Little-known Disney secret that can help you skip long queues
It's 'one of the most magical places in the world' - but you can end up spending hours in queues rather than enjoying your well-earned holiday. But to help you save time on your Disney trip, a park hopper shared his go-to trick to beat the queues when buying souvenirs from its many gift shops.
Taking to TikTok, user Adventure With W&C said: "If you're in a busy store like this one and you don't want to have to queue to check out, head to the My Disney Experience app. Then on the home screen, you click on the plus in the middle, and then you clock on Merchandise Mobile Checkout, which is the third one from the top, and it'll show you all the stores which are close by.
"We're going to click on Emporium. Then it'll come up with a barcode scanner which is connected to the card in your account."
From here, he shows how easy it is to scan an item in the store and pay for it through your My Disney Experience app on your phone.
The app provides you with an online receipt which you can show to staff on the way out of the shop so they know "you're not stealing anything".
Commenting on his video, one user said: "Wow, my mind is blown! Roll on October to try it out. Thank you."
Another user said: "Great tip! Been to Disney a few times and didn't know that. I will definitely be using this on our January trip."
A third user added: "Wow! This is genius!" One more user said: "That's helpful."
It comes after Disney lovers shared their shock over only just learning what EPCOT actually stands for despite it being around for decades.
Often referred to as a "permanent world's fair", it opened in October 1982, as EPCOT Center, and was the second of four theme parks built at the resort.
However, many people have no idea what it actually means, with one Reddit user admitting: "Today I learnt the Disney Park, EPCOT, is an acronym."
During its early development, Walt Disney wanted to create a city where people would work, live, and play, with the project named Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, creating the acronym EPCOT.
Describing his vision, Disney said in 1966: "EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centres of American industry.
"It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed but will always be introducing and testing, and demonstrating new materials and new systems.
"And EPCOT will always showcase to the world of the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise."
However, after his death in 1966, the company decided this vision was "impractical" and instead crated a theme park encompassing the spirit of his vision.
Today, around 27,397 guests visit EPCOT every day for its rides, live entertainment, restaurants, and to meet Disney characters.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
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Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
I've been to 175 countries – but I always go back to these underrated gems
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With a fascinating blend of North African soul and Mediterranean charm, Tunisia is home to many wonders: the ancient ruins of Carthage, whitewashed coastal towns like Sidi Bou Said, and vast desert landscapes straight out of a Star Wars set (literally). But what truly hooked Michael was the food. 'Tunis has one of the best street food scenes I've ever encountered,' he says of the capital. 'I did a food tour with my buddy Mehdi, who runs the YouTube channel Tunisian Street Food, and I still dream about the stuff we tried. Fricassés, brik, grilled merguez – it was unforgettable.' Beyond the capital, you can explore Roman amphitheatres that rival Italy's, sip mint tea in maze-like medinas, or take a camel trek into the Sahara. 'There are so many layers to Tunisia,' says Michael. 'It's not just beautiful – it's complex, creative, and full of contrasts.' Flight time to UK: Roughly 3 hours. 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Return fares from London Heathrow to Bangkok start at £715.59 in Economy Class, and £3104.59 in Royal Laurel (Business) Class, including all taxes and charges. EVA Air flies from London Heathrow to Bangkok year-round, with daily flights seven days a week. Metro insider travel tip: On the last leg of your journey to Bhutan, snag a seat on the left of the plane to watch it drop right between the mountains, avoiding clusters of monasteries in the green valley of Paro. Madagascar is a wild mash-up of dense rainforests, coral-ringed beaches, dramatic rock formations, and deep-blue diving spots. 'If you want nature, wildlife, adventure, and coastline all in one place, this island will leave you speechless,' Michael says. 'It feels prehistoric. Like stepping into a lost world.' With 300,000 annual visitors, Madagascar is a haven of biodiversity with extraordinary wildlife that exists nowhere else on Earth. The lemurs – hyperactive, wide-eyed forest acrobats with tails longer than their bodies – often steal the spotlight. But it's the surreal landscapes that truly linger in your memory. 'The Avenue of the Baobabs looks like something out of a sci-fi film,' Michael says. 'You're standing among trees that have been there for centuries, it's otherworldly.' While unpaved roads make the island tricky to navigate, the Fianarantsoa-Côte Est railway has got you covered. Its rickety carriages rattle through dense jungles, endless rice paddies, and remote villages, where children rush to greet you at every stop. Michael says it's a true embodiment of 'mora, mora' (slow, slow), perfectly capturing Madagascar's unhurried, laid-back way of life. Flight time to UK: Just over 15 hours. The fastest way to get to Madagascar from the UK is to fly from London Heathrow, with one stop in Dubai. There, you can change for a connection to Ivato International Airport, the island's main airport 16km north of the capital Antananarivo. On the shores of the Baltic Sea, Estonia feels like stepping into a fairytale — especially in winter. 'In December, the old town of Tallinn transforms into a Christmas wonderland,' Michael says. 'It's like something out of A Christmas Carol.' Winter in Estonia also offers a unique, crowd-free Northern Lights experience at just a fraction of the cost of Norway or Iceland. In remote spots like Lahemaa or Saaremaa, you can enjoy the magic Aurora in untouched landscapes, without pricey tours and within just a short drive from the city. The best way to experience it all? Just walk. 'If you want that cozy winter feeling but without the crazy crowds of Paris or Vienna, a stroll through the cobbled streets of Tallinn is the way to go,' says Michael. 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Michael describes Lesotho as raw, friendly, and ridiculously scenic. 'Riding on horseback through the mountains here felt like a movie scene it's absolutely breathtaking,' he says. Lesotho is also home to Afriski, Africa's only ski resort. Here, you can carve through fresh snow at over 3,000 meters between timeworn shepherd trails, a rare experience on the continent. Flight time to UK: Anywhere from 15 to 19 hours, with stops. Flying to Lesotho from the UK is tricky, but surprisingly affordable. The cheapest route is with Norse Atlantic and Lift Airlines, starting from London Gatwick to Cape Town. From there, you'll catch a short domestic flight to Johannesburg, before flying on to Lesotho's Masuru Airport. It's a long journey, but one-way fares will set you back just £427 if you fly in April. While India is known for its chaotic energy, the path to Pakistan is one less travelled. Michael says: 'The people, the food, the landscapes, and the sheer affordability make Pakistan a must-visit for adventurers like me.' Metro recently named Pakistan as an unmissable destination to visit in 2025 thanks to its vast valleys and mountain ranges in the north, and we're not the only ones noticing all the country has to offer. Back in the 1970s, Pakistan was a hotspot for adventure travel. It was a popular spot on the 'hippie trail' from Europe to south Asia, a form of alternative tourism that focused on travelling cheaply. Decades of political instability put an end to that, but Pakistan is slowly regaining its reputation. In 2023, the south Asian country saw international tourist numbers increase by 115% compared to previous post-Covid years. Earlier this year, Pakistan's national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), resumed flights to Europe on January 10, ending a four-year ban by the European Union's aviation agency over safety standards. The EU blocked PIA in 2020 after one of its Airbus A-320s crashed in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, killing 97 people. Now, the airline has relaunched flights to Paris, and is looking at running direct flights to Oslo and Copenhagen, with potential plans to launch Barcelona as an independent destination soon. PIA also has ambitions to restart flights to London, Manchester and Birmingham. Meanwhile, Pakistan recently introduced visa fee waivers for 126 nationalities. Since August 2024, visitors from countries including the UK, US, Australia and all EU member states have been issued free online visas within 24 hours of application. Annabel Grossman, global travel editor for The Independent, and Maureen O'Hare, senior travel producer at CNN, both named Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan as a top place to visit in 2025. The mountainous region is fast becoming a destination dupe for the more overcrowded Himalayas, where the allure of Everest has seen the region overrun with commercial tourism, placing a huge strain on the natural environment. As for the cities, Michael recommends starting with Peshawar. 'You've got bustling bazaars, intricately carved wooden doors, and centuries-old architecture, without the overwhelming crowds of Delhi or Mumbai,' he says. But it's not just about aesthetics. The country offers immense value for travellers, whether it's handmade garments tailored within hours or fresh and flavourful food for next to nothing. And if Nepal is on your radar for mountain adventures, Pakistan offers even more dramatic peaks and untouched trails, with epic road trips along five of the world's 14 tallest mountains. Flight time to UK: Roughly 11 hours. Despite the political instability Pakistan has experienced, the south Asian country offers many areas that are safe and open to international tourists. Travel tour companies including Intrepid and G Adventures run tours to Lahore, Islamabad, the Hunza Valley and the Karakoram Mountains — always follow Foreign Office advice on the regions to avoid. Areas where the Foreign Office advises against travel: Within 10 miles of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province All travel to Balochistan Province, and all but essential travel to the coast of Balochistan (where the New Gwadar International Airport is) Pakistan-administered Kashmir Pete Royall, Pakistan expert at adventure travel company KE Adventure, tells Metro that the country is a hospitable, friendly place. 'Almost everywhere you go you get a warm welcome,' he says. 'There are regions best not to visit but they are few and far between, and areas like this exist in most countries. 'Of course it's important to be observant and respectful of local customs. For example, when visiting towns and villages women should wear a headscarf and a long skirt or trousers.' Through his ambitious Project Kosmos, supported by iVisa, Michael is on track to breaking the World Record for the fastest person to visit every country on Earth. More Trending With 175 of 195 countries visited, he is closing in on his goal by May 2025. For Michael, these countries represent more than just passport stamps: he believes they prove that true adventure lies beyond overcrowded tourist hubs. 'There's something powerful about stepping into a place where you're not just another tourist,' he says. 'It's about connecting with people, experiencing cultures firsthand, and discovering landscapes that take your breath away.' 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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
'I wanted to spend less time on my smartphone so I ditched it for this classic device'
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