The #1 thing you can do to prepare for a Disney vacation.

About to embark on our 5th trip to Walt Disney World in less than 3 years, I have one overriding recommendation... walk... a... lot.  Unless you plan to use a scooter or wheelchair to get around (a great option for those that need it), walking "practice" will greatly improve your experience. When the kids are young, put them in the stroller you plan to use or walk slower to accommodate their legs but just do it. We've walked regularly with a child as young as 3 and found on a marathon day at Magic Kingdom she lasted until 11 pm before crashing with limited complaints and whining all day, even after missing her afternoon nap.

 

Simply walking into the park (above) requires a fair amount of footwork. We rode the Disney bus from our resort this day and you can see the entrance in the far distance (that's my husband and 8 year old daughter in the foreground). If you're driving to the parks, expect additional steps. I've seen estimates of 5-6 miles of walking per day at Magic Kingdom and as high as 9 miles a day at Epcot, and my feet have felt every one.

 

So what do you do?!?!?  "Walk" sounds pretty vague and about all I found on the subject when I was researching for our trips. In my next post, I'll provide some detail about what we have done and some suggestions on exactly how you might make it work for you.

 

Remember - This is supposed to be fun.