25 essential Disney World hacks that are actually useful

Visit DAK on cloudy/cool days for more active animals
Every Disney blog seems to recommend visiting the trails and safari first thing in the morning. Word on that secret has gotten out and now there’s a mad rush for the safari when the park first opens, so skip that and instead wait for a cloudy, cooler day to visit. The issue most of the time is that the Florida heat makes the animals lethargic come mid-morning until just before they go in near closing time, but on cloudy days the animals remain active. The cloudy days also mean that this lushly landscaped park with no breezes is actually cool enough to enjoy casually.
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Character breakfast dining is less crowded the closer you get to lunch, which means more time with the characters
Most guests wake up early, eat at their resort then head out to the parks. A late breakfast will usually be less crowded meaning that you’ll get more one on one time with the characters and a much quieter dining experience.
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Use Uber to get around property
Waiting on a Disney bus could be used as a torture technique in Gitmo. With screaming kids, smelly tourists and no guarantee there will even be room on the bus when it arrives why put yourself through that just to move around property? Skip all that by using Uber. Moving around property won’t cost much but it will be well worth it to skip the freezing buses. Keep in mind that Uber can only go in areas regular guests are able to drive and on the busiest days (like New Year’s Eve) demand pricing may be in effect.
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Ice water is available for free at all quick service food locations
Disney World isn’t known as a place with a lot of free things, but one thing is free almost anywhere you go on property. All quick service restaurants (the ones where you order at a counter) offer free ice water upon request. Next time you’re at the parks and hot skip the soda and ask for some ice water.
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Get a fastpass for when thunderstorms are supposed to hit
Because you’ll either have a fun ride in the rain, or you’ll get a cool Fastpass to use on other rides. Reserving the right Fastpass at the right time is an art, but there are a few moves that will help you make the most of your time, no matter what the weather. One move that might seem counterintuitive, but will result in positive results no matter what, is reserving outdoor rides during the typical summertime rainstorms. Make that Splash Mountain Fastpass for 3:30 PM in the middle of July. Either you’ll be able to cool off on the ride during one of the hottest parts of the day, or if those afternoon thunderstorms hit and the ride closes, Disney emails those with Fastpasses new ones you can use on other rides or on the original ride at a later time. So a rainy afternoon is now the perfect time for some Splash Mountain reservations.
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Skip the sit-down meal at Wolfgang Puck and check out the Express instead
Wolfgang Puck is a popular choice for many, but skip the higher priced (and lower rated) sit down version and instead go to the Wolfgang Puck Express. Some of the best reviewed pizza on property with none of the pretentiousness of the sit-down version. The counter service version still features large portions, unique plating and a fun atmosphere. The lines can be long but it’s still faster than a full sit down meal would take. The Express also is one of the few places in Disney Springs to be open for breakfast every morning.
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Buy gas on property
Disney World is known for through the roof pricing but some things can actually be surprisingly cheap, and one of those things is gas. The three on-property gas stations transitioned from HESS to Speedway last year. The stations seem to have prices that are an average of area prices. Just off property, you’ll found some of the most expensive gas in the nation, often topping $5 a gallon. So don’t wait to leave property to fill up, or you could be paying upwards of three times the on-site price.
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Eat lunch/dinner at a resort and then take the transportation to the park
Disney is expensive so there’s nothing wrong with trying to save a few dollars. If the off-property Cici’s, with its locals discount, isn’t your cup of tea then try the resorts on property. The menus can be surprisingly diverse (Pop-Tart sandwich, anyone?) and the prices are usually a bit more reasonable than in the parks themselves. Plus lunch at the resorts is usually much less crowded than in the parks.
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Reserve the earliest dining available for breakfast at MK to get some great shots of the park with fewer crowds
Magic Kingdom is busy even on the ‘slowest’ days but arriving before the park opens is one way to grab that perfect shot of the castle. Most of the park will still be closed but you’ll be able to grab a few shots near the restaurant you pick. Crystal Palace is your safest bet and make sure to get the reservations early, as the park usually opens well before the posted opening time, which means that any reservation near the posted opening times will have a crowded park. Also, double check that it’s not an Extra Magic Hours morning.
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Bring Grandma in her wheelchair to score the best views during most shows and parades
Using a wheelchair when you don’t need one isn’t cool but that being said adding someone in one to your party isn’t nearly as bad. Go check grandma out of the nursing home for the day and take her with you. Wheelchair access isn’t available everywhere but it is for most shows, parades and some rides. Typically only the wheelchair user and 4-5 guests can use the wheelchair access but that could mean one less fastpass you’ll have to waste just to see the 3 o’clock parade.
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Skip the crowds at Epcot and eat around Crescent Lake instead
Epcot has plenty of good (and some not so good) places to eat but it can be hard to get into them sometimes. Use World Gateway and eat in the numerous dining options around Crescent Lake. The Beach and Yacht Club, the Boardwalk and the Swan & Dolphin together offer some of the best dining on Disney property. ESPN Club also is a great place to catch that afternoon baseball game. Lounges like the Crew Cup and BlueZoo are great options for some non-Epcot drinking. LAX bros not included.
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Always reference a crowd calendar before arriving
The cardinal sin of sins for visiting Disney World is not knowing what to expect before arriving. If you’re a local with an Annual Pass then an app like Touring Plans should be the first thing you buy after refinancing your house to get that Annual Pass! The crowd calendar will help you plan your weekend and the real-time waits will save you a wasted trip when you see that even Stitch has an hour long wait.
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Use World Gateway instead of Epcot’s front gate
With new security measures and rising attendance, Epcot’s front gates can be backed up. Skip the front gates and use the World Gateway entrance instead. Located between the U.K. and France pavilions this smaller entrance is designed for the Crescent Lake resorts but there’s nothing stopping others from using it. Parking at the resorts can be difficult, but a boat runs directly from the DHS parking lot and if you’re using Uber or Disney transit then there shouldn’t any issues with accessing this overlooked entrance.
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Plan to stay after closing
Just like with opening hours, Disney Parks typically stay open well after closing. While the rides may close, most of the gift shops and snack counters typically stay open at least 30 minutes after the posted closing time. Walk slowly, let the crowds then out, grab some ice cream and get those less crowded park photos that you see on Pinterest. At Magic Kingdom, you’ll even be able to see the extra special Kiss Goodnight, an added bonus for not rushing out to your car.
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Use the Children’s Activity Centers
Disney World is designed for being enjoyed as a family but sometimes an adult night is in order. Take the kids with you and drop them off at one of the Children’s Activity Centers on property. 5 different activity centers are found on property and pricing does vary. All of them are open every evening. The centers are like an evening of camp for kids with activities, food and movies all on the agenda. So drop the kids off, enjoy a great date night and don’t worry if the babysitter is throwing a rave in your living room.
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Avoid the parks that have Extra Magic Hours that day
Extra Magic Hours are a great thing if you’re staying on property, but for everyone else they mean a busy park well before you even arrive. On a day with EMH, there’s no chance you can rush to a popular ride and grab it before the crowds do. Nope! EMH means that thousands of guests have already arrived ahead of you, so just skip that park altogether and hit up another one. There’s always DisneyQuest.
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Don’t forget about the food options in the non-Disney WDW hotels
Disney World has plenty of great food options but not all of them are in Disney resorts. The new Four Seasons has some of the highest rated resort dining in all of Orlando. Hotel Boulevard includes other great options like the recently rebranded American Kitchen at the B Hotel. The Grand Cypress has the stunning new LakeHouse and the always popular sushi bar. The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista across from Disney Springs even offers a Disney character breakfast a few times each week.
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Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from somewhere other than Main Street
Wishes is one of the longest running and most popular firework shows in Disney history but why fight the crowds on Main Street to see the firework show that you’ve surely seen before. Move off Main Street and take in the fireworks from another vantage point. The walkway between Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Be Our Guest is a great area to have fireworks surround you but other areas in the park are just as good. You might miss some of the show elements, but the fireworks themselves are visible from most areas in the park. Fantasyland offers the best views outside of Main Street with Tomorrowland offering the worst. For another fun experience, ride Winnie the Pooh during the fireworks (some of them launch from the roof of the ride) for an experience that’s likely close to what World War III will sound like.
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Camp at Fort Wilderness to get Fastpasses early
Fastpasses are prized possessions that can make or break a vacation. Without a fastpass good luck on meeting Anna and Elsa or riding that new Frozen ride that’s opening this summer. So if there’s one you must have but don’t want to drop three grand a night on a Polynesian bungalow you can follow some desperate vacation goers by renting a camping site at Fort Wilderness. The camping sites mean you’ll get the earlier on-site Fastpass booking window. That can mean the difference between no wait and spending your entire afternoon to ride a minute long miniature mine train coaster.
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Shop in the parks, but use comparison apps to buy it online for cheaper
Disney World parks have great merchandise, but why buy it and lug around the park all day? Using your smartphone scan the barcodes on merchandise to see if it’s cheaper online. Sometimes you’ll find the same items on Amazon, or another app for cheaper rates. If that doesn’t work, Disney has its own Shop Disney Parks app that features almost every single item for sale in the parks. Free shipping is usually offered on purchases over a specific price and numerous app-only sales take place throughout the year. The items on the Shop Disney Parks app are shipped directly to your house meaning that unique ceramic item you found may actually make it past the parking lot tram ride.
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