The 8 Best Tips for Disney First Timers
So, it’s your first trip to Disney. How exciting! You must be so excited to see the Castle, ride the rides, meet the characters, and live the Disney Lifestyle. No matter how long your stay is, you’ll want to read these tips for Disney and tricks below for all Disney first timers.
1. Pack extra batteries/portable chargers
This trip will be full of memories for you and the whole family! If you’re a vlogger who prefers a camera, don’t forget extra batteries or another SD card to store all your footage. If you’re using your phone to capture memories, you might want to invest in a portable charger! This will give your phone an extra charge in case it runs out, and most importantly it will give you peace of mind while walking the parks.
2. Make dining reservations in advance
Disney’s dining options are unparalleled. Dining experiences like Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table are can’t miss opportunities, but seating fills up fast. Disney recommends that you make your dining reservations at least 180 days in advance. However, the sooner the reservation is made, the better. This will ensure that you can eat at all the places you’ve ever dreamed of!
3. Pin trading is a great way to meet people while bringing home souvenirs!
Pins and lanyards are almost every Disney shop in the parks. After buying a few of your own, you can walk up to any cast member and ask to trade- they can’t say no! Pins also give you the opportunity to trade with other Disney guests. Pins are available for virtually any character, attraction, and location. Beware – pin trading can become addicting!
4. No more room in your luggage for souvenirs? Use the Shop Disney Parks app!
Souvenirs are a must have to remember your trip by! However, suitcases can become over-crowded in the blink of an eye. By downloading the Shop Disney Parks app, you can order anything available in the parks and ship it right to your home. This eliminates the space issue in your luggage, and also the possibility of the item breaking in transit. They have everything from mugs to snacks available to download.
5. Reserve a spot for the parades and fireworks early!
Some of Disney’s most loved and most popular attractions are the parades and firework shows. Although it may be difficult to pull yourself away from the rides, food, and other attractions, it’ll be worth it to take the time to find a good spot. These shows are a can’t-miss opportunity, and they change frequently! It may be your only shot to see that show before it’s over. But if these shows aren’t for you, the lines for rides are typically shorter during fireworks.
6. Utilize the FastPass!
Sometimes, lines at Disney can reach up to 3 hours for the most popular attractions. In order to ride every ride your heart desires, a fast pass is essential. Other theme parks charge for services similar to the FastPass, however, it is included with Disney admission!
You can select up to 3 FastPasses at a time at a single park, and can schedule them up to 30 days in advance. Plus, after your third fast pass of the day you can schedule more! Although it may seem like just another thing to plan, the FastPass is essential to every Disney trip.
7. Wear comfortable shoes
Disney World is 40 square miles. That’s a lot of walking! It’s best to pick a shoe with support that won’t make your foot overheat. It’d be a good idea to save the flip flops for the pool and break out the sneakers or tennis shoes. Many people, including myself, have ignored other’s warnings about shoe choices and ended up with severely sore feet by the end of the day.
8. Don’t forget to relax!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Disney between the crowds, the attractions and the characters walking around. It’s easy to lose your head! But don’t fret. As long as you take the time out of your day to sit down, eat a Dole Whip, and rest your legs for a while, you’ll be ready to go in no time. This trip is meant to be enjoyable, but it can be overwhelming at times!
It’s amazing how just a little bit of Disney Magic can change your whole perspective! Going to Disney parks for the first time is truly life altering, because you won’t be able to stay away for too long! The Post-Disney slump will hit hard in the end, but it was worth an amazing trip to the most magical place on earth.
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Thanks to Molly Kelly for writing this article! Molly Kelly is a loyal Disney fan of 22 years who aspires to become every Disney princess combined into one.