I'm a lifelong Disney World annual passholder who grew up 2 miles away from the parks. Here are 12 things I love to do there.

I still remember the pre-Starbucks days at Disney World. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't diligently wait in line for my cold brew.

Not only is Starbucks the perfect way to get your caffeine fix before hitting the parks, but also you can sometimes find special, Disney-only offerings.

My favorite Disney-operated Starbucks is the one at the Marketplace in Disney Springs. It always has unique drink options.

One of the perks of living so close to the parks is not feeling rushed.

Instead of running from line to line, I take my time to absorb the ambiance. The music, the decor details, and even the crowds have their own charm.

Nothing's better than taking everything in from a quiet corner of the park, preferably with a fresh coffee.

Some of the best nature trails in Central Florida are right on the Disney property. There are plenty to find at the resorts, but my favorites are actually inside Animal Kingdom.

In both the Africa and Asia sections of the park, you can wander along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail or the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

These are self-guided, and they're rarely crowded. You can get your steps in while seeing some animals, like gorillas, tigers, and bats.

Anyone who's visited Disney World more than once can attest to the fact that there's always something new to try.

From Epcot's Food and Wine Festival to different holiday festivities, I try to find seasonal experiences every time I visit.

But I also skip doing these things on the weekends since they're typically more crowded.

Any local knows some of the best parts of Disney aren't even at the theme parks. You could spend days exploring the many resorts across the property.

Plus, they're free to visit even if you're not staying there. You can easily take Disney's monorail, buses, Skyliner, or boats to get to one of the resorts for free.

Pro tip: If you have a dining reservation at one of the resorts, you can also park there for free.

There's something special about staying in the "Disney bubble," but it's not always the best choice, especially for a quick trip or staycation.

You'll likely find a better deal and more amenities at the nearby "Good Neighbor" resorts, which have partnerships with Disney.

Though there are many to choose from, my favorites are at the strip of hotels in the Disney Springs resort area.

Popping into the parks unexpectedly often means not wanting to splurge on Genie+, Disney's paid line-skipping system.

Luckily, single-rider lines almost always come to my rescue.

Some of the most popular rides, including Expedition Everest, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, offer single-rider lines. You'll sit with another party, but it's an easy way to skip most of the wait.

They're not available at every attraction, but you can check with the employees at the front of a ride.

Because I'm a local, I don't usually go to the parks with any plans or dining reservations.

But I personally believe Disney World has some of the best quick-service food in the area, especially for theme parks.

From enchiladas in Epcot's Mexico Pavilion to cheeseburger pods in Animal Kingdom's Pandora, you can have a delicious meal in no time. Plus, they tend to be more affordable.

The parks are family-friendly, but you can still find adult-only drinks at most of them.

When I'm done with my delicious quick-service meal, you'll find me grabbing a drink at one of my favorite Disney bars.

Proceed with caution if you're trying to drink around the World Showcase at Epcot, but there are some fun cocktails and drinks worth trying across the parks.

My favorites include the sake bar inside Mitsukoshi at Epcot and Oga's Cantina in Hollywood Studio's Galaxy's Edge.

As a passionate Instagrammer, I pride myself on knowing some of the best Disney photo spots.

Fan favorites like the Magic Kingdom purple wall and the Epcot bubblegum wall are always a hit, but they often attract long lines of people.

Some of the less popular (but still fun) spots are Storybook Circus in Magic Kingdom, Muppets Wall in Hollywood Studios, and the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot.

Though I'm obviously a huge fan of Disney World's quick service, I'm also the first to splurge on fine dining when the opportunity strikes.

There are some amazing options for birthdays, celebrations, and just-because occasions.

Pro tip: The best fine dining isn't at the theme parks — it's at the hotels. Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian anyone?

There's such pressure to do it all, and it's not always easy to reign it in. But I try not to overdo it at the parks.

The biggest perk of being an annual passholder is always having another chance to do something I missed.

The parks aren't fun if I'm burnt out, tired, and overstimulated. Instead, I take it all in at my own pace.

There's such pressure to do it all, and it's not always easy to reign it in. But I try not to overdo it at the parks.

The biggest perk of being an annual passholder is always having another chance to do something I missed.

The parks aren't fun if I'm burnt out, tired, and overstimulated. Instead, I take it all in at my own pace.