Tips To Help Keep Your Disneyland Trip Magical Instead Of Stressful

Each year, millions of people visit both Disney park locations in California and Florida. Families (and Disney-loving grown-ups) are drawn to the magic of Mickey and the gang, the exciting and innovative rides, and all of the fun theme-park foods. However, what is supposed to be the most magical place on earth can quickly become one of the most stressful, especially when young kids are involved. Here are some tips to help you

Start Planning Early

There’s really no way around this one. If you know that you’re planning a trip to Disney, start looking into every detail: after hours events, character meals, and such since these popular events tend to book up fast. You don’t want to get to your trip, have your kid be excited to meet Elsa, only to find out that the event is fully booked. Try to plan everything at least two months ahead of time, and that includes hotels, dining options, and which parks you’re going to attend.

Download The App

Do yourself a favor and download the Disney World or Disneyland app. This way, you’ll get real-time insights into ride wait times, be able to make dining reservations, have access to mobile food ordering, get your hotel information, Genie+, and more. Pretty much everything you need to know will be on here, so it’s really worth the download.

Familiarize Yourself With Genie+

Disney’s old FastPass system has been replaced with the Genie+ paid service that will give you access to expedited ride access through the Lightning Lanes. This could be worth the extra investment especially if you’re visiting at peak times, but if you’re visiting during off-season it might not be necessary, so try to assess how busy it’s going to be.

Consider Adding A Day

If you really want to go all out and spend a few days or more at the parks, you should keep in mind that the longer you stay, the less expensive the tickets get. For example, a one day admission ticket costs $109, while getting a seven day pass comes out to $69 per day. If your budget and time away allows for it, try to go for longer, since it’ll be more worth it, and your kiddos will thank you too.

Check Ride Refurbishments Schedule

Often, rides will be unavailable due to the fact that they are being refurbished, and so it’s important to check the online calendar to see if the specific attractions you are looking forward to will be available when you’re planning to go, especially before you start booking everything. This will be a huge help in avoiding a lot of disappointment.

Go For The Rope Drop

If you want to take advantage of a less crowded park to fit as many rides as possible in your day, consider getting to the park just before they open so you’re there as they open the gates so you can get in on the major rides before they get too crowded. Getting there between 30-45 minutes before opening should do the trick.