I cannot wait to share this sponsored post with you! When Enterprise asked me to share about my Disney plans for the summer, I was so excited because I knew that you would love it!
Summertime is upon us, and I am in official planning mode for our upcoming family vacations. After an incredible family race-cation for runDisney’s Princess Half Marathon, I am so excited for my family to be heading back to Walt Disney World this summer with Enterprise! As the Official Rental Car provider of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, I can’t imagine booking my family’s Disney vacation without them. From the seamless rental experience at MCO or directly on Disney property, to traveling between parks with all of our gear, Enterprise makes travel to the most magical place on Earth – just that – MAGICAL! To make things even sweeter, I will be partnering with Enterprise throughout the summer months to share some fun tips & tricks on how my family navigates the Disney parks. I’m kicking things off with this blog post in preparation for my summer travel. I’ll give you some insight into my top 5 packing essentials & a few things that we do once we have arrived in the parks.
LET’S GET PACKING
There’s nothing more magical than your first Disney family vacation. Whether your kids are just a few months old or are now kids at heart, there are a few ways to ensure the magic and wonder of your Disney vacation. While there are many ways you can experience the magic, these are a few of my ‘must-have’ items before I even leave the house:
Fanny Pack/Small Bag - my #1 packing essential! Strollers are not allowed in ride queues, so you’ll have to leave your stroller in one of the designated stroller parking areas. Having a small bag with some essentials (bottle, snack, small toy, etc.) can help keep your family happy and entertained during the ride wait.
Stroller Sign - many strollers look the same, so having a marker on your stroller can help you tell yours apart from others. While a simple balloon, ribbon, or sticker could work, we opted for a personalized sign that hung from the stroller handle that doubled as a marker but also a cute photo opp!
Baby Headphones - for use during the fireworks show and on louder rides while baby is sleeping. These came in handy for Charlene’s afternoon nap during Mickey’s PhilharMagic!
Clip-on Stroller Fan - no matter which coast you’re on, park days can get hot and keeping your kids comfortable not only keeps them happy but also safe.
Portable Phone Charger - between the My Disney Experience app and the hundreds of photos you may be taking of your family, the last thing you’ll want to worry about is your phone dying. Bring a portable phone charger to ensure you can capture all of the magic!
(PARK) HOP TO IT!
Now that you’re all packed, be sure that you have secured your Disney park tickets, park reservations, hotel, and of course your Enterprise rental vehicle. I love that Enterprise ensures that we receive a vehicle that works best for our family. We usually secure an SUV so that we can fit all of our gear, car seat, and of course ‘merch’ at the end of our trip lol! We love going to Disney because of how easy they make it for families of all kinds to enjoy. Here are a few things that my family considers while enjoying the parks:
Utilize Baby Care Centers – every Disney Park has a Baby Care Center that provides a clean and convenient place to take care of all of your children’s needs. There’s a small shop to purchase diapers, formula, and more. Privacy for changing and feeding, an area with a television, table & chairs for other children to wait or escape from the busy park for a bit are just a few perks of the Baby Care Centers.
Have a Strategy for Character Meet & Greets – having your child meet their favorite characters is an experience they are likely to remember for a lifetime. For such an important experience, it’s key to have a strategy in mind. While many characters have specific areas in the parks for their meet & greets, character dining experiences are also a great way to meet many characters in a special setting without having to wait in any lines. It’s also the perfect opportunity for parents to re-caffeinate!
Consider Renting a Stroller – Disney has a fleet of strollers available for families to rent. This is particularly helpful for families with slightly older children who may be out of a stroller but could use one after a long day walking around the parks.
Request a Crib & Have Groceries Delivered – these are a couple of the best perks of staying on Disney property. Not having to worry about packing our crib and having our snacks delivered straight to our hotel helped cross some big items off my to-do list!
Family Comes First – with so many new and exciting things to do, it’s easy to overschedule your vacation. By having an open mindset and some magical extras, I was able to set my own schedule that worked best for my family. For example, having an Enterprise rental vehicle streamlined our transportation experience to and from the airport, between parks, and around all of Disney property. It gave us a comfortable feeling of home at our Disney ‘home’. Knowing that we were able to bring what we may need in the car, come-and-go as we pleased, and weren’t tied to a specific schedule, was key in navigating our magical family vacation.
ADVENTURE AWAITS!
I can’t wait to share more about our family’s Disney adventure this summer all possible due to Enterprise! Be on the lookout for more fun content coming your way soon!
*Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of Enterprise.