Tag: Tips

5 Underrated Disney Attractions That Desperately Need An Update 

Tom Sawyer Island is my “soap box” for so many different reasons. It is a place in the parks that is so vastly under-appreciated it blows my mind. Right now, it is the perfect escape from the crowds and a near ideal place to feel like you’re in the Magic Kingdom that existed years ago before the crowds grew to the levels that they are at today. 

The hidden spots to explore and the story the island holds is more impressive than guests expect at a first glance. To me, the ideal way to bring more life back to the island is to bring back Aunt Polly’s with a real menu of food. 

I’ve been asking for this dining location to reopen for years on end. Will it happen? Probably not… due to all kinds of logistical nightmares. In my onion, if you could open the restaurant with real counter service food rather than the grab and go style food that popped up in 2015,  it could be a huge hit with guests and drive a ton of foot traffic to Tom Sawyer Island. 

In an ideal world, I could picture a quaint waterfront table service dining location tucked away on the second island (which currently holds Fort Langhorn). The Fort is the ultimate hidden gem of Magic Kingdom but the last four of five times I’ve been on Tom Sawyer Island, it hasn’t even been open. If Disney could find a way to make it feasible and transform that area into a quaint table service dining location, the reservation wait list would never end! The views would be incredible for waterfront dining on all four sides and if built carefully you could fill the island and create a spectacular nighttime experience. Is this wishful thinking? Absolutely!    
             

3. The Monorail 

Once again, I don’t think I’m alone in thinking a Monorail update is way overdue. The update should be coming sooner rather than later, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that automated Monorails could be a part of the update if they can work out the kinks. 

As many of you are likely aware, the Monorails are quite literally falling apart and have done so with guests aboard quite a few times in the last year alone. 

Lastly, you may have noticed I call the Monorails an attraction. In the most basic sense they aren’t, but to so many guests they have become a must do part of every Disney vacation. You see the smiles on guests faces every time you ride the highway in the sky, and in the most basic sense, it’s the true representation of everything an attraction should be. 

If an update does arrive, I personally hope for two things: 1. Keep them relatively classic – 2. make them slightly futuristic. Those two points represent an oxymoron at it’s finest, but the classic Monorail design has always looked like the future that never quite arrived. At first, Monorails were though of as transportation of the future. Today, an updated design could meet and exceed even the most lofty expectations. If Imagineering could implement an LED lighting design, similar to a “Tron-esque” light cycle glow, the new Monorail could be mind blowing while retaining that classic look and feel. New Monorails may never arrive, but their development could make all the difference!   
           

4. Sea Base Alpha 

Sea Base Alpha, better known as the Living Seas Pavilion today (or even as The Seas with Nemo and Friends) is in need of a subtle refurbishment. The blue-ish green walls, the drab carpet, and typically broken escalators aren’t the best way to promote an ideal guest experience in my opinion. A drastic update isn’t necessary but adding in a few new touches, new experiences, or even a slight face lift could make all the difference. 

The tanks and aquatic life are truly incredible and guests who learn about all the pavilion has to offer tend to return time and time again. You could literally spend hours in the aquarium portion of the pavilion on a warm summer day. If you’ve never been, be sure to take a few minutes to make the journey up the stairs to view the massive circular tank (which in the mid 80’s was the largest saltwater tank in the world!). You wont be disappointed!     

   

5. Philharmagic 

I will be the first to admit, when Philharmagic first opened, it was mind blowing. The effects were spot on, the glasses were brand new, and the 3D technology built into the show was well before its time. Fast forward to 2018 and unfortunately it’s not near as impressive as it once was. The scents, water effects, and lighting effects aren’t always working well and overall it simply needs some help. 

I understand that sounds like a nit picky complaint but I don’t intend for it to be that way. Even with 3D becoming far more mainstream than it once was, Philharmagic is still consistently a “must-do” attraction for us. It’s a show I think every guest should see at least one time and with a typical wait time of less than 15 minutes, it’s well worth your time! 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way. 

Collin’s Disney Parks Wish List for the Next Two Years! 

The Disney Parks are in a period of construction unlike anything we’ve really ever experienced before. For the guest, that means two things. First, expect construction and “not so pretty” scenery at times. Second, new and amazing things are coming and coming sooner than you may realize! In about a year we’ll have Star Wars Land and Epcot will be in the heart of it’s largest update in history! It’s a great time to be a Disney fan.

At the same time, it’s going to be a time of changes and expansions that may or may not all be positive for those of us “stuck in the past” and those that are the nostalgic Disney fans. Almost ironically, I’m falling in between both opinions at this point in time and truthfully look forward to the changes but also remain a bit skeptical of what could be next and what could change along the way. Over the last few years my trust in Imagineering and it’s design concepts has changed rather aggressively. At one point I was a skeptic of Pandora and that changed drastically after the project debuted. The main lesson learned in all of this was to trust Imagineering even despite whatever IP may be tied to the project that is announced or has been announced. Imagineering will exceed expectations. They’ve been shocking us for years and hopefully these changes will be no different. 

On the other end of the spectrum there’s always been and likely always will be things that I would love to see arrive in the parks or changes that I would make if given the opportunity (which will never happen lol). That’s what today is all about. I want to share some thoughts on what I’d like to see in the next two years at Walt Disney World both in a literal sense and in a “wishful thinking” perspective. Some of these are going to be personal goals, but for the most part these are what I’d like to see unfold in the foreseeable future.      

       

1. Let There Be More to The Tron Expansion 

2. Find A Way to Disneyland 

3. Announce A New Pavilion For Epcot

Do I anticipate a pavilion announcement? If you asked me 4 months ago I would have responded with an astounding yes. Today (August of 2018), I have to say a pavilion would fall in the maybe category. We’re getting a new Ratatouille attraction, a new space themed restaurant, and a Guardians themed coaster. I don’t think Disney will be taking on any more projects or announcing anymore changes until at least the end of the year. Could it be sooner? Absolutely. I would love to be wrong about this one! Either way, I don’t think it would be (or will be) completed within the next two years.           
  

4. Figure Out What is Happening With Figment 

It doesn’t look like Figment is going anywhere with his newfound presence as the “mascot” for the Epcot festivals, and truthfully I think we’ll see a day when “festival times” are all the time at Epcot!                   

5. The Replacement for Illuminations

I have strongly mixed feeling about even adding this to the list. It is inevitable that Illuminations or at least the current version of Illuminations is on it’s way out. When the final show will be, we really have no definitive idea at this point. We’ve made it through the summer without an announcement but it could arrive any day now. Documents were filed last month for some modification that likely relates to the show, and rumors exploded back in March about what was going to happen. So far, nothing has become of either piece of information/rumor but the announcement will happen at some point before the end of the year if I had to guess right at this moment.

What’s next? Again, if I had to guess, I have four expectations for this show. 1. Drones will likely be a part of the show. Intel has released videos with scaled performances that could astound guests over the World Showcase Lagoon. After the small scale test at Disney Springs around Christmas (a while ago) was so well received, I see it as an inevitable addition. 

2. Water elements should be a part of the experience. Disney has done spectacularly well with World of Color in California. Personally, a World of Color scale performance was what I excepted of Rivers of Life, but this is actually a more fitting option. 3. Obviously we’ll see fireworks. The fireworks, in my opinion, will be something next level. Pyrotechnic technologies have come a long way in the last few years and I would love to see them implemented here. Additionally, I expect and hope for a show with multiple launch sites to surround the showcase in a new way. 4. Projection mapping should arrive! Epcot is the only park we’ve yet to see a real use of projection mapping in and to me it would be the ideal location. Light up the countries with projections and every single country presents a slightly different fireworks experience. It would be spectacular and rather than one main event there would be 11 different perspectives! Again, likely wishful thinking. Disney has to do something big with the show. It’s been a staple and a part of guests lives for nearly 20 years and it will be tough to replace it in so many different ways.               

6. Experience the Skyliner

7. Update Carousel of Progress

8. Fix the Peoplemover

I’m not entirely sure if this is just my bad luck or if it’s a growing trend, but inevitably the PeopleMover has broken down, stopped, or had issues nearly every time I’ve ridden it in the last year. On top of that, the line is getting more and more bogged down, likely due to the functionality issues. This attraction really needs some TLC. Don’t change anything, but get it back to a more reliable form like it once was. 

This list only scratches the surface of what I’d like to see next and truthfully I may have to do a “part 2” of this article to cover a few more details and things I’d like to see unfold in the parks in the coming years. 

If you were calling the shots, what would be the one thing you’d try to develop in the next 2 years? Inevitably Star Wars is on our list but at this point we know a good deal about what is going to be debuted with that project. I’m really looking forward to the Cantina, but more than anything I’m looking forward to the things that have yet to be announced. Here’s to the next two years and all that those two years could debut! 

Your Thoughts

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way. 

If you’ve followed along with our posts or simply stumbled upon our site, you’ve likely noticed that we’re “crazy Disney people.” Of course that’s never a bad title in our book, but as a slight change to a our typical vacation to the parks, we recently took a day to explore all that Discovery Cove has to offer. 

Personally, we had never even taken a second look at the park which is owned by the Bush Gardens and Sea World organization. However, we thought it looked like a really neat experience and decided to give it a shot and see how it turned out. 

So, in a shocking move, even for us, we took a one day break from our time at Walt Disney World and made the short drive up I4 to this surprisingly unique park. Before arrival, we made a special effort to really learn the details of the experience and even enlisted the help of a travel agent to help everything go smoothly. 

Despite all the research, we really didn’t know what to expect once we got there, and in all honesty it was an outstanding experience. Throughout the day we kept looking at each other and asking the same question, “Why has Disney not purchased this park?” Of course, the crowds would probably grow astronomically if they did, but the experience was truly Disney quality (which is saying a lot from us).

For those of you who may not be aware, Discovery Cove is a “park” where guests can interact with various animals in a very unique setting. On each given day, Discovery Cove welcomes a set number of guests into the park (typically around 1,000) to explore 4 different “pool-based” environments. 

First and foremost, you have Wind Away River. The river is essentially a really unique lazy river type environment. As with 99% of your time at Discovery Cove, everything you need for the experience is provided with your cost of entry. In this particular area, pool noodle type floats are provided as well as life jackets for both adults and children who would like to use them. Upon entry into the park itself, every guest is fitted for a wet suit or vest suit which is required to be worn anytime you are in the water for your safety. After spending the day there, this safety practice is easily understandable. In just this section of the park, the depth of the river reaches over 8ft at multiple points and the identifying black and yellow suits really help guests stand out for the safety crew. Beyond the surface guests can enjoy impressive water falls, real-life birds, and a variety of little areas to explore. To my surprise, we spent a great deal of time just exploring the river and relaxing our way around the long path of the warm water. 

In addition, two more fresh water areas called Serenity Bay and Freshwater Oasis allow guests to relax and take in the environment complete with otters behind glass that flows down into the water creating the feeling of actually swimming with the animals. Just around the corner from the otters is an island built specifically for guests to enjoy Marmosets without ever having to leave the water! If animals aren’t your thing, casually walk or swim through the clear freshwater area with quite impressive “natural” surroundings! 

Last, but certainly not least, they have what is called the Grand Reef! In our experience, this really was a highlight of the day and the main reason we will likely go back in the not so distant future! The Reef is an artificial coral reef built into a very large pool where guests can freely roam and snorkel with fish and rays. This part of the day really blew away all of my expectations. From the surface, it simply looks like a few rays shuffling about, but once you breach the surface of the water, you are truly surrounded by many different varieties of aquatic life. It really puts into the “ocean” in a way that is completely safe of dangerous sea life. Even beyond the physical experience, the Discovery Cove staff really goes above and beyond to explain the animals and many of their mannerisms. 


Of course, Discovery Cove offers their namesake Dolphin Swim in Dolphin Lagoon. Unfortunately, we did not pay the extra fee to do the Dolphin swim considering the price jumps from $200-$250 dollars depending on the season to around $350+. In all honesty I don’t feel like it is a “requirement” for the Discovery Cove experience, but rather something that would be great for a special occasion. 

As an added bonus, all food, drinks, and snacks are provided by the park throughout your day. To my surprise this was truly unlimited food as well. At breakfast and lunch, if you didn’t like something or simply wanted more of a particular item all you had to do was jump back in line and they would give you whatever you wanted. Your breakfast included bacon, eggs, sausage, french toast sticks, a biscuit (gravy if you wanted it), fruit, and a few other offerings that I’ve likely overlooked. For lunch, the same setup was utilized, but this time you had a variety of meal choices ranging from chicken, burgers, and french fries to some more not so typical offerings such as a chicken and rice. The meal was also unlimited and it was great to try a few different offerings as well as a few desserts! All of the food was really good, especially the bacon cheeseburger (of course, if there’s a cheeseburger offered, I always have to try it!). 

Throughout your day and between meals, a few select snack areas are scattered throughout the property and are also free of charge. My personal favorite offerings were the unlimited icees in various flavors (try the white cherry, it’s delicious!) and the unlimited soft pretzels! Many other choices are also available including various beers, chips, cookies, and even ice cream. All in all, the food was a great part of the experience! 

Overall, while the price is quite high for a days worth of entertainment, I would highly recommend you give it a shot if you haven’t done so already. It really is hard to compare anything to the Disney parks and resorts, but this experience really did come quite close. The feeling of the day was very similar to staying in a very high end resort, but one with very creative pool areas. Everything across the park was really first class and as an added bonus, admission includes “free” time at both Sea World and Aquatica during the 14 days surrounding your Discovery Cove day with unlimited admission to those parks. If you do take advantage of that deal it makes the price much more reasonable than if you simply go to Discovery Cove on it’s own. 

With all things considered, we had an excellent experience and would really like to return at some point in the future. Just recently, the park announced some new offerings including a shark swim and a ray feeding that look great as well (each of these require an additional fee).

Well, there you have it. I know this probably sounds like they paid us to say these things and talk up the park, but in all honesty we payed our way for the day with a group of four adults total, and loved every minute of it! If you have any questions about our day there, feel free to let me know! 


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Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.  

How To Become A Galactic Hero at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin! 

1. Aim For The Robot Arm

At first this sounds like a ridiculous tip but as soon as you round that first corner and slowly make your way up the hill in the first room, spin your vehicle around the the left. If you do the opposite of most guests, who turn to the right hand side almost immediately, you’ll set yourself up for a good angle to hit one of the most rewarding targets on the inside of the giant orange robots left arm. Each hit in the center of the “Z” will rack up an astonishing 100,000 points! using this target alone it is possible to leave the first room with a maxed out score! 

2. Shoot the Volcano

As you enter the largest room of the experience, you’ll see a large volcano shaped object in the back of the room on the far wall (it’s spewing green goo). Avoid the other targets and set your sites on the volcano “Z’s.” They are some of the highest point value targets you can hit in the room and they are also some of the only targets you can hit from nearly any portion of the room. Point your laser right at the “Z” and plant it there until you round the corner into the next room. If you’re steady and can repeatedly hit the center of the target you’ll be surprised how many points you can rack up before exiting this particular stage of the attraction! To throw in one extra tip, press and hold the button on your blaster for continuous fire without having to let up! 

3. The Most Overlooked Scoring Spot

In my opinion this is the most overlooked scoring opportunity of the entire attraction. Everyone rides into the room with all the pop up targets and automatically aims for the moving targets. However, if you spin your vehicle around, you’ll see a large Zurg and just below it there will be a single “Z.” The target is fairly difficult to hit due to the design of the laser holders but if you can hit it early on in the room or late as you exit the room each center hit is 100,000 and is your best point value opportunity for the latter part of the attraction. You do have to move fairly quick to get this one in time without the angle starting to work against you as your vehicle moves. Act fast and you can really gain some points here!  

One last tip is that as you leave this portion of the ride through, spin your vehicle around and shoot targets in the room you just left as you enter the giant projection based scene. At this point you should already be maxed out at 999,999 do to the tip above, but if you still need a few more points to cap off your score, there’s one final room. I’ve never found a super high value target in the last room, but if you aim below Zurg one final time you should secure those last few points you may need! 

4. Don’t Forget Your Sticker!  

At the end of the attraction, if you max out your score, be sure to make a quick stop at the counter before heading back out to the park. If you ask nicely, typically the kind cast members behind the counter will give you a sticker and you’ll be known as a Galactic Hero for the day! You’ll get questions and congrats from cast members all day and it really makes for a special way to cap off your first or 100th finish with a maxed out score of 999,999.

Now you know the secrets (or at least a few of them) so next time you’re in the parks, see what you can do and try to rack up that “perfect” score and leave a hero!  

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Disney World’s Toy Story Land – Did It Meet Our Expectations? 

As many of you may have picked up on at this point, we aren’t local (at least not at this point) Disney parks fans. However, we do have the rare blessing of being able to tour the parks multiple times throughout the year. At times that includes a few “last minute” trips that are a touch more unconventional than you may expect in order to cut costs and make the most of the time we have in the parks. In early June we decided to go to Disney and while we knew Toy Story Land was opening a short time later, it didn’t entirely work out for us to be in Orlando for the opening of the highly anticipated land. Fast forward to about a month later and we decided to take a super last minute trip at the urging of friends (that are locals) to come down and check out the new expansion. It didn’t take much convincing and we made a last minute (booked 2 or 3 weeks before we flew out) trip to the parks to explore the land and a few things we had missed on our early summer vacation. 

Inevitably that poses one big question and that question is “Did it live up to the hype?” Truthfully, I went into the Toy Story Land expansion with vastly high expectations. I am unashamedly a part of the “Toy Story Generation” and a part of that age range that really has never known a world without Toy Story in It. Toy Story is and was a film I’ve watched my entire life and being able to step into even a small portion of that “world” as a toy on this grand stage at Walt Disney World is something I had always wanted to see in the parks in some way, shape, or form. When Disney announced this expansion at D23 I instantly wanted to see the project completed and completed in a way that brought all those dreams to life in some way or another. 

Skip seen to today, having been there and seen the project completed in real life, I have to say it met and likely exceeded my expectations. I know this project has received a lot of bad press from so many different sites, but to me it’s exactly what it was meant to be. Sure, it’s not perfect, but at it’s core it does everything it was designed to do. It’s a place for families and it’s a place that really puts a smile on your face. It’s simply put “fun” in a way in nearly every regard. You can sit back and relax and be a kid again for a few minutes and enjoy the simplicity of the moment. If you’re of that “Toy Story Generation” or have kids that you’ve watched grow up enjoying these films, you will undoubtedly see a piece of your childhood or their childhood in this land. 

As a family of four, we typically travel as a family even though we’re all in different places at times and go to the parks with different goals in mind of what we want to get out of the vacation experience. My sister and I are of that generation of Toy Story fans but the land checked a box for our entire family and everyone we’ve talked to who’s toured the land. That’s the key to it all. It’s not a place that only thrill seekers want to go see, or is only for kids, or that only adults can enjoy. It’s a place where everyone can enjoy at least one part of the experience and often times for entirely different reasons. Wasn’t that the point of the Disney theme parks from the very beginning? Walt wanted this place that families of all ages could enjoy and do things together in and in it’s simplest of descriptions, that is what Toy Story Land created. 

I know that overview seems like a glowing press statement or something you’d see on a commercial somewhere but Disney hasn’t asked me to do any of this. We weren’t invited as “press” or “media” in this instance and I still whole heartedly stand behind the claim that this is and will be a place that checks so many boxes in favor of the guest and that excllent story telling experience the land develops. 

Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is one of my new favorite attractions. It makes you laugh in a way that very few attractions do and it’s the perfect blend of thrill and simplicity so that nearly any guest can ride it. It’s also a surprisingly lengthy ride compared to what you expect when looking at it. The entire attraction winds its way through nearly the entire land, and much of the attraction you can’t even see without being in a ride vehicle.

Slinky Dog Dash isn’t going to be a mind blowing attraction for you like Flight of Passage likely was or will be when you get to ride it, but it is a ton of fun and is worth the wait if you aren’t quite as lucky as we were in riding it during short wait times.

Alien Swirling Saucers 

Going into this attraction, it was honestly one that I expected to hate. I’m not a fan of spinning and I’m not a fan of scrambler-esque style attractions. The Tea Cups are certainly a “no-go” for me and I didnt think this would be much better of an alternative. I am thrilled to admit that I was wrong. This attraction did not bother me in the slightest and unless you’re incredibly sensitive to spinning, you should be fine!

The motion of this experience isn’t as much of a spin as it is a slide around a corner. Again, just as I mentioned about Slinky Dog Dash, it just brings a smile to your face and makes you laugh. The music is a blend of techno mixed with some of the most iconic songs from the Toy Story films. It sounds strange when first described in writing, but when you’re there it fits the attraction and adds another layer to the sensory puzzle. Combine all of those things with announcements by the Green Aliens before and after each ride, the colorful lighting, and sounds of it all happening at once and it’s an attraction that is a ton of fun.

If I had to share one tip for this attraction it would be to save it until after you’ve ridden Slinky Dog Dash in the morning. The line doesn’t build very quickly and you will still be facing a short wait even after riding the headline attraction.  

Woody’s Lunch Box

We didn’t quite get to try as much of the menu here as we originally intended to but we did grab a snack at Woody’s Lunch Box mid-morning and it exceeded expectations. The line was short, the staff was pleasant, and what we ordered was immediately ready.

One of the main concerns I’ve heard about this dining location is that the seating is all outdoors. We didn’t have any problems with that due to very large fans place around the edge of the seating area. I’m not entirely sure if that’s a new addition but it’s a great touch either way. We didn’t really have any issues with the heat and this was in late July on a 95+ degree day. What I will mention here though is that if you do have to wait in the standby line for Slinky Dog Dash, don’t do it in the middle of the afternoon. The queue is not all covered and there is very little breeze. It could be a very warm wait in the peak afternoon heat.

In regard to the menu items we tried, I have to say we only got to taste the Raspberry Lunch Box Tart. It was the main thing we had anticipated trying since the menu was originally announced and it actually did meet our expectations. As many have said before, it’s very similar to a pop tart you’d find at local grocery store, but instead of being rock hard this one is somewhat dense much like a pastry. It’s almost got like a pie crust texture to it and the icing is soft but just crispy enough to add a little texture. The filling isn’t excessive and is quite a bit better than I expected it to be. If you’re in the land, I highly recommend giving these a try.

Toy Story Mania

Toy Story Mania is still that classic attract we all have grown to love and enjoy over the last few years, and the new queue and entrance adds back in a piece of the original character of the attraction that has been missing during the construction and enhancements. Mr. Potato head is back and better than ever, and the queue itself seems to fit it’s new surroundings far better than it did in the past. Call me a little nostalgic, but I’ll miss Pixar Place and the giant marquee Pixar sign that was oh so reminiscent of the studio out in California. On the bright side of all of the changes, Toy Story Mania’s wait times have dropped exponentially early in the day and late at night. We rode it three times in one day and never waited over 15 minutes!

Is it Worth a Trip Down Before Galaxies Edge Debuts?   

I know this is a question so many are looking to get an answer to before they book their vacation. My simplest of answers to that question is “yes.” Why? Well here’s the thing. Toy Story Land started out with incredibly long wait times but those wait times shrank considerably in the weeks following the debut. Shorter wait times are always a bonus. If you wait until Galaxy’s Edge opens you can almost guarantee wait times will take a jump again. Obviously huge crowds are going to arrive for it’s debut and much like Pandora, Galaxy’s Edge is going to be something everyone will want to see. As the crowds roll in for that, you’re going to have a secondary group of guests that will see the wait times in Galaxy’s Edge and walk the short distance over to Toy Story Land and ride that instead. Unfortunately, more attractions rarely means the crowds get “spread out.” New attractions may pull crowds to different parks more so than others, but within the same park, when one thing opens typically you’ll see wait times jump up in length across the entire lineup of attractions.

With all of that being said, I recommend seeing it now if it is feasible for your situation and then returning to see Galaxy’s Edge when it debuts if at all possible. When that land opens it will change Hollywood Studios and potentially make it a multi-day park. It will be near impossible to see and do everything in one day. Much like Animal Kingdom, this will go from a half day park to easily a one to two day part of your vacation if you want to see and do most of the shows and attractions.

Part of our goal for this trip was Toy Story Land. Another goal was to revisit Pandora and take some time to enjoy the details of that experience. That just goes to show that these new lands aren’t something you can go to once and say “been there done that.”

Imagineering has packed details into this land and in my opinion it lives up to every expectation I had for the project. Sure, it’s not Pandora in scale but it’s not supposed to be! That’s what I think so much of the media giving this land poor reviews and hateful comments fails to realize. It’s a place to go and just have fun. It’s not designed to be this massive land that takes you to a different world like Pandora but rather a land that is literally designed to be family friendly and fun. A friend of mine said it best, it’s almost as if Imagineering brought their kids to work, handed them some toys, and stepped back to see what would happen. The land we have as a result looks just like that situation unfolded in real life. It is, in it’s most simplest of forms, that larger than life creation you were imagining as a kid when you were sitting around playing with your toys and building an elaborate story in your head. That’s what this land is all about and one of the main reasons I see it as a huge success overall!

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Using Uber And Lyft At Walt Disney World – A Few Thoughts

My Original Hangup With Uber and Lyft 

The Good News   

How It Works  

Why Use Uber When Disney Transportation Is Available?  

What Does Uber/Lyft Cost? 

How To Make It Incredibly Cost Effective

A Few Warnings Ahead of Time 

How We Rode All 3 Toy Story Land Attractions in Under 45 Minutes!  

We are sadly home from Walt Disney World so we’ll be ramping our content back up and getting back to our consistent posts. However, we’re starting out with an answer to a highly sought after question by many guests. How do you avoid the lines of Toy Story Land? Truthfully, it wasn’t all that hard to do and is even easier to explain. Throughout our three day stay we spent no longer than 35 minutes waiting for Slinky Dog Dash and in this particular instance we basically walked on the attraction twice in one morning. 

Before we get started, I just want to say that for this to work you do need to be staying at a good neighbor resort or Disney Resort. It’s no secret, but extra magic hours play a huge role in allowing your wait times for this land to remain quite short. Second, and perhaps more importantly is the fact that we toured Toy Story Land on a Saturday morning, but we’ll get to more details on that shortly. 

How To Ride All 3 Attractions Quickly

The key to this whole plan, as mentioned above is extra magic hours. For resort guests, throughout nearly the entire summer, Toy Story Land has featured early entry from 7:00-8:00am basically every single day. Extra Magic Hours are great but what’s better to know is that on many days Hollywood Studios is opening the land early. For example, we were not stopped in any way when we entered the park at 6:45am and were riding Slinky Dog Dash by 6:55. We legitimately waited at most 5 minutes in the queue. After the attraction ended, we resisted the temptation to get right back on (since the wait was shorter than the posted 20 minutes) and made our way over to Alien Swirling Saucers instead.

The second attraction, much like the first, had a very short wait time of about 15 minutes. We were thrilled and rode the saucers and then made our way to Toy Story Mania for a classic ride that we had enjoyed many times before the queue was redesigned. We’ll share some thoughts on the Toy Story Land expansion as a whole in the coming days, but for now we’re just going to share some of our tops tips to beat the wait times. 

As we were boarding Toy Story Mania I happened to look down at my watch and we had been in Toy Story Land for 45 minutes. Obviously, it seemed like a great article at that point and one that I could share the details of rather quickly in hopes that it may help someone out along the way. 

However, the best part about all of this is that we did all three of these attractions without a fastpass+ selection for anything we chose to ride. We had no special pass, this wasn’t a media day, and of all days of the week, we managed this on a Saturday morning. Quite possibly that could be a hidden trick to all of this. Other days during our stay the wait times (according to the app) remained rather short as well up until around 8:30 and the rush of non-resort guests started piling in. With that being said, very few people want to get up and get to the parks by 6:50am on a Saturday and it does tend to play in your favor if you are willing to get their early in the day. 

After our quick ride on Toy Story Mania, we actually had the opportunity to jump back on Slinky Dog Dash one more time at a slightly longer wait time of about 25 minutes. It was and is worth every minute of that wait. We then proceeded to ride Toy Story Mania a second time with a 15 minute wait! The entire morning was a blast and something that I highly recommend doing if you’re considering a day at Hollywood Studios. It’s the perfect way to avoid lines and if mornings aren’t for you, consider heading to Toy Story Land at night. We spent two late evenings in the land and at around 10:00pm, as the Star Wars fireworks begin, the crowds tend to drop off fairly dramatically for attractions. You may not be able to get all three attractions in before park closing time, but you should be able to snag a shorter 40 minute or so wait time for Slinky Dog Dash. Again, it is more than worth every minute in line. 

What’s the Point of All This?  

There are so many guests obsessing over getting that perfect Slinky Dog Dash fastpass selection (including myself at one point). Truthfully, you may not even need it, and you may be better off saving that fastpass for Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster or another favorite attraction or show in Hollywood Studios. We did secure a fastpass for later that afternoon but we ultimately would have missed it if it weren’t for some technical difficulties that downed the ride and allowed us to use it anytime that night instead. At that point we had ridden it twice and loved every minute of it, but getting there early in the day and even before official park opening made all the difference in our day and making the most of that day of our vacation. We left Hollywood Studios right after lunch and managed to hop over to Epcot and ride a few attractions we expected to have to skip on this rather short vacation. That early morning essentially saved us an entire afternoon. 

Would it be difficult to try this super early morning with kids, possibly? Would it be worth it? Without a doubt! At the very worst you can head back to your resort and wrest for a bit early in the afternoon. 

Inevitably there are other ways to tour Toy Story Land, but I would say this is one of the best and most time effective ways to do so. If you can get there a little before the crowds and get that extra 10-15 minutes of extra time in the Land before the park “officially” opens to early entry guests, it’s certainly worth getting up as early as possible. Truth be told, I’m not entirely sure how early they opened the park that particular day of our visit, but I have heard that those extra few minutes are becoming more and more normal for Hollywood Studios this summer. 

I can’t guarantee this strategy will work for you but if you want to learn more about our tips for Toy Story Land, be sure to follow the site over the next few days as we try to share any and all tips we ran into during our recent visits.   
                   

How to Secure Last Minute Fastpasses – Even For Toy Story Land!

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1. Look for Passes At Strange Times 

2. Repetition is Key 

3. Don’t Be Too Picky About Times

4. Check The Day Before Your Park Day 

5. Check While You’re in the Park 

6. Have Someone Look For You! 

Our Top 5 Strange Sounds of the Disney Parks – An Odd List 

Without a doubt, the things you hear are equally as important as what you see in the parks and resorts at Disney. They’re so unique at times that it’s rather difficult to picture places of the park without iconic sounds we’ve learned to love and expect each and every trip. From the outside looking in it’s a rather strange concept, but to those who have visited the parks, you likely have a favorite “sound” of Disney and every time you hear it anywhere else you’re instantly taken back to that place in the park or that moment you enjoyed at one point. With that being said, here are a few of the more strange, but distinctly recognizable, sounds that you can find on Disney property.    

1. Monorail Doors 

2. The Old Soarin’ Seatbelt Noise

3. The Steam Engine Whistle

As a slightly more recognizable noise, the train whistle of the Magic Kingdom is one that has  a way of taking you back to a walk down Main Street, or a trip through Frontierland, or even a stroll through Storybook Circus. The train whistle is iconic for so many reasons. The history of the trains and Walt’s personal role in involving them in the parks coupled with the ever present whistle and clacking of the wheels as the train takes guests around the park has created a distinctly recognizable noise in the Magic Kingdom. No matter who you are or where you’re from, after a day in the Magic Kingdom a steam engine and that whistle will never just be the sound of a whistle. Instead, it’ll take you back to times with family and friends time anytime again.  

4. Thunder Mountain Railroad’s Exit Station Sounds 

5.  PeopleMover “Clicks” 

As perhaps one of my favorite noises in all the parks, the slight thumping of the PeopleMover traveling around it’s classic route high above Tomorrowland is distinctly recognizable and simply brings a smile to my face. It’s a noise you can hear in a video or even a live stream and for a brief moment feel like you’re right there in the park. Couple that clacking of the ride vehicle sliding along the track with the linear induction thump and you have a wonderful attraction with a short wait time that so many guests enjoy day after day.

Did Your Favorite Make Our List? 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

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1. If you’re going to venture into Pandora at Animal Kingdom, you’ll want a fastpass+ for Flight of Passage, similar to how you still need a fastpass+ selection for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train long after it’s debut. The attraction regularly reaches wait times well beyond 2 hours, so be prepared to wait, and reserve a fastpass well in advance (at the 60 day out reservation window if at all possible). Also, be sure to check out the new counter service location, Satu’li Canteen for an adventurous meal but one that guests tend to really enjoy. Many have called it the best counter service location on property. Concerned about riding Flight of Passage? Be sure to check out our An Honest Analysis: Flight of Passage From A Motion Sickness Perspective post. 
2. Buy your tickets in advance. No matter if you are buying a package from Disney of buying everything independently (see tip 24 for more on that), buy your tickets early. If you wait until you arrive at the park or very late in your booking process you’ll loose out on the opportunity to book fastpass+ selections far in advance. Want some more fastpass tips? Check out our 5 Simple Fastpass+ Tips That Could Better Your Vacation Experience 
3. Don’t worry about planning every little detail. So many guests over plan their Disney trip by creating a down to the minute list of what attractions they want to ride and at what time. To be quite honest, this strategy can lead to a ton of stress and you’ll likely miss out on the joys of “the little things” of Walt Disney World. Of course, plan the big things, and even what days you’ll visit what park, etc. but avoid the play by play itinerary and take some time to just take it all in. Here’s a closer look at what we recommend planning and some extra tips on that topic in depth. Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018
4. Avoid the mid week meltdown. Without a doubt, at some point in your vacation you’ll get overwhelmed and reach that point where everything seems to be going wrong (especially if you travel with children). Avoid that meltdown moment by taking a mid afternoon break from the parks. Head back to the resort and cool off in the room, head to the pool for a few hours, grab a table service meal at your resort, and simply relax for a few brief moments. You’ll be genuinely shocked at the difference it can make! 
   

5. Prepare for the heat no matter what season you’re visiting the parks. Orlando weather is truly unpredictable at times but you always face the chance that it will be extremely warm during your vacation at some point. We traveled to the parks around Christmas last year and faced a day of heat in the mid 90’s. Sometimes it seems impossible to beat the heat at Walt Disney World but it’s quite possible if you plan accordingly. Make sure to read 5 Ways To Beat The Heat At WDW for our tips on that. 
6. If you’re thirsty in a park, simply head to a counter service location and request a cup of ice water. It’s completely free and saves you quite a bit of money in the long run by avoiding bottled water costs and soft drink prices. 
7. Book dining reservations at resorts. Resort dining is excellent at Walt Disney World and even if you’re not staying at that resort, parking is free or you can easily hop on that resort’s bus at any of the four parks to catch a ride to your desired resort dining location. One of our favorites over the years has been Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. We’ve had excellent interactions with cast members in the past which we wrote about in our Legendary Cast of the Disney Parks – “Sunshine” From Whispering Canyon  post.
8. Sticking with Disney dining, save some money and try a few of the more budget friendly entrees on property. No matter what your budget, we recommend that you schedule at least one table service meal during your vacation, even if you’re just going to be in the parks for a single day. A select few of our main recommendations pop up in our 5 Excellent Entrees Under $15 at Walt Disney World.
9. Get to the parks early. For seasoned guests, this likely seems obvious, but if you arrive in the parks early you’ll be surprised how many attraction you can enjoy without waiting in line more than around 10 minutes. This simple concept is a huge part of our How to Ride 6 or More Attractions in 90 Minutes or Less: With Only 1 Fastpass+!  article.
10. Read up on your Walt Disney World history. This is a tip you wont find anywhere else but I see it as fundamental in touring the parks and developing a greater appreciation of their past and how it has affected what you see in the parks to day. Our The “Western River Expedition” – The Walt Disney World Attraction That Almost Became A Reality is an excellent place to start! 
11. Book a breakfast reservation mid-morning. If you’ve yet to schedule your dining reservations for your upcoming trip, be sure to pick up a reservation for around 10:30am. When you do, it allows you to hit key attractions at low wait times at rope drop opening, then as the crowds start to build you get to head inside for a hot meal. Our main breakfast suggestion at Magic Kingdom is Crystal Palace which we recently named One of the Best Table Service Breakfasts on Property.
12. Order your Magic Bands early on in your planning process. After you book your resort reservations, you’ll be asked to select colors for each member of your family before your magic bands are shipped and customized to your preferences. If you dont do it right away, it’s easy to forget them entirely. 
13. If you’re driving or renting a car, be sure to head over to the outlet shopping centers near Disney property. There are two locations, one is less than 10 minutes from Disney Springs, that feature discounted Disney parks merchandise. If you arrive on the right day, you’ll be surprised at some of the clearance merchandise you’ll find!  
14. Book your dining reservations carefully. When you start booking table service meals, especially on the dining plan, it’s easy to overlook a fastpass+ selection or book a meal at an inconvenient time. Be sure to check and double check your plans to make sure everything aligns properly. For more on Dining Plans be sure to read Disney World Dining Tips For 2018
15. Be advised that the dining plan may or may not be your best case dining scenario. A vast majority of the time, you are going to pay more for the dining plan than you will purchasing meals out of pocket. If you’re curious of the details, here’s a breakdown of the meal plan for last year in our Is The Dining Plan Truly a “Good Deal” From a Cost Perspective? – A Closer Look. The plan is certainly convenient but if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to consider what it will cost you in the long run.  
16. When booking Epcot fastpass selections, you may want to book Test Tack as one of your 3 selections. The attraction has been known to break down from time to time, but if you have a fastpass and it starts back up you’re typically given a free ride at any point after your original designated window. 
17. Sticking with Epcot, if you pick Test Track as your top tier pass (unfortunately Epcot’s selections are tiered) be sure to book it about an hour after park opening. In doing so, you’ll provide yourself time to jump on Soarin or Frozen Ever After before their lines grow and still make it to your first fastpass selection. If you’re curious on how this works out, check out our Our Tried and True “Epcot in a Day” Touring Plan 
18. Book your fastpasses for early on in the day. If it works out just right, you’ll be able to activate your fourth “revolving fastpass” as early as possible to use for a longer duration of time if you don’t plan on park hopping. For more on that, be sure to read 5 Simple Fastpass+ Tips That Could Better Your Vacation Experience
19. Check out hidden Mickeys across property. Unfortunately, the hunt for hidden Mickeys at Disney World has faded away for many guests, but Imagineering continues to push out some of the most elaborate hidden details of the park in the form of the iconic character that started it all! Personally, I’ve used Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets in the past and in my experience it’s been the most helpful guide to finding these iconic hidden gems of the parks. 
20. Explore the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk resort area is an excellent escape from the hustle and bustle of the parks to enjoy a meal, grab an ice-cream or even catch an unconventional view of Epcot’s Illuminations nighttime spectacular. 
21. If you’re staying on property, have your packages (in the form of any souvenir purchases in the parks) delivered to your room. Not only will it save you the trouble of carrying it around, but it will likely arrive the very next day at your resort hotel completely free of charge. 
22. If you plan on riding Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom, ride it early in the day to see the animals at their peak level of activity. 
23. If you end up eating at Columbia Harbor House at Magic Kingdom, be sure to head upstairs when you’re looking for a seat. In the very back of the second floor there is a bridge style overlook that allows guests to eat their meal with a perfect and quaint little view of Liberty Square and a portion of Fantasyland! 
24. If you’re looking to buy tickets, avoid the scams and consider buying from the Official Ticket Center to catch an occasional free park hopper upgrade or extra free ticketed day with the purchase of certain tickets! 
25. Head to Epcot on really crowded days. Epcot holds crowds better than any other park.
26. Looking for a perfect Illuminations viewing location? We recommend the bridge between the United Kingdom Pavilion and the France Pavilion. Watch the wind, if it’s blowing towards you, pick a different location on the other side of the lake to avoid the debris and smoke that will fall from the sky during the show.
27. If you like to chew gum, pack it in your park bag or suitcase. You will not found it sold on property (with the possible exception of the gas stations). 
28. Camp out at the counter service location outside of the Mexico pavilion or at the Rose and Crown table service location at the United Kingdom Pavilion for an excellent view of Illuminations from select seating locations. 
29. If you’re looking to eat a counter service lunch in the air conditioning, stop by La Cantina de San Angel outside of the Mexico pavilion. While a majority of seating is outdoors, if you round the corner by the large circular seating area on the water, you’ll see two big doors, At lunch time, you can open those doors and sit inside of the adjacent table service location until they open for their first meal of the day.
30. When booking a vacation with a travel agent, make sure they are a part of Disney’s Authorized Vacation Planners. The somewhat rare ranking means that Disney works hand in hand with the agency and holds them to certain standards and qualifications that many other agencies may or may not. The link will take you to our recommended agency’s quote request form (we do not own it).
31. To get the best view of Happily Ever After, choose a spot near the castle but far enough back near the hub that you can still catch an unobstructed view of the fireworks from the rear launch site. I personally recommend standing on the left hand side of the partners statue. 
32. If you want to visit the Contemporary Resort, take the walking path. Along the right hand side of the Magic Kingdom entrance (if you’re facing the main entrance) you’ll find a small path that leads directly to the lobby of the Contemporary and is much faster than waiting on a monorail. Don’t forget to check out the five legged goat!   
33. Want a neat little break from the parks? Catch a boat over to Wilderness Lodge and check out some true Disney history in the Carolwood Room. To be quite honest with you, it’s one of my favorite hidden gems in all of Walt Disney World. 
34. If you’re at Epcot (or Hollywood Studios), make the short walk or boat ride over to the Dolphin resort for the best soft serve ice cream on property at the Fountain. I know that sounds like a bold claim, but try it yourself and you’ll love it! It’s incredibly creamy soft serve in a waffle cone that kids and adults alike will love! Just look for the line at the ice cream counter and you’ll know you’re at the right place. 
35. If you want a Dole Whip but don’t want to head to Magic Kingdom or don’t have a ticket for the day, head over to the Polynesian (or Pop Century – Now), grab a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai, and take to the beach for an excellent view of Happily ever After across the water. 
    
36. On Main Street there is one single lightbulb that is made with the similar tools and processes used to create the original light bulb created by Edison. The bulb resides in the car barn, but is visible to guests for the sole sake of authenticity. It’s a simple touch but one that only Disney would go above and beyond to include. 
37. If you’re looking for a particular resort room location, call your resort the day of your check in and request a location on the property. It is far from foolproof but can work in your favor if they can make it happen. Unfortunately there are select room categories that are reserved for specific reservations but you can always request a location within your room category. 
38. If you know you’re going be back at Walt Disney World for a second trip the same year of your vacation, you’ll want to look into a annual pass. The upfront cost is expensive, but it will save you a massive amount of money on the second trip. For similar ticket tips, check out our 2018 Discount Disney World Tickets article to compare a few options.
39. If you’re looking to book a vacation this year, you’ll want to look into dates in the early to mid summer. I say that for one main reason. Toy Story Land is set to open in the summer of 2018. The expansion will end about half of the construction at Hollywood Studios and really open that park up to hold more guests and develop a better theme park experience. Plus, this discount is still available! Disney Discounts Are Here For Spring and Early Summer – Up To 20% 
40. If you’re on the dining plan (or not) you’ll want to check out Floatworks at Port Orleans French Quarter. The food is excellent for a counter service location and rivals the quality of many table service locations.
41. While you’re at Port Orleans, be sure to try the Beignets! They’re one of the best kept secrets (ok… maybe not so secret) desserts in all of Walt Disney World.
42. Port Orleans, Pop Century, and Caribbean Beach are some of the very best resorts for the money on property. 
43. Schedule a dining reservation at select table service locations in each park that offer breakfast up to an hour before the park even opens for a very unique view of the park with very few guests inside the gates.
44. Stay late at night to experience the Kiss Goodnight to see the park near empty and to catch a short heartfelt show as you end your night in the perfect way.  
45. Book with an official Disney Travel Planner! Here’s a closer look at why. Disney Travel Agents – Who Do I Recommend?  You’ll be surprised at the difference it can make in your overall vacation experience.
46. Don’t carry water bottles in your backpack if you can avoid it! Water bottles get heavy after a long day in the parks in the Florida heat. If you really want your own personal water bottle, take the bottle into the park empty and ask for a cup of free ice water at a counter service location and fill your bottle with it in order to keep the water cold and replenished anywhere you go. 
47. Pack Sunscreen for you vacation. Sunscreen is horribly expensive in the parks and available at limited locations on property. Bring it with you or buy it off property.
48. If you pick up a cup of water from a counter service location (for free), carry flavor packets to flavor your water and cover up that Florida water taste.
49. If you aren’t willing to carry around a jacket with you in the case of a pop up rain storm, head to the dollar store before your trip (or order on Amazon) a few disposable ponchos. Not only will it save you a ton of money in the parks if you end up having to purchase them there, but it may be a good option if you want to stay remotely dry on a water based attraction. For more on this one check out our Disney Packing List – What I Take to Disney World. 
50. To avoid delays at bag check, try and pack a park bag that does not have 100 different pockets that will each have to be opened and checked before you get to head into the parks. The people behind you in line will be grateful!  
51. Use the Magical Express if your flights line up with the timeframes when it is offered. It is not available at all times of day and it may not be the quickest option due to stopping at other resorts along the way, but it will save you quite a bit of money over taking a town car, Uber, or a taxi to your resort. 
52. If you’re looking to save some money when paying for your vacation, watch out for deals on Disney gift cards from certain retailers like Target, Kroger, Costco, an others. It may not be a huge savings but every dollar helps! For more on that plan, be sure to look into our 10 Easy Ways To Save Money At Disney World in 2018.
53. If you’re an Annual Passholder or looking to become one, look into the practice of “ticket bridging.” Its not a fool proof solution but can make a big difference for larger families. 
    
54. Pack a Sharpie marker if you are looking to get autographs from characters. They write way better than a typical ink pen and leave a much more solid signature in your autograph book. Additionally, they are much easier for many characters to write with.
55. If you are planning a dining reservation at a park or other location, give yourself at least one hour to get there from any point on property. Transportation can be slow at times, so don’t risk losing a reservation just because you arrived a few minutes late by accident. Disney recommends giving yourself even more time than that but I don’t find an hour+ necessary.  
56. If you’re looking to eat at or stay at the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin, or Yacht and Beach Club, take full advantage of the back entrance of Epcot. It’s largely overlooked and a great way to get in the park quickly and effectively without a majority of the crowds. 
57. If you have allergies, be sure to tell Disney before you get to your dining location or when you arrive at counter service locations. Typically, Disney will allow you to talk to the Chef who will then create an item you can eat or at counter service locations bring you a book of ingredients for each menu item so you can find something that will work for you. 
58. If you’re looking for a good parade spot at Magic Kingdom, head to the front of the park near the entrance of the Harmony Barber Shop. On a normal day, that area of the park is the last spot to fill up and offers great views of the parade in a somewhat shaded area.
59. Send purchases back to your resort from any shopping location in order to avoid carrying the purchases around the parks. The service is completely free of charge for on property resort guests and while your packages will arrive the next day, it’s much better than hauling around an extra bag.    
60. Don’t pack beach towels for the pool. The Disney World resorts provide towels for guests and it’s one less thing you have to pack in your luggage if you’re flying and attempting to conserve space.
61. If you’re looking for a cheap and unique souvenir, grab a post card and mail yourself or a friend a postcard directly from Main Street USA! “Hidden Disney” – The Functional Mail Service Within The Disney Parks!
62. If you’re headed to Epcot during your stay, be sure to try something you’ve never tried before at the World Showcase dining locations. You may be surprised what’s offered and what you may end up loving! 
63. If you’re a repeat visitor to the parks and looking for something new to try, look into the abundance of special tours available to guests ranging in topics from Disney history to aquatic life, and just about everything in between.    
64. If you want to escape the parks for a day and relax away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, consider a round of golf on property! It even made it onto our 4 Unconventional Ways to Enjoy Disney That You May Have Never Considered.
65. If you want to save some money, look into splitting a villa with another family or a group of friends to find a way into a deluxe resort at a more budget friendly price. 
66. If your birthday is on the same day as a counter service reservation, have a member of your party make a note on your reservation and you’ll likely arrive at your restaurant to a small display of confetti and a special treat at some point during your meal. 
67. If you’re looking to book dining reservations for counter service locations during your stay, don’t put that off until the last minute. Walk ups are possible but by no means a guarantee. Book early for the best variety of dining options, especially for large parties. 
68. When you’re making that iconic walk down Main Street towards the castle, be sure to look for the Osh Pophum connection among many others on the window of Main Street! The Main Street Emporium’s Osh Popham Story
69. If you love the history of the parks, or just want a deeper understanding of the parks during your journey, be sure to look at a few of the Disney Legend connections cleverly displayed on the windows of Main Street USA. One of my favorites is the connection to Jack Olsen casually tucked away high above guests. Legendary Cast of the Disney Parks: Jack Olsen and His Influence On The Disney Merchandise Experience
70. Just a short ways away from the Magic Kingdom, I highly recommend all guests make a trip over to the Grand Floridian to pay respects to a legendary cast member of Walt Disney World, Richard Gerth. He created lasting memories fo iso many guests and unfortunately passed away a short time ago.  Legendary Cast of The Disney Parks: Richard Gerth and His Lasting Impression On Guests – Looking Back – Legendary Cast of The Disney Parks: Richard Gerth and His Lasting Impression On Guests
71. In a similar way, head to Port Orleans Riverside for a show that is unique to Disney and incredibly entertaining performed by YeeHaa Bob. If you’ve not heard of Bob, his show is a little bit out off the ordinary but fun for the whole family. Just be sure you check what days he’s performing so that you don’t accidentally arrive on a day that he’s not there.  
72. When preparing for departure, use the scale at the resort to check the weight of your luggage in order to avoid over weight bags at the airport.
73. If you’re planning on staying in the parks for 4 or more days, be sure to take advil with you to the parks. It’s a simple tip but you’ll thank me for that one when your joints and feet hurt from walking around the parks all week. 
74. If you’re flying with children, avoid balloons at all cost. When you arrive at the airport, your child (or adult) will not be able to take the balloon on the plane. As a result, a tough situation tends to unfold with younger children and that’s not always the best way to end a Disney vacation. 
75. Don’t be so concerned about getting everything done at Walt Disney World that you forget to take the time to enjoy the little things. Step back for a few minutes, find a quiet place, and just take it all in!    
76. Take a break at Epcot and go eat at Cape May Cafe for a hidden gem dining experience that far too many guests overlook. It’s just steps from the back entrance! 
    
77. If you’re looking to dine on a budget and like eating at Rainforest Cafe and other Landry’s properties on Disney property, sign up for their loyalty program to get a free $25 reward on your birthday and a $25 reward just for singing up! We ate for $15 after the credit was applied!               
78. Fully utilize all transportation options available to you. Unless you absolutely have to be somewhere at a specific time, or are simply really pushed for time, don’t pay for transportation when staying on property. Every Disney resort has complimentary transportation. If your resort offers boat or monorail transport they will likely be far quicker than bus transportation. 
79. If you plan on visiting Toy Story Land (in Summer of 2018), book your fastpasses early on in your booking window. If you’ve waited too long, there’s still hope. The best way to overcome not getting the fastpasses you want is repetitively checking one or two days before your stay on the My Disney Experience site. If you constantly refresh the page while watching TV or doing something else, you may be surprised what pops up. 
80. If you want a unique view of the Happily Ever After fireworks, plant yourself in the staircase of the Contemporary for this view!
    
81. Something bad will happen during your vacation. Unfortunately it is inevitable but don’t let it discourage you or ruin your day. Roll with the punches and be FLEXIBLE. So many guests get so bent out of shape over the simplest moments of bad luck or something going slightly “wrong.” When that moment arrives, step back, look at things from the big picture, and make the most to the situation. 
82. If you’re a Target card holder, buy Disney gift cards to pay for your trip. That 5% discount doesn’t sound like much but may save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
83. If you’re not a Hilton Honors American Express card holder, get one! If you’re willing to stay offsite or in the Disney Springs area there are quite a few Hilton owned hotels that you can easily rack up enough points to snag at least one free night when booking with points.
84. Along the same lines as number 84, if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of that (Disney bubble) feel, on select occasions and times of year staying at the Double Tree by Disney Springs can be super cost affective. I wouldn’t recommend it for a first time Disney guest but if you go quite often (like we do) it can save you a lot of money over time. If you’re an annual passholder parking will be free at the parks so transportation wont necessarily be an issue.
85. Cut some costs during your stay and skip one park day. You can do so much outside of the parks that you’ll likely never miss that time. It’ll save you hundreds of dollars depending on your family size and length of stay. We typically have one non-park day on each of our longer trips. It breaks up the trip a bit and creates sort of a rest day for lack of a better word.      
86. Speaking of rest, don’t over do it in the parks and make yourself miserable. Take breaks. An hour or two spent at the pool may give you 3 hours of extra time in the parks later that night. 
87. Don’t forget your budget. Too many guests over spend during their trip or leading up to their trip and end up with a massive bill hanging over their head. Truthfully any on-property Disney resort will be great accommodations so don’t go too overboard.  
88. If you plan on visiting Disney Springs, don’t feel obligated to book a dining reservation. Most table service restaurants will take walk ups at Disney Springs and if all else fails, The Polite Pig, D-Luxe Burger, and the array of other quick service options are great alternatives.
    
89. If you plan on carrying a bag into the park, try your best to take the absolute minimum amount of stuff that you can. At about 3:00 in the afternoon in the 90+ agree weather that lighter bag will be your best friend. Too many guests pack around 30 pound backpacks and likely only use about half the stuff in their bag.
90. If you have an emergency of some type in the park, don’t hesitate to ask a cast member for help. Often times first aid or even the medical team can help solve the most elaborate problems faster than you would expect. They see things happen every day and know the usual causes and how to overcome the problem.
91. If you ever can’t find your way in a park, ask a custodial cast member. As strange as it may sound they likely know the park better than anyone and they’re always close by and willing to help first time and even returning guests find their way.
92. In reference to autograph books (also mentioned briefly in number 54), consider bringing an autograph book with you. The Disney ones are nice but unfortunately yours will look like thousands of other guests’ books. Picking up a nice notebook or one with your child’s favorite character on it is a great solution to save some money and set your book apart from all the rest. If you do happen to lose it, it will be that much easier to identify.
93. Speaking of lost items, if you ever forget something in the parks or lose something along the way, don’t hesitate to head over to lost and found. Disney has a rather mind blowing setup designed to help guests find their lost items. You may be surprised at what they can find. 
94. If you really need to get someplace in a hurry on property, Minnie Vans are a great option. Not only do you get the best in service by a Disney cast member driver, but it is a flat rate $25 fee to get anywhere on property.
95. If you’ve already been to WDW and seen the fireworks shows from typical viewpoints, consider an “off the beaten path” spot to watch the various nighttime shows. A new perspective can really change the feel of the show and often times take away a little bit of the stress of finding that perfect spot. For Magic Kingdom check out Our Top Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Locations for 2018
96. If you plan on going to see Illuminations, don’t worry about staking out a spot hours in advance. There’s enough land around the lagoon that you can easily find a fairly good spot within 30 minutes of when the show is scheduled to begin. (Pro tip: the second floor of the Japan pavilion is a great option.) 
97. If you need a plan for your days in the parks, or even just a large overview of what we would do on each day of our trips, be sure to check out our itineraries here on the site! Disney World Itineraries and Trip Planning – What We Recommend
98. Dont be afraid to ask questions on social media. Most social media platforms have hundreds of Disney fans on them and the vast majority of us are more than happy to share some recommendations or tips for your stay. 
99. On the flip side of number 98, don’t take advice from just anyone. Chances are you’ll run into at least one person who is the self-proclaimed “expert” who has only been to the parks one time…. 10 years ago. Typically that same person is the coworker who thinks they know everything about everything so just be careful about who you ask for tips from. 
100. Take some time to relax and view a sunset somewhere on Disney property. It seems simple but it’s so important to us that we devoted a full article to it! 4 Places to Experience a Sunset At Disney That You Wont Want to Miss
101. If you can avoid it, try not be that guest who only plans to spend one day at Disney World. If you try it, you’ll be quite overwhelmed and while you will still have a great day, you’ll be disappointed that you don’t have more time to explore other parks and resorts. If you do get boxed into one of those 1 day stays, here’s what we recommend: Our Ideal 1-Day Walt Disney World Itinerary for 2018
102. Tip number 102… don’t try to use all of these tips in one trip! Pace yourself and enjoy every moment. Sometimes the most seemingly trivial experiences are the ones you’ll remember years down the line. You can’t do it all in one trip so enjoy the time you have and plan a return trip when you get home. Or… consider booking a bounce back offer by calling reservations from your resort hotel to try and catch a discounted room rate for your next trip! We booked done of those offers in order to make staying at the Boulder Ridge Villas a little more affordable.