We all know those moms. The ones who have their life together. The ones who organize and plan and somehow have time to put matching socks on their kids. They are the ones who tell you everything you need to do to have a magical vacation. But doesn’t that sound like an oxymoron?
Planning for Disney can be overwhelming, but your trip doesn’t have to be (especially if you book with a Smart Moms agent). If you want to escape adulthood and enjoy time connecting with your family while being a kid with your kids, don’t make these three magical mishaps:
1. Not Making Food a Top Priority
Most newborns need to eat every 3-4 hours. Let’s apply that same schedule to the men traveling with us to Disney. The best way to keep the people (mostly looking at you, dads, grandpas, and uncles) in our party happy and up for the next adventure is to keep them full. It’s also our recommendation that we apply the same newborn schedule to moms with their coffee.
The bottom line is, make sure your people eat! Take your own snacks into the park so you’re ready whenever hunger strikes, and if you’re planning on ordering at a quick service location, be sure to order early (aka before the hangry happens). Otherwise, you may find yourself waiting over an hour after placing your order for food. Some quick service spots have outdoor dining only and don’t guarantee you a seat inside away from the sun and the heat. The best way to guarantee a break from the sun and Florida heat is to schedule one table service meal per day. This allows everyone to sit in the A/C, reenergize (hello lunch latte!), and rest before returning to the fun.
2. Believing You’ll Get to Do Everything Because You Have Genie+
Go ahead and make peace with this statement: “I will not get everything done in one trip at Disney.”
Take a minute. Breathe it in. It would take the actual Genie (Robin Williams or Will Smith- it’s your fantasy, you get to choose) coming out of his lamp and stopping time for you to see and do everything you want to accomplish on your Disney vacation. Of course, if anyone is going to get close to the time-stopping magic of an actual Genie, it’s going to be Walt and the gang.
They have given us the next best thing with Genie+. Genie+ is available for purchase ($15/person/day) and gives you the option to skip the standby line for the attractions you choose. For full details on how to use Genie+ and our top strategies, be sure to book your trip with a Smart Moms agent. You will get access to our exclusive Genie+ planning guide to help you make the most of your Genie+ selections. Official company estimates from Disney indicate that with Genie+ you can hope to skip the standby line for around 2 or 3 rides per day. You may be able to squeeze more in through Genie+, and in fact, we believe the estimate to be a bit low. My advice is to pick the top 3 rides you hope to do at each park and schedule your Genie+ selections around those. This ensures you check off the things you really want to do and don’t waste time trekking all over the park and missing out on your must-dos.
My personal favorite way to maximize your time at Disney is by staying at one of Disney’s deluxe resorts. These resorts are closest to the parks (many within walking distance), have the best pools, are home to some of the most iconic restaurants at Disney, and have extended evening hours in the parks for deluxe resort guests only. If you want more information about staying deluxe at Disney, reach out to your Smart Moms travel agent for all the details. If you aren’t working with a Smart Moms agent, I’d love to help you. You can fill out this short form, and I’ll be in touch.
3. Rope Dropping Every Day of Your Vacation
Rope drop. Love it or hate it, it has become the top strategy to ride the most popular rides at each park. A quick run down of the “rope drop” strategy for those unfamiliar with the term: Disney holds crowds back at different locations inside the park with an actual rope until the clock strikes the early entry time. At this point, cast members drop the rope and guests stampede Lion King-style to their attraction of choice. This strategy is a great way to keep cash in your pocket and catch a few popular attractions and rides without paying for Individual Lightning Lane or experiencing long wait times.
Only you can decide if it’s actually the best strategy for your family and how many days you want to try it. Rope drop means extra early mornings, breakfast on the go, and rushing through the parks to get to your desired attraction. Decide before your trip at what pace your family operates best and what you hope to get out of your vacation. Pick one or two days to try rope dropping but give yourself permission to sleep in if your crew needs it. The early crowd will usually break mid-day which is a great time for your family to take advantage of lower park attendance. So go ahead, enjoy an extra cup of coffee in your pjs while your kids watch cartoons, or schedule that character breakfast you’ve been thinking about and enjoy the Mickey waffles and mimosas. You are on vacation after all.
Disney is a magical place that allows you to break away from your routine to focus solely on having fun with the people you love. Fun is the love language of kids, and when you take time to invest in fun with them you are investing in your relationship for years to come.
We’re here to help you set realistic expectations for your trip and take the stress out of the planning process for you. If you are already working with a Smart Mom’s Travel agent, then you are in excellent hands. Your agent will help you avoid these mishaps and help with all of the details that go into creating a magical Disney vacation. If you aren’t currently working with a Smart Moms Travel agent, I would love to work with you. I specialize in helping families enjoy their vacation planning without the hassle. If you’re interested in free planning help or want a free quote on your dream Disney vacation, this short form and I’ll be in touch. And remember: magic can happen anywhere you’re intentional with your family, often when you least expect it.
