You’ve just booked your first trip to Walt Disney World! Yay! Congratulations! Feel the excitement rush through your veins! Bask in that after-booking glory. But…then what?

Well, don’t you fret, dearies! I have compiled a short list of my top ten tips for anyone visiting Disney World for the first, or fiftieth, time.

1. Arrive early. When using Disney Transportation, you need to give yourself at least an hour to get to your destination. I strongly suggest arriving 20 minutes prior to park opening. You will never believe the amount of touring you can get done in the three hours before most everyone else gets out of bed and decides where they’re going for the day. Not only do you beat the crowd, but during the hotter months, you can beat the heat as well.
2. Use both sides. When you’re standing in line for the turnstiles, at bag check or at a quick service restaurant, most people do not realize that there are lines on both the right and left side of the cast member.
3. Gum. You cannot purchase gum at any of the four major theme parks. However, a very little known fact is the Clubhouse Shop at ESPN Wide World of Sports does carry a very limited amount of gum. If you’re in desperation, hop a bus to one of the All-Star resorts and head on over to the WWoS to satisfy that gum craving. Please be aware that this shop is not open 365 days a year. Check with the front desk of your hotel to determine whether it’s open or closed.
4. Fastpasses. Fastpasses are free. Learn about them. Utilize them. A fastpass can save a substantial amount of time in peak season.
5. Smartphones. If you have a smartphone, download Disney’s Mobile Magic app to keep an eye on wait times, have a map readily available and and review important information of attraction when you are inside a Disney Park.
6. Transportation. Disney offers a variety of free transportation options. Yes, you read that correctly. Free. If you don’t have a car, you don’t have to rent one. Once on property, you have several choices of how to get around. There are buses, boats and monorails. What’s available depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re going. Inquire at the front desk if you’re reading this from your hotel. If you’re still at home, Chip & Company can help you by clicking here.
7. Love Coca Cola. Open Happiness. There are no Pepsi products to be found while on Disney property. If you absolutely must have Pepsi, bring it from home. Don’t forget to try Club Cool!
8. YouTube. If you have little ones, you can pump up their excitement or gauge their timidness of some of the attractions by looking them up on YouTube.
9. Park Hoppers.  If you plan on visiting more than one park per day, you must purchase a Park Hopper, you cannot use another day on your ticket to enter a second park on the same day.
10. Times Guide/Park Maps. So you’re not really a planner, eh? No sweat, just be sure to grab a Park Map and a Times Guide (or download the app mentioned in #5) and quickly go over it to see what you’re interested in doing. Grab a nearby Cast Member and ask what the most popular attraction is and head there first to either ride or grab a Fastpass. From there, just begin working your way around the park and enjoy the spontaneity of your vacation!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are entire books devoted to helping you have the best Disney vacation possible. What tips can you offer someone visiting a Disney Park for the first time? Can you offer some insight on what to do/not do on a Disney vacation?

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• Disney World Quick Tips: Don’t Miss the Sponteneity (chipandco.com)
• Disney to Begin Testing Next Generation FASTPASS System (chipandco.com)