Growing up on
Disneyland, it is a part of my history. We live in Oregon now and try our hardest to take our kids and celebrate whenever we find an opportunity. With that being said I have a long list of tips I learned here on DIS as well as ones I have learned along the way. Thanks DIS for the wonderful info you provide. Even a Disney nut like me still find something new.
1. Call, order DVD, vacation search on Disney.com Get in Disney's marketing system. Their system knows more about your vacation than you do. I almost always receive a pin or some other offer.
2. Don't be shy! Talk to the Cast Members. You never know what info you will get or who you will meet. A few trips back, I was talking to this CM while waiting for my family to get off Nemo. Come to find out he was the Maintenance Supervisor with a wealth of Disney info. He also asked us if there was anything we hadn't done yet. We hadn't done Indiana Jones because the line was so long. He proceeds to take us across lands and escorts us up the exit right to the front of the line. All the while, getting some great Disney trivia. Such a magical experience.
3. Disney Visa That elusive $200 offer on the plain card? Got it. Again, pestered their system with requests, questions, etc. The offers got consecutively higher ($50, then $75) then WAMMO - $200
The Visa also has great perks that we use throughout the park.
4. Celebrating, let it be known. Again DON'T BE SHY. From the minute you start making your reservation let the CM know what you are celebrating. We have seen anything from upgraded rooms, autographed pictures, discounts on meals, etc.
5. Pirate's League. LOVE LOVE LOVED this experience. If it comes back around at Halloween time do it. For the price (even cheaper with a Disney Visa) it is such a fun experience. We had the kids do this for their costume for the Halloween Party night. They looked amazing and the cast of scurvy pirated was so engaging.
6. Dessert at Blue Bayou (and any of the high priced restaurants). Go for dessert. Make a reservation close to end of lunch service. BB was on our bucket list but oh my so $$$$ for a big party. We went in on my Mom's 70th Birthday trip. Celebrated with a cute birthday pirate themed dessert. We asked to sit by the water and got it. BB- check!
7. Observation a.k.a. Claustrophobic Room on Finding Nemo. My nephew told us about this one. When the Nemo line looks like it will never get any shorter, go to the CM at the front of the line and ask to go into the Observation room. You will see it to the right side of the ride with a green light on it. Decorated like the inside of the sub, you get to experience the entire ride.
8. Captain's Quarters in the Mark Twain. Just as the ship pulls away, ask the CM at the front if you can ride in the Captain's Quarters. It holds 4 people. You get to steer the boat, pull the horn, write in the Captain's log, and get a commemorative certificate.
9. Collect Starbucks cards before your trip when they go on promo. Both Starbucks in the park serve a good quick breakfast. I always watch our markets when they have a promo on the gift cards. Last trip I had over $80 in cards and probably only paid $20 for them.
10. Ship items to hotel via UPS not USPS. Last trip I mailed two things. One box sent UPS was full of our survival kit stuff and Christmas decorations for the room. Arrived perfect. It was delivered to the room upon check in. Room was decorated that night so when the kids woke up they awoke to Christmas. Box #2 was a foot bath I ordered for my husband. His feet get so tired after a long day in the park. Well, unfortunately we never got to try this. Box showed it had arrived prior to us arriving but no one could find it. The Bell Captain said that he strongly urges guests to not send stuff USPS because it gets routed different through the hotels. UPS goes direct to the hotel address.
11. Wide Right works awesome. Your spouse will look at you like your crazy and people will give you dirty looks but riding RSR 3 times before 11 was priceless! (1-Wide Right, 2- Fast Pass, 3 - Single Rider)
12. Single Rider. Another awesome alternative to standing in line for RSR, especially if your kids are older. The wait time is almost always shorter. We just make sure that an adult goes first so there is someone waiting at the end when our 9 year old comes out.
13. Free Ghiradelli chocolate square. At Christmas it was the peppermint bark. YUM!
14. Riding Jingles on the Carousel. Mary Poppins is my all time favorite. Love to find this horse.
15. Ride in the front of the Monorail. Just ask the CM. You may need to wait till the next ride. The driver has always had some fun trivia for us.
16. I always bring Vacation Survival Kits. They include some sort of scavenger or fun fact hunt, 20Q, glow sticks, lollipops, small flash lights, wipes, tissue packs, etc.
17. Secret exit through Grand California. We were luck that our room was just steps away from this exit. Literally 6 minutes from room to security entrance. Just don't forget anything. It is a fire exit and you can't get back in.
18. Disney Dollars. You can purchase these dollars at City Hall and a few other locations throughout the resort. My daughter lost her first tooth in line for Big Thunder Mountain. The next morning, She found that Tinkerbell had left $5 Disney dollars for her under her pillow. That morning, we went to go thank Tink at the Pixie Hollow Meet and Greet. In true Disney fashion, Tinkerbell jumped right into the story line and told Sami that she had seen the tooth fairy and gave her the Disney dollars to give to her. S0 sweet!
19. Say Yes. Read this the other day. Love it. We let our kids have fruit loops for breakfast when we go to Disneyland. Whenever they see fruit loops it always reminds them of Disneyland and the treats they get on vacation. Will have to implement this philosophy more. Seems like a more relaxed trip!
20. Lastly, STOP and smell the roses. There are so many details that you miss when you rush through everything. Things like the light show in Pixie Hollow at night, all of the fruits and vegetables in Tomorrowland, the scrumptious smells down main street (& the air conditioning), the conversations you can hear coming out the windows on Main Street are just a few of the details that you can see of you just slow down for a moment and enjoy your vacation.
Still to do:
- Flag Retreat Ceremony
- Wake Jose in the Tiki Room
- Lilly Belle, unfortunately may never get to do this one now.
- Map on Jungle Cruise
- Would love more...