Disney is our favorite place to visit as a family and we’ve been over 10 times! It’s no wonder we have so many Disney vacation secrets up our sleeves!
But, as you can see form the photo, it was really hot and that explains my fuzzy hair not all of the WE that make up the Dude family were able to attend.
I have to admit, I thought it would be easier to go without Dudes 1 & 2, but I was a little broken up about it. I even had a full cry on the Magical Express (the Disney airport shuttle) because I was missing my big Dudes so much.
Thankfully, Disney magic helped me get over it and focus on having a memorable trip with the little guy as the only guy!
I know most of you don’t care about the social media parts of our celebration very much, so I won’t bore you with the details on that (even though, if I’m honest, we didn’t have a single boring moment the entire time we were there), but I know that everyone loves hearing about a good celebration! Especially when it uncovers some Disney vacation secrets that anyone planning a Disney trip can use.
And yes, there are secret tunnels at Disney World. The staff uses them to go from place to place without dealing with crowds and to move things that are un-Disney-ish.
Here are some other Disney vacation secrets to help you have a more magical visit to the park!
Disney Vacation Secrets: 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Disney World
Disney is always changing.
So, just because you went one time in 2008, doesn’t mean you don’t have a reason to go in 2018!
To give you an idea of some more recent changes, Downtown Disney has expanded and become Disney Springs. Animal Kingdom has added night hours along with several new attractions, including Pandora – World of Avatar. They’ve introduced new fireworks shows, new experiences, and several new eateries. They have plans for a new Star Wars Land as well as a new Toy Story Land set to open in the summer of 2018! There are always new and exciting developments to be explored across the Disney World parks and resorts which is why we are almost always planning a Disney vacation.
Disney hosts really cool fan meet ups.
Did you know that once, they invited dog owners to dress up their four legged side kicks and bring them to the Magic Kingdom to enjoy some Halloween-ish activities? Yeah, me neither. Turns out, from time to time, Disney hosts these really fun meet ups for fans to visit the park and experience it in never before seen ways. The official Disney fan club, D23, is the key to the magic. You can get a basic membership for free but, if you want access to special events and such, you have to pay an annual membership fee (it’s about $75).
You can spend the night in Cinderella’s Castle.
Only you can’t book it, you have to win it in a giveaway. Sorry!
You really do need to get on the Magical Express three hours before your flight.
For those that don’t know, the Disney airport shuttle is for those staying on property to travel, free of charge to and from the Orlando airport. It’s quite handy and it’s very awesome. But, when departing, they always schedule your return shuttle three hours before your flight time. I know, it seems weird and also annoying to have to catch a shuttle at 5 when you don’t even leave until 8, but it really does take that much time. The airport isn’t super close to the resort and the shuttle may make a few stops at other hotels on property before heading in. Trust Disney and get on the bus at 5, they know what you need. They always know what you need.
The Memory Maker is hands down the best purchase to make at Disney.
Bring your own food, buy souvenirs online before you go, but don’t skimp on the Memory Maker. I carted my big mamajama camera to Disney for our first trip. I took amazing photos the first day and then never hauled it to the park again because managing it and carrying it around all day was painful and exhausting. Plus, I wasn’t in any of the photos anyway. The in park photographers are happy to capture all of your family memories (you can even ask them to snap a pic with your cell phone) and you get to be in them too!
You can do almost anything with the My Disney Experience app.
Book Fastpasses (if you don’t know how Disney Fastpass+ works, check the post), check ride wait times and operation to so you don’t walk all the way from Frontierland to Space Mountain to learn it’s closed, make dining reservations, and more. It’s so handy.
The Disney Parks Moms Panel is amazing.
You can ask them anything, like ANYTHING about Disney and they will know or find out for you. They are a good insider resource that can help you save time, effort, and money.
You can get better deals sometimes if you call.
Don’t ask me how or why, but sometimes, the Disney reservation agents can help you make your trip a teeny bit more affordable. They know about different room prices (like based on where they are located in the hotel) and which promotions or discounts you and your family may qualify for. I’d take a moment to call and check before booking anything online.
Disney prices for food change seasonally.
Just like tickets and resort room prices do. The have seasonal pricing based on high and low travel periods. We’ve found that October and February are the least expensive times of year to visit.
There are a ton of Disney blogs you should read.
Not ones actually affiliated with Disney, but ones written by Disney “experts”. Top of my list is the Disney Food Blog. Because one of the best parts of vacationing at Disney is the food. Another super informative one, The Disney Tourist Blog. They are both filled to bursting with Disney vacation secrets to make your trip a magical success!
Want more Disney vacation secrets? Read this: 30 Things to Know Before You Book a Disney Vacation
This makes me happy that I spent the money on the memory maker. If you say it, I believe it.
They really are right about the times when it comes to the magical express. And Memory Maker is definitely a best buy, I budget it into our trip every time we go.