16 ULTIMATE Disney World Tips for Dads

Disney World tips for dads - from a dad who has gone on a double adventure on a Disney World and Disney Cruise all in one vacation!

Table of Contents

While Ryan would never write a blog post, I'm writing one on behalf of him in his voice. If you guys don't know, he's the guy behind all the DIY projects I have on this blog and 49% owner of this blog (on paper).

A Dad's Disney World Tips for Other Parents

Note: Ryan didn't plan any of this trip except for saying that he wanted a verandah view on our cruise. I figured that this post might help convince any father figures who don't really want to go on a Disney trip, feel like they are forced to, but want to make the most of it. You guys know who I'm talking about. So, now, I transition into Ryan's voice.

Dad Tips on Maximizing a Disney World and Disney Cruise Vacation

I hate crowds. I really can't stand kids not listening to me, especially when we are in public and you can't reprimand them the way you really want (and need) to. When the wife suggest that we go to on a Disney World trip knowing we have an 18 month old, I'm going to oblige so I don't get asked a gazillion times. Now that we've gone and come back from Disney World Parks and Disney Cruise Line vacation, I'm sharing for all you parents out there my best tips my wife will not give you.

Disney World Tips for Dads

1. Don't take kids under four. Seriously, don't take them unless you want to be miserable. Make sure the kids you bring under 10 year olds have naps accounted for during the day.

This girl sleeps in her own room and in her own crib every night at our house. On the first leg of the trip, she slept in the same room as all of us. We did not get a full night's rest, ever those nights. My three year old also is learning how to listen, and in public, you'll tell him 'no', and he'll keep on doing it. So don't take those littles. Seriously.

2. Take your kids swimming every day before you go. If you want to maximize the time you spend in the park as well as justify the $85+ ticket cost per person, you'll want to have your kids get swimming out of their system. Otherwise, you'll spend hours swimming at the resort and not in the parks (where you should be).

Food at Disney World

3. Don't get your hopes up, the food isn't that great at Disney World Parks, Disney World Resorts or the Disney Cruise. Except for at Yak and Yeti. It was mediocre at best. Note that you will be paying out the nose, so the deluxe dining plan is worth it if you go to sit down table service restaurants. I will admit, the presentation of the food is exceptional. The taste is okay.

4. Get a car. It gives you flexibility traveling from location to location. Make sure you pick up from the airport and set it up so you can just walk up and pick out your car.

Hotel Stays with Kids at Disney World

5. Don't bounce around hotels. If you do, there's too much packing and trying to figure out how to get the luggage from place to place. One night, our luggage didn't even arrive until after 9pm.

Get a room with Magic Kingdom views because you can see fireworks every night!

6. As far as deluxe hotels are concerned, Animal Kingdom isn't that great even with the upgrade. Sure, the view was phenomenal. However, it wasn't convenient. Polynesian was by far the most convenient.

7. Epcot is not for younger children. Don't bring them here until they are 10.

8. Bring comfy shoes, you're going to be putting in 15,000 to 20,000 steps per day.

Fastpasses for Families

9. Fastpass - buy those extra tickets and go during the off season. Go early, ride the main rides and make use of rider swap if you bring infants (should you decide not to follow tip #1 outlined about bringing infants). The recommendation is to not bring infants even if you can make use of rider swap.

This is Magic Kingdom looks like at 7:30, when the park doesn't even open until 9:00.

This is what Magic Kingdom looks like at 8:50, ten minutes prior to closing on Main Street.

Best Rides for Families at Disney World

10. Favorite Rides at each park are:

Hollywood Studios - Toy Story Mania
Magic Kingdom - Splash Mountain
Epcot - Soarin'
Animal Kingdom - Navi River Journey

11. The Disney Cruise Line is expensive, but visually stunning as compared to the Carnival Cruises when you look at them side by side. You get what you pay for (at least, that's what four separate people on different occasions on this trip told me).

12. Castaway Cay is small, but great. It's big enough for families, but small enough to be quaint. The beaches in the Virgin Islands have less sea shells and sticks on the sand, but overall it's a great beach for families - especially those with littles (that you shouldn't bring).

Disney Cruise Tips from Dad

13. There is no need to rush off the ship at Castaway Cay to get a good spot. You'll miss the family photo opportunities from the ship photographers at the very beginning of arriving at the beach (they are not there later in the day).

14. Don't bring this kid.

15. Or a kid this age.

16. Make sure you sign up for a Disney Cruise onboard. There's no risk, and you save up to 10% on your next cruise with up to a $200 stateroom credit.

Final Thoughts

I hope you find these Disney World Tips for Dads helpful in making sure you stay sane on next Disney vacation! Check out my wife's expectation versus reality post on a Disney vacation so you can make sure you have expectations set before the trip!

Disney World Tips

Disney Hotel Specific Reviews

Grand Floridian Resort
Port Orleans Riverside
Beach Club Resort and Villas