9 Disney World Lessons I Learned the Hard Way!

[@Kayyvr]

Ride tip: if there’s a ride you really want to go on but has a super long wait time (avatar for example) make it the very last thing you do before you leave. As long as you make it in line before closing, even if the wait time is still an hour or more, you are guaranteed to ride if you are in line before the park closes. Yeah you might get out late, but at least your not wasting all that time waiting in line during the day when you could be using that time going on other rides.

[@TheSd1cko]

This works even better if you do at the end of late night extra magic hours.

[@squidly3270]

I do this everytime works so well!

[@littlepiece.5091]

This comment basically sums up the only way I wait in line for flight of passage lol. Amazing ride, but man, it's hard to get on there.

[@mereiriz]

Kayyvr Thank you for this!

[@CandyGirlLoddy]

We did this for Slinky Dog Dash. We got in line 5 mins before park closing. The time posted was a 60 min wait, but our wait was exactly 30 mins.

[@larissaalcorn3406]

I LOVE being at the end of the hall or far from the lobby. One of my favorite parts of the day is getting back to my resort super late at night and just strolling, enjoying the warm night air and Disney atmosphere in the quiet.

[@unvoicedapollo3318]

It's definitely a love/hate thing for me. But AKL is one of the better ones to do. Long walk but quiet and can occasionally look out at the Savannah.

[@marcc.5498]

Port Orleans Riverside is a pretty good walk. We got off on the wrong stop and had to walk through Alligator Bayou to get back to our room.

[@larissaalcorn3406]

@@marcc.5498 One of my favorites. That and the Poly

[@kimmccarthy7747]

I like your attitude!

[@unvoicedapollo3318]

@@marcc.5498 one of the things my dad and I did was stop at FQ and went to Scat Cats for the Baton Rouge Beignets then walk back to Riverside. It was about a 10-15 min walk but very nice even after a long day at the park

[@lizardpeoplepoetry]

i've never really thought about it before this, but a 10-minute long quiet hallway actually sounds bizarrely amazing.

[@CharleneCTX]

My thoughts exactly. Think I'll request a far-away room.

[@davidreynolds8865]

an extra 10 min walk for peace and quiet sounds like a good deal to me

[@hairdresser1300]

@@davidreynolds8865 unless you have little ones with little legs! I remember those days!

[@Esperisreal]

It's really cool when you first arrive with energy but at the end of the day, it feels like forever, you legs drag because you're drained.

[@A2ADK]

Same!!! Hahaha

[@brookehahr2860]

Ok so im a 12 year old girl and I have been watching your videos for about a month now I go to Disney world in November and I asked my parents if I could schedule the whole trip and they said I could and my dad is a very picky eater so your channel has really helped me place everything correctly and make sure everything was good for everyone

[@griffinwoods2385]

I just took a DNA test turns out I’m 100% going to Disney World in November as well

[@hairdresser1300]

It sounds like you are a very detailed oriented girl! I bet your parents are very proud of YOU !

[@FafiLPDoll]

@@griffinwoods2385 lmao

[@nagitokomaeda6312]

I’m going in February!

[@jacquelineballard6846]

I am going in November too! It’s so fun to plan and dream all year! Makes the wait not so bad

[@otsenres1636]

Never stay by the stairs or elevator...high traffic and noise zone.

[@Mike__B]

Oh lord yes. That constant *wrrrrrr* *cachunk* sound is the worse.

[@lll.l-k6q]

Do people actually walk up and down the stairs?

[@Mike__B]

@@lll.l-k6q While on vacation where my phone health app last said I walked 12.4 miles in one day roaming the Magic Kingdom? No.

[@otsenres1636]

@@lll.l-k6q they do in economy based motels, there are so many in the Kissimmee area.

[@cammcecil]

or by the pool... we stayed at AK lodge and the pool noise out the window was ridiculous

[@big.red904]

Everybody gangsta until they get put in the pumba building in Kahdani Village

[@FFLapin]

🤣

[@anapaolamena8917]

Who remembers when Disney Springs was called Down Town Disney? 🤔

[@Evil0tto]

I remember when it was Walt Disney World Village.

[@seasonalgacha]

Ana Paola Mena MeEeE

[@zombiTrout]

I still call it Down Town.

[@cynthiabobst1653]

Meeeeeeee!

[@kimmccarthy7747]

I liked Downtown Disney better as a name.

[@selenalemiec2549]

Never try to pack every single day full of stuff, because you'll be too tired to soak it all in. Take a chill day in between, or break things down into half days. That's the lesson I learned the hard way.

[@Carolmaizy]

I agree. We got to the parks early, went back to the hotel to sit at the pool area and relax and nap. A few hours later we had dinner before going to Epcot or dinner there, and enjoyed World Showcase. Or we went to another park at night. Back to the room about 10,10:30. The park hoppers were worth the extra money, and the midday break was refreshing.

[@laika421]

We did a day off in the middle of our trip, since we learned from another trip you need to spend a day enjoying the hotel amenities! We left the parks early, but only made it back one night.

[@margaretd3710]

I value quiet!!!!! I'll let families with little kids be closer to the lobby, that way everybody's happy!

[@russhendrix9674]

If you have never been to Disney here are the 3 Lessons you will learn the hard way : 1. It is more expensive than you could ever imagine. 2. Usually, the lines are longer than you could ever imagine. 3. It is hotter than you could ever imagine.

[@jeninaslicer352]

Russ Hendrix I totally agree with all! But I made the best of it. The lines are longer due to watching people go back and forth out of line, watching them get their spot back, & bringing an extra person with them. I wore a sun visor and was still hot!😂 I think the next time I’ll be doing single lines to get on rides faster.

[@MaRodney07]

4. Its rains more at random times than you could ever imagine

[@michelle1]

5. It's more humid than you could imagine.

[@kimmccarthy7747]

5. The way back to the front of the park at the end of the day is way longer than you ever imagined. 6. The way back to your room when you get off the bus at the resort is way longer than you ever imagined.

[@Sarah-vl4mq]

@Julie Rozell what aspect of your trip was overwhelming? Going in a few months.

[@wadetaylor47]

Unless it is a specific ride I am determined to board, I won't get in a line that is more than 30 minutes long. I reserve the really long wait time for something before the end of the day fireworks. For example the day I waited an hour to board the frozen ride, the lines to visit future world rides were essentially non existent. Only wait on something special once a day. Time is on a premium on a one day park hopper pass.

[@paytonrobles3113]

We just had our first visit a little over 2 weeks ago. And i refused to let us get in a line longer than 25 minutes! Our trip went great.

[@A2ADK]

Yes, we do the exact same thing. I give it an hour though. We fast pass what we can, and what we know we really want to do. If we don’t have a fast pass andIf it’s more than a 60 minute wait then we skip it and come back to it and hope the wait goes down.!One of the many perks of the park hopper. There’s too much to see and do beyond the rides that it’s not worth wasting the time you have. In Disney World, time is money. Haha

[@tradingdisneypin135]

“your probably paying for deluxe anyway” um no AJ im staying at all stars each time bc its cheap 😂

[@zombiTrout]

Chelly Berry Preach!

[@melissagraeff1096]

Chelly Berry not cheap, just cheaper. 😂

[@tradingdisneypin135]

Melissa Graeff well the cheapest on site hotels

[@alexandramacias6385]

And I got it on Priceline so it's even cheaper than that lol

[@CBond317]

@@alexandramacias6385 be watchful of not going thru disney or a travel agent, disney reserves the right to deny you a stay if you buy from places like priceline.

[@Jager87]

I have a small counter point to the first tip. We stayed at Art of Animation when the Skyliner opened and we had a room at the end of the hallway in building 5 on floor one. Which just happened to be the closest room to the Skyliner at Art of Animation. Yes it was a far walk from the parking lot but the Skyliner being super close made it worth it.

[@kimmccarthy7747]

Did the Skyliner being so close to the building make any noise through the walls? I haven't heard anything about hearing it all night long yet.

[@Jager87]

@@kimmccarthy7747 Nope. Didn't hear a thing. It's as silent as can be.

[@kimmccarthy7747]

@@Jager87 Well, that is good to know!

[@bitrunner2000]

haha well not so much of a convenience now with the recent "mishap" with Skyliner...

[@mosborne9878]

Interesting comment ~10:45 - that the buses stop running. While I have always known that they aren't 24 hours, some years ago, I asked a cast member about missing the last bus out of (now) Disney Springs. (We were there _very_ late). He assured me that if guests were still in one of the parks that the cast members would help them get back to their hotels, "even if it meant going to get my own car." I don't know how far I would push that statement, but given Disney service levels, I would tend to believe that they would go out of their way to get you where you needed to be. On the other hand, I know first hand that the very late buses can run sporadically, widely spaced, and not with the usual Disney cheer and customer service.

[@BabyMieuw]

OMG! I just spotted a hidden Mickey in this video! At 6:13 look at the wall in the back of the hall. The lights are shaped like Mickey!

[@elchaconaso]

if you decide to take your bags on the magical express make sure to tip the driver,regardless what the disney people tells you.they get very low pay and tips counts a lot.

[@gwenschott]

An exception to the first tip about not staying in a room at the very end of a hallway ... I stayed in a room at the Polynesian that was literally the farthest room out from the Great Ceremonial House (the last room in Moorea). It was quiet, had a nice view of the MK fireworks (rooms down the hall were blocked by the bungalows), and I was literally a few steps from TTC! Big advantage!!

[@0800showman]

No one - DFB - "NOT ALL SNACKS ARE CREATED EQUAL. DONT USE CREDITS FOR WATER!!"

[@SingingDiaries]

When we flew from NYC to Orlando we missed our first flight and were so worried about our luggage being stolen. We did NOT put the Disney luggage tags but Disney still took our bags which I am thankful for, but just a heads up that if you miss your flight Disney probably took it but ask the luggage office area, so don't freak out! The luggage office person was notified by Disney that they were taking our luggage and also where they were taking it.

[@michelle1]

If you didn't put Disney tags on the luggage, how did Disney know it was yours and that it should go to a Disney resort?

[@SingingDiaries]

@@michelle1 I have no idea, they probably put our names in their system when they saw the suitcases hadn't been claimed, realized it was our first visit and that maybe we had forgotten to put the luggage tags (we chose not to) and told the airline luggage people they were taking it to our resort Pop Century. When we reached the resort, everything was in our room!

[@jacquelineballard6846]

Michelle D They have all of our flight info when you sign up for magical express pickup. Our bags are scanned in under the airlines, so they probably matched the airlines sticker info to the info they have on file and put it together, and grabbed the bags. Figuring that they were still sitting there after they grabbed the other guest bags that did have the stickers.

[@simsp.h8041]

Singing Diaries wow that’s good organisation/a great system on their part

[@adriennelucky2223]

I stayed at the B resort at Disney Springs this past March it was great! I did get a deal through Expedia & then split the cost with my friend but the busses pick you up straight from the hotel & then it’s super easy to park hop throughout the day. I would 100% stay there again.

[@Frankie_Holt]

I learned don’t go on the weekend, the locals are out in force

[@UmmYeahOk]

Thank you Disney, for making every weekend a festival weekend 😩

[@gloriavaldez1560]

Disneyland too no weekend

[@gwendalynn_alvarado]

Frankie Holt we are going to stay 7 nights 6 days so we are going through a weekend.

[@nagitokomaeda6312]

Oops!

[@novemberninth4392]

I wish I was a local 😫

[@bengrimaldi]

This applies to Animal Kingdom lodge more than any other hotel...its an absolute brutal hall to be at the end of, I know from experience!

[@milodecker1665]

Many ways to place requests for a room at Disney. You covered them well. Just would add that it's important to remember they are just that - requests, not guarantees. Disney does a great job with attempting to accommodate, but cannot always match. Especially if multiple requests are made ( ex. King bed on 2nd floor near lobby with large balcony and view of pool). They will assist with changing room assignments on day of arrival, but if a next day room change is best option, be aware you will likely have to vacate the old room and store your items with bell services until new room is ready.

[@EDThemeParkAttractions]

Took the Minnie Van this morning and they told me they added two stops at Disney Springs. Now its 4 areas

[@rebekahdorr8708]

Also, don’t expect extra Magic. You aren’t entitled. Being at Disney is the magic we look for and anytime a cast member offers above and beyond that, it’s a special gift. I think people go expecting they are owed that and then feel their trip was ruined. Just my two cents. Thanks, AJ!

[@nikg6063]

Biggest tip: bring a good sized bag but pack as little as possible for the parks. All you really need is your phone, a battery bank and your wallet (but you can typically find a good phone case that will act as a mini wallet too). When you have left over food, water bottles or merchandise to carry, you will thank yourself!!

[@mccod035]

I am good with walking infact I think it allows you to look at the resort and to enjoy it especially if its outside

[@M.YassinTorres]

I wonder how many people watched this and called Disney like "don't put me at the END of the hallway!"

[@CandyGirlLoddy]

The Minnie Van was worth it leaving MK, since that is the only ride share that can pick up directly in front of MK. And like you said, they did drop us off right near our room. All other times, I used the regular Lyft, which was anywhere from $9-12...much cheaper.

[@cwesley2005]

AJ is right on point about the magical express luggage! Pretend u don't need that luggage for day 1 and pack appropriately with carry on.

[@simsp.h8041]

I’d definitely say include a swimsuit in that carry on and then if you arrive before your room is ready you can swim :)

[@kmlammto]

The week before Thanksgiving is great for lines right up through Thursday. Friday, the crowds start to build as some folks take that Friday off so they can be there before Thanksgiving. The crowds can be as bad as summer or Winter break crowds.

[@michelle1]

Yes, Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas breaks are always bad. I seem to remember that some of the sites with crowd calendars traditionally list those three weeks as 10/10 crowd. I've been in Disneyland on Christmas a few times and on those days, it reached capacity so they stopped letting in new guests. I've never seen Disney World parks close due to capacity, but the lines have gotten VERY long. Make sure you have fast passes and dining reservations so you can know you will, at least, get in those experiences.

[@kmlammto]

Oh yes they do, especially on the day of the Holidays you mentioned. I have been at WDW on Christmas Day. We were going to go to Magic Kingdom but saw the rod to MK be more of a parking lot than a road as we crossed over the rode. We diverted to EPCOT at about 9:30 am. As we entered the park, we heard the security supervisor tell the inspectors to prepare as the MK was just closed as it was at capacity. The lines for the rides were so long, but not bad for us as we got to make phone calls to family while we were doing nothing else.

[@laartje24]

It is great to hit a short line for your favourite attraction around dinner time but the restaurants in the park actually close pretty early so make sure you don't get stranded without a dinner option.

[@melanieluke3539]

So your 1st tip....we stayed at the VERY END OF THE HALLWAY at Yacht Club. it was a heck of a hike! However it was a corner room with windows along 2 walls. We viewed epcot fireworks from our room 3nights of our trip it was a super nice trade off.

[@darbymori350]

Fresh caramel popcorn from Germany pavilion is worth the line! Can't wait to buy some this November.

[@lorettaspradlin9868]

Darby Mori - definitely try the bakery in Norway!

[@kimmccarthy7747]

Does anyone know where to get great cheese popcorn?

[@kathycamasso6672]

It's definitely on my list for November too!

[@katherinemichael9137]

Going to Disney world next year and just ordered our magic bands for arrival at check in.

[@katherinemichael9137]

We are going late Feb

[@MrDagonOfTheDead]

Imagine if you don't mind walking the 400 miles in Disney World you probably won't mind walking another 5 or 10 minutes to your room. I stay at Resorts all the time and almost all of the parking lots are near the buildings. Some of the high-end resorts only have smaller parking lots and you tend to walk more with those but the mid-levels and the economy ones no problems at all!

[@antoniagrace49]

Your channel is so helpful!

[@daniaflores5858]

Me and my boyfriend are going in 2 month in December for the the first time!! And I love watching your videos ! I feel pretty prepared!

[@jaylawilliams5469]

Dania Flores omg me and my boyfriend are going in December too but sadly only for one day😭

[@tabithabolling5153]

Me and My husband are going in December for out Honeymoon!!

[@adriennelucky2223]

Dania Flores Enjoy! & get all the amazing treats! ALSO if you can, get a fast pass for flight of passage in animal kingdom. It’s the most incredible insane experience! But line ups can be really long...we waited 2 hours! Worth it though haha

[@daniaflores5858]

I got up at 4 am to make sure we got fastpasses for flight of passage 😭 we’re going for a whole week! I can’t wait

[@repentANDobey]

Be prepared for the wicked world of Disney

[@jacquelineballard6846]

I used Magical Express luggage last year, I got in at 6:30PM and didn’t get my luggage until 1 am.. so it’s not worth it in the evening especially if you are tired.. but if you show up early and plan on spending the day at the park it’s a great plus!

[@laartje24]

Tip: If you are a small adult you can often get away with buying a big sized children's t-shirt at Disney. Works great if you want something specific or if something is sold out.

[@Unitedfan7]

Just got back from my Disney holiday this week and I stayed at Jambo house. The room was right at the end of the hallway and it was bliss. No foot traffic and honestly there is something quite relaxing about a nice stroll back to the room after a busy day

[@TheSd1cko]

Depends how many blisters and sore joints you have 😁 We usually stay in the Paddock area of Saratoga and on the odd occasion we've jumped off the bus near reception for food then the walk back to the Paddock is a killer with blisters and a bad knee. Oh the things we do to enjoy Disney from opening to closing every day.

[@jamesward9646]

Hi AJ , l Used to live in Kissimmee..... went to Disney and Universal parks 2 to 3 times a week! Just looking at the video I see tons of changes from when I moved back in 2005 ! I agree 100% with skipping the prepackaged treats and package services! After hours transportation was very sporadic So I also agree taxis (and the new Minnie Vans) are the way to go! I used to wait until October and November to get my family to come visit as the lines and weather were superb! After watching your video I am jazzed to make a trip back to my old stomping grounds and visit Galaxies Edge and other new things at Disney! 😁👍🏼

[@rayneroe4609]

I’m just going to say that the yellow tag for the luggage was so helpful. The plane we were on in Atlanta luggage was full, so our luggage was on a different later flight, we knew this. But I had a practice when we were supposed to go get the luggage, but with the yellow tag the luggage was there when i got back from cheer practice that night. Life saver

[@mdf3530]

Waze is excellent. I use it all the time.

[@joedecesere7033]

On souvenirs, another option is ship directly to your home. It does cost extra, but the convenience and the fact the condition of the contents is guaranteed. I know thi from personal experience. 🤗

[@joedecesere7033]

@lbhobbs my packages typically took 2 weeks. Christmas is a very busy time of year for Disney. I took my vacations right after the New Year. Unfortunately, expedited shipping costs $$$$$.

[@TheCoolCookieKitchen]

Loved how you didn't have to go to the front of the resort with the Minnie van!

[@kriscynical]

Our DVC home resort is Boardwalk and we always book a Boardwalk view. The view we like the best requires that we stay in the "Crest O' the Wave" building which we joke is in Hollywood Studios because it IS such a long walk to get there. It's worth it to us, though, for the view and the quiet since the youngest member of our family is 23, we don't get up for rope drop, and far too many parents let their kids scream and yell and run up and down the hallways at 7am because they think they don't need to parent on their vacation.

[@laurab444]

I was going from Port Orleans to Grand Floridian and a Lyft was $9 and a Minnie van was $31 (not a joke) so just be aware if you're only a few adults traveling or your kids don't need car seats.

[@michelle1]

Correct! I regularly see the Minnie Vans are double the rates for a regular Lyft.

[@FFLapin]

I learned just this weekend that you can’t pick up additional fast passes until you’ve used up ALL 3! We used up two early in the day, and could not pick up two more because we had one scheduled late into the evening :( we could have given up the late fast pass, but it was for a personal “must do”. So lesson we learned: schedule fast passes close together as early as reasonable, so u r free to pick up additional ones as the day goes.

[@dhwyll]

Maybe Disney World, but at Disneyland, if you're staying in California Adventure, the rooms that are over by the Disney Store, the furthest from the lobby, are actually good because the fireworks happen right there and you don't have to deal with the crowds of the people on Main Street. You can watch from your balcony.

[@kingofthings7929]

Here’s a tip in regards to lines for rides. Go on a rainy or cloudy day, preferable when most tourists are in Florida, Spring and Fall are good time. Especially fall.

Extra Magic Hours r a Must do for us!!

[@fabavb]

Love love love this video! And I have had my experience with the Pumba section too :( The worst was when we were at the Bus Stop and one of us realized he had left his Magic Band in the room....

[@mendozabo]

Agreed with the Magical Express to Animal Kingdom, it took over 2hrs...Good Lesson Learned

[@Mediaguy711]

Don't expect food that you've seen on DFB or other Vlogs to actually be there anymore :( Disney changes their food all the time. I just got home from a vacation where I researched food for my kids special diet and none of it was there. Also Art of animation got rid of the crab cake burger and breakfast naan :(

[@SidneyBeaudreau]

I am so excited for my disney honeymoon at Disneyworld!!!! I cant wait to experience the magic of disney honeymoon! I cant wait!

[@selenalemiec2549]

Yay!!! Have so much fun. Congrats!

[@Kayyvr]

Congrats! You will have a blast, and it will feel even more special going for your honeymoon 😊

[@colesherman6499]

Thank you so much for all the information

[@jeffkearney3932]

We feel the pain about ride closures... last year we were in houston but took a detour to disneyland on the way home and splash mountain was closed. This year we have plans in new Orleans so we decided since we were closish we'd do a week in disneyworld... and if course splash mountain is going to be closed lol my daughter is not happy! Luckily she's been on it in the past but it's her favorite

[@BigSlink197]

We were disappointed to find out that you could not go into two parks on one day if you do not buy a park hopper - at all - even if you want to use two separate one-day tickets. We had hoped to use up an extra day we had on our plan, but they would not let use use it. My husband and I are not park-hoppers at all, so the park hopper isn't worth it for us.

[@michelle1]

Wow! I did not know that! Thanks for the heads-up!

[@emilyfagan1860]

I was in the pumba section of Kidani. Omg what a nightmare lol

[@1DawnMarie1]

Ema Storm We were too, it was legit a 1/2 mile walk to the lobby!!! Thankfully we had a car so we drove instead of having to hike over to the bus or lobby every time.

[@kiskaloo6843]

Room requests are pointless. I booked a year ago, put in a building request and when I arrived last week was given a pool view room despite having booked a standard room, I didn't want this as I wanted quiet. The CM insisted that was the only room available, but, after getting politely annoyed he, amazingly, found me a standard room that was in a quiet location. From telling me there was nothing else available except a pool view to finding me a near perfect standard room, very strange.

[@ethans9296]

Ok Karen

[@amandacalimese9522]

I have realized the lines are not shorter during rope drop! When my mom & I go to Avatar FOP, it will already be 210 minutes and it is like...but Monday we lucked out with it being a 30 min wait!

[@vera-fz2lc]

yup. If I ever go back again, I'd schedule the trip during the week. The locals would have gone back to school or work in the mornings.

[@sandraknight2110]

I learn the refurbishment thing the hard way 😣. My grandson still ask me if they fixed Mickey's clubhouse yet? 🤣

[@blueberryfrog894]

When do the minnie vans start running in the morning?

[@ThatOneDudeWhoPostsStuff]

Hey there! I heard that, in Disney Springs, you could send your luggage to the airport so you don't have to carry it around for the rest of the day. Is that true, and do you need to be in a Disney Hotel for that to be valid?

[@jkstanley9025]

One thing we learned the hard way is that if you switch resorts mid-trip, you must use ALL your dining plan credits from the first resort before the credits from the second resort will kick in! We’re the type that always ends a trip with extra snack credits and takes some prepackaged Disney snacks home. Even our travel agent didn’t know that switching resorts could cause DP issues - it ended up causing huge problems for us one day, a lot of embarrassment in the restaurants, and over $100 out of pocket that we hadn’t planned on. (Disney was awesome and gave us gift cards as reimbursement, though, so we used those for souvenirs.)

[@wavepool4501]

I’m only familiar with Disney World but my general rule is go big or don’t go at all. I don’t mean max out your credit cards, but if you try to do Disney cheap try not to be disappointed when it doesn’t feel too great. This applies in a few ways... Food: the “cheap” food at the parks is still very expensive, but as you go into the high tier places you end up spending more typical prices relative to the quality. Admittedly this works best for couples. Avoid the snacks and junk food and go for the nice breakfasts and dinners. Resorts: Sure you’re mostly here for the parks, but the nicer resorts do a better job of keeping up the magic outside of the parks. After a long day the extra quality and ambiance can really go a long way, plus all of the service and activity perks. There’s a lot to consider based on which park you like best, but for me the big three around Magic Kingdom are hard to beat (Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary). Their close proximity to MK and the integration of the monorails and ferry boats makes these three resorts feel like you’re still in the park in a way. Time: Trying to cram too much into too little time can quickly sully the experience. I highly recommend at least 4 full day/nights total if you’re going to bother at all, and really 5-8 sounds better if you want to feel like you saw it all. If that sounds expensive then wait and save up more. Magic Kingdom and Epcot in particular can easily be two day experiences. And of course there’s a lot of other stuff to do other than the parks. Final note: If you want a good few of the fireworks at MK, you’ll need to stake out your spot well ahead of time, 2 hours at least (a good reason to spend two days in MK, so you plan ahead to get one good fireworks show) The trick is to claim a spot so you’re standing just behind one of the little fenced off gardens. This way no one can push directly in front of you and your view is relatively protected. As the crowd begins to gather people will fill into all the available space and be told to stand up if they’re sitting on the ground.

[@ano070602]

Goofy's candy shop is the best for a first time Disney springs.

[@haileysargent4138]

Oh boy! Here we go!

[@lyddie4446]

I’m disabled so when I go to Disney I’ll definitely request a room closer to the lobby I can’t handle that long of a walk.

[@lucymumma8840]

Tell them about your disability so it's easier for them to accommodate you. My mom has some mobility issues and as long as we've let them know ahead of time they've been very helpful.

[@havfunwithit]

It took me well over two hours to get from a park to Trails End at the campground. That’s a lot of waisted expensive ticket time. It always costs more for convenience at Disney. You save time using Uber. I used the mono rail twice and got stuck twice.

[@samcar06c]

We learned the hard way to check where the GPS is sending you when calling an Uber!! The buses at Caribbean Beach weren't running properly, so we tried calling an Uber for the first time. We just typed in "Epcot" and the GPS was trying to take us this weird back way to a non-guest entrance. We tried to re-route, but we didn't speak Spanish and the driver didn't speak English, but in the end through gestures and hand signals got him to drop us off by Boardwalk and we entered Epcot through the resort. I felt so bad for the driver, I made sure to tip well.

[@charlottebryan4324]

AJ your videos are always so informative and full of tricks to saving money and time

[@vanessamackey3857]

We always pick up our luggage at the airport because we fly direct into Orlando internationally, which means we have to pick up our own luggage in order to get through customs. But I found it better that way anyway, that way we have all our stuff right away when we arrive at the hotel, flip flops and all. :)

[@ilovemusicals256]

Yes on the suvineors. So many guests would come into the Christmas shop I worked at the very last minute and would get upset that our personalization orders were full or we no longer have the ornament they originally wanted

[@ohmyboo97]

one of my must do's every time I go is Pirates of the Caribbean. One of my all time favorite rides. One time I went, it was closed due to refurbishments. I was soooooooo disappointed. That's when I found out about the schedules Disney posts. So next I went, I didn't miss it. Made sure to get a fast pass for it too

[@achista5603]

Tinkerbell not really what this vid is abt but ok

[@griffinwoods2385]

Yeah it actually is.

[@cbc9002]

Ride while its raining people are hunched down in one spot. Also hit them while the fireworks or parade is going on. I find the lines to be short waiting. Also when using your fast pass your not confined to using only 4 rides a day and wing the rest. When you swipe your last ride start making a choice for the next ride on the Disney app keep doing this the whole day remember you can only do 1 at a time. We hit 15 rides. And on a price check ask a cast members to look it up or if its a size check too. We waited 15 for someone to do so and they never came back. Told the manager in return they apologised and gave us the item for free. It wad a $45 kids jacket

[@Immortal_Vanguard]

Lesson I learned the hard way: Keep an eye on your budget, ESPECIALLY if you've tied charges to your MagicBand. I thought I was keeping a good running total of everything as I got it - putting receipts into a checkbook ledger to keep track of things - but with 3 days of our trip left I'd realized I was missing - at some point - $500. It almost turned our trip - my then-girlfriend, now wife's first - into a disaster. Maybe if you are going to do this, check with your hotel every day or every other day to get their running total. Or just don't charge thru MagicBand. Definitely could be considered an inconvenient convenience if you b0rk it up.

[@micahschneider4697]

Because of your never wait advice I got all the things I wanted and didn’t miss out on anything! And after getting home, no regrets on what I bought! I also looked the things I wanted on the app to see if they were located at other stores. I did this to make find something I wanted and to see if I needed to fight the crowd to get what I wanted! Lol.

[@veronicajude]

This looks like an interesting one! 😍

[@kristenwilliams3317]

Buses can take up to 45 minutes we waited at Epcot for what seemed like forever. We also had a break check happy driver.

[@TheSd1cko]

Could be worse. Could have been a crash happy driver. We've had one of those before, there was an obvious crash about to happen and the driver just kept on regardless, the other vehicle then hit us (could have been avoided by the driver if he had even braked a little well in advance) and the bus driver carried on like nothing happened and just radioed it in 😁

[@hairdresser1300]

@@TheSd1cko wow!

[@AlphaDoggy]

One of my moments... I had a Splash Mountain Fasspass, but the wait time in the normal line was 5 minutes. Being the dumby I was I went into the Fasspass right away, which I shoild’ve gone into the normal line. After I got off the normal line was 35 minutes and ugh it annoyed me. I could’ve gone on again but yea...

[@nikkid7963]

I’m glad you mentioned ride refurbishes! I’m going in Jan and was excited to ride SM for the first time and here it’s under refurb till February. Glad I know sooner rather than being excited and finding it’s down. Oh well this just means I need another trip. 😀

[@ellenwalsh9367]

we are planning a trip next year and your videos are so helpful :)

[@myshreksbox]

I got my sister a beauty and the beast puzzle last year and it was the last one on the shelf the day before we left I almost fainted cause I was so happy. I wish I didn’t wait but my anxiety kicked up the day before. My dad and I sent stuff to our room and same with the luggage and we just went straight to the park so we wouldn’t have to wait forever since we were riding a packed bus For contemporary for hotel rooms get one that’s about half way down the hall since you won’t be hearing kids yelling in the morning at chef Mickey. Trust me it’s deafening in the mornings

[@fordadam7851]

Polynesian Resort has its own bag security check , just before boarding the monorail, and you skip that line at the Magic Kingdom, , very welcome

[@christrudden5114]

I made the buy it when you see it mistake when Frozen first came out. Saw an Anna doll in Hollywood Studios and assumed it would be everywhere.

[@andrewschwartz7043]

Hey AJ, if your a work-outholic, physically active, wear a Fitbit, and monitor your steps, have a hotel room far from the lobby may be a good thing!

[@shansen98]

Andrew Schwartz trust me, there are far more entertaining ways to get your steps in than the hike down the halls from the lobby to puma in khadani.

[@andrewschwartz7043]

shansen98 I know. But to some people, every step counts

[@kimmccarthy7747]

Add the 90's building at Pop to the list of rooms you don't want to have to walk to at the end of a long day.

[@Carolmaizy]

We stayed in the 90s section. We honestly couldn't understand why people say it's a long walk to the lobby or bus area. It took us 3 minutes or less - and we took our time.

[@kimmccarthy7747]

@@Carolmaizy Well, to be honest, the last time I was there, I didn't know I was developing severe arthritis in every joint of my body, and that slowed me down considerably everywhere I went. I even got pushed out of the way by a bunch of kids in HS because I was limping too slowly for them. Now, a decade later, with new hips and better management of my arthritis, I am certain I could make better time from the bus depot to the Rubik's Cube corner where my room was.

[@youknowme8578]

A.J. can you elaborate on the 3 hour a.m. and p.m. park passes? The one you mentioned that are slightly more than normal priced tickets. Have been to Disney World at least 10 or more times and never knew about that. Thanks, and always enjoy your blogs.

[@maryannadkins2705]

You can plan an amazing vacation - however you cannot control others' experiences and emotions. I planned (what I thought) was a wonderful vacation with my partner - only to find out he hates being around children (we stayed in a value resort) hates eating off trays and hates taking buses. I described the whole trip where we were staying, where can eat eat and how we were getting around before hand (for several months in fact). I did not show my disappointment in his reaction and tried to have a decent time regardless. So, that was a something I learned the hard way. BTW, years later - he claims to have had a terrific time and raves about the dining plan. Go figure.

[@DisneyTimePodcast]

Thanks for teaching us some lessons you learned about Disney World! I hope to be able to take these with me on my upcoming trip to Disney World in November! Community, what was the best lesson you learned from the video?

[@fawks7632]

I've been to disney world 3 times and all 3 visits, I've been unlucky enough to be there while splash mountain is being refurbished so I've yet to ride it. Definitely going to pay attention to refurbishment announcements when planning next time.

[@michaelhatfield8163]

Fawks Similar expérience for our trip back in 2014. SM was closed and my 12 year old daughter was SOOOOOOO disappointed. Fortunately that was the only time it was closed. We have sure made up for lost time on SM by riding it near the end of the day. No line ups at all

[@dgfarr1]

Wish I knew about the mini van to Hoop Dee Doo before I went a couple weeks ago.

[@kimmccarthy7747]

I know! I took the buses, and it wasn't bad, but I was the only one on the one, and it was night, and I was a little afraid I would get lost. But I didn't. I did ask the bus drivers where I needed to go next and what would be coming.

[@micheleturner5511]

Thank you for very interesting and informative advice.

[@noemicanto430]

so whenever I buy something I just ask if they can send it to the front of the park or how do I ask for that?

[@debbiewestphal4291]

How do you go to the parks constantly if you live in Texas just curious I really love your videos you’re very good at what you do and they are enjoyable to watch 👍😃

[@marybowman3491]

I never thought of taking a Poly bus to DIsney Spring and then a bus to POFQ. I really wanted to go to Trader Sams, but was planning on taking a Minnie van to POFQ. This will same a bit of money.

[@michealfeeney8920]

wait a second, AJ... *listens a few seconds longer*... Oh. Okay. Its not that your saying that the snacks at any of the parks are not worth it. You are saying that if I go to the counter(s) instead of buying the stuff they packaged last night, I'll get something better. This... really makes sense AJ. Its the sort of tip about disney food that causes me to check your channel on a fairly regular basis.

[@LeanderEve]

Does anybody know which hidden costs might probably pop up? We're about to plan our first trip and we're a bit scared that it might get waaay more expensive... Thanks for the video, it's super, super helpful!!

[@robertmeier6410]

Leander Pictures cost extra, so get the memory maker before you go so you get to enjoy the rides and get a picture and maybe video after. It also includes all the picture spots throughout all the parks for your entire party for the entire trip. Snacks and such are what we spend the most money on. Take a water bottle with a filter so you can get water from the water fountains or from the stores to save money as water is like $3-$5 each. We go 3-4 times a year have annual passes and are DVC members so we look for any discounts we can find on dinners, but the meal plan for us is a must. It lets us include the meals we want into the payments we make each month to pay for our trip so the cash we take we can use for buying stuff in the parks and always have money for food.

[@LeanderEve]

@@robertmeier6410 Thank you so much!!^__^

[@michelle1]

If you use the Disney Dining plan, you will get table service meals if you don't just get the quick service plan (three/day for the deluxe plan and 1/day for the standard plan). Only the two-credit table service meals of Cinderella's Table and the The Hoop De Doo Review and the Spirit of Aloha dinner shows include the tip/gratuity. Plan to add an extra 18%/per meal for the tips.This will need to be charged to your room, paid by credit card or paid by Disney gift card or cash at the time of the meal.

[@gorms713]

If you get a dinning plan you still need to add a tip. That added up for us over the week.

[@kellywilliams1332]

@@gorms713 really?!?! thanks for this tip!!