No one knows Walt Disney World better than the Cast Members who bring the magic to life every day. Day in and day out, they see the best and the worst that the Most Magical Place on Earth has to offer, so when a Cast Member (particularly a long-time one) gives a bit of advice, you can treat that moment as true pixie dust. Many Walt Disney World tips have become common knowledge (e.g. wear celebration buttons, visit in the off-season, use both sides of lines, etc.), so we wanted to dig to find some tips that weren’t as well-known, even to many veteran guests. We love trip hacks here at Theme Park Tourist, so we gathered ten of our favorite tips we’ve heard over the years straight from Walt Disney World Cast Members. Our #10 choice is also a great way to give some magic back!
1. Take the resort monorail when leaving Magic Kingdom
We’ve discussed before that Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center might just be the most un-magical place at the Most Magical Place on Earth. When guests are arriving and at the end of the day, Magic Kingdom transportation can try even the most stalwart guest’s patience.
On a popular ongoing discussion thread at WDW Info, Cast Members suggested that if lines are long for the Express Monorail and Ferry, opt to take the Resort Monorail instead. Most visitors don’t realize it also stops at the Transportation and Ticket Center. The wait is almost always lower than the Express Monorail, and if you’re going to have to wait anyways, better to wait on the beautiful monorail for a few short resort stops instead of in a huge line.
Oh, and as far as the ferry? Cast Members suggest skipping it entirely. It is almost always slower than the other methods by a long shot.
2. Always get a to-go drink from table service restaurants
Image: Disney
A helpful server at Epcot’s Rose and Crown Pub pointed this one out to us. When you’re finishing up a meal at a table service restaurant, always ask for a drink to go. You can either get a refill on whatever soda or tea you were drinking with your meal, or you can opt for a large water cup. This seems like a miniscule tip, but it can seriously be a game changer on a blazing hot Disney day.
We’ve mentioned the tip of taking advantage of Disney’s free water cups before, but at most quick service locations, Cast Members are instructed to give guests tiny child-sized water cups which aren’t nearly big enough to contend with Florida’s heat. Using this tip not only will score you a proper sized cup of filtered water, but you can refill that cup at water fountains throughout the parks!
3. If you’re a Passholder or DVC member, buy snacks/drinks from retail shops
Image: Disney
Dining discounts are a huge perk of being a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder or Disney Vacation Club member. However, most guests realize quickly that it’s difficult to find discounts on snack carts and quick service dining stops.
If you’re looking for a quick drink or snack, opt to pick up your sodas, candy bars, etc. at a merchandise shop. Unlike snack carts and quick service windows, your discount will apply. Particularly in Epcot, some of the sodas and snacks available in shops throughout World Showcase are way better than anything you’d pick up from a soda fountain. We’re especially big fans of the Coffee Crisps in the Canada pavilion and the unusual sodas at both China and Japan’s megastores.
Want to save even more? Cast Members also echo a tip we’ve given in the past: bring your own snacks! You’ll save big and be able to put those savings towards extra magical treats on your vacation.
4. Visit Disney first aid for everything (especially blisters!)
Image: Brandon Serna, Flickr (license)
You wouldn’t expect Walt Disney World First Aid locations to be particularly magical. Many guests might assume that unless you’re bleeding profusely from a really bad park-map paper cut, there’s no reason to darken the doors of Disney First Aid. You’re missing out!
We can’t go on enough about how much we love Walt Disney World First Aid. The nurses at Walt Disney World First Aid are always available to help with any number of guest needs, from helping guests recover from dehydration to storing medication. We’ve mentioned before how they keep a full supply of free sundries and OTC medications for guests feeling less-than-magical, and they even have a room where guests can recover from exhaustion (or as we’ve explored before, panic attacks).
Our favorite perk we learned at Walt Disney World First Aid is their blister treatment. If your feet have turned ragged from a long day of park explorations, don’t just power through it. Stop by any of Walt Disney World’s First Aid locations for a quick blister care session. Their secret weapon is a soothing spray of Bactine to numb the offending blister before wrapping it.
5. Identify the heavy-handed ice cream cashier
Image: Disney
This tip has been passed around a few places, starting at the above-mentioned discussion board, but it’s positively brilliant. If you’re planning on picking up a Dole Whip, Citrus Swirl, or other ice cream, stand back for a bit and watch the ice cream cashiers to see who makes the biggest scoops or swirls. If one seems to be more heavy-handed with the ice cream distribution, get into that line. Yay, Dole Whip floats!
6. Find the pin-trading motherlode (and keep those pins from falling off!)
We love Walt Disney World pin trading here at Theme Park Tourist. For those unfamiliar, pin trading is an optional activity available to all Disney guests. You can purchase Disney-themed pins either from park locations or before your trip, then trade them with Cast Members wearing trading lanyards in the parks.
Cast Members have given us two great tips for pin trading. If you’re a pin-trading veteran, you might be familiar with looking for huge pin trading bulletin boards at retail stops, on the sides of janitor carts, or at restaurant check-ins. Cast Members suggest to always check Guest Relations at each of the parks as some Guest Relations locations keep a photo album full of pins for guests to trade. Plus, if you follow our #10 tip, you’ll be visiting there anyways!
The second pin trading tip has to do with keeping your pins from getting lost. The rubber pin backings Disney gives with their official pins are terrible, and many an unhappy pin trader has lost pins because of them. Disney sells pin backings that lock using a tiny allen wrench, but if you want to make life easier, hop online before your vacation and order a package of metal pin backings with automatic locks. No more digging around for that pesky allen wrench every time you want to trade!
7. Amp up the thrill on Splash Mountain
Image: Disney
This is another fun one from the discussion board. Most guests are psychologically trained to look a certain direction when experiencing a thrill ride drop. Particularly on Splash Mountain, who doesn’t automatically look down into the misting abyss of the briar patch? Sure, you could try closing your eyes, but where’s the fun in that?
We’ve mentioned in the past that nighttime is the best time to ride Splash Mountain, but Cast Members have another way to make your favorite flume even more thrilling. When you arrive at the top of the drop, don’t look down or close your eyes. Instead, look straight ahead the whole time. It’s a whole new way to experience the fall!
8. Always go left (with two exceptions)
Image: Disney
This is a popular one, but it’s one guests rarely think about—people at Walt Disney World have a weird habit of always stepping into the right-hand line. It’s a strange phenomenon that has existed as long as the parks have been around. If you have a choice between two lines, Disney Cast Members still suggest to always choose the left one. True, it’s a roll of the dice and more guests know about this trick than in the old days, but statistically, you still have a better shot of the left line being shorter.
The first exception to this is if a Cast Member directs you into a specific line. It’s their job to keep the line moving at busy attractions, so pay attention and do what they say. Don’t fall into the trap of believing one line is different, particularly on Space Mountain. The tracks are basically identical.
The other exception is that this advice does not apply when touring the parks. In general, it’s usually best to tour theme parks from back to front since most guests drift to whatever attraction is closest to the entrance or whatever attraction/land has opened most recently (e.g. Pandora – The World of Avatar or Toy Story Land).
9. Use the restroom before getting in line
There’s nothing worse than having waited an hour in line for Soarin’ or Big Thunder Mountain to find out two minutes from the front of the line that your little one is doing the pee-pee dance. Cast Members suggest avoiding unpleasant scenario by always making a point to use the restroom before getting into a long line. Also, don’t forget that Cast Members are never allowed to babysit children, so don’t assume you can sneak off and leave them once you get to the front of the line. That’s a Disney no-no.
10. Help Cast Members get future promotions
Image: Disney
We’re finally to it! Our favorite tip from Walt Disney World Cast Members is one that most might not ever bring up, but it’s a great opportunity to pass the magic forward.
If a Cast Member went above and beyond during your vacation, let their supervisors know.
It’s very easy to get caught up in our own vacation on a Disney day and never think twice about the amazing Cast Members who made it magical. On your next vacation, take note of any Cast Members who did an extra-awesome job. Make sure you write down their name and home town from their pin so you remember it. Before you leave the parks, stop by Guest Relations to fill out a Cast Member appreciation card. You can also contact Disney Guest Relations via email using the same channels we suggested for dealing with a less-than-magical Cast Member.
Those cards go onto the Cast Member’s record and can help them get promotions or better positions. For Disney College Program students, it can help ensure them a permanent position should they choose to stay with Disney. It’s easy to remember to file a complaint when something goes wrong on a Disney vacation, but the best tip we heard across the board was to take this extra step to ensure the very Cast Members who are always ready to give these great pixie-dust tips are honored in their jobs. Always be polite to Cast Members, remembering to thank them for their hard work. You can seriously make their day. On rare occasion, some guests have even received a little magic back for filling out these cards!
What’s your favorite tip a Walt Disney World Cast Member has ever given you?
