Walt Disney World Hacks
You may think you know it all about Disney World, but I promise you that you don’t! As an annual passholder, I thought I knew everything too. When I was sent a book about Disney hacks to review, I thought that I surely knew everything. I was shocked to find some new nuggets of information inside. Walt Disney World Hacks by Susan Veness provided a unique view of my favorite theme parks as she shared her in-depth knowledge of each park. These simple strategies are not overwhelming, and I thoroughly enjoyed tossing this book into my travel bag for our next trip so we have it to glance at when we may need guidance.
For instance, did you know that:
- You can time your trip on the Jungle Cruise so that you’re on the water with the perfect view of the nightly fireworks?
- Taking a shortcut through the shops in Animal Kingdom can give you easy entry into popular attractions like Dinoland and Pandora?
- Filling up your car’s gas tank at a resort station is often less expensive than going offsite … unlike pretty much everything else?
These things may sound simple or obvious to you, but when you add up all of the information inside her book… you can save time, money, and enjoy your trip even more. Disney World can be a lot to take in for many families. You save for your annual trip and have a few days to tackle every park that you want to see. Expectations are high, and when you travel with kids, this vacation might not feel like a vacation anymore. I asked if I could share a few foodie hacks with you, and here are some majorly helpful ideas from the Walt Disney World Hacks book:
Walt Disney World Hacks
333. Use Quick-Service Credits As Snack Credits: Epcot hosts four festivals each year that include food- and drink- sampling kiosks (Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, Festival of the Arts, and Festival of Holidays), and you can easily assemble a full meal by using your snack credits as you wander around World Showcase. The added bonus is, you’ll get even better value from each credit by ordering samples costing $7 or more. You can also use your Quick-Service credits at the kiosks, but each person must choose all of his or her samples from a single kiosk. Choose as many kiosks as you have people in your group and order individually so you’re not stuck with just one kiosk’s cuisine. It’s perfectly fine to swap with each other once you receive your items.
335. Use the Mobile Order Service App: Why wait when you could order food using the My Disney Experience app and bypass the line? Tap on “Dining,” choose a counter service location that accepts mobile ordering, tap “Order Food,” then select the items you want and pay using your credit or debit card, or the Disney Dining Plan. Rather than waiting until you actually arrive at the restaurant, tap “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” on the app as soon as you’re within range and the prompt pops up on your screen, so that your food is ready when you walk into the restaurant. Otherwise, Cast Members will only start preparing it once you’re there. Be sure to check your order for accuracy when you pick it up.
372. Plan Ahead for Picky Eaters: From the humblest in-park kiosk to world-class, five-star dining, you’re surrounded by food at Disney, but the picky eater in your group turns their nose up at everything. Avoid a food mutiny by knowing your options before you leave home. Check out the menus at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining, and choose one or two locations in each park that appeal to everyone. Buffets are a good choice with fussy eaters, but the cost adds up quickly. Instead, seek out multi-option dining locations, such as Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at Magic Kingdom, Sunshine Seasons in Epcot, Sunset Ranch Market in Hollywood Studios, or Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom. Last-ditch effort? Ask to speak to the chef. Most table service locations can modify a dish to suit finicky tastes.
If you’re ready to be more prepared for your next Disney World vacation, look for Walt Disney World Hacks!
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Excerpted from Walt Disney World Hacks by Susan Veness. Copyright © 2019 by Susan Veness. Used with permission of the publisher, Adams Media, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
