Disney Tips and Packing Infomation

Many of you have asked for tips and information on our trip to Disney. I felt like I researched & researched...I didn't want to get there and feel I forgot anything! ha! I did great...I had everything (and maybe more) than I needed!!!

** When you are planning, I would buy Fodor's Walt Disney World Book (it's a yearly deal & I got mine from Books a Million) He had so many great tips...I typed up each park and had them accessible while we were there to look at!

**Carry a backpack

Things that I had in our backpack:

Snacks, Water, Capri suns

Antibacterial soap

Wipes

Tylenol (both kids & adults)

ponchos (A must for Rapids ride at Animal Kingdom)

first aid kit (we thankfully only needed 1 bandaid for Davis--he tripped over my feet!)

**Stay on Disney property

We stayed at a value resort and it was perfect for us. We were there minimal and when we were there we were all so tired, we hit the pillow and it seemed minutes later we were up again getting ready for the next day!

The Magic hours you get as a perk are SO worth it!! We were able to enjoy so many rides with no waits!

**Disney Dining Plan

A must in my opinion...we had 2 meals and a snack a day--We were NEVER hungry! Plenty! Each day for a family of 4 it was around $50 to eat lunch/dinner. Snacks were around $8-10 per person a day.

**Pick up some glow sticks/bracelets for the nightly parades/fireworks/shows...They sell these glow up things, but our kids never asked for anything off those carts, because they were busy with their glow items! You can find these at Target dollar bill, Dollar Tree, I actually bought a lot during Halloween!

**Wear comfy shoes (with support!)--don't go for looks because I read the average person walks 8-10 miles a day at the Magic Kingdom. I believe it!

**Fast Pass...Fast Pass...Fast Pass!!!

It's the way to go...send one person to get a fast pass while you take kids to ride something with little to no wait. We were so lucky that Bubba & Brian were so willing to grab ours and Amanda and I would tend to the kids! If you get the Fodors book, he will tell you all the rides that are a FAST PASS MUST!

**Allow for 2 days at Magic Kingdom

You will need it, I promise! It was by far our family favorite!!!

First day, we tried to ride as much as we could...

Second day, we finished up the things we didn't get around to & rode our favorites over & over again!

** I packed my kiddos up like they were going to camp--each day they had a freezer sz ziploc bag filled with the things they needed that day:

Mack: outfit/hairbow/socks/underwear

Davis: outfit/socks/underwear

I would hand them their ziploc or lay it on their bed and while I was showering they could put their clothes on...It also helped me with packing, I could look at each bag and know that I had everything they needed!

**I would not plan a trip past April---I know it has to be HOT!!  It was warm in March, I can't imagine what it would be in August! I think our next visit will be in February , 2013.

**The individual pringle cups were our kids favorite snack that we packed in backpack. They really packed well & didn't seem to get crushed!

**They don't advertise "Child Swap" but if you have kids that aren't tall enough to ride something ask to use this in line...Davis and Mason weren't tall enough to ride Rockin Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios, the waits were unbelievable...they quit giving out fast passes, Brian and Bubba took Mackenzie and Braxton & rode it, got a child swap, and Amanda and I were able to take Mackenzie and Braxton back on it...the guy didn't take up our ticket, so the guys went back with the kids and rode it again! :)

**Parades...if you don't get there 30 minutes early, it can be hard to find a good spot! Our kids loved the parades and it was a nice time to rest and eat a snack!

**Take lots and lots of pictures!! There are photographers that work for Disney that will take a picture for you with their camera...they will also take one with yours! Take advantage of getting a family picture!!!

**Ask your kids each day what their favorites were...it seems to all run together! Each night when we were laying in bed, I would do a run down of our day and jot it down the next am in my phone!!

**If you have a smart phone--get the disney waits app & the mobile magic app. The waits are pretty accurate and the mobile magic has the hours of each park & also times of certain shows/parades.

Enjoy every minute..they days go by so fast & are so fun & exhausting!!