10 Tips for Doing MULTIPLE Disney Parks in ONE Day

Recently, my family (and extended family) planned a trip to Orlando, Florida. As a lover of Disney*, I knew we needed to visit a park, but we also wanted to spend a lot of our vacation relaxing pool side. So, we decided to pay the extra money for "park hopper" passes, and we made a plan to visit 3 Disney parks in one day. We moved 12 people (ranging in age from 5 to 70) through three parks in one day, so you can do it too! Check out my 10 tips for "Disney park hopping" below.

1) The first thing you need to do is decide which parks you are going to visit. Keep in mind that Disney parks are huge and there is a lot to see. If you want to fully experience all the parks (especially Magic Kingdom), you are going to want to buy multi-day passes. If you are going to park hop, you are only going to see the highlights of each park. 

For our trip, we decided to visit Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom.

2) Make a plan and book fast passes early. You aren't going to see everything in one day, so make a list of the "top things" on your "must do" list. Buy your tickets early, and use MyDisneyExperience to book your fast passes as soon as you are able to do so... 60 days before your visit if you are staying on site or 30 days if you aren't.

3) Get to the park early.  If you want to maximize your ride time and minimize your wait time, you are going to want to get to the park early. We started our day at Animal Kingdom with a goal to get on Avatar quickly (without a fast pass). 

On the day of our visit, the park opened at 9am. We arrived at the park at 7:20am, the ticket booth/guest relations opened at 7:30am (so we were able to exchange our paper tickets for cards early), the gates opened at 8:15am, and they started letting people head to rides at 8:45am. As a result, we had our first ride (which has one of the longest waits in the park) finished shortly after 9am. 

Extra tip: When you are waiting in line, stay to the left. The left side tends to move faster.

4) Use fast passes wisely. We booked our fast passes for 9:30-10:30, 10:30-11:30, and 11:30-12:30. We were able to go on a popular ride first thing (without a fast pass), and then we used all our three passes right away. (After all the fast passes are used, you can book more.) 

On our trip, we managed to complete all our "must do" Animal Kingdom rides quickly, so we had time to enjoy a show before heading to our second park.

5) Dress for success. If you are park hopping, it's going to be a long day, and you are going to want to be comfortable. Make sure you wear comfy clothes, sneakers, hats, and lots of sunblock. (You should also bring dollar store rain ponchos if the forecast calls for rain and light sweaters because it can cool down in the evenings.)

You may also want to buy special Disney themed clothing. My sister and I had these adorable shirts made for our six boys. They say "Cousin Crew 2018". They look cute in pictures, and matching shirts help you keep the group together (and easily identified) as you move through the parks.

6) Pack a lunch. If you are going to try to cover multiple parks in one day, you are not going to have time to stop for meals. So, bring some backpacks, and fill them with food and water. You will have lots of time to eat and snack while you are waiting in lines. You are also going to want to stay hydrated, so don't forget to fill your water bottles at the various fountains located throughout the park.

And, although sit-down meals may be too time consuming for a day of park hopping, you may want to take a short break for a Disney-themed treat. My boys and their cousins enjoyed some Mickey ice cream with their grandparents.

7) Get a family photo. Every time that we go to Disney, we take a family photo, enlarge, and add it to our "vacation wall". It's a fun tradition, and its a great way to document the special family memories we are making.

This year, we even got a lovely stranger to take a photo of our group of 12 (2 grandparents, 4 parents, and 6 little boys)!

8) Take the monorail. To save time, you can take a monorail (free of charge) between Epcot and Magic Kingdom. 

We started our day at Animal Kingdom, and then we drove our car to Epcot. Then, when we finished at Epcot, we took the monorail to Magic Kingdom. Our goal was to get to Magic Kingdom in time for the nighttime show, but with the time we saved taking the monorail, we were able to squeeze in a ride on Space Mountain.

9) Plan for a nighttime show. Disney is more than just awesome rides. The parades and shows are spectacular, and my all time favourite is the castle/fireworks show at the end of the night at Magic Kingdom. Get a spot (with a good view of the front of the castle) early, and enjoy. It really is a magical way to end the day! 

Extra tip: You can bring your own dollar store glow sticks/ light up toys. They are cheaper than what you can buy at the park, and the kids will love having them.

10) Have fun! It's important to get to see everything on your list, but the most important thing is to have fun, be in the moment, and make wonderful memories with your family.

Have you ever done multiple parks in one day? Do you have any "Disney Park Hopping Tips" to add to my list? Please leave them in the comments below. I'm excited to read them because I'm already planning my next trip! 😃

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I was given two complimentary tickets in exchange for my truthful review of these parks. As always, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

5 Minute DIY Spring Wreath... for less than $10

Seriously, when I say you don't need to be crafty to make this, I am telling the truth. I made this "wreath" in less than 5 minutes for $7.50! This is the easiest DIY I have ever done. All the supplies come from the dollar store, and you don't even need to use a glue gun.

To make this cheery Spring wreath, you need a cheap child's umbrella ($2.50), four sprigs of flowers ($1.25 each), and a piece of ribbon (which you may already have). I purchased all my my supplies at the dollar store.

Remove the tags from the umbrella and the flowers, insert the flowers into the top of the umbrella, and tie a ribbon around the base of the umbrella. That's it! I told you it was easy.

Isn't it cute?

I think the bright colours make it a perfect piece of inexpensive Spring decor, don't you? 

What's hanging on your front door? If you decide to give this simple dollar store craft a try, let me know how it turns out!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the simple DIY Spring Wreaths here.

3 Orlando Attractions Your Kids Will Love: Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, Sea Life Aquarium and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Disclosure: I was given free admission to these attractions in exchange for my honest review. As always, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

My family recently returned from a trip to Orlando, and because this was our 5th family trip to this destination, we wanted to see some different attractions. So, after some research, we decided to spend a night at The Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive which is in walking distance to the Coca Cola Orlando Eye, the Orlando SEA LIFE Aquarium, and Madame Tussauds wax museum. Below, I am sharing the details of our visits to these attractions.

The night we arrived in Florida, we headed straight to the Orlando Eye because my oldest son wanted to do it at night. It is a 23 minute ride in one of 30 air-conditioned capsules. It's 400 feet high, and my boys loved it!

The 360-degree views really are breathtaking. You can even see nearby theme parks, attractions, downtown Orlando, and Kennedy Space Centre.

Then, on our second morning in Florida, we took a walk over to the SEA LIFE aquarium. My boys loved it! There is a glass tunnel where the marine life (including sharks) swim all around you. There is also a "log book" where the kids complete tasks (like touching a creature in a tide pool) and get stamps. When the log book is completed, the kids can claim a prize.

After the our aquarium adventure, we headed to Madame Tussauds wax museum. The figures are all very impressive and life-like, and the displays are fun and interactive. My boys really enjoyed posing with all the wax figures. I've never seen them so anxious to get their pictures taken!

Check out some of our favourites! Even my husband and I hopped into a few photos.

It's worth noting that you can buy individual tickets to these attractions, or you can bundle them together. You can even add tickets to LEGOland if that is something you are interested in.

Have you and your family every visited these attractions? What did you think?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Reasons Why "The Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive" is a Great Hotel for Families

Disclosure: I was given a complimentary room in exchange for my truthful review of this hotel. As always, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Recently, my family travelled to Orlando, Florida, and we had the opportunity to stay at"The Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive". Known as "The official hotel of the I-Drive 360", this hotel is conveniently located. Today, I am sharing my review of the hotel, including the reasons I believe it is a great hotel for families.

When we arrived at the hotel, I was greeted with a tray of cookies. How "sweet" is that?

Then, I let the boys tour the room. As a family of 5, it was a special treat to be able to book a family suite. Check out my boys' reactions in this video of our arrival!

The room came equipped with bunk beds, a bean bag chair and an extra TV.

There was also a bed for my youngest and one for my husband and I. My boys were super-excited that there was room for everyone, and no one had to share.

The hotel also has two pools, a lobby bar, a poolside restaurant (Gatorville), and lovely grounds.

It's also worth noting that this hotel is conveniently located in the I-Drive 360 area... which is a very walkable neighbourhood. We took full advantage of our location, and we walked to the CocaCola Orlando Eye, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and the Orlando Sea Life Aquarium. My boys loved all three of these attractions, and I will be sharing more about them soon!

So, are you planning a trip to Orlando soon? 

If you are interested in staying at "The Wyndam Orlando Resort International Drive", I have a special booking code you can use to save 30% off their Best Available Rate with NO minimum nights required. You just need to use this link.

If you have any questions about my stay, I'd be happy to answer them. Just leave your questions/comments below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Beauty and the Beast Centrepiece (dollar store craft)

I recently watched the new live action version of Beauty and the Beast, and it renewed my love for this movie and it's wonderful story. I decided to create a little Beauty and the Beast decor using dollar store supplies. This adorable centrepiece is easy and inexpensive to make, and it would be a fantastic centrepiece at a Beauty and the Beast themed party. It would also be perfect for a simple Beauty and the Beast afternoon tea party.

To make this adorable dollar store craft:

1) Use glitter paint to paint a dollar store cork trivet and knob, and let dry completely.
2) Insert a dollar store rose into the cork trivet.
3) Use hot glue to attach the know to the bottom of a dollar store vase.
4) Place the vase over the rose.

Isn't this Beauty and the Beast centrepiece adorable? I love the way it looks sitting on top of a stack of books.

I am absolutely delighted with how this dollar store craft turned out. It really is perfect for a DIY Beauty and the Beast party!

♥Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Movie Treat Boxes... made from recycled cereal boxes

In our house, we try to have family movie night every Friday night. It's a highlight of our week where all electronics are banned and we cuddle up on the couch together. It's also a night where we indulge in some movie night treats... because what's a movie night without popcorn, right? But popcorn (and kids) can be messy, so the movie treat boxes I am sharing today are perfect for movie night!

The best part about these movie treat boxes is that they are made from old cereal boxes, and they are reusable. To make your own movie night treat boxes:

1) Cut the top off of a cereal box.

2) Use shelf liner to cover the bottom of the box. (I purchased a big roll at the dollar store. Cut the liner to the right size first, and then slowly insert it and smooth it out.)

3) Apply duct tape to the inside and outside sides of the box.

Isn't this a great idea?

I love that these movie night treat boxes are easy to make and use simple dollar store supplies. They'd be perfect for a movie-themed party too! It's always fun when you can add simple and inexpensive DIY details to parties. If you decide to make a tray or two, let me know how it goes. I plan on make a bunch for our next movie party.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Whimsical DIY Spring Decor

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best, and today I am sharing a simple idea for whimsical DIY spring decor that you are going to LOVE. Recently I was thinking about how much I enjoy seeing apple blossoms blooming in the spring, and I decided to figure out a way to bring them into my home. I found a broken branch in my yard, I grabbed some supplies from my craft cupboard, and I got to work.

Seriously... all you need are some tree branches, some pink and white pom poms, a vase, and a glue gun. 

I arranged the branches in a vase, and I used a glue gun to attach the pom poms. That's it! VERY little craftiness is required for this DIY project.

Isn't it cute?

I think this is a perfect way to bring a little "springtime" into your home. It's a simple DIY spring decor project that is guaranteed to get you in the mood for the upcoming season. What do you think?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)