Disney is known as the happiest place on earth. As I have gone from being surprised with Disney trips at age three to doing some surprising of my own last week, I would like to consider pretty knowledgeable about the wonderful world of Disney. If you plan on visiting Mickey Mouse and friends soon, take a look at this list to help you stay prepared.

1. Get your fans and spray bottles before you go.

Florida is hot. Pretty much all of the time. In order to save your money, buy fans and spray bottles before you get there. The official Disney one is almost $20 and can get pretty bulky after a long day in the parks. You can get misting fans from almost anywhere. The O2COOL misting fans have more options of your favorite characters for almost half the price.

2. Get the souvenir cups.

As I mentioned earlier, it is hot in Disney world and can be very tiring. You need to stay hydrated in order to make it through the day. Recently, the price for these cups is just under $20. That will save you a ton of money on drinks and also serves as one of the cheapest souvenirs you can find in Disney.

3. Get the kids meals if you're not on the Dining Plan.

Here's another money saver. If you're not really into the sit down/full service dining, I wouldn't bother with the dining plan. You will save a ton of money. And since everyone loves to save money, get the kids meals from your hotel cafeteria. The kid sized portion is more than enough and is less than half of what the adult sized portion would be. Depending on the type of food, sometimes two kids meals are cheaper than one adult one. So go ahead and be a kid again. I mean you are in Disney World after all.

4. Don't even bother park hopping.

Disney can be fun, but so exhausting at the same time. It can be quite overwhelming to do everything a park has to offer in one day, never mind two or more parks. Make plans to do one park each day. Your feet and the rest of your body will thank you later. There are not enough hours in the day to fully experience more than one park.

5. Plan a character meal instead of waiting in line.

The parks and even some hotels offer so many character breakfasts and dinners for guests to choose from. There is nothing quite like having Tigger come up behind you while you're eating at Crystal Palace. The character interaction is a better experience because it is more relaxed and doesn't feel so rushed. You also don't need to wait in line for what can feel like forever and have more of a say in the kind of pictures you want. Although some of your favorite characters won't have a character meal associated with them, it is well worth to take advantage of those that you can.

6. Make friends while waiting in line.

Ah, the deceiving Disney lines. You think you are getting closer when really you are not even halfway there. I have to say, you shouldn't let the wait time of a ride scare you away. The actual wait times are significantly shorter than the ones posted at the beginning of the ride. If the wait does seem long, try and be friendly to those around you. It will make the time go by a lot faster and maybe you will even meet your best friend.

7. Make your FastPass+ plans early.

Although I kind of hated the Magic Bands even before I went to Disney, I have to say it is a really great idea. It is so nice to just be able to walk on to rides that you want. Before you had to go to the ride, get a Fast Pass, and then go do something else before you went on the ride. It forces you to be organized early and makes your time in the park more relaxed. But book your rides and reservations early because they can run out very quickly.

8. Order from Garden Grocer.

This was a new thing that I did on my most recent trip to Disney. Garden Grocer is a website where you can order snacks, food, and drinks to be delivered to your hotel room at your Disney resort when you arrive. You will be happy to have water bottles and snacks to keep you going during your trip. It is so convenient and I highly recommenced it. There are several options to choose from so you won't go hungry (or thirsty).

A Disney vacation can be kind of stressful and a little crazy. Make sure you are able to fully experience the magic by hopefully knocking off some of that stress with these tips. See ya real soon!