“Hit the Road” Summer Travel Series: Disney World

It’s no secret that planning a trip to the most magical place on earth, Disney World, can be overwhelming, stressful & downright confusing.   This past May, our family returned from our 4th annual Disney trip.   As a Mother of 2 small boys, I wanted to share some helpful tips for you to take into consideration on your Disney vacation.

All the parks allow you to bring in a cooler & snacks.  Bring those juice boxes, water, cheese sticks, fruit, etc.  Take advantage of this perk.  Side note – there are services that deliver groceries directly to your hotel room.  Research online or ask your travel agent for more information.

There are stroller rental companies that will conveniently deliver strollers directly to your hotel.  Ours was there at our hotel upon arrival.  Strollers can be rented in the park, however, they are uncomfortable and do not recline keep that in mind if your little one likes to nap.  We rented a compact jogging stroller that fit comfortably our 3 year old & 6 year old.   More information on rental companies can be found online.

When the Magic Kingdom crowd is busy lining the streets for the parade and/or watching the firework show, take advantage of the shorter attraction lines and in some cases no lines at all.   Run don’t walk!  You’ll be happy you did.

Disney overall tries its very best to provide efficient transportation but the bus service can be a challenge.  Buses run every 20 minutes and it’s tight quarters when you are traveling with a stroller.  With that being said, if you are planning on spending a majority of your time at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, I highly recommend you stay in a resort on the Monorail.  Take the monorail and get to your room in 10 minutes or less or take the bus and get to your resort in an hour or more.  It’s no secret that a resort on the monorail can be pricey but that money is well worth your sanity.

Don’t forget to meet Mickey Mouse on the way into the Magic Kingdom at the Town Hall Center.   They bring you into a private room for a meet & greet, allow you to take your own pictures and even give you extra time to have a conversation with Mickey.  Get yourself a fast pass to beat the average 45 minute wait.

There is no place like Disney World and the memories you’ll create with your family will last a lifetime.   Have fun, try to squeeze in some relaxation and make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes.