Disney Vacation
Hey there,
Planning a Disney trip anytime soon? I’ll be sharing some of my tips for a magical vacation.
Let’s start off with tickets. Since we used to live in Florida we became yearly pass holders which I think is a great deal if you’re able to get to the parks a minimum of 3x in a year. The yearly pass includes parking, park hopping and discounts at restaurants and shopping. Children under the age of three are free.
If being a passholder isn’t beneficial for your family, you can purchase 1 Park Per Day Ticket starting at $109/day, the more days/entrances you purchase the price lowers per ticket. Living in Florida close to 24 years I’ve always bought my tickets directly at the door or online. I’m sure there are other agencies that may sell for cheaper but I’ve heard so many stories of counterfeit or expired tickets that I just would not recommend it. More information on ticketing can be found here.
Having a toddler, the parks I recommend the most are Magic Kingdom (of course), Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. I’ll break it down…
Magic Kingdom is probably the best park for any child that loves princesses and characters and has a variety of rides that are age appropriate even for the littles. It’s also known for having Cinderella’s castle and the most magical fireworks! Now, whatever date you choose, make sure to check park hours and if there are any other special events. There are times during the year where the park will shut down earlier to accommodate other events, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party, these events will require a different ticket, so they’ll clear the park to accommodate those guests. In those scenarios, the fireworks that are usually done towards the end of the evening will not be offered to regular ticket holders. So, if watching the fireworks is something you have in mind, plan accordingly.
Fireworks tip: best spot to watch the fireworks are on the round tables located directly in front of The Plaza Restaurant, get there relatively early grab a chair and table close to the railings and you’ll have the best view. While you wait enjoy a delicious sundae at The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor.
Fireworks views from sitting area in front of The Plaza Restaurant
Places to eat:
Pinocchio Village Haus: Flatbread, Pastas, Soup, Breadsticks and Kids options. (Italian)
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café: Fajitas, Taco Trios, Rice Bowls, Nachos, Salads, Kids Options (Mexican)
The Crystal Palace: Buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner with Winnie the Pooh and Friends.
Breakfast with characters at The Crystal Palace
Mickey Waffles = Happy Kid
Animal Kingdom has by far been my favorite park since having my son, only because he’s been able to enjoy the most since it’s not as crowded as Magic Kingdom. Some of our favorite rides at this park include, Kilimanjaro Safari (Africa), Na’vi River Journey (Pandora), Kali River Rapids (Asia). Here you’ll also find some awesome shows, so stay tuned to their times so you don’t miss them! You can also meet many characters here with much shorter wait times.
Kilimanjaro Safari Ride
The tree of life is spectacular, just like the movie!
Places to eat:
Satu’li Canteen: Build your own bowls with rice, pasta and salad options.
Tusker House Restaurant: Buffet style breakfast, lunch or dinner with Donald Duck and friends.
Food at Satu’li Canteen
Character breakfast at Tusker House
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a park I haven’t been to in many years and although we had yearly passes we chose to go to other parks instead, only because we knew we would spend less time in lines where Nico would be able to enjoy more. However, a few more recent additions to this park are Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy Edge. Although I know my son and many other toddlers would enjoy Toy Story Land and even some Star Wars I could never seem to get a fast pass for any of the rides and knew the lines were very lengthy!
I can’t give any restaurants recommendations since I haven’t visited in a while.
Then there’s Epcot, which is really my least favorite park unless if it’s Food & Wine Festival, which is the only two times I’ve entered the park. There are rumors that the park is getting a full renovation and while we were there they’ve apparently already started! To me, there is nothing this park offers that would make me want to go visit, I don’t think the rides are exciting and my son sure wasn’t interested either.
However, like I said, I did visit the park during Food and Wine Festival which usually happens in the fall and if you’re a foodie, this is where you want to be. It’s not cheap! Besides paying a park entrance, you’ll spend a pretty penny eating and drinking around the world, but everything is delicious and well worth it.
I would not purchase a ticket to just go visit this specific park, my personal opinion, if you’re a yearly pass holder or have park hopper tickets, then why not. It is the closest park to Magic Kingdom, they share a parking lot and all you have to do is take a different tram.
Food & Wine at Epcot
Let’s travel around the world and taste all there is to try!
Disney App
I can’t say this enough, download the app and use it! This will save you so many time, you can use it as a map/GPS to get to your desired location the fastest. The app also allows you to see the wait times for each attraction. With your ticket purchase you’re entitled three fast passes, which you can reserve on the app to get to the front of the line on your chosen ride or character meeting. It’s super helpful during meals as well, because it not only allows you to see the full menu and pricing but also order your meal ahead of time, avoiding the long lines when those kiddos are getting HANGRY!
Some of the best features of the app, MUST download prior to going!
Things to bring:
Sunscreen
Hats
Sunglasses
Extra Clothes (for wet rides)
Water
Snacks
Stroller
Child Leash (don’t judge me, I rather have my kid on a leash than lose him in a crowded park)
Ways to Save:
Buy your Mickey and Minnie gear ahead of time, those ears will cost you anywhere from $25-30 inside the park.
Bring your own food, Disney allows you to bring snacks, sandwiches, water, soda, no restrictions.
Bring your own bubble machine/gun, you know your kid will ask for one the moment they see it!
Glow in the dark sticks, they are a lot cheaper at the dollar store, bring some for when it gets dark prior or during the fireworks.
What to Wear:
All your Disney gear, this is your chance to make the whole family match!
Okay, if that’s not your cup of tea, no worries… just wear something comfortable, remember you’ll be walking a ton and Florida is very humid. But in the winter the temperatures do drop so pack something warm.
I also love to wear a backpack or crossbody pouch to carry the essentials: phone, cash, lipgloss and sunglasses. At least, what I consider essentials…. but whatever you need to reach into your bag quickly to find or don’t want to leave at the stroller unattended during rides.
When bringing any bags, backpacks, diaper bags, they will be checked at the entrance. Remember selfie sticks are prohibited in the car, so don’t even pack one.
