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10 Tips For A Stress Free Walt Disney World Vacation

A Walt Disney World vacation can be jam packed with fun from the beginning to end. Guests begin looking forward to the trip well in advance and find themselves thinking about all of the attractions, dining, and entertainment that they want to experience throughout the vacation. With so much to do and see, a trip to Walt Disney World should be magical but can easily turn stressful if guests do not do a few simple things. Here are ten tips for a stress free Disney vacation!

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10. Plan Ahead –

Before leaving home, guests should spend a little time researching their upcoming vacation. Guests should familiarize themselves with the parks, know which attractions they want to experience, and make a schedule. Half the fun of a Disney vacation is being spontaneous and seeing where the day will take you, but guests should definitely make a tentative schedule so that they know ahead of time what park they will be heading to on which day and when their reservations and FastPasses are. By doing this at home, guests save time in the parks trying to figure out what to do, where to go, and how to get around.

9. Book FastPasses –

FastPasses can be reserved ahead of time and allow guests to experience an attraction with little to no wait time. Guests who are staying at a Disney Resort can book their FastPasses sixty days in advance and guests who are staying elsewhere can book up to thirty days in advance. FastPasses help create a stress free vacation in that they save tons of time that would have otherwise been spent standing in line. Be sure to book FastPasses for the most popular attractions which tend to accumulate the longest wait times. Some good options are Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Land attractions, Pandora attractions, Frozen Ever After, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

8. Make Dining Reservations –

Advanced dining reservations can be made up to one hundred and eighty days in advance and are must dos to avoid stress on a Disney vacation. By making dining reservations, guests are ensured that they can enjoy the meals that they want without waiting to be seated or finding out that the restaurant is completely booked. Be sure to make dining reservations as far in advance as possible for popular restaurants like the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom, and Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot.

7. Wear Sunscreen –

There is no worse way to add stress to a Disney trip than to be sunburned and uncomfortable while in the parks. The Central Florida sun can be really strong, so be sure to wear sunscreen at all times to avoid a bad burn and the stress that comes with it.

6. Stay Hydrated –

Another way to easily avoid stress in the parks is to drink tons of water. With the high temperatures and lots of walking, it is really easy to become dehydrated and miserable on a Disney vacation. To avoid the stress of not feeling well, be sure to continuously drink water throughout each day in the parks.

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5. Wear Comfortable Shoes –

While vacationing in Walt Disney World, it can be hard to imagine ahead of time the amount of walking involved. Comfortable shoes are an absolute must to enjoy a vacation with no stress. Guests who don’t break in comfortable shoes before leaving for Walt Disney World will quickly find themselves with blisters, sore feet, and the stress of being uncomfortable while walking around each day.

4. Relax –

With so much to do and see in Disney, guests can become stressed just trying to do it all. A way to avoid stress and enjoy the vacation is to simply accept that it isn’t possible to do it all and to make time to relax. If guests go all day long and do too much, they’re going to get tired and burn out early on in the vacation. Building in time to relax by the pool or take a nap at the resort ensures the energy levels stay up and guests stay happy and stress free.

3. Check the Weather –

Not being prepared on vacation can be a stressful thing. Before leaving home, be sure to check the weather in Disney for the length of the vacation and plan accordingly. If it is going to be chilly, be sure to pack layers and if it is going to be very hot be sure to pack light clothing. If rain is forecasted, pack either a rain jacket or a poncho to avoid getting unexpectedly drenched. By preparing ahead of time and checking the weather a lot of stress can be avoided.

2. Know Where Things Are –

By taking a few minutes to know where things are located at a resort or park, lots of stress can be avoided. Having a general knowledge of where guest services, bathrooms, and first aid are located can help to avoid stress if a situation occurs.

1. Be Smart With Time –

An easy way to become stressed on a Disney vacation is to not allow enough time to travel to places. Nothing says stress like running late for a reservation or tour, so be sure to plan ahead and leave at least an hour to get from one place to another to avoid stress.

About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane first started visiting Walt Disney World when she was two years old, and despite spending most of that trip quarantined with the chicken pox she managed to fall in love with the place. Visiting WDW every year since, she especially loves learning all about the history and small details of the parks and eating/drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each fall. When she's not in Disney, Caitlin lives in New York and spends her time counting down the days to her next trip.