10 Tips to Make Your Walt Disney World Trip Magical

As incredible as it is, planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be a little daunting. Four theme parks covering over 25,000 acres (that's almost 40 miles!), a long list of resorts, and over 77,000 employees not including the Mouse himself. Yes, it can seem like a lot. But have no fear, we here at Sarah Scoop have some inside tips to make your adventure that much easier. So read on- and please make sure to keep all hands and feet inside the tram at all times!

Here are 10 Tips to Make Your Walt Disney World Trip Magical.

photo of Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World with a rainbow over top — credit: WDWNews

1. Plan

Not just the days you'll be where, but have a rough layout of your time in the park. You don’t have to have it down to the minute, but having a plan of attack makes life a lot less expensive and stressful. This includes what you’ll use Fastpasses on, because they go quick.

2. Buttons

Celebrating something special? Head to Guest Services or your resort hotel and ask about getting a free button to celebrate your special occasion. Cast members often times will take notice of this and add to the celebration!

3. Come Prepared

There are a lot of things you need for a Disney trip that you can buy in advance to save money. Florida frequently has rain showers, and ponchos at the park can be expensive. Stock up at your local dollar store and bring your own rain gear. Similarly, trading pins are all the rage at Disney. Buy yours locally or online in advance and then trade up in the park!

4. Dress to Impress

While adults aren't technically allowed to dress up in the parks, we recommend checking out DisneyBounding. It's essentially dressing like your favorite characters without going in full costume, and it's totally within the rules! Make sure to plan ahead so you can dress as a new character each day!

5. Capture the Memories

While you might not want to spend the money to have a professional photo taken, Disney photographers will happily use your personal cameras and cell phones to capture the magic for you with no cost.

6. Ditch Your Bags

If you're staying at Disney-owned hotel, you can have your souvenirs and purchases in the park sent back to your hotel. This means no lugging extra bags around. Just remember to keep track of what you buy, so you don't accidentally get something twice!

7. Take Advantage of Distractions

If you've seen the parades and light shows before, take advantage of the crowds being occupied and go on your favorite rides instead! The lines will be shorter!

8. Shop Last

A lot of stores stay open after rides close, so get your attractions in first and save the shopping for last if possible.

9. Ride Swap

If a child in your party is unable to ride an attraction, use the Rider Swap to let one member of your party go on the ride while the other stays with the child, then swap. Just tell a cast member this is what you want to do and they'll happily oblige. This saves you from having to go through line all over again!

10. Make Note of Parking

Take a photo or jot down a note in your phone as soon as you arrive. You're going to be doing so much and having so much fun, by the time you head home you'll be exhausted and you won't remember where you parked. While the parking lot tram is fun to ride, trust us: this basic tip will save you a huge headache.