Consider staying at one of the Disney Resort hotels. A stay might run a little bit higher in price than budget hotels in the area, but it will come with many extras. One nice feature if you're flying is Disney's Magical Express, a complimentary service that transports you from the airport to your hotel. Staying at a Disney hotel also allows you the convince of shuttle service all over the Disney property, not just to the parks and back. The service runs continuously throughout the day, not only once in the morning and once at night like many of the local non-Disney hotels. Resort guests also are eligible for Extra Magic Hours, a program where one park a day either opens early or stays open late at night. Another plus about staying in a Disney hotel is atmosphere. Each hotel is special. Even the Disney budget hotels have a unique theme.
The single most-important thing that you can do to save time waiting in line is to take advantage of the FASTPASS system. It's simple. You swipe your park ticket at a FASTPASS kiosk outside of select attractions, and you receive a pass that will allow you to return to a special line at a given time. You're allowed one FASTPASS at a time, so use it wisely. Most shows have plenty of seating, so as a rule of thumb, save the FASTPASS for rides. Some groups will have most people wait in line at a ride and send one person with all their tickets to a different attraction to obtain a FASTPASS for everyone. Also consider wait times, listed at the entrance to each ride. If the wait time is acceptable, use your FASTPASS on something else.
If you're planning on spending several days at Walt Disney World, you might want to consider a day outside of the four main theme parks. The Richard Petty Driving Experience gives guests a chance to experience speeds of 120 mph. Restrictions apply, call (800) 237-3889 for more information or reservations. Walt Disney World also offers world-class golfing, themed miniature golf, water activities, pony rides, and more. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks allow guests a chance to cool down on a hot day. The Downtown Disney area includes shopping, fine dining, an interactive indoor theme park, and "La Nouba," a unique Cirque de Soleil show.
