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Travel Tips

Your Orlando Theme Park Day Checklist

Writer: Nikki Taylor
Nikki Taylor
Sep 9
4 min read


Your Orlando Theme Park Day Checklist


Everything to tick off once you're actually in the park, from rope drop to fireworks.


• ☐ Arrive early (rope drop)

• ☐ Use mobile ordering for meals

• ☐ Stay hydrated (free water is usually available)

• ☐ Take breaks for the little ones

• ☐ Use baby swap on rides with height restrictions

• ☐ Take family photos early

• ☐ Utilise the Memory Maker (Disney)

• ☐ Don't have a rigid plan

• ☐ Get a place for the parades early

• ☐ Prioritise your top rides, shows, or lands to visit

• ☐ Look at character meet-and-greet times


Here's why each one earns its place on the list.


Arrive early (rope drop)


This is the single biggest lever you have over your day. The parks are genuinely quieter for the first hour or two after opening, and queue times on the big attractions can be a fraction of what they'll be by midday. We usually stay on-site, so we make the most of Extra Magic Hours and aim to be at the park a full hour before it opens to everyone else — it consistently buys us two or three extra rides before the crowds catch up.


Use mobile ordering for meals


Queuing for food with hungry, tired kids is one of the fastest ways to derail a good day. We always try to order before the kids actually get hungry — putting the order in ahead of time means it's ready and waiting rather than everyone melting down while we queue. It's saved us more than once from a hangry meltdown mid-park.


Stay hydrated


Florida heat catches a lot of UK families off guard. Quick service counters will usually give you a free cup of water if you ask — you don't need to buy a bottle every time you're thirsty, which adds up fast across a full day.


Take breaks for the little ones


Theme parks are exciting, but they're also a lot of walking, noise, and stimulation for young kids. A midday break — back at the hotel for a nap, or even just finding a quiet, shaded spot for half an hour — tends to reset everyone and means the evening doesn't fall apart.



Use baby swap on rides with height restrictions


With two kids, this one's essential for us. Dad queues for the big ride while I take the children on the smaller rides nearby — usually Dumbo. Honestly, I don't mind this arrangement at all, since riding with the kids is what I enjoy most anyway. Once he's done, I go and ride the bigger attraction on the much shorter swap queue, so nobody misses out and we're not standing around waiting twice.


Take family photos early


By mid-afternoon everyone's hot, sweaty, and over it — not exactly photo-ready. Getting a few family shots done in the first hour or two, while hair is still done and spirits are high, means you'll actually want to look back at them. [Insert a spot or backdrop we like for this.]


Utilise the Memory Maker (Disney)


If you're visiting Disney parks specifically, Memory Maker covers professional photographers stationed around the parks plus your ride photos, all in one place. It's an added cost, but it means you're not the one always behind the camera — you get to actually be in the moment with your family.



Don't have a rigid plan


It's tempting to build a minute-by-minute itinerary, but some of our best moments have come from leaving room to wander — stumbling on a parade, discovering a quieter ride, or just letting the kids lead for a bit. A loose plan beats a rigid one.


Get a place for the parades early


One of us stakes out a spot early and our little one sits on our knee — it saves space and means we're not stood there for ages waiting it out. This trick works best while they're still small enough to sit on a lap; it's not really an option once you've got older kids who need their own bit of ground to stand on. Getting there early also means if you've still got a pram, the kids can watch from there — a nice save for tired little legs after a long day of walking.


Prioritise your top rides, shows, or lands to visit


Every park has a handful of rides, shows, or lands that are worth prioritising. Decide on these before you're inside — it's much easier to build a day around two or three non-negotiables than to try to decide on the fly when everyone's hungry and tired.


Look at character meet-and-greet times


These can be some of the best moments of the trip for younger kids, but the queues can also eat up more time than you'd expect. Check the times in the app ahead of your day so you can plan around them rather than stumbling into a 45-minute wait you didn't budget for.


None of this needs to be complicated — it's really just about protecting your energy (and your kids') for the parts of the day that matter most. If you want a printable version to take with you on the day, our Ultimate Orlando Theme Park Checklist covers this and more — https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4321603436/ultimate-travel-checklist-printable

Check our day bag blog!



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