Are you thinking of making a trip to Disney? I’ve been about 5 times over the last several years. Most of these were side trips while I was attending conferences. Over the years I’ve amassed several really cool tips that can keep you (and your family) from standing in line to enter the park. If you’re headed to meet Mickey this summer – check out these tips. Update: Make sure to check out the comments as several new tips have been posted – including information about a software package called Ridemaxx which helps plan your trip to minimize your wait times (they also have a really cool method to obtain multiple FastPasses). If you have any tips to add – let us know in the comments.

You don’t need to stay on Disney property to reap the biggest benefit.

Staying on Disney Property has one big advantage over staying at a much cheaper off-site location. Guests at Disney Properties have early entry times to parks (for this you MUST be a Disney Guest because you must show your resort ID and this is checked) as well as front gate access to the Magic Kingdom.

Front gate access is what you want. This allows you to beat the crowds in the morning by avoiding the ticket and transportation center which requires transfers via monorail or boat to gain access to the Disney front gate.

Here’s a tip to get you right to the Magic Kingdom front gate.

If you stay off-site at a cheaper hotel (which I recommend), you have two problems.

First you have to pay for parking at Disney. Secondly you are stuck in the mammoth outer parking lots of the Ticket & Transportation Center where you must either Monorail to the front gate or take a crowded ferry.

The Dolphin Hotel at Disney World

Tip #1 – Avoid Parking Fees
If I have a rental car and I’m visiting Disney I always head to the Swan Hotel. The Swan is operated by the Sheraton as a related (but not Disney owned) property. However all guests staying at the Swan have access to the free Disney transportation.

Park your car in the outer lot of the Dolphin Hotel. The last time I was there the parking lot was huge, free and convenient.

Plus the Dolphin is walking or water taxi distance to Epcot. If you stay for the fireworks at the end of the day you’ll be able to avoid waiting for a bus or monorail – as you can walk back to your car at the Dolphin.

Tip #2 – Avoid Opening Lines – Ride The Free Disney Transportation In To The Magic Kingdom
Once you’ve parked for free at the Dolphin Resort and Convention Center (which BTW has loads of bathrooms – perfect for a pit stop with the kids) walk around to the front and wait in the RESORT GUEST line to hop on the free Disney Resort Transportation.

Here’s the secret: Disney provided buses that ORIGINATE at resorts, will bring you directly to the front gate of the Magic Kingdom. You bypass the ticket and transportation center which requires an extra monorail or boat trip to travel to the front gate at Disney.

Technically the Disney hotel busses are for Disney guests only. I’ve hitched a ride on them whenever I’ve been to Disney and have never been asked for resort ID. If questioned I would have told them that I was traveling to check out the hotel for my next visit.

Tip #3: The Best Viewing Area For Magic Kingdom Parades Is By Town Hall
When it’s parade time at Disney you’ll see curb side lines that can grow to three or four sweaty bodies deep.

Avoid these lines, and score an awesome front row seat by walking back to the circle by Town Hall (this is the area you walk through immediately after entering Disney World through the tunnel).

I like to watch the parade from right in front of the Emporium (shown in the right side of the photograph above). The Emporium has several doors that are always open and always blowing out cold air from the store. Also notice that the entire area is covered with an overhang. If it starts to rain during the parade you’ll have a shelter.

This area is the where the parade ends (the floats drive through an exit between the fire house and Emporium). Because this is Disney, all cast members must stay in character through the entire parade – even as they’re driving off the property to the back lot.

The parade secret? Catch the very end of the parade route. It’s less crowded and you’ll have a sheltered view!

Tip #4: Use FastPass
Fast Pass is Disney’s method of allowing you to reserve a future space in line. You can obtain one Fast Pass at a time, and it provides a time window (generally an hour) when you can return and get into a special Fast Pass line. This line move faster (that’s why they call it Fast Pass!) than the regular line.

The tip here is to get a Fast Pass, and when it’s your time to get in line — stop at another attraction and obtain a Fast Pass. You can only hold one Fast Pass at a time – but can get another one before you go to get on the current ride that you hold a pass for. That way as you are waiting in line you’re also holding a pass for another ride so when you come out you may have a shorter time to wait for your next fast pass time.

Hopefully these will be of use to some who are planning a trip to Disney. If you’re going with young kids, you know how important it becomes to avoid long lines whenever possible. Have more tips to share? Serve them up in the comments!