There are a LOT of good Disney World tips out there that are common knowledge by this point — like how you need to stay hydrated, wear comfy shoes, and get plenty of rest each night before jumpstarting another day.

ALL great tips, absolutely. But then there are the underground tips… the ones that are either brand-spanking new, OR the ones not even DISNEY really wants you to know about.

Whatever the case may be, we’re EXPOSING all that lowkey, juicy info … and you can use this intel in the parks however you see fit.

But before we even get to point number one on our list, here’s a bonus tip — you can download FREE Disney World planning worksheets by dropping us your email address at the links below. These worksheets are loaded with good info for new and seasoned Disney guests alike, helping you stay organized as you plan ahead for the best Orlando vacation of ALL TIME!

It’s Okay To Skip The Must Do’s

How many of y’all are people-pleasers out there? And how many of y’all turn the people-pleasing OFF when it comes to your vacation? Unfortunately, so many of us keep that switch on 24/7 — even when we’re traveling to the Most Magical Place On Earth. So we make reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table because Neighbor Jody told us it was the best restaurant EVER, and we get into the TRON: Lightcycle Run virtual queue because EVERYONE else on social media says it’s “no big deal” and you should TOTALLY try it even if you AREN’T a big rider, and then we book a hotel at one of the Disney World resorts because we’ve heard you’re not “truly” gonna get the “best” Disney World experience if you’re NOT planning on spending $200+ per night on your stay directly on property.

Yeah. LOTS of opinions go into YOUR trip. And, when you’re trying to make sure your travel group is really having the BEST TIME EVER, you might feel obligated to DO all of these things, just because everyone ELSE says you’re gonna love them. But, at the end of the day, you might not WANT to book Cinderella’s Royal Table and spend $79+ per adult, and you might not WANT to ride TRON because roller coasters make you feel all panicky, and you may not WANT to stay directly with Disney because you found a Good Neighbor Resort for WAY-way cheaper.

Lemme say this LOUD and CLEAR — ALL DISNEY WORLD VACATIONS ARE DIFFERENT. What matters at the end of the day is that YOUR group is having a good time, and you are too! After all, you’re investing WAY too much money in this trip to mold it into someone ELSE’s perfect vacation.

So when you hear tips and recommendations and other people’s must do’s (and yes, I’m talking about even the ones you read here), take those with a grain of salt, but still make sure to do your own research and touch base with your travel group. A lot of times, those must do’s people are talking about might actually align with what YOU wanna do TOO! But don’t let someone ELSE’s idea of “the best day ever” dictate how YOUR best day ever should go.

There’s Been ANOTHER Genie + Change… And It’s Actually Good

Lately, anytime more changes are announced for Disney Genie +, many folks’ reaction is to immediately be upset. And that’s probably because SO MANY of the changes that Genie + HAS made over the past couple of years have either cost us more money, or cost us a little bit of our sanity. But I’m here to confirm that, yeah, this most recent change Genie + has made is actually a GOOD one. Earlier this summer, Genie+’s pricing system switched. Now, guests can buy Genie+ based on the park that they want to visit.

Alright, I can already feel the heat burning on some of y’all’s cheeks. But let’s take this a step at a time here. In the past, whatever Genie + price was listed for the day of your visit was what you had to pay no matter WHAT. So Genie + was the same price for Magic Kingdom’s 20+ rides that it was for Animal Kingdom’s, like, 5 rides. But NOW, Genie + pricing will vary by park. For example, you might pay $27 at Magic Kingdom on a certain day, but you could also pay $18 at Animal Kingdom on that very SAME day, if there’s lower demand. But, what if you wanna visit more than ONE park that day with a park hopper pass?

Along with the individual park pricing for Genie +, there’s also a multiple parks option that you can purchase, too. The price range for THIS Genie+ option will be on par with whatever park has the highest Genie+ price point that day. (So if Magic Kingdom is the highest priced at $27, then the multi-park option will be the same price, too.)

So, in a nutshell, this change means you could potentially pay LESS for Lightning Lanes, depending on what parks you decide to visit. No other MAJOR Lightning Lane changes have been made yet, but keep checking back with us, because Disney has made it known that more GOOD changes are on the horizon for this service, starting at the beginning of next year.

Value And Moderate Resorts Have The Same Perks

There. I said it. I SAID IT. And I KNOW Disney doesn’t want me to say it, but I HAVE to. Value resorts generally have the same perks as the moderate ones. (I know… mind-blowing.) Now, that’s not to say moderate resorts are IDENTICAL to values. There’s a lot of draw to choose a moderate over a cheaper option — like for their elevated theming, potentially larger rooms (that fit a 5th guest), and, of course, their reputation for being of higher quality.

BUT if all you’re doing is going back to your hotel to shower and sleep after spending a whole day in the parks all trip long, you can really save a LOT of money by just staying at a value resort! There are even some value resorts — namely Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort — that have family suites available — so you could still fit a larger group all in one room while saving money. WIN, WIN!

The value resorts also offer the same basic amenities as the moderate resorts — like themed pools and playgrounds, gift shops, dining, that Disney-fied customer service we all know and love, free transportation to the parks, and early theme park entry.

Along with that, they also both do NOT offer extending evening hours on select nights at select parks like the deluxe resorts do. So, sure, the theming at the value resorts can be a little over the top. But, if you’re not spending a lot of time there, then who cares that there’s a GIANT Ursula in front of your room!

Actually, your kids might PREFER the over-the-top characters, colors, and theming at the value resorts rather than the more subdued, classier themes across the moderates.

Not to mention, some value resorts actually have BETTER perks than select moderate resorts do! Art of Animation and Pop Century Resort both have Skyliner Access that’ll take you to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or any of the other resorts located on the Skyliner route (which’ll give ya WAY more dining options than the standard food court offerings provide). Meanwhile, the only moderate resort with Skyliner access is Disney’s Caribbean Beach. All the other moderate resorts rely on bus transportation only.

One of the biggest differences, really, between value and moderate resorts is the whole dining situation. Value resorts generally only have food courts available for guests to enjoy, while moderate resorts typically have some table service restaurants thrown in the mix as well. Other than that, values and moderates aren’t all that different. Well… okay, that’s not EXACTLY true. There is ONE moderate resort that goes above and beyond ALL the rest, and would EASILY fit into the deluxe resort category… and that’s Disney’s Coronado Springs (namely for the Gran Destino Tower).

Coronado Springs sets itself apart from all the OTHER moderate resorts by offering two fitness centers, three table service restaurants, three lounges, and club-level access. I’m not saying Coronado Springs isn’t without its faults (because bus service can be a pain and you still can’t get extended evening hours by staying here), but if you’re wanting bougie on a budget, this might be a moderate resort option you’ll wanna look into more thoroughly.

Pay For Fuel Rods BEFORE You Get To Disney

Time to save some money in ways that Disney would NEVER admit to. Throughout the parks, you’ll likely be using your phone a LOT. You’ll be checking the My Disney Experience app for ride wait times, taking photos, Mobile Ordering, signing up for a restaurant’s walk-up waitlist, checking out items via mobile merchandise, using MagicMobile to scan into the parks, looking back on your PhotoPass pictures… the list goes on.

So, you might find your phone battery dying VERY quickly in Disney World — even quicker than it does back home. That’s why you’ll always catch me recommending that you pack a portable phone charger in your park bag that you can keep handy when your phone needs some extra “juicin.” One popular charger option is the light and portable FuelRods. You can find machines to buy these bad boys all over Disney World.

FuelRods are definitely convenient because you don’t have to worry about charging them up in your hotel room each night. You can just swap out your empty FuelRod for a fully juiced-up one for FREE at any of the FuelRod machines you come across. (It takes literally five seconds and it’s SUPER nifty.) If you buy a FuelRod in Disney World, it’ll cost you $30 for a starter kit that comes with the portable charger and a charging cable.

BUT here’s what Disney doesn’t tell ya…If you buy a FuelRod from Amazon BEFORE your trip, you can get these chargers for LESS. In fact, you can get TWO FuelRods for $34.99 on Amazon. And the best part? You’ll still be able to swap out the FuelRods you buy online ALL over Disney World for FREE without any issues!

Order Fuel Rods HERE before your trip!

Consider SKIPPING Magic Kingdom’s Christmas Party

Sounds very Grinch-like for me to say you should consider skipping out on Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — a time of good tidings and cheer and snoap down Main Street USA — but you MIGHT agree with me when you hear about the NEWEST Christmas party getting ready to hit the Disney World scene.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is ready to COMPETE against Magic Kingdom’s holiday after hours party with its new, separately ticketed Jollywood Nights. This limited capacity event is gonna bring a TON of exclusive party offerings, such as…

• a live holiday special hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy at Theater of the Stars
• a Nightmare Before Christmas singalong at Hyperion Theater, hosted by Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie.
• Unique character meet and greets (like Powerline Max, Phineas and Ferb, and several other holly jolly guests)
• Exclusive treats
• And SO MUCH MORE!!

And, much like any other after hours event we’ve seen in the past, many rides will stay open during the party, including (but not limited to) Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (which will operate with a virtual queue).

Jollywood Nights will take place from 8:30PM to 12:30AM on 10 select nights from November 11th through December 20th, 2023 — but you can purchase tickets RIGHT NOW on the Disney World website! Tickets cost around $159 to $179 per person, with the more expensive dates being closer to the actual Christmas holiday.

So… let’s be real here. IS Jollywood Nights REALLY gonna be something you wanna grab tickets for ABOVE Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? It just depends! Overall, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party might still be best for groups with younger kids and for people who haven’t been to a Disney World holiday party before. Jollywood Nights, however, does sound like a good party for adults and older kiddos, especially those who want to tackle more intense rides than you’ll find at Magic Kingdom with little-to-no waits. The Hollywood Studios event is also great for people who’ve already been to Very Merry a few times and want to try something completely new.

No matter WHICH holiday party you choose (or even if you CAN’T decide and wind up buying tickets for BOTH), you can be celebration-ready with our DFB holiday shirts and sweaters — available NOW on the DFBstore website. We’ve got a VARIETY of different options for you to choose from, ranging from ugly sweater-style to styles that represent our love for both gingerbread cookies AND Disney modes of transportation. If you’re planning on vacationing in Disney during the holiday season — and want an outfit that’s TOTALLY unique from what you’ll find in the Disney gifts shops — then we’ve got you covered… LITERALLY!

Shop our DFB Merch here!

You Can Get Quick Service Food For CHEAPER

Let’s cut to the chase — There are THREE different ways you can save money on your quick service meals.

Strategy #1: Ask about an “entree-only” price

Counter Service menus usually automatically include side items — and those prices you’re seeing reflect those extras. Don’t really feel like fries with your cheeseburger? Ask a Cast Member if there’s an entree-only price. You may be able to knock off the extra cost!

Just keep in mind that you can’t do this through mobile order — and you will have to stand in the physical line just to check on if this is a thing for the particular quick service you’re ordering from

Strategy #2: Order off the kids menu… even as an adult

If you want a smaller portion of a certain entree (for a smaller price point too), just order off the kids menu!

This might not be a strategy you’ll be able to pull off at a sit down restaurant, but it’s one we use all too often when we’re in the parks and just need a light lunch to keep us fueled before a big dinner. Some of our FAVORITE places to order off the kids menu are:

• Satuli Canteen at Animal Kingdom (for their smaller custom bowls and single-serving cheeseburger pods)
• Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios (for their grilled cheese and breakfast bowls)
• And Docking Bay 7 — also in Hollywood Studios — for their Fried Chicken Tip Yip

Strategy #3: Split an entree with someone in your group

Some of those quick service offerings can be rather hefty — so you might wanna order ONE and split it with someone else.

Some of the best split worthy quick service meals can be found at…

• Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Magic Kingdom (with their waffle sandwiches)
• Columbia Harbour House — also in Magic Kingdom (with their trio platter of Fried Shrimp, Chicken Strips, Battered Fish, Hushpuppies, and choice of Side for around $15)
• AND Flame Tree BBQ (with their Ribs, Chicken, and Pulled Pork Sampler — served with Signature Baked Beans and Coleslaw — all for around $20)

Make The Disney Dining Plan WORTH It

After years of years of asking and asking, Disney World finally said yes… to the return of the Disney Dining Plan! Ever since the historic 2020 closures, the DDP has been MIA. But, by January 9th of next year, it’ll be BACK IN BUSINESS, BABY.

Now — for the record — we’ve got a WHOLE digital guide on DFBStore.com RIGHT NOW — which’ll go IN DEPTH about EVERYTHING you need to know about this returning pre-paid dining option that you can attach to your vacation packages. (This guide even takes you through what a realistic dining schedule would look like for your family while using the DDP — and it’ll also help you determine whether the DDP price point will be worth it for your group or not.)

Check our our Disney Dining Plan guide now!

But what I wanna focus on right now is which restaurants will be the best values IF you decide to go ahead and use the DDP during your 2024 vacation.

Let’s start with the best quick service option FIRST: If you’re looking for some seriously flavorful eats in Disney Springs — go IMMEDIATELY to The Polite Pig.This spot features modern barbecue in a variety of wood-fired smoked and grilled items, and all drinks are served on tap. The pricier options on the menu here will really help you get the best value for your Quick Service credit. You could opt for Layla’s Ribs for $26, the Cedar Plank Salmon for $26, or the USDA Prime Brisket for $22.

Plus, there are PLENTY of cocktails, beers, and wine choices to pick from, ranging in price from $5 to $16. If you pair a $16 cocktail with your $26 Ribs, you’re looking at a $42 value for your Quick Service meal — and that’s pretty incredible.

Moving on to the best table service to use with your DDP — it’s dinner at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! No, I’m not just saying this because I love Ohana (even though I do). I’m saying this because dinner here really DOES give you the most bang for your buck when you’ve got the DDP on your side. Dinner consists of all-you-can-eat, family-style Polynesian food for $59 per adult and $38 per child.

And what’s on the menu? You’ll be served mixed greens salad, signature ‘Ohana bread, honey coriander chicken wings, pork dumplings tossed in a chili-garlic sauce, the famous ohana noodles we never stop talking about, the bread pudding, (which we… also… never stop talking about), and a variety of different meats cooked inside the open-air kitchen.

This is another spot where you can potentially see fireworks from the windows if you time your dinner reservation just right. The restaurant will even dim the lights and play the music to Happily Ever After as you look down upon Magic Kingdom while stuffing your face with loads of noodles and bread pudding.

And best of all — Ohana continues to be only ONE table service credit instead of TWO (like some of the other higher end restaurants at the deluxe resorts — such as California Grill at Contemporary Resort, Topolino’s Terrace at Riviera Resort, and Narccoose’s at Grand Floridian Resort and Spa).

And finally — let’s talk about the BEST use of your snack credits!

Over at Hollywood Studios, you can grab a HEAVY-DUTY Funnel Cake from Epic Eats, which is usually priced around $8-$9. These are MASSIVE funnel cakes that range from the classic powdered sugar variety to the ones loaded with vanilla ice cream and strawberries. You can also find over-the-top seasonal options here from time to time, too!

And if you’re looking for something more SAVORY, then head over to Refreshment Port at EPCOT and grab yourself a hefty order of the Traditional Poutine for around $7.50 — which is made with french fries, beef gravy, and cheese curds.

Don’t Pay For Water At The Parks

At the start of this video, I mentioned that staying hydrated is one of those universally-known tips that EVERYONE’s gonna tell you is the KEY to having a good Disney park day. And I’m not backtracking here. You’re gonna need water… and TONS of it. Because Disney is hot and we don’t need y’all passing out in the parks.

But buying bottle after bottle directly INSIDE the parks is gonna add up BIG TIME (because that Dasani doesn’t come cheap). And what if you don’t care about getting the bottled water, just as long as you have SOMETHING to guzzle down when you’re needing quick hydration? Most quick service restaurants in Disney have free water cups available that you can pick up at any time. Or, if you’ve got a refillable water bottle handy, you can use a FREE park refill station to fill ‘er up!

You can find water bottle refill stations at various locations, such as:

• Near the TRON restrooms in Magic Kingdom
• Over at the Odyssey Pavilion in EPCOT
• Outside by the Hollywood Studios bus stop and Skyliner restrooms
• And inside the queue for Flight of Passage/ Navi River Journey in Animal Kingdom

That’s why Instacart can end up being one of the BEST apps (aside from the My Disney Experience app, of course) to have downloaded BEFORE your vacation. Lemme put this in perspective for ya: You can snag an entire case of refreshing water bottles from some of those Big Box grocery stores, get ‘em delivered through Instacart, and have the whole transaction cost you about the same price as a single bottle of water inside Disney World. WILD, amiright?

But HOLD ON… what about those not-so-hidden delivery fees? While some items may be slightly higher compared to in-person shopping, there can be special offers like buy-one-get-one-free deals and manufacturer coupons listed on the app. Instacart will notify you of any available discounts as you shop to make sure you’re still getting the best savings possible.

And here’s a pro tip for ya — If you become an Instacart+ member, you’ll enjoy free delivery on orders over $35 per retailer. The membership fee is $9.99 per month or $99 for the year – which COULD be a solid investment if you plan on using this service frequently, even outside of your Disney vacation.

Sign up for Instacart here!

All Your Meals Don’t Have To Come From The Disney Bubble

Alright, let’s go ahead and piggyback off that last point. Much like you don’t have to purchase water bottles inside Disney World (if you wanna avoid those inflated Dasani prices), you also don’t have to CONSTANTLY eat at Disney World’s restaurants either, if you don’t want to. I’m sorry, what did DISNEY FOOD BLOG just say?

YEP! For food delivery services, you can use apps like Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc. You can also choose to check a restaurant’s direct website to see if they offer their own delivery service instead.

Here are some things to keep in mind when ordering a food delivery:

• There will usually be a delivery fee that ranges anywhere from $0.99 to $10 (or more).
• Many delivery service apps also charge a service fee, which can be as high as 18% on every order.
• Sometimes you’ll be held to a minimum order amount, and will be charged a small order fee if you’re under the amount.
• Tipping the driver is expected.

So WILL ordering out be CHEAPER than grabbing a quick service meal in Disney Springs or your resort? Debatable. But always worth checking out anyway — especially if you’re on the hunt for late night dining options OR if your kiddo is just BEGGING for Mickey Dee’s chicken nuggets and fries.

All fast food orders can be picked up at bell services at the lobby of your resort (OR, if you happen to be staying at Disney’s All Star Resort, deliveries can also be dropped off at the smart lockers outside Melody Hall).

You Don’t Need To Go Back To Disney World Every. Single. Year.

Ooooh… OUCH. That truth bomb’s gotta hurt. But it needs to be said regardless. New attractions, restaurants, rides, shops, hotel rooms, etc. are constantly opening up in Disney World. And since you really can’t do everything (like, literally, EVERYTHING) in a single trip (no matter how hard you try), there will almost always be a reason you’ll wanna come back ASAP. But, you really don’t NEED to go back to Disney World every year to try and experience it ALL and avoid the FOMO.

This is especially true if you’re looking to save money or potentially see these new things in the parks with lower crowd levels. I mean, just take TRON Lightcycle Run, for instance. On its opening day back in April, those virtual queues booked up SOLID within SECONDS. But now — depending on the day you visit — virtual queues might still be available for this new coaster even a couple of HOURS after Magic Kingdom opens.

If you wait to visit a new attraction when it’s not so “new” anymore, the crowds will likely be a lot less hectic, making it easier for you to enjoy the new area. Basically, what I’m trying to say here is that you should plan the trip that your time and budget allows. If you skip the trip this year to save up money instead, you might be able to take a longer trip in the future and see, potentially, even MORE stuff (since Disney World’s always got SOMETHING new planned on the horizon).

Disney World tips and tricks change up ALL the time as new rules, systems, and attractions are added to these constantly-changing parks. But that’s why WE’RE here, keeping you in-the-loop so you don’t have to ever be… well… OUT of the loop. Don’t forget those free planning worksheets! You can grab them at the link below.

Keep following DFB for more Disney World tips!

The post Disney World Secrets No One Will Tell You (But We Will) first appeared on the disney food blog.