Remember that opening scene from The Lion King?
While many people see vacation as the sleep in and do nothing kind of trip, Disney is the exact opposite. The best advice anyone could offer is to make sure you wake up early for not only park opening, but also extra magic hours (if you are staying on property). You might be scoffing at this point thinking that vacation is supposed to be restful, but trust me this is the best way to do Disney.
To get the most "bang for your buck" and to in my opinion, get the best Disney experience, you need to start your day early. Not only can you beat the crowds on some of your favorite rides/attractions, but you also get to witness some extra Disney magic!
One of the BEST examples of this is at the Magic Kingdom:
If you get to the park 12 minutes before the Magic Kingdom opens you could be a part of the Welcome show and open the park with a little faith, trust, and pixie dust. This is something for everyone to enjoy and not just Disney resort guests.
It is also just exciting to open the parks with your friends, family, and kids. You can do a countdown out loud, be one of the first people on your favorite attraction, or grab a fastpass for a popular attraction to avoid wait-times.Also, if you are travelling with young kids or if this is your first time, getting to the parks early helps you avoid the crowds and long lines.
First, if you are an on property guest you can participate in the extra magic hours which is available for any Disney resort guest. The park is open 1 hour early and sometimes 3 hours later than normal park hours , which is a great advantage for those of us who can't ride enough rides.
Secondly, getting to the parks early lets you get on all the attractions you want that may have long lines during the day such as Dumbo, Soarin', Expedition Everest, Toy Story Midway Mania, etc.
Now you might be thinking that you're going to get pretty tired running around any and all of the Disney parks, especially if you get up early. No worries! By noon the lines will get pretty long because those who slept in will have arrived as well as annual passholders and other guests. This is the perfect opportunity for you to take a break and nap! If the parks are open late, it is raining, or it is just hot, taking a break to nap and recharge is another great tip from Simba and friends. After all, in the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.
If you can't or do not want to go back to the resort to take a nap, you might want to find a quiet place in the park to hydrate, have some food or ice cream, and just rest your feet. You can avoid melt-downs and just feeling overwhelmed if you take a break. Or you can go back to your hotel and enjoy some swimming time in that Florida sun.
I cannot stress it enough that getting to the parks early and staying late is the BEST way to do Disney and taking these breaks will not only make it easier but more enjoyable to accomplish a fun-filled jam-packed Disney day.
The last thing the Lion King taught me about Disney is no stampeding!
No matter how popular a ride is, there is no need to run, push, or compete with guests. You are not only putting yourself in danger but others and kids as well. Many guests cannot resist running for attractions like Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios or Soarin' at EPCOT, but I assure you that if you get there early you will be fine. You will even be able to get fastpasses AND hop in line. So take it slow, not only for the little ones feet, but for your safety an convenience.
Don't be afraid to wait an hour for a popular attraction or just grab a fastpass. Many of the lines move faster than you think and sometimes the lines can be really fun, especially because some of the lines have interactive queues.
After all, it is all about Hakuna Matata and that means no worries. You will get to do everything you want to do if you get there early and stay late, take advantage of fastpass, have a good attitude, and take those much needed breaks.
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