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2. Get a real cup of coffee

Menu from Lickety Split Coffee Bar at Four SeasonsLickety Split at The Four Seasons Walt Disney World

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

You wouldn’t think getting a halfway decent cup of coffee at Walt Disney World should be considered a hack. Unfortunately, it is. If you like your coffee a bit above the par of Starbucks proto-brews and Joffrey’s sugary abominations, you’re going to have to get a little creative. Sure, you could bring your own brew to make for breakfast (some of the resorts like the villas have coffeemakers in the rooms) but what about during the day?

For fans of nitro cold brew or other specialty coffees, plan a stop at the Java Bar at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it coffee bar houses some darn good coffee. It is also one of the few places in WDW to get a traditional energy drink. If you are staying at the resort for your birthday, be sure and let the front desk know—you might get a free drink coupon!

If you have the means to commute and want to get your swank on, The Four Seasons Walt Disney World houses an excellent coffee and ice cream shop called Lickety Split. You don’t have to be a guest to visit!.Just let them know you are dining on property. Take a tour of the gorgeous grounds while you enjoy your brew. The PB&G poolside lounge also has excellent coffee (and is actually a nicer restaurant than many in the parks!).

Among Disney’s resorts, you can’t beat the 100% Kona coffee at Kona Café in Walt Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers Kenyan coffee at Jiko, Sanaa, and Boma. For guests in the parks, Epcot is going to be your best bet. Try out the Moorish coffee in Morocco or an espresso at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France.

3. Shrink your sunscreen

Family at Pandora

Image: Disney

We have mentioned before that you don’t need to carry a pharmacy in your purse just to visit Walt Disney World. Each of the parks has an amazing First Aid office that carries most of the odd and end items visitors would normally pick up at Walgreens, from OTC medications to sewing kits—all for free! Mosquito repellant is also easy to find at Walt Disney World thanks to Disney’s mosquito control stations where you can find free picaridin near the entrance of most of the parks. However, there is one odd item that is weirdly difficult to find without dishing out some bucks.

It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is to track down sunscreen in Disney parks if you forgot it. Yes, they sell sunscreen in many gift shops, but the prices are inflated enough to make a frugal visitor inclined to just brave the burn. You should always bring your own sunscreen to Disney parks, but who wants to carry a monster bottle of the stuff?

If you can’t find a good deal on travel sunscreen (which often isn’t as good a value as larger bottles), DIY your own travel sized sunscreen. Pick whichever sunscreen cream you like, and instead of taking this big bottle into the parks, make your own travel sized sunscreen by squeezing some into travel toiletry bottles. You can pick these up for pretty cheap at pharmacy stores.

If you can’t find any you like, purchase a single tube of travel sized sunscreen. When the tube runs out, you can actually press the nozzle of most mini sunscreens to a larger bottle to refill the tube. Make sure all the air has been squeezed out first. This can get messy, so it helps to have some tissues or plastic on hand to tighten the seal. If that’s too much of a mess, an easier way is to squeeze some sunscreen into a few contact lens cases. Take that Disney overlords!

4. Prevent food messes

Dad and daughter eating ice cream

Image: Disney

It’s always a good idea to bring a few wet wipes with you to Walt Disney World, both for the sake of avoiding germs and cleaning up messes if you have kids. You can make these last longer by pulling them from the package and cutting them in half before you head on your trip. Most messes don’t merit a full wipe. You can either put these back into a travel pack or just store some in a zip top bag.

Here’s another easy one for avoiding food messes. Love Mickey Mouse ice cream on a sweltering day but hate getting sticky goop all over your hands? Ask for a soft drink lid from any counter service location. Turn the lid upside down and slide it up the stick for a DIY drip catcher. This one is a lifesaver for families with kids!

 
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