Monday, March 21, 2011

The Top 6 Things You Absolutely Need to Know

Before we start talking in-depth about each of the parks, I thought I’d better give you some general advice. These tips apply to all the theme parks and pretty much all areas of the Walt Disney World Resort. Before you even walk through the gate, there are a few things you can do to make your trip more comfortable and easier for everyone.

Tip #1: For Heaven’s sake, DO NOT wear impractical shoes!
The best advice I could ever give you is to bring a pair of comfortable, broken-in sneakers and wear them… everywhere. You are going to be doing an insane amount of walking, and by the end of the day even your most comfortable pair of flip-flops just ain’t gonna cut it. You’ll be sore, aching, and miserable if you don’t wear shoes that give great support to your feet, legs, and back. I know they may not always look the best with your outfit, but trust me, you’ll be thanking me later.

Tip #2: It’s called the “Sunshine State” for a reason.
Florida is known for it’s warm (or more usually hot) sunshine. While there is a fair amount of shade in the parks, sunscreen is never a bad idea. You may not have to lather it on like you’re at the beach, but a little on your face and neck can be a big lifesaver. And don’t forget your sunglasses either!

Tip #3: Know your Disney characters so you can find your car.
The parking lots at Disney are HUGE. I’m talking acres and acres of shiny paint jobs and Mickey ear antenna toppers. So how do you remember which of them is yours? Well, Disney has a clever little way to jog your memory.
The parking lots are divided into several named areas. Each area has its own mascot and each row in that area is numbered. For example, at the Magic Kingdom you might end up parking in Minnie row 38, or at Epcot you might be in Imagination row 20. All the areas are clearly labeled, so you’ll know where you are when you leave your car. The tram drivers will also let you know where you are when you board the tram. Wherever you board the tram is also where you’ll want to get off when you come back to your car. Don’t worry, they’ll be sure and let you know that too.
You might want to designate someone in your party to be your “remember-er” as my mom says. This has been my job ever since I was little. Kids are great at remembering the characters, so maybe put them in charge of finding the car. I guarantee you it’s a job they’ll be proud to take.

Tip #4: Rise and shine for more magic time!
The best time to get to the parks is about 10 to 15 minutes before they open. All the parks have opening ceremony shows, so you’ll be entertained while you wait for the chime of the clock. Getting there early also means you can be first in line for some of the more popular attractions. Choose one of them and head straight for it when the gate opens. You’ll start your morning off with a smile and won’t have to wait in the long lines later in the day.

Tip #5: Don’t just “wing it.”
I’ve told you before that a Disney World vacation is not like any other vacation. Here, you want to at least have some skeleton of a plan for what you’re going to do and when. Having a plan will maximize your use of time at the parks and make it less likely that you’ll miss something you really wanted to see.
For example, I always decide ahead of time which parks I’m going to do on which days. I base this around what firework shows, parades, or special events are going on and what times they are. Most parks have nightly firework shows at closing time (around 9 or 10 p.m.). Magic Kingdom also has nighttime electrical parades before the fireworks. The daytime parades at most parks are at 3 p.m. These are also daily occurrences. If you have a dining plan that includes sit-down meals, you’ll also need to make reservations for those, so that is another timely event you’ll need to remember. Just mapping out a schedule for the big things can make everything seem a lot less hectic. I’ll share more about how I do this in a later post.

Tip #6: A stroller can be your best friend.
This tip comes straight from the woman who knows pretty much everything about being a Disney World parent: my mom. If you have a child younger than 7 or 8, bring or rent a stroller. Like I said in Tip #1, there is a lot of walking, and after a little while the kids will be stretching their arms up saying, “Tote me!” Lord knows my poor dad heard it enough the one time my parents elected not to rent the stroller.
You can bring your own stroller from home, or Disney has them available for rent in each park. They have single strollers for $15 per day and double strollers for $31 per day. A $100 credit card deposit is required upon rental, but when you return the stroller to the location you rented it from, you’ll get that deposit back. And don’t worry about hauling it on and off the attractions. Each attraction has a stroller parking area.

Well, there you have 6 pieces of the most basic and essential advice I can give you. If you don’t listen to another word I say, I hope you’ll at least consider these tips (especially #1!). Trust me, they’ve been learned the hard way!

Have a Zippity-Do-Dah kinda day!
Miranda

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