The secrets to preserving the magic of a Disney vacation

The family Disney resort vacation reservations have been made, you managed to navigate through the horrors of the airports and have finally found yourself in Orlando- now what?! Making the most of your vacation, catering to the varying desires and ride preferences of the entire family, and somehow still finding a moment to relax while in Disney can often turn a family getaway into a stressful whirlwind. Not to worry, some little known secrets can help you maximize your vacation, lower the financial stress of traveling with a family, and create a memorable vacation that your family will talk about for years to come.

Plan your itinerary with RideMax

The overwhelming number of attractions, hour-long wait times, and continuous disagreements about the selection and order of rides may bring about the seemingly inevitable solution of dividing and conquering. Suddenly, you find yourself wondering what happened to the family vacation. Not the “dream come true” that Disney promised, eh? This all too familiar scenario is one you can easily avoid with a bit of inside knowledge on one of Disney’s most well kept secrets.

Picture this: You enter the Magic Kingdom, leisurely stroll down the seemingly deserted Main Street, view all of the attractions and rides on everyone’s to-do list without separating or ever waiting more than about 20 minutes, and make it out by 1:00 when the crowds begin pouring in. Seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? Not anymore thanks to RideMax. Combining information about wait times, fast-pass distribution rates, and predicted crowds during your specific vacation times/dates, RideMax helps you get the most out of your vacation.

The subscription to RideMax costs $15, a small price compared to the countless benefits that will put you consistently ahead of the Disney crowds. After purchasing, the program asks for the specific dates of your vacation, the parks you plan on visiting each day, and the attractions that you don’t want to miss. After the program conducts its amazing calculations, you are ready to print out what will become your golden ticket to Disney World. This document is your itinerary telling you what rides to go on first, where and when to pick up fast passes, and how to see everything without becoming lost in the crowds. This game plan puts an end to the aimless wandering around the parks from ride to ride only to find long waits and cranky kids tired from standing and waiting. Forget the days of Disney once spent centered around a park map and staring at the backs of strangers in lines, and welcome to the joys that I have discovered using RideMax.

To learn more and download the software visit ridemax.com.

Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan is the second secret that is now offered to vacationers who will be staying at one of Disney’s many resorts. When making reservations months ahead of time, the price of the plan may seem significant enough to decline the offer, thinking that you will be saving yourself some money in doing so. Resist this urge! When the plan is utilized to its full potential, Disney financially loses. Disney only benefits from the dining plan when families fail to understand how it works and do not make reservations ahead of time.

The plan that provides the most financial savings is the Basic Disney Dining Plan (PDF). This plan grants each guest with one quick service, one table service, and one snack during each day of your stay. The quick service includes an entrée, drink and dessert that can be obtained at your resort or at many other convenient locations throughout the park. If you feel as if your family will require a large breakfast each day, then upgrading to a higher plan may be necessary. Through my own experiences, I found it easier and more affordable to pack a few boxes of granola bars in my suitcase to eat on the bus to the park in the early morning.

The table service meal is where the savings become evident. Remember the key word to being successful with your dining plan- reservations! Every night during my recent December vacation my family and I used our dining plan at a relaxing, first rate restaurant where the bill for four was never less than $150! Starting to understand the savings you can derive from the plan now?

After creating your RideMax itinerary, you will know what park you will be at during the time when you wish to use your table service dining points and can easily make a reservation at one of the countless amazing restaurants that Disney has to offer.

Preplan to eliminate stress

The next time you find yourself planning a Disney resort vacation, let RideMax and the Disney Dining Plan help you to channel the fun and relaxation in while leaving the stress and grouchiness at home. My last Disney vacation was unforgettable and I hope that by passing on my family’s secrets to Disney success, you too will create magical memories that will be unforgettable.

Jen Collins is an intern at Mom Central, a college student, and forever a kid at heart.

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