1. Stay on site. Stay as long as possible: all the stress of getting to do rides is
gone. When planned properly you can completely avoid standing on line, but you need to "mix" your visit. (2 weeks together is better than one week a year, because that visit will carry you a while....)
2. Stay on the Loop when possible: (That is the Monorail Loop)
3. Preferred hotel experience:
Contemporary Tower, facing the park, odd numbered room, with bed facing Castle
4. Use hotel "drink cups": best value in WDW
5. Ask your Monorail Attendant if you can ride up front, at least once, and ride the complete loop back to your hotel. If you have kids, or feel like one, politely ask for a co-pilot's card….
6. Decide what your first ride will be and have someone in your party get the Fastpass right away, then go to a "light" ride. This is a good park
pattern to follow before meals, as the time is pleasantly spent by eating. Peter Pan's ride in the Magic Kingdom is unexpectedly good, and always packed.
7. Tip generously.
8. Kids rule, deal with it in a positive way.
9. A nice breakdown is park hopping to the "light points" as the day goes on, using your eating time for fast
pass "layovers" and doing the "unrides" that are great and everywhere.…
10. Ride the "unrides".....there are boats, ferries, monorails, and buses that operate all around the property and
it's all included in the price.
11. Characters are best done at meal time when you are
guaranteed a personal visit and a chance to take pictures. This is far better than competing for character attention and autographs with the "day" visitors who have to rely on catching
the characters "at large". For Mickey there is also Toon Town where a picture can be taken with Mickey in a very nice and user friendly situation. EVERY meal has a character location.
If you have time and a park hopper pass, you can go to Animal Kingdom just for the meal at Donald's Breakfastosaurus at the Restaurantosaurus....take a bus from the hotel and look at the
view; go do characters at the Greeting Trails in Camp Minnie-Mickey... then go to MGM or EPCOT World Showcase at the same end of the property.
12. For rides, it's Magic Kingdom, with MGM, then EPCOT, the
Animal Kingdom for back up....park hopping and Fastpass can eliminate lines.
And both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are GREAT Water Parks. Arrive early or later…..
NOTE: You should always have a Fastpass for some ride in your pocket burning up the waiting time, this guarantees you no line rides at the bigger attractions
13. If possible, eat light and off hours while waiting for a Fastpass time to expire, and save major meal time
for characters. Never pass up at least one visit to the Crystal Palace for Breakfast or in Animal Kingdom 
Donald's Breakfastosaurus at the Restaurantosaurus
14. As a rule, do 4 hours tops, then hit the pool, do hotel hopping, snack around the world, (snacking from hotel to hotel, or substitute
adult beverages) using the transportation system to get there and back again..this can be an exceptional way to enjoy both the day and the Parks…..At the Rose and Crown in England at EPOCT have Rose do your drinks….
15. Travel everywhere the Monorail goes by Monorail whenever possible….but don't forget how peaceful a boat ride can be as well….NOTE: A Ferry ride
from the Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and then a walk to the Polynesian Hotel can be a wonderful way to pass some time.
16. When it's hot or crowded at the Magic Kingdom take the Wed Way People Mover, currently in disguise as the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and be amazed they aren't using this technology in your own town....no
line, ever
17. Breakfast in WDW is close to American eating heaven, from the sandwiches downstairs at the
Contemporary, to the Crystal Palace, (or Hollywood and Vine, in MGM) you have to butter your toast, OK, but it's a truly WDW unique experience, and you can eat as much as you'd like, and they mean it...…
18. Aunt Polly's no longer has those great sandwiches..…just simple desert.
19. Either start early and get out early, or do other things and go late to a single Park...NOTE: Start in the back and work your way towards the front
20. Rainy days: Disney Quest has state of the art
video games, not like your home or home town..........Downtown Disney is a place for daytime toys and nighttime teenagers, decide which way you feel..…
21. WDW is not about food, there are a couple of
places where the food is good, but you didn't come here to eat. Cosmic Rays in the Magic Kingdom has the best fixens bar.
22. Eat at least one meal in the Castle, (the Liberty Tree Tavern is also very pleasant)….
23. There are a collection of desert locations, one on Main Street, in the Magic Kingdom and one in Future
World in EPCOT, but you have to find them yourself, it will make it more fun…..
24. You don't have to wear a jacket and tie at the Floridian
Pool, but it sure feels like you should sometimes.
25. On food in general I leave you these 2 pointers:…...First, use your Birnbaum's Official Guide to WDW, most recent
edition, it has a wealth of information...second, some food places are "attractions" and provide experiences and views that are not available elsewhere, and if you keep that in mind, the food quality will be just fine…..
Note: WDW has Parks and attractions located in both the Northern section and the Southern section, and it can be time efficient to stay in one local for a complete block of time, rather than jumping back and forth.
Note: The buildings that line Main Street are all connected so you can walk the entire street in air conditioning.
Check each Park operating times BEFORE you go. Some are open later than others.
Now enjoy yourself, and don't forget that's why you're here….
