I get it, not all of us like to get up early.  Disney is not a place to sleep in.  If you are staying on Disney property, you get those early morning hours and this is part of what you are paying for when  you stay in a Disney hotel.  Do not miss this early morning hour!  The parks are completely quiet during this time and you can get in several rides before the crowds start to fill in.  Even if you are not staying on property, the parks are quieter in the mornings.  So even getting there right at park opening is a great idea.  You will take advantage of a quieter time in the parks and hit some rides with short lines. Trust me here, this is the one tip you want to listen to!

There is so much to do and see at Disney.  Having a plan of what you would like to do in the day is pretty important.  Even if you only know which rides you absolutely want to ride, this will keep you from aimlessly wondering.  Familiarize yourself with the map a bit prior to going in, and know where the rides and attractions you want to hit up are.

 I have seen people with a clipboard and a timeline for their day.  I get it, especially in Disneyworld with the Fastpasses booked 60 days out, it seems vital to have a schedule.  This can really take away from the magic.  I firmly believe you have to be open for some of the magic to find you.  Yes, you know what fast passes you have and when but for the interim, just go with it.  Let the day take you.  Trust me, there is so much magic to be found at every turn.  We have made this mistake before years ago and although we still had a great trip, we have learned to go with the flow a bit more.  It is one thing to know you want to ride star tours at 10 am, lunch at 1 and fireworks at 7.  It is another to have every minute of your day accounted for leaving no room for things you may stumble upon.

 Fastpasses are FREE!  Taking advantage of Fastpasses will greatly improve your trip.  At Disneyworld, you can book them 60 days out on My Disney Experience if you are staying on property and 30 days out if you are not.  At Disneyland, you can get your Fastpasses once you enter the park.  You can stay the free route in Disneyland and get your Fastpasses at the kiosks in front of the rides or upgrade (for a fee) to Maxpass and book them on your phone.  Either way, use them!  I have an entire post about Fastpasses you can check out HERE to learn more.  

  Nothing is more of a bummer than a grouchy attitude at Disney.  You paid so much money to get there and your family is going to have a great time even with the crowds.  Do not let your attitude be effected by the crowds.  Disney is always pretty busy (especially Disneyworld) so go into the parks knowing this and with the attitude that you will have fun no matter what.  There is so much magic and fun to be had crowds or not.  

So many people go to the parks with the idea that they are going to save so much money by bringing their own snacks.  While I do appreciate this thought and think there is value to bringing your own snacks, I encourage everyone I know who is going to at least budget a couple snacks into their day.  Disney does this part so well.  Especially Disneyland has upped their game on the snack front and they are so inventive with their options. Even I, the picky one with food allergies, can find some amazing snacks!  

Oh have we made this mistake!  The weather can shift on a dime at any of the parks.  I recommend checking the weather and find posts with what to wear in the area given the time of the year you are going.  It would be a bummer to show up in January in Florida in shorts and a tank top assuming it will be sunny.  It will probably be chilly and you will have to purchase some warmer clothes.  Hey, its ok, you will have great souvenirs but you may not want the extra expense.  Pack and plan for the weather, you will be happy you did.

A huge part of the magic in the parks are the shows, fireworks and parades.  I recommend at least checking one of these out while there.  I get that not all people love these things, but a guarantee someone in your party might. I say at least give one of two a shot.  Disney does this so well and you will not be sorry you did.

Let me paint a picture.  Its mid morning in Magic Kingdom.  We are all feeling a little peckish.  I suggest we share a turkey leg as s family while walking to our next attraction.  My oldest insists that as a teenager he needs more food that us and that he must have his own turkey leg.  We go ahead and get our legs eat them up, my oldest in fact devouring his very own turkey leg.  We get to the Mad Hatter Tea Party or as most people call it the Teacups.  We ride.  And it was not good!  My teen went to the bathroom and threw up afterward.  The rest of us were in pretty bad shape for HOURS!  It took so long for us to recover.  In fact, we missed one of our Fastpasses because we had to head over to Tom Sawyers Island to take a break and let our tummies calm down.  Truly, do not make this mistake.  It can ruin your day!