Planning a Family Vacation to Florida soon?
As a Disney fan, Mom, Blogger and Florida-lover, I have been to Disney quite a few times. I could never go too many times. There are still some parks and parts of parks we haven’t seen! Last time I went, Magic Kingdom seemed even more magical then I remembered, and if you could find best deals on Disney world tickets at anytime of the year, You’re never too old for the Happiest Place on Earth!
This great book Walt Disney World Hacks, is a valuable resource for newbies and veterans alike. I learned so many tips and tricks to make your stay even more fantastic. It has a whole chapter on doing Disney for Less!
Be sure to read our What You Need to Know about Your Florida Vacation article for even more tips and tricks!
My Favorite Hacks:
Here are my favorite hacks excerpted from Walt Disney World Hacks by Susan Veness. Copyright © 2019 by Susan Veness. Used with permission of the publisher, Adams Media, a division of Simon & Schuster. All rights reserved.
Hack 146 Stay Hydrated:
The two most common reasons for urgent care visits in Orlando are sunburn and heat exhaustion. Florida is subtropical, and it’s easy to get sunburned and dehydrated, even in the winter months. It’s obvious you’ll need a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater, but by the time you feel thirsty you’re already dehydrated. During hotter months, take six big sips of water every fifteen minutes rather than downing a full glass all at once, so that your kidneys can keep up with the added intake. A quick and easy way to tell if you’re drinking enough to avoid meeting the doctors at Centra Care? The “output” from all that water should be clear or very light yellow.
Hack 185 Chew Ginger Candy for an Upset Stomach:
That roller coaster or motion simulator you just rode didn’t agree with your tummy. All that sugary and fatty food you’ve been eating is causing an uproar. Maybe the day is extra hot and you just downed a big cup of ice water, which isn’t the best idea when your body temperature is up. Or, you’re having so much fun you didn’t stop for nourishment, and now you’re having massive hunger pangs halfway through the Flight of Passage queue. Add a package of chewy ginger candies to your backpack for quick upset stomach relief. Suck on a candy for motion sickness, eat one before drinking ice water on a hot day, or use the candy to get you to your next meal without a gurgling belly.
Hack 190 Cancel Unnecessary FastPasses:
You made the ultimate rookie mistake and booked a FastPass+ for an attraction that doesn’t need one, such as Finding Nemo – The Musical; Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor; Muppet*Vision 3D; or Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Maybe you only wanted one or two FastPass+ times, but Disney’s rules require that you accept a third. Or, maybe you arrived at your FastPass+ attraction only to find there was no queue. Stop a moment before you enter the attraction and take a look at the current FastPass+ options on your My Disney Experience app. If something you like has opened up, and you’re certain you don’t want to experience the attraction you’re ditching twice, cancel your existing FastPass+ time and select the new one. Remember, this only works with Tier 2 attractions.
Hack 206 No Plastic Lids or Straws:
Walt Disney World is phasing out cup lids and plastic straws, which are only available upon request at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. You can request a paper straw at Animal Kingdom, but they tend to get mushy quickly and are difficult for toddlers to use. If you have a youngster who isn’t proficient with a large, open cup filled with liquid, bring along a sippy cup or reusable mug with a lid so that they don’t end up with soaking-wet clothes and a wasted drink. Do not save a straw from a previous drink purchase and bring it into Animal Kingdom. They pose a serious health risk to the animals when they (invariably) find their way into an enclosure.
Hack 399 Get a Celebration Pin for a Happy Reunion:
Many parents’ biggest worry when planning a Disney vacation is that their child will get lost in the parks’ chaotic crowds. There are several time-tested ways of tagging a child with contact information, including pinning a laminated, homemade card to the back of their shirt (with their information facing inward), or attaching a luggage tag to their belt loop. But it’s more fun to get a free “I’m Celebrating” button at Guest Services (Town Hall in Magic Kingdom) and use the Cast Member’s marker pen to write your cell phone number on the inside of the button. Instruct young children to flip it over for the Cast Member who finds them, so they can phone you up and ensure a quick and happy reunion.
Hack 426 Get Sprinkled with Pixie Dust:
“Pixie dust” is Disney’s term for an unexpected, happy surprise, but it’s also the glittery sprinkling you’ll get in your hair when you visit Castle Couture gift shop in Fantasyland (not to be confused with Character Couture). Seek out a Cast Member who isn’t attending to other guests, and make a polite request for a little pixie dust. All guests ages four and up can participate by whispering a “wish” in the Cast Member’s ear, then a little ceremony is performed while a magic wand sprinkles pixie dust in the wisher’s hair. End the experience there, or pop into the small photography studio inside the shop. A PhotoPass photographer will take a few posed snaps, or you can use your own camera. Magical, indeed!
