I'm recently home from the best holiday EVER- and whilst away I picked up a few useful tips. So what better thing to do than share them with you?
1 Fight jet lag! As hard as it may be, try to stay
up until a decent time the day/night you arrive. This will make your body more
likely to adjust to the time difference and ensure you don’t end up wide awake
at 4am!
1 Leave plenty of room and weight allowance in
your luggage. You’re highly likely to buy more than you think- trust me! It’s
better to be safe than sorry- especially as you will more than likely stay in
the same clothes all day.
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1 Take juice pods. When going round the parks, the
water in fountains isn’t very nice so having something to give it a little
flavour is very useful!
1 If you’re going to Disney, purchase a Memory
Maker! In 2016 these come free with every adult ticket for 7+ days, or
alternatively they can be purchased for $149 in advance or $169 to be used
immediately. You can also purchase a one day Memory Maker at a cost of $59.
They may seem pricey but when you add up the cost of individual photos, the
prices are well worth it! We bought 2 single day Memory Makers and came away
with over 300 photos (including character meet and greets, ride photos and
‘street’ photos)!
1 Get cups of iced water where possible. The
majority of cafes etc in all parks will give you a ‘cup of iced water’ at no
cost. These are very refreshing and incredibly important to keep you hydrated
in the Florida heat!
. Don’t be afraid to ask for freebies! Disney
gives out various badges for special occasions absolutely free- they include
‘First Visit’, ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Happily Ever After’. Less known freebies
from Walt Disney World are the Collectors Transportation Cards. When
boarding/exiting Disney operated transport (monorail, boat, bus), ask the
driver or attendant for one- there’s 27 to collect and they make fantastic
souvenirs for all ages!
1 Book fast passes! All Disney tickets come with 3
free fast passes per person per day. If you download the ‘My Disney Experience’
app you can view all available fast pass opportunities. The windows open 30
days prior to your visit (60 days prior if you’re staying on-site at a Walt
Disney World hotel). Check the wait times on attractions before booking so you
know what’s most popular- you don’t want to waste a fast pass on a ride with a
5 minute wait when you could use it for one with a 90 minute wait!
1 If you’re passing a ride/character meet and
greet with a short wait time that you’re interested in, do it there and then!
Don’t risk going back an hour later to find that the queue has tripled.
1 If you want to watch a parade, try to find
yourself a good spot at least half an hour before it’s due to begin. Not only
do you want to be near the front, you also want to try and have a spot in the
shade to hide from the blazing heat!
1 Be organised! You may not like the idea of
having to plan a day to day schedule for your holiday, but trust me, it will
work to your benefit if you do. Knowing what you’re doing and when means no
time is wasted as when you wake up in the morning, you’ll know exactly where
you’re going. It can also be a good idea to have a backup plan, just in case
something gets in the way- e.g. weather, illness or extreme crowds. When making
a plan, try to include a couple of ‘chilled’ days- this could be at a beach,
the hotel pool or even a waterpark. Any of these allow you to escape the extremely
busy nature of the theme parks.
1 Treat yourself! There’s so much to buy, and
everyone deserves a treat! Whether you’re a ‘Potterhead’ or Disney mad, or just
obsessed with makeup- I can guarantee there’s something you’ll want! A lot of
stuff (e.g. Harry Potter wands) is hard to get outside of Orlando- so if you
want something, go for it!
1 Shop around. If possible, go to one of the
outlet areas before the regular shops. I personally loved the Orlando
International Premium Outlets- in the Elizabeth Arden Outlet I got two
bronzers, a highlighter and a blusher for just $20- that’s only £14- bargain!
S So, that just about summarises my top tips for going on holiday to Orlando- feel free to share your tips below- or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
S
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