10 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid in Disney World
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- Опубліковано 29 тра 2024
- There are a bunch of BRAND NEW ways to get tripped up in Disney World that just became issues in the last six months - so even if you think you’re an expert, this is worth a watch!
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I always mention this tip:
Ask the kiosks or quick service places for LARGE ice waters. They are free, will fill up most reusable bottles, and are a must to beat the heat at Disney.
So helpful! Wish I knew this!
Lifesaver
When I worked as a cast member, the biggest thing I learned from observing families is that you need to have water bottles that you refill throughout the day, especially the kiddos. And if your child naps at home, they need to nap at Disney too, especially if you're staying for the nighttime shows. The 3 pm meltdown can be easily avoided if kids (and even some adults) are rested and hydrated.
Where can kids nap without leaving the park?
I’m worried my kids won’t want to nap in their strollers but I don’t want to have to go back to our hotel room and waste more time
Biggest rookie mistake? Taking the ponchos out of the park bag and leaving them in the hotel because “well, it didn’t rain yesterday.” That was me. Very wet. For no reason.
My rookie mistake was not doing some long test walks in my shoes before I went. I thought hikers would be ideal but I was in agonizing pain every single day and they didn't have shoes in my size at the parks 🥲 Maybe should have gone to target or used amazon but it's hard to think straight after a week of painful feet. So GOOD SHOES ARE IMPERATIVE.
Genie+ only works for me if I start super early and stack rides for later in the day. The two hour wait period is ridiculous.
The stacking is great if you’re park hopping into MK! I was able to stack several rides for a fun evening
You’re right. I’m tired of DFB shilling for everything Disney.
I was watching a travel vlog from a couple from the UK who did this. They stayed and had a pool day, stacked the big rides for later in the day every two hours and then basically went from one big attraction in HS to another.
When i went in january this year i got rise of the resistance at 9:00 am, slinky dog dash at 3:00, toy story mania at 3:30 and finally smugglers run at 7:30. Id say i got lucky
@@patm95 what do you expect? It's a channel dedicated to Disney 💀
Trip training!!!! People laugh but it's huge. I carry a 5lb dumbell wrapped in a hoodie in my drawstring backpack when I walk the dog 4 miles. I also wear wrist and ankle weights. I train in the shoes I plan to wear. My mom walked 9 miles a day getting ready to go for her 70th Birthday last November, best thing is being prepared.
Why did she have to walk 9 miles a day to get ready for her birthday?
Dining reservations are so crucial. Way back in 2006 I remember my family was at Epcot and either we didn't have a reservation or our reservation was no longer available (our intended world showcase restaurant had to close unexpectedly I think!). We were SO hungry and tired until the hosts at the Mexico table service place took pity on us and found us a table very last minute among an ocean of people. I think Disney has gotten much better about avoiding situations like that since then. I know this channel doesn't rate it very highly, but tbf it USED to be excellent and I've got a soft spot for it in my heart because of those nameless employees helping kid me and my family from 16 years gone by. Jesus, 16 years 😆
OH MY GOSH I’M SO GLAD YOU MADE A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR THE T SHIRTS! I’m in charge of planning with my extended family of 12 (I know, I’m going crazy already!) for our trip in Oct. I would LOVE to see an entire DFB episode on tips and tricks for traveling with a group! For instance, I didn’t know that most Disney restaurants won’t make a reservation for 12 people, so I had to make reservations in groups of 6. But some restaurants have very few tables for parties of 6, so for one restaurant I had to make 3 reservations for 4 people 🤪 I know you got the insider tips…spill, AJ, spill!
I second this!! I’m planning a 12 person vacation for summer 2024 and I need help LOL
@M G “Chosen ones” 🤣
When in October? I think my chosen week in October will be busier than I thought 😂
I planned a trip for 22 family members to DLR and it was the hardest thing ever. 😫 Especially since 3 of my siblings have small children and I have 2 teenagers. My mother in-law is 60, my brother was sick and my dad had a hurt knee. It was on my birthday weekend so I managed to still have a blast but never again!!!!!
@@CB-zv1ji me and a group of 11 people are going in October too… 😅
Take an afternoon break: it seems obvious, but it always surprises me and my husband when we go and at noon, the heat of the day, the park is the busiest. We leave at lunch, take a swim and nap, and come back . Usually on our way back in we pass a bunch of miserable and overheated families on their way out.
THIS!!! my parents did this with me as a kid and i still do it now. disney is extremely overstimulating for some plus with the heat it can led to preventable meltdowns. taking breaks means you can get more done in a good mood.
There are two things Disney could do to make the park pass mess better. They could either sell the passes with the tickets when you order the tickets, or they could stop selling tickets if the passes sell out. There should be no reason for people to get to the gate and be told there are no passes left, if they have a ticket in their hand.
Spoken like someone with common sense!
Always book dining reservations ASAP! The first time my sister and I went to Disney world as adults, we didn't book any dining reservations and hardly ever got a table. I am now always on top of making sure I have a dining reservation.
When DFB Posts j drop everything and watch! I really need a lot other than dreaming of my next Disney trip (which is in 2 WEEKS!!!)
Same!
Lucky you have a good time
Yes I will definitely use these tips when I go to Walt Disney world
The International Entrance at Epcot was the most helpful tip for me because I’ll be staying at Swan and wanted to take my Daughter to Remy’s ride! 🐭
just stayed one night at swan was not impressed. we loved the rest of our stay at French quarter 🥰
@@victoriastutzenstein8433 I hear nice things about that resort!
Love your videos ! Thank you
Thanks, planning a trip soon you had some good ideas. A suggestion for your channel, is to create a few videos for international & domestic travelers that are first time visitors to Orlando, possibly even arranging them 5 days with travel in Disney + Orlando, etc (;
About dining reservations-I would add that with all the flight delays and cancellations lately, don’t make a dining reservation for the day you fly in. That was our only chance to eat at Jiko, so I was eager to just make the reservation. But we missed it because our flight got cancelled and we were on standby from 5am-4pm. We also had our park reservation for MK the next day… the park we most wanted to go to with our little ones. In these times, saving your “must-do” park for later in your trip adds some extra peace of mind. But we at least made it to AKL the day we were supposed to, went to MK the next day, and other than the flight issues, our trip was perfect!
We were at Epcot last Sunday. Stayed at AoA so we took the skyliner in and got there at 8.. we walked onto Frozen and only waited 25 min for Ratatouille right after that.. it was only 9am and we had already knocked out 2 of the longest wait attractions at Epcot. Front of the park is a breeze. No genie+ needed at epcot
Taking the skyliner into EPCOT is the best! We stayed at pop in May and had a similar great experience with the rides
@@woooooooo9061 I think if you start early enough you can make it happen in the morning, but can’t say it’s something I’ve heard of people doing! The skyliner is also just fun to ride so that aspect might make it worth the extra connections
Love your videos DFB!!!🏰🥰
We managed to avoid many mistakes on our holidays (June - July 2022) thanks to Disney Food Blog. I really glad that I found so many important information here.
Thank You DFB.
Hey 👋. We are travelling June/July 23'. Can I ask how busy did you find the park during that time last year? tia
@@nicolaneil5436 was really busy, hard to compare to other dates because that was our first trip. But I had a feeling (especially looking at the waiting times) it was one of the most busy times.
Thanks for the tip
No rookie here. Been over 20 times, but heading back in Nov. for the first time since the COVID changes and I'm super overwhelmed. Not sure how to plan rides this go around. Eeek!
You should updste your best bathrooms video. Tomorrowland has raised its potty game. They’ve definitely been renovated. The one between Adventureland and Froniterland has been updated too. Unfortunately, the one at EPCOT by the bus lopp still looks like a bus station bathroom.
For some reason your videos puts me in a good mood.
Clips for the stroller raincover came in handy from windy rain while it was parked
I’m a big girl and I went to three parks open to close each day BECAUSE I tools breaks AND I spent the extra money and bought hokas! Best shoes!!!! Hands down! They make flip flops and shoes! Shoes make it or break it!
My first trip to WDW in 2015 I made a ADR for lunch at Crystal Palace at 12PM the day after the Christmas party. I started my day a little late and I finished eating breakfast at 9 am and I was not close to being hungry just 3 hours later. So I asked the CM I could check in 1 hour later (and they let me). So my advice would be mindful of your ADRs timing and space out your meals. Or just cancel the day before like AJ suggested!
Just went Disney World last week. We purchased Genie + we really only needed it for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. FYI
Second we also purchased the Photo Pass. We had issues finding the people to take the photos. They are not in the same uniforms they used to be in so hard to find them. Then there where some issues with some of the rides that have them so photos where not available. We still had a Great time but would have only purchased genie for the two parks. And would have passed the photo pass. At least for right now.
When it comes to photos around the parks, it’s crucial to have a paper map OR download the Disney app to have the digital map. The photographers are stationed at very specific spots across the parks and they’re usually always in the same spot in rotation.
One pro tip is to bring a travel size container of Advil if you’re having a long park day!
😂😂
Yes! I have a little zipper case in my backpack that contains small pill bags with Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, Tums anti-gas, Pepcid, and Pepto, along with band-aids and safety pins :D
I’m so addicted to these videos!
My best advice for water rides...wear as few clothes as possible. Skin dries faster than clothing so tank tops and shorts with flip flops are ideal. That way you're not slopping around in soggy clothes.
I agree. Make room in your park bag for flip-flops especially!
I’ve been subscribed and watching your channel is 2017! I love your videos! We are going to Disney in October and it’s going to be a large group! Can you give any tips on planning for a large group of varying ages? We have everyone from toddlers to elders in our group, so it’s going to be a lot!
I love what you do
How flexible is it in regards to park tickets and genie + if part of a big group? Can you break into different smaller groups easily the morning of or night before or are you limited to the group you start with
Thanks for these tips and especially transportation. We are from Florida and have been several times so we are well aware of the heat. We have mapped out our Epcot food and wine festival journey. Instead of walking around world showcase we are going to take the boat across to Germany. Then we are working our way around to France. With shopping and eating we’ll need a break from the heat by then so we plan to exit the park at the International gateway and take the boat round-trip to Hollywood Studios and back to Epcot giving us a nice relaxing break. We will then re-enter Epcot and finish our food and wine festival journey. Also want to thank you for the videos on the food festival… We have our list of things to try thanks to DFB. Yum
Just a tip, Epcot boats(the ones on world Showcase lagoon) don't seem to run consistently during the day recently. I've seen them run early in the morning but stop later on, with a sign at the Germany pavilion station saying that operation had ended for the day.
Going back next month so excited haven’t been since my hotel got cut short in March 2020 because of covid haha 🥰
Makes perfect sense that resort guests get first dibs. I love that they do that and they should keep it.
I just got home from Disney about two days ago and while I was in Hollywood Studios waiting in line for the Minnie and Mickies Runaway Railroad ride at around 11:30 my step mom bought a lightning lane for the star wars ride ( not the Rise of the Resistance but I forgot what it’s called) and she bought it for around 3:00-3:30 not knowing you have to do the ride first then you can buy another. Let’s just say it was a long time waiting for Rock, n, roller coaster.
Great video!! I would definitely add to not limit your self on hotels! The good neighbor hotels right next to DS have amazing prices, beautiful rooms and basically get you everything you would if you stayed at disney owned hotel ... $400 or $80
What is DS
@@sylviarodriguez9817 Disney Springs I would assume.
Thank you for this!!! I just got a reservation for Cindy’s Royal Table for 6pm for party night. I didn’t know I would have an early chance at it as a resort guest 🎉
I still have a lunch there that I snagged at the 60 day mark, but now need to figure out where to eat lunch.
My family will be going in September. I'm still hoping for an "everything sugar free" post since we are diabetic.
The workout part is no joke. My wife and i couldn’t wait to finish the vacation and go back to work to take a break.
Thanks for the update. I am going to be at WDW for Halloween !!!
I am going back to WDW in five months. I'll bet these tips are going to help a lot!!!
What if I buy genie+ first thing on my travel day and i'm booking every 2 hours while i'm in transit--would you still consider it a waste? Or is that the exception?
OK, we are heading there in May with our two girls 8 and 6 for the first time. My wife and I haven't been since 2010. Would you recommend double stroller rental just to side-step the crankiness and tired legs? And if we do rent one each day, are we stuck with it the entire day, or can we drop it off at a kiosk and pick one up later again if needed? Thirdly, what are necessities to have on-person assuming we may be able to clip to a stroller? I'm thinking string bag with sunscreen, snacks, water, but also don't want to overpack. My fear is not being prepared for when miserable attitudes arise due to heat and tiredness, but at the same time not wanting to carry a heavy load of unnecessary items.
Question that just popped into my head: does a reservation using the Rebound discount HAVE to be for the same person/name as the current booking? Like, if I know my family is going to WDW for spring break and my friend is taking her family for fall break…could she just book for me using the Rebound discount she’s given during her trip and then I reimburse her? Or would that Rebound discount booking HAVE to be under her name? Does that make sense? Seems like a pretty clever way to get a really good discount - even if you only go to Disney every few years, you’re sure to know someone you trust that will be going before you. Obviously this would only work if both parties are trustworthy and reliable when it comes to money and paying each other back (aka family or best friends). Just a thought!
Avoid all hassle - just go and stand in your local park on a blazing hot day until you're wet with sweat, thirsty as hell and exhausted then dump thousands in cash in a bin as you leave the park.
I'd say, get to the park when it opens, but don't try and stand in front of the crowd. You'll get to your rides just as quickly, and you won't run the risk of being trampled to death, because people be crazy at these parks.
Super awesome 😎 video
Happy Tuesday! Is anyone at Disney World right now? Who wants to make me jealous :-)
@@michaelg2077 go get a hobby instead of being a miserable soul suck lol
You actually cannot take a rideshare or taxi to a Disney resort you're not staying at, unless you have a dining reservation there. There are security guards at the car entrance/ gate, and they check magic bands/ mobile apps, to confirm.
Was wondering about that. Probably better off to ride to Hollywood studio and either walk or take boat over to epcot.
When you planned for 6 months, was just at Disney last week…. And back to watching these videos to plan for next trip.
If you get water shoes, make sure they have some type of support and aren't the barefoot type. That much walking on pavement can put a lot of stress on the ligaments if you don't have support. It's not like you are hiking around on soft ground all day.
Hey A.J.! Thanks for the video!
I was wondering for Disney World, if package pickup at the front entrance of the parks was back yet for when you buy merchandise?
If not, got any tips to carrying around all that merchandise throughout the day? I am coming to Disney World next week and I usually bring back lots of gifts!
Thanks a bunch!
It is not back yet!
Can you send them to your hotel to pick up still? We also keep all our receipts w items and on last day ship them all home from our resort gift shop for one shipping charge which has been like $8. Plus breakables are covered if Disney ships but not in your suitcase.
they only have ship to home available right now. no word if other pick up/delivery methods are returning.
Can you do best transportation for holidays
I have a medical condition that makes me need the bethroom often so I got really good at memorizing bathroom locations especially since most bathrooms are pretty well blended in haha
Check the website but you may be able to get the DAZ, it allows you if you have a medical condition/ disability to virtual queue for rides which is super useful
Im no good at online bookings and reservation or planning or soread sheets, basically i suck online at anything except toutube but my mission is to plan a Disneyland trip!!! how? not too sure but this is a start! 😃
Cool 😎
No.11: Going there without being rich!
You got that right!
Haha facts
I’m not rich and I’m going in 30 minutes
Amen
Rich people don’t have time to waste in such a crowded place. Most of the crowd would be lower middle to higher middle class.
Yep, if you're not willing to split up, you'll likely not have a good time unless you all want to do exactly the same things.
Hi AJ! thanks for this video! Leaving for WDW in a few days! Its been a nightmare setting up our trip for a party of 7 using the Disney App; many hours on-hold and on the phone with cast members! (was so frustrated I almost cancelled entire trip). Anyway, we plan to "rope drop" at Magic Kingdom, since we are staying on DIsney property, we can early admit at 8:30AM, but what time do we need to actually get there? thanks!
In the past I’ve seen people recommend 30-60 minutes before early entry time. They start letting people onto Main Street before park open and then check your ticket to make sure you’re a hotel guest as you’re heading back to the open lands so navigating that is what will take time!
Hope everything with your trip goes well despite some hiccups!!
@@eliseg0001 you’re too kind! Thanks for taking the time to share this tip!
Just curious do I have to get a lighting lane for each individual memebers of my family? Me and my wife are going with our 5 yr old and 2 yr old in July I don’t understand just one lighting for each group?
Can't wit to go in Oct.
A.J would you do a video on Disney's accessibility for guests/children with autism? So much has changed and I want to know if i can bring a family member and they still have a good time. (or can anyone in the comments link me to a vid)
A.J. I LOVE YOU, BUT you are telling everyone the tricks that I have been using for years! 😆 🤣
I like your videos .
10:20 "which is a crime in several states"... YES!
I would love a How to video on how Disney Geni+ works. This will be my first time in years going and I do not like the fact that I can't play around in it until the day of. I know there is a ton of controversary on the App and I will probably regret it but this is my Family's first visit and maybe our last.
They have several that are still up to date! They recently changed the name of ‘Individual Attraction Selections’ to Individual Lightning Lanes, but I think all their other tips still stand!
As far as the playing around, you can look at the tip board and my genie day in the free version of the app ahead of time to get familiar with ride wait times and see which genie+ return times book up quickest so you know which ones to book first on your trip!
After looking at it I opted to book rides like jungle cruise in MK, and Slinky dog in HS as my first selections bc they would both book up well into the day even at 7 AM when selections opened for resort guests
AJ, you are totally Best Mom! ❤ (chicken strips and fries x 2 for the win!)
Tips on book ng new years eve?
I tried to bring a giant jar of peanut butter in my carry on for our 2019 trip. Fun fact: PB counts as a liquid.
Aaannnndd that’s why we use prime now.
I had no idea! Thank you for mentioning it!
I am just going during January or February...that is my plan in two years
Where are the skyliners and monerails and how much do they cost per person and where do they go in the park? Also i was planning to go in June or July will it be raining and thunderstorms then?
Central Floridian here. I'll let someone else answer the skyliner/monorail question, but I can tell you that in June, July, Aug, expect the likelihood of rain and thunderstorms every afternoon starting around 3/4pm.
Got a trip booked for 7 weeks time and couldn't wait till I started watching all videos and realized what a ball ache Disney have made with the app. I just want to enjoy the weeks and not be fannying about with my phone every few minutes. I'm sure a 7k holiday will be worth it. 🤦
Just got back from WDW a few days ago.
And I can happily report that the App is quite user-friendly and, with a little advance planning, I was not in my phone nearly as much as I feared.
Even if you’re not a “rope drop” family (we are not), you can wake up a little early, set up your first Genie+ and possibly a ILL, and then go about your day.
I’m not a fan of the extra expense for these things, and I REALLY think resort guests should get a break on Genie+. But it was much more manageable and enjoyable than I had feared, and we had a terrific week.
Rookie mistake: Watching this video at normal speed. Set it to 1.5x to get all the information in less time!
Bonus tip: Set the speed on this video to 0.5x for a laugh!
Every time me and my family go to Epcot we use the back entrance without fail always the back never the front 😂
You're gonna make mistakes, but for heaven's sake make EXPERT mistakes!
Don't throw money in the ocean -- Seven Seas Lagoon will do nicely.
Dude I went to Universal studios during the spring and just to educate you Florida👏is👏hot, walking isn’t great for a 12 hour day I capped out at 35,000 and 42,000 steps in those 2 days
Rookie Question: Can you get Genie Plus for the Halloween Party? I've heard it gets pretty busy and we plan to get there early. Toddler can't stand in long lines. We tried. We all tired. It was crazy hard.
According to a response on PlanDisney from April 2022;
“In the past, Guests were not able to use FastPasses during the Halloween parties as these were special after-hours events with limited capacity. While it was announced recently that the Halloween parties are returning to the Magic Kingdom Park, whether Disney Genie+ will be available during those hours has not yet been confirmed. I also reached out to a Cast Member via chat through the Help Center online, and they confirmed that we do not know that information quite yet. In this case, I would highly recommend keeping an eye on Disney Parks Blog or the Walt Disney World Resort website as we get closer to the Halloween season. I expect that more information will be released throughout the upcoming months, as that is typically what happens when new events are announced.”
Would you trust Craigslist Orlando. Park tickets are crazy expensiven
I have 2 questions
Question 1= The IAS rides, when do you book them? Or when are they available to be booked?
Question 2= is Genie+ worth it yes or no?
Genie plus depends or many factors. The rides are available the day of at 700 if you’re in a Disney hotel or park open if not.
1 - Individual Lightning Lanes are available at 7 AM morning of for Disney hotel guests or park open for the public. You can book a specific time slot for these instead of the ‘next available slot’ how it is with the regular Genie+
2 - I would recommend Genie+ and Individual LLs for a small group or if this is going to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip. I did NOT use Genie+ when going with a group of 5 that have all been to the parks before and will go again; it would have been expensive and we didn’t need to maximize our rides bc we had 5 park days.
I DID use it with a group of 2 when we had only 3 park days and one member had never been to WDW. It made his first experience a fun one full of lots of rides without a big cost for us
Trip training, ha! I take 15 mile hikes in my sleep. No, seriously. If I got more than 3 miles in real life it'd be a dream. LOL (sad face)
How about afterhour tickets? If you just focus on the rides...
Can you add Genie+ after you already booked your vacation? When I booked I forgot to add it, but I need it. The Genie+ still confuses me, lol
Yes you can book the day of.
@@xatuyou8045 thank you! 🙂
You can no longer book it for everyday of your trip ahead of time. It must be booked individually on the day of. We tried to add it to our trip in November and the cast member told us that option was no longer available.
@@janpollard1749 ohh, that explains why I couldn’t find it. Thank you!
Do they still have special things like Grad night and night of joy? 10 special events that you haven't heard of in Disney parks?
I haven't been to WDW in 10 years. I was so spoiled with Disney express and free fastpass.
I'd be so stressed at planning the vacation that I'd rather cancel the trip.
A.J saved me so much money.
Don't cancel your vacation! Go to Universal.....They haven't changed!
@@mike9147 I didn't plan a trip. I'm noticing g how different the Disney experience is in ten years.
I was going to plan a another Disney trip having been twice, once in 2012 and once in 2018 (both times amazing) but I just can’t shake the feeling that it would suck in comparison to those trips with paying for Genie+, no advance fastpasses, no dining plan, no magical express, no free magicband, park reservations, paying for rides or else missing out or waiting literal hours, no park hopping until 2pm, not even the bare minimum of mousekeeping everyday. The whole thing seems like a nightmare to plan now not to mention it costing $8CAD for a stinking cupcake. I think I’m going to go full on Universal for the first time instead. SOOO much less stress and less money!
Video: Train your body for the Disney World experience
Me:Leaving for Disney in 2 days and realizing I should have done that
what's the thing at 17:03? It's gorgeous.
If your kids have a disability, you can use the DAS pass on top of Genie +. Just throwing it out there
At 26 I’m going for the first time next week! This was super helpful. Anybody have any other good tips?
LOL "Apparently I like to throw money in the ocean." That is how I felt.
What was the guy passing out in the beginning of your video?
When it was in fact my coworker in accounting who recommended Chef Mickey’s to me for my upcoming trip 😂😂😂
You are cool 😎
I've been watching these videos more recently because I'll be going to Disney World in September. This will be the first time in around 10 years that I'm going back. I'm really excited, but seeing these tips are only making me nervous/anxious.
I know September is considered a great time to go for crowd control, but I have to know, should I still be worried about long lines and heavy crowds? Is Genie+ an absolute essential? And exactly how fast do the virtual queues fill up?
The crowds will most likely be heavy just because there haven’t been many downtimes this year.😅
Genie plus is only useful if you REALLY need to ride a ride. Like you have to buy it as early as you can. The virtual queue fills up pretty quick in the morning most days, but you can try again at 1pm. I’ve never had an instance where I don’t get the queue at 1pm. You can also buy the ride which sells out much less quickly than the free option.
went last September on a Friday and the crowds were awful. I was VERY frustrated, but if I had expected an hour+ long line for every major attraction maybe I'd have had a better day. Also, rope drop. I got there at like 10:30 AM, and that was a mistake.
How were the crowds in September
@richardbarrow7498 honestly, not that bad. It was just my fiancee and I, and we were expecting the worst. We managed to make it on everything we wanted and only waited 60+ minutes for a few rides (Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Navi River Journey, Ratatouille.) My best advice is to expect that you are not going to get on everything, so just make a list of you must-dos. If there is a single rider line, definitely take it. You will skip at least 80% of the wait.
I totally see AJ in a new light... Diet Pepsi?! Blah! Diet Coke all the way! Hahahaha
Question: So when you are booking park reservations, does each person have to do it separately or can one person make the reservations for the group?
I believe as long as you’re all booked on to the same My Disney Experience profile, you can make bookings for all members of the party :)
If everyone has their own Disney Experience profile you can use the Chat messaging system or call them to put everyone in a group together and one person can make plans for everyone. My family and my cousin's family booked different hotels and they still have us grouped together. My cousin has been booking everything for us.
We were disappointed Sunshine Seasons closed at 4pm the day we were there.
Keep your eye ON YOUR CHILDREN