Home / Blog / Announcing the Undercover Tourist of the Month!

Announcing the Undercover Tourist of the Month!

by Leap on July 1, 2013

Update: We are very, very excited to announce the winner of our very first Undercover Tourist of the Month contest. Rachael K. of Chicopee, Ma. is the lucky winner of a $250 credit.

Also, because of how competitive this first month's competition was, we had to create a special "Noteworthy Tourist" category for Tory W. of Humble, Tx.

Congratulations!!! We want to thank everyone who participated in the July contest. We are offering another chance to win a $250 credit this month by submitting your own review from the Orlando theme parks. Full details are available here!

Previous: Good morning, frog friends!

Today, we wanted to kick off a new opportunity to share your passion for the Orlando theme parks. All you have to do is share your tips and expertise on Undercover Tourist and our social media channels for a chance to win a $250 credit on our site!

All this month we'll be looking for "Trusted Tourists" like yourselves to provide helpful tips, thoughtful statements and a high level of engagement across all of our social media platforms, including the Undercover Tourist blog, and Undercover Tourist's official Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages. (A high level of engagement can include commenting, liking, and sharing posts publicly.) We will award one individual who we feel is the most passionate and engaged Trusted Tourist! See the full terms & conditions here.

Enter below to get started!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hoppy sharing!

Written and reviewed by the Undercover Tourist Content Team

View Comments

Newer Posts | Older Posts

Comments

Leave a Comment

Sort: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest

51–70 of 70 comments

Jul 4, 2013 at 5:07 p.m.

Meredith Says...

Besides buying tickets from UT the best thing on my last trip was taking in water. We found a small insulated backpack perfect for a days wort of water bottles. We froze some and they nettled throughout the day. Have to stay hydrated in the FL heat!

Jul 4, 2013 at 12:59 p.m.

Kate H Says...

The best tip I have is to do your research! If you're traveling with young kids, google that; traveling solo, google that. Check out travel sites, compare prices, find out about crowd levels and special events. Have a plan & a plan B. Be prepared, but flexible and you can't go wrong!

Jul 3, 2013 at midnight

Laurie Cleaveland Says...

For a great and unique family experience that's free, try visiting the Animal Kingdom Lodge a little before dusk. Visitors are allowed to view the animals in the savannah areas. Once it gets dark, find one of the Disney Employees outside and ask to use the night goggles to view the animals. The grounds are beautiful to walk around and you can take a free shuttle to the different buildings at the lodge. Maps of the resort are available at the reception desk when you enter the Lodge, they will tell you where all the viewing areas are and can advise you as to which animals tend to be in each of the areas. Parking is free, just tell the parking attendant why your visiting the lodge and they will be more than happy to direct you on where you can park. Happy viewing!

Jul 4, 2013 at 2:28 p.m.

Tory Western Says...

Awesome tip Laurie. I have taken my kids to Disney 7 times in the past 3 years, and have never done that. Definitely doing that next time.

Jul 2, 2013 at 7:50 p.m.

Patti S. Says...

Be sure to get your tickets from UCT. Also, if you are going to be dinning in the parks, get the dinning plan. If you have a smart phone, be sure to download the apps, including the UCT app.

Jul 2, 2013 at 6:29 p.m.

Alex Perez Says...

A toda la gente hispana, recomiendo utilizar los servicios de Undercover Tourist, esta es la segunda vez que compramos los boletos desde Puerto Rico. El servicio es excelente, rapidez y sobretodo seguridad. Ya tenemos los boletos de Disney, Universal, Sea world y Busch Garden para nuestro viaje de Navidad 2013!!!!!!!!

Jul 2, 2013 at 4:49 p.m.

Jim O Says...

I always take the advice UCT when I receive my tickets in the mail and take a picture of the back of each ticket with my iPhone.

Jul 2, 2013 at 1:57 p.m.

Melinda Arnesen Says...

When planning to visit the most magical place on earth there are some important tips to follow. Everytime I walk through those gates of the Magic Kingdom with my family my eyes fill with tears of joy. It's something that I can't explain and I hope that all who visit experience that for themselves. I'm going to break up my tips into categories: staying on property, meal planning, ticket tips, fast pass, shows & parades, character meet and greets.

Staying on Property: As most people know staying on property has it's perks, and there are several different accommidations to meet anyones budget. There are the value resorts all the way up to the luxury resorts. The value resorts are perfect and have everything you could need. Of course the luxury resorts are beautiful but if you don't spend any real time at the resort why bother spending the money. An important tip I like to share with people is that even if you aren't an owner of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) you can still stay at the DVC resorts by purchasing points at Mouseowners.com. Just visit the rent/trade/transfer board to see about renting points from a member. You will find it maybe cheaper to stay at Animal Kingdom by renting points as opposed to going through Disney directly. One of the perks is the extra magic hours that you have the option of taking advantage of by staying on property. We like to visit the Magic Kingdom during extra magic hours and attempt to get as much done during that time as there typically aren't long waits. We can almost get everything we want done in that timeframe and go back to the hotel to enjoy the pool for a bit and then return when the temperature has dropped a bit. It's worth staying on property also for the transportation. You won't need a car if you stay on property, you may have to wait a bit (15-20 mins). Another perk of staying on property is the use of the Magical Express, it's transportation to and from the airport for your disney stay. Prior to arriving you recieve tickets and luggage tags for the magical express and when you get to the airport you go to the booth and hand them your ticket and they direct you to the line you need to be in (for your hotel) and you jump on the bus your luggage is delivered to your hotel so be sure to pack clothes for the day as your luggage may not be there for a while and you can enjoy the pool or the parks. You can ask the hotel to text you when your room is ready also so you don't have to wait around. All and all I think staying on property takes all the guess work out of your vacation, and you can just get there and enjoy all Disney has to offer.

Meal Planning: Disney offers various levels of meal plans, quick dining all the way up to a 3 sit down meal deluxe plan and a wine and beer package, but is it worth it you may wonder. Well it's a bit pricey especially for the kids, I have a 4 year old that doesn't eat so spending the money for a meal plan is a waste for him but you must purchase a meal plan for every guest staying in your room. We enjoy using the meal plan as there are places we would never try if we had to purchase out of pocket. You can use 2 dinners for some of the more expensive restaurants, which is nice. Our favorite places to eat are: California Grill (Contemporary Hotel) if you go right around the fireworks time you can enjoy drinks on the penthouse deck and the play the firework music and you have a spectacular view and the food is amazing. Ohana (Polynesian) it's a family style meal feast all the food you want just keeps coming salad, pot stickers, chicken, steak and an amazing bread pudding. Chef Mickey (Contemporary) is a must for a character meal the food is ok but the kids really get a kick out of it. Coral Reef (Epcot) is neat as you get to dine right in front of the HUGE fish tank and the food is good. T-Rex (Downtown Disney) is a fun dining experience as you are surrounded by dinasours it's like the Rain Forrest Cafe but with Dinos. So there are so many dining options, but if you choose to stay in a DVC hotel you generally have a kitchen and you can prepare meals there as well to save some money.

Ticket Tips: Undercover Tourist.com is a great place to purchase tickets as they are typically cheaper than the gate prices. ... Make sure you account for all you want to do for example if you purchase a Magic Your Way ticket without park hopper you have to plan meals accordingly so you are able to get into the park. Yes you need a park ticket to dine in the park, as well as if you want to do any water parks. Make sure you understand all the options.

Fast Pass: Try to plan ahead and know what parks have the popular attractions. For example Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios is a very very popular attraction, so get to that park early and run there to get the fast pass. If there is no line ride the ride while you are there and then come back later for your fast pass time. There are limited number of fast passes and sometimes they will be gone for that ride by 2 or 3 in the afternoon if not earlier. Also make a note of what time you are eligible for another fast pass and get one for the next most popular ride (Rockin Roller Coaster). Ride the less popular rides in between fast pass times.

Shows & Parades: Get there early for shows the Finding Nemo and Lion King show are very popular and you will have to get there early to get seats. I would say a good rule of thumb is 30-45 mins prior to a show or even a parade. Get your family settled in to wait for the parade and go and get some snacks (Dole Whip - Magic Kingdom). Fantasmic is a very popular fireworks show in Hollywood Studios you will need to get there 1 hour at least ahead of time to get a seat but I promise it's worth it.

Character Meet & Greets: Look at the park times guide and plan your meet and greets in advance and also get there early the lines can be fairly long and your kids won't want to miss those autographs even if it is the 4th Donald Duck autograph they are going to get. There is a Special Meet & Greet for Disney Visa Card Members. It is from 1-7 each day. You Must show your Card. It includes a free Photo, Innoventions West at Epcot. Also there is the big character meet & greet in Epcot by innoventions where you can see Mickey/Minnie/Pluto/Daisy/Donald and Goofy. There are scheduled times.

I think I covered a good amount but there is always more, but be sure to plan accordingly and enjoy your vacation. Make a ton of family memories that will last a lifetime!

Jul 2, 2013 at 12:54 p.m.

Bill Browning Says...

Use your phone to take copies of your credit cards, driver's license, reservation information and of course, your tickets from UT. Subscribe to one of the many types of offsite data storage companies (Dropbox, Carbonite, Photobucket, etc. - many are free) and post your pictures. If you lose your wallet, you have your phone to give all the information to the police, hotel, etc. If you also lose your phone, you have easy access from any computer to the data storage site with all the information as well.

Jul 2, 2013 at 1:40 a.m.

Chris Says...

My biggest tip for enjoying Disney is to slow down and take it all in especially when you have kids. I think my kids have more fun looking at the little things like the topiaries. I am a big planner when it comes to Disney, but the last time we went we just did what our 5 yr old twin girls wanted to do and it was GREAT. We took lots of breaks and actually ended up in the perfect location to watch 3 parades and a show at Cinderella's castle - not part of my plan but it was AWESOME. I also highly recommend going back to the hotel for a swim, break or nap whatever suits you. Disney makes me tired with all the walking but the over stimulation for kids is crazy - give them a break.

Jul 1, 2013 at 9:55 p.m.

lauren zimmerman Says...

My biggest tip: Garden Grocer. Buy breakfast and light lunch items so you don’t have to purchase park food all the time. Best part? GG delivers!

Jul 1, 2013 at 9:28 p.m.

Marisa Says...

I used to love the Magical Express. Get to the airport, let Disney pick up your luggage and for the rest of your stay using all Disney Transportation. All Disney transportation is free to on sight guest. If you are staying off sight, once you get to a Theme Park, then you are allowed to use any transportation.

So, if you want a laid back vacation, don't mind waiting, by all means, use the buses, Ferries, boats. But if you want to cutdown on any travel time, rent a vehicle. You can get to any destination in the parks or offsite within minutes, vs. planning an hours to a hour and a half, using Disney Transportation. We recently rented a car for $16 a day, stayed on sight, went off site and I loved it. We never had to wait, yet a part of me missed the random conversations you have with strangers on a bus.

Jul 1, 2013 at 7:06 p.m.

Jennifer Says...

My husband is fanatical about his coffee in the morning and wanted to carry "his" brew with him instead of buying coffee in the parks. I bought him a pack of the disposable coffee cups and brought them with us so he wouldn't have a thermos to tote around. I even saved Starbuck's sleeves to use. He happily carried his cowboy coffee with him and tossed the cups when he was done. We were camping at the Fort, but I'm sure this would work in the resorts as well.

Jul 26, 2013 at 1:11 a.m.

Robert Novak Says...

I'm big on coffee too, and tend to bring a Bodum kettle and Clever Coffee Dripper along. I grind some coffee to bring with me, but also pick up some of the Disney stuff.

I'll be at the Disneyland Hotel next week, and I hear they have Keurig single serve in the rooms there. A Solofill and ground coffee, or a stash / sampler of K-cups will make that a sufficiently caffeinated way to start the day. (Tea's an option too of course).

Jul 1, 2013 at 5:22 p.m.

Tory Western Says...

MY biggest tip is stay off property, and do breakfast character meals with little ones. Breakfast allows you to have the meal before the park opens, and it allows you to fill up for the day. A good breakfast meal will last you until 2 or 3 pm if you take advatage of it. That should be enough time to go back to your off property hotel for a small afternoon nap and snack.

Jul 1, 2013 at 4:43 p.m.

Wade Kingsbury Says...

Going to WDW is about so much more than the rides. I think too often people skip out on the shows, demonstrations, galleries, etc. and don't budget their time wisely. We are lucky enough, and more importantly choose to pinch pennies in other areas during the year, that when we go to Disney we stay for a good 10 days if not more. This allows us to see, and enjoy, so much more. My three biggest tips then are:

1) Save money where you can and are willing both before and on the trip. This could mean skipping that expensive coffee($1/day on coffee=$365. This alone would get you a 6 Day Park Hopper ticket on UCT). On the trip, this means for us staying in a value resort for a majority if not the entire trip. At roughly $45cheaper a night during the week of 7/2-7/8 comparing Art of Animation(Most Expensive Value $175/night) versus Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort(Least expensive Moderate $220/night) you would save $315 over the course of that week, almost enough to book two extra nights at the value. While Value Resorts may not have all the extras and frills that Deluxe or Moderates have, how much time do you really plan on spending in the room or at the hotel? For us, it's very little and it gives us an excuse to go look at the other hotels and eat at their restaurants on occasion without the spending the money to stay there. Likewise, we have stayed at hotels in all categories, and have enjoyed the values as much, and in the case of Art of Animation, even more.

2)See as much of EVERYTHING as you can! I can't stress enough how often I hear of people who travel frequently to Disney and decide to skip out on great attractions and rides like Magic Kingdom's Mickey's PhilharMagic, Epcot's Living With the Land, Hollywood Studios The Great Movie Ride, or Animal Kingdom's Wildlife Express Train because they aren't the big and exciting or typical attractions. So much of what makes Disney great is how they inspire greatness into all that they do. Enjoy the shows, gallery walks, street performers, fireworks etc. likewise, if time and money affords, grab a Water Park Fun and More pass to check out the Water Parks, Disney Quest, Wide World of Sports, and or Golf. Multiple individuals in our family are not big fans of the pool or water rides, but often get the biggest kick out of the brilliance that goes into the Imagineering of these beautiful parks and things like the wave pool or lazy river. Of course to see all this you'll need to follow my third tip...

3) BUDGET YOUR TIME WISELY! Too often i see peoplw running from ride to ride but more importantly, line to line. Everyone wants to ride Toy Story Mania, but rather than wait 2 hours in line, grab a fast pass early and ride the other great rides while you wait. If we use this system while being there for 10+ days, why would you for anything shorter? Got a smart phone? Use UCT's APP that helps predict line que times, park traffic size, etc. Eat a big breakfast or light breakfast for a late or early lunch to time not being a part of the big lunch rush. Likewise, if staying on Disney property, don't assume that Early Magic Hours are always a great idea. Sometimes you'll end up seeing less than if you'd gone to a different park. We have found this especially true for Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. Furthermore, understand that in budgeting time like money, sometimes less is more. We'll often hit the ground running early, go fast and furious for the first 6-7 hours of the day, and come back to the hotel in mid-afternoon for a quick nap, dip in the pool, dinner at the hotel, maybe some pool games and trivia, only to head back out later in the evening to catch some more rides and fireworks.

Of course, none of this matters if you don't follow the biggest tip of all which is to go to Disney with an open heart to enjoy the Magic of Disney and to have fun!

Jul 26, 2013 at 12:41 a.m.

Nancy Harn Says...

I totally agree with everything you said! Well....one exception. I have no idea how many times I have been to WDW....I do know my 11 yr old has been there 15 times. (twice to DL and once to DL Paris) Anyway we have never once stayed on property. We use to.....a zillion years ago....just stay in a hotel but for probably about the last 10+ years we've rented peoples unused timeshares. If you look in the right places (websites which I probably can't post here) and be patient you can get a very nice place....2 bed/2 bath. Full kitchen, washer dryer etc. for about 800 for a week. By now I have my go to people.

I have stayed at Disney properties but only at Vero (LOVE) and Hilton Head. Yes. They are nice but I still prefer my little "apartments" and also the savings that goes along with them!

Jul 1, 2013 at 4:13 p.m.

Melisa Hutchinson Says...

PLEASE plan ahead! I like to be as spontaneous as the next gal, but Disney has really made it to where you MUST plan at least part of your vacation far in advance (read: dining). I would recommend pre-purchasing everything you can so you are ready to hit the ground running! I get my tickets from Undercover Tourist, prepay my Photopass, and book dining 180 days out. That way, when I pull up to check in, we can drop the luggage and dash to the theme parks! I hope this tip helps! :-)

Jul 26, 2013 at 12:33 a.m.

Nancy Harn Says...

My best tip is no tip! Unless you want to eat at a certain place really bad.....don't plan too much! Going to the parks, anything can derail your plans. Things happen. Good and bad that can get you totally off schedule. (what fun is a schedule anyway?) Don't be tied down! Wake up in the morning and check out the weather....or if you were out late the night before....."Hmmm I feel like going to _____ today!" Not "I HAVE to" Or maybe you'll just feel like hanging by the pool that day.

If you have a car check out some of the local places to eat. Drive to the beach. See Florida! (or California)

Schedules are for at home. You're on vacation! Relax.

Jul 1, 2013 at 3:19 p.m.

Desaree Oriani Says...

Game on! lol

Jul 1, 2013 at 2:55 p.m.

Amanda Wootten Says...

When we go to Disney, I always buy my tickets from UT. We have never had aNY problems using them. If you have a Star Wars fan, Hollywood Studios is a MUST! As soon as you get to HS go directly to the area where they are signing up for Jedi training. If you do your Star Wars fan can fight Darth Vadar and become a true Jedi. It is well worth your time. Another tip we found out is that most of the adult sized meals at the restaurants are large enough to split. So save a little $ and have the kiddos split. Already thinking of planning a trip next year so the $ would help us with tickets!

Jul 26, 2013 at 3:11 p.m.

Jennifer Says...

Jedi Training is a must do for any Star Wars fans. My boys did it twice and LOVED it both times!!

Jul 1, 2013 at 2:54 p.m.

Marie Dexter Says...

I love UCT!! I tell all my friends about it especially when I am letting them use my DVC points since UCT is another great way to save money!

Jul 1, 2013 at 2:51 p.m.

Liliane Opsomer Says...

Fabulous action. Good luck!

Jul 1, 2013 at 2:49 p.m.

robert gwiazdzinski Says...

the most important tip i have is to make multiple copies of your park tickets, leave one in the car, one in the hotel, keep one with you. last trip we managed to lose one of our tickets while getting fast passes. we had the ticket copy with us and went to guest services with the other 4 tickets. we determined the lost ticket and had a new one issued in less than 5 minutes out of our park time. the service rep even commented that he wished everyone did that.

Jul 26, 2013 at 12:25 a.m.

Nancy Harn Says...

Don't forget to take a picture of your photo pass!

Jul 5, 2013 at 3:35 p.m.

Adam Says...

I also take a picture of them with my phone and save a copy to Evernote

Jul 1, 2013 at 4:47 p.m.

Wade Kingsbury Says...

Absolutely great point! We do the same the minute our tickets come in the mail. We make copies for ourselves to carry on to the plane and to the park(1), leave in our room with luggage(2), leave at home with family(3) as well as take pictures to keep on our smart phones(4). People have made fun of us for basically having 5 copies, but the 3 minutes it takes is WELL worth missing out on the headache should the original(s) get lost.

Your Name

Email (will not be published)

Comment