Disney vacation tip: Triple the rides in half the time

By Drew Dixon

I have family in Orlando. I also have three kids. This combination makes it easy to justify frequent Disney vacations. While my youngest (4 months) has yet to meet the mouse, my two daughters (ages 5 and 3) have each been there at least twice, and every time we try to hit a few of the parks. We’re going again for Spring Break this year.

For young kids, The Magic Kingdom is your best bet. There are lots of rides and attractions, and the different “lands” offer an ever-changing panorama of visuals to keep the kids entertained for hours on end. While this may be the most magical place on Earth, there’s no escaping the long ride lines. Even with a FastPass, once you factor in meals and potty breaks, you may only get to experience five or six rides the entire day if the park is crowded. Anyone who’s stood in line for an hour with two toddlers for a three-minute ride knows this can weigh heavily on mom and dad’s stress level.

Dreams really do come true. I’m here to tell you that there is a way to experience three times the rides in half the time, plus an exclusive parade and fireworks display. It’s Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party!

There are three party events that I know Disney World does: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in October, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party during the Holidays, and Mickey’s Pirate & Princess Party all throughout the year. These scheduled events require a separate ticket purchase, and you can’t get in until 4 p.m., but they kick everyone else out at 7 p.m.,and the park stays open until midnight. We went to the Pirate & Princess Party in February 2008. Our girls dressed in their finest piratey garb, and we all had a blast.

Disney limits the number of tickets it sells, so the crowds are practically non-existent. As a family of four, we were able to walk on to rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Magic Carpets of Alladin, Cinderella’s Golden Carousel (several times), Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It’s a Small World and more. No wait. None whatsoever. Want to ride again? Sure!

There are plenty of other things to do besides the rides, too. Disney sets up treasure stations and gives each visitor a treasure map and bag. It became a fun game for the kids to see who would find the next “X-marks-the-spot” where they could collect gems, beads, or candy. We also made sure to get a good spot for the exclusive Pirate and Princess Parade. To this day, my 3-year old still talks about seeing Tinker Bell there.

So, if you have young kids, and don’t mind that they’ll be staying up way past their bed time (make sure they get a nap in the afternoon!), my wife and I agreed that this is the best way to experience The Magic Kingdom, stress-free.

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Drew Dixon is a proud daddy of three: two girls, 5 and 3, and a newborn son. His family routinely travels to Orlando, the Outer Banks, and the South Jersey Shore.

Tagged: Disney, Family time, Florida