Walt Disney World on a Tight Budget Part 6

Disney World on a Tight Budget Part 6: What to do when I get to Disney, Kid friendly fun, planning out your vacation days

Hi, and welcome to Part 6 of my “Walt Disney World on a Tight Budget” series – if you are new to this series, be sure to go back and start here: Walt Disney World on a Tight Budget Part 1 for lots more planning tips. By part 6, you will have made it to the “happiest place on Earth” and now you need to figure out what to do, and how to spend your days at Walt Disney World. Truthfully, a big part of having a successful Disney vacation is in the pre-planning, so you’ve come to the right place! 

There are several things you will want to do in the weeks leading up to your WDW vacation. I have provided a handy checklist for you to plan out your Disney days:

• Order your keepsake Walt Disney World maps. http://customizedmaps.disney.go.com/. You can fully customize to mark every spot on the park maps, or just those that you know are on your “must do” list. They are even suitable for framing!  

• Speaking of your Must-do list…this really IS a must-do – sit down with your family and decide exactly what you really want to see and do. After many, many trips to WDW, I can safely say that my family still has not seen and done everything, so do NOT plan to “do it all” in a single trip. Many friends who go to WDW make up a list of 3-5 things each family members really wants to do. This will help you decide how many days you will need at each park.  

• Make your ADR’s…ADR stands for “Advance Dining Reservation” and if you plan to do any of the popular character dining experiences, you need to plan these out as far in advance as possible. My family enjoys taking late breakfast ADR’s because they seem less busy, and the character interaction is great. I highly suggest at least 2 of character meals if you have small children – it is a terrific way to get photos and autographs without standing in long lines in the parks. You can make your dining reservations up to 180 days in advance if you are staying on Disney property. Just have your reservation number in hand and visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/#/reservations-accepted.
  • Chef Mickey’s, located in the Contemporary Hotel is a very popular choice for character dining, because you get to see the “big four”: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. The characters will stop at each table, pose for photos, write autographs, and sometimes even get a bit silly for the enjoyment of kids and grown ups alike! We also enjoy seeing Cinderella, the Prince, and her fabulously-funny stepsisters and stepmother at the Grand Floridian at dinnertime. Both of these meals are served buffet-style and are quite tasty. Another benefit of these two locations is at they’re both right on the monorail line; a short ride to either Epcot or the Magic Kingdom.  

• Once you have your must-do list ready, you will be prepared to make plans for how many days you’ll need at each park. Most people have 5-7 days at Walt Disney World, and where you plan to spend them depends a lot on your interests and the ages of your children. Smaller kids will get a lot more out of the Magic Kingdom and it’s fairy-tale and classic Disney theming. My teenage sons always enjoyed Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Animal aficionados will love the Animal Kingdom, and as a homeschooling family, Epcot is always a favorite because we can do lots of learning while having fun. Most families will find that they want multiple days at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. However, for most, a single day at the two smaller parks will be just right.  

A quick tip – when you enter the Magic Kingdom, most people tend to go to the right by instinct…so go left! It’s a good way to avoid some of the crowds. Also try to go to the back of the park first because most families stop everywhere between Main Street, USA and the rear of the park. Save Main St and your shopping for later in the evening, as the stores stay open a little bit past closing time. Likewise, at Epcot, people start at the front, so I suggest being at World Showcase as soon as it opens (keeping in mind, Future World opens earlier), then work your way around and back out toward the main gates.

Make use of Extra Magic Hours, when one selected park will either open early or stay open late, sometimes by as much as 3 hours. Keep in mind, this “perk” is only available to guests of the Walt Disney Resort Hotels.

Be on the lookout for Part “B” of this article verysoon, when we will talk about some of the popular things to do for children and families!