Stuff to Pack

Our tips for making more of your days at Disney World.

Carry water and / or a sport drink. If you get thirsty you are already dehydrated. Push water on the kids. You may be able to freeze the water bottles in your room if you have a fridge. Then you have cold water longer.

Eat at off times. The crowds are smaller. One big late lunch can make a good early dinner.

Wear light cool colors. The Florida sun is hot! Dress the kids in a distinct color so easier way to keep an eye on them but keep it light. 

Parades are worth the wait and if you have radios one person can stake a claim and stay in touch while the rest of the troop does some rides or shopping.

1:1 time. Plan something special for each member of the family. One parent one kid doing something special with just that child.  

Budget some money for the kids. We bank earned money and payout a few dollars each day, they can buy what ever they want or save it up over a few days to get something bigger and better. It helps them learn to manage money and prioritize purchases. We have found that if it is their money at stake there is less clamor for trinkets and candy.

Go Hotel Hopping. Get snacks and / or souvenirs as you go. This is a fun activity and a good way to decide where you may want to stay next time. Many people recommend taking a day off from the parks and this is a good way to spend it

Fantasmic is cool. Do it.  The Fantasmic Dinner Show saves the hour plus wait for seats or wait for an hour for Fantasmic seats but take in a bottle of wine from you hotel, they do serve expensive pizza, hot dogs, beer and assorted junk while you wait.

Character meals are fun. Chef Mickey's is our favorite.

Rent the boat from the Yacht Club (illuminations cruise) to see the Epcot Fireworks without waiting. Pricey but a group makes it OK. Call at 6:59 on the day your allowed to make reservations, keep redialing until you get through; it has become a hot thing to do. Not cheap but great fun.

Have a photo taken by the Disney photographers. It is a relatively affordable souvenir. If you don’t like it you don’t pay anything and if you like it it’s about 13 bucks. This one is from AK. They were using real film not digital and the print is a lot nicer, not that you can tell form a scan. We also did Epcot at night and they do a time shot to get the ball light up – cool photo eh?

The California Grill is an excellent restaurant. Get seats at the time Magic Kingdom does fireworks and watch them out the window. (Get Zen with priority seating.)