Disney Vacay - best time of year and advice??
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Planning a Disney World Trip with the kids - when is the best time to go, places to stay and all the Do's and Don'ts!!!
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If you can, go “off season” (aka during the winter, not on any holidays or when other people are also off school, ideally mid week…with kids that’s probably less feasible, but at least winter). If you have young kids, consider staying on one of the Disney properties with transportation to and from the parks (shuttles, boats, monorail, etc) because if you plan to try to do a nap, there’s a meltdown, you need a clothing change, or something you have the flexibility. If you stay “off property” you will save a lot of money, but if you need to leave the park for any reason during the day, you will lose hours/potentially half the day. The cost savings should not be downplayed, however. Most importantly you need to loosely plan the broad strokes of your days. I know that’s crazy with kids but other people will be planning down to the nanosecond and if you try to do it day of or on the fly you will either not be able to do anything or wait HOURS … restaurants in the parks, reservations for certain character experiences, shows, ride reservations, and other things all open up 90 days in advance. People book them 90 days in advance on the dot. Do your research 95 days in advance and plan to book (I hope you’re sensing a theme) 90 days in advance. Get the app and the Genie thing and use them (again, download 95 days in advance so you’re comfortable navigating at go time when the clock strikes 90). Other tips and tricks … Florida is a bigger park “campus” than California. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are best for young kids. Probably followed by Hollywood Studios then Epcot. I don’t know much about the water park/that isn’t my jam, sorry. I wouldn’t recommend a “park hopper pass” - you can comfortably spend one full day per park with no FOMO. Bring a stroller you feel comfortable with, bring a carrier if your kid is into that. If your kiddos are older consider a day at Disney and a day at Universal. Also consider a day at the resort/hotel before and/or after the parks. It is HIGH STIMULATION and we really like one day after the park to just be a family by the pool and chill and enjoy the facilities (and if you do stay at a Disney property and commit to the legal robbery that is those prices … get your money’s worth ;-D). Lastly, we are not a “be at the park at the crack of dawn and stay til close” kind of family. Everyone has their own vibe and goals - we do try to maximize our time and value at the parks but focus on QUALITY of raw quantity. In other words, we really think about the characters or special shows or unique rides or whatever it is we want to see or do in a given trip and focus on a handful of things rather than doing EVERYTHING. It helps with reservations, managing expectations (adult and children haha), managing wait times (because even with planning…you will wait…and wait some more…and some more), and reduces stress and fatigue and overload all around. It also just makes the trip less tiring and chaotic. Hope that’s helpful … I’m a shameless Disney Adult raising Disney Children for what that’s worth.
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How old are your kids? This would drastically impact my Disney strategy! Im the person that has a written out plan - all meals reserved/planned, ride order, departure times, etc. Highly recommend fast pass and rope dropping even though it’s early. We like fast a furious in the morning and then slow paced afternoons when it’s peak crowds. We also enjoy good cocktails and meals in the evenings. Happy to share past itineraries if needed!
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Hi @MotherShip! Disney is it's own "animal" - and I typically use a Disney specific planner to book everything! They know when specific dining reservations open for booking (and book for you!), where you can find certain characters, suggestions for efficiency/hacks. If you need any suggestions for someone to help, let me know!
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We do Disney almost yearly but we usually go in the summer so I can’t speak to other best times to visit but I absolutely would use a planner to book everything. They can offer up advice on when to go when it’s less crowded. The planners are completely free to you (they receive a commission from Disney) so it’s really a win-win to use. Courtney with My Mickey Vacation Travel is outstanding! She visits very often and knows the parks inside and out. She also is a master at booking dining for the group. Can’t recommend enough!
I always prefer to stay at a resort on the monorail or one that you can access Magic Kingdom by boat but Disney makes all the resorts a magical experience. It’s really the best place ever!
