What are some little Tips that can make all the difference??

[perkinsrose]

Buy a waterproof holder for your park passes and fastpasses and wear them around your neck. I demagnetize my passes all the time with my camera or phone. You look like a "tourist" but it saves me alot of hassle and time in the long run.

The only other tip I tell friends is bring pre-cut "mole skin" patches for blisters or sore spots.

I finally got a holder and loved it. So much easier than digging through fannypack or backpack for ticket/room key when entering park, getting fastpasses & paying with Disney Dinining Plan. So worth the purchase. Less than $10 --can't remember exact price.

 

[brcworks]

We never eat lunch at the MK...there are three beautiful resorts just a short monorail ride away, and they all have nice air-conditioned places for lunch, with lines and wait times that are much shorter...

 

[webster76]

My family has been to WDW 4 times and the most successful visits have been the ones where we have planned what we want to do - with wiggle room. When the kids were little I had them make a list of the most important things they wanted to do or see while we were there ( a 4 day trip). SO the plan was to get the must see's/do's out of the way first so as not to be disappointed when we got home. Then if there was time left we could do the extras or do-overs. This worked well and all were happy. The trips where we didn't plan enough or at all I found we wasted a lot of time.

 

[mskayjay]

My family has been to WDW 4 times and the most successful visits have been the ones where we have planned what we want to do - with wiggle room. When the kids were little I had them make a list of the most important things they wanted to do or see while we were there ( a 4 day trip). SO the plan was to get the must see's/do's out of the way first so as not to be disappointed when we got home. Then if there was time left we could do the extras or do-overs. This worked well and all were happy. The trips where we didn't plan enough or at all I found we wasted a lot of time.

This is so funny! Our best trips were when we planned nothing and just let the day happen! lol Just goes to show how different we all are. We only asked each child what one thing they didn't want to miss and made sure each had his/her wish met. Otherwise it was family fun time!

 

[PIERCEDRN]

1. I had a case of water shipped to my resort by Staples.(free shipping for teaching staff) Saved me a bundle on water.
2. I also keep my photopass in the plastic lanyard thing, the photographers scan right thru the plastic.
3. Do the free or super cheap stuff and take a day off the parks. The Chip and Dale campfire at FW was already mentioned, but take the boatride and make it an adventure. The Movies by the pool are great and making smores will be remembered forever. My daughter loved making a rubbing of the designs on the floor of the AKL.
4. Have your kids first haircut at the barbershop, they will get color, glitter, and mickey ears that say First Haircut. Then they give the kid a certificate and parent gets a wrapped up lock of hair with glitter.... For $14. WOW!
Now every time we go to the MK DD4 wants to get her hair cut first!!
BOB

 

[WaltD4Me]

Two words...Rope Drop.


Can't imagine how you get anything done otherwise. I hate crowds.

Seriously, I've never made a rope drop (but I have tried) and we still manage to get most everything done. I don't know what it is with you early morning, crack of dawn weirdos!

Someone upthread said "Early if it suits you" and I have to agree. If everyone is going to be cranky cause they got up before the sun, that isn't much fun either. UNLESS you are going in the summer or other peak time, THEN, yes, you will need to get up with the birds. Which is why I never go during those times.

I also have a "Magic" bag I bring to the parks. (that's what my sister calls it)
it's just a ziplock baggie with aspirin, bandaides, blister stuff, Rolaids, sunscreen wipes, hard candy, Purel, ect...but it has saved us many a day.

 

[theresak]

4. Have your kids first haircut at the barbershop, they will get color, glitter, and mickey ears that say First Haircut. Then they give the kid a certificate and parent gets a wrapped up lock of hair with glitter.... For $14. WOW!

My two year old is in desperate need of a haircut - I'm holding out for Disney in Sept for his first haircut! He took forever to grow hair, now all of a sudden he's a long-haired hippie.

I want my first haircut pictures!!!

 

[christa112]

Great tips!!!

 

[neworleans_ray]

Each day the first picture I take is of the parking lot name and number on the digital camera. When it's time to leave it's the picture that comes up when reviewing the pictures I took.

 

[blackears]

The wife and I have just upgraded our park shoes to the Keen Newport H2 shoes and some of the Body Glide from Dicks...I have been wearing my new Keens for about a week and I love them just around the town...So, thanks for the tips on the various threads here...

 

[perkinsrose]

The wife and I have just upgraded our park shoes to the Keen Newport H2 shoes and some of the Body Glide from Dicks...I have been wearing my new Keens for about a week and I love them just around the town...So, thanks for the tips on the various threads here...

I love Keens. Some of the most comfortable shoes i know. I park hop alternating between running shoes & Keens.

 

[mom3girls2007]

Another great money-saving tip...order a cup of ice water at CS restaurants and save yourself $2 over buying a bottled water/soft drink. If you want a flavored drink, bring along the little crystal lite/poweraid/koolaid drink stir-ins!

Bring a colorful scarf or bandana to tie around your stroller handle to identify it easily.

You don't "need" to do a character breakfast, especially a princess one, especially if it is not in your budget. Be at the Toontown tent at opening (9:45 a.m.) and you'll get right in to see the princesses!

If you do not have a rental car and are staying at a disney resort and have reservations at another resort for dinner, take a cab directly from your hotel. It will save you an hour compared to taking disney buses and will cost you only about $10-20 with tip (cheaper than a rental car)!

 

[mskayjay]

Will definitely check out those shoes for DH. He has a terrible time with his feet. One question? Are they comfortable in the sole as well as the upper construction? He usually puts extra inserts in because his feet get so sore. TIA!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If your day is planned to the point that you're telling your kids "No, we can't stop now, our next scheduled bathroom break isn't for another 28 minutes", you've probably over-planned, and need to relax.

On a similar note, if you accidentally drop your touring plans while on a ride, and get upset with the CMs who won't stop everything and shut down the ride to retrieve them for you because it will "ruin your day" to not have that piece of paper to tell you what to do, again, you need to relax.

(Yes, I have seen both of these happen)

 

[perkinsrose]

Will definitely check out those shoes for DH. He has a terrible time with his feet. One question? Are they comfortable in the sole as well as the upper construction? He usually puts extra inserts in because his feet get so sore. TIA!

When i got my first pair of Keens year & half ago, I remember putting them on feeling so springy and cushy walking around.

Keens Newport H2 sandal is one style buty there are many. Zappos online has less expensive ones sometimes. Outdoor/athletic stores usually carry them. Seems like Keens are getting more popular and see them more places now.

My husband got first pair 4 years ago and swears by them. I like that they usually have a wide toebox. They make kids shoes too. Expensive, but worth it i think. Shoes are one thing i will spend alot on--so important and impact your whole body! My knees ache if i wear flipflops too often. I'm amazed and shocked how they handle it when i see people at WDW in flipflops or worse 3 inch cork heels!

 

[fcspiro]

What is a rope drop?

 

[MuseumMouse]

Rope drop refers to what happens when you arrive at a park before it is actually open in the morning. So, if the park opens at 9 and you arrive at 8:45, they will let you past the initial turnstyles and into the park, but you are only allowed to go so far. There is a roped off area where you can wait, and see the special opening show or other opening festivities, which vary from park to park. Then, when it is exactly time, with great fanfare and a big countdown, the cast members ceremoniously drop the ropes allowing everyone access to the whole park and the fun begins!

 

[Disneyfan1977]

You and who you are with, makes the vacation. That's my tip. If you, or if you bring someone, who complains, nags, or is generally easy to irritate- your vacation will suffer.

But if you bring people who wants to have fun and have a great sense of humor, your vacation would be fantastic.

So you have to set up the expectation to have a sense of humor about everything on the vacation.

Oh, and bring people who would do Disney the way you like to do Disney. Or, make sure that you keep the options open enough to allow those who does Disney differently than you do to have that freedom. The worst thing is to have some on your vacation that likes to take breaks and go swimming and napping at the hotel in the middle of the day vacationing with others who are absolute commandos.

Oh, and last thing: Adults: try to have as much fun or even more than your kids. When I'm on vacation, I intend to go to have as much fun as humanly possible. And I make fun of everything: people being rude, people looking hot, people trying to jump the lines, etc. Grown people can be funny when trying to one up themselves during a Walt Disney World vacation. LOL!

Wow you are sooooo right, been there done that and didn't want the t-shirt!