What more can you say about Disney, but it’s magical. A three-day banking conference turned into a mini vacation for me and the kiddos. When in Orlando, you must visit an amusement park. We decided to do Hollywood Studios. From the moment we got to the park to the time we left it was nothing but fun and excitement. There were times of crankiness but for all the cranky moments we double in moments of happiness and laughter. Here are some of my tips and tricks for surviving a day at Disney.
The most important thing is to study the park map. Knowing how to navigate through the park will
save you time and hassle. Make sure to
pack a bag with snacks, beverages, and sunscreen. Get yourself a nice cooler backpack to keep
your drinks nice a cold. Sunscreen is so
important in the summer in Florida. Take
it from the one who didn’t pack any and got burnt. Hats are important because it will protect
your head and face.
Once you have studied the map the next step is to plan your
day. Don’t forget to add rest times for
your kiddos, they will need the downtime to regenerate and get the energy to
keep going. I highly recommend that you
invest in the Genie +/lightning passes.
This will save you time waiting for rides and from unhappy
children.
You will have to download the Disney app in order to get
access to the Genie+ and lighting passes.
The app will also organize your day and give you estimated ride times. The park map can also be found on the Disney
app. The app is not the easiest to navigate
through, so I suggest you study and learn the app before you visit the park. You can purchase the Genie+/lighting passes at
12 am on the day of your visit, and yes, I did wake up to get these
passes. It will cost you $15.00 per
person but so worth.
Once you have purchased your Genie+ passes, you can start reserving
rides once the park opens, and then every two hours after that up to three times.
What I mean by this, is once you have booked your first lighting pass ride you
will have to wait two hours to book your next ride. Choose wisely, because you are only allowed 3 reservations. I had set my timer every two hours so; I would not miss a chance to book
a ride. Things are a little different
for pass holders and those staying in a Disney resort. This applies to those who are one day passes
and not staying in a Disney resort. You can do a lot with the Disney app, so
make sure you get familiar with it.
Our Favorite Rides and Game Plan
Here was my game plan for getting on the most popular rides. As soon we were allowed to enter the park, my
kids and I sprinted to the Star Wars: Rise
of the Resistance ride. Once we got into
the line, I booked our first lightning pass which was Mickey & Minnie’s
Runaway Railroad. Lightning passes for
the Resistance ride was sold out before we even go into the park. It was a 120 minute but so worth it. I played “heads up” with my kiddos while
waiting and the time passed by quickly.
Once we were off the ride it was time to book our next ride
which was the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
In between Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad and the Smugglers Run ride,
we waited in line for the Slinky Dog Dash ride in Toy Story Land. Again, another long wait but worth it. While waiting in line I was able to book
another lightning pass which was Toy Story Mania. We finished our day with the Indiana Jones
Epic Stunt Spectacular Show.
Food and Snacks
If you want to save money, then pack sandwiches and
snacks. I choose to have lunch at the
park. While waiting in line to get into
the park, I put in a mobile food order for Woody’s Lunch Box. Super cool feature and you don’t have to wait
in line. This is done through the Disney
app and there are multiple restaurants that offer this feature. I found a place underneath an umbrella where
we could sit and have lunch.
You must try the Milk Stand at Galaxy’s
Edge. Blue or green milk for a nice
treat. Tastes like cotton candy and your kiddos will find in amusing. For the adults, you can add booze to it and
trust me you will need it after waiting in line the for the Rise of the
Resistance. The Star Wars inspired
popcorn is also amazing. Do try the Galactic
Coffee drink in Galaxy’s Edge. A
delicious cold brew with a twist. Add
Godiva liquor for a nice adult beverage.
I surprise my boys with the making of their own droids. The droid depot was an amazing
experience. My boys got to pick their
pieces to make their own specialized droid.
Once they pick all the pieces, and with the help of a cast member, they
put their droids together. Once it was
all put together, they programed the remote control to each droid. The coolest thing about the droids are how
they interact to each other and how realistic they are. If you have the change to do it, I highly
recommend it. It does cost a $100 but it
was money spent well. I highly recommend
doing this toward the end of the day, so you are not stuck carrying a box with
a droid in it.
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