55 Essential Disney World Tips, Tricks, And Dad Hacks
An insiderâs guide to the worldâs most magical â and most crowded and most complicated and biggest â amusement park.

You donât go to Disney World to unplug. If you need to turn your mind off and get away from all responsibilities, head to a sandy shore and unfold your beach chair. But if you want to be entertained and surprised, thrilled and fed, to build more cinematic vacation memories for the whole family â then by all means, book a ticket to Orlando.
But, and you probably know this, youâre going to need to do some work. You need to get fluent in the language of Disney World â a bureaucratic tongue laid out in the My Disney Experience app and Genie+ systems and Disney.go.com. You also need to have a plan, an itinerary, and it should probably be marked on a map. You need to treat Disney World with the respect the 39-square-mile amusement park with 173 rides, more than 200 restaurants, and 77,000 cast members that draw roughly 160,000 guests a day deserves.
Letâs be clear: The folks at Disney World will give your kids a wildly entertaining experience. Thatâs pretty much a given. But to get the most out of it â and you do want to get the most out of it after youâve dropped $200-plus per person per day on average â you should talk to those who have been there. Better yet, those who live for Disney and have been there over and over. To offer some well-informed Disney World tips, tricks, and hacks, we talked to the bona fide Disney experts â mostly dads because, hey, weâre Fatherly â as well as experienced parents whoâve learned a thing or two about what really makes a memorable trip to the Magic Kingdom. Here they are in no particular order. We hope they help.
01Prioritization Is Key
You wonât be able to do everything, and youâll want to leave room for those impromptu memories that just sort of happen at Disney World. So, before you arrive, have everyone choose one or two attractions theyâre looking forward to the most, and make sure to do those things. The rest is all bonus.
02Arrive Early
Veterans call this getting there by ârope drop,â which simply means arriving when the park opens. Whichever way you say it, the early hours are cooler and, likely, less crowded.
03 The Midday Break Is A Must
This is the key to a meltdown-free time. Memorize this schedule: Be at the park by ârope drop.â Leave by 11 to noon. Get some food. Put the kids down for a nap. Hang in the pool. Relax. Return in the late afternoon around 4 or 5 for more attractions and the fireworks display.
04Stretch Every Morning
Thereâs a lot of walking and standing and kid-carrying involved in a Disney trip. Donât go in cold.
05Wear The Right Shoes
Donât wear new ones. Break them in first. And donât wear old crappy sneakers, either. Youâll likely be walking upward of 10 miles each day. Bring two pairs of comfortable sneakers and rotate them.
06Work In Reverse
That is, start at the back of the park and move toward the front. Yes, itâs a bit of a hike. But youâll be able to experience less crowded attractions earlier in the day (most parkgoers will hit the closest rides first) and be closer to the entrance by the time youâre ready to leave.
07Go Left
Hereâs another early day decision making tip: When you come to a fork in the road, go left. We live in a right-handed world, so if you want to avoid some crowds, all you need to do is head left at all your forks in the road in the beginning of the day. It works â and makes for one less decision on your part.
08Buy The Bucket
âDisneyâs popcorn bucket is the deal of a century. The bucket is a great collectible and itâs such an easy snack. Also, itâs very inexpensive to fill the bucket ($2 per refill) and itâs better than your local theater popcorn.â â Jeremey Acevedo, a PlanDisney expert and dad of three kids aged 17, 14, and 11
09Spring For Genie+
The service, which is baked into the My Disney Experience app, allows you to reserve times at certain attractions and gives you the option to purchase Lightning Lane reservations for up to two in-demand rides per day. Itâs worth it.
10Make Use Of The Parkâs Transportation
The monorails, boats, and gondolas are all fun ways to traverse the park â and give you and the kids some much-needed time off your feet.
11Rent A Stroller
Even if your kids are a little too big for it, think of it as a mobile command unit where all your stuff can be stored.
12Resist The Urge To Wake
If your kid is sleeping in the stroller, donât wake them up to see something at the park. Yes, itâs probably something theyâd like to see. But they can see it later. Let them rest.
13Get A Dole Whip
Just do it. Some things are worth the hype, and the famous frozen treat is one of them. It comes in other flavors besides pineapple, sure, but pineapple is still the best.
14Keep Your Eye On The Prize
âThe first and probably most important thing is we all know about the Disney fireworks. This is the momentous occasion that will stick with you your entire life. You want to stay up for that. So take a midday break. And donât mess with their sleep schedule.â â J.A.
15Seek These Snacks
Disney World offers some seriously great snacks. Searching for something sweet? Scat Catâs Club CafĂ©âs Mickey beignets are fantastic. And no one does a Warm Cinnamon Roll quite like Gastonâs Tavern. In terms of savory snacks, Flame Tree Barbecueâs Baked Macaroni & Cheese With Pulled Pork is a winner, as is the Sweet & Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow.
16Chat With Cast Members
Pretty much anyone who works at Disney is technically a cast member, and whether theyâre costumed characters or vendors, they all have interesting tips and advice for park visitors.
17Fight The Funk
Florida is humid. In the summer, it can feel like youâre trapped in a mouth. Prepare yourself by wearing sweat-wicking underwear and socks and investing in some talcum powder.
18Pack These Items
No, these arenât necessities, but theyâll make your time in the park a lot smoother: a collapsible stool (to sit while waiting on long lines); a small, packable blanket (for sitting on while watching parades and fireworks); carabiners or hooks (for attaching things to your stroller or backpack like a souvenir or, oh, a big popcorn bucket); and a spray bottle (to mist the kids and yourselves).
19Split Up
âYou can split up. In fact, do split up if your kids are different ages or just like different things. There are usually rides right next to each other. For example, Buzz Lightyear (which is slow) is next to Tron (which is fast, and dark). And at the same time, youâll get one-on-one time. My son didnât want to see Anna and Elsa, so my wife took my daughters and we went on Winnie the Pooh. Nobody lost time. And we gained that one-on-one time.â â J.A.
20Rely On Rider Switch
The Rider Switch program, which is available at certain rides and coordinated through cast members, allows one adult to wait with a child who doesnât want to ride while the other family members ride. Once the other family members have ridden, the waiting parent can enjoy the attraction without having to wait in line again.
21Eat These Foods At Epcot
The best food in the park, hands down, is at Epcot, where there are cuisines from 11 countries. Some highlights include the Norwegian School Bread at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, the Japanese Shaved Ice at Kabuki Cafe, the Caramel Sâmores at Karamell Kuche, and the Nutella Fried Beignets at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.
22Toss The Ball
âI like to bring a ball, gloves, a Frisbee⊠something along those lines to enjoy in the resort. I remember throwing the football outside Disneyâs Polynesian. It was an amazing experience that the kids will remember. And you can take that football back home and say âRemember when...â â Jason Kaplan, a PlanDisney expert and dad of two sons, 20 and 16
23Donât Mess With Routines Too Much
Yeah, some things will be out of whack because thatâs what happens on vacation. But if your kid normally naps in the afternoon do what you can to ensure they have that opportunity. This will make things much smoother â and prevent the postvacation nightmare of having to reintroduce schedules.
24The Baby Care Centers Are Your Friends
âIf your toddler needs a break, take them to a baby care center, a place where all the sensory stuff goes away. Itâs the quiet space that you sometimes need.â â J.A.
25Snap A Morning Photo
Do it for the memories, before the kids become a sweaty mess. But also do it because itâs helpful to have an up-to-date photo to show if your kids ever get lost.
26Bring Plenty Of Plastic Baggies
Use them to hold your phone and wallet when youâre on water rides, store leftovers, and make security checks easier.
27Embrace Mobile Food Ordering
Itâll save you a ton of time. Everyone can choose what they want while youâre waiting in line, and then you just go pick it up after you get off a ride. This is all done through the My Disney Experience app, which also displays the closest restaurants to you.
28Bring Layers
âA lightweight jacket is super helpful. Also bring a pair of jeans, sweatpants, a sweatshirt. Use compression bags, squeeze it all together, and leave some room. If itâs your first or 50th trip, youâll buy something. Oh, and lay it out in the morning.â â J.K.
29Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen.
You donât want to ruin a trip to Disney World due to sunburn â thatâs a mistake to make at the beach. So put on sunscreen and have everyone wear full-coverage hats. Set a timer on your phone to remind yourself to reapply.
30Keep A Full Cup Of Ice
Every food location at Disney World will give you a free cup of ice water if you ask for it. Great for thirst. Also great for wetting a cooling towel.
31The Cooling Towel Is Clutch
Be sure to pack one. Or four. A great option is the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad. It retains water while staying dry to the touch and cool for hours. (evaporative cooling FTW). Itâs also UPF 50+.
32Bottle Your Back
Stack any insulated bottles with ice water in the body-facing side of your backpack to keep your back nice and cool as you walk through the park carrying the kids. Heaven.
33Make Use of the Lockers
âThere are lockers at the front of the park, and you can always go back to them. Thereâs only so much you should be carrying around.â â J.K.
34Get Excited!
Build up the excitement while youâre in line. Freak out if you see a character you know the kids will love. Hype up the fireworks display. Anticipation makes for bigger thrills.
35Ride The Disney Railroad
When your energy starts to fade, the Disney Railroad (20 minutes, round-trip) is a great ârideâ for the kids that also gets you off your feet. The Skyliner, a free cable car, is another way to âsit and enjoy the viewâ as you travel between Epcot, Disneyâs Art of Animation Resort, Disneyâs Caribbean Beach Resort, Disneyâs Pop Century Resort, Disney's Riviera Resort, and Hollywood Studios (and back again if youâre just along for the ride or the kids are snoring).
36Plan the Action Upfront
âMost folks go to Disney for about a week. So, youâre there five days, six nights with four to five days of park tickets. Thatâs pushing it to the limit if you think youâre going every day and spending every moment in the park. Youâre going to be tired. Instead, put your back-to-back days at the beginning. Then relax.â â J.A.
37Find These Fireworks Viewing Locations
The fireworks are a must-see event during any visit to Disney World. But the main viewing areas can be very crowded â and especially tricky if youâre maneuvering a stroller â and require getting there a few hours ahead of time. For a less packed experience, head over to Itâs A Small World, the walkway near Tomorrowland, or Town Square, the latter of whichâs entrance-adjacent location makes it easy to exit.
38Avoid The Post-Fireworks Monorail
Itâs usually a chaotic traffic jam. Youâve been warned.
39Bring Spare Clothes
Wet swimsuits chafe. Spills happen. Come prepared.
40How To Skip The Fireworks
Donât care about the fireworks display or youâve already seen it? The best time to ride your favorite Magic Kingdom rides is during the show. The lines are much shorter, and the park is beautiful at night when the crowds are taking in the explosions.
41Remember That Kids Have Limits
Yes, the trip was expensive, and yes, thereâs a lot to see and you want to get your moneyâs worth. Itâs easy to push them into overdrive for the pursuit of memory making. Donât do that. Hydrate. Snack. Sit when itâs time to sit.
42Freeze Some Drink Pouches
Theyâre a great thing to have during the heat of the day.
43Find The Attractions That Make Everyone Excited
âWe try to look at what attractions would split the kids apart and try to find the adjacent attraction. Whether itâs a simple boat ride⊠or Space Mountain⊠thereâs something for everyone there. But the real cool part is that theyâre going to want to go on these rides and sit with each other. So, you start building these sibling bonds and thatâs a real win for the parents.â â J.K.
44Air Tag Your Stroller
This will ensure it doesnât get lost in a sea of similar buggies when you park it before a ride. At the very least, tie a few bright ribbons or mark it with some other form of flair to it to ensure its easily identifiable.
45Bring A Backup Battery
Scratch that â bring three. All the photo-taking, map-searching, and app-swiping quickly drains a phone. The park sells Fuel Rods, and you can exchange a depleted one at the kiosks for a fully charged replacement, which is nice. But bring whatever you want. You donât want to be caught with a dead phone.
46Pack A Cooler
FWIW and per park rules, guests can bring outside food and beverage items into the park âprovided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration, or temperature control and do not have pungent odors.â
47Get Dusted
In Fantasyland, thereâs a shop named Sir Mickeyâs where you can ask any cast member about being âPixie Dusted.â They will sprinkle you with pixie dust from a special wand. Itâs fun. Just prepare to find glitter on your kids for the next several days.
48Watch Before You Ride
Especially if you have little ones, give them a glimpse of the attraction first (itâs an entire genre on YouTube) or have a real-life look. If theyâre scared of watching it, chances are theyâll be scared riding it.
49Double Check Ride Requirements
You can do so here. The last thing you want is for your kid to get psyched up about an attraction to realize that theyâre not tall enough to ride. Measure your kids before the trip
50Your Pool Is The Single Most Important Attraction
âThe pool is one of those places to decompress. Embrace it. I was there with my son last month, and we had so much fun at the Swan & Dolphin pool (âThe Grottoâ pool). We even went for a midday break. Kids will nap on those lounge chairs if they need it, and each of the pools has its quirks â like zero entry so you can walk in to their ankles. If your family likes pools, you might want to look to the pool first.â â J.A.
51Prepare For Long Waits
No matter how much work you do to game the system, youâll spend a lot of time standing in line. Donât be surprised. Download plenty of kid-friendly games on your phone. Pack bubbles or other fun distractions. Have plenty of snacks and water.
52Keep An Eye Out For Hidden Mickeys
Throughout the park, in different sizes and on everything from lampshades to sidewalks to murals, are a variety of hidden images of the House of Mouseâs mascot snuck into the designs. It makes for a fun scavenger hunt.
53Go On An Official Scavenger Hunt
Speaking of scavenger hunts, in seven countries in Epcot, there are hidden animatronics everywhere. To unlock them, get the Play Disney Parks app and open DuckTales World Showcase Adventure. Solve the clues, and gather âround for the big reveals â which in some instances are impressive enough to gather crowds who will wonder âHow did they do that?â
54Go Go Go And Youâll Be Gone
âYou really want to manage your expectations and your emotional display to the children. Youâve invested money to have a magical vacation. But remember, Disney World is going to be there for a long time. So read your child and understand that when itâs snack time, sit down and have a snack⊠Focus on enjoying the process.â â J.K.
55Savor the Small Moments
Itâs easy to want to rush through the park and see and do as much as possible. And while, yes, you should prioritize some memories, rushing will lead to frustrations and meltdowns. Instead, enjoy the journey. Slow down. Disney parks have amazing ambiance, and the most memorable moments â an impromptu performance, a character-driven surprise â often appear out of nowhere.
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