Do you know want to know a secret? In fact, do you want to know several secrets? Well, in this post I share several Disney hacks very few know about. And while these Disney hacks are often hiding in plain sight and available to everyone, there are still very few who actually take advantage of them. So whether you’re brand to new going to Disney World or a Disney veteran, these hacks are for you!
I’ll start with a little disclaimer at the time of publishing this post (April 2021), that some experiences and offerings at Disney World are temporarily suspended since re-opening. Some of these hacks are shared in the hopes that many of these offerings will return in some form or fashion in the near future. I’ve noted where services or offerings may be subject to availability with an asterisk (*) below.
at the parks
use clear bags in your park bag
In Disney World, there’s a line for everything and that includes a line for security and bag check. Since most of us (and especially us Disney moms) carry a bag with us into the parks, it’s great to find ways to make the bag check process as painless as possible.
One of the ways I’ve found to do that is by organizing my park bag into smaller, clear plastic containers. My favorite are these bags from amyssmallworld small shop on Etsy. They are incredibly durable and last way longer than any ziploc bag I’ve ever tried. The reason they’re critical to getting through security faster is because the security guards won’t need to open up the bag to see what’s inside. So you can still keep your mini first aid kit and your kids snacks separated but won’t need to open every single thing at the bag checkpoint. Score! And with these cute Disney prints, it’s extra bonus points!
*skip carrying around your souvenirs
Did you finally grab that Spirit Jersey you’ve been eyeing? Or did your kiddo find the perfect giant stuffed Baby Yoda? That’s awesome – – until you realize it’s 9:42 AM and now you have to carry the purchase around with you all day. Did you know that Disney World offers a service to send purchases back to your resort gift shop at no extra charge? Your purchases will arrive in 24 to 48 hours back at your resort gift shop where you can pick it up.
As mentioned, a few items in this post are based on services that were temporarily paused post re-opening in 2020 but are hopefully going to return – – this is one of them. But even if it doesn’t return, there’s another alternative that’s still available. You can also ship your purchases directly to your HOME for a very nominal shipping charge. This solves for two things – – carrying around your purchases in the park AND trying to find room for them in your suitcase.
So choose the best option for you based on what is available during your trip and what’s right for you.
*level up your fastpass game
Assuming that Fastpass+ service will return to its former glory, all guests with tickets in your party are able to schedule up to three (3) Fastpasses for each day at a single park in advance. But did you know that after you’ve used your first three (3) fast passes, you’re eligible to get more? Yes, one of the best ways to level up your Fastpass game is to check for additional Fastpasses after using your first 3. All Fastpasses are subject to availability and park hours but it’s a great to score more Fastpasses and wait less. And another great part is that these additional Fastpasses can be in a different park than you visited first! Park hopping for the win!
use rider-swap service
If you have people in your party who can’t ride some of the e-ticket attractions (think your little ones who don’t meet the height requirement), you can use Disney’s Rider Swap service to allow one adult to wait with the non-riding member while another adult rides. You can also use this service to level up your Fastpass game because you only need one (1) Fastpass for the first adult who rides because the Rider Swap doesn’t count for a Fastpass! The other adult in your party can save a Fastpass for another e-ticket (or any other) attraction! It’s a great way to multiply the amount of Fastpasses for your party!
utilize the first aid and baby care centers
All four Disney World theme parks have both First Aid and Baby Care Centers and a few are located right next to each other. The Baby Care Centers are a great place to take your little ones for a break from the heat and over stimulation. All of the Baby Care Centers have private rooms for nursing and also offer baby care supplies for purchase. So if you ran out of diapers or other essentials for your baby, the Baby Care Centers have got you covered.
The First Aid Centers are available to – – whether you need a bandaid or more advanced (but non-emergent) medical care, Disney has thought of that too.
don’t follow the crowd
This one might seem obvious but it’s really easy to get stuck in the trap of just getting in the same line everyone seems to be in or following the natural path of the crowd. But this is the opposite of what you want to do. Always keep in mind where you want to go and keep an eye out for the shorter line or the alternative route. If you follow the crowd, you’re almost guaranteed to wait and stand much longer than what you need to. Hint: Most crowds tend to gravitate towards lines and kiosks to the RIGHT – – but keep your eyes peeled for shorter lines to the LEFT.
be transportation smart
Going along with the tip above about not following the crowd, also be sure to be transportation smart. There are so many transportation options in Disney World, it can be a bit overwhelming. Make sure you know and understand all of the options for getting to where you want to go because the most obvious choice (or the one the crowds are following) may not always be the fastest.
A great example is taking the monorail to the iconic “monorail resorts” from the Magic Kingdom. Sure, it may seem obvious but did you know that you can now walk from the Magic Kingdom to both the Contemporary and Grand Floridian resorts? The walkway option will take you back to these resorts literally as fast as your own feet can carry you. Between boats, the Skyliner, buses and more – – there are lots of transportation options – – know the options so you can get where you want to go as fast as possible.
Lastly, to be transportation smart, pay special attention to the operating hours of all of these transportation options. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen families (including my own) get stuck on an early morning because a particular transportation option wasn’t running yet. Don’t let that be you – – check with your hotel front desk or concierge staff for all transportation operation hours during your stay to avoid getting stuck.
dining at disney
don’t spend money on water in the parks
With this particular hack, I’ll start by saying please don’t interpret this hack and don’t drink water. It is incredibly important to stay hydrated at Disney World – – with all of the walking coupled with the Florida heat – – it’s dangerous NOT to. This hack applies to the fact that you don’t NEED to spend money to get your hands on ice water in Disney World. Every single quick service dining location offers ice water for FREE. You can use these cups of ice water to fill us a reusable bottle that you bring with you (my recommendation) or drink just straight up. In either case, it’s FREE, and it will save you a ton of money not having to spend $7+ dollars on bottled water.
*order grocery delivery service to your resort
Subject to availability, take advantage of services to deliver groceries directly to your resort. This way, you can have grab and go snacks and breakfast options for your whole family. And did I mention iced coffee without having to leave your room in the morning? Pure bliss.
skip breakfast on a few mornings
If you’ve scored some grab and go breakfast options (or even those that you can enjoy in your room), be sure to skip the whole sit-down breakfast thing in the morning in favor of heading straight to the parks. Keep in mind that the recommendation here is on a “few” mornings – – definitely plan to enjoy those bountiful Disney breakfasts on at least one morning. But this is one Disney hack for getting the most out of your Disney morning.
eat lunch at nearby resorts
Contrary to the hack above that gives you MORE time in the parks, this hack is for when you need a BREAK from the parks. Visit a nearby resort’s quick service location to get away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. Check out these great quick service options below based on the park you’re visiting:
- Magic Kingdom = visit the Grand Floridian’s Gasparilla Grill, Wilderness Lodge’s Roaring Forks, Polynesian Village’s Captain Cooks or Contemporary’s Contempt Cafe.
- EPCOT = visit Beach Club’s Marketplace, Yacht Club’s Ale & Compass Market or the various options at the Boardwalk.
- Disney Studios = Visit Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors, Pop Century’s Everything POP or Caribbean Beach’s Centertown Market
- Animal Kingdom = Visit Animal Kingdom’s Lodge’s Mara
don’t try to eat the world in one day
If you’re reading this, likely you’ve heard by now that the food in Disney World is incredible. While there’s certainly the traditional theme park food – – think chicken nuggets and burgers – – there are so many other delicious options as well. Multiply those options by every theme park and resort and it makes it nearly impossible to try everything. When dining at Disney, it’s important to pace yourself and not try to eat the “world” in one day. I’d start my sharing that I wouldn’t recommend trying to eat three (3) “square” meals at Disney. Instead, thanks to all of the diversity, it’s easy to stay fueled with lighter options and even snacks that can double as meals. Save your sit-down meals for once a day so you can indulge without feeling overwhelmed and well, stuffed.
planning your trip
do your homework before choosing your daily park plan
With Extra Magic Hours becoming a bit of a thing of the past, in many ways it’s leveled the field of which day is best to visit each Disney park. One my tried and true tools for researching and determining our itinerary is the Crowd Calendar from TouringPlans.com. I am not affiliated or sponsored by Touring Plans, I just simply love their subscription service that includes Crowd Calendars and so much more! Based on their historical crowd data (and some other pixie dust and science), they predict crowd levels for all four theme parks for every day of the year. We’ve used this service for years and have rarely been disappointed.
make resort room requests in advance
Did you know that you can make a Disney Resort room request in advance? Yes, you can! And while you can always try to contact the resort directly yourself, another great service that you get with your Touring Plans subscription is that Touring Plans will take care of making your room request for you. AND you’ll also get access to interactive maps of ALL of the Disney Resort hotels – – building by building, floor by floor. It’s incredible!
While room requests are never guaranteed, submitting a general request like “upper floor” or “close to dining” is easier to accomodate. And with Touring Plans, all you have to do it fill out an electronic form by a certain date and Touring Plans takes care of the rest. It’s THAT easy!
stagger your itinerary
Another really important hack to keep in mind when planning is to stagger your itinerary. What do I mean?
If you’re planning to stay out late enjoying (hopefully returning) fireworks and nighttime entertainment, be sure not to schedule the very next morning for priority early morning to score a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance. Instead, stagger your itinerary. On the days you have a late night, follow it by a less early (or easier) morning. Alternatively, if you’re up at dawn, follow it with a laid back (and early) evening. Make sense? Stagger every other to keep grumpy mornings and nights at bay. ?
pre-train for disney walking
For most of us, we will walk more at Disney in a day than we usually do at home. Couple that with the Florida heat and it can wipe a good person out. One hack that aids in avoiding this predicament is to train for the Disney walking. A few weeks before leaving for your trip, start to add more movement into your day. Now, don’t push yourself but see how long you can walk before you need a break. This will help guide you to know how to pace yourself at Disney.
skip packing beach towels
Opposite from typical advice on what you SHOULD pack, beach towels are one of those items should SKIP packing. Disney hotels provide towels at the pools themselves and while those Disney beach towels are super cute, they take up way too much room (and weight) in your suitcases to be worth making the trip with you to Disney World.
keep a close eye on changing park hours and the weather
Be sure to download a trusted weather app as well as the My Disney Experience app to be sure to always have up-to-the-minute weather and park hour updates. You’d hate to be one hour late for park open or get stuck in a 3-hour rainstorm if you can help it. And most times, you can help it by simply checking your smartphone!
So that’s it! My favorite Disney hacks that many don’t know about or take advantage of! Do you have any Disney hacks that you swear by? Share with me in the comments!
And for more Disney and lifestyle content, be sure to check check out the rest of my Disney planning collection and be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.
XOXO,
