How To Keep Sane at Disneyland
Having just been to the Disney parks in Florida, below are a few tips and tricks we picked up to help you get through your day without too much stress!
- Have a plan of attack. Go online and check out the park layout. Work out which rides you really, really want to do and head to them first. Often it is less crowded going to the back of the park and working your way forward than the other way around.
- Get there early... it's worth being one of the first in at opening times to beat the crowds, especially in busy times.
- Use the fast pass facility at Disneyworld (free) or consider purchasing the Front of Line Pass at Universal Studios to save time waiting in queues.
- Bring a water bottle and fill up from the park fountains. Much cheaper than purchasing bottled water and saves the environment too.
- Bring snacks...we bought popcorn which was great, fruit, chips... it will save a heap of money and time lining up for similar foods.
- If you do like to enjoy the experience including the restaurants, consider purchasing a meal plan which allows you to eat as much as you like from set restaurants within the park.Get a multi-day ticket that allows you entry to more than one park a day. That way you have flexibility to go in the evenings to see the fireworks without having to spend all day.
- If going in the summer season definitely get a pass to the water parks... they are amazing fun.
- Consider staying at a Disney hotel as this gives you early entry to the parks, transport around them and other perks that aren't available anywhere else.
- Take a fold up raincoat as this will come in really handy on cooler days for the water themed rides... saves you getting drenched.
- Take a camera and take heaps of pictures... amazing memories are just waiting for you. No stress cruising
- The most important thing when looking to cruise is to choose one that goes to places you would like to visit.
- Once you have worked this out, it comes down to the style of cruise that you are after. In our case a child friendly one was the go, but cruise lines range from basic to five star.
- When you have decided which cruise you would like to do, here a few tips on how to avoid the "cruise kilos" that tend to sneak up on you.
- Avoid the temptation to take the lift and climb the stairs instead. Using the stairs everyday would burn up a few standard drinks and it really is stupid catching a lift from deck 7 to deck 8 when taking the stairs is often quicker.
- Use the gym! Most ships have walking tracks and fantastic gyms on board and offer a wide range of classes such as stretching, yoga, or other more strenuous ones like boot camp.
- Drink a glass of water with dinner... try to avoid the "all you can drink" soda bars.
- Eat in the main dining room instead of the buffet. The main problem with buffet is "all you can eat" and you always tend to overindulge even with the best of intentions. The main dining menu will always have a lighter option if you are trying to be really good!
- Try to avoid the fancy cocktails and stick to straight spirits which are not only cheaper, but kinder to the waistline.
- Dance the night away in the nightclubs, but try to avoid too many alcoholic drinks.
- Avoid the all you can eat ice cream or pizza bars.
- Walk around the outside decks, use the waterslide and take the stairs to get up there, swim in the pool, go to a deck party and dance the night away under the stars. In short, Keep Active.
- Above all else enjoy your holiday and at the end of the day if you want to indulge, who really cares? Make sure you pack loose fitting clothes or elasticised wastes and enjoy! After all, you've probably saved long and hard for this trip, so you might as well enjoy it.