Welcome to planDisney, Aida! I'm so glad you stopped by! It sounds like you have a big trip planned to
The Most Magical Place on Earth! I'm happy to help you!
First, let's talk about prices. While the cost of
tickets may fluctuate slightly depending on the time of year, these last two weeks of summer should be fairly consistent. Your best way to save money is to buy a multi-day ticket for the number of days you want to visit. Also, be sure to check out any
special offers that Disney is offering during your dates.
Walt Disney World doesn't really have a "slow" season. You are visiting during a time that tends to see relatively lower crowds. Summer is quite warm, and children in the U.S. are getting ready to return to school as August comes to an end. Weekdays are often a little better, because locals seem to visit more on the weekends, but I rarely notice much of a difference. There isn't a better day to visit one park or another. Some websites have crowd calendars with suggestions, but I prefer to focus on the
park hours and event calendar to make my choices.
The four theme parks are designed differently, and everyone seems to have their opinion about the best way to approach them. My best advice is to arrive early. We call that "rope-dropping." Plan to get to the park 30-60 minutes before the scheduled opening time (some will be there even earlier!) and head straight to the attraction you most want to do. In the afternoons, consider taking a break. Head back to your resort for a swim or nap, then return to the parks for the evening, when many families are heading out for the night. You can experience attractions all the way up until closing time. That last hour of the parks can be pretty magical.
Magic Kingdom Park is a great place to begin. You can start your visit by walking down Main Street, U.S.A, towards
Cinderella Castle. I'd head for
Tron Lightcycle Run first, because it's one of my favorites and the line stays long throughout the day. If you have time, come back at night for a different experience. When you're in
EPCOT, try
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind if your group enjoys thrills. My teenagers think this is the best attraction of all!
Disney's Hollywood Studios has so many thrills, but my personal favorite is
Slinky Dog Dash, so I go to Toy Story Land first.
For parades and fireworks shows, you'll want to find a spot an hour before the start. Remember that most of them have multiple viewing areas, and there is often no bad seat. Grab some popcorn or ice cream to snack on while you wait!
I hope you have the most magical trip, Aida, and I'd love to hear all about it! If there's anything else we can help with, or if you have any specific questions, please let us know! We're always here for you at
planDisney!
Always Dreaming -
Elizabeth