Bo's Vacation Tutorial for Disney Noobz - Part 10 - Bo's Final Pieces of Disney Advice

So that, for the most part, concludes my tutorial.  Any further questions you may have may be directed to me on Facebook or via the comments section.  Or you can always call or text the Handlers, they're disturbingly happy to help.

 

However, I thought I'd leave you with a few last pieces of advice to take with you on your vacation.  Recently, on an internet posting board that Handler 1 is addicted to, someone (not Handler 1) provided an answer to the rather vague question, "What advice can you give me about Walt Disney World?" 

It will be bigger than you expect.
It will be more expensive than you expect.
It will be hotter than you expect.
It will be more crowded than you expect.
It will be more exhausting than you expect.
It will be more addicting than you expect.

 This is pretty much spot on.  But if that's not enough for you, here's a dozen more pieces of Disney wisdom.

 

1.  Talk to the Cast Members

 

That person in the silly themed outfit didn't get their job because they're particularly skilled at flipping burgers or sweeping up trash.  They got it because they're a "people person".  Cast members are usually more than happy to engage with you.  They're one of the things that really makes Disney a great place to visit.  Each one wears a name tag and, beneath their name, their hometown or alma mater (if they're in the college program) is listed.  Keep an eye out; you may just run into a neighbor!

 

2. Explore the Disney Resorts

 

You'll definitely want to take a look around your own resort, but I don't just mean that one.  Disney's themeing does not just stop at the park gates.  Some of the hotels (for example the Wilderness Lodge) are just spectacular and are worth a side trip.  This could also be combined with reservations to eat at a hotel's restaurants.  Even those resorts which are not labeled as "deluxe" can be very pretty.

 

 

If you go durring the 'Holidays', this goes double, as every resort will be decked out in celebration.  The Grand Floridian Resort is particularly beautiful during that time of year.

 

This past trip we stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort.  Handler 1 loved the horse racing theme that's continued throughout the hotel grounds - including the pool areas. 

 

See those things behind the "starting gate"?  Those are horseheads that shoot water and which you can aim at family members. 

 

Which brings us to a corollary to this piece of advice - check out the pool. 

 

 

You can't swim in any resort pool except the ones where you're staying at, but even the most basic of the value resort pools have some sort of special water feature to tempt your kiddies.  Meanwhile, some of the deluxe resort pools are bloody awesome. Volcano slides. Waterfalls. Sandy bottoms. Evil Clowns.

 

3. Watch Your Stuff

 

The Handlers have lost something every single time they have been to Disney World.  They've traveled all over Europe without problems, but in Disney, they loose stuff.  Sometimes what is lost is not terribly important.  For example, losing an umbrella on the monorial (like Handler 1 did this time) only dooms you to paying exorbitant Disney prices for a new one or getting wet.  However, other things like wallets, driver's licenses, cameras*, and prescription eyewear (I'm looking at you, Handler 2!) can be harder to replace.

 

The best way to ensure you don't leave something is to not pack it into your park bag (more on that later).  However, if you do need to bring something, be aware that although crime is 'low' in Disney, it's not non-existant. 

 

See this picture?

 

 

Its a row of strollers parked outside a restaurant.  You'll see these everywhere in Disney because lots of people use strollers to push around their little snowflakes, but can't fit them on rides or in some other locations.  But take a closer look. See that stroller on the left that looks like it has a large camera bag in the bottom pocket?

 

DON'T DO THAT!

 

Look, you'd think it would be common sense not to leave something expensive in your stroller, but people do it all the time.  Not only does this put it at risk for theft (and stroller thefts - both accidental and intentional - happen), but in this case it has also gotten soaked in a downpour (of which Central Florida has many). 

 

Leave the stroller, take the valuables.

 

4. Use the Disney Store Highway

 

Disney can get crowded.  The Magic Kingdom (being the smallest of the parks) in particular, and especially during parade and fireworks times.

 

The "hub", taken at least 45 minutes before the parade.

 

This can become especially pronounced right after the fireworks show.  All those people who crowded in front of the castle for a good view now have cranky kids who are probably up past their bedtimes, and everyone wants out of the park RIGHT THEN!  This can create a sea of people and strollers and whining children that turn Main Street USA into a living hell.  But there are ways to avoid this.

 

First, in the center of the photo above is the train station.  To either side are the shops which line Main Street.  Each of those shops is connected to one another, forming a line that goes all the way to the park exit.  So, if Main Street is crowded all to hell, duck into a shop and keep heading in the direction of the exit.  The one downside to this is that you end up having to walk through stores, which can encourage your family members to beg for things they see as you pass quickly by.  However, it's a small price to pay for a stressless exit strategy.**

 

The other way of avoiding the post-Wishes crush is to wait it out.  Find a convenient place to sit.  Watch the last parade of the day.  Take a chance to get a few more rides in (many of them will be walk-ons this late in the evening).  Grab a hot dog at Casey's.  Whatever.  If your kids can take being up for another hour or so, the Handlers highly recommend this option.

 

5.  Volunteer

 

Disney is full of interactive experiences that encourage you to take part in Disney magic yourself.  We've already spoken about Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom and similar "adventures" which allow you to interact with things on your own, but what I'm talking about here is participation in the many shows that Disney puts on.  This can mean some of the stage performances that are "attractions", but there's a lot of unscripted stuff that happens at Disney as well, and you can be a part of it. 

 

For instance, the new Enchanted Tales with Belle (fastpass recommended) relies heavily on audience volunteers of all ages to tell a story.  The Handlers were skeptical about whether they'd like this, but figured they should take me to see it so I could write about it in this blog.

 

Seriously. Amazing. Stuff.

 

Handler 1 was wiping away tears, and she didn't even have The Nuisance with her (yet).

 

Similarly, kids can visit Crush the Sea Turtle in the Living Seas pavillion at Epcot and have interactive discussions with him.  It's quite cute as well.

 

Then there's the folks that wander the parks, but who aren't characters.  For example, the Dapper Dans make their name by singing barbershop quartet songs to the amusement (and often embarrassment) of park guests on Main Street.  There are folks at Hollywood Studios who do impromptu comedy routines in the middle of the street.  PUSH the talking trashcan wanders Tomorrowland confusing children.  Someone who looks disturbingly like Johnny Depp runs a pirates legaue in Adventureland. 

 

I could go on, but the point is, these are all activities which you, as a guest, can participate in.  And my piece of advice is, when you are asked to volunteer, do so.

 

6.  Grab the Right Horse

 

See this Carousel?

 

 

It's right behind Cinderella's Castle.

 

In the second row (if you're counting from the outside) is one horse that has a pink ribbon wrapped around the bottom of it's tail.  That's Cinderella's horse.  The princess horse. The only one on the whole thing with an identifying mark.  Wanna impress your princess?  Grab it before someone else "in the know" does.

 

7. Pack a Good Park Bag

 

Touring all day at theme parks brings up a conundrum.  You want to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your day (and deal with emergencies), but you don't want to be lugging a huge bag around with you every day.  A good question people sometimes ask is, "What bare minimum of stuff should I bring in my bag?"  Here's a basic list:

 

-Camera(s)

-Water bottles

-Ponchos/Umbrellas

-A small first-aid kit (the kind for blisters is good)

-Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Whatever (Handler 1 only forgot this once)

-Motion sickness medication (if someone in your family is prone)

-Sun tan lotion (for re-application)

-Sunglasses

-KTTW card

 

And that's really all you need.  If you're like the Handlers, you'll need any extra room to hold your pressed penny and Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom collections...and your friendly family travel gnome, of course.  What about things you should NOT bring to the parks?

 

- Alcohol or anything in glass bottles

- Weapons (apparently, some people need to be told this)

- Cash (I know...credit cards are supposed to be evil...but if lost or stolen, they can be cancelled)

- Tripods

- Snacks (are your kids really gonna eat something healthy when there's Mickey ice cream bars available?)

 

Also, try to bring only one bag.  They get checked before you enter the park and a lot of bags can slow a family down.

 



8. Consider "Rope Drop" Strategy

The Handlers do not "rope drop".  It's their intention to raise The Nuisance to never know there is such a thing as "rope drop".  However, this touring strategy works well for many people, especially those with young children.  Essentially, it means you arrive at the park before its scheduled opening time.  You will then see the cast members drop the "rope" allowing folks into the park.  Sometimes this is accompanied by a little show featuring Disney characters.

The benefit of this is that the park will take several hours to get really crowded, allowing you first in line access to many main attractions. On days when the park you're visiting is doing morning "extra magic hours", Disney resort guests can get in even before the rest of the general crowd.  It's also usually not so damn hot in the mornings. 

Rope drop allows you to get certain rides out of the way so that you can take some time off during the middle (hottest) part of the day.  Go back to your resort.  Take a nap.  Let the kids swim in the pool.  Then return to the park in the evening.  You can see how this could work well for families.  Just not for Handler 2, who values his sleep.

9. Avoid the Lunchtime Rush

When do you like to eat lunch?  Lunchtime?  Yeah, well, so does everybody else.  If you go into a Disney counter-service restaurant between 11am and 1pm, you will be confronted with living, breathing proof of this fact.  My suggestion is to not eat lunch at lunchtime.  Buy the kids a snack to tide them over and wait until at least 2pm.  Or, if you use the rope drop strategy described above, you can probably schedule lunch early.

10. Use the Photopass Photographers

Unlike at other themeparks, the Disney photographers do not hustle visitors for photos and there is no "hard sell" involved.  These folks merely stake out some of the prime photo taking spots in each park and let you come to them.  The first time, you'll be given a Photopass Card and thereafter you'll present this same card to any other photopass photographer you meet.  He or she will take a few photos, and may even take a few "magic shots" that will eventually be filled in with some Disney friends in post processing.  Then after your trip, you can use the card to go online and look at the photos taken.  You then have the option to buy some or all of them (at exorbitant Disney prices).  However, the Handlers have yet to meet a photopass photographer who is not willing to also take a couple of shots of your family using your own camera, if you ask nicely.  If you want photos of your whole family in some of the best picture spots on property, this is the way to go about it.

11. Don't Skip the Fireworks

Yes, it's been a long day.  Yes, your feet hurt.  Yes, the kids are tired. But for the love of god, don't skip Wishes (at the Magic Kingdom), Illuminations (at Epcot) or Fantasmic! (at Hollywood Studios) just because they're evening events.  You paid for fireworks, damnit, don't you want to see them?  And we're not talking dinky little backyard fireworks here, either.  We're talking major extravaganzas complete with exploding earths, lasers, fireworks timed to music, live flying Tinkerbells and gigantic dragon puppets.  Disney fireworks are all but guaranteed to ruin other fireworks shows for you for the rest of your life (and we've not even started talking about the fireworks they run on special event nights!).

Seriously, who skips fireworks?  People who have prentended they wanted Handler 1's Disney advice and then ignored it, that's who.

12.  Stop and Smell the Roses

Did you know there's actually a rose garden at the Magic Kingdom?  It's to the right of the castle when you're facing it.  Most people don't know this because they are so focused on rides and dinners and characters and what have you, that they don't stop to look around them and just admire the beauty which is Disney.  The 'Imagineers' are known for their attention to detail.

 

For example, every ride and attraction in Disney World has at least one, and usually multiple, 'hidden Mickeys'.  Some of these can be obvious, and your kids will be finding the ubiquitous three circle shape everywhere, but some take a bit of searching to find.  It's the little things which make Disney decor so special.

 

Then there's the Disney 'magic' that turns normal into neat!

 

Disney, where water falls up.

There's natural beauty, too, in the many gardens and lakes, and in the animals you'll find throughout the parks.

And there's little nooks and crannies which just beg you to explore more.  Try it!  You never know what you might find hidden just around a corner.

The point is, not everything in Disney is about the rides or the characters or the food.  If you go to Walt Disney World and that's all you see, you've missed something.  You've missed the fact that Main Steet USA is done up in forced perspective to make everything seem bigger.  You've missed that Epcot's paving stones light up at night into twinkling little star patterns.  You've missed that there's a there's an umbrella somewhere on the 'Streets of America' portion of Hollywood Studios that will rain water down on you if you grab it.  You've missed that Madame Leota will randomly wake up and stare at you with her dead, dead eyes....

Because Disney is not an amusement park.  It wasn't built just so people could ride the rides.  In Walt's day they had country fairs and carousels and places where kids could go to make themselves sick on cotton candy and tilt-o-whirls.  What they didn't have was a place where families could go together.  A place that both parents and kids and teens and grandparents could all find something to enjoy.  They were missing a place that was clean and safe.  They were missing rides that weren't all about the thrill, but were more about subtlely transfering you to another realm through your imagination.  They were missing something beautiful, and that's where Disney fit in.  It's a theme park, and theme doesn't just stop at the exit door.

Koi pond in Japan.

 



So, find a seat.  Sit back.  People watch for a while.  Admire the way that ginormous bands of colorful Mickey baloons frame the castle against a perfect blue sky.  And just enjoy the ride...

 

*Full disclosure, Handler 2 lost the camera on a cruise and not at Disney.  But still!

**You can also use this tactic when exiting Disney Hollywood Studios.