"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
- Walt Disney
Think back to when you were a kid. Where was the number one vacation spot that you dreamed of going?
Here's your hint...
M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E
(I know you just sang that in your head...because I totally did too)
That's right. Disney World.
I had the privilege of going to Disney World when I was in 4th grade. It was the end of May and we drove the 12 loooooong hours to Orlando, Florida. We hit all the major parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios (now it's Disney's Hollywood Studios), and Animal Kingdom which had JUST opened (this was 1998). We also went to Sea World, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney. It was the most incredible vacation of my LIFE. Years drug on and I dreamed of going back to Disney. Eventually I got married and I still had not been back....
Will and I are avid cruiser and we had planned a short, 4 night cruise to the Bahamas over my February track-out. One night, a few days before Christmas, Will climbed into bed late. He woke me up and said, "Hey...guess where we are going before our cruise?" Completely out of it I said, "What?? Where?" He replied, "Disney World." I of course did not believe him AT ALL. He then opened the email confirmation of our tickets and hotel accommodations and I FLIPPED OUT!!!! Finally, after SEVENTEEN long years of waiting...I WAS GOING BACK TO DISNEY! Will had not been to Disney in 19 years, so to say he was excited is an understatement. We were SO THRILLED! February rolled around and we started counting down the days.
We booked two nights at the JW Marriott Orlando at Grande Lakes. Holy smokes. Talk about an amazing resort. This resort is directly connected to the Ritz Carlton, and there is a walking path between the two resorts. Pools, restaurants, shops, Starbucks. What more could you want? They also offer a shuttle service to the parks- a MUST if you do not stay on Disney property. The parks were about 20 minutes away. We utilized this service as well as the new taxi service Uber. I will touch more on Uber later.
We had 2 days to get all the Disney in that we could. We knew that it would be exhausting and non-stop, but we were okay with that knowing we had a 4-night cruise to board and we could do all the relaxing we wanted there. We decided to just hit one park day one- the magical Magic Kingdom. We knew that this park was the largest, had the most rides, more food options, and frankly the best park (in my opinion!) Of all the park to do twice, Magic Kingdom was the one.
So much has changed at Disney in the last 20 years. Here are some of my favorite things to do, see, eat, and enjoy at Disney World!
MagicBands
If you haven't been to Disney, or you haven't been in a while, when you arrive to the parks, you don't buy physical tickets anymore. If you are going to be at Disney for multiple days, AND you are staying at a Disney hotel, you can opt for the MagicBand. MagicBands are your ticket to the park. The MagicBand is a computerized bracelet (kinda looks like a Fitbit), comes in a variety of colors, and is used in multiple ways. MagicBands are your hotel room key, your admission ticket into the parks, your FastPass (more on this in a minute), and you can charge food and drink on it. I would compare it to your SeaPass card that you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you are like Will and I, and only going to be in Disney for a couple of days and you are not staying in a Disney hotel, you will be given a card that is used as your ticket in to the parks as well as your FastPass.
FastPass
So what is this FastPass I keep referring to? Imagine a ride with no lines. Imagine walking up to an attraction, whether you are wanting to meet a Disney Princess, or ride the newest coaster, or watch the parade up-close and personal, and you get to slide all the way to the front of the line. No waiting. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the Disney FastPass. Oh, and the best part...it's FREE. For one park per day, you receive 3 FastPasses. You do have to reserve these via online, the MyDisney App, or at a FastPass kiosk in the park. You will be given a selection of times and you choose whichever is best for you. What is nice about the MyDisney App is that it sends you a notification a few minutes before your FastPass reservation. Rides that I would use the FastPass for: Aerosmith Rock 'n Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom (however there is a TON of interaction if you do have to wait in the line...it's just a REALLY long line), Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom (again, another LONG line), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, and Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. The good thing about the major rides at Disney is that the waiting in line part is not really that terrible. There are fans blowing when it's hot, and typically the lines are pretty interactive. The most interactive lines are The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Aerosmith's Rock 'n Roller Coaster, The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom, and Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.
Time/Age
One question that I received from a reader was what age is appropriate to take your child to Disney? I'm going to roll this question in with another that I thought most people think of when going to Disney- when is the best time of year to go? I recently read another blog post that suggested 7-8 being the ideal age for a child's first visit to Disney. I would 100% agree with this. In terms of grade in school, that's like second grade. At this age, kids are able to walk more and don't require a huge stroller to get them around, they are more mature, they don't require a mid-day nap, yet they still will appreciate the magic that Disney is. Something I always think about is how much will they remember of the trip. Will went at this age and he is able to recall now things that happened on that trip. I went when I was 10 years old and that was a great age too. My brother was 12 and he wasn't "too old" for it (even though he was almost a teen). I guess the most important things to remember is that it's going to be hot, it's going to be crowded, and you are going to wait in line for at least 45 minutes-1 hour for each ride. By the time they are 7-8 they will be able to handle that better PLUS they will be able to actually ride the rides. I will be honest, I saw SO many people pushing around babies...I mean BABIES and they were so sweaty and grouchy and crying. You have to tote the big diaper bag and everything else that baby needs (I'm not a mom so I know that you moms that are reading this know the millions of other things babies need on a daily basis). Disney is an amusement park, you go for the rides and the shows and if you can't do those...then why go? Plus, once you are in the park you want to stay for a while. With a young child (under the age of 2) you will be more in and out of the park to get the child to nap, etc. Finally, let me be frank, Disney is NOT cheap. Personally, I would wait until I knew my child could appreciate it and remember it. Because trust me, when your child finds out you took them to Disney when they were two, they are REALLY going to start begging to go when they get old enough!
When I researched the best times of year to go, I came across many times when NOT to go. Several sources said to avoid the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas. SUPER crowded. I went in May and in February. May was HOT. Granted we were there during a heat wave where it was over 100 degrees everyday. In February, the weather was SO nice. We went at the very end of February and the temperature was in the mid-70s. It was heavenly considering the snow storms we were getting in Raleigh! At night you could get by with shorts and a long-sleeved shirt- temps dipped to the low 60s at night. I think the hottest it got was 80 degrees. Such a fabulous time to go! Another blog said that September was a great time to go. Prices are apparently cheaper at that time! I would also avoid the traditional school calendar summer schedule as those time will be extremely crowded as well.
Rides
So what kind of rides does Disney World have to offer? Disney has thrill rides, kids rides, and attractions (think It's a Small World) for all ages. Use the MyDisney App to check wait times, height requirements, and maps of the park. Set up your FastPass for rides that typically have longer wait times- no need to waste them on a 30 minutes or less wait time. Here are my personal favorite rides at each park:
FOOD
Now that we've talked rides, lets talk FOOD! Disney is home to some of the best food you can eat! If you are looking for a nice meal and something not too "concession-stand like" then head over to Epcot. With 11 countries to choose from, you are sure to find a restaurant that will satisfy you! We ate at Teppan Edo in Japan at Epcot and it was the best meal we had while at Disney. Some of the best Japanese food we have ever eaten! We sat at a table that sits about 8 people, so we got to meet and converse with some really nice people! If you are from the Raleigh area, I would compare this restaurant to Kanki...but better! We sat beside a couple from California. We had been talking to them and when the waitress brought out the sauces, they told us that the holy-grail of all Japanese sauces, the Yum-Yum sauce (or shrimp sauce) was something they had never eaten! They apparently don't serve it in California Japanese restaurants! Those west coast folks are missing out! Here is a full menu. Warning: it will make you hungry!
In Magic Kingdom, we grabbed a quick dinner at Casey's Corner, a baseball themed hotdog restaurant. They serve corndog nuggets and they were to DIE for! I love a corndog! Here's a full menu if you are interested!
Another MUST have treat at Magic Kingdom is a Dole Whip. This fellow blogger does the BEST job describing the ever-so-fabulous Dole Whip. YERM!
I wish we were there for more days so we could have eaten at more places! For a full list of restaurants and descriptions, click here!
Transportation
Getting from park to park can be a little overwhelming especially if you have no idea what to do. I would suggest studying up on the monorail and other forms of transportation. The monorail does not visit all parks. You also want to make sure you check park times and how late the different forms of transportation run. For example, our hotel (which was not a Disney hotel) ran the last taxi from the park to the hotel at 11 PM. We were at Magic Kingdom which closed at 1AM and we were not about to give up 2 hours at the park. This is when we had to use an alternative taxi service called Uber. Use the Uber app to "hail" a taxi and the Uber driver will come to wherever you are and pick you up. Uber drivers, according to their website, have gone through multiple background checks to ensure safety. Being a paranoid person that I am, I can attest and say that this is a safe app and it is used frequently and all over the country. Its fast, convenient, and you pay the taxi driver via the app. It doesn't get any easier. We used Uber to take us from our hotel to our cruise ship port, and from the cruise ship port to the airport. We also used it from Magic Kingdom to our hotel twice while at Disney. This is a great alternative when you've missed the hotel taxi service or you want to travel outside of the Disney parks in Orlando.
One little trick that we discovered: while visiting Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, instead of waiting in the HUGE line to take the tram directly to Magic Kingdom (you will find that most people do this) take the tram to Epcot. I'm telling you, the line to Epcot will be a lot shorter and you are guaranteed to get on the first tram that comes instead of having to wait for a second tram to arrive. Once at Epcot go directly to the monorail. Hop on the monorail and take it directly to the entrance of Magic Kingdom. What most people don't realize, is that once you are at Magic Kingdom, you have to either monorail or take the ferry boat to get INTO the park. By pass all the crazy lines by hitting Epcot first (it's also closer to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom when you tram over) and hopping on the monorail there.
Gift Shops
Most of the gift shops sell the same shirts/souvenirs. If you find a shirt you LOVE but they don't have it in your size, don't fret! Just check one of the million other gift shops (this is across parks as well)! Also, some gift shops have a cell phone charging station! We found this in the gift shop directly connected to Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom!
What to Pack
The last piece I am going to talk about is what to pack in your bag or purse that you are taking INTO the parks. Before you are allowed to enter into the park, you have to have all bags checked. Make this process a lot faster by taking one bag, I suggest a small backpack or a purse with a long strap that can go diagonally across your chest. These types of bags are easier to carry and both of your hands will be free. Your really don't need to carry TOO much into the park. If you are an avid rider, you will have to park your bag at your feet. You want something small enough that will not get in the way during the ride. Most rides have a pocket for you to slip your bag into as well. Here is a list of what I carried in my small backpack:
I think I have covered most of the high points of Disney. If I have left anything out or you have any questions, contact me via Facebook, Twitter, or comment on the post!
-Cassie
- Walt Disney
Think back to when you were a kid. Where was the number one vacation spot that you dreamed of going?
Here's your hint...
M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E
(I know you just sang that in your head...because I totally did too)
That's right. Disney World.
I had the privilege of going to Disney World when I was in 4th grade. It was the end of May and we drove the 12 loooooong hours to Orlando, Florida. We hit all the major parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios (now it's Disney's Hollywood Studios), and Animal Kingdom which had JUST opened (this was 1998). We also went to Sea World, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney. It was the most incredible vacation of my LIFE. Years drug on and I dreamed of going back to Disney. Eventually I got married and I still had not been back....
Will and I are avid cruiser and we had planned a short, 4 night cruise to the Bahamas over my February track-out. One night, a few days before Christmas, Will climbed into bed late. He woke me up and said, "Hey...guess where we are going before our cruise?" Completely out of it I said, "What?? Where?" He replied, "Disney World." I of course did not believe him AT ALL. He then opened the email confirmation of our tickets and hotel accommodations and I FLIPPED OUT!!!! Finally, after SEVENTEEN long years of waiting...I WAS GOING BACK TO DISNEY! Will had not been to Disney in 19 years, so to say he was excited is an understatement. We were SO THRILLED! February rolled around and we started counting down the days.
We booked two nights at the JW Marriott Orlando at Grande Lakes. Holy smokes. Talk about an amazing resort. This resort is directly connected to the Ritz Carlton, and there is a walking path between the two resorts. Pools, restaurants, shops, Starbucks. What more could you want? They also offer a shuttle service to the parks- a MUST if you do not stay on Disney property. The parks were about 20 minutes away. We utilized this service as well as the new taxi service Uber. I will touch more on Uber later.
We had 2 days to get all the Disney in that we could. We knew that it would be exhausting and non-stop, but we were okay with that knowing we had a 4-night cruise to board and we could do all the relaxing we wanted there. We decided to just hit one park day one- the magical Magic Kingdom. We knew that this park was the largest, had the most rides, more food options, and frankly the best park (in my opinion!) Of all the park to do twice, Magic Kingdom was the one.
So much has changed at Disney in the last 20 years. Here are some of my favorite things to do, see, eat, and enjoy at Disney World!
MagicBands
If you haven't been to Disney, or you haven't been in a while, when you arrive to the parks, you don't buy physical tickets anymore. If you are going to be at Disney for multiple days, AND you are staying at a Disney hotel, you can opt for the MagicBand. MagicBands are your ticket to the park. The MagicBand is a computerized bracelet (kinda looks like a Fitbit), comes in a variety of colors, and is used in multiple ways. MagicBands are your hotel room key, your admission ticket into the parks, your FastPass (more on this in a minute), and you can charge food and drink on it. I would compare it to your SeaPass card that you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you are like Will and I, and only going to be in Disney for a couple of days and you are not staying in a Disney hotel, you will be given a card that is used as your ticket in to the parks as well as your FastPass.
FastPass
So what is this FastPass I keep referring to? Imagine a ride with no lines. Imagine walking up to an attraction, whether you are wanting to meet a Disney Princess, or ride the newest coaster, or watch the parade up-close and personal, and you get to slide all the way to the front of the line. No waiting. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the Disney FastPass. Oh, and the best part...it's FREE. For one park per day, you receive 3 FastPasses. You do have to reserve these via online, the MyDisney App, or at a FastPass kiosk in the park. You will be given a selection of times and you choose whichever is best for you. What is nice about the MyDisney App is that it sends you a notification a few minutes before your FastPass reservation. Rides that I would use the FastPass for: Aerosmith Rock 'n Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom (however there is a TON of interaction if you do have to wait in the line...it's just a REALLY long line), Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom (again, another LONG line), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, and Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. The good thing about the major rides at Disney is that the waiting in line part is not really that terrible. There are fans blowing when it's hot, and typically the lines are pretty interactive. The most interactive lines are The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Aerosmith's Rock 'n Roller Coaster, The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom, and Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.
Time/Age
One question that I received from a reader was what age is appropriate to take your child to Disney? I'm going to roll this question in with another that I thought most people think of when going to Disney- when is the best time of year to go? I recently read another blog post that suggested 7-8 being the ideal age for a child's first visit to Disney. I would 100% agree with this. In terms of grade in school, that's like second grade. At this age, kids are able to walk more and don't require a huge stroller to get them around, they are more mature, they don't require a mid-day nap, yet they still will appreciate the magic that Disney is. Something I always think about is how much will they remember of the trip. Will went at this age and he is able to recall now things that happened on that trip. I went when I was 10 years old and that was a great age too. My brother was 12 and he wasn't "too old" for it (even though he was almost a teen). I guess the most important things to remember is that it's going to be hot, it's going to be crowded, and you are going to wait in line for at least 45 minutes-1 hour for each ride. By the time they are 7-8 they will be able to handle that better PLUS they will be able to actually ride the rides. I will be honest, I saw SO many people pushing around babies...I mean BABIES and they were so sweaty and grouchy and crying. You have to tote the big diaper bag and everything else that baby needs (I'm not a mom so I know that you moms that are reading this know the millions of other things babies need on a daily basis). Disney is an amusement park, you go for the rides and the shows and if you can't do those...then why go? Plus, once you are in the park you want to stay for a while. With a young child (under the age of 2) you will be more in and out of the park to get the child to nap, etc. Finally, let me be frank, Disney is NOT cheap. Personally, I would wait until I knew my child could appreciate it and remember it. Because trust me, when your child finds out you took them to Disney when they were two, they are REALLY going to start begging to go when they get old enough!
When I researched the best times of year to go, I came across many times when NOT to go. Several sources said to avoid the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas. SUPER crowded. I went in May and in February. May was HOT. Granted we were there during a heat wave where it was over 100 degrees everyday. In February, the weather was SO nice. We went at the very end of February and the temperature was in the mid-70s. It was heavenly considering the snow storms we were getting in Raleigh! At night you could get by with shorts and a long-sleeved shirt- temps dipped to the low 60s at night. I think the hottest it got was 80 degrees. Such a fabulous time to go! Another blog said that September was a great time to go. Prices are apparently cheaper at that time! I would also avoid the traditional school calendar summer schedule as those time will be extremely crowded as well.
Rides
So what kind of rides does Disney World have to offer? Disney has thrill rides, kids rides, and attractions (think It's a Small World) for all ages. Use the MyDisney App to check wait times, height requirements, and maps of the park. Set up your FastPass for rides that typically have longer wait times- no need to waste them on a 30 minutes or less wait time. Here are my personal favorite rides at each park:
- The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: Magic Kingdom: This is Magic Kingdom's newest ride, and it is AWESOME! I would say that it is a smoother version of Big Thunder Mountain (also found at Magic Kingdom, and my other favorite ride at MK). It is very interactive as you will see puppets come alive of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Its fast, smooth, exhilarating, and FUN. It is so detailed, you will feel like you are in the movie. Waiting in line isn't so bad for this ride. Interactive barrels of jewels, a touch screen gem game, and a water/musical instrument you can play while you wait is pretty entertaining too! Wait to ride it at night so you can stand under the beautiful lanterns and you will also have a great view of the fireworks. You don't want to miss this ride! Make sure to reserve a FastPass for this ride!
- Aerosmith's Rock 'n Roller Coaster: Hollywood Studios: THE thrill ride of all of the Disney parks. You will start in a car that looks like a giant limo. When you least expect it, the ride takes off from 0 to 57 MPH in under 2 seconds making it the second fastest Disney ride (only behind Epcot's Test Track). The whole time Aerosmith hits are BLARING in your ears. As you fly forwards at 57 mph it appears you are going to smash into a wall. At the last second the ride inverts you and you continue to fly around going through a corkscrew and other insane twists and turns. If you have ever had a fear of rollercoasters (like I had) sit at the front and enjoy the ride. It's the best way to face your fear (or scare you to death)! Check out this youtube video to experience the ride with the lights on. Now imagine it in pitch black!
- Expedition Everest: Animal Kingdom: Next to Rock 'n Roller Coaster, this is the next biggest thrill ride at Disney (in my opinion). Animal Kingdom is divided into different continents. You can find Expedition Everest in Asia. As you wait in line, you will see artifacts of explorers who tried to find the Yeti. The Yeti lives in Mount Everest and comes alive during your ride. The ride begins as it takes you up, up, up to the top of Mount Everest. Once you reach the point where you are expecting a giant drop, all you see is mangled track and no where to go but down...backwards. (Side note: sit at the front of this ride because you can also see all of the Disney parks once you are stopped at the top of this ride). Brace yourself because the ride is officially about to begin. You can hear the tracks shift and then you are plummeting backwards INTO the pitch black Mount Everest! Unexpected twist and turns will leave your head spinning! There's one large drop back into the sunlight as you escape the mountain. This ride is thrilling and fun and not for the faint of heart! Check out this video to experience one of the coolest rides Disney has to offer!
- Test Track- Epcot: Test track is an awesome hands-on ride at Epcot. You start by designing your own Chevrolet car on a touchscreen computer. After you have designed your car and saved it to your MagicBand or Disney Card, you enter the ride. The ride itself is a 6-seater simulation car. You scan your card or MagicBand as you enter the car and your simulation car takes on the specs of the car you designed. The first part of the ride, your "car" is going through a safety test. You'll experience different speeds, twists and turns, and slamming on brakes. Finally, you emerge to the best part of the ride. The test track. You will fly around a almost mile long track at speeds topping at 65 mph! The fastest ride at Disney! After the ride you can view how efficient your car was. Pretty awesome!
FOOD
Now that we've talked rides, lets talk FOOD! Disney is home to some of the best food you can eat! If you are looking for a nice meal and something not too "concession-stand like" then head over to Epcot. With 11 countries to choose from, you are sure to find a restaurant that will satisfy you! We ate at Teppan Edo in Japan at Epcot and it was the best meal we had while at Disney. Some of the best Japanese food we have ever eaten! We sat at a table that sits about 8 people, so we got to meet and converse with some really nice people! If you are from the Raleigh area, I would compare this restaurant to Kanki...but better! We sat beside a couple from California. We had been talking to them and when the waitress brought out the sauces, they told us that the holy-grail of all Japanese sauces, the Yum-Yum sauce (or shrimp sauce) was something they had never eaten! They apparently don't serve it in California Japanese restaurants! Those west coast folks are missing out! Here is a full menu. Warning: it will make you hungry!
In Magic Kingdom, we grabbed a quick dinner at Casey's Corner, a baseball themed hotdog restaurant. They serve corndog nuggets and they were to DIE for! I love a corndog! Here's a full menu if you are interested!
Another MUST have treat at Magic Kingdom is a Dole Whip. This fellow blogger does the BEST job describing the ever-so-fabulous Dole Whip. YERM!
I wish we were there for more days so we could have eaten at more places! For a full list of restaurants and descriptions, click here!
Transportation
Getting from park to park can be a little overwhelming especially if you have no idea what to do. I would suggest studying up on the monorail and other forms of transportation. The monorail does not visit all parks. You also want to make sure you check park times and how late the different forms of transportation run. For example, our hotel (which was not a Disney hotel) ran the last taxi from the park to the hotel at 11 PM. We were at Magic Kingdom which closed at 1AM and we were not about to give up 2 hours at the park. This is when we had to use an alternative taxi service called Uber. Use the Uber app to "hail" a taxi and the Uber driver will come to wherever you are and pick you up. Uber drivers, according to their website, have gone through multiple background checks to ensure safety. Being a paranoid person that I am, I can attest and say that this is a safe app and it is used frequently and all over the country. Its fast, convenient, and you pay the taxi driver via the app. It doesn't get any easier. We used Uber to take us from our hotel to our cruise ship port, and from the cruise ship port to the airport. We also used it from Magic Kingdom to our hotel twice while at Disney. This is a great alternative when you've missed the hotel taxi service or you want to travel outside of the Disney parks in Orlando.
One little trick that we discovered: while visiting Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, instead of waiting in the HUGE line to take the tram directly to Magic Kingdom (you will find that most people do this) take the tram to Epcot. I'm telling you, the line to Epcot will be a lot shorter and you are guaranteed to get on the first tram that comes instead of having to wait for a second tram to arrive. Once at Epcot go directly to the monorail. Hop on the monorail and take it directly to the entrance of Magic Kingdom. What most people don't realize, is that once you are at Magic Kingdom, you have to either monorail or take the ferry boat to get INTO the park. By pass all the crazy lines by hitting Epcot first (it's also closer to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom when you tram over) and hopping on the monorail there.
Gift Shops
Most of the gift shops sell the same shirts/souvenirs. If you find a shirt you LOVE but they don't have it in your size, don't fret! Just check one of the million other gift shops (this is across parks as well)! Also, some gift shops have a cell phone charging station! We found this in the gift shop directly connected to Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom!
What to Pack
The last piece I am going to talk about is what to pack in your bag or purse that you are taking INTO the parks. Before you are allowed to enter into the park, you have to have all bags checked. Make this process a lot faster by taking one bag, I suggest a small backpack or a purse with a long strap that can go diagonally across your chest. These types of bags are easier to carry and both of your hands will be free. Your really don't need to carry TOO much into the park. If you are an avid rider, you will have to park your bag at your feet. You want something small enough that will not get in the way during the ride. Most rides have a pocket for you to slip your bag into as well. Here is a list of what I carried in my small backpack:
- wallet with ID, Disney admissions card, credit cards, and a small amount of cash
- Wet Ones antibacterial hand wipes OR hand sanitizer
- chapstick
- sunglasses (I suggest wearing a Croaky or some other sunglasses strap in case your forget to remove them during a ride)
- hair brush with hair ties (your hair will be a HOT mess after some of those rides!)
- poncho (Florida is notorious for random rain storms during the day. Don't be caught in the rain without one, or having to spend top dollar for one at a gift shop)
- Advil/Tylenol/Aleve and any other OTC pain meds. Your feet will HURT. BAD. Also, some rides (ahem...Space Mountain) had me clenching my teeth so hard I had a headache after I got off the ride. Having some meds was great to have, and also I didn't have to pay a pretty penny at the gift shop either!
- Small sunscreen (if you are there during a HOT month)
- Gum
- iPhone or other cell phone AND charger. You are going to want to have your phone close at hand, especially if you are like us and use it as your camera. BE CAUTIOUS of this. Most likely you will have your phone in your hands as you wait in the long lines but please remember to put your phone back in your bag. A lot of rides involve water that can damage your phone. Also, with the twists and turns that some rides have to offer, you would be kicking yourself if your phone fell out of your pocket and you get a cracked screen, or squished phone! Take a charger with you because there are charging stations throughout the park. We found one in the gift shop directly connected to Space Mountain. You will be using your phone to check the MyDisney app, play on while you wait in long lines, and take pictures. You don't want a dead phone half-way through the day.
I think I have covered most of the high points of Disney. If I have left anything out or you have any questions, contact me via Facebook, Twitter, or comment on the post!
-Cassie