You may have noticed that Park Wise was MIA for its last column. That’s because yours truly was hard at work researching for this very article. Believe it or not, I just took my very first “grown-up girls only” trip to Walt Disney World, and I have a few tips to share to make your girls’ weekend a happily ever after one.

1. Accommodations

This is probably your top priority when traveling with your girls. These are probably people you don’t hang with 24/7, so know your boundaries. Are you cool with sharing one bathroom? Looking for bigger digs like a multi-bedroom villa? Is one accustomed to deluxe lodging while everyone else is cool with a value? Hash it out, then book ASAP for the best availability and a chance at those promotions we all know and love. Our crew opted for two adjoining rooms at Disney’s Boardwalk. Cheaper than a 2-bedroom villa with the option to shut the doors in between if needed.

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Get Park Wise: Make sure everyone knows up front exactly what they’ll be responsible for money-wise. It’s also a good idea to get payments up front and prior to check-in to avoid any mishaps when it’s too late to change.

2. Plan

As we all know, it’s tough to head into a Disney trip with no planning done. While a pro can navigate the parks on her own with little to no trouble, there are now others in tow who may or may not have the same knowledge. We had a varied group on our trip. Three of us are Disney travel agents, one of us a former Disney travel agent, two somewhat frequent visitors, one on her second Walt Disney World trip and one newbie. While us old pros could’ve easily spent the long weekend sauntering about the World Showcase taking part in the liquid offerings, multi-hour dinners or relaxing on our balconies and enjoying the Boardwalk ambiance, we wanted to give the new kids a decent taste of what Disney has to offer. That meant some FastPass+ planning and dining reservation making. Chat with your crew and get a few ideas of everyone’s can’t miss attractions and go from there.

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3. But Be Flexible

This has got to be my go-to for most of these tip columns. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Disney is like a living, breathing entity. It moves, it breaks, it rains, it shines, and all of these things can affect what you’re doing at any given moment. Be ready to ‘let it go’ if needed. You might miss a FastPass or maybe your group will want to split and do their own things. Hop over the bump and go on with your day, and you will be much happier.

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Get Park Wise: As a group, we scheduled meals together, but aside from that, we did our own things. Sometimes we all decided that was the same thing, other times we decided to split into smaller groups and sometimes even venture off as individuals. Figure out what works for your team and go with it.

4. Enjoy the Grown-Up Offerings

It’s rare that I get a chance to wander the Showcase with my slush (I don’t consume adult beverages with the kiddies on hand) or stay out ’til 2:00 A.M. (well, 1:45 A.M.) on vacation, so take advantage! My girls and I had drinks with dinner, patronized that amazing French beverage kiosk and enjoyed not one but two nights out on the Boardwalk during our long weekend. Disney is a place where you can truly be any age for the week, and we chose 21.

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5. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

We all tend to inundate our friends’ feeds with a million and one pictures of adorable little junior on his trip to the Mouse House, but don’t forget to document this trip with your girls! Chances are everyone has a smart phone, so don’t feel silly stopping to strike a pose in front of the castle, catch your girlfriend shaking her groove thang at Jellyrolls or grab a photo op with the big cheese himself.

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What are your tips for a girls’ trip to the parks?

 

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Jessica Ma'ilo
Jessica is a special education teacher by day and blogger and Fairy Godmother Travel agent by evening. When not supervising play dates or sleepovers, she can be found creating, sewing or singing. She loves hitting the Disney Parks, and she and her family escape to the World and Land as often as they can. She can be contacted at [email protected], and you can also check out her family blog, Magic, Memories, Mayhem.