Hi Friends! Sometimes when you plan a trip or vacation, things don’t always go as planned and well, that is exactly what happened on this last trip. Please do not get me wrong, I had an absolutely great time, but there were a few instances where I had to take a deep breath, and remind myself, it was alright, I am at Disney, and things will work out the way they are supposed to. So please learn from my mistakes and please keep reading and enjoy this list of helpful things to remember from this past trip!

Number 1 tip

Please, please, please remember to take care of your feet on your vacation. It takes one simple blister to put a painful rut in your day. Sadly, this past trip, although short, I had blisters within hours of being in the parks on day 1. Initially I decided to wear a pair of sandals I wear regularly, and for some reason my feet said “not today” lol Thankfully I had mole skin and band aids in the resort room and was able to patch up my feet and wore my gym shoes the rest of the time. But I was in pain the two days I was there.

Pack extra shoes, I always say at least two pairs per person. Bring band aids and mole skin, in fact pack them in your park bags so you can protect your feet the first sign of blistering. Trust me, don’t make my mistake!

Keep cool

Florida is HOT and humid. It is vital you and your family make it a priority to stay hydrated and cool. Thankfully there are several things to help keep you on the more comfortable side of the heat.

*Bring a handheld fan for every member of your party. I prefer one you old in your hand, others prefer fans that sit around your neck, either way, make sure you have one. There is plethora of options on amazon.

*Use a cooling towel. I know not everyone is a fan of these, but I have found them very useful. They can be found pretty much everywhere and are not that expensive. I bought mine on amazon, however I know you can get them at places like Walmart and target.

*HYDRATE!!!! I don’t care how you do it but do it! Bring a refillable water bottle, use things like liquid IV or other brands. We brought a giant pack of water and Gatorade from Sams club. Pack several bottles in a soft cooler to bring in the parks. I know it’s not ideal but when in doubt buy water in the parks. That Florida heat and sun will get you.

*Take advantage of all the indoor spaces. Thankfully Disney has many indoor shops, restaurants, and places to sit and rest. Use those locations. In most parks you can find many buildings are all connected allowing you to walk through and take advantage of the air conditioning. Go see one of the shows at any of the parks, Philharmagic or Country Bear Jamboree in Magic Kingdom. In Animal Kingdom you can sit and enjoy Festival of the Lion King or The Finding Nemo show. In Hollywood Studios you can see the new Villains show or Frozen Ever After, and in Epcot most ride ques are indoor!

Fine, take my money!

Yes, Disney costs a lot. Yes, you are going to spend more when your there. Hopefully you are planning ahead. In my last blog I went over the budget I set for myself for dining. Check it out here.

*Plan ahead by purchasing Disney Gift Cards. If you have a Sams club membership, or Target red card, I know there are other stores too, but You can purchase gift cards at a discounted price. Disney gift cards can be used for almost anything on Disney property, shopping, dining, you can use them to help pay off your resort and so much more. If you have a trip coming up, gift cards make great stocking stuffers and birthday gifts!

*When it comes to dining, and you are looking to keep the budget tight, I suggest sticking to quick service locations. It may even be beneficial to have either adults sharing a meal or each adult getting a kid’s meal. I know meals for the little ones may not always be the most desirable but many times the kids’ meals are actually pretty large. Many come with two sides and are pretty filling.

*Skip the long lines and use mobile order on your MDE! You avoid the crowd and can literally walk up to the pickup spot and walk away with your food!

*Sometimes things just unexpectedly happen. Like a quick summer rainstorm and your left walking in soggy shoes. Maybe your little one drops a blanky and your left tracking your footsteps in search for the nap time comfort. Or if you’re like me the zipper on your bag breaks and you can’t close your bag. It may be a good idea to have a small backup fund incase things like this happen.

*Make sure you have money for snacks! Disney does snacks well and you’re going to want to try some!

Just Relax!

When you get home from a Disney vacation, you’re going to want a vacation to recuperate! Disney is a lot, especially if you are not used to being on the go. It can easily be overwhelming and overstimulating.

*One way to slow down is to take a mid-day break. When it’s the heat of the day, it can be amazingly beneficial to head back to your resort and either take a nap, swim, or just rest. Everyone will be much happier at the end of the day and the trip will be much more enjoyable.

*Plan a resort day. Take time to enjoy the offerings of the resort or wherever you are staying. Sleep in, utilize the pools, head to Disney springs and do some shopping, the world is your palm tree!

*Make sure you plan enough travel time. We always suggest planning for an hour of travel to be on the safe side. Disney transportation is usually very good, however there are those days when busses are behind or there is a storm headed in and the Skyliner is down. At Disney I always say it’s better to be early then late.

*If you have little ones and you need to change a diaper or you want a quite spot to feed your baby, be sure to utilize the baby care center. Relax, cool off, if your overstimulated or your child may be, go check it out! Every Park has one!

Odd and ends

*If you are up for the challenge, at least in the beginning of your trip, I suggest taking advantage of early entry if you are staying on property. Lines are lower and you can take in the park’s atmosphere with fewer people around!

*On Disney busses they provide outlets for charging phones and wifi!

*Pack your patience pants! Lines will be long. Everyone is hot and sweaty. People get hangry. Kids get crabby, well everyone does lol Things might get lost. It might rain. There are so many variables that can make you want to lose it. However, please remember most people that are there are trying to enjoy their time on vacation just like you are. Kindness goes a long long way!

*Please, if you have the time, thank a cast member, especially if they have gone out of their way to help you. They work so hard all day, dealing with hundreds if not thousands of people. Put a smile on, say thank you and often times you will find yourself in a wonderful conversation with someone new!

*Use a travel agent to help you plan your trip! Do it! Erica is our go to, and she gets it done! Please reach out to her here! Her services are free!

*Find us on our socials!

I hope this list of helpful things to remember from this past trip is beneficial to you in some way. Every trip is different, so you never know what lies ahead.

Let us know in the comments if you have any tips or suggestions you would like to share!