All Articles Shhh...former cast members share their secret tips for making the most of Disney

Shhh...former cast members share their secret tips for making the most of Disney

Keep an eye out for hidden Mickeys.

By Melissa Klurman20 June 2023 7 minutes read
Disney cast members dressed as Tangled characters.
Disney performers in their element.
Image: Tripadvisor

I’ve visited Walt Disney World dozens of times over the past two decades, and thought I’d seen everything there is to see. That is, until I talked to some Disney cast members (as all park employees are called).

These people spend both their work life, and usually their leisure time, at the Happiest Place on Earth, so they’ve got the inside scoop on off-the-beaten-track spots, special perks, and tips on saving time, money, and getting the most out of a vacay.

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The Magic Kingdom

Tip 1: Beat the crowds. Not many people know that there’s an actual rope that “drops” every morning in front of the Magic Kingdom (as well as the other three parks). “Even if you aren’t an early riser, get to the park before it opens,” says Emma Kenner, who used to work selling merchandise at the parks. “Rope dropping can help you save tons of time in lines, since you’ll be the first one in the park.” Note that the Magic Kingdom usually opens at 9am, but the time can sometimes change. Plus: Guests staying at an official Disney Resort sometimes get to enter 30 minutes early.

Tip 2: Go right. Once inside the Magic Kingdom after rope drop, Gary McKechnie, a former skipper on the Jungle Cruise, tells friends to head to the right. “By force of habit most people travel clockwise and go to Adventureland first. Go down Main Street and go right instead—straight into Tomorrowland,” advises McKechnie. While other guests are still waiting for rides on the left side of the park, you’ll be whipping through shorter lines in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, hitting many of the Magic Kingdom’s highlights by mid-morning.

Tip 3: Take a break. Since you were in the parks early, head back to your hotel when the afternoon heat hits for a swim and a snack, then return in the late afternoon. The reason: “Lines for rides and attractions will be shorter between 5 and 8 while others are eating dinner,” says McKechnie. “During this time you might be able to walk right on to rides that were packed earlier in the day.”

Cinderella's Castle at Disney World
Cinderella's Castle.
Image: Tripadvisor

Tip 4: Visit this restaurant for the best seats. “If you’re looking for an indoor seating area, I recommend visiting Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantasyland,” says Kaitlin Pletcher, a panelist with planDisney, an official source for planning advice. “Many guests choose to collect their meal and sit at a table on the main floor, but if you go upstairs, you can often find a quieter spot. And as a bonus, some tables overlook It’s a Small World so you can wave to fellow guests as they begin their ride.”

Tip 5: Get a great fireworks view. When it’s time for evening entertainment, Sierra Vieregge, a former entertainer, recommends watching the fireworks from Gaston’s Tavern in Fantasyland—“especially if you have little ones who don’t fare well with crowds,” she says. “You won't be able to see the projections, but you can sit on Gaston’s fountain and see the fireworks quite clearly from here.” Another ideal spot to view the fireworks: the second floor of the train station. “Claim that spot early,” says McKechnie, “and you’ll get sightlines for all of Main Street U.S.A. and the best views.”

Pedestrians walking down Main Street in Disney World.
The scene on Main Street.
Image: Tripadvisor

Tip 6: Get a great parade view. For the Festival of Fantasy Parade in the Magic Kingdom, Vieregge’s in-the-know advice is to pick a spot at the exit of the Emporium shop, right by the Main Street U.S.A. firehouse. “This is where the parade ends and few people gather over here. It’s perfect for more personalized character interactions.”

Tip 7: Keep an eye out for hidden Mickeys. Frequent Disney guests have turned spotting Hidden Mickeys—subtle mouse shapes tucked into designs around the park by Imagineers—into a fun game. I’ve had several past cast members and Disney insiders point out their favorites, but AJ Wolfe, the owner of the Disney Food Blog, clued me in to the best Hidden Mickey of all. “There is a Hidden Mickey that only appears once a year,” says Wolfe. “It’s in the line for the Little Mermaid ride in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, and it only appears on November 18, Mickey Mouse’s birthday. At noon, the sun shines through a Mickey-shaped hole in the ceiling of the queue line and displays a Mickey on the wall.”

A padoga-style building in EPCOT.
EPCOT's World Showcase.
Image: Tripadvisor

EPCOT

Tip 1: Meet Mickey (without the crowds). If you have a Visa credit card, you can use it to get priority access to see Mickey at a special meet and greet area at EPCOT. “Many Visa cardholders forget about this option. It doesn’t tend to be crowded, so it’s a great way to meet Mickey,” says Vieregge.

Tip 2: Catch some other characters. While you’re at EPCOT, keep an eye out for rare characters toward the back of EPCOT in the World Showcase near the America pavilion, adds Vieregge. “They sometimes do quick pop-ups back there and it’s a great way to spot characters you typically wouldn’t see. This is never guaranteed but be sure to keep your eyes peeled. You just might get to meet Jack and Sally around July/August, or Pinocchio,” she says.

Tip 3: Take a free tour. Both Pletcher and former cast member Susi Brown gave me the scoop on a free tour at EPCOT. At the UK Pavilion in World Showcase, stop by The Tea Caddy, says Brown, and take the Twinings Tea Tour. “It’s a quiet, hidden spot in the park, and there’s a guided tour through a tea garden to learn about different types of tea.” Bonus: “Participants in the guided tour receive a small assortment of Twinings teas after the tour,” notes Pletcher.

Monster characters strolling through the theme park.
Characters in Hollywood Studios.
Image: Tripadvisor

Hollywood Studios

Tip 1: Sneak in a quiet air-conditioned break.“Walt Disney World has a lot of exhibits like the One Man’s Dream experience in Hollywood Studios, and most people tend to skip them,” says Kenner. I always tell people to check them out, not because of the exhibits themselves (even if they are neat), but so that way they can find some amazing A/C,” she explains. “These exhibits have several artifacts throughout that need to be kept at a certain temperature—so the A/C is always blasting away, and most people skip them so they aren’t often crowd-heavy.”

In the other parks: A few spots she recommends for cool air and light crowds in the other parks—the Inside Shanghai exhibit in the China pavilion at EPCOT and the sitting area outside the Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom.

Tip 2: Skip the lines. Former Disney World boat pilot Susi Brown is all about solo visits to the parks (especially since she often lands in Orlando, thanks to her post-Disney career as a flight attendant). In Hollywood Studios, Brown points solo travelers to the two attractions with single rider lines: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. “Using the single rider line, I can often ride (Smuggler’s Run) three, or even four times, during the amount of time it would take to wait for the whole standby line.”

In the other parks: Test Track at EPCOT and Expedition Everest coaster in Animal Kingdom also offer single rider lines.

Tip 3: Explore a galaxy far far away. Download and play the Play Disney Parks app to get the most out of your visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, advises Michelle Davila, a panelist with planDisney. The app gives you access to the Star Wars: Datapad, which unlocks hidden secrets around the themed land. “You’ll be able to interact with droids, translate galactic languages, scan objects and crates, and more.”

A burger and beer in a dark room.
The grilled wild boar burger at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant.
Image: Tripadvisor

Animal Kingdom

Tip 1: Get the best animal sightings. For prime animal viewings, head to Kilimanjaro Safaris first thing in the morning before it gets too hot, suggests Davila. “These early-morning safaris often boast the best view of the animals, who are much more active before the heat of the day.”

Tip 2: Get up close to the animals. If you’d like even more time to learn about the animals, there are tours available, advises Pletcher. “For an additional fee, you can take the Caring for Giants tour and learn about elephants,” she says, adding there’s a similar tour to see the rhinos and the animals in Kilimanjaro Safaris. 

Tip 3: Go behind the scenes. The Savor the Savanna tour gets Brown’s vote for the best behind-the-scenes look at Animal Kingdom. “At 4:30 every day, with only 12 people per truck, you go off the main trails in the savannah, meet the keepers, then go to a secret open-air boma to sample food and drinks,” says Brown.

An exterior shot of cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.
Image: Tripadvisor

Beyond the parks

For days when you don’t have a park ticket, insiders recommend exploring other areas.

Tip 1: Try this (free) attraction. The airborne Skyliner, a new transportation option, can fly you between several hotel properties and to the BoardWalk area behind EPCOT. Brown says that it feels like an in-park attraction—“and it’s free; you don’t need a ticket to ride it.”

Tip 2: Check out these fun activities.“​​The Disney Resort hotels offer some unique experiences that you won’t find in the parks,” advises Davila. She recommends the horse-drawn carriage ride ($55 per person) along the Sassagoula River at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside. McKechnie suggests renting bikes ($9-20) and pedaling around Fort Wilderness. “You can even camp here,” he says, and the campgrounds have free evening movies and s’mores.

Tip 3: Dine solo (happily). Brown recommends Disney Springs for dinner—especially for single travelers. “Many of my favorite restaurants have bars, including Homecoming, the Boathouse, and Raglan Road. As a single traveler, you can roll up at the last minute and usually grab a bar seat without a reservation.”

The Boathouse at night reflected in the water.
The Boathouse at night.
Image: Tripadvisor

Tip 4: See the Magic Kingdom’s nighttime show (for free). Davila recommends watching Happily Ever After, the Magic Kingdom’s nighttime spectacular, from the beach of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. (My personal favorite tip is that you can purchase a frozen Dole Whip from the Pineapple Lanai here without having to enter the Magic Kingdom to buy one.)

Tip 5: Get a fireworks view (no charge). The nightly fireworks—as well as the classic water-based Electrical Water Pageant—can also be seen for free from the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Wilderness Lodge resorts. A great way to end a Disney day like a true insider.

Melissa Klurman
Melissa Klurman is an award-winning travel journalist based in New Jersey. She writes about everything from honeymoons to family travel to amazing African safaris. You can find her work at Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, Saveur, Islands, Parents, Working Mother, and Reader’s Digest, among others. Follow her on Instagram @mklurman and Twitter @melissaklurman