There are so many hints, tips, tricks and ideas that could help you that it is hard to put them into any particular order, so for the time being this is just a random list of useful stuff that will hopefully become more organised over time.
Before you go
You can get a free book giving you information and more all about Walt Disney World, it is called The Little Big Book of Magic and you can order it free from here.
If you want a more detailed guide book, or one that covers more than just Disney, I would recommend the following books:
Cheap Souvenirs
As with anything Disney, souvenirs do not come that cheap, but there is one option that only costs a dollar - pressed pennies. There are pressed penny machines all over Walt Disney World all with different designs covering characters, parks, rides & more. All you need to do is pay your dollar, pick the design you want and out comes your penny pressed with the design.
Fun Activities and Free Souvenirs
Magic Kingdom
If you are in Magic Kingdom and want something different to do, head over to Adventureland and just past Pirates of the Caribbean is a small building where you can take part in A Pirate's Adventure - Treasure of the Seven Seas, an interactive adventure to find hidden treasure throughout Adventureland. Your group will get given a pirate treasure map (there are 5 different maps) and will follow the clues to complete the mission, once finished you get to keep the treasure map and if you go back to a Cast Member you will also get a treasure finder card, complete all five maps and you also get a final completer card signed by Jack Sparrow himself!
At Sir Mickey's just behind Cinderella Castle in Fantasyland, if you ask a Cast Member inside they will sprinkle your hair with pixie dust, you can even make a wish.
EPCOT
Travelling around the World at EPCOT can getting a little boring for little ones, but this is where the Kidcot Fun Stops come in. Each of the countries has a Kidcot Fun Stop, at the first stop that you visit you can get a free Epcot Kidcot Fun Stop Ziploc Suitcase which you use to collect free travelers cards from each of the countries. Each card has a fact about the country and on the reverse a scene for colouring. In some countries the Cast Member will even show you how to spell your name in that countries language or give out stickers. It is a great little thing that both my girls have enjoyed doing.
Coming soon is Disney's DuckTales World Showcase Adventure. You’re invited to join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Launchpad, Webby and the nephews in search of priceless treasure. Using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, guests take a trip around World Showcase discovering exotic destinations, exciting mysteries, and maybe even a few thieves, villains and supernatural guardians of ancient artefacts.
Animal Kingdom
At Animal Kingdom you can become a Wilderness Explorer. You work your way around the park completing challenges and earning adventure badges. When you have built up your badge collection and filled your Wilderness Explorer Field Guide you earn the right to echo the Wilderness Explorer call - "Caw! Caw! Roar!" This is such a fun thing to do, but can be time consuming, so you might want to spread it over two visits to the park.
Free Drinks
You do not get much for free, but if you are thirsty and don't like the idea of spending $3 or $4 on a drink, go to a snack stand or quick service counter and ask for a cup of ice water - generally if the location sells fountain drinks they can provide ice water for free.
If you are in EPCOT, then you can do even better that ice water - free soft drinks! Club Cool, located in the World Celebration area, is air-conditioned and allows you to sample complimentary Coca-Cola soft drinks from around the world, there are eight flavours to try.
Parking
This is an additional cost you will need to factor into your holiday budget. Standard parking for cars, vans and motorcycles is currently $25 per day and covers the four theme parks parking lots, so keep hold of your receipt if you are swapping parks during the day. Larger vehicles such as Limo's and RV's are $30 per day. Preferred parking is also available which gets you closer to the theme park entrance, but costs a huge $50 per day. Currently parking is free at both the water parks and at Disney Springs.
Pushchairs (Strollers)
The decision to take a pushchair can be a hard one, only you know your kids, but I can tell you that there is a lot of walking and little legs will get tired quicker than normal due to the heat and humidity. We have always taken a pushchair and when we had both girls at an age of needing one, we actually purchased an American Sit 'n' Stand style stroller (2 seater) that meant both girls could be in one pushchair to push around. Apart from being able to rest the little ones legs, the pushchair is great for many other things as long as you pick one with the right features:-
Hidden Mickey's
All over Walt Disney World there are hidden Mickey's, that is, hidden representations of Mickey Mouse in plain sight, but worked into the design of the decoration or design of the attraction. It is fun to try and spot Hidden Mickey's when you are in Walt Disney World, some are quite easy to spot, other are well disguised.
Before you go
You can get a free book giving you information and more all about Walt Disney World, it is called The Little Big Book of Magic and you can order it free from here.
If you want a more detailed guide book, or one that covers more than just Disney, I would recommend the following books:
- Lonely Planet Florida
- Brit Guide Orlando 2021
- Birnbaum's 2022 Walt Disney World - they also do a kids version Birnbaum's 2022 Walt Disney World for Kids
Cheap Souvenirs
As with anything Disney, souvenirs do not come that cheap, but there is one option that only costs a dollar - pressed pennies. There are pressed penny machines all over Walt Disney World all with different designs covering characters, parks, rides & more. All you need to do is pay your dollar, pick the design you want and out comes your penny pressed with the design.
Fun Activities and Free Souvenirs
Magic Kingdom
If you are in Magic Kingdom and want something different to do, head over to Adventureland and just past Pirates of the Caribbean is a small building where you can take part in A Pirate's Adventure - Treasure of the Seven Seas, an interactive adventure to find hidden treasure throughout Adventureland. Your group will get given a pirate treasure map (there are 5 different maps) and will follow the clues to complete the mission, once finished you get to keep the treasure map and if you go back to a Cast Member you will also get a treasure finder card, complete all five maps and you also get a final completer card signed by Jack Sparrow himself!
At Sir Mickey's just behind Cinderella Castle in Fantasyland, if you ask a Cast Member inside they will sprinkle your hair with pixie dust, you can even make a wish.
EPCOT
Travelling around the World at EPCOT can getting a little boring for little ones, but this is where the Kidcot Fun Stops come in. Each of the countries has a Kidcot Fun Stop, at the first stop that you visit you can get a free Epcot Kidcot Fun Stop Ziploc Suitcase which you use to collect free travelers cards from each of the countries. Each card has a fact about the country and on the reverse a scene for colouring. In some countries the Cast Member will even show you how to spell your name in that countries language or give out stickers. It is a great little thing that both my girls have enjoyed doing.
Coming soon is Disney's DuckTales World Showcase Adventure. You’re invited to join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Launchpad, Webby and the nephews in search of priceless treasure. Using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, guests take a trip around World Showcase discovering exotic destinations, exciting mysteries, and maybe even a few thieves, villains and supernatural guardians of ancient artefacts.
Animal Kingdom
At Animal Kingdom you can become a Wilderness Explorer. You work your way around the park completing challenges and earning adventure badges. When you have built up your badge collection and filled your Wilderness Explorer Field Guide you earn the right to echo the Wilderness Explorer call - "Caw! Caw! Roar!" This is such a fun thing to do, but can be time consuming, so you might want to spread it over two visits to the park.
Free Drinks
You do not get much for free, but if you are thirsty and don't like the idea of spending $3 or $4 on a drink, go to a snack stand or quick service counter and ask for a cup of ice water - generally if the location sells fountain drinks they can provide ice water for free.
If you are in EPCOT, then you can do even better that ice water - free soft drinks! Club Cool, located in the World Celebration area, is air-conditioned and allows you to sample complimentary Coca-Cola soft drinks from around the world, there are eight flavours to try.
Parking
This is an additional cost you will need to factor into your holiday budget. Standard parking for cars, vans and motorcycles is currently $25 per day and covers the four theme parks parking lots, so keep hold of your receipt if you are swapping parks during the day. Larger vehicles such as Limo's and RV's are $30 per day. Preferred parking is also available which gets you closer to the theme park entrance, but costs a huge $50 per day. Currently parking is free at both the water parks and at Disney Springs.
Pushchairs (Strollers)
The decision to take a pushchair can be a hard one, only you know your kids, but I can tell you that there is a lot of walking and little legs will get tired quicker than normal due to the heat and humidity. We have always taken a pushchair and when we had both girls at an age of needing one, we actually purchased an American Sit 'n' Stand style stroller (2 seater) that meant both girls could be in one pushchair to push around. Apart from being able to rest the little ones legs, the pushchair is great for many other things as long as you pick one with the right features:-
- Built in sunshade
- Comes with rain cover
- Cup holders - to keep a drink close at hand
- Large storage compartment - to store the many things you do not want to carry, such as ponchos, snacks, cooler bag etc
Hidden Mickey's
All over Walt Disney World there are hidden Mickey's, that is, hidden representations of Mickey Mouse in plain sight, but worked into the design of the decoration or design of the attraction. It is fun to try and spot Hidden Mickey's when you are in Walt Disney World, some are quite easy to spot, other are well disguised.