Disney, Disney and more Disney

Here are my hints and suggestions. I've got some overall hints, and then I'll get into some park specific hints.

1)       Go Off season. I know, I know, it's hard for some to be able to do this, but your Disney experience will be greatly different if you are not there in the middle of the summer when it's 100 degrees and there are thousands of other sweaty people around you. Easter/ Thanksgiving/ Christmas and New Years are the busiest times, but if you have to go in the busy season, it's easier when it's cooler. Remember, school break times are the busiest.

2)       Drinks - water, water, water. Disney's water (for that matter, anywhere in the Osceola County) has a weird 'taste' to it. Some people cannot stand it, some people get sick on it. I'd suggest getting a Brita water filter bottle, and using that to filter your water you get from taps/fountains. Even the soda still has some of that taste to it. Bottled water is preferable to some, but be prepared to sell your firstborn to pay for your family to get drinks. Having the refillable, filterable Brita bottles makes it a lot easier (and less expensive). When you first go to any park, stop off at a drink cart as they all sell straps that will fit around the neck of the Brita so you don't have to carry it everywhere. (They sell them at Walmart)

3)       Snacks - For those that still have strollers or even those that are carrying backpacks, it's a good idea to stop at a grocery store on the way from the airport to Disney. Get some snacks that will hold up in the heat if it's hot and that you and your kids like. Breakfast items are also a good idea (pop-tarts, breakfast bars, etc) so that you are not hungry when you get to the parks, and you can push your lunch off a little further. Having the snacks and bringing them to the parks will save you some dough. You can also get some sodas and bigger packaged stuff to keep in your hotel - chips, etc. It will save you running to the food court late at night when the kiddies are hungry. If you like liquor, you can do that too. Beer costs an arm and a leg at the food court.

4)       Buffet vs Sitdown vs Counter Service- A lot of places in the parks offer a 'buffet' or all you can eat lunch/dinner. Most of these are at locations that have character dinners. Think of the extra cost between what you normally would pay and the buffet meal a payoff to have the characters come to you. They spend a good deal of time with you, and you don't have to rush for the next family. Plus it's nice to sit down in the air-conditioning. On a day that you plan a character lunch/dinner - plan your other meal light and eat more at the buffet. You generally are going to have more palatable selections at those locations anyway. If you are going to a counter service location, you can always ask them to substitute carrots for French fries, and if you don't like fries tell them you don't want them. They WILL sell you the sandwich without the cost of the fries attached. Get a larger drink and share (don't worry about the cooties) Most of the parks (and every resort) will have signature sit down restaurants; it is sometimes worth it to visit those for a meal other than the burger and fries (do you get the impression you'll be eating a lot of burger and fries??)

5)       Small kids - If you have small kids and they still nap, try to plan a mid-afternoon nap. That's when it's the busiest and they will last longer in the evening (as long as the parks are still open later). This may not work during some of the off-season times when the parks close early. If not going back to the resort, find a quieter place for the kids to lie down and rest. Some kids will even rest in their strollers in quiet areas. Each park has a nice 'baby station' that is has nice changing tables, supplies you can buy and a room with games for older kids to play or watch TV while mom or dad feeds a younger one. This is normally right next to that Park's first aid station. Throughout the parks, Cast Members will hand out round Mickey stickers to the kids that are a lot of fun. Get extras and use them over the sensors on the automatic toilets or they may scare your kids.

6)       Strollers - You can rent a stroller for the length of your stay. It will save you time when you get to the park and will be cheaper. Remember you can always bring your stroller from home (most airlines let you bring it right to the gate and you can check it). The drawback is you have to fold it up to use the bus and trams. This makes it more difficult at the end of the day if you have sleepy children. Disney increased the prices of rental strollers a TON in May 2008, so you should check on prices before you plan on going...

7)       Park passes - BUY YOUR TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME, either at the Disney Store near you or at the Disney store in the airport. You'll get a better price, and you will save yourself from standing in line when your kids are anxious to get to the parks. If you are going more than 8 days in a year, consider getting an annual pass as it will be your better deal and you will get additional discounts shopping and on your rooms on occasion. If you plan on going to water parks, the breakeven point is around 11 days when you get the Premium Annual pass. Figure it out before you go. If you get an annual pass, you can stagger your trips if you need to take them around the same time. Plan one trip at the end of January for example for this year, and then next year go at the beginning of the year.

8)       Weather - It does get cold in the winter. Not freezing, but you can count on it being in the 60's at night. Bring along a sweater or jacket or something else to put on. You can stuff them in lockers at the entrance to the park at the beginning of the day and pick them up around dinner. Buy (or bring) your ponchos/umbrellas ahead of time. You can almost be certain it will rain sometime during your trip. You will pay an arm and leg for a poncho there or you can get them for $2 at Target. You CAN use an umbrella but remember you will have to carry it the whole day. You could get a folding umbrella to fit in your locker. The parks are the least busiest when it's raining. If it's not too cool, put on those ponchos and comfy shoes that can get wet and pretend the park is one big water ride. Your shoes will most likely not dry overnight if they get wet during the day so sandals would be a good bet on wet days. If you go to the park on days that it rains, there's always much lighter crowds-it's a good idea.

9)       Shoes - Bring already worn, comfy shoes. Do NOT buy a pair the day before you go. You feet need a chance to break in shoes and you really don't want to walk around in uncomfortable shoes all day. You most likely will end up with blisters - not fun.

10)    Planning - It'd be a good idea to sit down before you even get to the park and outline the things you really want to see/do. Review your plan the night before you go to the park so you know the kind of things that you want to hit. Look at the schedules for the parks and get an idea of how/where/what you are going to do the next day.

11)    Character Greetings/Autographs - At various locations throughout the park you can wait to greet characters and get your picture taken/get autographs. I will list most of those for each park. They sell autograph books in the stores everywhere, but its fun to create some ahead of time. That way you have lots more pages than what you will get in their books. The kids can decorate the book ahead of time with Disney stickers/artwork ahead of time. If you want, you can go back later and paste in pictures of the kids with those characters as they signed the book. You can spend a lot of time doing this depending on how busy the park is. If it's busy you may need to make a choice between rides/shows versus character autographs. This is why character meals are nice - you really aren't waiting to see them - they come to you. Every park has some sort of character greeting at the front of the parks when they are open (for about 1-2 hours). MK is the largest, but you can count on them at other parks also. It's like a bonus for being there when the park opens. You can ask at Customer Service for each park to see what characters will be appearing where during the day.