You wouldn't think it from the photo, but this is one the most crowded places I've ever been.
Very shortly after my better half and I got hitched, we high-tailed it south towards Florida for warmer weather and singular experiences. We got both, though I was more stricken with nostalgia than she simply because I was older than her when I last went (I was around 9). We had an absolute blast and I thoroughly recommend everyone go to Disney at least once.
Caveat major; there are some things that I learned from the experience that can only be gained by hindsight, and weren't mentioned in any of the preparatory literature I read.
1.) Stay in a cheaper room, but get one of the better meal plans.
This one alone could make or break a trip. Food in Disney is most definitely not cheap. You can't even leave for lunch and come back, since parking has a fee all its own. Staying at a Disney resort avoids most of this mess, but the trick is to avoid the higher tier "specialty" rooms. We stayed in the "Royalty Suite" at Port Orleans, but to be honest we didn't spent much time in the room nor much attention to the detail therein. We'd have been just as happy in a cheaper room. The meal plan that we payed for, the deluxe, was awesome and worth every penny just to know that we had scheduled meals and plenty to eat with no worries during the stay. Just make sure you book your reservations at the restaurants well in advance, at least for dinner.
2.) Don't be stingy with the snacks.
Seriously, meter out enough each day to burn them up. Doesn't matter if it's just for a cold drink, get what you paid for. That being said, try to use snacks as a slow down point during your day. Imagine, you are tired, hot, and harried. Now imagine breaking away from the crowd, sitting in the cool of the shade, and enjoying some ice cream or a cold drink. It can make a world of difference in your mood.
3.) Back packs are a bad idea.
Don't carry a purse, knapsack etc. They are too heavy and require you to go through a baggage check to get in. The "No carrying" line is a breeze, you just walk straight through. More to the point, carrying things in a backpack just gives you more to lose. So, clip your phone to your belt, a water bottle on a carabiner, and some extra sunscreen in a cargo pocket just in case. Perhaps some chap-stick as well. Guys should carry the park tickets in their wallets.Women folk should carry an additional hair tie or something to put their hair back in a pocket. That's it.
4.) But smartphones are a good idea!
Used my phone a ton at Disney; taking pictures, reading books while my better half used the restroom, using the Disney app for navigating the park and looking up wait times, and knowing the weather conditions. Judicious use of the Disney app in particular kept us abreast of the shortest wait times and saved us fruitless walks across the park just to check the time at that ride.
5.) Sun screen & Hats & Bandannas oh my!
No brainer here; I saw lots of toasty folk all over the place. Sun Screen up every morning, and after getting drenched if applicable. Wearing a hat helps keep the glare out of your eyes; can't tell you how many pictures of me exist where I'm squinting like a constipated cowboy out on the plains. My better half got a sunburn on top of her noggin, poor thing, from leaving her straw hat in the room one too many times. A bandanna would be a good option for covering your nugget, and you can wet it and throw it around your neck to help cool you off to boot.
6.) Explore and pay attention to detail.
Take your time, try not to rush. That's the way to stress. Look around and enjoy it. One of the best meals we had at Disney was at a restaurant called the Rainforest Cafe, which we stumbled upon while exploring. Look in nooks and crannies, try to find the hidden Mickey Mouse symbols all over the place, and notice all the details all over the place that make Disney such an experience.
7.) Get up early, leave early.
Get to the parks first thing in the morning, and try to ride the biggest draw rides first. Have some lunch, and then go back to your hotel for a couple hours of down time. Grab a shower, read, cool-off during the heat of the day. Then go back around four in the afternoon for more play in the area where your dining reservations are for the evening. You'll be more relaxed, and have more fun that way!
8.) Drive yourself.
Disney transportation was pretty good... within limits. I can see it being a good thing for parents with young kids; no messing with car seats and such. But for childless adults, it was by far faster and less stressful to just get in Traveller (my faithful steed) and drive to the park of our choice. No screaming kids, no waiting for buses to and from. If you stay in a Disney hotel with a multi-day park pass with the park hopper option, you can go to any park at any time without paying for parking or separate tickets.
9.) Try to schedule an off day
One of the things I really wish we had done was scheduled a down day in the middle of the week. We rushed far more than I would have liked, and by the last day I was so sick of crowds, heat, and rushing that I just wanted to go home. If we'd taken a break mid-week and relaxed we probably would have stuck around for the entire last day and really used our time to the fullest. So, book your tickets for six days and five nights, and rest on day 4. Hang by the pool, read in quiet, whatever it takes to recharge and enjoy the rest of the week.
10.) Take pictures. Lots of pictures.
Abuse the ease of storage that a smartphone provides you. Take three or four pictures of everything you find interesting; you'll have time to go through the photos and delete bad shots later.
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