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Tips & Secrets For a Stress-Free Trip To Walt Disney World

Disney Wilderness Lodge

Welcome to Walt Disney World, one of the world’s largest and most popular vacation destinations.  As a Disney Fanatic, I can tell you there are so many thrilling ways to enjoy your Disney World vacation.  To take full advantage of all four theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and other on property entertainment, it’s best to have some sort of itinerary for your stay, including ride and dining reservations, which you can make in advance of your trip.  There are also other ways to relieve some of the stress that usually accompanies a visit to one of the “most magical places on earth”.  Here are some tips and secrets to make your experience as stress free as possible.

24. Resort Reservations

I highly recommend staying at a Disney World Resort.  The advantages and perks are awesome, and there are always great Resort Vacation Packages that will suit your budget.

23. Dining Reservations

Intermission Food Court
Photo credit Disney

With the “My Disney  Experience” app, you can also make dining reservations at your favorite Disney Restaurant.

22. Don’t Forget Any Electronic Devices & Chargers

You don’t want to leave any of your battery chargers at home.  In fact, don’t leave home without your phones, cameras, laptops, or tablets, etc.  Nothing causes more stress than the realization that you’ve forgotten any of these important devices.

21.  Pets

Animals are a very important part of many family’s lives, and it causes a lot of stress thinking about leaving them behind, either at a professional “Doggie Day Care” or with a family friend.  For those families, the cure for pet stress is an on-sight pet care facility called, “Best Friends Pet Care”, located near the Disney Port Orleans/Riverside Resort, where all your furry friends are pampered by Disney professionals.

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20.  Take Some Time to Enjoy Your Resort

It’s an excellent idea to take a morning, afternoon, evening, or a whole day(if you are staying for several days) away from the hustle and bustle of the four theme parks.  Leave the crowds behind for a few hours of peace and quiet at your Resort.

19.  Go Swimming

In Florida, there are days when the heat may get to you, so I suggest you return to your Resort, and take a quick dip in the pool, or just relax poolside in the shade, have a nice cool refreshment, and relax your whole body, and any stress will probably float away.

18.  Play Miniature Golf

Fantasia Gardens

Another great stress-reliever is a round of miniature golf at one of two Walt Disney World mini golf courses, “Fantasia Gardens” near the Disney Swan Resort, and “Winter Summerland, located next door to Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  This is a great way to spend a few hours, and you don’t need to make a reservation.  Just  get your golf club and ball, and enjoy one of these two delightfully Disney themed courses.

17.  Take a Power Nap

Nothing is better for stress than a nice, quick power nap, at the busiest and hottest part of a day at any of the four theme parks of Disney World.  It doesn’t have to be any more than a half-hour to an hour; just long enough to relax your body and brain, and is especially helpful on those extended nighttime hours.

16.  “Ride the Rails”

Disney Railroad

When you’re really tired from walking, riding, and stress from long lines, catch a ride on the Walt Disney World Railroad for a relaxing and enjoyable round trip ride around the Magic Kingdom.  The clackety clack sounds of the wheels, and the gentle breeze from the open air passenger cars will melt away any stress you may have had.

15. Ride the People Mover

Another relaxing way to rest your body and feet is to get on board the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover.  This attraction is constantly moving, and you access it via a conveyor belt, which means very little wait time.  It’s a 10-minute relaxing ride in and out of the attractions and shops of Tomorrowland.

14. Ride the Monorail

Monorail

Although the line for the Monorail may be a bit long, a lot of people can board one of these sleek, swiftly moving elevated trains, also known as the “public transportation of the future”.  Take a round trip ride starting at the Magic Kingdom, circling Bay Lake, with stops at the Contemporary Resort, the TTC (Ticket & Transportation Center), the Polynesian Resort, and the Grand Floridian Resort, then back to the Magic Kingdom.

13. Try Crowd Watching

Here’s another stress-reliever.  Purchase a refreshing beverage or frozen treat, find a comfortable place to sit, preferably in the shade or at a table with and an umbrella, and enjoy your treat or drink while watching the people passing by.  The parade of Disney guests is very entertaining.

12. Do Some Window Shopping

You will notice I did not say “Shopping”, because shopping for gifts or souvenirs can be a bit stressful, especially if family members back home have asked for a particular item.  Window shopping is a casual walk through a shop, observing all the Disney merchandise or passing by the stores and gazing at the beautifully decorated store windows.  My shopping motto at Disney World is, “Look now, buy later.”

11. Visit Disney Springs

Disney Springs is an outdoor complex with entertainment, dining, and shopping like no other.  It can be stressful, if you don’t handle your visit here in the right way.  I would suggest you visit Disney Springs on a day away from the theme parks.  There are a lot of shops and dining choices, so enjoy yourself, take your time, and enjoy the sights, sounds, and food of Disney Springs.

10. Check Out Other Disney Resorts

Feeling a little Disney World stress?  Here’s a suggestion.  Take a boat, bus, skyliner, or monorail to other Resorts, and learn about what other Disney Resorts have to offer.  Spend a day or afternoon exploring some of the more elaborate Resorts, such as the Contemporary, the Polynesian, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, or the Grand Floridian.

9. Ride on a Boat

Take a leisurely ride on a Disney water taxi.  There are several different boat launches where you can board a water taxi for a ride to one of the Resorts.  You can also ride a boat from Epcot to Hollywood Studios, or Hollywood Studios to Epcot, with stops along the way at different Disney Resorts.  These Disney watercraft are a great way to enjoy a cruise on Bay Lake and very relaxing.  If you are staying at select Disney Resorts, you can also take a boat ride to Disney Springs.  In the heat of the day and when its really crowded, a boat ride can diminish any stress you may be feeling.

8. Eat and Drink

Sometimes our stomachs can cause some stress, especially when it’s been a while since you and your family have taken a break.  When the crowds are getting heavy and lines are forming everywhere, and your children are tired, hot, hungry or thirsty, and stress levels are rising, it’s time to take that break.  Food and beverages are essential for a stress-free visit to Disney World.

7. Explore Tom Sawyer’s Island

Tom Sawyer  Island

Take a ride on a motorized raft over to Tom Sawyer’s Island and have a rollicking good time.  There are no lines, no fast pass rides; just an island where fun and exploring are the name of the game.  It’s a place where children can burn off some energy, and parents can relive their childhood.

6. Take Advantage of Package Pickup Service

When you find that extra special gift or souvenir, but don’t want to carry it around all day, you can take advantage of the Disney World Package Pickup option and have your packages delivered to your Disney Resort Hotel, or you can have them sent to the package pickup site, usually located at the entrance to each theme park.  Just stop by, show your receipt and pick up your merchandise when leaving the park.

5. Avoid Bag Search Lines

Bag Check

Every person entering a Disney World theme park with any sort of bag must pass through the “Bag Inspection” area, and security personnel will thoroughly check each and every bag you have.  Some guests are picked randomly to pass through a metal detector.  If you want to avoid the bag check line, bring your mobile phone, ID, and Magic Band or Park Admission Tickets only.  However, if you’re picked for the metal detector scan, it doesn’t matter if you have no bags.  You must follow the instructions of the Security Personnel.

Bonus Tip!

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Disney travel deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius! Discover More >



 

4. Take photographs of all important papers

ID’s, Resort and Dining Reservations, and members of your group or family.  This is the best way to get quick replacements, if needed.  Hopefully, no one in your group will wander away, but if you do have to contact Security, a picture is much better than any verbal description you could give.

3. Be Prepared For Rain

Rainy Disney Day

Florida is famous for its almost daily afternoon rain showers, so to lessen any water-related stress, purchase lightweight ponchos (usually in very small packages) and if there is any chance of rain in the forecast, I would slip these ponchos inside pockets or backpacks just to be on the safe side.  If it rains, you’ll be covered.

2. Buy Mickey Ears

There is no better cure for stress at Walt Disney World than purchasing one of the very unique Mickey Ears hats or headbands.  Whenever you walk by a store window or a mirror and see your reflection wearing any sort of Mickey or other Disney character hat, it will bring a smile to your face, and what better way to alleviate stress.

1. LOL

The #1 way to guarantee a stress free Disney vacation is to laugh out loud, as often as you can.  Their is plenty of fun, magic, and joy at Walt Disney World that you can’t help but laugh a lot during your visit.  Laughter is a great way to get rid of any stress you may be feeling.  All the other tips and secrets for a stress free Disney vacation are good ideas, but simply enjoying the “World of Disney” is the ultimate stress relief. Any time a family takes an extended vacation, there may be some stress at some point.  Just try some of these suggestions and tips, but most of all, don’t worry about anything and just have a fun-filled magical experience at the “most magical place on earth”.

About Cecilia

I am a working mother of four adult children, 2 granddogs, and one grandcat. I have been a Disney fanatic since 1959, when my parents took my sister and I on a journey across the country to Disneyland. Needless to say, we were thrilled, and this became our vacation destination for the next 10 years. Later, when Walt Disney World was opened, we travelled to Florida and discovered a whole new Disney experience, and WDW became our new vacation destination. Now, our extended family members are all Disney Fanatics and always ready to talk about anything Disney.

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