Jessica Holmes, Author at Neverland Press

10 Tips for Making Pregnancy at Walt Disney World More Magical

Congratulations! You’re expecting a little bundle of joy, and you couldn’t be more excited. That is, until you realize that you have a trip to Walt Disney World scheduled mid-pregnancy and your plans of rope-drop to fireworks, riding every Mountain numerous times, and drinking around the World are going to be changing dramatically. I have now been to Walt Disney World three times during my two pregnancies, and while these trips were very different than my usual trips, they were no less fun or special.

First of all, I would highly recommend talking to your doctor prior to your trip. Especially if you are further along in your pregnancy or have any sort of complications, you’ll want to find out if your OB has any recommendations or restrictions. Next, make sure you pack lots of comfy clothes and your most comfortable shoes (I highly recommend Oofos sandals for walking around the parks!). You may also want to invest in a belly support band if you don’t already have one – this can be a lifesaver for your back! You want to be able to be as comfortable as possible, and there is lots of walking involved at Disney, even on the shortest of days. Understand that this trip will be different, and embrace this special time! Here are a few more tips that I have discovered that helped make my preggo trips to Walt Disney World extra magical.

10.Grab the opportunity for a fun photo shoot or magical announcement!

I had a trip to WDW planned just a couple of weeks after finding out I was pregnant with my now-5-year-old son. My husband and I hadn’t told anyone that we were expecting yet, so our trip was extra special because we had this big secret! We purchased a special set of ears and did our own photo shoot that would later become our announcement on social media.

I have also known people who have done a special gender reveal with pink or blue Mickey balloons, or even with a character. There are also endless opportunities to get special maternity photos using Photopass photographers. I have found that when they realize you’re excited or looking for a special photo, they are happy to oblige and get just as into it as you are!

9. Snack!

Okay, so I never need an excuse to eat all the snacks when I’m at Walt Disney World! But why not seek out some new treats while your significant other is busy riding Space Mountain? I recommend doing your research beforehand. Know what snacks are offered in each park (check out the Disney Food Blog for some great videos, or find menus on All Ears) – this can be especially helpful if you have any dietary restrictions. Make a list on your phone so you can have it with you, and…bon appetit!

I had always intended to try the Cheshire Cat Tail at the Cheshire Cafe, but had never gotten around to it, because I was always sticking with my go-to snacks. On my last trip, my friends dashed off for a Fastpass at park opening, and I decided to finally make it happen. Totally worth it!

A few other of my favorite snacks: the Nutella and fresh fruit waffle at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom (perfect for breakfast!) and the ice cream cookie sandwich at Trilo-Bites in Animal Kingdom. Looking for something savory? Try the egg rolls found at Lotus Blossom Cafe in Epcot’s World Showcase.

8. Enjoy taking it slow: photographing details, people watching, etc.

I admit, it’s hard for me to slow down. I’m a rope-drop-to-fireworks kind of girl, and I like to ride every ride (the bigger, the better!) in between. But once you change your mindset, it can be so much fun to just take it slow! Enjoy sitting in the hub grass, basking in the sun and watching people go by. Or wander around an area and take the time to really notice all the details. After all, details are what Disney does best! Walk down Main Street and notice the names on all the windows (they all have significance!), or sit in one of the pavilions in World Showcase and just enjoy the music and the beautiful surroundings. Photograph everything! Chances are, you’ll only have eyes for your baby on your next trip, so everything will be seen through a different lens!

The Japan pavilion has so many beautiful details!

7. Hydrate!

This one seems pretty obvious. But it can be easy to get caught up in your day and not drink enough water. It’s especially important when you’re pregnant to stay hydrated, and the Florida heat can be brutal. Luckily I had a friend who was a nurse with me on my last trip, who gave me reminders and even brought me bottles of water when I forgot. On family trips, we bring a CamelBak backpack that we fill with ice and water to sip on all day. Remember that you can also ask for a free cup of water at any place in WDW that has a soda fountain.

Tired of drinking water non-stop? This can also be a good time to try other refreshing (non-alcoholic) options around the parks that you would usually skip. And it can make passing on your favorite margarita a little easier!

The Night Blossom found at Pongu Pongu in Pandora!

6. Build in breaks – pool time or nap!

Growing a human is hard work! Don’t underestimate the need for some R&R during this time. You may need to take a mid-day break from the parks for a nap or a refreshing dip in the pool. If you have other children, you may already be building this into your day. I am not one of those people who loves to nap – I never want to miss a moment! But while pregnant, I have to embrace it and realize that afterward, I will feel much better and will be ready to head back out for more fun.

The Doubloon Lagoon pool at Port Orleans French Quarter!

5. Enjoy indoor shows, rides, or character meets that you don’t usually get around to doing.

If you’re always on the go or looking for your next thrill ride, you may have missed some hidden gems around Walt Disney World! There are many indoor shows and rides that will give you a break from the heat and a chance to sit down. My personal favorite is Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom- a must-do for me on every trip! Living with the Land in Epcot is also a great way to relax on a boat while learning a bit. If you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can sit down and enjoy Finding Nemo: the Musical or Festival of the Lion King. Both are amazing shows featuring great performers and music that you’ll want to download as soon as you get home!

This may also be a great time to do some character meet and greets! On my trip this past January, I was almost 18 weeks pregnant and was definitely showing. When I met Tiana (who is one of my favorite princesses!), I shared that we are planning to name our baby girl Evangeline. Without missing a beat, she exclaimed, “I’m sure she will shine as bright as the stars!” Talk about a magical moment! I was in tears afterward, especially when I saw the amazing photo my friend had captured of the interaction. You better believe this one will be framed in the nursery!

Thanks to Jacqueline for capturing this magical moment!

4. Explore resorts or try a new restaurant.

Resort hopping – or even just exploring your own resort – can be a really fun and low-key way to spend an afternoon. There’s lots of shopping, snacking, dining, and just enjoying the unique sights and smells of each resort. If you happen to visit during the holidays, many of the resorts have special displays (such as the giant gingerbread house at The Grand Floridian!) and beautiful Christmas trees. Hopping on and off the monorail is an easy way to explore The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, and The Contemporary Resort. If a Boardwalk-style atmosphere is more your style, then consider exploring the Epcot resorts – Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Beach Club Resort and Villas, and The Yacht Club are all just a short walk or boat ride from Epcot’s International Gateway.

The Boardwalk is absolutely beautiful at night!

Remember, you are not able to use the pool at any resort except the one at which you are staying. But you are more than welcome to wander the grounds and enjoy the other things they have to offer.

The No Way, Jose at Beaches and Cream – every bit as delicious as it looks!

There are also many restaurants found at the resorts – why not try one that you’ve never been to? Reservations can be made 180 days in advance, and many of the in-demand restaurants fill up quickly. Enjoying a restaurant is also a great way to relax and get out of the heat.

3. Splurge on a tour or other special experience.

Did you know that there are at least 15 different tours currently available across the Walt Disney World property? Keep in mind that not all of these will be appropriate during pregnancy, but there are several that are. I enjoyed the Caring for Giants tour on my last trip (read all about that experience here!). At only an hour long, it was a perfect way to spend some time while my friends were off exploring Pandora and conquering Everest.

There are also special experiences that take place during the Food and Wine Festival, special Holiday events, and there are multiple Spas on property if that is more your style. Just remember that all of these special experiences come at an additional cost, and most need to be reserved in advance. For a full list of things that will be offered during your specific vacation time, you can visit the Disney World website here.

2. Shop for a special outfit or keepsake for your baby.

If you already know the gender of your little one, it can be fun to peruse the shops and maybe even buy something for your little prince or princess. Baby clothes, toys, blankets, a first set of ears – the options are endless! The Christmas shops also carry baby ornaments and can personalize them at your request. This is a great opportunity to get something unique that will remind you of this special trip.

My friends surprised me with this Haunted Mansion layette kit – how amazing is this?!

1. Listen to your body!

This one also may seem obvious, but it’s easy to get swept up in the magic and want to keep pushing on when your body is telling you something different. Don’t ignore the signs that your body is giving you – head back early, get the extra rest, even if it means missing something you’d been planning on.

Take that break – even if it’s mid-race!

My last trip was based around a runDisney weekend, and I had registered to run my third Dopey Challenge (4 races equaling 48.6 miles over 4 days) long before I had any idea that I’d be expecting. I had continued training and had done several races during my pregnancy. I was prepared and felt mentally and physically ready to undertake the challenge! I felt great for the first three days of racing. The afternoon after the half marathon, all of my plans changed when a heat advisory was issued for the following day. As much as I hated it, I knew that the right decision for me (and my baby!) was not to run the race. I allowed myself to have a little cry, and then decided to make the best of the situation. I ended up spectating with a friend who was injured, and you know what? We had the most epic day of snacking and cheering. I had zero regrets that my plans had to change, and I made some really great memories.

The first of many snacks as we lived our best spectator life!

Final Thoughts

While it can be disappointing to have to change your plans and expectations, going to Walt Disney World while pregnant can be a really special, fun, and unique time. Embrace the differences in your trip, knowing that the next time you come, you’ll have a new prince or princess to share it all with! Now, go start planning and make some magic, baby!

Caring for Giants Elephant Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

One of my favorite splurges at Walt Disney World is to take a behind-the- scenes tour. I absolutely love learning new facts about my favorite attractions and getting a peek at what goes into making the magic happen. Last summer I got to cross an item off my bucket list and go on the Wild Africa Trek. It was one of my all-time favorite Disney experiences (read all about it here!) and while on that tour, our guides told us about the Caring for Giants elephant tour. It sounded great, and I knew that I wanted to experience it someday. Fast forward a few months later to when I found myself planning a trip with girlfriends around a race weekend. I was pregnant and knew I wasn’t going to experience the parks the way I usually do, so I decided that a tour would be the perfect way to spend some time while they were off exploring Pandora and conquering Everest.

Living my dream on the Wild Africa Trek in 2017!

Before You Go…

The Caring for Giants tour is an hour-long opportunity to get a closer look at the African elephants, and it is very affordable (especially when compared to other tours!) – $30 per person, and annual passholders do get a discount. Tours take place nine times per day, from 9:30 am through 4:00 pm. I booked my tour just a couple of weeks prior to the trip with no issues. I’m guessing that with so many times offered throughout the day, you could possibly even register the same day. Guests must be 4 years old to participate, and those under 18 will need an adult to accompany them.

Areas of the tour are backstage, and no photos or video are allowed in these areas. This includes the walk to the vehicle that will transport you to elephant habitat, as well as the ride on the way there. The entire tour is outdoors, so you will want to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. There isn’t a lot of walking, but you will be standing up during most of the tour. Wheelchairs are permitted, but due to limited availability on the transport vehicle, this must be confirmed in advance.

Let’s See Some Elephants!

The afternoon of our tour arrived, and we headed to the check-in kiosk, which is located across from Kilimanjaro Safaris. We signed the mandatory waiver and were given name tags. The name tags are made from 85% elephant poop fibers! There is actually an entire website dedicated to paper products made from recycled waste – www.poopoopaper.com. How cool is that?!

Our tour began with us being escorted backstage through a nearby gate. I get so incredibly excited anytime I’m able to go backstage! Photos are prohibited, but I try to soak up every detail. We walked past the show building for Festival of the Lion King (on our way back, the show was in the middle of a performance and we could hear the music). We were also able to see the floating mountains of Pandora, and our guide pointed out a hidden Mickey that is only able to be seen from backstage! Total geek-out moment for me, as it was a really cool hidden Mickey!

We walked to a parking lot where there were also some safari vehicles parked, and we boarded a van that would take us further into the savanna to the elephant habitat. As we drove, our guide pointed out various animal barns and areas where they were growing trees and plants, and he told us which areas of the safari we were passing. As a big fan of Kilimanjaro Safari, it was fascinating to get this different perspective!

A few minutes later, we arrived at the elephant habitat, walked up a set of stairs, and…there they were! We were on the backside of where the safari drives by, approximately 80-100 feet away from the elephants. We were free to roam around the length of the outlook and take photos and video. Two cast members were there to speak to us. They told us some facts about the day-to-day care of the elephants, as well as some funny stories about them. I loved hearing the anecdotes, learning the elephants’ names and a little about their personalities. We were also encouraged to ask any questions that we had, and the cast members were more than happy to answer all of our questions. It was clear how much they cared for the animals and loved their jobs!

Baby Stella nurses from her mother Donna, while the matriarch of the herd, Rafiki, stands close by.

Baby Stella also enjoys scratching herself on the rocks!

Once all of our questions had been answered, the cast members introduced us to a cultural representative from Africa. She concluded the tour by talking to us about conservation efforts in Africa and about things we can do here.

At the end of her presentation, we were able to take additional photos with our parties, including some fun shots with a frame (or some well-shellacked elephant poop if that’s your thing!) before we boarded the van and headed back.

Final Thoughts

Would I recommend this tour? Absolutely! I would definitely do it again, and I think my whole family would really enjoy it. I might hesitate to take a younger child who wasn’t able to stand and quietly listen and watch. The cast members aren’t speaking to the group through headsets like on other tours – this is a more intimate small group setting. This tour is fairly short compared to others – only an hour – but it was informative and watching the elephants was absolutely delightful. This would be a great first tour if you’ve never experienced one, or if you don’t have enough time to spend several hours on a tour. I felt like I’d experienced something special, and if you’re an animal lover, I can’t recommend this one enough!

Restaurant Review: Storybook Dining at Artist Point

I had been planning a trip to Walt Disney World with a group of girlfriends for several months when the new Storybook Dining experience was announced. We were all extremely excited to try it, as our trip was centered around Marathon Weekend. We decided this would be our big celebration meal, since meeting Dopey would be a perfect ending for those participating in the Dopey Challenge (4 races in 4 days, equaling 48.6 miles – see my recap from last year here).

Artist Point is in Wilderness Lodge, which is an absolutely beautiful resort. If you’re staying on property and don’t have a car, you can catch a bus to the resort from any of the parks, or take a Lyft or Minnie Van. The lobby of the resort is massive, with plenty of seating and even a cozy fireplace where you can sit and chat while waiting.

The Wilderness Lodge lobby is truly stunning!

The current cost of dinner is $55 for adults and $33 for children. This includes shared appetizers, an entrée, and shared desserts. If you’re on the dining plan, it is one dining credit and includes a beverage (on the current dining plan, this can be an alcoholic beverage).

The menu is in a beautiful leatherbound book, and the napkins are wrapped with a keepsake apple signed by the characters!

The first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful décor in the restaurant. It really does look like a something out of a storybook, with lighted “trees” throughout that change color depending on which character was making an appearance. Snow White, Grumpy, and Dopey roved the restaurant and visited guests at their tables. The Evil Queen made an appearance, but was stationary and guests were directed to form a line to visit her at the end of their meal.

First up were the appetizers: Winter Squash Bisque, Hunter’s Pie, and Wicked Shrimp Cocktail. Due to two shellfish allergies at our table, we had told our server as soon as we were seated that we would need a substitution for the shrimp. However, there seemed to be some confusion and the shrimp was still brought to our table. One of the allergies was severe, so this was a huge concern. It was removed, and they brought us some mushroom bao buns. Several people in our party loved the Winter Squash Bisque, but I was not a fan. I gladly passed mine on to a friend who enjoyed it. Several of us agreed that the Hunter’s Pie filling reminded us of a potsticker (and it was better with the stone fruit preserves that came with it). I’m not a fan of mushrooms, but the buns were an interesting blend of sweet, salty, and crunchy. I liked the way that the appetizers were displayed on multi-level trays that looked like trees at the table, but I wasn’t overwhelmingly impressed with any of them. Other members of our party enjoyed them, but I could’ve skipped that part of the meal and been perfectly happy.

Mushroom bun appetizer – our alternative to shrimp due to allergies.

Another thing that was a big hit with our group was the cocktails. There are several uniquely themed cocktails offered, as well as some fun non-alcoholic beverages. Evil to the Core and A Brew of Peaches both looked delicious and got rave reviews from our group. Since I’m pregnant, there were no cocktails for me, but I did try the Transformation Potion – lemonade that came with a blue “potion” that I could pour into the drink and then stir with a blue candy stick. While this was fun, it was fairly bland and not something I’d be quick to order again.

Transformation Lemonade and the vial that was used to transform!

For the main course, you chose an entrée from the menu. This part of the meal was a smash hit with everyone! Since my friend and I were both having trouble choosing between the same two entrees, we decided to split them, and this was a great choice! We had “Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken”, which came with potatoes, brussels sprouts, and apples, and “A Stroll Through Nature”, which was gnocchi and butternut squash – both were delicious. Everyone agreed that they’d come back again just to try a different entrée, because everything was so good. Several other members of our party had the “Royal Prime Rib Roast” and raved about it (the horseradish mashed potatoes were amazing!), and another friend who happened to be dining there at the same time stopped by and told us that he had the Snapper and it was the best he’d ever tasted.

Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken – delish!

A Stroll through Nature – also delicious!

I was really looking forward to trying the desserts, since I’d seen pictures of them online. Our server brought over The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen, which was ganache hearts on a bed of caramel corn. The presentation was really cool – they were in a box with smoke pouring out of it, which he emptied onto a plate for the table to share. This was delicious, and I would’ve happily bought a box if they’d offered it for sale.

The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen – I could go for a big plate of this right now!

The rest of the desserts were placed on our sharing tree and included individual Gooseberry Pies, Poison Apples, and Miner’s Treasures. The Poison Apples were easily the favorite – this was white chocolate-apple mousse with a sour center. So, so good! I’d never had Gooseberry Pie and was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. The Miner’s Treasures were sponge cake, buttercream icing, and chocolate gems. These were very, very sweet even for me, and I have quite the sweet tooth!

Meeting the Evil Queen was the best part of this experience! She was very interactive and ready to insult everyone. I attempted a staring contest with her, but then burst into giggles and told her she won. She immediately – and coldly – responded “You are easily broken”, which of course made me laugh even more. My favorite moment came when one member of our party went up and casually greeted her with “hey, girlfriend!”. The Queen was NOT having this, and immediately whipped up the side of her cape to completely cover my friend in the picture. She was the perfect Queen – even going up to a window to admire herself when there was no one in line to meet her.

Highlight of the night! I still laugh every time I see this picture.

As for the other characters, they seemed a bit rushed. Perhaps it was because we were a party comprised entirely of adults, but we were adults who were very excited to meet characters! At one point, we had to ask Grumpy to come back because he was moving so fast some of our pictures were blurry. The lighting in the restaurant also did not lend itself to great photographs.

Overall, this was a really fun meal. The service was a bit slow, and we all agreed that our server seemed like he may have been having an off night. The entrees were delicious, and the ambiance was great – I really enjoyed watching each character make their entrance. The lighting changed, there was music, and a short interaction. I’ve seen characters introduced at other restaurants, but all of this made it seemed like more of a production and enhanced the experience. Everyone in our party agreed that while this experience won’t be a must-do on every trip, we would all come back.

It’s hard to be Grumpy when you’re having so much fun!

Restaurant Review: Woody’s Lunchbox

Eating at Woody’s Lunchbox was one of things I was most excited to do in Toy Story Land! The food looked delicious, the seating area was adorable, and I couldn’t wait to experience all of it! The small menu made it even easier to try all the things!

Breakfast

Our first visit was during morning Extra Magic Hours, and we knew we wanted to try breakfast. I was particularly excited to try the Lunch Box Tarts, so we got both the Raspberry (which is coated in strawberry fondant) and Chocolate-Hazelnut (coated in maple fondant and candied bacon). Both sounded wonderful, but were very, very sweet – even for this girl who has a super sweet tooth! My son liked them, but the rest of us were done after just a bite. These are reminiscent of a pop-tart, but are served all day as a dessert.

We also tried the Breakfast Bowl, which contained Potato Barrels (aka Tater Tots) smothered in Brisket Country Gravy with scrambled eggs on top. I like these things separately, but I wasn’t a huge fan once they started all getting mixed together. My husband liked it, but I would probably try something different next time. The S’more French Toast Sandwich is definitely on my list to try!

Lunch/Dinner

During our trip, we were fortunate enough to make two more trips back to Toy Story Land, and we tried almost everything on the lunch and dinner menu. You may have already heard that one menu item has been removed since the restaurant opened. There was originally a Monte Cristo sandwich on the menu, but it was quickly removed. The sandwich did not get good reviews, but the official cause of the removal is unknown.

The Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich was a favorite with our group! This grown-up grilled cheese features melted provolone and cheddar, along with a cheddar cheese spread on Garlic Bread. It was creamy and delicious, and I would definitely recommend!

My husband and son both enjoyed the BBQ Brisket Melt – sliced smoked brisket, cheese, pickles, and BBQ sauce on sourdough bread. The sandwich was big (my 12-year-old couldn’t finish his), flavorful, and they both agreed they’d eat it again. Available sides with this sandwich are Potato Barrels, Tomato-Basil Soup Dipper, Vegetable Macaroni Salad, or a Mandarin Orange.

My other favorite was the “Totchos” – definitely something I’d only eat on vacation! This was a bowl of Potato Barrels covered in beef and bean chili, shredded cheese and queso, with a sprinkling of corn chips, and topped with sour cream and green onions. Using the Mobile Ordering app (more on that in a minute), I was able to customize this exactly the way I wanted it.

The only entrée we didn’t try was the Smoked Turkey Sandwich, but from all accounts, this is just a typical turkey sandwich and nothing extraordinary.

Woody’s Lunchbox offers several fun drink options – Mystic Portal Punch, which has a base of Powerade Mountain Berry Blast with flavors of lemon lime and tangerine. As you may have guessed, it is a green alien-themed drink, and for an extra charge, you can get it served in a cute souvenir cup with the claw and an alien. They also have classic root beer floats and your usual fountain beverages.

For the adults, there are several drink options including beer and hard cider. They also have a Grown-Up’s Lemonade that was absolutely delicious! It features Odwalla lemonade mixed with cherry vodka. If you’re using mobile ordering, you will also have the option to turn this refreshing drink into a float by adding a scoop of ice cream! This (currently) is not an option on the regular menu.

Photo of the Grown-Up Lemonade by the great Robert Schulz.

There are so many cute details around Woody’s Lunchbox, starting with the restaurant itself, which is literally a lunchbox propped open by a thermos! Our favorite is the table made from a note that Andy’s mom put in his lunchbox. Who doesn’t want to have dinner sitting on a huge piece of cheese? My boys absolutely loved this table.

All of the seating is outdoors, but there are umbrellas over the tables, which come in really handy when those “just an average summer day in Florida” thunderstorms roll in.

Mobile Ordering

Mobile ordering is like having a Fast Pass for a restaurant! Using the My Disney Experience app, you can select a restaurant and enter your entire order right from your phone. It allows you to customize your order if there are things you want to add or remove to an entrée. Best of all, it recognizes the Disney Dining Plan and will apply your credits accordingly. When you arrive at the restaurant, there is a button to press in the app to let them know you’re there so your food is prepared fresh.

Pro tip: click on any item to see a picture of it! You can also customize to make it just the way you want it. So easy!

I highly recommend using Mobile Ordering, especially when lines are long! There is a special counter for mobile orders, so you don’t have to wait through the regular line. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot of people are using this service yet, but I’m a big fan of anything that will save me time while I’m at the parks!

Final Thoughts

Hollywood Studios has historically been my least favorite park when it comes to dining options. Woody’s Lunchbox brings a much-needed breath of fresh air with some unique menu items. I will be interested to see if the menu will be changed or expanded at all in the upcoming months. This will definitely be a must-do for me, and a place I look forward to taking friends. The details are wonderful – each time I walked around, I noticed new things. Even if I wasn’t hungry, I’d be happy to stop for a Grown-Up Lemonade and enjoy the scenery!

Grab a friend and march on over to Woody’s Lunchbox!

Five Quick Tips for Traveling to Walt Disney World With a Large Group

Have you raved about Walt Disney World so much that your entire extended family has decided to come on your next trip? Are you planning a girls’ weekend for a dozen of your best friends? Traveling to Disney with a large group is quite different than your typical trip. However, with some careful planning, it can be just as successful!

Know Your Audience and Their Priorities

Are you traveling with small children who may need a mid-day break? Or with grandparents who need to take it at a slower pace? Teens who want to park hop from rope drop to fireworks? Take all of these factors into consideration, and understand that splitting up at some point during the trip may be necessary to maximize everyone’s needs, wants, and fun!

If you’re traveling with a group of friends, you may assume that you’ll all want the same thing. But you’ll find that ideas of “doing Disney” can wildly vary! Some friends may want to relax with a cocktail by the pool, while others are itching to spend the entire day at the park. Remember that just because you’re on vacation together doesn’t mean that every moment has to be spent together!

Find out must-do’s for each member of the party. Whether it’s a restaurant, a ride, shopping, or a specific character that they want to meet, everyone usually has something that they absolutely can’t miss. Knowing what everyone hopes to get out of their vacation will help you be a more efficient planner. If you know that Aunt Sarah is dreaming of spending a child-free evening drinking around the world, you’ll be able to figure out logistics in advance!

It will also be helpful to know what people don’t want to do. For example, if Grandma wants nothing to do with rollercoasters and Uncle Bob refuses to go shopping, you can plan accordingly to keep everyone happy. You should also find out if there are any allergies in your group. You don’t want to plan a seafood dinner if someone has a serious shellfish allergy!

Lunch with a view is great, but not when you have allergies!

If this is your family’s first trip and you aren’t sure what there is to do or what activities might be enjoyed by the various age groups, proceed directly to Tip #2, and then return to this one after some research is done.

Do Your Research!

Even if you’re a seasoned Walt Disney World veteran, you will still want to do a little research. Check crowd levels for your visit (my favorite sites for this are Touring Plans and Character Locator, but note that getting the most out of these sites requires a paid subscription) to see which park is ideal for each day, what the park hours are, and which parks have Extra Magic Hours. Check to see if any rides are under refurbishment – there’s nothing quite as sad as showing up at Splash Mountain, only to find out it’s going to be closed for the next month.

If this is your first trip, then I suggest getting a book that will outline every attraction and give you lots of helpful hints for guests of every age to get the most enjoyment out of their trip. I started with The Unofficial Guide and found it immensely helpful for my first trip! I also delved into any podcast I could find about trip planning, attractions, and WDW in general. There are also tons of ride videos on YouTube – these are a lot of fun to watch (for both kids and adults!) when prepping for a trip.

Be Ready to Make ADRs and Fast Passes!

Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) can be made 180 days in advance. That may sound like a ridiculously early time, but believe me when I say that the most in-demand restaurants fill up FAST.

If you’re not sure where to begin with choosing restaurants, menus can be found online at both the Walt Disney World site and Allears. The aforementioned books also offer lots of info regarding dining. If your party is extremely large, you may consider breaking into two groups for an easier time getting reservations.

If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you may make FastPasses 60 days prior to check in. Those staying off property may make their selections at 30 days. Important reminder: in order to make a FastPass, each member of your party must have a valid park ticket! You may want to set reminders for anyone who is waiting until the last minute to purchase their ticket. With exceptionally long wait times for the new rides in Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and with the opening of the new Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the end of this month, FastPasses are more important than ever!

Set Expectations

Once you’ve done your research and your plans have been made, you will want to communicate those plans to the rest of the group. Some people make spreadsheets (see Jacqueline’s easy and helpful spreadsheet here!), and some people create itineraries complete with photos and helpful hints. Others prefer to be more laid back and just rely on the My Disney Experience app.

If you’re expecting everyone in your party to be up and ready to make it to rope drop, let them know in advance! The more prepared everyone is before arrival, the more smoothly the trip will run. If you have less experienced travelers, let them know that they can expect lots of walking and need to wear appropriate footwear. Help them create a packing list, discuss dining plans, crowds, and weather. If you aren’t using a Disney Dining Plan and will be paying out-of-pocket for dining, make sure all members of your party are aware of those costs.

It takes some stamina to make it from rope drop to fireworks!

Be Willing to Compromise

Things can change quickly – someone may decide they’re too tired to continue at your pace, or they want to go somewhere different than you’d planned, or maybe they just don’t want to pose for the 27th PhotoPass magic shot of the day! Just remember that it’s okay to alter your plans or even cancel a reservation if need be (but do note that it needs to be canceled by 11:59pm the day prior to the reservation to avoid a fee).

There will always be things you cannot control, such as crowds, weather, and long lines. If your family is hot and tired and would rather go back to the resort to relax and recharge at the pool, be willing to divert from your schedule for a break. A little R&R might be just what they need to go full speed the next day! FastPasses can be modified in the app (if a later time is available), and standing in lines will be a lot more fun if everyone is happy!

Sometimes a mid-day pool break is in order!

Planning a trip for a crowd can be intimidating, especially if you’re the one in charge of all the details! But with proper planning and the right attitude, it can be an unforgettable trip! Pack your patience, and remember that if all else fails, you can head to Epcot and drown your Disney sorrows in delicious margaritas!