Disney or Bust!
Are you planning to make the BIG venture to the Happiest Place on Earth but not quite sure where to start or where to stay? I’m going to run a series of blog posts on the different parks and Disney resorts in Orlando to help you make your decision.
We are fortunate to live very close to Disney. With that, we have discovered several tricks of navigating the world of Disney as well as which resort is the best for OUR family. Which doesn’t mean it will be the best for you. So I will round up all the places we have stayed and maybe help you make your decision.
We have also tried out several restaurants, character dining experiences and how to beat the day without tantrums and fussing.
Let’s first start by planning out the parks to visit! As mentioned before, we are fortunate to live near the happiest place on earth. So we have taken full advantage of our Platinum Annual Disney passes. Which means we can visit all four amusement parks and the two water parks. So instead of trying to conquer a full day at Disney in the heat, we divide and conquer.
We will typically do a Character dining breakfast and head over to one of the water parks that open up at 10:00 AM for the majority of the year. It’s typically not too busy right at the open and you can get through quite a bit of slides and swimming. We have young boys. So…we adore nap time. This is the only way we do the parks. We split the day up. We spend 2-3 hours at the water park and than head back to the hotel for a nap. This is crucial to make it through the night without tantrums, fussiness and full on tears. We also beat the heat and the sun starts going down. So this is a win win across the board. You will not get to do everything BUT we get a lot done in a much smaller amount of time. We usually make it over to Disney around 5:00-6:00 PM after nap time. We schedule a dinner at Chef Mickey’s that is an absolute MUST. It’s very hard to get reservations if you don’t plan ahead but it’s worth it. The food is GOOD. Especially if you rather skip the junk food at the park and eat a sensible dinner. They have healthy options but a beautiful spread of desserts! 😉
Additionally, if you plan on eating at Chef Mickey’s, you can park at The Contemporary which makes it very EASY to get to/from the park. At the end of the night, you will be thanking me for taking the easy walk to your car instead of waiting in line for the tram, boat or bus….pick your poison. You get to your car in a matter of 15 minutes and you’re on your way. On the other hand, waiting for the tram or boat can take up to an hour to get to your car with the crowds.
We then have our three fast passes picked out. We don’t usually get to pick the 4th or 5th b/c of the time we get there but it works for us. We always plan it so that we have time to do the adorable shows that are in the area of the fast pass(which also note are great breaks during the hot days if you brave it out all day at the park). For instance, The Enchanted Tiki Room is an adorable show. Located right next to the Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse and Pirates of the Caribbean. My boys love it and it’s always a must when we go to Magic Kingdom. I must add, there is never a wait unless you’re waiting for the 10 minutes for the show to start, it has AC (great cool down when it’s how out) and it’s a good break to sit down and enjoy the show if you need a break.
My boys also love the Country Bear Show which is near Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. So another great spot that never has a wait, good cool down spot and a nice break. The Country Bears are humorous and entertain the kids while also entertaining the adults with indiscreet humor! 😉
You must plan out your fast passes in advance for a smooth day or at least to get the rides of your choice that are popular. You can plan 30 days in advance if you have your tickets booked and aren’t staying at a resort. You have 60 days if you are staying at a Disney Resort. So there are HUGE benefits for staying at the Disney resorts because the popular rides book up fast such as MineTrain, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and all the big rides.
For things you shouldn’t waste a fast pass on:
Mickey’s Philharmagic (another great show and cool down spot)
Monsters, Inc.
People Mover
Dumbo (has a great indoor playground for kids while you’re waiting)
Under the Sea (if you wait until the evening)
Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride
Mad Tea Party
Walt Disney Railroad
I wish I could say that It’s a Small World doesn’t need to be on your Fast Pass list but if it’s a must and you’ll be there during the day, you will definitely need one. The crowds don’t usually die down until about 10:00 PM for It’s a Small World.
Fast Pass Must’s, you’ll be waiting for at least an hour without one:
Mine Train
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan
Buzz Lightyear
The Barnstormer is usually about a 20-30 Minute wait
Haunted Mansion is anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour but the crowds start dying down in the evening. We get lucky and only wait about 20 minutes if we go around 9 PM or later.
Tomorrowland Speedway can be upwards of an hour also
We love taking a break at the Frontierland Shootin Arcade and grabbing some churros or pretzels for a nice snack.
We usually make it to about 11:00 PM or to closing at midnight since the boys had a nap and we managed to make it very smooth throughout the park. Once the sun goes down and the tantrums ensure, lots of people start clearing out. Especially after the fireworks, so although we have run through our fast passes and most of everything has been reserved, we actually manage to get a lot done since the crowds are less.
Let me know your thoughts and tips that work for you and your family when at Magic Kingdom?!?! I am always intrigued to hear new stories and new tips to make the day smooth and stress free.
With a 3 and 5 year old….. our days really are magical and full of laughter by understanding that the kids can only handle so much during the day. So we really try to maximize the quality of our time with keeping them upbeat and happy.
