10 Tips for Going to Disney
- Use a Disney planner – Many of them are free and get paid by Disney. We used OutPrincessed who was free and so incredibly crucial for every detail of our trip. Absolutely the best money we ever spent that we did not spend 🙂
- Stay near park – If you have nappers – Allows you to walk to and from the park, be there early in the morning, and head back for naps.
- Do Genie+ – No matter the cost, it’s worth it. Have your Disney planner booking your Genie passes while you are on the rides.
- Leave the car seats at home. If you’re flying and staying at a Disney property, you can get away with no car seats on your trip. After landing at the the airport arrange for a shuttle bus to your Disney property. From there take Disney buses to the park and if you’re going to another park, like Universal, shuttles can be arranged to take you there as well. (If you’re not comfortable riding without car seats on the plane or shuttle, try out these portable ones that fold into your suitcase. )
- Ask for a microwave and mini fridge in your room: Both can be provided for free by Disney Properties. I did a Target same day order to arrive an hour after we got to the hotel with fresh fruits and veggies, lunch meat, bread, protein bars, etc. for when we needed a quick meal before or after the park.
- Bring your own snacks with a PackIt cooler: A lot of people don’t realize that you can bring your own food and drinks into Disney. You just can’t have a rolling cooler. Every day I saved approx $6,000 by packing our own snacks, sandwiches, etc. 😉 I used my Packit cooler with built in ice pack that I chilled each night in our previously stated mini fridge. If your mini fridge doesn’t have a big enough freezer section the front desk will freeze it overnight for you and you pick back up in the morning on the way to the park.
- Less stuff for your kids, the better: This is for on the plane and in the park. Keep it light. Avoid the temptation to let each child have a backpack, water bottle, pillow on the plane, etc. It become shlep-city really fast trying to gather all this stuff or make sure you have it all at the park. You can all share one water bottle for the day 🙂
- Stroller hook – if you’re bringing or renting a stroller (which I would suggest for any kid 7 and under), make sure you bring a stroller clip or 2. It’s extremely helpful to have it to clip bags, things you buy, etc. Also bring a portable charger, you are using your phone so much throughout the day.
- Have both a stroller bag and a riding bag: Any time you pull up to a ride, you park your stroller then get in line on the ride. Some stuff you’re okay with leaving in the stroller and some stuff you aren’t (phone, wallet). So have a small bag like a fanny pack that you keep on you on the rides and then everything else, like water bottles, stays back in the stroller.
- Bring paper towels and changes of clothes, especially for little ones. There were so many times my kids face was covered in ice cream as we were watching a parade and I wished that I had a paper towel or some wipes to clean them off without having to hunt for them (none of my kids were in diapers). Also said ice cream was all over their clothes and we had 5 more hours at the park…I was thankful I had another easy outfit.Â
