So since being back all i can talk and think about it Disney now anyone that knows me personally will probably think that this is nothing unusual, well it isn't really however when your husband and 3 year old are doing the same you suddenly realize that the family has a little obsession.
when your husband is ordering Disney pins to stock pile so that "the kids" can trade next time we go or when E tells nursery or Nanny that "Mummy & Daddy have to go to work because they need pennies to take us back to Disney" That's probably the realization for me that the holiday was a HUGE success and that i need another full time job to fund our expensive love.
So I thought i would write up My Top 10 Disney Tips i know that there are loads of these posts circulating (trust me i read them all the obsession is real) but everyone has different hints and tips for you to be nosy and try out as not every family or trip is the same.
1. Stop. - it may seem like a really pointless thing to do but just stop breathe it all in enjoy the smells the sound close your eyes take it all in. make sure the kids do as well because this feeling that they have right now will stay with the forever. Disney has so many amazing little touches that you don't ever realize are there e.g the smell of the candy store on the corner of main street. This smell is like nothing else in the world it is amazing! You have worked so hard and saved every penny possible to make it to Disney now is your moment when you walk through those gates and you see that castle, just STOP look at your children's faces this is the moment that makes all those worries and fears disappear because their little faces say it all.
*and also i can always remember the smell of the toilets their air freshers are amazing!*
2. Take bottles of frozen water in to the parks. - this is probably one of the main things we have always done and i don't know how people don't do it if i'm honest. we will buy a multi pack of bottled water and then freeze them over night ready for the next day we will usually make sure there is 2 for each person, one for during the park and then one in a cool box in the car ready for after. Now what happens when it's empty you say, Do Not throw the bottle away! In Disney there a plenty of water fountains around you will see them everywhere and this is water that is good to drink so re fill your water bottle ITS FREE! a bottle of water in Disney can set you back $3 that's eating in to your spending money when you don't need to.
3. Autograph books - autograph books are amazing and the kids will love filling it as well as meeting all the characters and having something which they can show their friends when they get home as well. Now i did see a lot of people who had made their own ones which is a brilliant idea, however you then have to carry around a big heavy book all day and that Florida heat is something us Brits are not used to at all. I made ones for my girls but we decided that we would make them into scrap books later one and that way they can help with this as well. Every cast member that's with a character will have a bag this will contain loads of things but more importantly pieces of paper and plenty of colored pens that any stationery crazy person would love! Cast members are the most amazing people in this world some times you don't even have to talk to them and they will make you smile. So just ask them for a bit of paper and pen to get an autograph save all of these ( i would also write on the back the date and where you met them as well but i'm really anal like that) that way when you get home and are ready to put everything together you will have it there ready and easy to link all together as well. If not just your normal size autograph books that you can buy in Disney are the easiest ones to carry in Bum bag (fanny pack) these cost around £10 depending on which one and then you get pulled in to buying a pen as well which is again is eating into spending money.
4. Bum bag or Fanny pack - i always used to joke and laugh about my dad wearing one as a child however when you are the adult in the situation these are a god send! we didn't take one with us as we thought we knew best and that we wouldn't need one. WRONG. we ended up buying one from the Disney outlet shop for a few dollars yes it says 2016 but it really was a god send. probably our best buy for this holiday it wasn't too big it fit across the handles on the pushchair it could fit an autograph book in as well as a phone and money. If and when i did need to wear it, it wasn't uncomfortable or got in the way either.
5. Pushchair or stroller - this is a big one for me as Disney is a massive place and you don't realize how far you do actually walk. when you have two under 10 in the Florida heat on a full day in the parks this is exhausting. They are so tired but mummy isn't ready to go back yet she has more to explore. ( i promise i'm not that mean well, ) Even if your child doesn't have one at home which ours don't Disney is a completely different ball game you will need one! these can be rented out but this is only in the parks and they are very expensive and they are per day hires as well. Walmart is a good place to pick these up for $15-$20 for a basic one which is all you will want if not take your own we didn't have to pay to take ours it just had to be in with our normal weight allowance. On long days where we stayed for fireworks as well even A who is 7 had a stroller and yes i am one of those parents who likes them to walk but she fell asleep and there is no way any of us could carry her as a dead weight who's snoring and sweating
6. Don't take everything to the park - this may sound obvious but some people would have bags and bags of stuff for a day in the park. You don't need it don't take it. you will have to get every bag checked at the park security as you enter the parks and they are very thorough so you will be there forever and holding up every one else. If it isn't essential don't take it you can always pop back to the hotel or where ever you are staying.
7. Queues - now as Brits we are good at queuing however the Disney ques aren't like a queue for the bus or primark over here. They are a military operation. Take the security bag checks at the entrance to all parks, there is usually a guy pointing you in a direction of the queues that are shorter listen to him as he is very helpful and does know what he is talking about he isn't just talking into the microphone because he wants to. Have your bags all open all zippers open and ready for them to look in this is another thing that will help them get through it all faster like i said before there is always the one guy with a double pushchair a cool bag three changing bags and his bum bag, and none of them are open don't stand behind him in a queue. Usually it is the furthest queues that are shorter as people are oblivious and lazy. With the ride queues they will often cut them off and let other people through as a Brit this infuriates us, Don't say anything as usually this is due to them being fast passers or some times it can be due to a disability so before you do the Brit thing and moan that you have been queuing for ages, there is always a reason behind it.
8. Fast passes - this comes nicely on to fastpasses, these are the most amazing thing ever! This is the only thing i would recommend trying to plan not fully as i am not a fan of planning every second of you holiday but i would highly recommend trying to get fast passes for the more popular rides e.g Frozen or Snow White's mine train. You can book these 30 days in advance i think it is earlier when you are staying on Disney property possibly 60 days so use this take full advantage!! You can book 3 at any time once you have used these 3 you can then book another 1 and once you have used that one and then you can book another and so forth. i would recommend using the 3 in the morning and then assess what you want to do in the afternoon/evening. The 3 fastpasses must all be in the same park as well.
9. Take photos - again probably another obvious one, but take the posing photos take a picture where you are all pulling a face you are in Disney no one cares if you look a fool. Use your photopass photographers that are all around the parks these are usually cast members with HUGE cameras if you aren't sure stop them and ask them to take your photo. failing that some times they may just take it for you, Hey your in Disney every one is Famous right?
10. Enjoy it - Love every second take hundreds of photos capturing every second even if it is them asleep or walking or even eating you will look back and picture it where you were what it smelt like how warm it was you will be able to re live it. If your child wants you to pull a face in a photo or race them to the castle, do it!. Sing along to all the songs (I know that you all know the words), dance along down main street, wave at everyone in the parade, hug all the characters because are 100% real!!
If you have any other tips or hints please comment them and i may do another blog of all the good ones people have suggested, as i love other peoples hints and tips.
As i say these are the big ones that i thought were good from our trip so i hope these help you. Remember to never loose sight that it was all started by a mouse.
A few pics that sum it all up. :)
&& of course the mouse him self
MICKEY!!
