So you're going to Disney? Well you might want to know...

Here are some general tips you might want to keep in mind for your trip to Disney...you know, other than to have fun!


NEW! Ok, I'm not sure how new this actually is, but I just found out about it...Rider Switch Service. This allows one adult to stay with a child who is too short for a ride, or doesn't want to ride, and then board the ride as soon as one of the other adults gets off the ride. I said ride a lot just then. So  you stay with little Sally while your friends get in the regular line. As soon as they come out of the ride you get straight on it without waiting!

Just ask a cast member for a Rider Switch Pass then wait in the designated area. When the rest of your party returns present your pass to board the ride immediately. You can even take 1 person who has already ridden the ride with you. This is available at all four Disney Parks, but only for certain rides. Check Rider Switch Availability here.

Parkhopper Passes: These passes allow you to visit all four of the Disney parks for one price rather than buying four different passes, which will of course save you money. This is especially the way to go if you plan on going to more than one park in one day.

Seeing the Parks:
- While having a day per park would be best, it is very possible to do two parks per day.
- The best thing you can do is decide which rides/attractions you are willing to wait in long lines for and which you are willing to skip, ahead of time. Popular rides often have wait times around 90 minutes.
- Upon entering the park get the day's schedule of shows and character meet and greets so that you can make a plan and not miss anything.
- Pick up Fast Passes (passes that give you a specified time to return to the ride to enter the Fast Pass line, which is often very short) for rides as soon as you enter the park. They stop giving them out early afternoon.

Parking: Parking is just around $15. If you go from one park to another in the same day, keep your parking ticket and only pay once.

Transportation between Parks: Buses run between all parks and are free. They run quite frequently. The tram at Epcot will only take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can catch other rides. For more info check here.
Food: You will want to check into Disney's Meal Plan if you are going with a large group. For small groups or couples it may be cheaper to buy each meal. At the cafeteria like restaurants the average meal is $10. The sit down restaurants vary in price and you will probably need a reservation.

Souvineers: If you buy large items, or a lot of items, and are not yet leaving the park you can have your package held and pick it up near the front gate when you leave. A fantastic way to get a souvineer from every park and remember your favorite parts of each park is Pin Trading. Pins can be bought in almost every shop and pin stands are located around the park. You can also approach most characters and staff members (all called cast memmbers) and trade pins with them. Make sure you pick up a lanyard so you can wear your pins throughout the day.

Children: Nothing much to say here, it's obviously a place for children. But a great deal of your day at Disney will be spent waiting in lines, so bring snacks and/or things to entertain. If you have a child in a stroller be prepared to have to leave your stroller in designated stroller parking areas a lot. These areas are unattended.

Photographs: Throughout the park you will see employees set up with cameras on tri-pods, greatest Disney idea ever! Pick up a Photo Pass (available from the employees), give the pass to the photographer, have your picture taken. Your picture will be scanned onto your card and will then be available online. You can share pictures online for a limited amount of time for free, or edit and order prints you like. You will find photographers at the most popular spots of all the parks (the Tree of Life, Cinderella's Castle, etc) and at the character meet and greets.

Disney World - The Parks and Tips

It would take me a very long time to tell you about my trip and how much fun we had and how much stuff we did. So instead I'm going to give some basic tips and suggestions based on what I learned and experienced. And I think I'll do this by park. But what you must remember, these parks are gigantic and packed with things to do. It would take me a very long time to list and talk about them all. So I'm going to stick to my favorites and strongest recommendations. Use the provided links to do some exploring on your own and see what you and your family or friends would enjoy the most. After each park I'll list some hints and tips particular to that park.

Disney is made up of four theme parks and Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney is a shopping, eating, entertainment district within the Disney limits. It's free park and visit, and offers several great restaurants such as Planet Hollywood and House of Blues ( I recommend T-Rex, a shoot off of the Rainforest Cafe that takes you back several million years). After you eat check out World of Disney, the largest place to pick up your Disney merch. The kids can have fun at the interactive theme-park, Disney Quest, or catch a movie at the AMC. Non-Disney shops are also offered as well as a giant arcade and the Cirque du Soleil theater, showing La Nouba. If you have a free afternoon this is the place to be.

Epcot -

Epcot is divided into two large sections, Future World and and the World Showcase. Future World is dominated by the giant silver sphere, which houses the ride Spaceship Earth. This is a slow moving ride that takes you back through time and then into the future. There's even a fun, interactive surprise at the end of the ride. The next near by ride is Mission: SPACE, a ride that simulates what an astronaut might feel and experience during a flight to Mars. Choose between the regular intense ride, or a less intense version with less simulated spinning. After the ride you can play around the Advanced Training Lab, full of interactive games and simulations. Have you ever wondered what a crash test dummy feels like during General Moters' safety and quality tests? If you have, you need to visit the Test Track. After loading into your car and testing the suspension, ABS, and taking several hairpin turns, you're let loose onto the testing track to experience a thrilling jump up to 60 mph as you bank around the entire Test Track building. I personally recommend Ellen's Energy Adventure inside the Universe of Energy building. It's a funny, multimedia attraction that teaches while entertaining, and stars Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy.

The World Showcase will literally take you all over the world. Walk though pavilions that make you feel as if you've just stepped into the countries of Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, and Norway. Each area features shops and restaurants from that particular region and some offer additional rides. You can catch a street show, or meet some of the Disney characters all throughout the Showcase.

Get a fast pass for Test Track and Mission: Space. Both have long wait times. Although, the line for the less intense ride of Mission: Space does have a shorter line. Spaceship Earth is a continually loading ride so the line moves very quickly.

Hollywood Studios -

If you're a fan of the silver screen there's lots for you to love about Hollywood studios. The Great Movie Ride takes you through scenes of some of the most classic and memorable movies moments in history. You'll know you've found this ride when you find the full-scale reproduction of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Perhaps the biggest draw to Hollywood Studios is the infamous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Everyone wants to know what it would feel like to plummet down a dark elevator shaft, right? Well you couldn't have more fun doing just that than at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Right next to the Tower is the Rock 'n' Roller coaster, complete with an Aerosmith soundtrack for your ride.



The last scene of Fantasmic! Mickey on the Mountain.

Aside from the rides, Hollywood Studios offers a lot of fantastic live shows. You can see some of the most memorable scenes of Indiana Jones recreated right before your eyes in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Or learn the secrets behind the movies stunts and effects in the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and the Studio Backlot Tour. If you're still around at night join Mickey in his dreams for the amazing live action, water, and light show, Fantasmic!

Fast passes are definitely recommended for Rock 'n' Roller coaster and Tower of Terror. Wait times often exceed 90 minutes. The Studio Backlot Tour closes around 5, so make sure to get there early. If you stay for a late show of Fantasmic! when the show lets out get yourself right next door to the Tower of Terror for a shorter wait time. If you are at Hollywood Studios on a cold day see the Indiana Jones show early in the day, if it gets too cold the show cannot run all the way through due to the possibility of mechanical failure from cold.

Animal Kingdom -

Tree of Life

See live animals, ride a few rides, dig up some dinosaur bones, and catch a show. This park is divided into several "zones", each with a unique feel. Dinoland USA is predominately an area for smaller kids, but if you're looking for a thrill ride with dinosaurs you'll want to check out Dinosaur, an indoor ride to the past. A little dark and scary for small kids. Animal Kingdom's thrilling roller coaster is Expedition Everest, in the Asia Zone, and takes you right through the majestic mountain. There are a lot of opportunities to see animals: The Discovery Island Trails, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail,  and the Maharajah Jungle Trek. If you're looking for a truly unique experience,  the Kilimanjaro Safari will take you out into the Savannah in an open caravan to see rhinos, elephants, giraffes and more as they roam in a natural habitat. Plus, you might get the chance to run off some nasty poachers.

Mama and baby Elephant in the Safari

You can't miss the Tree of Life, and if you want to wander on inside the tree you can see the It's Tough to be a Bug show. Some other shows you can catch in Animal Kingdom include the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo - The Musical. As far as meeting the characters go, keep an eye out for them, or see when certain characters are scheduled to appear at Camp Minnie Mickey.

The line for the Safari can get very long, Fast Pass recommended. It also closes earlier than the park. A fast pass is also recommended for Expedition Everest, although even with a fast pass we were not able to get on this ride. The Trails and Trecks are a great way to spend some time seeing beautiful animals without having to wait in any lines.



Magic Kingdom -

Magic Kingdom is divided into 7 lands, with Cinderella's castle in the middle. In Tomorrowland you'll find a space age land from the future. Among other rides here you'll find the Astro Orbiter and Space Mountain. If you continue around the park in a counterclockwise fashion you'll next find yourself in FantasyLand, home to the famous Mad Tea Party, Dumbo, and It's a Small World. With the long waits for these rides, if you don't have small children and a fast pass, you may want to skip over Fantasyland. Liberty Square brings you The Haunted Mansion, a ride that is as technologically and holographically amazing as it is fun. Although the ride is dark, it's isn't too scary. Moving onto Frontierland, you'll find Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a small coaster with a big punch. Adventureland is where you'll find Pirates of the Caribbean, the Swiss Family Treehouse, and the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. At the front gate you'll walk down Main Street USA which is full of shops.

There are a lot of places to meet the Characters throughout the park, so be sure to check for places and times. Also check for times and dates that you can catch the Main Street Electrical Parade, a parade full of Disney's most loved characters lit up from head to toe. There are also shows that take place in front of Cinderella's castle, so check times and dates.

Get fast passes for any and all rides possible. Not much in this park has a short wait time, especially the "famous rides" such as Space and Splash Mountain, It's a Small World, and the tea cups. If you catch the Main Street Electrical Parade and then rush to a ride as soon as the parade has passed you, you may avoid lines. We got a five minute wait at Pirates by doing just that. You may not realize it, but you cannot drive right up to Magic Mountain. You must park a mile away and then take the tram or a ferry to the entrance of the park. When it is time to leave, make sure you account for the lines that will form at the tram/ferry and then again at the shuttles that take you to your area of the parking lot. And you won't want to skip that shuttle....they could fit Magic Kingdom in the MK parking lot, and still park 500 cars! And a special note that Mickey's Toontown Fair will be closing in February 2011 for Fantasyland expansion construction.

NEW! Ok, I'm not sure how new this actually is, but I just found out about it...Rider Switch Service. This allows one adult to stay with a child who is too short for a ride, or doesn't want to ride, and then board the ride as soon as one of the other adults gets off the ride. I said ride a lot just then. So  you stay with little Sally while your friends get in the regular line. As soon as they come out of the ride you get straight on it without waiting!

Just ask a cast member for a Rider Switch Pass then wait in the designated area. When the rest of your party returns present your pass to board the ride immediately. You can even take 1 person who has already ridden the ride with you. This is available at all four Disney Parks, but only for certain rides. Check Rider Switch Availability here.