Summer vacation was just over but it is already time to plan the next trip! We asked Laura Saxton, a travel planner that specializes in Disney World destinations to share with us her best tips to have an organized Disney World trip with kids.
Disney World is a vacation most families will embark on at some point but it requires a level of planning and detail beyond most other trips. Add in specialized knowledge about the parks and systems, and what should be a fun family vacation can end up being stressful! Here are some tips that will help you organize your trip with little ones to Walt Disney World so that you can focus on enjoying the most magical place on Earth!
Pack your kid’s clothes in Ziploc Bags
When you pack, put a full outfit for kids in Ziploc bags for each day of the trip (plus some extras!) This means your kids have a matching bottom, top, socks, underwear, and even hair ribbons or Mickey’s ears if you are getting fancy in a bag that can just be pulled out of a suitcase or drawer each day. You know the clothes will match, you don’t need to dig to find anything, and you can grab an extra bag for the diaper/park bag!
Carefully organize your park bag
Speaking of that park bag, pay attention to how you pack it. We always actually pack two – one small bag with valuables like wallet and phone we can grab for rides or meals and another we feel comfortable leaving when we park our stroller. Make sure you can easily locate diapers, wipes, extra clothes, autograph items, snacks, sunscreen, and those valuables so utilize compartments or a system when packing so you don’t need to pull everything out each time you need to find something!
Tag your stroller
As you might imagine, Disney World is home to a sea of strollers and many look the same. Since strollers have parking areas and can be moved by cast members while you are on a ride to clean up the area, it is important for you to tag yours with something you can see easily. A bandana or ribbon from home works great to help you identify your stroller and avoid meltdowns after you come out of a ride.
Use park maps and make a touring plan
When I hear that people didn’t have a good trip to Disney World, it is usually because they didn’t have a plan. This is something I do for all my clients for free, but something anyone can do with a bit of work. Grab some park maps, identify the must-do attractions, and then create a plan so you do things nearby before moving to a new section of the park. Disney World is huge and will be a lot of walking (hence the stroller for even 5 and 6 year olds) so it is key to know where things are and use their locations when determining what you will do when.
Utilize fastpass +, dining times, and the “my Disney experience” app to your advantage
Disney World requires a lot of planning before you go and booking fastpasses, dining reservations, makeover appointments, and more at the exact time your booking window opens helps to make sure you will have a great trip. This is another service I provide clients but if you are doing it on your own, set calendar reminders and alarms so you don’t miss anything! When you are in the parks, use the app to grab additional fastpasses, check ride wait times, and look at hours and showtimes.
Hopefully, these tips will help you organize a magical vacation for your family at Walt Disney World!
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Meet Laura Saxton
Laura is a travel planner that specializes in Disney destinations, Universal Studios, and cruises. She and her family go to Walt Disney World several times each year and her free (with a booked package) planning services include booking the trip, fastpasses, and dining reservations, discount monitoring and personalized daily touring plans for clients.
Check out her page!