What are you best PLANNING tips?

[dmurch1]

I know there are a lot of tips available in regards to a Walt Disney World vacation, but I was hoping that people could share some to their best tips for when it comes to planning your vacation. These would be tips for vacationers in advance of getting to WDW.

Here are some examples that I've come across in the past:

1) When vacationing with kids, purchase some inexpensive Disney shirts for them from Target, etc. Bring those with you on your trip and then surprise them on various days so that they can wear them to the parks. This helps them to have some new Disney things while not having to buy them at the highers prices in the Parks.

2) Purchase glow sticks at the Dollar Store and bring these on the trip. These are a good and an inexpensive alternative to purchasing the nighttime items that Disney sells at Fantasmic, Main Street Electrical Parade, etc.

3) But some ponchos at Walmart. Much cheaper than at the parks.

4) When vacationing with kids, purchase some colorful shoelaces for Mom and Dad's shoes. When needing to use restrooms, this makes it easier for kids to find their parents when looking under the stall doors.

5) Ship some supplies to your resorts so that they'll be there when you arrive. Might be a cheaper alternative than buying at the parks.

6) Making your dining reservations!!!

7) Get and watch the free Disney Planning DVD.

Does anyone have any other helpful tips that they can share from there own experiences when if comes to planning for their Walt Disney World vacation?

Thank you!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

1. Plan to make rope drop at the park that had late EMH the night before.
2. Make ADRs as far in advance as possible to reflect #1.
3. Put your plan in a drawer and forget about it until you leave for the trip.

(This plan combines careful planning and spontaneity if you are over 35 and live busy adult lives. Let's just say there are advantages to memory loss.)

 

[Jenny Sanders]

1. Make all your ADR's before you leave home.
2. Have a plan, but be prepared to make changes.
3. Bring garbage bags, they are good for dirty clothes, wet bathing suits and towels, and in a pinch, they make a great rain poncho (although, not very attractive).
4. Bring paper copies of all your reservation #'s just in case.
5. Bring an extra suitcase (for all those extra souvenirs).
29 trips to Disney World and counting...next stop POFQ March 2014

 

[DisneyFans2O14]

We used a Disney Travel Agent on one of our last trips ... and my tip is ... you should too! But make sure you find one that will doing the legwork in making your ADRs.

Our agent made all of our advanced dining reservations, even the ones that were difficult to get into (like Be Our Guest restaurant). Their services are free.

Now, if I could only find someone to pack our luggage ... I hate packing. Ugh!

 

[Suziannie]

My best advice is to call them directly for both ADR's and setting up the resort reservation. There were no specials when we booked a trip once but the CM offered us a 20% discount our package. Not a bad deal!

It takes a bit more time for the resort reservation but the ADR's I think saves time. They can search by your entire trip and work with a priority list you give them. I usually start with my number one restaurant and tell them to check the whole trip then book around that. They are fairly conscious of travel time to/from parks, resorts etc and often have great suggestions! I would have never considered going to Whispering Canyon Cafe for lunch since that would mean so much time "away" from MK but we found it to be a great break in the afternoon without heading back to our room! The CM said if we were planning on a rope drop entry we'd be ready for a break and I sort of knew she was on to something, and to be honest an hour or so before our reservation I was glad to have it and suggested we head over early. We spent some time exploring before and after lunch and overall went back to MK in the late afternoon really refreshed.

 

[melissafox18]

Look into a travel agent! Even if you are a control freak it's worth it. The good ones offer some incentives to book so its like they are giving you a gift at no cost. Plus its possible that they can book a resort that is sold out online to the general public!

Book your ADRs!

Do your research and look into Touring Plans to save time (even as a general guide).

 

[nooneshome]

Don't over plan.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Keep in mind if you are shipping stuff to your resort and the resort is a convention resort there is a surcharge of $12 you will have to pay. All package that are sent to a convention resort are handled by an outside firm that runs the business center at the resort and they charge a handling fee.


Bring a roll of quarters to do laundry and pack some dryer sheets since the are easy to pack and you won't have to buy them in the laundry room

 

[doxnal]

If you're renting a car, get a roll of quarters and keep it in your carry-on. The first thing you'll hit coming out of the airport is a toll booth. This goes extra if you're staying offsite -- most likely, you'll want to use toll roads for conveyance to and from Disney World. Bring quarters.

 

[dmurch1]

Here are two more that I've gathered:

• Bring some flip flops for use on rainy days at the parks. Helps avoid soggy sneakers or shoes.
• Bring a portable cell phone battery charger. You may use your cellphone a lot more because of MyMagic+, so you don't want to waste time by having to find and them plug into a wall socket.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Go ahead and invest in Touring Plans and RideMax if you are a park commando and/are will be visiting at crowded times.

 

[disneyprof86]

1. If you're going to WDW when there's a special ticketed event (e.g. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, etc.) buy your tickets online as early as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the tickets will be (if they'll be available at all, that is).

2. If you're booking hotel reservations online, always call the hotel at least the week before you head to Florida to confirm that the reservations have gone through. Technology can work against you sometimes.

 

[Kpskyman]

When making reservations through Disney. Always tell them of any special events like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. even if it is not during your stay , but close enough to say you are celebrating it. You will receive some simple free stuff and the occasional glass of champagne at dinners.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

1. Have a couple of cheap pop-up hampers for dirty clothes, whether you plan to do laundry or not. This gets them out of the way and the hampers will usually fit under sinks or in closets.

2. Buy a couple of cheap closet sweater hangers to put extra things in. This really, really lets you maximimize space.

3. Buy some fold-up box containers at the dollar tree. I use these all over our room to hold things. They clear up clutter immensely.

4. If you drink coffee, bring all your supplies including pre-packed coffee in filters.

5. Make sure you bring a good little bag with remedies for all your possible medical emergencies including blisters, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, blisters, sunburn, and hurt feelings.

6. Bring a multi-tool, hemming tape and safety pins.

 

[tlkscott]

Book early ADRs in the parks so that you can get in before the park opens and get great pictures.

If you have a little one take pjs into the parks and change them before leaving the parks. That way you don't have to wake them up to change after they have fallen asleep on the bus or in the car.

Buy Disney stuffed animals on sale and bring with you. Someone heads out the door while someone remains behind to set out a stuffed animal each day. Try to plan ahead who you will be seeing that day and put that stuffed animal out. We do Character meals for breakfast each day so that is the stuffed animal we set out as we are leaving.

 

[meg39]

1.) fannypack. Do not forget the fannypack.
2.) buy delicious Annie's bunny snacks in their individual packs.
3.) figure out the first ride of the day.

And then we wing the rest!

 

[kelowatt]

1) pack/ship snacks to toss in your bag to avoid "hanger" (crankiness due to low sugar/hunger)

2) bring a water bottle

3) some sort of friction block to prevent blisters

4) don't wear untried shoes. we had a pedometer on our last trip and did about 10 miles of walking a day. I packed a pair of sneakers that were comfy for short periods, but turned out they gave me ENORMOUS blisters, and I had to buy emergency flip flops

5) Something we've done in the past is let someone different in our group pick what we were doing for dinner each day and celebrated our "unbirthday" in the park for that day. We did the Coral Reef for Dad's unbirthday, Tony's for Mom's unbirthday, Prime Time café for my sister's unbirthday, and Teppan Edo for my unbirthday that year.

6) Keep timing in mind when you schedule ADR's. Where do you plan on being that day? If you are doing ADR's for lunch and dinner, make sure they aren't too close together.

7) Consider building in some down time/nap time into the schedule.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

1) I check Easy WDW calendar to plan my park days.
2) The Disney parks are always busiest on Saturday. It is always Sea World Saturday for us. Not such a big deal if Sea World is crowded since we spend a good portion of the day at shows.
3) Make dining reservations after park days are planned.
4) Down time in the afternoon.
5) We usually do 10 day trips so about day 5 we plan a short day at the parks.

 

[Marlismouse]

Bring crystal light/kool aid single serve packets, you can mix with free cups of ice water

 

[tndisney5]

Bring crystal light/kool aid single serve packets, you can mix with free cups of ice water

Genius! So doing this. Thanks for posting!