Last couple of years, I had a lot of friends ask me - "I am planning to do a trip in Orlando. Heard you are the expert. Tell me all about it. I had an excel sheet that I would go through with them. So I thought it is better to pen a blog that I could share with people".
Assumptions
1) You are on a budget. Any disney trip is expensive for an average Joe. So how to cut costs.
2) I am taking some liberties around some of the stuff I really did not find interesting vs something that I found. Your tastes may differ. e.g.: You may want to do all the roller coasters. I don't...
3) There may be expensive software etc which are paid and do a better job than this blog. I haven't used any and learnt through my visits to the park and the mistakes i made.
I don't have time to read your blog. Tell me in one sentence - how to beat the crowds at disney?
Be at the gate before opening time - 25% work done
Start from the back of the park for all the parks - 25% work done
Use the first hour to manage as many rides as possible - 25% done
Use the fast pass well - Remaining 25%.
(Its my first visit I dont understand the concept of fast pass. Expect that youve done the first 3 well, youll get stuck in 1 or 2 rides in the afternoon that could sap some energy. If you do it well, the park will be a breeze.)
Time of the year?
1) Christmas to New years (MOST CROWDED BUT BEST TIME) - It was the most crowded. Most fun. Parks open for a longer time, extra new year events thrown in etc. Parks are wild with action. Expect longer queues. If you follow basic rules given above you should manage. Not a good time to go with babies or grand parents.
2) February (LEAST CROWDED, BORING) - not crowded, some rides are closed for maintenance, parks close early, a lot less action and NO extras thrown in from disney. Yes orlando gets cold, have some winter clothing. Best when you have babies or grand parents.
3) REST OF YEAR - Average to high crowds. Decent queue lengths.
How many days tickets should I buy?
BEST is 4 days with no park hopper. 1 day for each park. Animal Kingdom clubbed with downtown disney.
FOOLISH - 2 days with park hopper.
ACTIVE - 3 days with park hopper. The cost is same as 4 days but still a little pressure to do 2 parks on one day. That would for sure be Animal Kingdom since it is the smallest of the parks.
What is the order of the theme parks that I can visit?
Disney Magic Kingdom - Do the themes firsts
I cant emphasize again. Be on time for park opening.
1) Train to Frontierland. (Dont stop for photos or character visits. you have time for that later on).
2) Big thunder mountain ride and splash mountain. (Early morning less queues just complete these fast)
3) <Fast pass - There is a shortcut near Country bear jamboree that takes you to Adventure land. One of the team members get fast pass of jungle cruise for everyone>
4) Head to Fantasy land next (Dont spend time at liberty square now)
5) Small world, winnie the pooh, scary adventures, peter pans flight in the morning since there is less queue in morning. Dont spend time on tea cup, dumbo the elephant, carousal or play area now. Even phillermagic you can do it in the afternoon when you are tired)
6) Do the Jungle cruise using the fast pass now.
7) <Fast pass> One team member goes to Space mountain in tomorrowland to get the Fast pass while the team rests.
8) Do the rides in adventureland. If you are tired head to phillermagic and see the 3d show.
9) Head straight to car speedway in tomorrow land complete that now.
10) Use the fast pass for space mountain.
Youve done all the main themes of the park now. You are free to explore other rides in tomorrowland, take photos, visit tom sawyers, and the smaller rides etc now. The best place to be in the afternoon is liberty square since the presidents hall has nice seats and Air conditioning. Its also a good area to see the afternoon parade.
Assumptions
1) You are on a budget. Any disney trip is expensive for an average Joe. So how to cut costs.
2) I am taking some liberties around some of the stuff I really did not find interesting vs something that I found. Your tastes may differ. e.g.: You may want to do all the roller coasters. I don't...
3) There may be expensive software etc which are paid and do a better job than this blog. I haven't used any and learnt through my visits to the park and the mistakes i made.
I don't have time to read your blog. Tell me in one sentence - how to beat the crowds at disney?
Be at the gate before opening time - 25% work done
Start from the back of the park for all the parks - 25% work done
Use the first hour to manage as many rides as possible - 25% done
Use the fast pass well - Remaining 25%.
(Its my first visit I dont understand the concept of fast pass. Expect that youve done the first 3 well, youll get stuck in 1 or 2 rides in the afternoon that could sap some energy. If you do it well, the park will be a breeze.)
1) Christmas to New years (MOST CROWDED BUT BEST TIME) - It was the most crowded. Most fun. Parks open for a longer time, extra new year events thrown in etc. Parks are wild with action. Expect longer queues. If you follow basic rules given above you should manage. Not a good time to go with babies or grand parents.
2) February (LEAST CROWDED, BORING) - not crowded, some rides are closed for maintenance, parks close early, a lot less action and NO extras thrown in from disney. Yes orlando gets cold, have some winter clothing. Best when you have babies or grand parents.
3) REST OF YEAR - Average to high crowds. Decent queue lengths.
How many days tickets should I buy?
BEST is 4 days with no park hopper. 1 day for each park. Animal Kingdom clubbed with downtown disney.
FOOLISH - 2 days with park hopper.
ACTIVE - 3 days with park hopper. The cost is same as 4 days but still a little pressure to do 2 parks on one day. That would for sure be Animal Kingdom since it is the smallest of the parks.
What is the order of the theme parks that I can visit?
- Animal Kingdom is a small park and MGM is less walk and more shows. Club Animal Kingdom with down down disney.
- EPCOT is Big and Magic Kingdom is a lot of walk.
Disney Magic Kingdom - Do the themes firsts
I cant emphasize again. Be on time for park opening.
1) Train to Frontierland. (Dont stop for photos or character visits. you have time for that later on).
2) Big thunder mountain ride and splash mountain. (Early morning less queues just complete these fast)
3) <Fast pass - There is a shortcut near Country bear jamboree that takes you to Adventure land. One of the team members get fast pass of jungle cruise for everyone>
4) Head to Fantasy land next (Dont spend time at liberty square now)
5) Small world, winnie the pooh, scary adventures, peter pans flight in the morning since there is less queue in morning. Dont spend time on tea cup, dumbo the elephant, carousal or play area now. Even phillermagic you can do it in the afternoon when you are tired)
6) Do the Jungle cruise using the fast pass now.
7) <Fast pass> One team member goes to Space mountain in tomorrowland to get the Fast pass while the team rests.
8) Do the rides in adventureland. If you are tired head to phillermagic and see the 3d show.
9) Head straight to car speedway in tomorrow land complete that now.
10) Use the fast pass for space mountain.
Youve done all the main themes of the park now. You are free to explore other rides in tomorrowland, take photos, visit tom sawyers, and the smaller rides etc now. The best place to be in the afternoon is liberty square since the presidents hall has nice seats and Air conditioning. Its also a good area to see the afternoon parade.
