55 Essential Disney World Tips, Tricks, and Dad Hacks

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So many of us grew up with the magic of Disney. It’s something that will live on in our hearts forever — no matter how old we get.

When you’re ready to share the joys of Disney with your little ones, be sure to adhere to these 55 tips and tricks to create the most magical moments.

1. Host a Few Disney Movie Nights

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Before you go, hype the whole family up with a few different movie marathons. It makes meeting their favorite characters – as well as the classics like Donald Duck – all the more magical. 

2. Purchase an Autograph Book on Amazon

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Having an autograph book on hand is a lot of fun as everyone meets their favorite Disney characters. Purchase one on Amazon before you go since they’ll be far more expensive at the park. 

3. Go For a Week

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It’s possible to do Disney over a long weekend but, boy, will you feel rushed. A good rule of thumb is to spend four days at the parks – one day for each park – along with a day or two in between to lounge at the pool. 

To create the best master plan, be sure to review our guide to the best rides in Disney World.

4. Stay In a Resort

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When you stay in a Disney resort or a hotel with a partnership with the parks, you can gain access to a lot of helpful perks, including free shuttle services and early entry to the park.

5. Use Your Points Card

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If you have a travel or rewards card, now’s the time to put them to work. It’s no surprise this won’t be a cheap week but if you earn travel rewards or cash back, that’s a great way to feel like you didn’t totally break the bank.  

6. Check In Online

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Many resorts offer online check-in prior to your arrival. This is a nice way to avoid at least one of the lines you’ll face throughout the week.

7. Make a Plan

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You can’t do it all. Ask everyone for their top picks. Spend some time executing a master plan that will help everyone check something off their list in a reasonable timeline. 

8. Check the Crowd Calendars

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There are crowd calendars online that can help you avoid the busiest times of the year – Easter and Christmas.

If there’s a little wiggle room on when the kids can be out of school, aim for a quieter week of the year. 

9. Look for Festivals

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You can look at this one of two ways: either you want to see the festivals or you want to avoid them.

It depends on your group’s age range. For example, Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival is probably more fun for the adults than the kiddos.  

10. Hire a Disney Travel Agent

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Did you know you can hire a Disney Vacation planner for free if you book it online? This is a fantastic way to have the pros answer all your questions before you go. 

11. Don’t Forget About the Water Parks

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Of course, you’re here for the main four parks. But, water parks are so special and a great way to beat the heat. See if you can work a water park into your week – without overloading the schedule. 

12. Consider a Split Stay

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Booking a resort is the best way to go for so many reasons. But, don’t feel bad if it’s not within the budget. 

Consider a split stay with a few days at a resort and a few days at a more affordable Airbnb. On the non-park days, you can enjoy your Airbnb’s amenities or go to a water park. 

13. Wear Walking Shoes

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Make sure you have your sturdiest, most reliable pair of shoes with great arch support.  You don’t want to wear a new pair of shoes that might let you down. 

14. Dress In Light, Breathable Clothing

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There’s no getting around Florida’s swamp-like weather in the heat of summer. Expect to sweat – a lot. Wear light, breathable material that can wick away the sweat. 

15. Pack Sunblock

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Speaking of the unforgiving Florida sun, you’ll definitely need to reapply sunblock every few hours.

It might be helpful to pack a stick for your face and a spray bottle for your shoulders, arms, and legs. 

16. Bring a Cooling Towel

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When you start to see flushed faces, put a cooling towel around everyone’s necks. Many of them can help keep you cool for hours and even have UPF. 

17. Prepare for the Rain

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In Florida, especially in the summer, it can be sunny one minute and black as night the next. Bring a few rain ponchos for everyone to wear when a downpour hits. 

18. Protect Yourself From the Sun

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In addition to sunblock, you’ll also do well to wear a hat and sunglasses. UV shirts aren’t a bad idea, either. 

19. Hop On the Monorails

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Whenever you can hop on a boat, gondola, or monorail, do it. Even with these short breaks, you’ll still be getting thousands of steps in each day and this offers everyone a nice break. 

20. Rent a Stroller

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Even if your kiddo is out of this stage of life, rent a troller anyway. When he or she gets tired, you’ll be glad to offer some rest.

You can also store all your water bottles and trinkets in the basket at the bottom of the stroller. 

21. Stock Up on Stroller Accessories

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Whether you rent a stroller or bring your own, you can really deck it out in the most useful way.

Add a few extra cup holders, attach a portable fan that can be passed around, and store all your essentials down below. 

22. Be There for the Rope Drop

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It’s worth it to hype everyone up in the morning and get them out the door first thing.

When you’re there for the rope drop, the excitement is real and it gives you a head start on the crowds.

23. Take Your Photos First

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You’ll be taking pictures all day long. But, if your aim is to decrease your phone time, take your pics right in the beginning so you can focus on the fun.

Everyone will also be a little less sweaty before the excitement and sun start to set in. 

24. Ask Cast Members to Take Photos

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If one person is usually the designated picture-taker, it reduces the number of group photos.

Cast members will be more than happy to snap a family pic or two whenever you ask. 

25. Purchase a Waterproof Cell Phone Pouch

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One of the best ways to cool off is on the water rides. A plastic pouch around your neck may not be cool, but it’s totally worthwhile when you consider the risk to your phone. 

26. Purchase an Instax or Polaroid

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It can be a lot of fun to pop out some instant photos right on the spot. Plan to bring an instant camera with you when you go.

This could even be a nice opportunity to stick your snaps with your favorite Disney characters beside their autographs. 

27. Work In Reverse

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As one of the first families in the park, hike all the way to the back, then work your way forward. Most people line up at the rides closest to the entrance first. 

28. Know the Ride Guidelines

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The worst thing you could do is hype the kiddos up for a ride they’ll be too short to enjoy.

Check the height requirements online before you go and double-check everyone’s latest measurements. 

29. Master the My Disney Experience App

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This is a park essential. The My Disney Experience (MDE) app will display wait times, save your tickets and passes, and review all your reservations.

As usual, the folks at Disney have thought of everything and it’s all right there at your fingertips. 

30. Find Your Friends on the My Disney Experience App

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The My Disney Experience (MDE) app also has a character section that details the times and locations for character greetings.

Weave this into your plans to make sure all the celebrity sightings are covered. 

31. Know the Bus Times

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The MDE app will also display bus wait times. If you time it right, you can fit in a snack before standing in yet another line just to board the bus. 

32. Invest In Genie+

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As part of the MDE app, this little genie allows you to make reservations for certain attractions and score a few Lightning Lane reservations. 

33. Give Everyone a MagicBand

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Everyone in your party should sport a MagicBand because it’s the best way to store their park tickets and help them tap into the rides using Genie+.

34. Use Mobile Food Ordering

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On the MDE app, you can order food from the nearest restaurant while you’re wrapping up your last ride.

It’ll save a ton of time, especially since you’ve spent a good portion of your day waiting in other lines. 

35. Pack Some Snacks

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Sometimes, hunger strikes when you’re trapped in an hour-long line. Be prepared with some Goldfish and fruit snacks to tide everyone over until mealtime. 

36. Get a Dole Whip

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In a list of tips and tricks to save a dime, there’s one snack you shouldn’t skip: the Disney Dole Whip.

It’s a unique pineapple soft-serve ice cream unique to the park and something you’re likely to enjoy. 

And it doesn’t have to stop there! We have an entire list of the best Disney food items for everyone to enjoy.

37. Bring Reusable Water Bottles

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You’ll find drinking fountains throughout the park and most quick-service restaurants are happy to offer up a glass for free.

There’s no need to pay for an overpriced bottle of water when you can reload as you go. 

38. Bring Some Entertainment

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Speaking of lines, see what you can do to keep everyone entertained while you’re standing there for an hour or so.

Purchase something small at the park like bubbles and download a fun trivia game on your phone for everyone to enjoy. 

39. Download the Disney Play App

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One of your forms of entertainment can be the Disney Play app that shows you where you are in the park.

It also features trivia questions and other games to make the line time a little more bearable. 

40. Don’t Be Afraid to Split Up

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In some instances, it might be wise to let Mom take the girls to see Elsa while Dad takes the boys to meet Buzz.

Everyone can regroup for a snack afterward and share their stories. 

41. Uber It

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If you’re not staying at a resort, renting a car may not be your best bet.

Finding parking and navigating the expansive parking lots is a lot, especially when everyone’s tired at the end of the day.

Plan to take Ubers or look into Disney’s Minnie Vans – a shuttle service in partnership with Lyft.  

42. Give Everyone a Gift Card

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Give everyone their own gift card so they can feel the sense of freedom (and responsibility) that comes with buying their own souvenirs and memorabilia. 

43. Open a Starbucks Account

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There are Starbucks inside all four parks. While you can’t use points to cash in on a caffeine break, you can earn points as you pay.

This is a nice way to come home with a little bit in your pocket as you return to your everyday routines. 

44. Don’t Forget About Package Pickup

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Did you know you can have all your souvenirs sent straight back to your Disney resort so no one has to lug them around all day?

If you’re staying in an Airbnb, you can still ask the store clerks to deliver your packages to the front of the park so you can pick them up as you’re leaving. 

45. Give Everyone a Backpack or Belt Bag

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Give everyone their own backpack, even the kiddos.

They don’t have to wear it all day, but it’ll be helpful for them to carry their gift cards, water bottles, sunblock, games, and other essentials. 

46. Go Home at Noon

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Take a midday break, especially if you were there for the rope drop.

Go back to your resort, sit by the pool, and enjoy a meal in the cafeteria. You can return to the park in the evening for the fireworks and parades. 

47. Ride the Rides During the Fireworks Show

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If you’ve already seen the fireworks show or the kids just aren’t into it, use that time to ride the rides in Magic Kingdom.

While everyone else is packed in around the castle, you can experience some seriously shortened ride times. 

48. Stay Home One Day

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Don’t think you have to go to the park every day.

Especially if you’re booked into a nice resort, plan to have at least one day where you just lounge around the pool and play games on-site. 

49. Pack a Deck of Cards

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Bring an old-fashioned deck of cards or Uno for the nights at the resort.

Everyone will be tuckered out from all the time spent at the park and in the pool; a simple evening activity like this out on the balcony can create some really nice memories. 

50. Make Sure the “Find My” App Is Working

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Double-check your “Find My” app on your iPhones before you go. If you have Androids, consider downloading Life360 or some other location-sharing alternative.

In case you get separated, you always want to find a way back to one another. 

51. Give Everyone an AirTag

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Stick an AirTag in everyone’s pockets, especially if they zip.

Mistakes happen; cell phones get lost. This way, you can always keep an eye on the whole group,

52. Pack a Portable Charger

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One thing’s for sure: you’re probably going to drain the battery on your phone. With all the photos, searching, browsing, and Disney apps, your phone may not last the day. 

If you can plug into a charger while you’re waiting on that especially long line, you’ll be glad you got everyone up and running again. 

53. Print Out the Maps

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How very old school. But, it’s helpful to print out a copy of the park’s map in case your phone dies or – worst case – it gets lost or damaged. 

54. Pack Your Patience

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Don’t go with the expectation you’ll skip the wait times and find the best shortcuts. Instead, plan to have oodles of long lines and wait times.

With the right expectations in place – and games on your phone – you can cruise through the wait times with a little less angst. 

55. Be a Kid Again

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Set aside all those clichés about Disney being too touristy or not a “real” vacation. It’s called the happiest place on earth for a reason.

Head into the trip expecting to be a kid again while you enjoy all the little things you used to love as a little one. 

Magic Awaits

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Disney is definitely the type of destination that requires a lot of planning. There’s so much to see and do, and you have precious little hearts to protect.

Still, with just an ounce of preparation, you can set realistic expectations and make everyone’s dreams come true.

Whether you’re headed to Disney in Florida, California, or further abroad, we have a destination guide to help you plan your entire trip from port to port.

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