I’ve got four words for you: work smarter, not harder. I go to Disney World all the time, so I’ve gotten pretty good at spotting the first-timers in the parks.

Of course , I should preface this by saying that there’s nothing wrong with being a first-timer in Disney World. But there’s a lot to learn about the Disney parks and resorts, and it’s practically impossible to learn it all on your first visit. Want to avoid looking like a newbie? Come see things from my perspective to see what screams, “This Is My First Trip to Disney World.”
During a recent visit to Magic Kingdom, I was struck by something in Adventureland. Look at the line at Aloha Isle. It’s SO long, right?

All these poor people are missing out! Do you think they know that right around the corner, the (far superior, in my opinion) Citrus Swirl exists? In my experience, the line at the Sunshine Tree Terrace is usually much shorter.

If you’re a first-timer, you might have been told to get a Dole Whip, but I’m here to teach you about the Citrus Swirl. Think of it like Dole Whip’s cousin but with frozen orange juice and vanilla soft-serve instead.

OK, friends. We need to talk. Look at this line in The Emporium shop on Main Street, U.S.A. It’s ridiculous! If you have a handful of souvenirs from the gift shop, you can skip the checkout line. Yes, really!

It’s easy! All you have to do is open your My Disney Experience app, scan your items, and check out right from your phone. Don’t wait in that scary-long line at The Emporium, OK?

Speaking of lines, don’t wait in long lines for your food, either. You don’t have to stand in that long line for your meal at Cosmic Ray’s. Similar to the Mobile Checkout feature I just told you about, you can also Mobile Order food on My Disney Experience.

Oh, and see where it says “Next Arrival” on the screen? Make sure to pre-order your food early — otherwise, you may be stuck waiting over an hour for your pickup return time. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Time to admit something. Your Cinderella Castle photos can reveal a LOT about your Disney theme park experience. See this photo below? It’s a teeeny bit crooked, and, as you can see, the picture is filled with strangers. This photo screams, “This is my first trip to the Magic Kingdom.”

Want to take a BETTER Cinderella Castle photo? Get up close and personal! Of course, some of this will depend on the time of day, but the closer you get to the castle, the fewer people you’ll see in the background. How many people are on Main Street behind us? You’ll never know!

If it’s looking busy in front of the castle, all you have to do is walk around the corner and POOF — you can get a beautiful photo (with a water view) off to the side. I recommend walking over to the bridge to Liberty Square if you want a nice photo.

Oh, and don’t worry — it took me a long time to learn all the ins and outs of Disney World. If you take anything from this story, make sure you: 1.) Download the My Disney Experience app and 2.) Keep reading AllEars for more tips and tricks. 😉
Join the AllEars.net Newsletter to stay on top of ALL the breaking Disney News! You'll also get access to AllEars tips, reviews, trivia, and MORE! Click here to Subscribe!

Have you ever run into any of these problems? Let us know in the comments!
Trending Now
A classic Disney attraction is closing soon!
Heads up if you're about to stay at the Wilderness lodge for the first time.
Let's have dinner at Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club Resort to see if...
We found our new favorite cinnamon roll, and we're obsessed!
Grab these discounted Disney gifts online RIGHT NOW!
No matter how tempting it might be to stay in line for Slinky Dog Dash...
We're rounding up some of the big restaurant changes you need to know about in...
Why does this abandoned land sit in the middle of Islands of Adventure?
BREAKING: Spaceship Earth is temporarily closing this summer at EPCOT!
If you're thinking of grabbing some of the 4th of July snacks in Disney World...
Test Track is FINALLY reopening soon in Disney World, and now we know how we...
As a Disney Pro, I'm always on the lookout for the best Disney souvenirs, and...
As a Disney Pro, I'm always on the lookout for Disney essentials, and these are...
LEGO just dropped our favorite set ever!
We've got all the details about this year's Eat to the Beat dining packages.
Gas prices are dropping in Orlando for the Fourth of July!
We've gotta talk about the new “warning” for Costco members that the TSA released.
Universal is growing... but the resort still has some issues.
We are sharing seven items that have made our Disney World trips so much better!
We just spotted TWO new "Notice of Commencement" permits for Disney World that we need...