5 Tips Guaranteed to Increase Your Enjoyment of a Disney World Vacation

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is the dream vacation destination for many kids. The other members of the family may think back to the vacation as more of a nightmare if they don't come to Florida equipped to handle the very specific necessities required for having a great time in the House of Mouse. You do what's necessary to make your vacation in Orlando a thing of beauty. Those things can range across a vast range depending on individual desires and plans, but some things are necessary regardless of that individuality.

Beating the Crowds
You will never be the only person running amok in Disney World...unless you are very, very rich. Flexibility is a vital part of enjoying a Disney World vacation, however, and introducing the metaphorical flexibility of an Eastern European gymnast can cut down significantly on how long you have to wait to ride attractions. The least crowded times to visit Disney World are in January and September when kids are headed back to school after Christmas and summer break. Because Christmas is one of the most desired times to visit, the first two weeks of December also tend to be thinner as those who want head down south wait until the week before and after Christmas.

Bring Batteries
Batteries are widely available inside Walt Disney World. Heck, if you had a nickel for every battery sold inside Disney World, you'd be eating nickel sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next month. You will have to take out a loan to buy all you need inside the parks, however. Save yourself a lot of money and invest your trip with convenience by bringing along a much cheaper supply of batteries for things like cameras, personal media players and the like. Buy a backup battery for your camcorder so that one is recharging back at the hotel while the other is supplying juice inside the park.

Park at Epcot
Parking at Disney World is at a premium. You will still have to pay for parking at Epcot, but keep in mind that Epcot is the least popular park in Disney World; at least for American visitors. Thank Americans' wholesale desire to avoid combining entertainment and education for providing you with parking spots that are more likely to be available than at the other Disney parks. Even better is that you can take a ferry from Epcot to Disney Hollywood and a monorail to the Magic Kingdom, thus avoiding the bumpy ride inside the buses.

Map Your Course
Maps detailing the interior of every Disney park are widely available. These maps can come in ridiculously handy, but are rarely exploited. Before you head to the park, lay out the map and chart a course that starts with the attractions at the top of your list, followed by secondary attractions, attractions you would love to hit if possible and attractions you can live without seeing. Then plan the best route from one must-ride attraction to the next, starting with those at the back of the park because then you can at least start the day off with as little line waiting as possible.

Rain Gear
Pack a poncho or raincoat when visiting Disney World during the spring and summer. These times of the year almost guarantee at least one or two afternoon squalls during your visit. You can buy ponchos in the park but, like batteries, they ain't cheap. Even cheaper: pack some large plastic trash bags into which you have cut armholes and a hold for your neck. Cheap yet efficient protection from the rain.