Can we take a moment and reflect on my childhood Disney fashion choices? Pink fanny pack + SUPER high wasted jeans + turtle neck + center part?! Whew!
I love Disney World! Like, a lot. Maybe too much for a sensible adult. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my family at the magical parks. Some of my favorite young adult memories are of my friends and I at the parks. Living only 2 1/2 hours away from Orlando, Disney World is definitely a convenient vacation destination. Disney World is magical for children and adults, BUT it can be stressful. Here are some tips and tricks to have a magical time and keep any stress at bay!
1. Get to the parks EARLY! On our most recent trip, Ray and I arrived almost an hour early to the Magic Kingdom. This was sort of on accident (actually we planned on getting there early, then forgot we did it) but it ended up being perfect. We were able to watch the opening show and be some of the first people to walk into the park. We were also able to walk directly onto the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with a zero minute wait, while people generally have to wait between 45 mins to 1 1/2 hours in line.
2. Get the app! The My Disney Experience app is for sure a life saver (and time saver) while in the parks. You can schedule fast passes, see wait times, view maps of each park, and even make dining reservations for your party through the app.
3. Have a (flexible) itinerary! Know the rides/shows/parades/restaurants you want to attend before you go.
4. Cool (aka air conditioned) rides! I’ll be honest, going to Disney World in the summer is horrendous and I refuse to go between June and September. BUT, I understand that it’s the only option for some people.There will be times when you just HAVE to sit in the A/C. For this, I suggest finding the closest cool ride. Best cool rides – Carousel of Progress (my personal favorite), Philharmagic, Muppet’s 3D, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Haunted Mansion, Living in the Land, Spaceship Earth, indoor shows and most boat rides.
5. Utilize FastPass+! I don’t know if the Disney folks invented the idea of fastpasses, but it’s genius! FastPass+ allows you to schedule ride times for your party, resulting in very little wait time.
6. Some rides are better at night! On our most recent trip, the last ride we rode before we left Magic Kingdom was Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel. At night It was more magical and romantic than ever before. Other rides that fall into this category: Astro Orbiter, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain.
7. Stay on Disney property! If you’re staying in hotel you MUST stay in a Disney hotel. Yes, they can be a little bit more expensive- but believe me, it’s worth it! Disney hotels provide free transportation from the Orlando airport. You don’t have to worry about renting a car or catching a cab to the hotel. Disney hotels also provide free transportation to and from the parks which allows you to bypass the $17ish parking. This is awesome because Orlando traffic can be kind of terrible and confusing. If you’re staying in a Disney hotel and decide to drive your own vehicle, you still get free parking at the parks!
8. Experience the restaurants on Disney property. Disney is home to some of the best and highest rated restaurants in the state! Because of it’s international cuisine, Disney offers so many opportunities to try something new! Disney dining can be expensive, but it can also be a really unique, memorable, and delicious experience. I suggest saving a little extra cash for a nice meal. Most menus and prices are available online, so it’s easy to plan accordingly. When I was a child my parents would bring snacks and lunch food in a backpack for the day and then we would usually go out to dinner. This worked great for our family!
9. Take photos, but not too many! Disney World is magical and a great place for family photos. I mean, magic backdrops galore. Cast members and Photo Pass people will gladly take photos of you with your camera or phone. BUT, don’t spend all your time taking pictures! Fully enjoying the moment is always better than photographing it.
10. Have fun! Don’t stress out! Relax! Take in your environment! Don’t lose your mind when people accidentally run over you with a stroller! That last one was for me, btw. 😉
Disney veterans, what are some of your tips?
We watched the sun set at Fred Howard State Park, and witnessed an awkward matchy-matchy family photo shoot in the wild! See below! 
Sunday morning we decided to drive across the state to Cocoa Beach. First, we made a stop in Ybor City to have lunch at The Columbia restaurant, my favorite! You can’t beat the 1905 salad and sangria! Neither Ray nor I had been to Cocoa beach since the 90’s, and well, it hasn’t changed much. The Space Coast is pretty high on the tacky scale, but that’s only more reason to love it! We stayed in Fawlty Towers hotel (named after the show and run by Brits) which looks like a castle and is painted various shades of pink and teal. Fortunately, we were really close to the beach. Unfortunately, we slept on the most uncomfortable bed on planet earth. We spent Sunday afternoon swimming in the ocean! 
We drove home Monday and made a quick pit stop at Disney Springs for lunch and a little shopping! It was a great weekend!
