Tips about Magic Kingdom, My Disney Experience and Resorts
Magic Kingdom - In my opinion, the best way to avoid crowds (as well as beat the heat) in the Magic Kingdom is to walk through the gift shops on Main Street. I feel like most people don't know, or forget, that these shops are connected. While the shops can be crowded, my girlfriend and I found they were way more manageable than on Main Street. We saved a lot of time and stress by walking through the gift shops before, during, and after any fireworks or parades. - Mike Pizzoferrato
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Magic Kingdom - The new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great, family-friendly ride. There is so much to see and experience in both the outside and inside queue areas, so take your time! Don't rush to the ride. Note: When using FastPass+ you will miss the first two interactive queue areas. Here are seven tips for riding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train from AllEars.Net's Deb Wills:
1. Walking along the outdoor queue, be sure to look down at the ground. You'll see impressions left by forest creatures, acorns and sticks.
2. Check out the wonderful Dwarfs cottage on the left of the queue when you are still outside. This is actually the end of the ride. Don't forget to peer into the windows!
3. There are three interactive areas of the queue. As you go into each, be sure to read the notes the Dwarfs left for you. You get to "clean" the gems as they flow through the wooden trough, make music by placing your hand under the spigots, and once fully inside spin the barrels of jewels. Remember to LOOK UP for more magic! Get others involved so you can all see the magical transformation overhead when all seven barrels are spun at the same time.
4. On the ride itself, at the top of the first lift, look straight out for a great view of New Fantasyland, especially beautiful at dusk and at night!
5. Inside the mine there are a few Hidden Mickeys. One is located above Grumpy's head (and to his right as you pass by), but your view may vary depending on where you are seated in the train.
6. Once you pass Grumpy, keep looking left for the shadows of the dwarfs marching home from work.
7. After your exciting ride through the mine and the forest, the train comes to a smooth stop just beyond the unload area. Look to your right for the best surprise of all! You'll see some familiar figures from the old Snow White's Scary Adventures attraction.
1. Walking along the outdoor queue, be sure to look down at the ground. You'll see impressions left by forest creatures, acorns and sticks.
2. Check out the wonderful Dwarfs cottage on the left of the queue when you are still outside. This is actually the end of the ride. Don't forget to peer into the windows!
3. There are three interactive areas of the queue. As you go into each, be sure to read the notes the Dwarfs left for you. You get to "clean" the gems as they flow through the wooden trough, make music by placing your hand under the spigots, and once fully inside spin the barrels of jewels. Remember to LOOK UP for more magic! Get others involved so you can all see the magical transformation overhead when all seven barrels are spun at the same time.
4. On the ride itself, at the top of the first lift, look straight out for a great view of New Fantasyland, especially beautiful at dusk and at night!
5. Inside the mine there are a few Hidden Mickeys. One is located above Grumpy's head (and to his right as you pass by), but your view may vary depending on where you are seated in the train.
6. Once you pass Grumpy, keep looking left for the shadows of the dwarfs marching home from work.
7. After your exciting ride through the mine and the forest, the train comes to a smooth stop just beyond the unload area. Look to your right for the best surprise of all! You'll see some familiar figures from the old Snow White's Scary Adventures attraction.
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Valorie McCray shares these tips for quickly clearing security at the park entrances:
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
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Valorie McCray shares these tips for quickly clearing security at the park entrances:
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
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I think most people going into the parks don't realize just how much they walk. I recommend stretching out all your muscles at the end of the day, holding the stretches for 20 seconds. Going hard a full day in Disney could leave you sore, especially if you're not used to walking 5+ miles a day. - Shannon Ashleigh
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Just learned that if you go to a park prior to checking in to your Disney resort they will reimburse you for parking! Did this myself this past weekend when we stayed at Art of Animation and worked perfectly! Couldn't quite get up early enough to do check-in before park opening and I didn't want to waste any of my theme park time! - Mary
EDITOR'S NOTE: this is also true if you are going to purchase an annual pass that includes parking. Just bring your parking receipt to the Guest Relations window and they will credit what you paid for parking that day towards your annual pass.
EDITOR'S NOTE: this is also true if you are going to purchase an annual pass that includes parking. Just bring your parking receipt to the Guest Relations window and they will credit what you paid for parking that day towards your annual pass.
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On our recent Magic Kingdom visit my two children really wanted to get their faces painted. We first tried the Pirates' League in Adventureland, but it closed at 3:30 p.m. on the day we visited. However, we found a face painting area tucked away next to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland. And the best part -- just keep your receipt, and they'll touch up your face paint throughout the day for no extra charge! - Laura Gjere
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When we stayed at the French Quarter in December, we were delighted to find a refrigerator and put in some fresh fruit we purchased at the on-site store, as well as some water bottles. Unfortunately the guests who were there before us turned the temperature knob so cold that everything froze solid and was wasted. This is a reminder to check the temp setting before putting anything in the refrigerator. - Carol Berube
Recently stayed at Old Key West for Marathon Weekend. Upon check-in, my room was not ready. I do not have text messaging on my phone so was given a phone number to call later in the day. I found out at Bay Lake Tower that I could receive an email instead of a text. I called Old Key West and requested this. Since Walt Disney World now has wireless internet throughout, I enjoyed my day and received my room number via email through my Kindle. - M. Hoyt
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Animal Kingdom Lodge - On a recent trip to Walt Disney World we had dinner at Boma. After dinner we walked around the grounds out back (as we had first-timers with us) and were surprised to find that night-vision binoculars were available to view the animals in the dark. We all enjoyed this very much and saw many animals. Also the cast members who supervised this activity were very helpful and informative about the animals and the country where they were from. We really learned a lot! - Jane Carvalho
Boardwalk - When I was at Seashore Sweets at the BoardWalk in December, there was a jar of jellybeans on the counter near the registers. If you correctly guess the number of jellybeans in the jar, you get free ice cream. I correctly guessed and got a single scoop in a cup. There were many people who never noticed the jar, so be sure to ask about it. - Joel
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Animal Kingdom Lodge - Be sure to check out what is happening at your resort. We recently returned from a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. They had many activities for kids, and most were free. Not only did they have crafts in the lobby, games at the pool, but they also had a sunset campfire with free marshmallows to roast. Also, be sure to walk around the grounds of the resort. At AKL we found savanna overlooks in many areas, and they often have someone who will answer questions about the animals. This is what makes Disney resorts so unique! - E. Horton
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I just noticed that there is a way to find out about refurbishments specifically for when I am visiting through My Disney Experience. Once I have set up my itinerary, I go to that day and under Plan and Manage I choose My Itinerary. Change the date to the day I am visiting a specific park, and under the Parks hours, click on the link "learn what you can do at... (Hollywood Studios, etc.)." When that opens, choose Attractions and a list of all the attractions opens. If you click on an attraction and there are no times available, it's not open on that day. - Cathy
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When using My Disney Experience and FastPass+ it's important to note that Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios both have Tiered Attractions for FastPass+ You can now only select one premiere attraction out of your three FastPass+ choices. Once you finalize, you can go back in and change an attraction or a time (pending availability).
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The Walt Disney World Lost and Found department is amazing! My designer sunglasses flew off during Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and I thought they were gone for good. I called the Lost and Found department and described what day and location I lost them, gave a description of the glasses, and to my surprise, in true Disney Magic they were found! (Allow 24-48 hours for cast members to process your lost items.) - Michelle
EDITOR'S NOTE: You can report missing items at Guest Relations in the theme parks, but if you don't discover the item has been lost until you get home, try calling Theme Parks Lost & Found: (407) 824-4245. They're open seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST. Give them a description of the item and where you lost it, and if it's been turned in, they'll let you know.
EDITOR'S NOTE: You can report missing items at Guest Relations in the theme parks, but if you don't discover the item has been lost until you get home, try calling Theme Parks Lost & Found: (407) 824-4245. They're open seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST. Give them a description of the item and where you lost it, and if it's been turned in, they'll let you know.
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