My big tip is. If your staying at the park and I find this more helpful for families is when you first get to Orlando (whether off-site or on-site) Take a cab to the nearest grocery store to pick up a case of water or 2 and Snacks to carry with you. Even if you get just water for a family of 4 and say 4 bottles each person you save at least $200 doing that since water is $3 in the park. We don't take a cab because we have Amazon Prime and you can have the water and snacks delivered right to the resort so you don't have to do the shopping yourself! This has saved alot of money even if your on the dining plan.
try to bring your water bottle and you can fill it up at different counter services at the theme parks. The water bottles you can buy at the dollar store home. It's even cheaper than a grocery service.
Lisa Foley We do that every trip! As DVC members our rooms often have a Kutcher or kitchenette and it is a life saver for breakfast and snacks. We enjoy our mornings before the park and don't really want quick service or to rush to a sit down breakfast. We LOVE Safeway groceries down there! They deliver to the hotels too! Safeway is really comparable to normal grocery stores where Garden Grocer and The Dolphin one tend to up charge.
My husband and I went for our honeymoon. 7 days, 4 parks, +a water park, + Disney Quest (2011). My husband had never been. We hit the ground running and did not stop! He was so excited and wanted to see everything! Especially after doing a week of wedding preparation, festivities, ceremony, and reception...I was already exhausted!!! We went to the movie theater to see one the Pirates movie that came out that year and I fell asleep. I was so tired I felt sick. Great tip! Take breaks, utilize the pool and hot tubs, stretch your muscles.
My family usually stays at the Contemporary Resort, and we loved it! The monorail 🚝 is literally right outside of your door 🚪! I would highly recommend the deluxe resorts because the monorails are connected to them.
When I first went to Disney World (when I was 10), we stayed offsite, so when we went to Magic Kingdom we took the ferry. That was actually a highlight of the trip for me.
Many good tips here, thanks for sharing. I have never stayed on site and may never do it because of the cost. We have a large enough family that we can't afford to stay on site and I don't feel we have missed any of the Magic staying off site. We rented a condo and a car and it was still much less than the cheapest Disney resort. And we had tons of room and five minutes from the parks entrances.
Can we get a video on how to make a binder for all the planning? I’m going for Christmas and I have already start planning because of the holidays crowd. Love your videos btw!
The first time I went to Disney was in 2010 and my family and I stayed at Pop Centry. The second time was in Art of Animation and I believe Pop Centry was a lot better. In 2 days I am going to stay at Pop Centry and I'm SOOOOOO exited!!!!!!!
You are a lady after my own heart. I have said to so many people...Plan! Plan! Plan! Get up early and go to the parks, rest in the afternoons and back in the evening. I also make sure I have comfortable footwear (trainers) and comfortable clothing. It's so refreshing to hear someone with the same views and advice as myself. Absolutely brilliant hits and tips Love from the UK X
Great tips! Planning is definitely half of the fun. My family and I always go during right before Christmas (before the huge Christmas/New Years crowd) since it is so much cooler. Thanks to good planning, we never have to wait in lines even during a relatively busy season. We rope drop, schedule fast passes for late morning, each lunch before or after the rush, take a mid day break then back to the parks in the evening with more fast passes.
I'm french and we're going for our first WDW trip in august with my husband and my son who will be nearly 11 years old. I've booked my restaurants 2 weeks ago and now i'm planning for my FP+ to be ready when it will be time to book online... I'm so excited... we have chosen Animal Kingdom Lodge to stay with a savannah view room !!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and your enthusiam !!!
This video was perfection. I plan my Disney trips exactly the same way you do! Deluxe dining, midday breaks, planning spreadsheets, etc. The planning really is a huge part of the fun 😊
I just found your channel!!! We are going in late January and staying at the Disney Yatch Club Resort. I'm trying to plan how to make a business/pleasure trip work for us.
We are going to Disney for the first time the last week of August. We were lucky enough to get a perferred room at port Orleans Riverside. I have been told the closeness to main buildings is worth it.
Midday break is SO SO important! My mom and I are going next week (without my kids) and we are going to take one everyday. Its better to enjoy your time than to try to cram it all in.
Great tips! I have never thought about taking ibuprofen in the morning and evening. I will for sure do that our next trip in June. All the walking does not kill my feet, it is standing in line that kills mine. My favorite tip, is being at the parks at rope drop. You can get so much done, especially if you stay onsite and go the park that has morning EMH. Our trip in June, we are renting a townhouse, so we won't be able to take advantage of EMH. I will still be at the parks at rope drop though.
You're right, the standing in line is probably worse than the walking!!! And YES, I'm a rope drop gal for life! ;) Especially on EMH mornings! Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
The family is going in May of this year. We have 6 adults and a 2 year old going. This will be our 7th trip to DisneyWorld and we are staying in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we will definitely be utilizing the buses. Everything you covered we have discovered ourselves over the years, so you did a great job. The tennis shoes and the ibuprofen is a must.
We are taking our first Disney World trip next June. We have our resort booked and now just waiting to make our dining reservations and fast passes. I love your videos you have given us so many new ideas especially on foot care. Thank you!! I'm a planner too I have a planner I made with all our information inside. I have to plan or I am just lost! We are staying at The Wilderness Lodge. Have you stayed there before? Our son will be 8 when we go, but from what I've been reading and seeing in videos sometimes an 8 year old needs a stroller after all day of walking so we are torn on that. My husband says he is too old for one and my son refuses to ride in one, but if it as much walking as I've heard then they both might change their minds. :) We are just super excited and can't wait. The only thing I think we are gonna regret is going in June. Our next trip back we plan to go in January or October because we love Halloween. :)
Hi Blair, I am devouring your Disney videos and I like them so much. My husband and I are taking our family to Disney this March 2019 and are counting down the weeks until we leave. Sooooo excited. I'm enjoying all your tips because I believe prior planning prevents poor performance!!!!! I'm an organizer like you! I love all that's involved with getting ready to go! We are staying at Port Orleans, Riverside and I can't wait. My husband and I are driving from Virginia but my daughter and her family are flying. My grandchildren are 7 and 1 1/2 so we are definitely taking advantage of a mid-day rest to restore everyone's energy. I just happened upon your video and am looking forward to seeing the rest of them!!! Thanks for all you did to help us out! I haven't been to Disney for 29 years when my daughter was 6. I can't wait!!!!!
thanks for the tip on rope drop. i have been five times in the last 10 years and just recently heard about this. i am not a morning person but i will be next time.
Great tips ! Too few people mention the amount of walking involved while visiting the Parks . If your feet hurt you're miserable and won't enjoy the experience.And if more people ( Especially Parents with small children ) took a midday break you wouldn't see so many People looking absolutely miserable late in the day. You CAN'T see it all so accept it and decide what you really want to experience.
I totally agree. It's not that we physically *can't* walk around all day long (we're both young and able-bodied for the most part, though I do have scoliosis), it's that we don't want to. That doesn't feel like a vacation to us. We prefer the leisurely pace of our trips and happy feet! I've definitely had the same thought when I see grumpy people in the late afternoons and evenings--they need a nap! ;) Thanks for watching and commenting!
Ahh the Deluxe Dining Plan is a dream! You have so many options! :) How fun! You can take advantage of some of the two-credit restaurants like Le Cellier, Cinderella's Royal Table, and California Grill and still have plenty of credits to get you through your trip! Have an amazing time!
My daughter and i are going for the first time in July 2018. We live near disneyLAND and go often. The planning has been fun but also a bit confusing. It will be just the two of us (she’ll be 6 when we go) and I’ve been doing SO much research, but still find myself getting confused!
This is so helpful - thank you for sharing! We stayed off site the first time we went and we used magic bands for our tickets, fast passes, and photo pass, but we realized how nice it would have been to be able to use it for financials, too. Thank you for talking about the moleskin - that will be useful! I'm a big planner like you and have a massive Google doc for all of my stuff so I can access it from anywhere. Fast passes, meals, what days we'll be different places, etc. I have only been once but we are going back in October and staying at Art of Animation. I guess my favorite tip would be to use the GPS on the My Disney Experience app to find your way around because it really can be overwhelming when you've never been to the parks before and need to get to a fast pass at a certain time, but don't know how to get there. Being able to look at my phone and see the GPS arrow telling me where to go was SO helpful for our group of 6.
I'm so glad, Jeffery! Check out WDWPrepSchool.com for information on which FastPasses to grab for your kids. It's a tiered system and Shannon (the woman behind the site) does a fantastic job explaining it. Also, she hosts a great podcast that has taught me tons--it's called WDW Prep To Go! Good luck and enjoy your trip!
Hey Blair, love your content and watching your Disney bonus content. I was wondering if POFQ has elevators? Planning a trip with my mom and we loved POR but thought the smallness of POFQ May suit her better but she is in a wheel chair. Let me know if you can please.
My last trip I had purchased two new pairs of Sketchers thinking these would be great but I was wrong. I should have brought my walking tennis shoes. Next time I will. It's important having two pairs just in case one gets wet or your feet sweat. having the second pair allow dry time.
I loved your video! You sound so enthusiastic! I've already been planning our (my hubby and I) trip to Disney this November, I hope it turns out great! 😀
Hey Blair! I am also from TX and I just love your videos! My husband and I are headed to Disney early May! We are staying off property, doing a 4 day ticket, with one park per day admission. I'd love to hear how you planned your fast passes and navigated around the parks? I have booked our reservations for meals but fast passes can't be booked until 30 days out. 😩
I'm brainstorming how I could create a video on this topic--until then, check out WDWPrepSchool.com--it's so helpful! :) Have fun in May! It's a gorgeous time to be in the parks!
Thank you for the video! So many great tips! I wear a an activity tracker every day, but also want to wear MagicBand while we’re at Disney next month. You said you wear an activity monitor, too- how did you wear/ carry both? One on each wrist? Two on one wrist? Something else?
I could not agree more about taking a midday break! I've been to Disneyworld twice and both times I was naïve enough to think I could power through an entire day at the parks. I was exhausted by day three and I missed Wishes- on both trips! I'm excited to plan another trip and fix my mistakes. Third time's a charm!
Hi Blair! I’m have been truly enjoying your disney vlogs! We seem to have a lot of personality traits in common. For one, I love planning too! My husband and I will be going to WDW in November for our anniversary. I’m considering us first-timers because although we have both been before, we’ve never been together and it’s been over 20 years since either of us has been. I was 7 the last time I was there. We will be staying at the Pop Century Resort and I cannot express how excited I am! Are there any “must-do” items you would suggest for us? Oh, and We will definitely take your advice on MDBs! We both have back problems and I suffer from Plantar Fasciitis as well, so I think breaking is an excellent idea! Especially since we do not have any kids to wrangle! 😊
Hey Blair! So I know this was a year ago and I’m just now seeing it. Any tips on going in late winter early spring? We’re flying out of Baltimore on February 27th and staying at Port Orleans Riverside!
I wouldn’t sit on all those different surfaces in a short skirt for sure -ick! I am bringing costume jewelry though. I won’t be riding all the roller coasters, probably just one in fact.
i usually bring one pair of nike air max sneakers because they are soo comfy and you can literally walk allll day in them especially for my fiancé and i because we are out of our room and in the parks from about 7:30 am till around 12 midnight! but last trip we took in october, i came back to our room the first night and even with my sneakers being SO comfortable and good quality, my feet were SO incredibly sore and i already had blisters on the back of my feet from my shoe rubbing up against it. i had to go get bandaids from the gift shop and that definitely helped and my soreness got better as my trip went on (since normal people are not used to walking that much haha) but your tip about bringing 2 pairs of shoes and moleskin is pretty much a lifesaver for me! even the one about taking ibuprofen kinda regularly is a good idea that i did not think of. i'm super excited to try these tips thanks so much! its funny when you think of yourself as somewhat of a "disney expert" but then you hear other people's tips and you're just like, "how did i not think of that?!" haha very helpful! 😊
I hate to hear about the hotels. We planned only a couple months before leaving and literally the only resort with a room left was $600 a night so We decided on the B resort and spa. Their largest room was less than half and still are able to use some of the benefits .
Great tips! We love taking a break at some point during the day. It helps a lot and makes the trip more enjoyable. We are going back in May! So excited to stay at my dream hotel... the GF :)
Awesome tips! I have a question, so you link a credit card to you magic band, but it is not charged until the end of your stay? so you could pay off everything with cash or Disney gift card and they wont charge to your credit? just making sure, I'm going in October and i was going to buy gift cards before hand to get fuel points!
Blair, thank you for the video... We are staying nearby Disney world when we go.. Unfortunately we are not staying in the Disney resorts but we got the magic ticket for four days, and my son is super excited then we are going to universal studios for two days. I have a question? How can I add money onto my magicband I went and ordered my magicbands yesterday so they will be coming in the mail soon.. I like how you discussed how it would be easier and leas worryful to not carry your wallet with you the whole time inside a park, I hope you can find the time to reply.. Thank you again for all this insight! We are so excited!!
Hey Kevin! I'm not sure if you can link your credit card to your Magic Band if you're staying offsite--I don't think you can. You can call Disney to double-check, though! Have the best trip!
Im going to disney world, for my honeymoon in april. Staying at the Grand Floridian and visiting the 4 parks, i allready made3 my intinerary. 5 night 4 day trip , what do you recomend.
You may have said this during the video but I've binge watched your Disney vids so my head is spinning😂 BUT - if you stay on site, are the buses free and they run on a schedule ?
It was warm and comfortable during the mornings and evenings, and quite hot in the afternoons! If you have a good touring plan, you won't wait in long lines! (I use WDWPrepSchool.com for touring plans!) Check the weather before you leave for Orlando and bring lots of layers/options. Have fun!!! :)
We are going to wdw next week. We will be there for 8 days, and have 4 day park hopper passes. It’s our first time there do you suggest we get another day or 2 passes? When we planned our trip I didn’t think we could handle more than 4 days in the parks with 2 small kids but wondering if we will miss out on anything if we only do 4 days.
Hey Megan! I really recommend Shannon over at WDWPrepSchool.com for information on things like that! She's a wealth of information! (Have the BEST trip!)
Have been binge watching your Disney videos (and some others) since your most recent trip. Where did you get those bags? My two kids are a bit older and I'd love to have something like those that are washable but also I am only responsible for MY things :) Thanks so much for these informative videos, we had to cancel our Nov trip (daughter broke her elbow) and we are finally headed to WDW in April!
Which bag? The Dooney & Bourke I bought off Amazon and the Baggalini I bought from TJ Maxx! So glad you guys got to reschedule after your daughter's broken elbow! Ouch!
Loved them both, actually, just sure which purse was what brand. Checking Amazon now. Always forget about TJ Maxx! Yes, we were bummed, probably me the most after all of that planning. Also just watched your video regarding 2016. I moved to Maine from SC 13 years ago for my husband. It wasn't until having kids that I got some friends b/c of school activities, but even that isn't great. Good luck, it's so hard :/
Here's more information on that: wdwprepschool.com/how-to-navigate-with-disney-world-transportation/ (The tool at the bottom allows you to put in your two points and view the travel times.) Hope that helps!
Gail Irvine if you are taking the busses you have to consider how long it will take to walk to the bus stop, how long you have to wait for the bus, then the actual drive time. For our trip it was anywhere from 25-60 minutes each way to and from All-Star Sports. It always seemed to be longer going back to the resort.
Thanks! That's very close to the purse I use everyday - mine is leather though and a little larger. I'm sure the fact that it's nylon is great for those rainy days!
I haven't, but we went in January this year. Lots of layers so you can change as the temperature fluctuates during the day! We wore jeans and then a few layers on top! (Including a lightweight jacket.) It was perfect.
Oops, the one in this video was actually from an Etsy shop that's now closed. There are lots more shops to order from though: www.etsy.com/search?q=magic%20band%20monogram
just wanted to let you know- i just booked a last minute trip to disney for next month and using your tips i was able to save a lot of money but still get a lot of premium things you normally look for in a trip. i subscribed to your channel and hoping for a part 2 of this video!
My big tip is. If your staying at the park and I find this more helpful for families is when you first get to Orlando (whether off-site or on-site) Take a cab to the nearest grocery store to pick up a case of water or 2 and Snacks to carry with you. Even if you get just water for a family of 4 and say 4 bottles each person you save at least $200 doing that since water is $3 in the park. We don't take a cab because we have Amazon Prime and you can have the water and snacks delivered right to the resort so you don't have to do the shopping yourself! This has saved alot of money even if your on the dining plan.
Such a great idea!!! I've heard of people using services like Garden Grocer for the same thing. So smart, thanks for sharing!
try to bring your water bottle and you can fill it up at different counter services at the theme parks. The water bottles you can buy at the dollar store home. It's even cheaper than a grocery service.
Lisa Foley We do that every trip! As DVC members our rooms often have a Kutcher or kitchenette and it is a life saver for breakfast and snacks. We enjoy our mornings before the park and don't really want quick service or to rush to a sit down breakfast. We LOVE Safeway groceries down there! They deliver to the hotels too! Safeway is really comparable to normal grocery stores where Garden Grocer and The Dolphin one tend to up charge.
I amazon prime all my stuff when I get there. Best thing ever!!’
or you could use a reusable water bottle and not fill up landfills and oceans with single use plastic :)
My husband and I went for our honeymoon. 7 days, 4 parks, +a water park, + Disney Quest (2011). My husband had never been. We hit the ground running and did not stop! He was so excited and wanted to see everything! Especially after doing a week of wedding preparation, festivities, ceremony, and reception...I was already exhausted!!! We went to the movie theater to see one the Pirates movie that came out that year and I fell asleep. I was so tired I felt sick. Great tip! Take breaks, utilize the pool and hot tubs, stretch your muscles.
My family usually stays at the Contemporary Resort, and we loved it! The monorail 🚝 is literally right outside of your door 🚪! I would highly recommend the deluxe resorts because the monorails are connected to them.
Please do more Disney tips and planning!! I hoping to start planning a WDW holiday soon and I found this so helpful!!!!😀😀😀
I'm working on a series of planning videos right now!
Becky G Can never get enough tips for Disney.
When I first went to Disney World (when I was 10), we stayed offsite, so when we went to Magic Kingdom we took the ferry. That was actually a highlight of the trip for me.
Many good tips here, thanks for sharing. I have never stayed on site and may never do it because of the cost. We have a large enough family that we can't afford to stay on site and I don't feel we have missed any of the Magic staying off site. We rented a condo and a car and it was still much less than the cheapest Disney resort. And we had tons of room and five minutes from the parks entrances.
I've been to WDW 3x & I still enjoy hearing tips & tricks.
Can we get a video on how to make a binder for all the planning? I’m going for Christmas and I have already start planning because of the holidays crowd. Love your videos btw!
The first time I went to Disney was in 2010 and my family and I stayed at Pop Centry. The second time was in Art of Animation and I believe Pop Centry was a lot better. In 2 days I am going to stay at Pop Centry and I'm SOOOOOO exited!!!!!!!
Just Kam how was it?
Calvin Alexander It was great. Thanks for asking. ;)
If you are in a budget, i recommend not to take the sit restaurant because the 20% tip could be as much as eating on a quick service
Definitely! It's important to remember tips when budgeting.
You are a lady after my own heart.
I have said to so many people...Plan! Plan! Plan!
Get up early and go to the parks, rest in the afternoons and back in the evening.
I also make sure I have comfortable footwear (trainers) and comfortable clothing.
It's so refreshing to hear someone with the same views and advice as myself.
Absolutely brilliant hits and tips
Love from the UK X
Amen!!! Thanks for watching and commenting, Sue!
Great tips! Planning is definitely half of the fun. My family and I always go during right before Christmas (before the huge Christmas/New Years crowd) since it is so much cooler. Thanks to good planning, we never have to wait in lines even during a relatively busy season. We rope drop, schedule fast passes for late morning, each lunch before or after the rush, take a mid day break then back to the parks in the evening with more fast passes.
I'm french and we're going for our first WDW trip in august with my husband and my son who will be nearly 11 years old. I've booked my restaurants 2 weeks ago and now i'm planning for my FP+ to be ready when it will be time to book online... I'm so excited... we have chosen Animal Kingdom Lodge to stay with a savannah view room !!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and your enthusiam !!!
Those Body anti-chafe sticks are the best thing ever. You can get them from Amazon. Totally worth it to prevent blisters.
Yes! I've heard great things, too. xo
Great tip on bringing 2 pairs of sneakers. I never pay attention to this level of detail. Thanks!!!
This video was perfection. I plan my Disney trips exactly the same way you do! Deluxe dining, midday breaks, planning spreadsheets, etc. The planning really is a huge part of the fun 😊
Amen!!! I love it. Thanks for watching and commenting, Lori! :)
I just found your channel!!! We are going in late January and staying at the Disney Yatch Club Resort. I'm trying to plan how to make a business/pleasure trip work for us.
We are going to Disney for the first time the last week of August. We were lucky enough to get a perferred room at port Orleans Riverside. I have been told the closeness to main buildings is worth it.
And yes! Researching and Pre planning is an absolute must- and part of the fun! I can't imagine not planning ahead, that would be a disaster lol!
Amen!! Haha!
YES USE AMAZON FRESH !!! they had my stuff delivered to my room. Stuff like water cookies snacks etc :)
Midday break is SO SO important! My mom and I are going next week (without my kids) and we are going to take one everyday. Its better to enjoy your time than to try to cram it all in.
AMEN! Enjoy your trip! :)
Thanks! I'm so excited to do all the things I can't do when I have the little ones with me. Like shop in the world showcase! ;)
That's going to be a blast!!!
Great tips! I have never thought about taking ibuprofen in the morning and evening. I will for sure do that our next trip in June. All the walking does not kill my feet, it is standing in line that kills mine. My favorite tip, is being at the parks at rope drop. You can get so much done, especially if you stay onsite and go the park that has morning EMH. Our trip in June, we are renting a townhouse, so we won't be able to take advantage of EMH. I will still be at the parks at rope drop though.
You're right, the standing in line is probably worse than the walking!!! And YES, I'm a rope drop gal for life! ;) Especially on EMH mornings! Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
What the heck is rope drop? And EMH?
The family is going in May of this year. We have 6 adults and a 2 year old going. This will be our 7th trip to DisneyWorld and we are staying in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we will definitely be utilizing the buses. Everything you covered we have discovered ourselves over the years, so you did a great job. The tennis shoes and the ibuprofen is a must.
How fun! I hope you have a fabulous trip. Animal Kingdom Lodge is so gorgeous, I hope you love it!
We are taking our first Disney World trip next June. We have our resort booked and now just waiting to make our dining reservations and fast passes. I love your videos you have given us so many new ideas especially on foot care. Thank you!! I'm a planner too I have a planner I made with all our information inside. I have to plan or I am just lost! We are staying at The Wilderness Lodge. Have you stayed there before? Our son will be 8 when we go, but from what I've been reading and seeing in videos sometimes an 8 year old needs a stroller after all day of walking so we are torn on that. My husband says he is too old for one and my son refuses to ride in one, but if it as much walking as I've heard then they both might change their minds. :) We are just super excited and can't wait. The only thing I think we are gonna regret is going in June. Our next trip back we plan to go in January or October because we love Halloween. :)
Hi Blair, I am devouring your Disney videos and I like them so much. My husband and I are taking our family to Disney this March 2019 and are counting down the weeks until we leave. Sooooo excited. I'm enjoying all your tips because I believe prior planning prevents poor performance!!!!! I'm an organizer like you! I love all that's involved with getting ready to go! We are staying at Port Orleans, Riverside and I can't wait. My husband and I are driving from Virginia but my daughter and her family are flying. My grandchildren are 7 and 1 1/2 so we are definitely taking advantage of a mid-day rest to restore everyone's energy. I just happened upon your video and am looking forward to seeing the rest of them!!! Thanks for all you did to help us out! I haven't been to Disney for 29 years when my daughter was 6. I can't wait!!!!!
ArasC1384 you will have so much fun. I’m taking my kids again in April 2019! Have fun!
I always bring 1 pair of good sneakers when I go to Disney, but I see the benefits of two pairs now thanks to you. Thanks for posting
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I will be going to Disney World in September, I am excited for the food and wine festival. Also to check out Pandora.
thanks for the tip on rope drop. i have been five times in the last 10 years and just recently heard about this. i am not a morning person but i will be next time.
Great tips ! Too few people mention the amount of walking involved while visiting the Parks . If your feet hurt you're miserable and won't enjoy the experience.And if more people ( Especially Parents with small children ) took a midday break you wouldn't see so many People looking absolutely miserable late in the day. You CAN'T see it all so accept it and decide what you really want to experience.
I totally agree. It's not that we physically *can't* walk around all day long (we're both young and able-bodied for the most part, though I do have scoliosis), it's that we don't want to. That doesn't feel like a vacation to us. We prefer the leisurely pace of our trips and happy feet! I've definitely had the same thought when I see grumpy people in the late afternoons and evenings--they need a nap! ;) Thanks for watching and commenting!
YES to the dining planning video! We are going for 9 days in November and are doing the deluxe dining plan....you should see my spreadsheet lol
Ahh the Deluxe Dining Plan is a dream! You have so many options! :) How fun! You can take advantage of some of the two-credit restaurants like Le Cellier, Cinderella's Royal Table, and California Grill and still have plenty of credits to get you through your trip! Have an amazing time!
I really enjoyed doing the deluxe dining plan. It was fun to have an excuse to try the apps and desserts. :)
My daughter and i are going for the first time in July 2018. We live near disneyLAND and go often. The planning has been fun but also a bit confusing. It will be just the two of us (she’ll be 6 when we go) and I’ve been doing SO much research, but still find myself getting confused!
It's a lot of planning for sure. Check out the other videos on my Disney Playlist for help!
This is so helpful - thank you for sharing! We stayed off site the first time we went and we used magic bands for our tickets, fast passes, and photo pass, but we realized how nice it would have been to be able to use it for financials, too. Thank you for talking about the moleskin - that will be useful! I'm a big planner like you and have a massive Google doc for all of my stuff so I can access it from anywhere. Fast passes, meals, what days we'll be different places, etc. I have only been once but we are going back in October and staying at Art of Animation. I guess my favorite tip would be to use the GPS on the My Disney Experience app to find your way around because it really can be overwhelming when you've never been to the parks before and need to get to a fast pass at a certain time, but don't know how to get there. Being able to look at my phone and see the GPS arrow telling me where to go was SO helpful for our group of 6.
I'm so glad it was helpful for you! So excited for your trip and I love your tips about using Google Docs and the GPS on MDE! :)
I'm planning on disneyworld late next year, I'm from Australia so these tips and planning suggestions are so helpful. I can't wait!
Incredibly helpful. Are there specific rides you suggest to use our FastPasses for? We'll have a couple of young boys with us (10,8).
I'm so glad, Jeffery! Check out WDWPrepSchool.com for information on which FastPasses to grab for your kids. It's a tiered system and Shannon (the woman behind the site) does a fantastic job explaining it. Also, she hosts a great podcast that has taught me tons--it's called WDW Prep To Go! Good luck and enjoy your trip!
Hey Blair, love your content and watching your Disney bonus content. I was wondering if POFQ has elevators? Planning a trip with my mom and we loved POR but thought the smallness of POFQ May suit her better but she is in a wheel chair. Let me know if you can please.
Yes, POFQ has elevators. You could also request a ground floor room!
My last trip I had purchased two new pairs of Sketchers thinking these would be great but I was wrong. I should have brought my walking tennis shoes. Next time I will.
It's important having two pairs just in case one gets wet or your feet sweat. having the second pair allow dry time.
Great tips! We always bring a few pair of sneakers. You do need to change them and you never know when yo will get caught in the rain.
Definitely! Thanks for your comment, Tom!
Love Disney and trying to get back sooner than later. 😀. Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
I loved your video! You sound so enthusiastic! I've already been planning our (my hubby and I) trip to Disney this November, I hope it turns out great! 😀
Disney brings out every bit of my enthusiasm! ;) November is a lovely time to visit...enjoy it!
The value resorts have the preferred rooms where you don’t have to walk as far to the bus
So that’s nice
Hey Blair! I am also from TX and I just love your videos! My husband and I are headed to Disney early May! We are staying off property, doing a 4 day ticket, with one park per day admission. I'd love to hear how you planned your fast passes and navigated around the parks? I have booked our reservations for meals but fast passes can't be booked until 30 days out. 😩
I'm brainstorming how I could create a video on this topic--until then, check out WDWPrepSchool.com--it's so helpful! :) Have fun in May! It's a gorgeous time to be in the parks!
Thank you for the video! So many great tips! I wear a an activity tracker every day, but also want to wear MagicBand while we’re at Disney next month. You said you wear an activity monitor, too- how did you wear/ carry both? One on each wrist? Two on one wrist? Something else?
I wore one on each wrist!
Kept getting distracted by your adorable dog 😍
Thank you so much for these tips, I'm so anxious for my first visit 💖
I'm so excited for you! Have the best time! :)
My family and I are heading to Orlando in October so are very grateful for your top tips :) xox
I'm so glad, Joanna! Thanks for watching! :)
I could not agree more about taking a midday break! I've been to Disneyworld twice and both times I was naïve enough to think I could power through an entire day at the parks. I was exhausted by day three and I missed Wishes- on both trips! I'm excited to plan another trip and fix my mistakes. Third time's a charm!
We did the same thing on our first trip!! We learn every time we go and "get better" at it! ;) Thanks for watching! xo
We have our 2nd trip June of 2018, your videos really get me excited. Thanks for the tips!!
How fun! Thanks for watching!
Hi Blair! I’m have been truly enjoying your disney vlogs! We seem to have a lot of personality traits in common. For one, I love planning too! My husband and I will be going to WDW in November for our anniversary. I’m considering us first-timers because although we have both been before, we’ve never been together and it’s been over 20 years since either of us has been. I was 7 the last time I was there. We will be staying at the Pop Century Resort and I cannot express how excited I am! Are there any “must-do” items you would suggest for us?
Oh, and We will definitely take your advice on MDBs! We both have back problems and I suffer from Plantar Fasciitis as well, so I think breaking is an excellent idea! Especially since we do not have any kids to wrangle! 😊
I'm so excited to have found your channel! I'm so excited about our Disney trip in January for my cousin's wedding!
Hi Harley! Welcome! :) January is a great time to visit Disney!!! Hope you have a wonderful time!
Is your sweatshirt the oxford grey or Heathered grey? Ordering one now :)
Heather grey!
Hey Blair! So I know this was a year ago and I’m just now seeing it. Any tips on going in late winter early spring? We’re flying out of Baltimore on February 27th and staying at Port Orleans Riverside!
No special tips for that time of year! Enjoy your trip!
Thank you!!!!! Btw! I love your Baltimore vlogs!
I wouldn’t sit on all those different surfaces in a short skirt for sure -ick! I am bringing costume jewelry though. I won’t be riding all the roller coasters, probably just one in fact.
Thanks for the tips! We're going in June for our first time. Love your pup! Too cute. :)
Enjoy yourself! I hope you have a fabulous trip!
blueovalgal no way I'm going in June what days?
Hannah Peters, we'll be there from June 6 to the 13. Hope it won't be too hot or humid! When are you going?
i usually bring one pair of nike air max sneakers because they are soo comfy and you can literally walk allll day in them especially for my fiancé and i because we are out of our room and in the parks from about 7:30 am till around 12 midnight! but last trip we took in october, i came back to our room the first night and even with my sneakers being SO comfortable and good quality, my feet were SO incredibly sore and i already had blisters on the back of my feet from my shoe rubbing up against it. i had to go get bandaids from the gift shop and that definitely helped and my soreness got better as my trip went on (since normal people are not used to walking that much haha) but your tip about bringing 2 pairs of shoes and moleskin is pretty much a lifesaver for me! even the one about taking ibuprofen kinda regularly is a good idea that i did not think of. i'm super excited to try these tips thanks so much! its funny when you think of yourself as somewhat of a "disney expert" but then you hear other people's tips and you're just like, "how did i not think of that?!" haha very helpful! 😊
So glad it was helpful! Foot care is so important on Disney trips!!
I hate to hear about the hotels. We planned only a couple months before leaving and literally the only resort with a room left was $600 a night so We decided on the B resort and spa. Their largest room was less than half and still are able to use some of the benefits .
Great tips! We love taking a break at some point during the day. It helps a lot and makes the trip more enjoyable. We are going back in May! So excited to stay at my dream hotel... the GF :)
Love the video. Super helpful.
Question: how do you get the magic band monogrammed? So cute!
It's a decal from Etsy!
Thanks for the tips! We’re going by car so it’ll take from July 1st and we’ll get there July 2nd
How exciting! Enjoy your trip! Hope you have a lovely time. xoxo
Awesome tips! I have a question, so you link a credit card to you magic band, but it is not charged until the end of your stay? so you could pay off everything with cash or Disney gift card and they wont charge to your credit? just making sure, I'm going in October and i was going to buy gift cards before hand to get fuel points!
Does anyone have advice on traveling with pets? or if they've tried the Disney Pet Resort?
You deserve more subscribers because I love Disney videos
Wow, thanks! I love Disney videos, too! :) More to come! ;)
thank you so much for this helpful information! im going in 9 days!
You're welcome, Lily! Have a wonderful trip!!!
Blair, thank you for the video... We are staying nearby Disney world when we go.. Unfortunately we are not staying in the Disney resorts but we got the magic ticket for four days, and my son is super excited then we are going to universal studios for two days. I have a question? How can I add money onto my magicband I went and ordered my magicbands yesterday so they will be coming in the mail soon.. I like how you discussed how it would be easier and leas worryful to not carry your wallet with you the whole time inside a park, I hope you can find the time to reply.. Thank you again for all this insight! We are so excited!!
Hey Kevin! I'm not sure if you can link your credit card to your Magic Band if you're staying offsite--I don't think you can. You can call Disney to double-check, though! Have the best trip!
This video is amazing. Thank you for speaking my language and your effort!!!
Thank you for your tips! Our next trip is at the end of April and we are staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. :)
How wonderful! I've heard such great things about the AKL! 😍❤️
Please do share your meal credit plan! :)
I shared a little more about planning out my meal credits here: ua-cam.com/video/zlctgudhHSQ/v-deo.html :) Thanks for watching!
Im going to disney world, for my honeymoon in april. Staying at the Grand Floridian and visiting the 4 parks, i allready made3 my intinerary. 5 night 4 day trip , what do you recomend.
Sounds fabulous! Have a lovely trip! Check out WDWPrepSchool.com for great Disney planning info. Shannon's my fave!
Yay! Your videos have me so excited! I leave in 2 days and we are staying at one of the treehouse villas!!
Any suggestions for comfy sneakers?
I love my Asics, and I also have a pair of Nikes that are super comfortable!
I’m taking three pair of Aetrex with memory foam and arch support!
I've never had blister issues and usually only bring 1 pair of shoes.
Cool!
You may have said this during the video but I've binge watched your Disney vids so my head is spinning😂 BUT - if you stay on site, are the buses free and they run on a schedule ?
Angie Nic yes they are free and they run on a schedule that is usually displayed at or outside your hotel and on the my Disney experience app!
How do you book your dining? Online or over the phone?
Did you ever put up a day by day planning video? Thanks great vid! :)
Just did! ua-cam.com/video/zlctgudhHSQ/v-deo.html
How was the weather when you went in May? Was it hot? Was it warm? I'm going next month, which is may haha. Also are the lines huge?
It was warm and comfortable during the mornings and evenings, and quite hot in the afternoons! If you have a good touring plan, you won't wait in long lines! (I use WDWPrepSchool.com for touring plans!) Check the weather before you leave for Orlando and bring lots of layers/options. Have fun!!! :)
Where did you find the monogram for your magic band? So cute!
On Etsy! :)
Great tips, you should do it again. For sure.
Very cool video! Definitely another cool fun video for us. Thank you!
We are going to wdw next week. We will be there for 8 days, and have 4 day park hopper passes. It’s our first time there do you suggest we get another day or 2 passes? When we planned our trip I didn’t think we could handle more than 4 days in the parks with 2 small kids but wondering if we will miss out on anything if we only do 4 days.
We have been to Disneyland so want to mainly focus on things we haven’t experienced yet. ☺️
Hey Megan! I really recommend Shannon over at WDWPrepSchool.com for information on things like that! She's a wealth of information! (Have the BEST trip!)
Thanks for answering my question Blair.
Lovely video really informative. I love your accent. I'm a Disney world vlogger from the uk.
Thank you very much! xo
Your dog gave me a heart attack at 20:07. 😂😂😂
Have been binge watching your Disney videos (and some others) since your most recent trip. Where did you get those bags? My two kids are a bit older and I'd love to have something like those that are washable but also I am only responsible for MY things :) Thanks so much for these informative videos, we had to cancel our Nov trip (daughter broke her elbow) and we are finally headed to WDW in April!
Which bag? The Dooney & Bourke I bought off Amazon and the Baggalini I bought from TJ Maxx! So glad you guys got to reschedule after your daughter's broken elbow! Ouch!
Loved them both, actually, just sure which purse was what brand. Checking Amazon now. Always forget about TJ Maxx! Yes, we were bummed, probably me the most after all of that planning. Also just watched your video regarding 2016. I moved to Maine from SC 13 years ago for my husband. It wasn't until having kids that I got some friends b/c of school activities, but even that isn't great. Good luck, it's so hard :/
What is your fav moderate resort? Where did you stay last time? i am looking for suggestions. Thanks Lisa
We stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter and loved it! You can watch my Disney vlogs if you want to see more! :)
thanks so much I'll watch those videos..... When you go back again do you think you'll try a different hotel or the same? Just wondering.
How did you handle wearing the magic band and your fitbit?
I wore one on one wrist and the other on the opposite!
What's the travel times between resorts and parks and transport options?
Here's more information on that: wdwprepschool.com/how-to-navigate-with-disney-world-transportation/ (The tool at the bottom allows you to put in your two points and view the travel times.) Hope that helps!
Gail Irvine if you are taking the busses you have to consider how long it will take to walk to the bus stop, how long you have to wait for the bus, then the actual drive time. For our trip it was anywhere from 25-60 minutes each way to and from All-Star Sports. It always seemed to be longer going back to the resort.
Hi.. any recommendations on leggings to wear on a trip like this? Thanks!
Love your hoodie where is it from
From PrettyLittleMonograms.com!
If I have a one park per day admission pass can I still leave the park and return later on if it's the same park ?
Yes!
Great video!! I love Disney World!!
Do you have to pay for the Disney bus or boat?
Going in 13 days! Staying at pop century!
Ahhh enjoy!!
What is the specific purse that you used for the smaller purse that you pictured in the video?
It's called the "Dooney & Bourke Nylon North South Triple Zip."
Thanks! That's very close to the purse I use everyday - mine is leather though and a little larger. I'm sure the fact that it's nylon is great for those rainy days!
have you ever been to Disney in december? Can you give me some clothinhg tips?
I haven't, but we went in January this year. Lots of layers so you can change as the temperature fluctuates during the day! We wore jeans and then a few layers on top! (Including a lightweight jacket.) It was perfect.
where did you get your monogram sticker on your magic band?
Oops, the one in this video was actually from an Etsy shop that's now closed. There are lots more shops to order from though: www.etsy.com/search?q=magic%20band%20monogram
Excellent tips!!!
Thanks for watching!
I have a question about taxis or uber, where do they drop you off at?
In Magic Kingdom, at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC), and in the other parks, near the resort shuttles.
Thanks for the tips had to subscribe, your awesome!!!!
Thanks so much! :)
I'm staying at port Orleans on December 4
thank you for these tips!
And thank you for watching! xo
just wanted to let you know- i just booked a last minute trip to disney for next month and using your tips i was able to save a lot of money but still get a lot of premium things you normally look for in a trip. i subscribed to your channel and hoping for a part 2 of this video!
Thank you for ur videos !!!!