Doah Discovers

Who knew a vacation would have so much homework? 😰 If you're visiting Disney World for the first time, it can feel very overwhelming and let's be real, it's not a cheap trip so you want to make sure you have the best vacation possible. Here are 3 mistakes people often make when planning their Disney vacation. 1.  MISSING OUT ON PARK TIME : If you’re not used to visiting the parks, you might assume that you can arrive at park opening and make it for rope drop. Or that park closing means the rides shut down right at that time. You should arrive at least 30-60 minutes before park open to get to the parks and get through security. And know that as long as you’re line when the park closes, you’ll be able to ride the ride. 2.  NOT PREPARING FOR FLORIDA WEATHER : It’s easy to assume that it’s always sunny in Florida, it’s the Sunshine State after all but don’t be fooled, rain storms can move in fast and furious. Bring lightweight rain gear in your backpack. 3.  ASSUMING TH...

What are After Hours Events? After Hours events are a special ticketed event that allows attendees to visit the parks after regular hours. If you buy an After Hours only ticket, you do not get access to the park all day, only for the time stated on the ticket (it varies but is usually 2-3 hours before the official event starts). They do not happen every day and Disney World just released the dates for 2026 . Pros to After Hours Events The parks are definitely less busy after the official start time, even starting to thin out after any evening shows (like fireworks). I attended a Magic Kingdom's After Hours last year and managed to do 7 rides, including Tron in less than 4 hours. For Magic Kingdom, there was also a second fireworks show that happened at 11pm, so I accomplished a lot, seeing two different fireworks show, plus 7 rides (including Tron and Mine Train), plus shopping and treats in about 4.5 hours (I could have stayed longer but I think I had already done 10K steps just a...

We all have our roles on vacation, when you're on a cruise, which one are you? The Nerd 🤓 Do you know how many passenger and crew are on the ship? Do you know how many nautical miles you’ll travel throughout your trip? Congratulations, you’re the nerd! You live for the fun facts of the trip. You love sharing behind the scenes trivia and destination secrets with your crew. The Organizer 🖊️ Did you have a calendar reminder set for when restaurant reservations opened for your trip? Do you have a colour-coded spreadsheet for each member of your crew? Congratulations, you’re the organizer! You know where everyone needs to be and when. You make sure that everyone has completed their pre-boarding details and knows what time they need to be at karaoke. The Chiller 😎 Do you even know the name of the ship that you’re on? Do you even know what ports you’re hitting up? If you answered no... Congratulations, you’re the chiller! You know your crew has it handled, so you showed up ready for a...

Staying at Disney World can help you extend the magic beyond your park days but with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide what makes the most sense for you and your crew. Disney World Categories There are three levels or categories of Disney World resorts, value, moderate, and deluxe.  Value Resorts Value resorts are the most economical choice. They are more similar to a motel-style but still include the Disney magic. The most economical option is typically the All-Star Resorts, which are themed music, movies, and sports. They each have theme pools and amenities. Pop Century and Art of Animation are also considered value resorts. These two are a bit more expensive because they are on the Skyliner route for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. These are great for groups looking to stay on property to get the free transportation, parking, and early entry but want a more economical option.  Moderate Resorts Moderate resorts are a great option for folks who wan...

What is the hardest part of a planning a Disney vacation? Is it picking the best outfit? Is it picking shoes that won't hurt your feet? Is it deciding where to get Lightening Lanes? In my opinion, it's none of those (even though they're important), it's figuring out the timelines. Once you've booked your flights, hotel and park tickets, you would think that it's time to relax until you check in to your flight. But unfortunately, if you want to make the most of your trip, there's many timelines to keep track of. A few important timelines you'll want to make sure you have set in your calendar: 60 days before you can start booking your dining reservations 60 days before you can book park reservations if they're needed (tickets purchased for specific days or events do not require a reservation) 7 days before you can purchase your lightening lanes if you're staying on the Disney property 3 days before you can purchase your lightning lanes if you'r...

Many cruise lines offer ground transportation for your cruise but deciding if you should use it will depend on a few factors. 1. When You're Arriving - if you're arriving on the day of your cruise, it will likely be easier for you to use pre-arranged transportation from your cruise line. If you are coming in a day (or more) earlier likely won't make sense for you to use pre-arranged transportation from your cruise line because you will have to get back to the airport to use it. You can use a local transportation company or an ride share company to get to your cruise port if you're leaving from somewhere besides the airport. 2. How Many People Are Traveling - If you are three or four people, it may make more sense to take a ride share or a taxi because the amount will be divided by the group versus individual tickets on pre-arranged transportation. 3. How Far Your Port is From the Airport - If you're traveling out of Cape Canaveral (Orlando) or Portsmouth (London, U...