Ten Tricks Every Disney World Guest Should Know to Have a Magical Time

You’ve probably heard of a family who went to Disney World and came back disappointed. We have tips and tricks to help you maximize your joy!

Take the Resort Monorail If the Express Monorail Is Crowded

Many first-time guests at the Walt Disney World Resort are unaware that both the Express Monorail line and the Resort Monorail line go to the Ticket and Transportation Center, as well as the Magic Kingdom. Although you have a few extra stops at the various hotels on the line, when there is a huge line to ride the Express Monorail, there’s no better option than riding the Resort Line. And seriously, even if you imagine that the line for the Express Monorail is just the same as waiting at the stops on the Resort line, would you rather do that extra time standing in the humidity or sitting in air conditioning?

The Best Times to Visit the Parks Are Early in the Morning and Before Closing

When the parks first open, that’s when the least number of people are there. By far, your best shot at riding attractions with smaller lines is going to be during this time. Additionally, you usually have the best temperatures for Florida, notably except for during the winter times. My recommendation is to get in the parks at opening or thirty minutes before. There’s just something special, even for those of us who have been there hundreds of times, about getting there early. And if you’re like me, my first spot is a stop to get coffee followed by getting in line for whatever attraction is our most wanted for the day.

It’s Okay to Leave During the Middle of the Day

Most first timers want to try to use every minute of the day. After all, think about how much money you’re spending on the trip! However, for most people, you’re going to find that the amount of rides you get in and the fun you have dips considerably during the middle of the day. Crowds get huge, lines go long, kids get fussy. Except during the winter, this is the time to head back to your room, go to a resort lobby, or at the least find some shows to sit in. Remember the idea of diminishing returns. If you go all day long for day after day, your group is going to be exhausted and not having fun anymore. It’s better to get in a rest during the middle of the day. You’ll feel better and make many happier memories.

Carrying Very Little into the Parks Is Worth It to Skip the Bag Check

Who would ever think that one of the most annoying parts of Disney World is the security checkpoints. But if you’ve packed your stroller to the max and you’re carrying a giant bag with everything you could think of… you’re going to find it’s not as much fun as you had anticipated. The reason is simple: the wait for bag checks can be quite long, especially in the mornings. All your efforts to get to the park early and get in quick can be thwarted by a bunch of heavily-packed bags.

Sometimes there’s no way around it. Sometimes you’re trying to bring food in the park to be on a budget. Sometimes you have a kid who is going to do a bunch of blowout diapers no matter what you try. But if at all possible, go as lean as you can on things you take into the park. You’ll thank us later when you walk right into the park without a worry. And if you are trying to go cheap, pack Crystal Light or other flavor packs in your pockets to mix with water you get for free.

When in Doubt, Go Left

One of the most obscure things to know about Disney World, and theme parks in general, is the rule to go left. When people don’t know where they’re going, and that’s a significant number of families at the theme parks, they tend to go right. But if you’re smart, you’ll go left instead. As a general rule, that means you’ll be part of the 20% of people who actively prefer left over right. And in doing so, you’ll free yourself from frustrating bottlenecks behind strollers and in front of kids who want to step on your heels.

Consider Your Group When Planning Your Day

You might think this one would be obvious. You’d be wrong. How many families have I known that went to Disney and forgot to figure in that great grandma isn’t  going to be able to keep up with everyone running from attraction to attraction? How many families have I known who forgot to consider that the four-month-old is going to need to nurse quite often. When you are getting those Genie+ reservations in, it’s easy to maximize without considering the people you love.

Before going into the parks, try to decide what each person would enjoy. Fit little things into the day that are special to them… not just cramming everything in because you want the most bang for your buck!

All-You-Care-to-Eat Options Have Become Very Economical

Speaking of “bang for your buck,” we have done studies on this sort of thing here at That Park Place. And did you know that post-pandemic, often the best deal you can get for food is to go to a buffet or all-you-care-to-eat option? Yes, they’re quite expensive, but they also may let you skip another meal. And because some of these prices are locked in at the buffets in a way that individual items throughout the park are not, you actually end up paying far less if you can fill up at places like Crystal Palace and the Garden Grill.

For a list of all the buffets at Disney and our ranking of them, check out this article:

Buffets at Disney World Can Save You Money — We Grade Them All

Certain Drinks at Starbucks Are Often the Best Bang for Your Buck

Let’s keep banging those bucks. Here’s a tip that you might not know even if you’re a Disney aficionado. I bet you’ve never thought that you should go to Starbucks to save some money. But at Disney World, that very well could be the case. It turns out that many of the drinks at Disney World, per ounce, are more expensive than grabbing some of the drinks at Starbucks. Each park has a Starbucks inside, so this is a direct competition between the coffee company in Seattle and Mickey’s drinks all over the parks. From our testing, we find that ordering non-espresso drinks at Starbucks are often significantly cheaper than ordering a Disney drink. So put down that Dole Whip and go get a Iced Green Tea with Vanilla Flavoring from Starbucks. You’ll save a ton.

It’s All About the Shoes

You’re going to walk a ton at Disney World. There’s almost no way around it unless you want to do a wheelchair or scooter. On average, you’re probably going to land somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 steps in a single day depending on how long you stay. Remember that most people struggle to hit 10,000 in their ordinary lives. So here are some ways you can avoid a ruined vacation where you’re miserable:

1. Old shoes are better, new shoes suck.
2. Sandals are a no-no unless you absolutely love an older pair.
3. Tennis shoes with the very best socks you have are the way to go.

Almost Every Souvenir Is Sold at the Disney Store and Online

So many first timers at Walt Disney World go into freak-out mode when they think they’ve missed the opportunity to grab a souvenir they really wanted in the park. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, every souvenir you just had to have is still available at the Disney Store at Disney Springs. Before you leave, stop by and get what you need. Again, as we’ve said previously in this guide, early morning at opening is far better… otherwise you will face long checkout lines.

Now if you left something that you wanted at Galaxy’s Edge or Pandora, those two locations have some exclusive items. But otherwise, nine times out of ten you’re going to be okay. And if all else fails, you can probably just order the item online from your phone the next time you think of it.

Unless it’s a Figment Popcorn Bucket. People will fight you for that. Don’t ask why… it’s a mystery to laypeople and scientists alike.

For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below and let us know your thoughts. Do you have any tips for first-time travelers to Disney?