Rick Steves has made a life out of assisting others with European travel. Steves has gained first-hand experience, knowledge, and a plethora of advice through his own journeys. His business, Rick Steves’ Europe, was founded in 1976. Through his business, Steves shares his advice, tips, and tricks through a variety of different outlets and sources. His goal is to educate others on how to travel to Europe in an affordable manner while having a fun and educational time.
Steves has specific tips that he encourages others to follow in order to make the most out of their trips to Europe. His tips are extremely useful and helpful for European travel. However, we’re wondering if they can be applied when traveling elsewhere. Can the advice that was curated by a European travel expert be applied to a Disney vacation?
In this article, I’m going to take the suggestions that Rick Steves gives and see if his travel knowledge is beneficial for a trip to Disney. The advice that works for one destination may or may not be applicable to another. Let’s see how his European travel tips apply to a Disney vacation.
According to Steves, you should avoid driving too soon after landing from a long flight. This piece of advice can most definitely be applied to a Disney trip. Traveling is exhausting. No matter what form of transportation is being used. When flying for long periods of time, your body can be affected negatively.
Long flights can result in discomfort, pain, dehydration, muscle soreness, nausea, and indigestion. Sometimes long flights can’t be avoided. If you’re taking a long flight to your Disney vacation, it would be beneficial to not drive any time soon after your flight lands. It’s important to let your body recuperate from the stress it’s just experienced. It’s also important to recuperate mentally. Besides being physically exhausting, traveling can also be mentally exhausting. Give yourself some time to move around, eat, drink, and recharge before you proceed to the next form of transportation.
In regard to Disney, I’m split on this advice. In my opinion, the main concern with a Disney hotel is price. Overall, Disney vacations are very expensive. For many, their trips are very much planned around a budget. The biggest budget factors for Disney vacations are transportation, lodging, tickets, and food. More often than not, Guests are going to be more concerned about the price of their Disney hotel before the location of it.
As a secondary concern, I do feel like location plays an important role for Disneyland trips. However, I don’t feel like hotel location is a very big concern at Disney World. If anything, the available forms of transportation should be the secondary concern at Disney World.
READ MORE – We Visit Disney Parks Weekly. You Really Don't Want to Forget These 10 Things During Your Disney Vacation.
For those who have never been to Disneyland, everything is very close. The two theme parks, three hotels, and Downtown Disney District are all within walking distance of each other. That being said, the Disneyland Resort hotels are very expensive. There are no hotels in the Value Resort price range at Disneyland. However, there are MANY hotels near Disneyland. You can easily find a more affordable hotel that still provides you with quick and easy access to the Disneyland Resort.
A commenter on Rick Steves' travel forum named Jean says,
“We always stay at the Tropicana Inn which is across the street from Disneyland. MUCH cheaper than the inside park hotels, yet don’t need a tram or bus.”
When shopping around for a Disneyland hotel, it’s ideal to find a hotel that is in your price range, but is also located close enough to the resort so you can still walk there.
On the flip side, Disney World is very spread out. If you’re planning a trip that is going to mostly involve one park, then yes, location may be more of a priority to you. However, Guests generally plan to visit most (if not all) of the theme parks as well as Disney Springs during their visit. Because of this, there isn’t one hotel that is in an ideal location for all of the Disney World locations.
Disney World’s complimentary transportation systems also make hotel location less of a concern. Having multiple forms of transportation available to you provides an essence of peace. At Disney World, you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to get from your hotel to your desired location. Disney has that covered for you!
Truth be told, there’s no real need to pack light for Disney. Actually, as it turns out, the more you pack, the better. When you go to Disney, you want to be prepared for anything. Besides your normal clothing and travel essentials, there are different scenarios that you’ll want to pack for. When packing for weather, you’ll want to make sure you have items for the heat, cold, and rain. For all of the walking, you’ll want to have all of your necessary footwear. If you have kids, you’ll want to make sure that everything is packed so that all of their needs are met. If you’re traveling with a baby, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll be packing specifically just for them.
Now, if you do happen to forget something, Disney most likely has you covered. Many essentials are available for purchase at Disney. However, when you purchase items from Disney, they’re going to come with a Disney price tag.
My advice is to buy your items beforehand at much affordable prices. Don’t worry about overpacking. Just make sure that your bags still fall within the proper weight limits if you’re flying with them!
Technology is a must in order to fully optimize your day at Disney. Both Disneyland and Disney World have apps that are designed for Guests to use during their vacation. You will be strongly encouraged to use these apps for multiple reasons during your trip. On the Disney apps you can link your hotel, buy tickets, make reservations, use planning services, and more!
For Disney vacations, I strongly agree with Rick Steves’ advice to utilize technology. While some Guests may shy away from the thought of utilizing their phone so much on vacation, the available features are meant to heighten your experience. When used properly, the use of technology can very much improve your Disney vacation.
This is another tip from Rick Steves that can easily be applied to Disney. If you want a relaxing Disney day where you simply go and enjoy the parks without any particular plans or goals for the day, you can do that. However, most Guests visiting the parks are on vacation. They are there for a certain number of days and only have a certain amount of time. Because of this, most Guests want to get as much done as possible.
On the travel forum, Julie commented:
“Disney (and European) vacations are not for sleeping in. Your most productive hours will be first thing in the morning. You should be at the gate in line well before the park opens.”
In order to do this at Disney, you must plan ahead. It’s very beneficial to do your research beforehand to see everything that’s available. By doing this, you can prioritize what you want to get done during your time at Disney. This will also be beneficial when it comes to making reservations and booking Lightning Lanes.
On the topic of Lightning Lanes, a lot of Guests don’t fully understand how the skip-the-line service works at Disney. If you are planning on using this service, it helps if you study up on it. Don’t attempt to come to the parks and figure it out as you go. You’ll be able to get more done if you fully understand how to use the service in advance.
Disney vacations involve a LOT of walking. Oftentimes, Guests aren’t prepared for it. It’s important that you have the correct footwear with you to avoid getting blisters and body aches.
When planning and thinking about your trip, it’s a good idea to think about how much you’re physically going to be able to handle in a day. Think about how much you have planned, how spread out your activities are, if you have enough time to get from place to place without pushing yourself too hard, and so on.
To help get yourself ready, you can consider “training” beforehand. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting any hard workouts. However, getting out and taking walks prior to your vacation can help prep your body for the additional walking that will be happening during your trip. This would also be a good time to break your shoes in if you plan on taking new ones with you!
If you’re traveling with others, you’ll want to think about them and their walking abilities as well. You may be able to plan a full day and zoom from one location to another. However, the rest of your party may not be able to keep up with those plans. If you’re with someone who’s older and doesn’t get around too well, a young child with small legs, someone who has suffered an injury, etc., they’re pace may be a lot slower than what you’re anticipating.
A poster named Sarah shared this thought on Steves' travel forum.
“You walk about as much at Disney parks as you would in a busy day in Paris, Rome, or London. Fine for me, but not my mobility-impaired mom.”
Make sure to keep your plans realistic for your entire travel party.
To fight jet lag, Rick Steves takes Zolpidem. More commonly known by its brand name, Ambien, Zolpidem is used to help those who have trouble sleeping. On his website, Steves says this about using the drug.
“I must admit that the sleep aid zolpidem (commonly sold as Ambien) has become my friend in fighting jet lag. Managing a good seven hours of sleep a night in Europe (or after flying home) hastens my transition to local time. That way, I'm not disabled by sleepiness that first afternoon and can stay awake until a decent bedtime.”
This practice is entirely up to personal preference. From my own personal experiences, I have never needed to take medication to help fight jet lag for my Disney trips. However, my flights to Disney are not extremely long and they don’t deprive me of sleep. I also do not have to deal with extreme time zone differences.
If you feel like you’ll be suffering from jet lag for your Disney trip, then this may be something that you want to consider. When making your decision, consider the side effects that the drug may have on you as well how it can become habit-forming. Above all, make sure that you have a discussion with your doctor about it.
Disneyland is filled with so many magical experiences, but all of the action can easily become overstimulating, and sometimes you just want a quiet spot to relax. We've compiled 20 of our favorite secret spots around the Disneyland Resort that you should check out, including quiet places to rest, underrated attractions, hidden gem spots, and more.
The Disney Parks are filled with all kinds of interesting foods, but some of their offerings may raise some eyebrows. See 10 of the craziest foods you can get at Disney Parks—would you dare to try any of these?
Planning a Disney World Vacation?
Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!
1. Avoid Driving Shortly After Long Flights
According to Steves, you should avoid driving too soon after landing from a long flight. This piece of advice can most definitely be applied to a Disney trip. Traveling is exhausting. No matter what form of transportation is being used. When flying for long periods of time, your body can be affected negatively.
Long flights can result in discomfort, pain, dehydration, muscle soreness, nausea, and indigestion. Sometimes long flights can’t be avoided. If you’re taking a long flight to your Disney vacation, it would be beneficial to not drive any time soon after your flight lands. It’s important to let your body recuperate from the stress it’s just experienced. It’s also important to recuperate mentally. Besides being physically exhausting, traveling can also be mentally exhausting. Give yourself some time to move around, eat, drink, and recharge before you proceed to the next form of transportation.
2. Location Should Be the Primary Concern With a Hotel
In regard to Disney, I’m split on this advice. In my opinion, the main concern with a Disney hotel is price. Overall, Disney vacations are very expensive. For many, their trips are very much planned around a budget. The biggest budget factors for Disney vacations are transportation, lodging, tickets, and food. More often than not, Guests are going to be more concerned about the price of their Disney hotel before the location of it.
As a secondary concern, I do feel like location plays an important role for Disneyland trips. However, I don’t feel like hotel location is a very big concern at Disney World. If anything, the available forms of transportation should be the secondary concern at Disney World.
Disneyland Hotel Location
READ MORE – We Visit Disney Parks Weekly. You Really Don't Want to Forget These 10 Things During Your Disney Vacation.
For those who have never been to Disneyland, everything is very close. The two theme parks, three hotels, and Downtown Disney District are all within walking distance of each other. That being said, the Disneyland Resort hotels are very expensive. There are no hotels in the Value Resort price range at Disneyland. However, there are MANY hotels near Disneyland. You can easily find a more affordable hotel that still provides you with quick and easy access to the Disneyland Resort.
A commenter on Rick Steves' travel forum named Jean says,
“We always stay at the Tropicana Inn which is across the street from Disneyland. MUCH cheaper than the inside park hotels, yet don’t need a tram or bus.”
When shopping around for a Disneyland hotel, it’s ideal to find a hotel that is in your price range, but is also located close enough to the resort so you can still walk there.
Disney World Hotel Location
On the flip side, Disney World is very spread out. If you’re planning a trip that is going to mostly involve one park, then yes, location may be more of a priority to you. However, Guests generally plan to visit most (if not all) of the theme parks as well as Disney Springs during their visit. Because of this, there isn’t one hotel that is in an ideal location for all of the Disney World locations.
Disney World’s complimentary transportation systems also make hotel location less of a concern. Having multiple forms of transportation available to you provides an essence of peace. At Disney World, you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to get from your hotel to your desired location. Disney has that covered for you!
3. Pack Light!
Truth be told, there’s no real need to pack light for Disney. Actually, as it turns out, the more you pack, the better. When you go to Disney, you want to be prepared for anything. Besides your normal clothing and travel essentials, there are different scenarios that you’ll want to pack for. When packing for weather, you’ll want to make sure you have items for the heat, cold, and rain. For all of the walking, you’ll want to have all of your necessary footwear. If you have kids, you’ll want to make sure that everything is packed so that all of their needs are met. If you’re traveling with a baby, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll be packing specifically just for them.
Now, if you do happen to forget something, Disney most likely has you covered. Many essentials are available for purchase at Disney. However, when you purchase items from Disney, they’re going to come with a Disney price tag.
My advice is to buy your items beforehand at much affordable prices. Don’t worry about overpacking. Just make sure that your bags still fall within the proper weight limits if you’re flying with them!
4. Utilize Technology
Technology is a must in order to fully optimize your day at Disney. Both Disneyland and Disney World have apps that are designed for Guests to use during their vacation. You will be strongly encouraged to use these apps for multiple reasons during your trip. On the Disney apps you can link your hotel, buy tickets, make reservations, use planning services, and more!
For Disney vacations, I strongly agree with Rick Steves’ advice to utilize technology. While some Guests may shy away from the thought of utilizing their phone so much on vacation, the available features are meant to heighten your experience. When used properly, the use of technology can very much improve your Disney vacation.
5. Plan Ahead
This is another tip from Rick Steves that can easily be applied to Disney. If you want a relaxing Disney day where you simply go and enjoy the parks without any particular plans or goals for the day, you can do that. However, most Guests visiting the parks are on vacation. They are there for a certain number of days and only have a certain amount of time. Because of this, most Guests want to get as much done as possible.
On the travel forum, Julie commented:
“Disney (and European) vacations are not for sleeping in. Your most productive hours will be first thing in the morning. You should be at the gate in line well before the park opens.”
In order to do this at Disney, you must plan ahead. It’s very beneficial to do your research beforehand to see everything that’s available. By doing this, you can prioritize what you want to get done during your time at Disney. This will also be beneficial when it comes to making reservations and booking Lightning Lanes.
On the topic of Lightning Lanes, a lot of Guests don’t fully understand how the skip-the-line service works at Disney. If you are planning on using this service, it helps if you study up on it. Don’t attempt to come to the parks and figure it out as you go. You’ll be able to get more done if you fully understand how to use the service in advance.
6. Be Realistic About How Much Walking Is Involved and of Your Capabilities
Disney vacations involve a LOT of walking. Oftentimes, Guests aren’t prepared for it. It’s important that you have the correct footwear with you to avoid getting blisters and body aches.
When planning and thinking about your trip, it’s a good idea to think about how much you’re physically going to be able to handle in a day. Think about how much you have planned, how spread out your activities are, if you have enough time to get from place to place without pushing yourself too hard, and so on.
To help get yourself ready, you can consider “training” beforehand. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting any hard workouts. However, getting out and taking walks prior to your vacation can help prep your body for the additional walking that will be happening during your trip. This would also be a good time to break your shoes in if you plan on taking new ones with you!
If you’re traveling with others, you’ll want to think about them and their walking abilities as well. You may be able to plan a full day and zoom from one location to another. However, the rest of your party may not be able to keep up with those plans. If you’re with someone who’s older and doesn’t get around too well, a young child with small legs, someone who has suffered an injury, etc., they’re pace may be a lot slower than what you’re anticipating.
A poster named Sarah shared this thought on Steves' travel forum.
“You walk about as much at Disney parks as you would in a busy day in Paris, Rome, or London. Fine for me, but not my mobility-impaired mom.”
Make sure to keep your plans realistic for your entire travel party.
7. Take Medication to Fight Jet Lag
To fight jet lag, Rick Steves takes Zolpidem. More commonly known by its brand name, Ambien, Zolpidem is used to help those who have trouble sleeping. On his website, Steves says this about using the drug.
“I must admit that the sleep aid zolpidem (commonly sold as Ambien) has become my friend in fighting jet lag. Managing a good seven hours of sleep a night in Europe (or after flying home) hastens my transition to local time. That way, I'm not disabled by sleepiness that first afternoon and can stay awake until a decent bedtime.”
This practice is entirely up to personal preference. From my own personal experiences, I have never needed to take medication to help fight jet lag for my Disney trips. However, my flights to Disney are not extremely long and they don’t deprive me of sleep. I also do not have to deal with extreme time zone differences.
If you feel like you’ll be suffering from jet lag for your Disney trip, then this may be something that you want to consider. When making your decision, consider the side effects that the drug may have on you as well how it can become habit-forming. Above all, make sure that you have a discussion with your doctor about it.
READ MORE – 20 Secret Disneyland Quiet Spots Many Regulars Don’t Even Know
Disneyland is filled with so many magical experiences, but all of the action can easily become overstimulating, and sometimes you just want a quiet spot to relax. We've compiled 20 of our favorite secret spots around the Disneyland Resort that you should check out, including quiet places to rest, underrated attractions, hidden gem spots, and more.
READ MORE – 10 of the Craziest Food Items You Can Get at Disney Parks
The Disney Parks are filled with all kinds of interesting foods, but some of their offerings may raise some eyebrows. See 10 of the craziest foods you can get at Disney Parks—would you dare to try any of these?
Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses
In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.
