Fun Fact: You can easily walk 10 miles or more during a day at the Disney Parks.
The good news is you’ll have a great excuse for all the Dole Whip and Mickey bars. However, you may prefer to keep the walking to a minimum, especially if you’ve got a whole week planned. These tips are for you!
Here’s how to minimize walking at the Disney Parks.
1. Choose a Preferred Room at an On-Site Resort
Disney offers a wide range of on-site resorts. These hotels are the closest you’ll get to the parks. In fact, all three Disneyland Resorts are located within walking distance of the park entrances.
Some of the resorts are rather large, so the best way to avoid a long walk between your room and transportation is to book a preferred room. These are typically located closest to the main lobby, amenities, and park transportation. They may cost you a few dollars more, but it’s worth not having to drag small children across the resort late at night.
2. Get Familiar with Park Maps
This may seem obvious, but it is often forgotten. Look at the park maps BEFORE you start planning out your days. They can be found online or in the My Disney Experience/Disneyland Parks apps. Particularly in Walt Disney World, attractions and dining locations are spread out over a large area. This will keep you from booking a FastPass on one side of the park and a dining reservation at the other.
Also, look over them again just before you leave for your trip. This will help you get your bearings and feel less overwhelmed. I send my clients a set of maps each time for this reason!
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask any Cast Member for directions.
3. Group Attractions by Land/Location
Each of the Disney Parks is divided by different “lands”, making it easy to group your plans. Aim to check off as much of one area as you can before moving onto the next.
For example, if you know you’d like to start in Fantasyland, choose any FastPasses you’ll need here in the morning. Make sure to leave time for other attractions, character meet & greets, and snacks. Save a Tomorrowland or Frontierland FastPass for later.
This works best when you factor in dining too. If you know you’ll be in Norway for dinner, aim for a Frozen Ever After FastPass in the evening.
4. Look Up Dining Locations Before You Go
Speaking of dining, make sure to check out the location of each dining location you’re interested in before you start booking reservations. One of the biggest mistakes people make is choosing a reservation on the other side of the park (or even in a different park/resort) and having to rush through a long walk.
This goes for quick-service locations as well. While they allow you to stay flexible, look at your plans to get an idea of where you might be around lunch/dinner time. Look up a few dining options that are located in those area. Check out menus too. This will save you a huge headache of searching for restaurants across the park.
5. Use Your Disney App to Locate Characters & Showtimes
Again, the My Disney Experience and Disneyland Parks apps have come to the rescue. You can look up schedules for characters and shows before you even leave for your trip.
If you know you or the kids want to meet a particular character, find out where they’ll be ahead of time. This way you can leave extra time and avoid returning later. However, remember to stay flexible – especially in Disneyland, characters tend to wander so it can take a little while to find them.
The same goes for shows. Schedules are typically published in advance, so you can plan FastPasses and dining around the shows you want to see. Be sure to check the times guides when you arrive in case of any schedule changes.
6. Get a Better Parking Spot
We’re trying to limit extra walking, right? You’ve got two easy options here if you’re driving – arrive early or pay for preferred/valet parking. Arriving early will get you a closer spot, and preferred parking will put you right up front. Bonus tip: take a photo of the location of your car once you park and save yourself 20 minutes of wandering the parking lot at the end of the night.
Better yet, if you’re staying at a Disney Resort you can take Disney’s complimentary transportation directly to the parks. At Walt Disney World you’ll have options of buses, boats, or monorails. At Disneyland you can take a monorail straight into Tomorrowland (or stay at Disney’s Grand Californian and walk right into California Adventure).
7. Use Inner-Park Transportation
Everyone knows the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Railroads, but did you know they are functional transportation from one side of the park to the other? They each drop off passengers in several different lands.
In Epcot you can take Friendship Boats from one side of the World Showcase to the other. And in Animal Kingdom you take the Wildlife Express Train to get from Africa to Rafiki’s Planet Watch (although this one is the only option to get there).
8. Choose a Spot for Parades/Fireworks Early
Particularly by the end of the day, you’ll be ready to sit (I know I am). If you want a seat at the curb or a bench for the Main Street entertainment, you’ll need to arrive early. These coveted spots fill up quickly. Otherwise you’ll be standing or wandering up and down the path searching for an opening.
Another option is to book a dining package or dessert party that includes a reserved viewing area. Standing/seating options vary by the package, but at least you’ll know exactly where you’re headed.
Following these tips will limit your walking, but you’re still going to add a good number of miles throughout your vacation. Here are a few general tips to keep the whole family happy:
- Wear comfortable shoes
- “Warm up” before your visit (get everyone out walking long before your trip)
- Bring Moleskin or other blister solutions
- Take frequent breaks
- Don’t be afraid to use a stroller for little ones
These are just a few of my basic tips for making your Disney Days run smoothly. My goal as a vacation planner is to go through every detail of my clients’ trips and make the entire process stress-free. I save them hours of trying to put these types of plans together, and for those who love the planning I’m there to offer insights and ensure everything makes sense.
Interested in learning more about what I do? Request a free quote and consultation on my website or send me an email at jtullino@themouseexperts.com. My services are completely free to clients who book with me and it costs you no more than if you booked it yourself. I’d love to help your family experience the Disney vacation of their dreams!
