FLORIDA Planning 101

1. Where possible, visit the quietest park on each day. 2. On morning visits, arrive at the park turnstiles 15/30 mins before “official” opening (rides are quietest first thing). 3. Staying onsite? Use the 30 mins early entry and arrive 15/30 mins before this time. 4. Use a lanyard or pockets for your phone, cards and money to avoid the bag inspection queue. 5. Identify your family’s must-do rides for each park and visit in order of popularity (morning) or reverse order (evening). 6. Download the park apps to monitor wait times and help you decide which attraction to visit next. 7. Rides are quieter during parades / fireworks. 7. Purchase Genie+ but prioritise for days at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. 7. Make reservations for any sit-down meals you want to take. 8. Eat your meals earlier or later than normal to avoid the busiest times. 9. Use the Disney app to ‘Mobile Order’ quick service meals ahead of time. 10. Visiting in a large group? When one person goes to the bathroom, all go to the bathroom (Trust me!).

SAVING MONEY

1. Visit a supermarket early in your holiday and buy drinks, breakfast items, snacks and fruit. 2. You can take your own food and drink into the parks (except alcohol and glass). 3. All counter service restaurants will give you a free cup of iced water. 4. Expect rain. Bring ponchos or your rain jackets from home – park versions are expensive! 5. Download the Uber app for cheaper taxi journeys. 6. Plan ahead and buy a US SIM or extra plan data (for mapping /directions, park apps and Uber). 7. Pre-order inexpensive car seats / strollers from Walmart and collect on arrival. 8. Self-catering? Take a few bin bags, dishwasher / laundry tabs, dishcloth / antibacterial wipes from home - huge pack sizes in the US mean extra expense and lots of waste. 9. No car? You can order supplies from Instacart / Garden Grocer / Walmart and have them delivered to your resort. 10. There are free activities at all the Disney hotels - they’re open to everyone!

STAYING ORGANISED IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM

1. Bring a pop up laundry basket 2. Hang an over-door shoe organizer for suncreams, toiletries etc. 3. Bring a four way adapter and/or extension lead and charging cables 4. Lay out clothes, underwear, shoes, park bags the night before an early start 5. Consider using packing cubes to keep family members cloths separate and organised either in your cases or drawers.

EATING & DRINKING IN PARKS

1. Bring collapsible cups or collapsible / refillable water bottles - a carabena means you can hook it onto your bag. 2. Robinsons mini concentrates help make the free cups of iced water taste better. 3. Consider reuseable straws for fountain drinks. 4. Sporks are handy for eating on the go, especially at Epcot food festivals. 5. Sandwich bags can be used for leftover snacks.

KEEPING COOL & STAYING DRY

1. Take cooling towels and rechargeable hand fan (enhanced by a water spray / Evian canister). 2. Use a flannel to dry yourself or wipe down wet ride / show seats. 3. Take a Ziploc bag to protect your mobile phone on water rides. 4. Use a plastic bag inside your park bag for wet items. 5. Cover pushchairs with a rain cover / poncho when you enter a ride in case there’s a sudden downpour. 6. Consider waterproof shoes (e.g. Crocs) or multiple sets of park shoes for consecutive days of rain. 7. Buy a cool box and keep it in your car filled with ice, drinks and flannels for a blissful freshen up after the park. 8. Keep your swim gear in the car for impromptu waterpark visits on the way back to your accommodation. 9. Take a jumper for air-conditioned restaurants at night – it can be cold!

AVOIDING FAMILY MELTDOWNS

1. Measure the kids and check against ride height requirements before you travel. 2. Don’t over schedule - plan for breaks and pool time. Avoid late night fireworks followed by early morning starts. 3. Consider taking a pushchair for children even if they don’t use one at home (or pre-order one from Walmart). 4. Take pics of your passports, park passes, vehicle. Store the number for your hotel, villa, car hire company. 5. Staying onsite without a car? Consider Uber when you’re pushed for time, travelling early or for must-do reservations. 6. Take a photo of your parking location before you leave the car. 7. Use rider switch service. If one child doesn’t ride, other family members ride separately without queuing twice. 8. Take your comfy, worn in shoes – you can clock 12 miles per day walking around the parks! 9. When it’s really hot and humid, consider chaffing gel or compression underwear. 10. Consider anti sickness tablets / bands for vulnerable members of your party. 11. All parks have first aid and baby care centres along with cool, quiet break areas. 12. Bring a spare set of clothes into the park so little ones can play in the splash zones or change after a water ride. 13. Set a souvenir budget and stick to it by pre-loading gift cards for each child. 14. or buy inexpensive souvenirs in the UK / at the US outlets and have them ready when the kids ask. 15. For night time parades / shows, bring inexpensive glow sticks from the UK. Park versions are expensive. 16. Hang around after the fireworks to avoid exit crowds. If you’re staying onsite, order an Uber to skip the bus line.

YOUR PHONE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

1. Take plenty of chargers, adaptors and an extension lead so you can charge all your family’s devices each night. 2. Park apps use lots of power – take an external power pack or consider using Disney’s Fuel Rod system. 3. Disney photographers will take pictures with your phone if you ask. 4. Install a weather app so you know what to wear and what to bring to the parks each day. 5. Get storm alerts. Many outdoor rides close temporarily if lightning is nearby - you’ll know when NOT to get in line. 6. Take a pic of your Lightning Lane reservation and save it to your lock screen, saving you power and time to check. 7. Set vibrate alarms for dining reservations and when to book your next Lightning Lane. 8. Make sure you have data / texts / calls whilst in the US, so you can communicate if your group splits up. 9. Download try Disney Play in the app and games like Heads Up to pass the time in line.