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Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

October 15, 2018

5 Ways to Maximize Your Time at Walt Disney World Parks

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Here are 5 great tips for making the most of your time at Walt Disney World Parks.

5 Great Ways to Maximize Your Time at Walt Disney World Parks

I recently returned from one of my favorite brand trips each year, eating my way through all the parks at Walt Disney World. No matter how often I visit Disney, I always leave wishing I had more time to do ALL the things. The parks at Walt Disney World and Disney Springs offer so much enjoyment, it’s hard to pack everything you want to get done in one trip.

When you are planning your vacation to Disney, I know you’ll want to spend as little time in lines as you can and maximize the time you do have at each park. Today, I’m sharing 5 Great Ways to Maximize Your Time at Walt Disney World. Time is money, and time is a most valuable resource. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of the time you have, so every minute of your vacation can the very best!

Take Advantage of Mobile Ordering at Walt Disney World Resort Parks

Take Advantage of Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering

We all know that visiting the Disney parks takes a lot of energy and everyone gets hungry. However, when you are having an awesome time riding rides or visiting characters, the last thing your family wants to do is stop having fun to wait in line for food.

Welcome to Disney’s Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering, where you can order food and snacks straight from your My Disney Experience app. You order what your family wants from your phone and then you will get notifications as your food is being made and when it’s ready. Once your food is ready, you head to the restaurant or kiosk you ordered from, and pick it up in the special Mobile Orders window. It’s so simple!

Here’s a list of restaurants and kiosks currently offering Mobile Ordering at Walt Disney World Parks. (The photo above is of the Satu’il Sampler Platter from Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom. It’s a family platter with a little something for everyone!)

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Visit the Parks During a Special Ticketed Event

There are times throughout the year that Disney closes the park in the evening to ticketed customers and re-opens for special ticketed events. These events, like the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party we attended, gives guests the opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom in a whole new way.

One big draw during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween is the trick-or-treating. Guests (kids and adults alike) are given bags to trick-or-treat around the park for candy. If you hit all the trick-or-treating spots, you will leave Magic Kingdom with a giant bag of candy and candy bars (like Skittles, M&M’s and Twix bars)!

Kristen at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom

Now, you may be wondering how attending an event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party could help maximize your time. Well, during this special ticketed event there are still a good amount of people in attendance, however you have a few opportunities to ride rides with less people in line. The Boo-to-You Halloween parade is a very popular event and takes place twice in the night. Watch the parade once (do it – it’s so cute!), then during the second showing, head to the rides. You’ll find for the most part, lines will be a lot shorter than normal so you’ll be able to ride even more during this time. Shorter lines = less time in lines and more time for fun!

By the last hour of the night, we’ve found most rides to have such short lines you could ride them over and over again if you want. Find more about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party and other special ticketed events here. Currently, ticket prices start at $85, depending on the dates you choose to attend.

Visit Disney World Theme Parks during Magic Hours

Staying on a Property? Take Advantage of Extra Magic Hours

One of my favorite memories with my daughters was attending the Disney Social Media Moms conference. I got out of my conference sessions, my girls and I headed to Epcot late at night to take advantage of it being open for Extra Magic Hours. We rode so many rides, with lines being a lot shorter than normal and ended up closing the park down. There’s something extra magical about being one of the last ones to leave a Disney park. It’s so much fun!

Registered guests who stay on Disney Property can take advantage of the parks being open late at night or early in the morning for them. Which parks are open and times change daily, so make sure to check out the park hours for each location when you make your plans. Extra Magic Hours definitely help guests make the most of their time at the parks.

Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom

Reserve Your Spot for the Happily Ever After Dessert Party and Fireworks Show

The first time my family ever went to Magic Kingdom, we tried to cram as much as we could into one day as possible. My four kids were really little (Leah was just 1). As you can imagine, by the end of a jam packed day everyone was totally exhausted. But, I had been looking forward to the night time parade and fireworks show all day long and wanted to stake out the perfect spot for it. We found our perfect spot right in front of the castle an hour before the show started, sat down staking out our space, and waited. Within that hour, Ella (who was 3 at the time) had a massive melt down and couldn’t be consoled. Shoulder to shoulder and row after row of people, we knew staying was not going to be an option.

We picked up our kids (one screaming), and headed out of the most magical place on earth sad and deflated. Friends, never again.

Not so Scary HAlloween Dessert Party

First of all, the time you have at the Disney parks is so precious, and unless you are lucky enough to visit often, you want to make the most of every minute. Why then, would you spend part of that time sitting and waiting in line for a parade or fireworks show when it doesn’t have to be that way?

Now, every time I visit, I spend the extra money to go to the Happily Ever After Dessert Party, which includes special reserved seating for the fireworks show and an all you can eat dessert buffet. The Happily Ever After fireworks show is one of my all time favorite things at Disney, so I don’t want to miss it. Spending a little extra money is worth it to me for the extra time to enjoy not sitting and waiting. (You can read my blog post here about why the Happily Ever After Dessert Party makes me so happy!)

Disney Girls

My Disney Girlfriends – who always have a plan  Kristyn, Jamielyn, Shelly, me, Kristan, Jessica, Jenny, Amanda, and Emily

Have a Plan or Go With People Who Do

Some of the best advice I have for making the most of your time at Walt Disney World Parks is to have a plan…and this is coming from someone who typically flies by the seat of her pants on vacation. There is so much to do and see (and eat and drink) at Disney, it’s easy to get overwhelmed if you don’t have a simple plan of each day mapped out. Your plan can be flexible, but make sure if there are certain things you know you absolutely MUST do, map out when and where that will happen.

Cronut at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

For example, at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, there are so many awesome things to eat and drink. I’m sure you could do it all, but it would take a massive appetite and a lot of time. What I like to do is get the festival Passport and map out what sounds like “must eats” for me. I know the Cheese Bread in Brazil, the Creme Brûlée in France, the Guiness Cake in Ireland, etc are just a few of my must eats. By going through the passport and choosing the things I know I can’t miss, I don’t get overwhelmed by all of the choices and am better able to map out my plan.

Toy Story Roller Coaster

Fast passes are another thing to plan ahead for. As soon as you know you are visiting Disney World, get on your My Disney Experience app and map out your fast passes for your vacation. Fast passes are such a great way to skip the long lines and maximize your time. If you are with people who are Disney experts, have them teach you some of their tips and tricks for scheduling fast passes. There are many ways to make sure you get the fast passes for the rides your family wants to enjoy.

Magic Kingdom Castle in the fall

I hope these tips to help maximize your time at Disney World Parks help you and your family to have the most magical time! If you have any questions about any of the things I shared, just leave a comment here or shoot me an email. I’d love to help you have the time of your life enjoying as much as you can of the most magical place on earth. Happy travels!

For More Great Disney Tips, Check Out These Blog Posts:

  • Top 10 Must Easts at Epcot Food & Wine from A Novice Chef
  • Tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 by Picky Palate
  • Celebrate the Holidays at Disney World by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
  • Walt Disney World in the Fall by Cookies & Cups
  • Epcot Food and Wine Festival by Favorite Family Recipes
  • Five Things You Must Eat at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival by Kevin and Amanda
  • The Best Desserts at Epcot by I Heart Naptime
  • Best Restaurants in Disney World by Lil’ Luna

Disclosure: Thank you so much to Walt Disney World for sponsoring this trip and for providing food, lodging, as well as unique park experiences. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Filed Under: Previous, Travel Tagged With: disney, disney magic, disney tips, travel

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Comments

  1. Jocelyn McDonald says

    November 26, 2018 at 9:09 am

    My family wants to go on vacation to Disney-world, but we’ve never gone before and could use some help. Your article had some great tips for people like us, and I liked how you said that if we stay at a hotel on the Disneyland property, we can take advantage of magic hours. This means we can go an hour early and stay and hour later in the parks compared to everyone who isn’t staying on the property, and we’ll keep this in mind if we take our next family vacation to Disney-world.

  2. Donna Neace says

    December 17, 2018 at 12:58 am

    Thanks “Kristen” for your very effective and informative post. Recently I am planning for Disney world trip with my family (two little kids). This will my first time. Any ideas will mostly welcome

  3. https://www.grademiners.com/editing-help says

    December 29, 2019 at 5:44 am

    I LOVE this!! I’m so glad you’re doing this. I only desire to go there, but a little scary to go with children.

  4. Maria Smith says

    February 6, 2020 at 4:48 am

    Thanks for sharing this with us. I’m so glad you’re doing this. I only desire to go there, but a little scary to go with children.

Trackbacks

  1. Happy Friday: Volume 3 - Baked BreeBaked Bree says:
    October 19, 2018 at 2:01 pm

    […] Planning a trip to Disney soon? Here are some great tips. […]

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New ink inspired by a quote in my friend @andiemmitchell amazing memoir “It Was Me All Along”. 

I tend to be an all or nothing person and look at long term and get overwhelmed instead of just taking things one day at a time. I’ve said her quote to myself multiple times a day for years. Now I’ll have a permanent reminder. 

The full quote: “Can you do it today? Can you make it through today without bingeing? Just today, and tomorrow we’ll reconsider?”

I need to go back and get a couple missed spots filled in but I love it. Thanks Rob at @irezumitattookc 🎉

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This picture is from last week when @kellykdoyle and I were visiting colleges in Colorado. If I have any followers with ties to @coloradostateuniversity or @cuboulder I’d love to chat! 

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The past 2 years have changed my kids. They have gained so many positive things, but they've also gained a new kind of anxiety that wasn't there before. And I hate it for them. They've seen first hand how long haul covid has changed our family. They've seen the selfishness of others in ways they haven't seen before. They've had to grow up faster, worry about things they shouldn't have to worry about, and learn the hard way how this world can really be. And it hurts my heart for them. 

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#loveoneanother❤️ #parentingteens #momofteens #anxietyawareness #backtoschooloutfit #changemakers #parenthood_moments
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Follow their journey at @impatient.us and shop the link in their profile!

#smallbusinesslaunch #clothingbrands #teenentrepreneur #launchday #launchparty #teenbusiness #shopsmallbusinesses #proudmoment
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This weekend @kctinygreenhouse I picked up this beautiful Monstera Peru as well as a bag of Jeff’s Jungle Mix. You know when a new to you potting mix has you super excited, you’ve crossed the line into la la land 😂 Swipe to see how pretty it is!

What pandemic hobby did you pick up?

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Come for the plants, leave with a heart full of happy!

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I’m officially one step closer to reaching peak plant lady status! 🪴

I’m welcoming these plant cuttings from the Hello Kathy Plant Etsy Shop to my already booming collection. When I saw people rave about her “Mystery Box” of plant cuttings I knew I had to buy one. 2 things I love...mystery boxes and plants!

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Book Lovers Giveaway (read to the end)!!! ⬇️ ⬇️ 

Supporting my local independent bookstore @rainydaybooks looks a lot different than it used to these days. Temporarily gone are the days of lingering in store, browsing the shelves, walking out with an armful of books I didn’t expect to buy. The pandemic has made independent bookstores pivot in ways they’ve never had to before, but I’m so happy to say they are CRUSHING IT! And as we virtually celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on 4/24, I wanted to share a way you too can help keep Independent bookstores afloat now (and in the future).

You know I’m a huge fan of @librofm , the absolute best audiobook alternative that gives money back to the independent bookstore of your choice with your audiobook purchases. Well, to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on 4/24, they are giving YOU a free audiobook! Here’s what you need to do…

Spend $15 or more at your bookstore between April 24th and 26th. Submit your receipt at libro.fm/ibd and Libro.fm will email you a link to your free audiobook by April 28th! Easy peasy, right?

Wait! There’s more! 🌟 I’d love to give one Dine & Dish follower the chance to win a 3 month @Librofm audiobook membership. To enter, simply tag your favorite independent bookstore here and tell me what you love the most about it! That’s it! Winner will be chosen at random on April 27th. Yay, books!

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Can’t believe we’re doing the college tour thing already with my second baby! 

So question for any of you who sent your kids to out of state schools or went to out of state schools...how did you do it? She wants to get the heck out of Kansas (I’d like to go with her!). We have money saved, she’ll most likely get a scholarship or two, she’s paying and has money saved as well...but even with that out of state tuition is a beast of an amount. So, did you just assume that student loans were going to be part of that life? And is that worth it to give your kids a shot at a new life outside of your home state? I wish I would have left Kansas for university, and have been here since I was born 😩. I want different for her if that’s what she wants but also just don’t have any experience with how people do out of state college! Any tips?

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J is for...jam!
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My friend @wakschmale makes the best strawberry jam...and I completely forgot about a jar she gave me last year until this morning. Which then inspired me to make my favorite buttermilk biscuits. So so good. Are you a jam, honey, just butter or plain biscuit fan? I love biscuits allll the ways, except with gravy. I have super bad memories of biscuits and gravy growing up. 🤢
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I’m still slowly making my way through the alphabet for @kimklassen_innercircle a-z photo challenge. I’m bound and determined to finish. It may just take me a little longer than I originally anticipated 🤗.
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It took me 2 months to get this Crispy Chickpea Pantry Pasta recipe up on the blog. 🤦‍♀️But it’s there now! You can find the link in my Instagram profile.
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Also, just noticed Instagram took away the like count on posts. I kind of like that...what do you think?
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I is for Inspiration!
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The “long haul” effects of having Covid back in December are really presenting themselves lately. The continuous persistent headaches are taking a toll and the connection between the brain fog and word retrieval function of my brain has been extra challenging. I had no idea a couple months out, the cognitive effects would still be hanging around.
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With that said, when I get a burst of inspiration I’m grabbing on for dear life. I made our favorite chocolate chip cookies recipe yesterday and felt the desire to update the blog post photos from 2007! We make these cookies all the time, so I’m not sure why it’s taken me so many years to give that poor post some new photos.
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If you’re interested in the recipe you can find the link currently in my profile. Enjoy!!
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@kimklassen_innercircle #kimklassen_innercircle #chocolatechipcookie #cookiestagram #foodphotography #feedfeedbaking #plateofcookies #cookiephotography #eatcaptureshare #recipeoftheweek
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H is for...high!
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It was so strange being on a plane again. I’m so thankful I have the antibodies because the flights were full, which seemed wrong, but everyone around me did seem to keep their masks on, so that was good.
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I can’t wait until travel becomes a regular part of life again. I’ve missed it so much!
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 @kimklassen_innercircle @southwestair @windowswap #cloudphotography #cloudsofinstagram #flightview #iflyswa #imisstravelling #skylove #planepics #myviewtoday #beautifulviews
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G is for...oh so grateful!

I flew to South Texas yesterday to visit my parents whom I haven’t seen in 2 years. They live around 17 hours away from us. We typical get to see each other a few times a year but with the pandemic and other health issues it just wasn’t able to happen and I’ve missed them soooo much.

Grateful to have had COVID last month. Although it was not at all fun, it gave me the antibodies to make this trip possible. My dad is having surgery tomorrow so I’m helping with my mom so my dad can recover without having to worry about her.

Kansas is enjoying frigid temperatures and snow. I picked a great week to head south.
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#palmtrees🌴 #palmtreesfordays #blueskiesandsunshine #wintersun #texasskies #kimklassen_innercircle @kimklassen_innercircle #silverlining
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F is for...food photography.
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This time of year especially, food photography (and I guess all photography actually) is a tug of war with time and light. I had planned on making and photographing a delicious pasta recipe, but my grocery delivery ran a couple of hours late because of snowstorm. So, at the eleventh hour I decided to make a cake...that took over an hour to bake and I had about 90 minutes of natural light left...leaving me with about 30 minutes of ok light to work with.
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Anyway, this wouldn't work for a client shoot because the cake, although delicious, didn't turn out looking so great. But it will work great for today's F photo for the @kimklassen_innercircle A-Z photo project:) Lemon Citrus Yogurt Cake from this weeks @cabotcheese newsletter. So good!
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#eatcake #eatcaptureshare #eatcakebehappy #lemoncake #cakecakecakecake #foodiegram #yahoofood #dessertsofinstagram #sweettooth #kimklassen_innercircle #fisforfood
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