Disney – Tips & Tricks

Got kids? Then chances are you’ve either dreamt about going or are planning to go to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  Trust me, it is more massive than you’ve imagined. And while there are maps at every gate, whole websites dedicated to tips on how to plan your vacation and helpful Disney Cast Members at every turn,  once there, there will come a  point where you will find yourself standing in the middle of a street, holding a map upside down and searching left and right while the children increase your stress level by asking “Where is it?”  
On a recent trip, with a 5-year old in tow and some Disney specialists at my side, I uncovered a few tips that would’ve saved me gray hairs had I known about them when I was a Disney newbie. In an effort to save you from the same fate I’m passing along some of my faves.

1.    Fast pass: Say it with me. “Fast.” “Pass.” You stick your park ticket into the machine and out pops a timed ticket that lets you board the ride you came all this way to get on, without spending 90 minutes standing in line! When you come back at your pre-arranged time, you simply head down the fast pass lane (smile at  the jealous onlookers who didn’t know better) and lickety split you’re on the ride. And it gets better: Family of four but only two of you want to ride? Get four fast passes (one per ticket) and the riding duo can go twice without having to wait in the super long line! Brilliant.

2.    Rider Swap Pass: Equally brilliant. You and your partner are dying to do the Rock n’ Roller Coaster but Jr. is too small to ride and he won’t watch himself. Parent #1  asks the ride attendant for a Swap Pass, rides the coaster, and then hands the pass over to Parent #2 who skips the line to get their own ride without the wait!

3.    Photo Pass: You could carry your bulky SLR with you and feel it beating off your chest as you run to catch a Mickey Viewing on Main Street, while pushing the stroller and holding your youngest’s sippy cup….OR you could tap one of the friendly Disney Parks photographers on the shoulder, have them snap the perfect picture (with you in it!). Hand that card to operators at some of the rides to collect embarrassing photos like this one.

Once you’re home, punch the secret code on your Photo Pass into the Disney website on the back and presto -all the photos with none of the hassle. You’ve got up to 30 days after you leave the park to look, place an online order, add cute borders or simply show them off to all your friends with a no-charge email link. Magic!

4.    Park Pass: It’s the one decision you should make BEFORE you get to WDW. Which parks are you going to hit and how many days are you going to spend. Make sure you understand your options: There will be nothing like the kicked in the gut feeling you’ll experience when you realize your park pass doesn’t let you in to the water parks or the newly redone ESPN Wide World of Sports if that’s what you’ve been dreaming about.  The combinations are plentiful. (TIP: I’d budget at least a day per park. You’ll kill yourself trying to get in between them and Disney bus service, though fantastic for resort to park travel can kill a good part of the day if you’re trying to park hop. )

5.    BYOG (Bring your own gum) Brought a mega pack of the chewable stuff with me to the park and proceeded to hand it out like it was penny candy to the group I was with. Generosity turned to panic when store after store lacked packs of replacements. I finally asked a store clerk and she told me there was no gum sold in any of the Walt Disney Parks. “Why?” I asked.  She met my gaze and responded, “Mickey doesn’t like gum.”  Consider yourself warned.
 
It’s your turn. Been to Disney with your brood? Figured out a sanity saving trick? I’d love to hear about it.