Going to Disney World can either be a very stressful, overwhelming, exhausting process or a fun and magical vacation… it’s up to you! On June 30th, I took over Pinhole Press’s Instagram. I was there with my husband and almost two-year-old, 6 months pregnant, it was in the 90s, pretty crowded, thunderstorms rolling in early afternoon… and we had an amazing day!!
Here are a few tips for making sure you have a magical day at Disney, regardless of the conditions.
1. Arrive Early.
It’s harder than it sounds, convincing your family to wake up super early on vacation, but there are more advantages to getting to the parks early than I could possibly list off. I would always plan to arrive at the park BEFORE the parks technically even open. Most of the parks start opening their gates well before the stated opening time to handle crowd flow. By getting there early you can get on some of the busier attractions without much wait and enjoy the parks before it gets too hot or before bad weather comes in.
2. Drink lots of water.
Florida is hot hot hot in the summer! Between all the extra steps and the humidity, if you aren’t drinking enough water you’ll feel it. You can save some money by bringing your own water bottles (Disney allows you to bring in your own food and drink) or reusable water bottle.
3. Plan for a break in the middle of the day.
Arrive early but take a break in the middle of the day for a nap or some time by the pool! It will give everyone a chance to recharge, get off their feet, and step away from the crowds when the parks are hottest and most crowded. Some of my favorite Disney memories are from those hours we went back to the hotel for some pool time, even when I had been reluctant to leave the park in the first place!
4. Do your research and make a plan that works for your family.
Spend as much time as you can researching which rides and restaurants your family would most like to visit. Buy your tickets ahead of time so you can make your Fastpass+ reservations that work best for your schedule. I like to schedule my day so that we arrive early and do some rides that have longer wait times, then have my scheduled Fastpass+ reservations for early afternoon when the park is getting crowded, have a break during the later afternoon, and then come back and enjoy some attractions that don’t have as long of wait times and stay until fireworks!
5. Be flexible.
At the end of the day, it’s your vacation too! Try not to get too hung up on hitting everything on your list, make a few things the priority and anything else is just a bonus! Don’t try to do too much, especially if you are visiting when it is hot or crowded (or both!) and take time to rest throughout the day. Everyone will be much happier this way, even if it means you don’t do quite as many rides.
About the Author
Nicole Boggs is mom to Clara and mom-to-be to a little baby boy, and has been lucky enough to visit Disney World for mini-vacations hundreds of times. She shares all of her Disney planning tips and advice on her Instagram @WaltsWaytoVacation.