I have been to Walt Disney World over 20 times and have learned a few tricks to make my trips easier. There are lots of opinions on what makes a trip easier, any internet search will produce a long list. I am going to add to that list of tips for each park and hopefully you will find them useful. If you have a tip I don’t list, let me know!
Let’s start with Magic Kingdom –
Our goal is to be at the park when it opens (that doesn’t always happen) and try to get a spot towards the front of the crowd. When the park opens, everyone will hurry to their choice of must do rides. I find this is a great time to shop! The stores will have just opened so there will be minimal guests making it easier to find those must have Disney souvenirs.
We have always travelled thru the park in a counter-clockwise direction (starting with Adventureland) hoping to avoid some of the crowds. Usually, you can get on Pirates of the Caribbean or Jungle Cruise without too much of a wait. Did you know there are restrooms tucked in the corner behind Pirates of the Caribbean? These are usually not to crowded making them easier to get in and out quick to catch that next ride. Also, beware of the Camels in front of the Magic Carpet ride. They spit!
Frontierland is a great spot to catch any of the park’s parades. Just about all of them start next to Splash Mountain and proceed thru Frontierland to Main St. USA. Try to get a spot on the south side of the street near Pecos Bill as that will be in the shade. This also puts you close to Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain which you should be able to catch a ride on after the parade passes you (but everyone else will still be waiting!).
There is a wooden boardwalk that runs along the Rivers of America where the paddle boat makes its rounds. This path runs between Frontierland near Splash Mountain to Liberty Square at the paddle boat dock. This is an excellent way to avoid crowds, especially during parades when the main routes are blocked off.
Fantasyland is usually very crowded so you really need to watch your footing around all the strollers. This area will have some of the most iconic Disney rides, It’s a Small World, Peter Pan, Prince Charming Regal Carousel to name a few. Crowds in this area vary so much depending on the time of day that you just need to have patience.
If you stand behind the castle in Fantasyland, there are two paths, one on each side, that are less crowded. The one on the right will take you to Liberty Square and the one on the left will take you to Tomorrowland. If you walk thru the castle, you will be in the central hub at the end of Main Street USA.
The left path will take you past Cinderella’s Wishing Well. Beautifully decorated with characters from Cinderella, this is a great photo spot. Also, Disney collects the coins thrown in the well and donates them to various children’s charities so feel free to make a wish.
Tomorrowland can also be very busy. The Tomorrowland Speedway is a big hit with kids but the ride is rather slow so the wait times can get high. Astro Orbiter and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover are next to each other so this area can get crowded. Just make sure you’re in the line for the right ride or you may have a big surprise. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover just got a new narration as well.
If you don’t want to be part of the show at Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, sit in the back on the left-hand side. There is a camera that will pick one guest to be part of the act and this is usually pointed at the right-hand section.
As you exit Tomorrowland towards the Central Hub there will be a walkway on the left that will take you thru the seating area for Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. The restaurant is not open very often but the path will take you out to Main Street USA and help you avoid the crowds in the Central Hub. You will notice a fence/gate on the left as you exit the seating are but before you get to the Plaza Restaurant, this is the secondary exit that is used after fireworks if the crowds are unusually large. It will take you behind the shops on Main Street USA and bring you out next to Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.
Miscellaneous tips:
In need of air conditioning and a place to sit? Try Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland, Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square or Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland. They are all approximately 15 to 20 minute long shows that will give you a short break. Note that Mickey’s PhilharMagic does use sensory/visual (3-D) stimulation as part of the show.
Looking for a cool spot in the shade? Unfortunately, Disney has been removing benches but there are still some to satisfy your need. The path from the Central Hub to Liberty Square has a few benches on the left-hand side that are under some large shade trees. There are a few areas in Frontierland along the shops that have spots to sit but it will depend on the time of day as to whether or not they are in the shade. There are chairs on the balcony of the Town Square Theatre as well as some benches in front of the restrooms between the Firehouse and Town Hall.
Need some caffeine? Disney has Jeoffrey’s coffee stands throughout their parks but if you really need that fix there is a Starbucks on Main Street USA in the Main Street Bakery.
Run out of diapers or need something for baby/kids? There is a Baby Care Center between Casey’s Corner and the Crystal Palace restaurant. They have various items you may need for sale as well as changing tables and quiet breast-feeding areas. This is also the same building that houses the first aid station. In actuality it's more than a first aid station as it is staffed by nurses who can actually help treat minor wounds and give out pain medication like Advil or Tylenol.
If your much needed cell phone or tablet run out of juice, there are charging plugs located in the tree trunks in the Rapunzel restroom area; inside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland and inside the Space Mountain gift shop in Tomorrowland. There are also several kiosks in the park that sell portable chargers with cords. These can then be exchanged at another kiosk in any park when they have run out or you can recharge them at any electric outlet with a USB charging port.
I did not give tips on wait times as that is an ever-changing area between crowds, time of day/year and whether there is a Virtual que, Lightening Lane availability and what the weather is.
Stay tuned for more as I will be doing the other parks and Disney Springs, one every other week as well as giving you my favorite stops to eat or grab a snack/drink.