The little things make the biggest difference sometimes.
We have dived into our fair share of Walt Disney World trip hacks here at Theme Park Tourist— for saving money, maneuvering crowds like a pro, embracing your inner superfan, and much more. Many of these fall into the category of broad advice. Some are easy to execute (like changing your socks when your feet are worn out) while others require extensive preparation (like micro-managing rewards credits cards to pay for an entire Walt Disney World vacation).
Not all hacks have to be complicated to be effective. Try these six mini-hacks to make your next Walt Disney World vacation go just a little smoother!
1. Embrace the rain
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
There are some times of year when there is just no avoiding Florida rains. Whether it’s a spring drizzle every afternoon or the sky bucketing like the sun will never come out again, it’s more likely than not that you’ll probably see some rain on your visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Most guests follow a predictable pattern of behavior once it starts raining in Walt Disney World. Families quickly tuck into shops and restaurants to avoid the downpour or step into a queue for an indoor attraction. Those who intend to brave the torrent might purchase stunningly overpriced Mickey Mouse ponchos for the family.
However, the very rain that puts a damper on some traveler’s days can prove an opportunity for the prepared. First off, always bring your own rain gear. Almost all Walmart and sporting goods stores sell cheap ponchos in their camping sections. You probably can load up on tiny pocket-sized ponchos for the entire family for less than it would cost to buy a single one at Disney parks. If you want something a little fancier, opt for a fold-up windbreaker that’s easy to carry or tuck into a bag.
When rain strikes during your Disney vacation, embrace it. As long as there are no signs of lightning and thunder (in which case, seek shelter with everyone else), head straight for the outdoor attractions your fellow guests are fleeing from. Splash Mountain is particularly fun in the rain! You can almost always find slower queues for certain attractions once it starts pouring.
2. Get a real cup of coffee
Lickety Split at The Four Seasons Walt Disney World
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
You wouldn’t think getting a halfway decent cup of coffee at Walt Disney World should be considered a hack. Unfortunately, it is. If you like your coffee a bit above the par of Starbucks proto-brews and Joffrey’s sugary abominations, you’re going to have to get a little creative. Sure, you could bring your own brew to make for breakfast (some of the resorts like the villas have coffeemakers in the rooms) but what about during the day?
For fans of nitro cold brew or other specialty coffees, plan a stop at the Java Bar at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it coffee bar houses some darn good coffee. It is also one of the few places in WDW to get a traditional energy drink. If you are staying at the resort for your birthday, be sure and let the front desk know—you might get a free drink coupon!
If you have the means to commute and want to get your swank on, The Four Seasons Walt Disney World houses an excellent coffee and ice cream shop called Lickety Split. You don’t have to be a guest to visit!.Just let them know you are dining on property. Take a tour of the gorgeous grounds while you enjoy your brew. The PB&G poolside lounge also has excellent coffee (and is actually a nicer restaurant than many in the parks!).
Among Disney’s resorts, you can’t beat the 100% Kona coffee at Kona Café in Walt Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers Kenyan coffee at Jiko, Sanaa, and Boma. For guests in the parks, Epcot is going to be your best bet. Try out the Moorish coffee in Morocco or an espresso at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France.
3. Shrink your sunscreen
Image: Disney
We have mentioned before that you don’t need to carry a pharmacy in your purse just to visit Walt Disney World. Each of the parks has an amazing First Aid office that carries most of the odd and end items visitors would normally pick up at Walgreens, from OTC medications to sewing kits—all for free! Mosquito repellant is also easy to find at Walt Disney World thanks to Disney’s mosquito control stations where you can find free picaridin near the entrance of most of the parks. However, there is one odd item that is weirdly difficult to find without dishing out some bucks.
It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is to track down sunscreen in Disney parks if you forgot it. Yes, they sell sunscreen in many gift shops, but the prices are inflated enough to make a frugal visitor inclined to just brave the burn. You should always bring your own sunscreen to Disney parks, but who wants to carry a monster bottle of the stuff?
If you can’t find a good deal on travel sunscreen (which often isn’t as good a value as larger bottles), DIY your own travel sized sunscreen. Pick whichever sunscreen cream you like, and instead of taking this big bottle into the parks, make your own travel sized sunscreen by squeezing some into travel toiletry bottles. You can pick these up for pretty cheap at pharmacy stores.
If you can’t find any you like, purchase a single tube of travel sized sunscreen. When the tube runs out, you can actually press the nozzle of most mini sunscreens to a larger bottle to refill the tube. Make sure all the air has been squeezed out first. This can get messy, so it helps to have some tissues or plastic on hand to tighten the seal. If that’s too much of a mess, an easier way is to squeeze some sunscreen into a few contact lens cases. Take that Disney overlords!
4. Prevent food messes
Image: Disney
It’s always a good idea to bring a few wet wipes with you to Walt Disney World, both for the sake of avoiding germs and cleaning up messes if you have kids. You can make these last longer by pulling them from the package and cutting them in half before you head on your trip. Most messes don’t merit a full wipe. You can either put these back into a travel pack or just store some in a zip top bag.
Here’s another easy one for avoiding food messes. Love Mickey Mouse ice cream on a sweltering day but hate getting sticky goop all over your hands? Ask for a soft drink lid from any counter service location. Turn the lid upside down and slide it up the stick for a DIY drip catcher. This one is a lifesaver for families with kids!
5. Don’t lose your pins
Enjoy imbibing in the addictive art of Disney Pin Trading? Nothing is worse than marching proudly through the parks displaying your pin lanyard only to learn that one of your beloved pins has fallen off. By and large, this happens due to Disney’s crappy rubber pin backings.
If you have time to prepare, hop online and purchase a package of locking pin backings. Your pins will be much more secure without spending much. The upgraded pin locks Disney sells are another option (and also available online). These have a locking mechanism that makes them super secure but introduce a whole new problem—the tiny allen wrench for unlocking your pins constantly going missing.
Instead of fumbling around looking for the stupid thing, before your next trip invest in an allen wrench mini tool like this one (the price on Amazon is high but you can find similar tools for cheaper—mine was a gift from The Container Store). This is especially helpful if you have pin locks from years back before Disney changed the gauge size for the locks. When it comes time to trade a pin, the exchange will go much smoother with an easy-to-control (and find) tool like this. Just make sure whichever tool you get has a star or hex key attachment that matches your pin locks.
6. Dealing with foggy glasses
Image: Peter Løvstrøm, Flickr (license)
On particularly humid days, Florida’s intense humidity can have some unusual effects on glasses. Mine have fogged over more than once on the way to and from the parks on muggy mornings. Instead of feeling like you have to power through constantly rubbing moisture off your lenses, prep your own anti-fog treatment before your trip.
If you want to keep things simple, purchase a bottle or tin of Cat Crap Anti Fog Balm, much loved by skiers and survivalists. If you want a DIY solution, rub your glasses with dish soap using a soft cloth. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes then buff any spots away with a microfiber cloth. This should provide an easy anti-fog coating for your lenses. In a pinch, you can use saliva like many snorkelers do, but make sure you don’t get the residue in your eyes as that can lead to infection.
What are your favorite mini hacks for Walt Disney World vacations?
