.  This way you don’t waste valuable time when the rides are open for business.

Do buy your tickets ahead of time.  This is pretty much a given for most people planning a multi-day vacation but we are Disney marathoners and have mostly done Disney in a day type outings. The sooner you can plan your trip the better because as soon as you have those tickets you can immediately begin scheduling your daily Fast Pass.  Read up and understand the Fast Pass you will be so happy you did!

Do study the park map and become familiar with the layout.  The parks are large and you can waste so much valuable time wandering from area to area if you are not aware.  So much information is on the internet to help you plan and I would definitely suggest reading up.  Specifics down to where to stand for parades, fireworks, etc will be so helpful.  When we went to Disneyland I remember a suggestion to watch the parade near the area where the princesses are available to meet and as soon as the parade passed we jetted over and there was no wait.

Do go left!  I thought this was a slightly odd piece of advice but it is so true.  Most people instinctively will head to the right upon entering the park.  Study up and head left and you will find a much emptier area at the beginning of the day.

Do download Disney apps.  The Disney Experience app held all of my fast pass info at a glance and actually was critical at one point when my actual band was not showing I had a fast pass.  The gate attendant was able to see the data on my app and see the FP was unused and let me right through. The Disney wait times app was also very helpful especially when noting a ride was closed.

Do take snacks!  Disney allows you to bring food in so take advantage.  There will be some rides and character lines you will have to wait at least some time in which is the perfect time to have snacks ready for your family.  We ate a big breakfast at the hotel but skipped a traditional lunch and instead drank plenty of water and ate snacks. I carry a backpack with a water bottle for each member which can be refilled, nuts, beef jerky, goldfish, etc.

Do purchase My Photo Pass package ahead of time as it is cheaper than if you wait until after your trip. With the Photo Pass anytime you see a park photographer (lots of them!) they will take your picture and with just a scan of your ticket or wrist band the picture will be loaded to your account.  You can still have your pictures taken and sent to your account but buying the package is definitely the way to go.

Disney Trip Dos and Don'ts

Do take a break in the afternoon.  The crowds will become larger as the day goes on so plan an afternoon break.  Leave the park and head back to your hotel for some swimming and naps to be sure everyone is ready to head back and finish off the night at the park.  You don’t want to miss the fireworks!

Do dress comfortably.  There will be lots of walking (I logged over 18K steps both days) and be prepared for layers depending on the time of year.  Watch the forecast and plan accordingly if there is a high rain chance.  Rain will not be a fun killer unless you are not prepared.  I packed ponchos and flip flops in my bag the first day just in case.   So many rides are actually inside so rain will not shut them down.

Do bring your best patient mom attitude!  Kids will get tired, there will be other people there who are not like you and every attraction may not be for every member of your family.  Losing your cool will surely have your kids telling stories about “that one time mom cried at Disneyland” for years to come.

The Disney Tourist Blog has endless information and pretty much all the “insider” tips that will definitely make your trip more magical.

Check out our fun four days in Orlando here and details on what I wore for Spring Break here.

27 Comments

  1. I haven't been to Disney in forever even though I live 30 min away haha! My husband is not a theme park fan.. Which sucks because I love them! Going on busy days is the worst!!

  2. You sound like me! I have been to Disney World four times (twice as a kid, twice as a parent) and Disneyland once. I can promise if you vacation with me, we will not miss a thing. Well, except the things worth missing! I am a researcher and will have our whole tip planned out, it doesn't matter where we're going…it's planned thoroughly. 🙂

  3. Great tips lady, can't wait to take a look at the second half. I am hoping and praying that we can get back to Disney with our girls in the next few years.

  4. You know we never did take the kids there and they raze me about it now"oh mom we are so deprived, you never took us to Disney." So I am saving this post and bookmarking it for future grandkids!!! I am definitely a pack it all in kind of mama on any vacay!! Gotta make the most of it!!

  5. I definitely got lucky a few years back when we went to Disneyland because at that point they didn't enforce the time slots. They are now a lot stricter about hat but you can choose 3 online as soon as you buy your tickets and once you use one you can get to a kiosk at the park that day and get another for another ride for up to 3 more. It's definitely a must…I cannot even imagine standing in line with my herd for an hour every ride.

  6. We are not the typical Disney family….much better suited for a beach or ski vacation….but it is fun to go once and check it out. I'm so excited about doing this with grandkids one day….we are going to be some rocking grandmas aren't we?!!

  7. Another tuck away post for the future trip. Sometimes I think I'd rather be at the beach too than plan a trip like this with little ones. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Awesome two part post packed with so many great tips! Great job!!! Now you have me wanting to go to Disney!

  9. I love this! Lots of practical tips! I didn't realize the day after Christmas is one of the busiest days! We went in 2012 in early December and caught all the Christmas decor. We got there when the park opened and because it was lightly sprinkling, the park was practically empty (well, for Disneyland. There were still plenty ppl braving the rain). We got to go through the lines within 5-10minutes and rode all our favorite rides first, knowing that the crowds would show up as soon as the sun did.

  10. Yes Elle…it was Ca-RAZY town the year we braved Disneyland the day after Christmas + I was totally unprepared. I think a drizzly day wouldn't be all that bad since so many rides are indoors and unaffected. Hope you have a super weekend!

  11. Yes yes yes to all this. My number tip for Disney or any amusement park….be there before park opening. Makes a huge difference. We have always taken Bryson out of school for our Disney trips. I'm dreading the day he has too much school work/activity to take him out and we have to go during the busy times.

  12. Great tips and tricks! February is the least busy month for Disneyland, not sure if that holds true at Disney World, but I know Disneyland February isn't as packed…still busy but not as busy as other months, like summer.

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