The best gifts for family and friends are thoughtful, practical, and often personalized. Here are some picks vetted by editorial research and expertise.
Ready to conquer Lightning Lane Passes at Hollywood Studios? In this guide, we'll cover all the rides at Hollywood Studios that use Lightning Lanes. We’ll talk about which rides to prioritize for pre-selection with the Multi Pass, and how to determine your same-day selection priorities while in the park. We’ll
Want to cut down the amount of time you wait in line at Disney World? Then you'll want to understand how to use Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass at Disney World!
Universal Studios, Florida The entrance gate to Universal Studios Florida taken during park opening. Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies", and it features numerous attractions and live shows. The park is one component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort. In 2016, the park hosted an estimated 9,998,000 visitors, ranking as the sixth most attended theme park in the United States, as well as the ninth most attended theme park worldwide. Photo credit: Alfred A. Si via Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Studios_Florida#/media/Fi...
Want to cut down the amount of time you wait in line at Disney World? Then you'll want to understand how to use Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass at Disney World!
There’s some awesome restaurants at Disney that you can book last minute. Don’t fret if you didn’t book 60 days in advance. Get on the My Disney Experience App and have an awesome meal.
Find out which Disney World park is perfect for your next adventure in this comparison guide on Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios. #wdw #disneyworld #magickingdom #hollywoodstudios
Looking for the best Disney World snacks? Check out this list of the best Disney snacks to try in the parks in 2024!
A round up of the best Magic Kingdom rides and attractions so that you know your stay will be a magical one, and you won't miss out on any of the best bits!
This Animal Kingdom itinerary highlights what attractions to focus on to make this a full day. A good Animal Kingdom strategy is key!
No one wants to stand in line at a theme park. Use these Universal Studios Tips to help you save time and maximize fun for your best family vacation.
Every Disney expert will tell you a good touring plan is essential for making the most of your Disney World vacation. But what exactly is a touring plan? And do I have to follow an exact plan in order to enjoy my vacation? Can I be spontaneous? What is a Touring Plan? A touring plan is your itinerary for the parks. I like to have a general idea of my day hour by hour. Keeping it by the hour, instead of, say, 15-minute intervals, gives you room to stop and enjoy things, park your stroller, grab a snack, hit the bathrooms, or whatever! Touring Plan with Genie+ If you have decided to purchase Genie+ your touring plan will very different and much less planned out. Your day will depend on availability of rides on the app. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go in with a plan. First, you'll want to familiarize yourself with Genie+ and the My Disney Experience app before you get to Disney World. Discuss rides that are a priority, and be sure to add those rides, and only those rides, to your free version of Genie. There will be a prompt to do this when you first open Genie. When you set up your free Genie account you are asked about attractions. The attractions that you select are then placed at the very top of your attraction list. So for example, if you are looking to grab a Lightning Lane pass for Slinky Dog Dash (possibly the fastest Lightning Lane to sell out on Genie+), you will want to add Slinky Dog (and ONLY Slinky Dog) to your attractions list. This will ensure that Slinky Dog is at the TOP of your list. When 7am rolls around, you will save time scrolling to find Slinky Dog and will be able to grab that ride quickly. This may sound like crazy set up, but anyone familiar with Disney's virtual queues and them booking up within seconds will understand! This can also be done later in the day with any rides that you want to grab. If at all possible, I would still suggest getting to the parks at rope drop. More likely than not, your first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection wont be right at park opening. So you can use this time when crowds are low to hit other high priority rides with low wait times. If your first Genie+ selection is within 2 hours of park opening, you'll be able to ride that attraction and select a new ride immediately after scanning in to your first ride. If the ride you selected at 7am gives you a return time of more than 2 hours after the park opens, you can select a second ride at the 2 hour mark. For example: If Magic Kingdom opens at 8am, and you select Big Thunder Mountain as your first ride with a ride time of 11:30am, you will be able to select a second Genie+ ride starting at 10am. So you will have banked 2 rides in your Genie+ account. I wouldn't necessarily suggest a strategy of "banking" unless you know you wont be able to make it to the parks until later in the day. But this strategy can be useful if you have a late arrival, want to take a pool break, or just wanted to take your time one morning. Touring Without Genie+ I have put together a basic touring plan for Hollywood Studios to help you navigate the park and get the most of your time. This is a sample plan for people NOT using the Genie+ or Lightning Lane system. Your individual plan will vary based on the people in your group, your start time for the day, your priorities, etc. But in any event, keep in mind that "big ticket" attractions typically have the lowest wait times first thing in the morning, at the very end of the evening, and during parades and nighttime shows. At Hollywood Studios, big ticket attractions include: Rise of the Resistance Slinky Dog Dash These are some of my favorite suggestions that have worked for me and my family. It is best to arrive at rope drop to make the most of your day! Touring Plan For Hollywood Studios 1st Hour (Rope Drop) Slinky Dog Dash (Rope Drop) Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run Toy Story Mania 2nd Hour Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Tower of Terror 3rd Hour Star Tours Frozen Sing-Along Celebration Break for lunch Afternoon Break/Low wait time rides In the afternoon the parks will get busier. They often get HOT in the early afternoon. I don’t usually give specific rides after lunch time. I suggest either heading back to your hotel for a pool or nap break, or using this time to hit some of the rides that are low wait, but air-conditioned. Some suggestions are: Muppet*Vision 3D Star Wars Launch Bay Any repeat rides you loved Evening Hours Rise of the Resistance (at park close or during evening shows) Touring Plans Sound Great, But Can’t I Just Be Spontaneous? If you don’t think you can get your little ones up and out the door at rope drop, I feel you. I have suggestions for sleep in days as well. And I also suggest planning out your mornings but leaving afternoons open so you can be spontaneous. Kids never cease to change their minds at the very last minute about rides, characters, or anything else they feel like. So having room for spontaneity, or even just to repeat rides the kids love is a must! Want Help Coming Up With a Plan? If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't worry! When you book with a travel agent they can help you plan your itinerary. Still Confused or Need Help? I am happy to help! Contact me. See you at the parks,-Julie P.S. Check out more sample touring plans here!
Whether you are a first-time visitor or a WDW veteran, here are a few shortcuts that you might find helpful during your next trip.
Disney loves to offer perks to their guests who decided to stay on grounds for their vacation! One of my favorite perks would have to be Extra Magic Hours. Here's your complete guide to this magical bonus for your next Disney vacation!
Welcome to Disney's Hollywood Studios, one of our absolute favorite parks in all of Walt Disney World! Disney's Hollywood Studios has something for everyone - from thrillers like Tower of Terror, Rise of the Resistance, and Rock 'n Roller Coaster to Broadway-esque shows like Beauty and the Beast - Live
All of the height requirements for Walt Disney World rides in Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach. Make sure you also review common mistakes people make when visiting Disney World!
Experience the magic of Florida theme parks beyond Disney --LEGOLAND, Universal, Discovery Cove, Aquatica and more for non-stop fun.
Walt Disney World is one of the most Instagrammable places in the world! Find out why with some of my favorite places to take photos.
Everything there is to know about Disney After Hours - dates, hours, & more! And a review of all Disney After Hours events & whether they're worth the cost!
Walking around theme parks is tiring. Whilst Magic Kingdom isn't designed for rest, here are my 5 favourite places to rest in Magic Kingdom
If you're a Harry Potter fan, there's one experience you just can't miss. The Harry Potter Studios in London are a must while in London!
Take a Disney virtual tour right from your own home! Put on your Mickey ears and get ready for a virtual vacation to Disney World!
Water - This is the #1 tip/hack that I give to people at Disney World. Water is free! You can ask for cups of ice water at quick service locations. Starbucks locations also have jugs of ice water as well. We always carry around 24 hour cold refillable water bottles with us inside the park.
Ready to start planning your trip to the Magic Kingdom? You’ve come to the right place. There’s tons of articles out there in cyberspace about all the things you have to do when you head to Magic Kingdom, including this one. But, you’ll be hard pressed to find many that tell you about all the […]
The ultimate guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World; including ride tiers, pricing, Park Hopping, and more!
Click here for our epic 1-Day Animal Kingdom Itinerary that includes the best rides & shows and minimizes time spent standing in lines!
After My 40+ visits to Disney World + a few inside Disney World tips from my Imagineer dad, we are sharing our best Disney World Planning Tips & Secrets.
Links to all my custom maps! Animal Kingdom map with Fastpass+ locations, Character locations, Rides, Shows and Dining Epcot map with Fastpass+ locations,
Are you wondering how to eat gluten free at Magic Kingdom? There are plenty of gluten free options at Magic Kingdom and Disney World
Anyone who has been on Pinterest lately has undoubtedly seen the infographics that are pinned on every subject imaginable. In case you don’t know, an infographic is a way to give information…
This post contains affiliate links. I'm excitedly planning our family's first visit to Universal Orlando and HARRY POTTER WORLD and I can't wait! We're going as a surprise for Max, so I'm having to do all of my customary obsessive research and reading in secret so he doesn't know. It's our first visit to Universal
Galaxy's Edge opens this week at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the anticipation is growing even stronger for guests eager to enter the land! Travelers are
If you're looking for the best things to do in Magic Kingdom, then look no further! We have our favorites must-dos and hidden gems here!
Looking for useful travel tips for visiting the Harry Potter Studios in London? Here they are! Everything you need to know to plan your visit at the Warner Bros studios is right here.
