Inside Tips for Doing Disney

These tips are little facts and bits of advise that will definitely help you have a good time in Disney. You'll be amazed how these tips help you cover more ground and bury the other families who are not armed with your information.

Start with the basics, get there early! Be fully parked and ready to go by rope drop (the time at which people are admitted to the parks).

Get a schedule and park map upon first entering the park. Note parade times and routes and know where the "Tip Boards" are located.
(Tip boards are give you the latest information on the park's events, including the current wait times of rides)

Bring a backpack complete with provisions for the day. The essentials are a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, snacks and a change of clothes if you're going on some of the water rides.

Find out about height and other restrictions that apply to the rides ahead of time (you can find some of that stuff in this site). You can avoid tears from small (and short) children.

If you have kids and are staying near Disney, go back to the hotel for an early afternoon swim. It will recharge your batteries and save you from the anxiety of standing on endless lines.

Try to save character meals for the end of the trip. You’ll have something to look forward to and the kids will feel more comfortable with the huge characters. Plus you won’t have to constantly explain why Mickey won’t be joining you for dinner.

Check parade times and know their routes. Parade times represent a great opportunity to get on the more popular rides; be aware of the time and don’t get caught on the wrong side of the parade route, forget about getting across until it’s over.

Pick a meeting place in case you get separated. It's easy to loose one another in the crowds.

Weekends tend to be the days people travel, so the parks are generally less crowded  (except on holiday weekends). 

Make reservations ahead of time for character meals and fine dining. Securing spots gets competitive during the busy season.