1. The all-time best tip is to get to the parks at park opening or “rope drop.” You will get more done in the first three hours of the day than probably the next six hours. The parks get full, the weather gets warmer and overall, it's just a little slower paced after noon. If you get there before the park opens (plan to be at the gate at 8:45 or so for a 9:00 opening), you'll have time to do the most. Also, at the Magic Kingdom, there is an opening show that is really cute!
2. Veer left! Lots of people laugh at this tip, but it does work. If a ride has two lines, take the left one. When you enter a park, go left instead of right. As for quick serve locations, look for the register on the far left. People's natural instincts is usually to go right without thinking about it, so left almost always gives you shorter lines/waits.
3. If there is a particular character that your kids want to see, check the times guide and go to the first chance of meeting that character. For example, if you really want to meet Merida, since she isn't at the character meals, you'll have to go to her meet and greet. If the times guide (you get one at the entrance to each park) says that Merida will be at her location from 9:30-10:00, 11:00-11:30, 2:00-4:00, etc., then plan to go to the 9:30 one and actually be at her designated spot at 9:15. The lines only get longer as the day goes on and the character lines can get really brutal by the end of the day. If you can't catch the first one, at least aim for the second one or definitely a morning one.
4. If you want character signatures, bring an autograph book, a pillowcase, hat, or t-shirt and a sharpie marker.
5. It rains often during certain months of the year, so I always grab some $1 cheap ponchos at the dollar store before heading to Disney. Don’t worry, the sun usually doesn’t stay away for long!
6. You are allowed to bring bottled water, snacks, etc. into the parks so you might pack some easy snacks like peanut butter crackers, fruit snacks, etc. for when you don't want to take the time or money to get a quick bite.
7. I always hit the Disney section at Target and also the Disney store before we go on a trip and buy some goodies to pack in secret. I give the kids these items throughout the trip and it curbs some of the "wants" during the trip. A t-shirt on sale at the Disney store might be $8 and at the parks, it'll be $20. We also give the kids a gift card with their spending money on it and that's what they get for the trip. This may not work as well for a 2-year-old, but older kids understand how that works. You can get Disney gift cards at the Disney store, Walgreens, Target or most other shopping stores.
8. We also buy Disney gift cards to use for snacks and quick meals (if not on a dining plan) so we aren't always fishing out cash or using the credit card. Any money left on the cards can be used on souvenirs or even back home at the Disney Store, so it won't go to waste.
9. If you want to ride something that your little ones can't or won't ride, you can tell the ride operator that you want to do "child swap" and one of you can ride with your older kiddo and then as soon as they get back, the other adult can ride again with the same kiddo.
10. If you see a souvenir in the parks that you definitely want, be sure to go ahead and get it or remember where you saw it. Many things are sold only in particular shops or in particular parks. Remember that you can always have items you purchase sent back to your hotel by giving the store your hotel information. They will have your items waiting for you at the gift shop of your hotel when you return that evening or in the morning. So you can’t use this option on your last day of your trip.
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