Disney really is the happiest place on earth, and I can almost guarantee most haters will be converted if they spend just one day in the park.  My sister and I were definitely Disney believers and have turned the haters in our lives (our boyfriends) into the most faithful Disney followers.  Even the grumpiest can’t help but smile with the endless food and fun.  That is why, as a 30-year-old who wanted to travel around the world, I figured the best way to kick off my trip was with a huge dose of DISNEY MAGIC.

There is not a right or wrong way to do Disney World but everyone has different preferences.  Some people prefer to do half days taking naps in the afternoon while others like to have every little detail planned out.  My crew and I like to GO HARD! We don’t mess around when it comes to our Disney experience but this does require a little planning ahead of time.

I suggest planning for your Disney World adventure up to six months in advance, only because that’s often when you can get the best deals. Always check the “special offers” page of the Disney World website for room discounts, discounted tickets, and dining offers. Travel at off peak times for the best deals and lowest prices on lodging.  The week days are always less crowded than the weekends, and if you really want to miss the crowds, go when school is in session rather than on holidays and spring break. We went at the end of October right around Halloween and that proved to be the perfect time. We had to watch out for the Magic Kingdom Halloween Nights (which requires a separate ticket), but besides that the park was relatively slow and the weather was great.  There is also the added bonus of everyone dressing up for Halloween which makes the park even more fun.

Another reason you want to plan early is because dining reservations fill up really quickly.  The most popular dining spots like Bell’s Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom are reserved months in advance (up to 180 days).   Everyone wants to try the grey stuff, it’s delicious.  Disney also offers Dining Plans which are a great option, but be aware that one meal goes A LONG WAY.  I personally felt that four people could get 2 meals a day with 2 snacks and have more than enough food. Sharing is the way to go and is way more cost effective.   If you are going with small children, two or three of them would be able to share one meal.

DISNEY TIP: Instead of buying expensive bottles of water, you can go up to any restaurant and ask them for a cup of water for FREE! Nothing tastes better than free.

When buying your tickets, be aware that kids 3 and under get in for free.  You also have to decide if you want to do a park hopper or not.  We allotted one day for Magic Kingdom, one day for Epcot, and then we did a park hopper the third day for Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  That ended up working great for us but if you have small children, one park a day is more than enough.  Make sure if you’re celebrating anything to let Disney know.  They will give you a button for almost any occasion and you never know when a little magic pixie dust will get you a free desert or an upgrade.  Disney is the master of making their guests feel special.  They realize that this could be the only vacation a family (or a group of “adult children”) may ever be able to take and want to make sure its magical.

Choosing where to stay for your Disney adventure can also be a daunting task.  If you really want the full experience, I highly suggest staying at a Disney Resort.  If you stay at a Disney Resort, you can take advantage of the early morning magic hours when you can enter the park before regular guests.  There are all kinds of price ranges for almost every budget, but it’s really great to be able to shuttle back and forth from the park.  You never know when you need a nap, a pool break, or want to run back to change clothes because you got soaked from Splash Mountain.

Another great thing about staying at a Disney World Resort is that you get free airport transportation.  Disney will pick you up and drop you off.  If you do decide to drive, you will get free parking at not only the resort but all of the theme parks. When staying at a Disney resort, you can buy any merchandise in the park and it will be delivered directly to your room for free.  My favorite resort perk was the free Disney Magic Bands.They serve as your room key, park tickets, fast passes, dining plan, and you can connect your CC or Debit Card so you don’t have to carry anything around the park.  They arrive prior to your trip in a fun little box.  You can personalize their color and your name is printed on the back.  They were magical.

Disney Tip:  With an active Walt Disney World resort reservation you get first access to FastPass and Dining Reservations.

I think it’s really great to do some pre-planning, but just realize that you DO NOT want to over plan.  I would suggest only having a few dining reservations.  The parks are HUGE and there is no way you are going to be able to do everything.  Pick your three fast passes per park and then just be prepared to enjoy the rest of the day.

EPCOT

My favorite park was Epcot.  This is an adult child’s playground.  Not only were the rides geared more towards adults but every year from September- November is the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. If you like to eat and drink, it is so much fun!  We literally ate our way around the world grabbing beef from Canada to drinking prosecco in Italy.  I could have just ate and drank the entire day away.  The Illuminations fireworks show is amazing and the views are great from pretty much anywhere around the lake.   A must stop is the Werther’s Caramel Store.  They had the best popcorn and caramel apples in the entire park.

Epcot Tip: Our favorite ride, but easily missed, was mission space.  It’s a simulator thrill-ride that sends guests crashing on Mars.  Pick the “orange” line for one wild ride! (Caution… it can make you ill.)

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom, like it’s name suggests, is full of magic.  In my opinion though, Magic Kingdom was much better at Disneyland than Disney World. The rides seemed to be a bit shorter in Florida even though the lines were just as long, and it just seemed like there is more to do in California.  No matter if you are at Disneyland or Disney World, catching the parades and the fireworks show are a must!!!  People start posting up very early to get the best spots.  There is usually a parade right before the fireworks.   We like to grab some corn-dogs and hot chocolate and grab a spot for the parade about an hour and a half early. You want to sit curb side so you are front and center and no one can block your view.  Right after the parade is over, generally the crowd moves center to watch the fireworks.  For the fireworks show, it’s always better to be center and further back from the castle.  Always make sure you double check to make sure there isn’t a tree blocking your view.   I know it’s tempting to ride the rides when everyone else is watching fireworks, but Disney does it best.  Their show is the most magnificent I have seen in my entire life (though the one time my dad accidentally lit an entire box of fireworks on fire on the 4th of July was also very entertaining).

Magic Kingdom Tip: If you get tired and want to rest, take a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.  

Animal Kingdom

If you love animals, the Animal Kingdom’s safari ride is great, but the attraction that stole the show for us was Expedition Everest. It’s a high-speed roller coaster through Disney’s version of the Himalayan mountains. Your train will reach a max speed of 50 mph, moving forwards — and backwards — while being pursued by the fierce guardian of the mountain, the Yeti.  I would highly suggest getting a fast pass for this ride.  We rode it over and over.

Animal Kingdom Tip-The only place that served breakfast without a reservation was Starbucks.  Be aware if you get “hangry” in the morning.

Hollywood Studios

We divided a day between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.  That was perfect for us.  We loved the Aerosmith Roller Coaster but the line was extremely long.  We also had a few die hard Star Wars fans so it was really fun to go to Star Tours.  There was a lovely woman working at the burger place right by Star Tours who made our day.  She was about 80-yrs-old and said she still worked at Disney because she loved making people happy. That really sums up our trip.  Despite all the crowds and how expensive it can be, Disney really is a magical place for all.

When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Sometimes it’s fun to make up cheers! “There are friendships and spaceships, now let’s blast off!” -Ivan Olson