Tips for Making the Most of a Disney Day

Tips for Making the Most of a Disney Day
(ANY day!)

No matter if you're planning on staying for just a few days or for a week or longer, it's always good to do a little bit if planning in order to make the most of any day at Disney World.

There is so much to see and do that it can easily become overwhelming, and if you wait until you get INTO a particular park, it may be too late for you to do some of the things that your or your family really, REALLY want to do.  A little planning is key to having a successful Disney trip.  Here are a few of my suggestions for making everything work and avoiding waiting in long lines, missing out on great events or rides, and basically keeping everyone - including YOU - from having a meltdown at some point during the day.

Download the MyDisneyExperience app on your phone.

This can be a valuable tool not only in the planning before your trip, but also while you're in the parks or at your resort. 

Photo: floridareview.co.uk

Here's what you can do on the app:

• View the wait times for attractions at each of the parks
• Check on existing dining reservations and cancel, change or even make new reservations
• View and edit the FastPass+ reservations you already have, or make new ones
• Check character meet and greet times and availability, as well as any updated times for these and other events
• Check times for daily parades and fireworks
• Look up the locations of restrooms
• View a map of each of the parks

Know your "must do" attractions, shows and rides.

If you have a general idea of what everyone wants to do -  either separately or as a group - you'll be able to fit more into your day.  Maybe someone wants to play golf, while the others would rather go back to the resort for some pool time. If a couple of people in your party really want to ride Haunted Mansion for the fourteenth time while someone else would rather watch the Electric Light Parade (this is a personal experience), everyone can get what they want.

I don't know what everyone ELSE is doing, but...
Photo: dadsguidetowdw.com

Knowing what parks and attractions are open earlier and/or later, or if they are closed for refurbishment during your trip (which can and does happen on a regular basis) is a bonus, too.  Checking the Walt Disney World website in order to help you plan your days is always a good idea.  The website has park hours listed for six months in advance, so you should have plenty of time to determine what park may be opening earlier or staying open later on a particular date during your trip.  I use this tool in determining what park I want to end my days at more than anything; the Extra Magic Hours in the evening are perfect for my family, who would rather sleep in than get up for the rope drop first thing every morning.  

Use the "child switch" option if you have small kids or guests who can't ride.

Most rides in each of the parks have the "child switch" option. This allows families with children or other party members who cannot ride a ride, or families with younger children who do not WANT to ride a particular ride, to ride or experience the attraction without waiting in line twice.  All you need to do is let a Cast Member know when you enter the line that you'll need to use a "child switch", and they will instruct you on how to make sure everyone who wants to ride gets a chance to do so, without leaving children or other family members unattended.  

Photo: undercovertourist.com

Arrive early.

At every park, on every day of the year, there is a "rope drop" first thing in the morning, as each park officially opens for the day.  It might not be an actual rope, but it is the time when those who are in attendance are let into the park.  I've never attended one of these rope drops, but I'm hoping to do so during my October trip to see what the experience is like.  

Once the rope "drops", people make a mad dash for their favorite ride or attraction in order to avoid a long line.  Some people actually do this so that they can get back ON the same ride after they've experienced it at "rope drop".  I can see where this would be a bonus.

Hmmmm...maybe not...
Photo: mouseplanet.com

Also, getting to the parks earlier means you have more hours to enjoy while you're there.  The Extra Magic Hours I mentioned above could either be an extra hour in the morning, or a couple of extra hours at night, depending on the park, the day, and the time of year.  For instance, Animal Kingdom currently only uses the early morning Extra Magic Hours so that the animals can rest after 5 or 6 p.m.  The latest closing for this park is 6 p.m., so if you have a Park Hopper pass, you can leave Animal Kingdom and head to another park to spend the rest of your evening without paying for a full day ticket somewhere else.

Stay late!

Again with the Extra Magic Hours, Disney resort guests can stay later at a different theme park, water park, or at Downtown Disney every day of the week.  Check the Walt Disney World website for the dates of your trip to determine the operating hours for your favorite park or parks.  

Generally, Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are open two hours later on the same night(s) each week, so you can certainly do some planning in this respect.  

Fewer people, more photo ops...what's not to love?
Photo: blog.touringplans.com

Also, it has happened - and I have been there - when Magic Kingdom has decided to stay open even LATER THAN the posted Extra Magic Hours.  Say they are normally scheduled to close at 11 p.m. during summer hours.  During Extra Magic Hours, they stay open until 1 a.m.  On random nights they stay open until 3 a.m.  Now THAT'S a day in the park!  

During the winter months, the parks generally close at 9 p.m. but may stay open until 10 p.m. or later, or as late as midnight for the "hard ticket" special events such as Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (September-November) or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (November-December).

Use FastPass+ for your "must do" rides and attractions.

If you are staying at a Disney World resort, you will have first access to the FastPass+ option for your family 60 days prior to your trip.  See my article on "Important Disney Planning Dates to Remember" for this and other time-related tips HERE.  

If you know that your family wants to ride Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios or the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, be sure to get a FastPass+ for these rides so your family won't have to spend 90 minutes OR MORE waiting in line at each ride.  Just remember that you can only book three FastPass+ options per day using this 60 day advance booking, and that all three of those options MUST be located in the same park.  

If you have Park Hopper passes, you can always go from park to park as you normally would, but you will have to wait in line somewhere.  Use FastPass+ plus at the park AND on the attractions that are the most popular and to maximize your time.

Photo: mickeyandminneytips.com

FastPass+ times are good for one hour, and the times for each of them are provided to you on the Walt Disney World website as well as the MyDisneyExperience app, so you know the hour window in which to check in for that ride or attraction at the entrance.  If you are a couple of minutes early or late that is usually okay, but if you are too far off of your FastPass+ time you will be asked to come back if you're early or be told that your time has expired if you're late.  

Remember that YOU are ultimately responsible for your FastPass+ options, and it is not the Cast Member's fault - or anyone else's fault, for that matter - if you took too long somewhere else and 'assumed' that your place in line would be held indefinitely, because it won't.

Plan your meals at off-peak times.

This may seem weird, but if you are really looking forward to eating at a popular restaurant or counter service location in one of the parks, consider eating earlier or later than the traditional breakfast, lunch or dinner times to ensure that you won't either have to wait in line forever or miss the experience altogether.  

Photo: wdpromedia.com

In the case of really popular new restaurants such as Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom, making a breakfast reservation instead of a dinner reservation as soon as you can should get you in the door.  Believe me when I say that there are people who are waiting for 12:00 a.m. on the 180th day before their trip so that they can make a dinner reservation for dinner at Be Our Guest in six months.  The restaurant can - and will - be sold out for dinner very quickly.  Lunch is another option that is counter service only at this location and there are currently NO reservations being accepted for this, but you will probably have to wait in line, because it is very popular at any time.  Another option is...

Bring your own food.

This may seem illogical, but it IS an option.  Disney parks DO allow you to bring in your own food, but no glass bottles or alcohol. You can pack sandwiches or just bring snacks if you're a family of light eaters, if someone has a dietary restriction, or even if you just don't want to pay high prices for theme park food.  Even though it can get expensive, there are Disney Dining Plans that can even be free and included in the price of your trip (depending on when you book and the length of your stay).  

Just remember, you will miss out on Mickey-shaped food if you bring your own!
Photo: blogs.disney.com

Also remember that Animal Kingdom does not allow straws because they are a danger to the animals.  Use common sense when you bring in food or snacks to any of the parks, and always respect that  the security guards at the park entrances have the right to search your bags at any time.

Stay in the park to eat your meals!

Believe it or not, some people think they should leave the park in order to get a good deal on a cheaper meal.  The money you MAY or MAY NOT save by dining outside the theme parks might not be realized because you will have to pay for gas for your car or for a taxi.  In addition, when you return to the park, there's no guarantee you'll be able to get back INTO the park, especially if your visit is during the peak months.  Capacity crowds are a distinct possibility, and just because you have a pass or a Park Hopper and were already IN a particular park does not mean you get to go back in again.  Unless you work there, there's no guarantee whatsoever.

Photo: bestoforlando.com

So use the tools you have, and enjoy your trip from beginning to end!