Have you every been asked for your best tips – and then found yourself overwhelmed at narrowing them down? Have you ever said to someone “We’re going on a Disney trip, so if you have any tips to share that would be great”? This week we asked our Parenting Panel a big generic question: What tips do you have for traveling Disney theme parks?
Chris Salata, also known as GusMan, is a Disney-inspired author and photographer, and loves to help people get the most out of their Disney vacation. Chris writes:
I think the most-asked question I get when it comes to helping others plan their Disney vacation is what sort of tips and tricks do I have to help get them the most out of their vacation time and budget. This is such an open-ended question, it's difficult to narrow down some of my favorite tips. At the same time, I tend to share the tips and tricks that others tend to overlook or are not so obvious. The details is what makes a trip easier, which translates into a more enjoyable vacation. Just remember: What may be a great tip for one family may not fit right for yours. It's not that it is a bad tip, it's that every vacation is different.
Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks:
- Budgeting makes it easier to afford a Disney vacation. I say this because Disney vacations are not inexpensive. The worst thing you can do is go on vacation and come back to a large bill with no funds to pay it off right away. Once I added my vacation fund into my monthly budget, an annual trip became a lot easier to afford.
- When it comes to transportation, cheaper is not always the best value. It does not matter if you are comparing driving vs. flying to Disney; trying to determine the cheapest airline; deciding the mode of transportation that is best for you and is going to fit your budget; putting together a timeline; and considering your ability to be flexible. Always compare costs apples to apples, including all fees, taxes, and the like. (This is a good tip in and of itself.)
- Food is expensive, but make dining a part of your overall experience. After all, your family has to eat, so you might as well try something new. You might find an experience to be one that you would like to recreate at home to relive something special.
- Do not try to do everything – but plan accordingly. This is a common mistake for Disney visitors new and old. Truth be told, if you constantly push yourself to do everything you possibly can, you run the risk of pushing yourself too hard. End result: Adults and children alike melt down. Personally, I use a site like [MousePlanet partner] TouringPlans.com to help me plan my trips, and it is well worth the subscription.
- If you ask an opinion on a Disney site, be it a form or a Facebook page, it would suit you well to not ask open-ended questions. If you ask a question like “What is the best hotel?” or “What is the best table service restaurant?” you will pretty much get every option listed for you over a short course of time. Try to break down your question in a way where people can narrow it down for you, specifying any sort of preferences you or your family might have. Trust me on this – the more info you can provide, the better info you will receive.
- Do try to see at least one nighttime spectacular event during your trip. At Walt Disney World, this could be Wishes, Fantasmic!, or Illuminations, but make it a point to try to see at least one of them. If there is one thing Disney does well to say “good night,” it is a fireworks show.
- Take a bit of the magic home with you. For some this might be a special souvenir of sorts. For others, it might be getting that one special family picture. Regardless of what it might be, my “part 2” to this rule is: Never assume that it will be available the next time you visit. Merchandise changes often and many items are year or park specific.
I wish I could take more time to list out different tips and tricks that have worked for me in the past. But I would like to leave you with this thought: A Disney vacation is one of the greatest investments you can make in your family. It pays back in dividends that money cannot buy. No matter how you plan, take your time in doing so and learn more of your own tips and tricks for future use.
Parenting in the Parks columnist Adrienne Krock's three boys are now 16, 13, and 10. They've been visiting the Disneyland Resort since they were each just weeks old and Annual Passholders since their 3rd birthdays. Adrienne writes:
These are not all my tips. But, with a nod to my fellow MousePlaneteer Chris Barry, these are my top 5 generic tips for families:
- Is this your first trip to Walt Disney World? Do yourself a favor: Call an independent travel agent. Time and time again I read message boards and social media posts suggesting that travelers will save so much money piecing together their packages themselves. I’m not convinced that it does save that much money – or if it does, I’m not convinced that the anxiety and stress are worth it. I have used travel agents from two different non-Disney agencies. You will have enough to think about over your planning, let the agent do some of the work for you. When you have an agent, you have a personal consultant to help you make decisions. Talk to people you know to get recommendations. Not all travel agents are created equal. When I hear my friends who are Disney experts talk about booking their Disney Cruise Line vacations with my agent, I smile to myself because, clearly, we have a good agent.
- This is probably because I’m a California native but here I go: In Florida, I get a rental car. Yes, I know there are buses, but I like to go off the bus path. I like to go to Target and Publix. When we went as a family, we went to the Kennedy Space Center. I like to dine at other resorts, without having to pay for taxis or take multiple buses. For our most recent trip, we used our Costco membership to get a great deal on a rental car, and it was worth every penny. The only caveat: Don’t forget a couple rolls of quarters for the toll roads between the airport and the resort.
- That said, if you’re coming to the Disneyland Resort and the only place you’re going is the Disneyland Resort: You probably don’t need a rental car. At Disneyland, everything is so much closer together than it is at Walt Disney World. You can really walk or easily shuttle everywhere you need to go in Anaheim. If you plan to travel away from the parks – to the beach, to other area theme parks and attractions, and so forth – rent a car here, too.
- Bring your own stroller. No matter what coast you’re on, bring your own stroller. If you want that stroller after you’ve left the gates of the park, you’ll need to have your own. Yes, it is worth dragging your stroller through airports for this. Strollers in airports make fabulous carry-on bag holders.
- Don’t compare Disneyland to Walt Disney World (and vice versa). Do not assume that if you have been to one, you don’t need to visit the other. Sure, Walt Disney World is amazing in its size and scope and everything it has to offer, but until you’ve experienced Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and Fantasmic! shows, you haven’t experienced Pirates of the Caribbean or Fantasmic!. It’s like comparing In 'N' Out burgers and Five Guys. They’re just not the same. They’re both good for their own reasons.
It's your turn—keep the discussion flowing!
Visit the Parenting in the Parks forum on our MousePad discussion board, and share your opinions about this topic or many others, or send your suggestions via e-mail. Reader-submitted tips might be used in a future article, and you might be selected to participate in an upcoming panel discussion!
