Universal Studios is the competitive edge to Disney’s theme
park empire. While the Universal Studios experience has existed since 1961, the
theme park magic that we know today is a more recent concoction. While some
attractions existed at their Hollywood Studio in the 1960s and 1970s, the theme
park lands really expanded in the 1990s with the opening of Universal Orlando
in Florida. Over the last 50+ years Universal has brought its own version of
movie magic to kids young and old, offering imaginative and exciting
adventures.
What you are wearing to Disney is a huge question. The
interwebs LOVES Disney
Bounding and no doubt, I also find the cosplay meets every day fashion
quite a treat (my stepdaughter and I will also be Disney Bounding in the Magic
Kingdom in October). Then there is being practical to deal with the weather.
Orlando is notorious for heat and rain, making a normal day hot, muggy, and
sopping wet. Then there is the shoe question, if one is walking seven to ten
miles in a day, what does one wear to ride rides, play in water, and stay
comfortable.
For our trip to Disney, we are keeping things simple but
cute. My stepdaughter’s Epcot day will be a tanktop and shorts. Her shoes for
every day (including one day at Universal Studios) will either be Sanuk sandals
that wrap around her face, or tennis shoes (my preference is the tennis shoes,
she’s 12, so we’ll see who wins). For our magic kingdom day, she will be
wearing a Minnie Mouse Disney Bound that is a red Mickey shirt, black Minnie
overalls skirt (shorts underneath), Minnie mouse socks (with tennis shoes),
and Minnie Mouse ears.
My Magic Kingdom bound (I have to miss Epcot) will be Mulan.
I have a Mulan
tanktop with the original movie poster, grey chinos, a green jacket (rain
coat), and Chacos for my feet. I also bought an epic Mulan
Backpack, and some cute jewelry and hair accessories
along with earrings to spice up the outfit. My goal is to have fun with the
outfit, but also be comfortable for the day, as there is no point in dressing
up but being miserable and uncomfortable all day.
My little cousin Ivy, who is five, got a very cute Minnie
Mouse tutu outfit for her birthday that I may have been involved in…she
will wear tennis shoes with this, and shorts under the skirt (just in case we
get tired of the poof). She also has a pair of ears that match my stepdaughter’s.
Other people may choose to show of former Disney swag,
shirts, ears, etc. Kids under the age of 14 are allowed to dress up for their
day in the park. If you are going to an after hours event, like Mickey’s Not so
Scary Halloween, adults are allowed to wear costumes as long as they meet rules
on layering, length etc. For more
details, click
here.
All around, I think the best advice, is plan to be practical, and wear what will bring you comfort and joy. If you want some inspiration, hit the Pinterest and Instagram for millions of options!
There is a lot of information on what to bring with you to
Disney, so many different opinions and ideas and expectations. In fact, you
could pack three backpacks and still not have “everything you need.”
While, I am speaking from what I have learned, and what we
are planning to use. I am also speaking from experience visiting other theme
parks, festivals, and traveling a lot in the last ten years. However, I may
revise this sometime in November, depending how my trip in October goes.
The truth is that you need what you would need for any day out. If you don’t plan to return to your hotel halfway through the day, bring it. If you need it regularly at home, at work, at running errands, maybe bring it. If you don’t hardly ever use it, don’t bring it. This will vary on who you are taking with you to Disney, your medical needs, and your specific preferences, but I am a big fan that you should always pack light (believe me I have learned this the hard way).
For my family we will be packing light to make the day more
enjoyable and not have to deal with so much junk. My group will be Disney bounding,
but in like the most practical way possible.
My stepdaughter will be Minnie Mouse, as will Cousin Ivy.
Ivy’s outfit has a denim jacket in case it rains, but I will also be buying
dollar store ponchos for them. I will be Disney Bounding as Mulan, with a green
rain jacket.
For bags, I will have a large Mulan backpack and my
stepdaughter has a small glittery backpack. My stepdaughter should be able to
have a water bottle, snack, sunscreen, and a poncho in this bag. I will have
enough room in my bag for my stuff, plus any souvenirs we pick up.
We will also be minimizing additional things we’re taking. I
will only take my cell phone (IPhone XR) and a mini-cam (similar to GoPro) for
the day with only one tripod. My stepdaughter and Aunt will have their cell
phones, but that’s it. The less gear we have the better. (I may bring a charger
and/or a charger pack).
I won’t bring things we won’t use, but here is our
comprehensive list.
Something I have invested in to make the trip easier are the
Magic
Bands that you can link your tickets to. I also got a gift card for my
stepdaughter to use as her money. This is because she is traveling with my
sister, Aunt, and Cousin Ivy on her day at Epcot. The magic band means her
ticket is already set up, she just has to scan it when she gets to the park. If
I make any fast pass reservations, they will also be on her band. Then my
sister or aunt have one less thing to worry about. Her money is on a gift card
so she won’t be tempted to buy some random thing at the airport and run out of
money for food on her day in Epcot. If you also have kiddos that wants everything
they see, give them a gift card and explain that’s their allowance for the trip.
That way they will think twice about purchases and extras. I also got a magic
band for myself, only because I feel it will be easier to deal with at the
parks.
While it’s tempting to take everything “just in case”, know that Disney is also prepared for just about everything. If you need a band aid, go to guest services or a first aid stand. If you need a diaper, they have stations for infants (Baby Care Centers). Most importantly, have enough to have fun, and don’t worry about everything else!
Disney is well known for its food options at their parks. In
days of lore it was the giant turkey legs and Mickey shaped ice creams. Today
Disney is trying to constantly create and sell Insta-worthy options for a
growing number of teens and young adults that capture everything. For those
with diet restrictions, the theme park constantly makes strides in providing
more and more gluten-free, vegan, and peanut-free options for visitors. The
point is, you won’t go away hungry.
Even better than all of the what you CAN eat at Disney is
that you can also bring in your own food. Unlike other theme parks, Disney still
allows guests to bring food and drinks (non-alcoholic) into the park without
issue. For those on a budget, or with numerous food needs (I have to do Gluten
Free and Pescatarian, avoiding dairy and soy), this is a godsend. It means I
can make sure I have enough food options for the day without having to
restaurant to stand hop just to have a snack. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t
partake in a little dining fun.
For those wanting something special, there are numerous
options for adults, families, and kids to have a magical time. In my line of work,
we get a lot of requests for Cinderella’s
Royal Table and Be Our Guest which
are the big “Princess” dining experiences. Beware that they can cost you a
pretty penny. My group of four (including a five year old) will be dining for a
late lunch at Be Our Guest and it will be $350 total, including gratuities.
Granted, this is a special thing we are doing, a one and done situation, not the
norm.
However, if you need to be more budget conscious, there are
so many options to get food in the parks. For those of you wanting tips and information
on what is available, I highly recommend the Disney Food Blog, click here, and their awesome YouTube videos.
They also share a lot of other valuable tips and tricks, which I have found to
be invaluable for my own planning and assisting clients.
If you are visiting during the Epcot
Food and Wine Festival you can have even more fun with your budget by
buying several small plates to share with your group, or hoard to yourself. This is a great way to try a lot for a little,
and a lot of the international offerings look divine!
Don’t forget that you can order food from the sort of “fast food” locations around the park, using your phone and the Disney App, which will save you time and effort. If you have time, play with the app and see what pricing looks like before you go to the park, and practice what it takes to make an order.
All around, you should have a lot of fun! Happy Eats!
Once you have selected which Disney parks you want to visit
on which days and with who, you will have to narrow down the rest of your
ideas. Gone are the days of visiting a theme park and riding everything or
eating everything in one day. In this digital era, you will need to plan, plan,
and plan.
Probably one of the most important things to figure out is
if everyone can ride everything. Like most theme parks in the world, you need
to be tall enough to ride, healthy enough to ride, and within other size
requirements. Naturally, this will make it harder for young kiddos, and bigger
adults. My husband is 6’4” and a lot of things are not built for people of his
height. I am 5’2” and many times things are not adjusted for my short (roller
coaster pads sometimes give me headaches as I am jostled around). If you are
plus sized, some of rides will be downright uncomfortable, so it’s important to
read reviews and make a list of rides that work for your group. For a good list
and information, click
here. For those with health conditions such as heart, back, and neurological,
pay attention to warnings and do your research before you travel. There is
nothing more disheartening than telling your kiddo that they can go on Splash Mountain, but they have not quite
hit the required 40”.
My personal tip, if you are traveling with littles, is to go
to the Disneyland, click
here, and Disney World, click here,
websites and review every single ride and their height requirements. Make a
list of everything that is small person friendly and then pick what are the top
rides for your group.
Also,
as a side note, don’t try to push the rules and make the kids seem taller,
these size guides are for your child’s safety and enjoyment and you will likely
get caught!
IF you are not traveling with vertically challenged people,
then select what rides you have not done, look the most fun, or are considered “classics”.
I am looking at you Pirates of the
Caribbean.
Once you have a list of rides, arrange them in a hierarchy
of what is the most important. For my upcoming trip, it will be Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. As I have never been to Disney World I
have set plans on these. Mostly, I NEED that photo of my stepdaughter and I
coming off Splash Mountain! However, your priorities may differ, maybe you need
to see Ariel in her Grotto, or Dumbo is your jam, totally fine. My tip
is to get the My
Disney Experience App and review what is the most popular on a similar day
you are visiting. So if you are going on Tuesday in October, look at Tuesdays
and see what have the longest wait times through the day. From there you can
select were you can use your FREE
Fast Passes.
Fast Passes are essentially a line skip option, or a
reservation for a ride. Everyone gets 3 selections to start their time in
Disney, pick 3 and use them, then get 3 more for your day. Passes can be
cancelled and altered throughout your time in Disney and you can make initial
reservations 30 days ahead with tickets. If you are staying on property, you
can make reservations 60 days in advance.
Perhaps the most important part of all of your activities planning
is so you get to see your top activities, and save time waiting in line. Fast
Passes allow you to skip the 2-hour wait for Frozen Ever After and get on with your day.
As an additional tip, if you can’t get a fast pass for what
you want, monitor availability throughout the day to see what may become
available as people cancel or alter their Fast Passes.
If you are staying stateside you have two parks to choose
from, Disneyland and Disney World. Disneyland is in Anaheim, California and
Disney World is in Orlando, Florida. Pick a coast. Both will be about the same
cost, per day, with all things considered. If you are smack in the middle of
the country, as I am, airfare will probably be comparable. If you want other
theme parks to visit, both are by respective Universal Studios, and other
similar activities. Even better, both are near oceans and seaside activities
that come with such a geography.
Disneyland is comprised of two different theme parks,
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. Both of these parks have
unique activities, themes, “lands” and it is the original theme park under the
Disney umbrella, opening in 1955. While California Adventure Park is the newest
installment and expansion, which opened in 2001.
Disney World is by far a much bigger experience. The Disney
World Resort complex has four theme parks for guests. The Magic Kingdom is the
closest match to Disneyland, with many repeat rides and experiences, but also
unique in its own right. The Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, and was followed by
Epcot 11 years later. Epcot opened in 1982 as the first expansion of the
Orlando property. Epcot has a focus on international cultures, events, food,
and dining; which often labels it as an “adult” theme park. Disney’s Hollywood Studios, opening in 1989,
is getting the most attention recently as it has opened a Toy Story land and
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in the last year. The focus on Hollywood Studios is definitely
on movie magic and connecting guests to that feel. Finally, last but not least
is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998. The Animal Kingdom is actually the
largest theme park in the world, covering 580 acres, and it is themed around
animals and natural areas.
All of these theme parks will offer a good variety of
activities and adventures for visitors. However, it is important just to grasp
the size of these theme parks and how few hours there are in a day, or one’s
patience. All of Disney World is 40 square miles, roughly the size of San
Francisco, or two Manhattans. While a lot of this is not fully developed, there
is a lot of space to get around between parks, hotels, restaurants and
everything else.
That being said, do not plan to try to go from park to park
all day. For your sanity, and your family’s or friend’s I would suggest doing
all single day tickets and going to one park per day. Then at the end of your
stay, if you have extra time, return to your favorite or favorite(s) by
upgrading your single park per day ticket. For more information, click
here.
Therefore, if you are planning a trip to Disneyland I would
plan for around five days. Spend one day getting there, go to Disney Springs in
the afternoon, or your first park if you want. Spend one day at the other park.
Then have two more days to park visit or just relax. Finally, you have day five
to get home.
If you are planning on Disney World, and you want to see
every park, plan on at least a week. Day one to get to the park and Disney springs.
Day two Magic Kingdom. Day three Hollywood Studios. Day four Epcot. Day five
Animal Kingdom. Day six is be an extra day to see favorites. Day seven travel
home.
Of course, you can mix this up, skip places you have already
been, or only go to one park all the days. I suggest visiting the respective
websites for lists of activities and entertainment for each park and select
what makes your heart excited, or the inner six-year-old squeal with delight.
If you have a favorite movie, go see those characters. If your five year old is
just happy to exist, plan your days around what will inspire and excite them.
Once you have a good idea of what you are wanting from your Disney trip then you can start to make solid plans.
Most importantly I think it’s important to establish a budget and what your family can afford. While everyone wants an epic vacation, it may be important to plan another year and save. This is especially true if you are saving vacation days and want to make sure you get the vacation you want!
Be real – Disney isn’t going anywhere.
What I think shocks most people is how fast the cost adds up. Disney tickets are realistically $100+ a day for everyone. More for adults. You save if you do multiple days or if you do half-days (a new program Disney is doing), or if you do an after hours option instead (like Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween party). However, tickets and pricing now varies day to day, with increased cost around holidays and on weekends. Cheaper days land on your Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (generally speaking). This is because they’re trying to reduce congestion on weekends, but also bring people into the middle of the week.
When it comes to hotels, you have choices. Plan on around $200/night for your family of four to stay in the lower 3-star kind of hotels on property. This does not include breakfast or other amenities.
If you stay off property you will save , and I’ve seen hotels within 20 minutes for around $70/night. However, if you stay off property you have to consider the cost of transfers and resort parking. But no doubt you will most likely save, regardless.
If you stay on property you also have the opportunity to combine everything for a package savings. This means your hotel + theme park tickets + flights + dining can all be bought in one go. If you like the idea of being on property, this will probably be your best option overall. BUT, don’t just buy this without checking specials, rates throughout the year, and other important options.
An added perk to being on property is that every resort has public transportation to the parks and from the airport included in your stay. That means you DON’T need a car. This is especially true when parking is between $25 to $30 a day at the resort of parks. I’ll go into if you want to leave later.
Of course, this benefits Disney if you never leave. However, there are ways to avoid costs by packing food, having groceries delivered, and meal plans with the park.
For flights, if needed, you will likely pay around $200-500/person roundtrip. From Denver (my airport) we usually pay $330 with Southwest and $200 with Spirit. For us, Southwest is usually better if we have to change our flights, and when we’re taking presents to family in Orlando (use those 2 bags baby!).
With all of this in mind, figure out what your family will need to pay for the trip and what is realistic for your budget!
While looking at lists of everything you need to do when you plan your Disney vacation it’s all extremely overwhelming. With my work as a travel advisor (agent) it’s always best to break things into reasonable pieces. Think of it like cutting up your plate of food, the small pieces prevent you from choking and dying. This is important for Disney too. (Ok death is less imminent, but your headache is real).
If you don’t have a lot of time to break everything down and you need to make sure things get done, talk to an expert! There are thousands of travel agents that have specialized training to help you turn a Disney dream into a reality. AND it doesn’t have to be a bank breaking vacation to get help! Search locally and online and you are sure to get connected with an expert. Many times your fee is minimal or even free!
Also, check with your credit card perks, some even offer concierge and travel experts as a part of your card fees! This is especially true if you are using points for any parts your travel.
If you want to handle the whole thing yourself, then prepare for it to take a good chunk of time. Most importantly, start planning what you’re doing MONTHS if not a year in advance. Even if you have been to Disney since you were in pull-ups, the changes that roll out every few months will mean you need to update your mental picture of what you want to do.
My personal suggestion is to make a list of wishes. Ask your spouse and kiddos or friends what they want out of their Disney time. Some may be all about Star Wars, others may be into the Princesses, and some may not care. Make a detailed list of everything from rides, foods, events, shopping, and hotels. This will make putting the puzzle together much easier. If you can, have everyone pick their top 1-3 “things” they don’t want to miss and then narrow it down. Find the things that overlap, and work in the rest. Ultimately, this will help you understand what you need to plan for the most.
Once you have a good idea on what everyone is wanting (don’t forget yourself) you can get into reservations and solidified plans.
I have never been to a Disney Park. A weird admission from a travel and media geek like myself.
See my parents didn’t really love theme parks. I don’t think my dad went to a single one with us as kids. And the biggest theme park I had been to before 2015 (I was 24) was Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.
It wasn’t that my dad didn’t like fun, or even Disney movies. In fact he adores the music from quite a few of them, it was the crowds and the noise and the heat, and most importantly, the cost.
When you’re living below the poverty most of your childhood, a Disney vacation is at the bottom of the list.
Therefore, at the age of 28 I am taking on the work of planning a day at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World!
What I thought would be a simple planning of a day or two has turned into months of opening dates and reservations and hourly details. It’s insane.
Therefore, what has been a deep dive into planning a Disney World vacation, and at times a headache, has lead me to thinking that other people could use some guidance. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing my tips and tricks to figuring it all out, saving money, and having the best time possible! I look forward to helping others along the journey.
Located on the west coast of Italy, a part of the Italian Riviera is the ever increasingly popular National Park of Cinque Terre. Millions visit the area every year from Florence and Rome, making it a top destination for travelers.
The appeal of The “five lands” is its sweeping landscapes, rich views, and unique adventures.
Here are my tips for visiting this enchanting location.
Catch an early train
Most people start from Florence, catch a regional train from Santa Maria Novella to La Spezia. At La Spezia you can buy your day or multi-day pass to the National Park and access to the train network in the region
If you are renting a car, park in La Spezia, and buy your pass just the same.
A small train network links the five villages (lands) running approximately every 20 minutes in each direction (north or south). This is the easiest way to get from city to city.
Note that there are no cars allowed in the cities and that there is a bus line that also connects the region but it’s less consistent and requires more walking.
The earlier you go, the better! This will help you avoid crowds and heat.
Bring your hiking shoes
There are over 70 miles of trails that links the five villages are region. The views from these trails are magnificent and offer amazing photo opportunities.
The trails are tough, but you do escape the crowds and enjoy some fantastic nature along the way.
Check trail conditions before you go, as wash outs are common.
Check your trains
Train schedules are more of a guideline than a rule in Italy. Therefore, make sure you read the schedules and allow extra time to get back to La Spezia and then your “home base” if you’re doing a day trip.
Allow time
If you can, stay a couple nights and truly take in the cities!
Off season or bust
If you can, go right at the end of summer (September/October) or right at the beginning of summer (March) so that you can enjoy the region sans millions of tourists. This allows a local connections that is often missed in June and July!
