How To Improve Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation

It’s pretty hard to completely ruin a trip to Disney World. In fact, even a “bad” trip to Disney is better than most days at home. Still, there are probably ways to improve upon your last Disney trip, making your next experience an even more amazing one. If you’re looking for ways to improve upon your next Walt Disney World vacation, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn our top tips for doing just that.

1. Slow Down

First and foremost, we encourage you to slow down. If you spent your last vacation running from one attraction to the next, taking little time to notice your surroundings, change that. Yes, the rides and shows are amazing, but so is the atmosphere and attention to detail. Take the time to really observe the theming, do some people-watching, and just relax in your favorite spot with a Mickey Bar.

2. Be Flexible

Making a plan for your time in Disney isn’t a bad idea. That said, your plan should really only be a loose one. Choose a few key attractions you’d like to see, make a dining reservation or two, but leave the rest of the day open. You might be surprised how much unplanned and unexpected magic slips into the cracks!

3. Stay Onsite

It’s much easier to relax and have a good time when you don’t have to worry about traffic, filling a gas tank, and parking every day. It’s also nice to avoid the long walk to your car and leaving the Disney “bubble” at the end of the day. Staying onsite allows you to avoid these issues, and it gives you access to benefits such as entering the parks early and discounted MagicBands.

4. Plan Resort Days

The Disney World parks are incredible; everyone knows that. However, what many people fail to acknowledge is just how amazing the onsite hotels are. In addition to staying onsite, we also recommend building a resort day or two into your trip. This will extend your trip without adding to the cost of park tickets, and will allow you to really take advantage of the pool, theming, and dining options at your resort.

5. Try New Restaurants

The food at Disney World is easily the best theme park food we’ve ever enjoyed. In fact, some of the restaurants here are among our favorite places to dine in all of Orlando. That said, it can be really easy to pick and choose a few favorites and book those every trip. If you’re looking to spice up your next trip, consider changing which restaurants you visit. There are tons of excellent options, so finding something delicious and exciting shouldn’t be difficult at all.

6. Plan for Weather Changes

For the most part, you can count on Florida to be warm in the winter and super hot in the summer. That said, the weather can change unexpectedly. For instance, there is usually a week or so of colder weather during the winter months, and summer sees lots of afternoon thunderstorms. Be prepared for weather changes with jackets and ponchos so you can stay comfortable and happy no matter what Mother Nature decides to do.

7. Visit During Slower Times of Day

Fighting crowds is never fun. Neither are long lines. While you’ll never be able to avoid people completely, it can help a lot to visit during the slower parts of the day. To do this, we recommend showing up first thing in the morning, leaving after lunch for an afternoon break, and returning in the evening when many families tend to head out. This will allow you to take advantage of smaller crowds, shorter lines, and the best weather.

8. Purchase Tickets in Advance

Nobody wants to waste valuable park time waiting in line. Obviously you can’t avoid lines completely, but there is one line you can avoid: the line to buy tickets. Skip the box office queue by purchasing your tickets in advance. We recommend doing this as soon as you know you’ll be visiting, and then snagging park reservations immediately afterward in order to ensure you can get into the park(s) you desire.

9. Skip Park Hopping

Occasionally, park hopping makes sense. Generally though, it’s just a bit stressful and a waste of valuable park time, as you must travel from one park to the next. Instead of park hopping, we recommend fully enjoying one park each day. This will save you money, time, and the work of moving around the property.

10. Go to a Special Event

After-hours events are finally back on the schedule at Walt Disney World, and we couldn’t be more excited. We highly recommend attending one of these events if they will be available during your vacation. After-hours events usually include special treats and performances, as well as low crowd levels and super short lines. Attending one of these events will definitely enhance your trip.

As you can see, there are a number of things you can do to improve upon your Disney trips and make them even more magical than ever before. Try some of these things next time and have an absolutely amazing time!