Take a hands-free portable fan, especially for trips to Disney parks, to clip onto your bag for a comfortable breeze without needing to hold it.
Parks
Disney parks tips.
Ride strategy, park navigation, and attraction timing for the days with the most pressure.
Use a portable splat mat for picnics in theme parks or for kids to sit on the ground, providing a clean surface and making cleanup easier.
If staying at a Disney hotel at Disneyland Paris, take advantage of the 1-hour early entry into the park.
To meet princesses at Disneyland Paris, head to the Arendelle Boutique in the World of Frozen.
In the queue for the Frozen ride at Disneyland Paris, look for hidden carrots for the reindeer.
At the exit of the Frozen ride in Disneyland Paris, check for three tribute bottles of water from Tokyo, Florida, and Hong Kong, representing the pouring of water from around the world into the attraction.
Look for a small detail of Ally Rubenstein, an Imagineer who helped create the Frozen World, as a photo tribute near the Frozen ride exit at Disneyland Paris.
The Ratatouille ride at Disneyland Paris is a 2D attraction, and they removed the 3D glasses option.
Look for small chef hat details on the metal posts outside the Ratatouille attraction at Disneyland Paris.
Keep an eye on the character Linguini in the Ratatouille ride queue at Disneyland Paris; he randomly moves, winks, or talks, and sometimes makes a hidden Mickey shape on his head.
In one window of the Ratatouille ride at Disneyland Paris, observe a silhouette of a French girl applying lipstick, and note a cat in this window, whereas the American version has a dog.
When riding the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disneyland Paris, be aware that the attraction has been updated with a French actress and enhanced projections, making it faster and more dramatic than the original.
The Hollywood Tower Hotel lobby for the Tower of Terror at Disneyland Paris resembles the original Disneyland version before it was rethemed.
To experience Disneyland Paris from a smaller perspective, pay attention to the scale of the tiles in the Ratatouille attraction, which change from being large (mouse-sized) to normal (human-sized).
Utilize Early Theme Park Entry at Animal Kingdom, as it typically opens earliest, to maximize your park day.
Purchase an after-hours ticket for Magic Kingdom to potentially stay until 1:00 AM, or select Hollywood Studios after-hours events that may extend to 1:30 AM.
Experience the Tree of Life Awakenings projections on the park icon each night at Animal Kingdom, occurring every 10 minutes before closing.
Play in the water features at the Journey of Water Inspired by Moana walk-through in Epcot.
Take a flight on the Aerophile tethered hot air balloon in Disney Springs for $30 (adults) or $25 (kids) to ascend 400 ft and see up to 10 miles away.
Book the Behind the Seeds Tour for about $40 per person to get a 1-hour walking tour of the Living with the Land greenhouses and potentially sample vegetables.
Check the My Disney Experience app for the current times to see Divine, as their appearances vary daily.
To potentially avoid long waits for Na'vi River Journey, consider riding it later in the day, after 1-3 p.m., as crowds often leave Animal Kingdom mid-day.
Arrive at the Festival of the Lion King show at least 30 minutes in advance to secure seating, as it is a very popular show and the theater fills quickly.
Take the Wildlife Express train to Conservation Station for the Bluey show, noting that the posted wait times can be inaccurate and to visually assess the line.
Consider riding Kali River Rapids earlier in the day if it is a priority, as wait times increase throughout the afternoon.
Use Disney Visa cardholder perks for a photo opportunity at Hollywood Studios, which typically ends at noon.
Plan to watch Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios, considering returning later in the evening if necessary.
Rope drop Frozen Ever After in Epcot and then immediately head to Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.
Look for Jasmine character meet-and-greets in the Morocco area of Epcot.
Experience Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot for an interactive and air-conditioned show.
Try to get a Lightning Lane for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on multiple Magic Kingdom days if your daughter loves it.
Participate in the pirate scavenger hunt in Adventure Land at Magic Kingdom, which typically starts after 12 PM.
Book a carriage ride at Port Orleans after dinner at Boatwright's.
Attempt to get the virtual queue for the Bluey interactive experience at Animal Kingdom, trying both the 7 AM and 10 AM drops.
Head straight to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom rope drop if you don't have a Lightning Lane.
Try to get Lightning Lanes for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios.
Consider using the single rider line for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios if you are the only one in your party interested in riding.
Look for Super Kitties and Sophia the First character meet-and-greets at Hollywood Studios for younger children.
When entering Epcot, notice the trees are gone, providing a full view of Spaceship Earth.
The elevator in Haunted Mansion at Disneyland actually moves, unlike the one in Epcot where the ceiling just raises.
Try to get a photo with the Walt Disney statue in Epcot's Main Street, U.S.A.
You can ask Crush questions about sea turtles during Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot.
If you want to collect towels for Castaway Cay, grab them immediately after disembarking the ship.
For Castaway Cay, skip the flippers when renting snorkeling gear, as sand and shell fragments can get between the flippers and your feet, causing discomfort.
If you struggle with snorkeling masks sealing properly on Castaway Cay, consider bringing your own regular goggles to at least put your face in the water.
Don't worry about arriving at Castaway Cay immediately after the 'all ashore' announcement; you can still find plenty of available beach chairs even arriving an hour and a half later.
You can get a 5K medal upon completion of the Castaway Cay 5K.
If a storm rolls in during your Castaway Cay visit, seek shelter in the gift shops.
Head to Hyperspace Mountain (Discovery Land) immediately at park opening to experience it as a walk-on.
Enter Phantom Manor (Frontier Land) through the front door, which is unique as other Haunted Mansions use a side entrance.