10 Things A Disney Nut Does Better

There are a lot of us out there. Certified Disney Nuts. You can tell by our Disney license plates, Disney t-shirts,  and the Mickey Ears we wear outside of the parks. You’ll catch us humming It’s A Small World or Let It Go and we don’t even know we’re doing it.

And if you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World, you’ll want to invite the Disney Nut in your life to dinner. Pick their brain. Get them talking about the place they call home. Because there are a lot of things a Disney Nut does better.

1. We know the best time to arrive at the parks. Early. Before-it-opens-early. Arrive at least 45 minutes before “rope drop” and you’ll be able to see and do more in the first few hours than you can in an entire afternoon.

2. We stay on property. While staying on property may get expensive, the perks far outweigh the price tag. A guest who stays on property never pays for parking, has access to all of Disney transportation and is privy to Extra Magic Hours – exclusive hours in the parks reserved for Disney resort guests only. You are surrounded by Disney magic 24/7 and the customer service is exceptional.

And there are ways to stay on the cheap…..

3. We know the best times to go and we get the best deals. “Value season” is never set in stone, so we follow several blogs and discussion boards, we’re good friends with our  Disney travel agent and we watch for deals every waking moment. Ok, every waking moment is an exaggeration, but I probably check about once month and always keep my ears/eyes open when I’m scanning my favorite sites. If you haven’t reached “nut” status yet, never fear. An Authorized Disney Planner will have all the latest information.

4. We embrace the rainy weather that defines a Florida summer. The rain chases most people away. But not the Disney Nut. We stay. It’ll be over in less than 30 minutes and most rides don’t close because of a few raindrops. Plus, there are shows to see and plenty of other indoor attractions to keep us occupied while we wait it out. Then, when the rain clears, we hop on the big ticket attractions while the lines are at their shortest.

5. We make sure we check the Times Guide as we enter the park – and we know ahead of time which attractions are closed for refurbishment. Before every trip, I check to see which attractions are closed for rehab. Pirates of the Caribbean will, sadly, be out of operation for our upcoming trip. But, we know in advance and can mentally prepare. There’s nothing worse than counting on a particular attraction and finding it closed. Similarly, attractions close at different times during the day and may not be operational near the beginning or ending of a visit. Always check the Times Guide, a large sign near the entrance of each park or main drag, to see when your favorite attraction will be open or when a special show will take place.

6. We wear matching t-shirts. I know there are many of you out there that would rather be caught dead than wearing matching anything. My husband is one of your kind. Well, he used to be. Until a recent trip, when I begged and pleaded with everyone to PLEASE let us wear matching t-shirts. He reluctantly agreed. (My kids were easy sells. They were going to Disney World, after all.) We arrived the first day with our matching t’s and that’s when the magic began. It was as if the seas were being parted just for us. We never lost anyone getting into a line. We sat together easily for every show or parade. Everyone just got out of our way when they saw us coming. They knew we were together (and as a mixed-race family, sometimes this is hard to tell) and they made sure we stayed together. Pure magic. For more on the magic of wearing matching t’s click here!

7. We book our dining reservations early. 180 days early, to be exact. Walt Disney World is a popular place and the most popular dining experiences can be completely booked before you go. If there are some must-eat places you’d like to try, you simply must make reservations as soon as you are able. And if you are staying on property (and you ARE because you are a savvy Disney Nut) than you must make them 180 before the first day of your trip.

8. We know the best way to meet the characters is to let them come to you. Book a dining reservation at a “character meal” and the characters work the room, stopping at each table to meet their guests. You sit back, relax, enjoy your meal and the characters come to you. No waiting in long lines. No losing your place in line because your toddler had a meltdown. Our favorites include: Cinderella’s Royal Table (princesses) and Crystal Palace (Winnie the Pooh & friends) both in Magic Kingdom, Tusker House (Donald Duck & friends) in Animal Kingdom and Mickey and Pals in EPCOT’s Garden Grill. Click here for a complete listing.

9. We don’t plow through the vacation full speed ahead. Walt Disney World is about the size of San Francisco or about half the size of Manhattan in New York. Unless you plan on living there for a few months, you will never see and do everything. Slow down. Savor. And enjoy what you are able to do during your vacation. And then plan on coming back, real soon, to catch some things that you missed!

10. We utilize the free My Disney Experience App for our vacation. This app allows you to keep all your resort, dining and FastPass reservations all in one place. You can also use this app to check attraction wait times, parade schedules,  interactive maps and more.

So, fellow Disney Nuts. Can you think of anything I may have forgotten?