planning your first disney world trip

Ultimate Walt Disney World Planning Guide (2024)

Planning a Disney World vacation can feel like a daunting task, especially for first-time guests. The entire Walt Disney World resort area covers around 43 square miles, which is almost twice the size of Manhattan!  Learning how to plan a Disney Vacation can help ensure you have a great time on your trip.

There are so many engaging activities, exciting attractions, magical details, and wonderful restaurants and resorts.  It’s nearly impossible to experience everything at Disney World over the course of several trips, let alone in a single visit to the park. That’s why it’s important to start your planning early and decide what you should prioritize on your trip.

This guide will take you through how to plan a Disney World vacation step-by-step. Disney vacations have become harder to plan each and every year, with Disney Genie+,  Advanced Dining Reservations, My Disney Experience, transportation, etc.  There’s so much to know, and this Disney vacation planning guide will be your go-to resource.

Do You Need To Plan a Disney World Vacation in Advance?

It’s no longer feasible to go to Disney World without doing at least some planning ahead of time.  Even entering a theme park requires an advance reservation in many cases.

In our view, these are the four bare-minimum planning actions needed to have even a functioning  Disney vacation.

• Decide when you will visit.   Crowd levels can impact your experience and time of year will affect your overall cost.
• Decide which park you will attend on each day.   Theme park reservations are mandatory for some ticket types — no reservation, no entry.
• Decide which hotel you’ll stay in.   While you can technically find a room without a reservation during some parts of the year, it’s not worth the risk.
• Decide if you want to dine at any table-service restaurants.   Dining reservations are strongly suggested; during the busiest days, many restaurants may completely refuse walk-ups.

These are the minimum plans needed to have a tolerable Disney World vacation.  To make your vacation good — or, dare we say, magical — you’ll probably want to do a good bit more Disney planning.  Below, we walk you through the eleven things you need to do to plan the best possible Disney World vacation .

Our planning guide is a great way to get started with researching your upcoming Disney World vacation.  As you’ll see, planning a Disney trip is no small task.  Imagine if you could have someone else do most of the work for you, for free!

That’s why we strongly recommend you contact the Disney travel agents at The Vacationeer .  There are plenty of good reasons why you should use a Disney travel agent , including taking advantage of their years of Disney experience and letting them handle making all of your reservations.

But one of the best reasons is that their planning services don’t cost you anything!

The Eleven Steps to Disney World Planning

There are plenty of ways to plan your Disney vacation, and everybody has their own way of doing it.  Below we’ve outlined what we believe to be eleven critical steps, in roughly the order that you should do them.  We’ve tried not to overwhelm you with too much information at once, but there’s no doubt that planning a Disney trip can be very complicated.  Take your time, read through it all, and follow the links throughout to find out more about some of the items we discuss here.

1. Learn the basics by doing some research

As you start to plan for a Disney World vacation, you should begin researching well in advance of booking the trip.  The information you gather during this important first step will help you through the rest of the process; starting early gives you plenty of time to learn before key dates in the trip planning process.  It will also be key to creating a detailed itinerary for each day so that your vacation will include every event, attraction, and restaurant you wish to experience.

Without a daily itinerary and at least some knowledge of the parks, Disney World can be a confusing and overwhelming place. Informed and organized vacationers are less stressed, save more money, and have more fun!

Being in-the-know will also help you secure your spot at popular resorts, attractions, and dining establishments.

Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to research travel destinations online , and Disney World is no exception. There are lots of Disney World resources online these days (such as our entire website!), so getting up to speed with the ins and outs of the parks is well within your reach.  To get you started, we’ll go over some basic information about Disney World.

Disney World at a Glance

Walt Disney World has four major theme parks:

Magic Kingdom

It’s the flagship theme park of Disney World and a rite of passage for kids of all ages.  Leave the real world at the gate — age melts away as you walk down Main Street, USA to reach Cinderella Castle.  Then, head in any direction to experience Liberty Square, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland.  Your kingdom awaits with adventures on flying elephants, doombuggies, space rockets, and steam trains.

Rides   |   Dining   |   Secrets

Originally envisioned as a functioning city of the future, EPCOT offers four neighborhoods: World Showcase , a tribute to the global diversity that enriches us as a species; World Nature , showcasing our interaction with the planetary forces that drive us; World Discovery , celebrating humankind’s ingenuity and innovation; and World Celebration , dedicated to the joy and camaraderie that are essential parts of the human experience.

Rides   |   Dining   |  Secrets

Hollywood Studios

Hooray for “the Hollywood that never was and always will be!”  Here, the golden age of motion pictures gets equal billing with modern blockbusters in a park dedicated to an entire universe of entertainment.  Drop into the Hollywood Tower Hotel, find yourself off-world on Batuu, or slink your way into a Pixar adventure.  You’re the star of this silver screen epic — are you ready for your closeup?

Animal Kingdom

Experience the glory and wonder of nature as you immerse yourself into a world that more than 1,000 animals call home.  Set off on safari, where giraffes are free to walk right alongside your open-air vehicle (from which you can also glimpse elephants, lions, and hippopotami).  Then, escape reality by staging a daring mountaintop run from the mythical Yeti, or traveling back in time to rescue a doomed dinosaur.

Other Resort Complex Amenities

In addition to four theme parks, you’ll find a full resort complex covering upwards of 27,000 acres:

• More than 20 large resort hotels are owned and operated by Walt Disney World, with additional third-party hotels nearby
• There are nearly 400 places to eat and drink at Disney World, from ice cream carts to high-end luxury dining, and everything in between
• Disney Springs is the largest shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Disney World ( no tickets required ); Disney’s BoardWalk offers an additional entertainment and dining district
• Disney World has 2 water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon
• WDW has 5 golf courses and 2 mini-golf courses , an entire sports complex , and several lakes (offering boating, kayaking, parasailing, fishing, and other water sports)

There’s much, much more to learn about Disney World, but the above information should give you the basics that you’ll need to know as you start to plan.  At the end of each of our 11 steps in this guide, you’ll find links to special planning tools and additional articles/websites that further discuss items mentioned in each section of our planning guide.  The tools and links for this step are immediately below:

Planning Tools for This Step:

✔️  Use our  Disney World Map to get the lay of the land

✔️  Use our Disney World Transportation Map to chart your route

✔️  Subscribe to Disney-focused  YouTube channels

✔️  Review some fascinating Disney World Statistics

✔️  Learn the History of Disney World

✔️  Enjoy some interesting WDW Trivia

2. Download the My Disney Experience App

My Disney Experience is Disney’s mobile app & website that serves as a centralized hub for everything related to your Disney vacation.  In the app, you can:

• Create a profile
• Add friends and family members so you can plan together
• View your tickets and reservations
• Access the Disney Genie itinerary planning service
• Purchase priority access to certain attractions through the Genie+ and Lightning Lane service
• Enter a virtual queue for highly-demanded attractions, when available
• Access entitlements under the Disability Access Service, if applicable
• Place mobile orders for some meals, helping you avoid lines at some quick-service restaurants
• Use the MagicMobile service, which lets you use your mobile device as a contactless payment/entry device around Disney World.

Note:  If you’d rather not use the MagicMobile service to access your tickets and services, you can either purchase a MagicBand (a colorful RFID-enabled wristband), or request a plastic RFID card at no charge. 

The app is available for both iOS and Android devices — you might see it listed in the app store as “My Disney Experience” or even just as “Disney World.”  There’s no charge to download and use the app; you might see a notice about in-app purchases, but that refers to the ability to do things such as buying park tickets or placing mobile dining orders.

Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll want to sign in — you can use an existing Disney account or create a new one.  You’ll also need to grant it permission to use location services because some features such as virtual queuing are geofenced (only available when you are in a certain location based on your phone’s GPS).

Downloading the app early in the planning process is important for a few reasons.  First, it’s a great research tool.  Second, getting to know it now will make it all the easier to use during your trip.  And most importantly, as you begin to purchase tickets or make reservations you’ll want to link them to your Disney account.  For example, linking your hotel reservation in the app allows you to access an extended restaurant reservation booking window — as well as to access early booking for Lightning Lane attraction entrances.

Many (but not all) of the same services are also available through a dedicated section of the Disney World website.

Ready to talk to someone about planning next steps?

✔️  Download the My Disney Experience app

✔️  Access My Disney Experience via the Disney World website

✔️  Learn more about My Disney Experience

✔️  Learn more about using the MagicMobile service

3. Start Considering How Much to Budget for Your Disney World Trip

On average, a typical Walt Disney World vacation for a family of 4 in 2024 will cost about $6,559. This includes a 7-night hotel stay at a Disney Value Resort, 6 days of standard theme park tickets, Genie+ or Lightning Lane service, and quick-service meals for 4 people over the course of the trip.

Just like any vacation, you might want to plan for additional expenses such as transportation costs, upgrades, a longer stay, and souvenirs; or you might opt to save some money by staying off-site, shortening your trip, spending a day or two away from the parks, or visiting during the off-season.

Not surprisingly, some families end up putting themselves into debt to make a Disney World trip happen.

Of course, you won’t know exactly how much to budget until you make some choices about hotels, dining, tickets, etc. — but now’s a good time to at least begin thinking about how much you’re comfortable spending on your trip so you’re not left with sky-high credit card bills long after.

The resources below are a great way to start that process.  If you don’t want to devote a ton of time to it at this point, we suggest you start with just the first two resources… our How Much Does it Cost to Go to Disney World article and our Disney World Cost Calculator .

✔️  Explore how much it costs to go to Disney World

✔️  Estimate prices with our Disney World Cost Calculator

✔️  Learn about Disney Payment Plan options

✔️  Find the Cheapest Time to go to Disney

✔️  Check out Disney World discounts & deals

✔️  Save on your trip by buying discounted Disney gift cards

✔️  Learn how to do Disney on a Dime

✔️  Explore some free things to do at Disney World

✔️  Read Is Disney World Worth It?

✔️  Leverage your credit card points on your Disney vacation

Consider Working with a Disney World Trip Planner (For Free!)

This is a great time in your Disney vacation planning timeline to connect with a Disney Travel Agent if you’re planning on using one.  Your agent can provide a more accurate estimate of what you can expect to spend by walking you through all of the big choices you’ll be making in the remaining steps of the process.

Not sure which Disney World Travel Agency to use?  We strongly recommend The Vacationeer .  It’s not hard to see why we’ve ranked them as the best Disney travel agency .  First and foremost, they don’t charge anything to use their planning services and there’s never any obligation to book.  And, as an EarMarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner , they’ve arranged Disney trips for thousands of families.  They boast a team of 90+ travel agents, but you’ll have one dedicated agent to serve as your personal Disney trip planner from start to finish.

Contact them to see which money-saving promotions might be available for your trip.  They can book your reservations, set up a payment plan for your trip, and even automatically apply newly-announced discounts to your trip after you book!

4. Decide When to Go to Disney World

Holidays at Disney can be crowded but festive

Deciding which time of year to go to Disney World is a very important part of the planning process, and not just for the obvious reasons of school/work schedules.  Crowd sizes, special promotions, festivals, and weather should also factor in your decision; these can not only affect your overall experience at Disney, but also your overall cost as well.

Crowd sizes are a major consideration when planning a trip to Walt Disney World.  Because park attendance fluctuates throughout the year, there are certainly better (less crowded) times of the year go.

For those of you who are not as tied down with schedule obligations (such as parents who homeschool or people who can work from anywhere), you are in a much better position to be flexible with your travel dates. For the rest of us, work schedules, school schedules, and other factors often influence the timing of our vacations, so we just have to plan a trip around a timeframe that works.

With millions of annual visitors, each Walt Disney World theme park can become crowded. The week you choose to visit the park can have a major impact on wait times for attractions and crowd density on the sidewalks and in the restaurants. Each park also has day-to-day crowd dynamics to consider.

The best way to gauge crowd sizes any particular day – at any one of Walt Disney World’s 4 theme parks – is to consult our  Disney World Crowd Calendar .  By using data compiled from recent years, our crowd calendar determines which theme parks will have the shortest lines and which parks will have the longest lines.

While not everyone has the flexibility to plan their trip around the least-crowded dates, crowd calendars can still be a valuable tool to help you to maximize your Disney experience during your visit.

It’s also worth noting that crowd levels tend to be a good indicator of how expensive your hotel and tickets will be.  Hotels and tickets are both subject to seasonal prices; the less popular times of year are the least expensive, while high-demand times like holidays and summer vacation cost more.

When is Walt Disney World Least Crowded?

Walt Disney World parks are typically less crowded from January 2nd until just prior to Presidents’ Day week (third Monday in February ), the week after Labor Day until just prior to Thanksgiving week, and the week after Thanksgiving weekend until the week prior to Christmas. As a general guide, when schools are in session, WDW is usually less crowded.

When is Walt Disney World Most Crowded?

Walt Disney World parks generally experience their highest attendance around school breaks. These include around Presidents’ Day week (third week in February), the Spring Break timeframe from mid- March through late April , Memorial Day weekend , Summer (mid- June through Labor Day), Thanksgiving week, and Christmas week through January 1st.

Special Promotions

During their slower seasons, Disney World will sometimes offer special promotions to lure guests to the park.

Some previous examples have included a Free Dining promotion which offered meals as part of a package that included non-discounted resort hotels and park tickets.  Other promotions have also been offered from time to time, allowing for discounted hotel rates, special ticket packages, or other benefits.

While promotions have been a bit scarce lately, things do tend to change quickly.  It’s a safe bet, though, that any promotions that come along will be limited to specific hotels or specific travel dates, and will likely be in the off-season.  If your plans are flexible, you’re more likely to be able to take advantage of these.

Walt Disney World is a great destination any day of the year. However, there is something about the seasonal festivals which make the park extra magical.

Besides the spectacular Festival of the Arts (typically in January) and the Flower & Garden Festival during the spring and early summer, most of our favorite seasonal events take place during the Fall and Winter months.

Epcot hosts The  Food & Wine Festival in the fall, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a real treat for Magic Kingdom guests around – you guessed it – Halloween.

During November and December , the wildly popular Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place at Magic Kingdom, as do a host of other holiday events, such as A Frozen Holiday Wish Show (Magic Kingdom), Christmas Day Parade on ABC (Magic Kingdom), Joyful! (Epcot), Holidays Around the World (Epcot), and much more .

If we had an absolute favorite week to be at Walt Disney World, we may have to choose some time in early December. The park is festive, the weather is comfortable, and the crowds are lighter than normal.

Any How to Plan a Disney Vacation guide must discuss the nuances of Disney’s weather.

First of all, Orlando, Florida is known for its warm and sunny weather. Ice and snow are virtually non-existent here and the temperatures rarely dip below the freezing level.

That said, there are some seasonal differences that you may want to take into consideration when booking your Disney World vacation. January is typically the coolest month, July is the warmest and wettest (though August is a close second for heat), and June has the most sunshine hours.

Daytime thunderstorms are a given during the summer; they often pop up with little warning and disappear just as quickly, usually leaving a rather unpleasant sauna effect in their aftermath.  On the bright side, a storm lasting 30-45 minutes is usually enough to send people scurrying for the exits, leading to lighter crowds afterwards.

Hurricane season technically lasts from June-November, though September has historically been the most active.  Even then, it’s rare for the Orlando area to take a direct hit from a hurricane.  That said, the parks have had to close a few times for hurricanes, though typically only for a day or so at a time.  Thanks to Disney’s generous hurricane cancellation policies , it’s still generally safe plan a trip to Disney World during hurricane season (though travel insurance is still also a good idea).

Our favorite seasons at Walt Disney World are probably the pleasant spring and fall seasons, with October being particularly nice. Our least favorite season is during the summer months — not only are the crowds heavy, but the weather can be quite hot and humid. If you do plan a summer vacation at Disney World, remember to come prepared with the proper amenities to keep you cool and hydrated.

Overwhelmed and ready for some expert help?

✔️  Use our Disney Crowd Calendar to pick the best time to visit

✔️  Research typical Disney World Weather

✔️  Learn about the best time to go to Disney World

✔️  Review our tips to avoid lines at Disney World

✔️  Beat the rain with the best attractions for rainy days

✔️  Learn about Hurricane Season at Disney World

5. Decide on Your Length of Stay (How Many Days)

Because there is just so much to see and do at  Walt Disney World , there is really no right answer for how long your Walt Disney World vacation should last. However, there are several wrong answers. One wrong answer would be staying for only 1 or 2 days!

We recommend that any trip should last at least four days, with an ideal range of a full week or so. Some people buy an Annual Pass and spend 30+ days at the park, so the sky is the limit! It just depends on your budget, time limitations, who you are traveling with, and what the goals of your trip are. But with so much to see and experience, a day or two won’t even scratch the surface of what Walt Disney World has to offer.

How Long Do Most People Stay at Disney World?

Most Disney World vacations last 3 – 7 days. Many guests devote one full day to each of the four Disney World theme parks. Given their size and number of attractions, it’s certainly possible to spend two days each at Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Additional days can be spent re-visiting one of the parks, going to a Disney water park, or doing other various activities, inside or outside of the park.

If your objective is to experience most attractions, shows, parades, etc., you really need to provide yourself with adequate time/days to explore all facets of each park.  If saving money is an important consideration, a shorter trip can help accomplish that.

Many guests like to spend a day or two at other (non-Disney) Orlando-area attractions – such as  Universal Studios , SeaWorld, Legoland Florida, or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Other guests set aside a day or two for golfing, boating, or just to simply relax at the pool.

If your trip to Disney World is a “rite of passage” event for the kids – and your goal is to just experience the popular rides and get a feel for the park – 3-4 days is doable. However, just be aware that you may feel as though you are rushing to get as much in with your time constraints.  You probably won’t be able to experience everything that you set out to achieve.

Besides simply having enough time at Disney World, another reason for booking a longer WDW vacation is the financial incentive. The more days you spend at the park, the less the cost of your daily ticket. That’s not to say you will spend less money on an 8-day pass vs a 3-day pass — you certainly won’t. But, the cost per day  goes down substantially the more days you spend at Disney World.

Thoroughly review all current promotions and ticket pricing scenarios before deciding on the duration of your Disney World vacation.

✔️  Compare prices for different trip lengths with our Cost Calculator

✔️  We explore how long to stay at Disney

✔️  See how many days you need for each park

✔️  See our favorite day trips from Disney World

✔️  Extend your trip by visiting one of the beaches near Disney World

6. Decide How to Travel to Disney World

Planning a Disney World trip must, of course, include consideration of how you will actually get there.

The two most common modes of transportation to Walt Disney World are by car and by air.

Buses and trains also come in and out of Orlando, but these options tend to be more problematic with luggage considerations. Consult your bus service or Amtrak for their guidelines on luggage if you decide to go this route.

Driving to Disney World

For guests within a reasonable driving distance (or those who just love a good road trip), there’s some convenience in having your own car at Disney.  Of course, you’ll need to consider all of the costs associated with driving to Disney… fuel prices, auto maintenance / wear & tear, tolls, and parking fees.

An oft-forgotten expense is that those staying in an off-site hotel must pay a daily parking fee at the theme parks (Disney hotel guests don’t pay this fee).

Those who live far away will likely find the cost of driving to Disney World to be prohibitively expensive.  But for those who live in the southeastern US — or who are faced with the prospect of buying airline tickets for a large family — driving might be the right choice.

Flying to Disney World

Since most people fly to Disney World, let’s review some of your best options for booking a flight.

Most people use airline travel search engines – such as Priceline, Kayak, Expedia, or Travelocity – to book their air travel. We also recommend checking Google Flights or ITA Matrix  — both are robust search engines for finding airline deals. If you have flexibility with your booking dates, sign up for Airfarewatchdog alerts. You can get real-time or daily alerts for special offers and flight deals between your departure city and Orlando.

Which airports are closest to Disney World?

Orlando is served by three major airports, all of which have confusingly similar names.

• Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the airport of choice for trips to Disney World.  It’s the nearest airport (about 20 miles away)  and offers by far the most ground transportation options to Disney World.
• Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is located about 45 miles away from Disney World.  Though it’s further away and offers fewer ground transit services, it may be your only choice for a nonstop flight if you’re flying with a smaller/discount carrier or if your home airport is a smaller regional facility.
• Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) is located about 65 miles away from Disney World.  It’s the farthest “Orlando” airport from Orlando (they actually got sued for using the word Orlando” in their name) , and is likely better suited for a Disney Cruise from Port Canaveral than it is for a stay at Walt Disney World.

If you’ll have a rental car and don’t mind a bit of a drive, you can also investigate flights into Tampa International (TPA, about 75 miles away) or Daytona Beach International (DAB, about 70 miles away)… but the flight discounts would have to be amazing to make up for the difference in time and cost.

Tips To Save on Flights to Disney World

Here are a few more cost-savings tips for booking your flight to Walt Disney World:

• For the best deals, book six weeks in advance.
• Scan for deals in the morning, as most airlines offer their best deals at this time. Act fast because good deals get scooped up quickly.
• The most inexpensive flights are often the earliest departures in the morning.
• Wednesdays are typically the cheapest days to fly.
• Credit cards with frequent flyer mile points can save you money on future flights.
• Not all airlines offer their cheapest flights through travel search engines. Check low-cost airlines individually to see if booking directly through their website is less expensive.

Traveling Within Disney World

Regardless of how you get there, once you’ve made it to Disney World, transportation is a breeze.  Disney offers a completely free network of monorails, boats, buses, Skyliners (suspended aerial gondolas), trams, and walking paths to move people from place to place.  You’ll really only need a rental car if your plans take you off-site to a non-Disney destination (and even then, an Uber might be better).

Check out our Disney transportation map in the planning tools below to map out your journey through Disney World.

✔️  Search for airfare on Google Flights

✔️  For advanced flight search options, try ITA Matrix

✔️  Explore our Transportation Map to find out how to get around Disney World

✔️  Review options to get from the Orlando Airport to Disney

✔️  Estimate the cost of taking an Uber

✔️  Learn about parking at Disney World

✔️  Explore the Disney Monorail

7. Choose Your Disney World Resort Hotel

Disney owns and operates more than 20 on-site hotels, which it calls “Resorts.”  This name can be a bit confusing, because you’ll also hear the entire Walt Disney World area referred to as a “resort.”  As an alternative to the on-site hotels, you can choose to stay at a hotel not owned by Disney; that could save you some money, but you’ll miss out on a number of perks offered exclusively to on-site Guests.

Official Disney On-Site Resorts

There is something special about staying at an official Disney World resort.

For one, each resort has its own distinctive character, charm, and identity. You can leave the real world behind and surround yourself with Disney magic, 24/7.

Since all of these resorts are on Disney World property, you will be in close proximity to all the parks and have direct access to monorails, boats, skykliners, and buses.  A few resorts are close enough that you can easily walk to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT.

On-site guests also receive special perks that off-site guests do not. These include Early Theme Park Entry and the ability to book Dining Reservations and Lightning Lane entries ahead of non-Disney resort guests. For 2025, Resort Guests also receive free water park admission on their check-in day.  Make sure you link your Disney World hotel reservation to your My Disney Experience account to take advantage of these perks!

Disney’s on-site Resorts are categorized within the following tiers:

Disney Value Resorts

The rooms at  Disney Value Resorts are smaller and are situated among larger campuses, so you might find there’s a bit of a walk between your room and the bus stops, dining, and front desk.  Transportation to the Disney World theme parks is mostly via bus or Skyliner.  Dining is typically quick-service that’s more akin to a food court, but still usually features a surprising variety that goes well beyond burgers and pizza.  Value resorts are a fantastic option for families who want to keep an eye on their budget but still have all the benefits of staying on Disney World property.

Disney Moderate Resorts

The  Disney Moderate Resorts offer a nice middle ground between the Value and Deluxe resorts.  You’ll have a somewhat upgraded room, good transportation, and usually a few different dining options that may offer a broader menu.  A Moderate Resort is a great way to upgrade your stay at a Disney World resort hotel without a major impact on your budget.

Disney Deluxe Resorts

Deluxe Resorts tend to be closest hotels to the Disney World theme parks, usually just a monorail, boat ride, or short walk away.  Not only is it easier to get to the parks in the morning and back from the parks at night; it’s also easy to avoid the hottest and most crowded parts of the day by returning to your hotel and letting the kids cool down in the pool or take a midday nap.  Then, while everyone else who stayed in the park all day is hot, tired, and cranky, you’ll be refreshed and ready for the nighttime fireworks.  Disney World’s Deluxe resorts also often feature larger rooms, the best pools and restaurants, and a generally upgraded experience.

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Deluxe Villa Resorts offer vacation home style amenities such as kitchens and separate bedrooms, which can be a great option for larger groups.  These range from studios (basically a hotel room that also includes a kitchenette and pull-down bed) to 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units featuring full kitchens and living rooms.  There are even some unique offerings, such as treehouse villas and over-the-water bungalows.  Even beyond these deluxe villa resorts, many other Disney World hotels offer family suites .

The only major disadvantage of staying at an on-site Disney resort is the cost. With the extra perks and close proximity to the park, these resorts are more expensive than off-site resorts, so your decision will really just depend on your budget and the priorities of your vacation.

Traveling with a fuzzy friend?  You might be surprised to learn that pets are welcome at a select few resorts, and there’s even a facility made exclusively for them.  Check out Pets at Disney World for more information.

Our favorite Disney World YouTube Channel has a great overview of Disney’s official on-site Resorts.

Off-Site Hotels (non-Disney)

Most off-site properties are further away from the park and do not have direct access to the monorail (though some might offer a limited shuttle service). Despite this, many off-site resorts are still quite close to the parks – some, in fact, are situated directly on Disney-owned land.  For example, you’ll find third-party hotels not far from EPCOT, as well as an extensive “Hotel Boulevard” just an intersection or so away from Disney Springs.

While you won’t enjoy the same perks as on-site guests, these off-site properties are generally very nice.  And some  non-Disney hotels do have agreements with Disney to allow their Guests to experience some special perks.

Many have all the amenities of the more expensive Disney Resorts (some even have more), and the rooms are often larger. If your party has 5 or more guests, off-site resorts offer more value, as most of the on-site 5-person+ options are quite pricey.

The bottom line is, if you are sticking to a tight budget and don’t mind being a little further away from the action, a non-Disney resort may be your best bet. You can have a fantastic vacation staying at either on- or off-property resorts.

We recommended that you explore both options and weigh the pros and cons as they apply to your situation. You can certainly split your nights between on-property and off-property. But if you are only at Disney World for a few nights, we recommend just paying a little more to be on the property.

Find the perfect hotel for your budget

✔️  Explore our Disney Resort Comparison page

✔️  See the best Disney Value Resorts

✔️  View the best Disney Moderate Resorts

✔️  Review the best Disney Deluxe Resorts

✔️  Find the best Family Suites at Disney

✔️  See the best Disney Resorts for kids

✔️  Explore the best Disney Resorts for adults

✔️  Learn where to book Disney World hotels

✔️  Find off-site hotels with shuttle service

✔️  Find our picks for the best on-site hotels overall

✔️  See which resorts have the best hotel pools

✔️  Splurge on Club Level at Disney World or a Five-Star Hotel at Disney

✔️  What’s the cheapest on-site hotel?

8. Buy Theme Park Tickets and Make Park Reservations (if needed)

Image © Disney

While it’s certainly possible to go to Disney World without ever setting foot inside a theme park, very few people actually do that.

And given that it’s possible that you may end up spending more on park tickets than on your hotel room, the decision about which tickets to buy is an important one.

We recommend you review all your options well in advance so you have time to think about which package makes sense for your budget and duration of stay.

And remember, you might need to make a theme park reservation (Disney Park Pass), depending on your ticket type.

Disney Theme Park Tickets

Let’s first look at the theme park tickets.

When and Where to Buy your Disney World Theme Park Tickets

As a general rule, you should always purchase tickets either directly from Disney, your travel agent, or an through an authorized seller/reseller — and you should do so well in advance of your departure. This will shield you from any price hikes that might occur and gives you the best chance of securing a reservation to your desired park on your desired day  (if your ticket type requires reservations).

Given that tickets can sell out and that some even require a theme park reservation, it’s not wise to just wait to buy your tickets when you get to the front of the park .

Most importantly, NEVER buy your tickets via eBay, Craigslist, or another unauthorized reseller.   There’s a very good chance that those tickets will be expired, completely used (no days left), or simply counterfeit.  Don’t risk it!

Ticket Pricing

Disney World theme park ticket pricing varies throughout the year.  They’re generally the most expensive during popular times (such school breaks, holidays, and weekends) and the least expensive during slower times. Prices also vary by park; Animal Kingdom is usually the least expensive and Magic Kingdom is usually the most expensive, with Hollywood Studios and EPCOT falling somewhere in between.

You can purchase single-day tickets or multi-day tickets (up to 10 days).  Ticket prices are structured in a unique way that rewards Guests for committing more time to the parks; the per-day price of a multi-day ticket gets cheaper the more days you add.

We have a full rundown of the ticket pricing structure in our How Much Does it Cost to Go to Disney World article.

2024 One-Day One-Park Ticket Starting Price (actual price varies by park)

Types of Theme Park Tickets

The basic Disney World theme park ticket allows entry to only one theme park per day.  But there are optional upgrades which allow you to visit multiple parks on the same day or add other special experiences.

Park Hopper option

The Park Hopper ticket option allows Guests to visit multiple Disney World theme parks on the same day.  After starting the day at one park, Guests may then go to a different theme park later in the day.

We especially love the Park Hopper for spending the first part of the day at one theme park, then spending the evenings at Epcot to take advantage of the wonderful dining options at World Showcase.  It’s an especially great option for those who have a limited amount of time at Disney World, and for those who have short attention spans!

Water Park and Sports option

The Water Park and Sports option allows Guests to visit one theme park per day, while also providing visits to other Disney properties.  Guests who purchase this upgrade will be able to visit water parks, mini golf and nine-hole golf courses, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, when available.

The number of these visits provided is equal to the number of days of theme park admission purchased.  As an example, a 4-day park ticket allows four visits to these facilities.

Park Hopper Plus option

The Park Hopper Plus option combines the Park Hopper option and the Water Park and Sports option into a single upgrade.  Guests who purchase this upgrade will be able to visit multiple theme parks in the same day, and also enjoy a number of visits to water parks, select mini golf and nine-hole golf courses, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, when available.

Disney Park Pass (Theme Park Reservations)

A theme park ticket isn’t necessarily the only thing you need to get into a Disney theme park.  Guests who buy theme park tickets may also need a theme park reservation through a system called Disney Park Pass .

Because of this, planning ahead can be crucial to ensuring you can get into your desired theme park on the day you want to visit.  If you’re traveling during a more popular time of year such as spring break, summer, or Christmas, it is quite possible that tickets or reservations may not be available if you wait until the last minute.

Example of a theme park reservation availability calendar

Park Pass theme park reservations can be made as soon as you’ve purchased your theme park admission tickets.  We recommend you buy your tickets as far in advance as possible to have the best chance of getting the theme park reservations you want.

Park reservations may be needed for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — but it depends on the type of ticket you purchased.   They’re not needed for Disney Springs or the water parks.

As of December 2022, all One-Day One-Park tickets automatically include a park reservation — no need to make one separately. And as of January 9, 2024, all date-based tickets will be reservation-free. Other ticket types may still require one, so be sure to check out all the details when you purchase.

If your park hopper ticket requires reservations, you’ll only need a reservation for the park you’ll be  starting  your day at.  You do  not  need a reservation for the  second  park you’re visiting (“park hopping” to) on the same day, but the park still needs to have capacity to admit new Guests.

✔️  View Disney’s official theme park ticket price calendar

✔️  Check Disney’s theme park reservation availability calendar

✔️  Explore ticket prices in our How Much Does it Cost to Go to Disney World article

✔️  Read our complete guide to  Disney Park Pass theme park reservations

Need help navigating all of the ticket options?  Contact the Disney Experts at The Vacationeer .  They can help you decide which tickets are right for you and give you tips on snagging theme park reservations.  And best of all, their planning services are completely free!

9. Select Your Disney World Dining Options

There are literally hundreds of places to eat and drink around the Walt Disney World Resort, from the humblest popcorn cart to the fanciest high-end fine dining restaurant.  If this is your first trip, you may be surprised by all the world-class dining experiences the parks and resorts offer.

Gone are the days when Disney was known simply as a “burgers and kid’s meals” type of destination.  Sure, there are plenty of quick-service restaurants and snack stands around the park, but there is also an eclectic mix of fabulous table-service restaurants to satisfy the toughest of culinary critics.

Some restaurants are themed around Disney attractions, while others are geared towards families or offer formal dining experiences.

All-you-can-eat buffets are popular, as are regional cuisine restaurants. Epcot’s World Showcase offers culinary experiences aligning with the specific country represented, while Disney Springs has an abundance of fabulous dining experiences to choose from.

There’s even a popular dinner show called the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue that features two hours of comedy and music (accompanied by endless fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and strawberry shortcake).

There is really something for everyone’s taste buds at Walt Disney World!

Types of Restaurants

There are two primary types of restaurants at Disney World.

Quick-Service Restaurants

A quick-service restaurant, sometimes also called counter-service, is a place to grab a casual, quick bite.  The ordering, payment, and service experience is somewhat similar to what you might expect at either a fast food restaurant or a “fast casual” place such as a Panera Bread or Chipotle.  You’ll stand in line, order, and pay (or use the mobile ordering service described later in this planning step); then, you’ll either receive your food right away on a tray or be given a pager-type device to alert you when it’s time to come and pick up your meal.  You won’t have a server at your table, and when your meal is over you’re expected to bus your own table and discard your trash.  Despite the ordering experience being akin to a fast food place, your food isn’t necessarily just burgers and fries.  Many locations have innovative menus and substantial meal offerings that rival those of a traditional restaurant.

Table-Service Restaurants

A table-service restaurant, sometimes also referred to as a “sit-down” location, is a more refined dining experience.  You’ll check in with a host/hostess, be taken to a table, and be introduced to a server who will take your order and tend to your needs during your meal.  These restaurants vary from relatively casual a la carte locations, to all-you-care-to-eat buffets, to elegant signature dining locations.  Menus vary from homestyle cooking to authentic international cuisine.  Advance reservations (described below) are strongly suggested, as some restaurants may completely refuse walk-ups during busy times.

Advance Dining Reservations

If you plan on dining at table-service restaurants during your vacation (recommended!), reservations are essential.

Disney calls its restaurant reservations “Advance Dining Reservations.”  Sometimes you’ll hear people call these “ADRs.”  An ADR lets you secure your table at some of Disney’s most popular table-service restaurants (restaurants in which you have a server at your table who takes your order and brings your food to you).

Slots during prime hours go quickly, especially at popular dining locations like Cinderella’s Royal Table and Chef Mickey’s.  Booking your reservations as soon as the reservation window opens is key to getting what you want.

Guests staying in a Disney Resort hotel  may make dining reservations for the entire length of their stay (up to 10 days’ worth of reservations) as early as 60 days in advance of their hotel check-in date.

All other Guests can make their advance reservations for dining as early as 60 days in advance of the meal.

Note: you might have previously heard that dining reservations could be made 180 days in advance.  While that was previously true, the booking window changed in 2020.

We recommend that you spend some time reviewing on Tripadvisor  and  Yelp  before making your Advance Dining Reservations (or speak w/ a Disney Travel Agent first).

Mobile Ordering

Reservations are not offered for quick-service dining at Disney World, though some locations do provide a mobile ordering service through the My Disney Experience app.  For these locations, you can view menus in the app, then order and pay ahead of time.  When it’s time to eat, you can bypass the regular ordering/payment line and go straight to the mobile pickup window to get your food.

Skip the Line with Mobile Ordering

Character Dining

One of Disney’s unique dining offerings is its character dining.  If getting some face time with Disney characters is a must-do for your trip, this is a great way to accomplish it without having to wait in line (and you get to enjoy a great meal, too!).

While you enjoy your meal, several Disney characters will come to your table for a brief visit.  It’s a great chance to snap a photo, ask for an autograph, or just enjoy a personal interaction.  Because the characters are coming to you, there’s no need to wait in any long lines.  And there’s just something special about having the main mouse himself pop up over your shoulder while you’re chowing down on a Mickey waffle!

Each character dining experience focuses on a specific set of characters… for example, the “Fab 5,” Disney princesses, Disney Junior Stars, or Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Disney Dining Plans

For some travelers, one of the best options for dining at Disney is to add a Disney Dining Plan to your on-site hotel stay.  These plans offer a set number of meal and snack credits per person at a fixed daily cost.  Historically, during certain low-demand seasons, Disney has even  occasionally offered the dining plan at no additional charge as part of a vacation package including a hotel stay and theme park tickets.

Disney Dining plans were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they’re returning for 2024 Disney World vacations .

Until the dining plan fully returns, you’ll be paying out of pocket for your food on-site, unless you opt to bring your own food into the parks (and yes, you can get groceries delivered to your hotel).

✔️  Calculate the date you can book dining reservations

✔️  Explore menus for every restaurant at Disney World

✔️  Use our Disney Dining Plan Calculator

✔️  Estimate your food costs by viewing examples in our  How Much Does it Cost article

✔️  See how different meal choices affect your budget in our Disney World Cost Calculator

✔️  See our picks for the best Magic Kingdom restaurants

✔️  Explore our ranked list of the best EPCOT restaurants

✔️  Review our choices for best Hollywood Studios restaurants

✔️  Go wild when dining at the Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants

✔️  Explore the best options for Character Dining

✔️  Experience culinary excellence at one of the Michelin Guide restaurants at Disney

✔️  On a plant-based diet? Check out the best Vegetarian dining

✔️  Just love food? Review our guide to Disney World for Foodies

✔️  Learn more about Disney Dining Plans

✔️  Read about Disney World Free Dining promotions

10. Create a Daily Itinerary for Your Disney World Vacation

Now that we have covered the basic elements of your Walt Disney World vacation, it’s time to start thinking about the nitty-gritty details of your trip. Improvising on-the-go can cost you money and lost time while you are at the park, so creating an itinerary will keep your vacation on track.

If your trip to WDW is 4 days or fewer, you will most likely spend each day exploring at least one of Disney’s 4 theme parks. Consider a Park Hopper pass so that you have the ability to jump between parks during the day.

Time is of the essence, so we recommend that you map your route and create an itinerary of high-priority attractions so nothing is overlooked.

If your Disney World vacation is a week or so, consider spending one day at a Disney water park (Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon), at a non-Disney property (such as SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens), golfing, boating, shopping, or just taking a day off to relax.

Reservations for theme parks and dining should be made well in advance of your trip, so the process of selecting which restaurants and attractions are top priorities should begin as soon as you book your trip (if not before).

As you research your options, make notes to help you formulate your Walt Disney World itinerary.

Here are a few things to consider when making your daily plans:

One of the primary factors for your daily itinerary should be how late the park is open each day you’re there.  Park opening and closing times can vary from day-to-day.  So you might want to base your daily park choices on which park has the longest hours — or at least make sure you don’t shoehorn yourself into only being able to visit a certain park on the one day during your trip that it closes early. Some parks take longer to fully experience than others, and you don’t want to run out of time.

A great perk of staying at an on-site Disney hotel is having extra time in the parks when the general public is not allowed in.  While not all attractions operate during these extended hours, it’s still a great way to get a few extra rides in with typically lower wait times.  The previous Extra Magic Hours  program has now been replaced by two offerings:

Early Theme Park Entry

Disney Resort hotel Guests (and Guests of other select hotels) may  enter the Disney parks 30 minutes earlier  than the general public, every day of the week. Each of the four parks offers this perk every day of the week; which park you choose is solely up to you!

Extended Evening Theme Park Hours

Guests at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Deluxe Villa Resorts, and a few other select hotels may also enjoy additional time at specific parks on specific nights.  You’ll want to check the  latest schedule  to verify which dates and parks are available during your trip.

Waiting for Rides/Attractions

It’s an unfortunate fact that a sizable portion of your Disney World trip will be spent waiting in line to get on rides or see shows.  Fortunately, there are ways to minimize this as much as possible.

Standby Lines

When most people think of waiting in line for a ride, they’re thinking of what Disney World calls a Standby queue.  It’s line waiting in its simplest form; you walk up to an attraction entrance, wait in line for as long as it takes, and then get into the ride vehicle.

Standby wait times can fluctuate wildly throughout the day, often peaking in the mid-afternoon.  While you can’t do anything about the length of the line itself, you can game the system a bit by deciding when to enter that line.

For your most important attraction of the day, I suggest doing what frequent visitors call “rope dropping” the park.  This means that you are at the park before it opens for the day, enter the park as soon as Guests are allowed in (as soon as they “drop the rope” that is keeping people out), and go directly to the desired attraction so you can ride it with as little wait as possible.

Other tactics to try to avoid the worst of the standby wait times is to go during the afternoon parade, or to go when most people are having lunch/dinner.  The Disney Genie section of the My Disney Experience app will also show you a forecast of wait times for each hour of the day so you can better plan your arrival time to minimize waits.

One further tip that won’t necessarily help you avoid an extended wait time but will certainly increase your comfort level. As a long-time Floridian, I highly recommend doing all of the rides that have completely-outdoor waiting lines either early or late in the day; when it’s miserably hot/steamy outside during the afternoon hours, I prefer to hide away from the midday sun by experiencing the rides with indoor air-conditioned queues. These rides are also less likely to close during afternoon thunderstorms.

Virtual Queues

If your trip happens to occur in the months immediately following the opening of a highly-anticipated attraction (such as a new roller coaster), you’ll likely find that you can’t simply go stand in line for that ride.  Instead, you might have to use something called a virtual queue .

It’s exactly what it sounds like — rather than physically standing in line, your spot in line is held virtually via the My Disney Experience app.

Virtual Queue

A virtual queue is both good news and bad news for your itinerary planning.

The good news: Historically, people have spent as much as five or six hours (!) waiting in line for a new ride — I did that when Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened and don’t recommend it.  Those long lines are not the case with virtual queuing.  Your wait might technically still be that long, but you don’t have to spend that time actually waiting in a line.  You’re instead free to go have plenty of other fun elsewhere in the park during that time, and then come back when it’s time to ride.

The bad news: Competition to grab a spot in the virtual queue can be fierce.  Spaces open up daily at 7AM and again at 1PM.  On dates when Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are offered for select Resort Guests, another round of queuing begins at 6PM.  On the busiest days, all available slots can be claimed within seconds of being released. To give yourself the best possible chance of snagging a spot, read Disney’s extensive instructions  ahead of time so you know exactly what to do at 7AM on the day you wish to visit.

Priority Attraction Entrance (Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane)

Many rides and experiences in the parks have a special Lightning Lane entrance which allows you to bypass the regular line and board more quickly.  If you’ve been to Disney World in the past, you might remember these entrances having been previously called FastPass or FastPass+.  The Lightning Lane concept is still mostly the same, but there’s one big difference: you now must pay to enter the Lightning Lane.

Genie+ Service

Most rides which have a Lightning Lane entrance are packaged together into a bundled service called Genie+.  For a combined fee of approximately $15-$30 (varies based on date/demand/park) per person per day, Genie Plus lets guests make reservations to use the Lightning Lane entrance at more than 40 attractions throughout the parks.  Guests make their first Lightning Lane reservation on the morning of their visit and then make additional ride reservations, one at a time, for the remainder of the day (subject to availability).  Disney says this service will usually help you experience a quicker load time on 2-3 attractions on a busy day (maybe more on less-crowded days), which can help save you hours of waiting in line.

Note: The paid Genie+ service should not be confused with the basic Disney Genie service, which is an itinerary suggestion service inside the My Disney Experience app.  Disney Genie provides suggestions of what to do based on wait times and your interests.  Genie+ saves you time waiting in line by letting you instead select a time to return to ride.

Individual Lightning Lane entry

The Lightning Lane entrances at the most popular attractions in each park are not included in Genie+ and are instead sold separately.  You’ll be able to purchase one entrance per day for each ride offering this individual entry service.  The cost usually ranges from $10-$20 per ride and varies based on the attraction, date, and availability.

If a ride’s Lightning Lane is sold under this individual pricing structure, it will not be included in the Genie+ package offering.

You can’t actually book your Lightning Lane entrances in advance — they’re available for purchase only on the day of your visit — but you’ll still want to research them in advance to include in your daily itinerary.

Disability Access Service

A special service is provided to assist Guests who have a condition that interferes with their ability to wait in line.  This offering, called the Disability Access Service (DAS), assigns return times so Guests don’t need to be physically present in the attraction line (but still experience a similar length of wait as those who are waiting in line).

There’s an important distinction when understanding DAS: qualifying is based on a guest’s ability to wait  in line, not their ability to  stand in line. Most attraction lines are wheelchair accessible , so a wheelchair alone is unlikely to qualify someone to use DAS.  There’s no official list of disabilities which automatically qualify, but some which may qualify include ADHD, autism , or anxiety.  Each decision is made on an individual basis, and Disney alone has sole authority to grant or deny DAS to a Guest.

This is a highly-nuanced topic that we can’t completely cover in just a few sentences.  We suggest you read our extensive guide to the Disability Access Service for further details.

Timing Your Meals

Your itinerary should include a solid plan on when you’re going to eat your meals.

Unless you have breakfast reservations for an in-park restaurant, we do NOT recommend that you have breakfast in the park.  You’ll likely be missing out on some of the lowest ride wait times of the day if you’re off getting food right after the park opens.  One option is to have breakfast at your hotel’s restaurant before heading to the park (the restaurants open early enough to allow this without missing park opening). I personally prefer to just have bagels and cream cheese in my room and opt for an early lunch — that lets me sleep in just a bit and still get to the parks early.

Speaking of an early lunch, having your meals during an off-peak time is a great way to avoid wasting time waiting in long lines at counter-service restaurants.  If you have lunch at noon and dinner at 6PM, you’ll quickly notice that pretty much everyone else in the park had the same idea.  Not only will there be longer waits in line (and for your food to be prepared), but you might even have to “hover” a bit to find an empty table.  If you do have to dine during the busiest hours, take full advantage of mobile ordering within the My Disney Experience app whenever you can.

Of course, should you have dining reservations at a table service restaurant for lunch or dinner, your time for that meal is set and you just need to plug it into your daily itinerary.

Planning When to Stop and When to Go, Go, Go

With the prospect of a full vacation in front of you, it’s easy to either over or under do it.

Yes, you’re on vacation, so it’s tempting to sleep in.  But doing so will put you a step behind everyone else in the park, meaning you’re at the mercy of higher crowds and longer lines.  Waking up early and getting to the parks right away goes a long way toward starting the day right.

On the other hand, if you plan to go nonstop from morning to night seven days in a row, you’re going to crash midweek and have a miserable time.  You’ll probably end up losing more time due to the inevitable meltdown than if you had just planned to take some downtime along the way.

Take it from someone who spend more than a decade battling the central Florida heat: the afternoon sun will suck the life right out of you. A midday break is just the thing to rejuvenate your spirits.

If you’re staying on-site, you can easily go back to your hotel for a midday nap or dip in the pool.  I also like to give myself at least one “day off” during my trip. I usually just spend it relaxing at the hotel or maybe checking out the animals on the Savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge — but you might want go play a round of golf, sit on the lakeside “beach” at some resorts, or have a laidback day at Disney Springs (go shopping, have a meal, take a balloon ride , or see a movie ).

Giving some thought  now to periods of activity and periods of rest will help make sure your vacation doesn’t veer off track.

Our Top Tips for Disney World Itinerary Planning

With all of the above in mind, it’s really going to come down to a matter of personal preference.  Once you have a good handle on all of the things to do, see, eat, and experience at Disney World — what do you want to do each day?

Only you can answer that question.  But here are a few of our favorites to consider when planning your daily itinerary:

Some of the most popular rides for Lightning Lane passes and Disney Genie+ are:

• Magic Kingdom – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train; Space Mountain
• Epcot – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind; Frozen Ever After; Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Hollywood Studios – Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run; Rise of the Resistance; Slinky Dog Dash; Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Animal Kingdom – Pandora’s Na’vi River Journey; Avatar Flight of Passage; Expedition Everest

Some of the other most popular attractions at each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks include:

• Magic Kingdom – Haunted Mansion; Magic Carpets of Aladdin; Pirates of the Caribbean; Splash Mountain (currently closed)
• Epcot – the pavilions of Epcot World Showcase; Mission: Space; Test Track; Spaceship Earth; Soarin’; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Animal Kingdom – Expedition Everest; Jungle Cruise; Kali River Rapids; Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Hollywood Studio – Fantasmic; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster; Toy Story Midway Mania; Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Some of our favorite WDW restaurants include:

• Be Our Guest Restaurant , Magic Kingdom – This ornate French eatery with a Beauty & the Beast theme offers fixed-price dining.
• California Grill, Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Contemporary Resort’s premier restaurant is a great spot to watch the fireworks and offers breathtaking views of the park.
• Chef Mickey’s, Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Popular breakfast & dinner buffet restaurant with special visits from Mickey and friends.
• Cinderella’s Royal Table, Magic Kingdom – This Cinderella-themed eatery is set in a room that resembles a medieval castle’s banquet hall.
• Flame Tree Barbeque, Animal Kingdom – Tasty BBQ featuring a relaxing outdoor pavilion with amazing views of Animal Kingdom. And it’s quick-service, so no need for a reservation!
• Hollywood Brown Derby, Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Retro dining establishment with fantastic caricatures of old-time celebrities on the wall.
• Le Cellier, Canada Pavilion at World Showcase, Epcot – Steaks are a specialty at this top-notch table service dining establishment.
• ‘Ohana, Polynesian Village Resort – All-you-can-eat, American-style (with a Polynesian twist) buffet for breakfast and dinner.
• Teppan Edo, Japan Pavilion at World Showcase, Epcot – Guests are seated around the teppanyaki grills as skilled chefs prepare your meal in front of you.
• The Boathouse Restaurant, The Landing, Disney Springs – Upscale waterfront dining experience featuring steaks and seafood, Amphicar tours, Italian water taxi tours, and live music.
• Via Napoli, Italy Pavilion at World Showcase, Epcot – Amazing pizza! Need we say more?

✔️  Find out which rides and experiences have a Lightning Lane

✔️  See the scheduled Disney Park Hours

✔️  Learn about the Virtual Queue

✔️  Learn a few of our favorite Disney Tips and Tricks

✔️  Find the Best Days To Visit Magic Kingdom

✔️  See  What’s New at Disney World

✔️  Check the  Ride Closure and Refurbishment Calendar

✔️  Investigate whether Genie+ is worth it

✔️  Learn if we believe Lightning Lane passes are worth the cost

✔️  See our complete guide to the Disability Access Service

✔️  See our list of fun things to do at Disney

✔️  Traveling with little ones? Find the best attractions for kids

✔️  Want some time off your feet? Plan on attending a stage show

✔️  Find the best places to relax at Disney

11. Create Your Disney World Packing List

Depending on the duration of your Walt Disney World vacation, you will most likely pack lots of items to take with you. Let’s look at some of the things you should include in your WDW packing list.

Luggage / Backpacks for Disney World 

First and foremost, make sure your luggage/backpacks are in tip-top shape for the journey, and of adequate size to hold your travel essentials.

Many families prefer to bring a backpack with them into a Disney World park so they have everything with them. It’s handy to have the essentials (or even a snack) — just remember not to overdo it!  Everything you bring in with you has to be hauled around all day, stowed away for rides, or left in a rented locker at the front of the park.

Some people prefer to skip the backpacks all together and use a smaller pack that goes around the waist.  While not necessarily the height of fashion, they certainly do the job and are much easier to work with when it comes to boarding ride vehicles.

Disney Souvenirs

This tip might sound odd, but hear us out.

Consider purchasing some of your Disney World souvenirs before your departure.

Purchasing items beforehand – like t-shirts, trading pins and lanyards, Disney autograph books, games and toys, and Mickey Mouse Ears hats – can save you money and time spent shopping for these items at the park. Plus, you will have these Disney souvenir items ready to use as soon as your flight touches down in Orlando.

Packing List

And finally, it’s time to think about which clothing items, documents, toiletries, medications, electronics, swimwear, baby items, food and snacks, and other accessories you will need to pack.

From our experience, you will arrive at Disney World – thinking you have packed everything you will need for your trip – only to discover that you left an important item or two at home.

For your convenience, we have created a suggested Disney World Packing List  to ensure that nothing is overlooked during the packing process.

Print this list and check items off as you pack. We have also included a few recommended items on our Packing List.

These include links to inexpensive ponchos, comfortable shoes, external batteries, USB wall chargers, and Disney beach towels, as well as water bottles and Frogg Toggs Chilly Pads for those warm days at Disney World.

✔️  Download our suggested Packing List

✔️  See our suggestions for the Best Backpacks for Disney World

✔️  Review the Best Disney World Fanny Packs

✔️  Scope out the Best Souvenirs in advance of your trip

Final Thoughts on How To Plan a Disney World Vacation

We hope our Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World Vacation Planning will get you on the right path to planning, prioritizing, and booking your magical vacation to Disney World.  It’s a lot of information, but with enough research and planning, you’ll have a magical trip!

We should point out that this guide is mostly geared towards Walt Disney World in Florida, but many of the basic ideas still apply to other Disney vacations .  If you’re headed to Disneyland in California, you’ll also want to check out our Disneyland vs Disney World ,   Disneyland Resort Map , and  Disneyland Crowd Calendar pages.  We also offer extensive resources for those planning trips with Disney Cruise Line (including a complete guide to planning your first Disney Cruise ), as well as resources on Adventures by Disney .

Contact a Disney Travel Planner to Book Your Disney World Trip

As you’ve seen in this article, there is a LOT that goes into planning a Disney vacation.  Why not call in a professional to help?

The Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at The Vacationeer can plan your trip for you and take care of all of your reservations, all at no additional charge.  You won’t pay a penny more than if you’d have booked it yourself — and you might even pay less !

Their team of 90+ Disney fanatics know all the tips and tricks for hotels, dining, park tickets, and more… and can even apply new discounts to your trip as they’re announced, after your trip is booked!

There’s never any obligation to book and their services are free, so there’s nothing to lose by contacting them for a quote.

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Instructions for Your First Visit to Walt Disney World

By Dave Shute

RECENT AND NOTABLE POSTS:

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR FIRST DISNEY WORLD VISIT

Follow the instructions that follow for your first family visit to Walt Disney World to save thousands of dollars, and avoid dozens of hours waiting in line, while seeing all the best of Walt Disney World!

1. When to Go to Walt Disney World:

Most years, I suggest that if you can, you should arrive at Walt Disney World one of the first two, sometimes three, Saturdays after Thanksgiving .  In 2024 I recommend the first two weeks after Thanksgiving.     More…      Next best dates to go…

2. How Long to Stay:

You can have a wonderful trip spending as few as 5 days. However, if you can , be in Orlando for 9 days –a Saturday through a Sunday.    More…     Going for a shorter trip…

3. How Old/Tall Your Children Should be:

Kids of any age can have a wonderful time at Disney World. However, if this may be your kids’  only childhood visit, consider going when your youngest child is at least 8 or 9, and your shortest child at least 48 inches tall .       More…     Planning for going with younger/shorter kids…

4. Where to Stay at Walt Disney World:

Stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort if you can afford it, or at Disney’s Art of Animation  Resort  if you can’t.    More…     Next best resort options…

5. How Much to Budget:

You can have a wonderful first visit for $3,000 or less. However, to see  all the best of Walt Disney World at the best time of the year to visit, budget if you can $14,000 if you are staying at the Polynesian , or $9,500  if at  Art of Animation .     More…     Developing a much lower or a different budget…

6. When Your Plans Need to be Firm:

Your plans should be firm at least 181 days before your arrival date.      More…     Planning if it’s already later than that…

7. How to Eat at Walt Disney World:

Sign up for the “Magic Your Way Plus Dining” package. More…     Planning if you can’t do this package…

8. Where to Eat:

The Basic Itinerary tells you exactly where to eat (as do the Other Itineraries ).      More…     Next best dining choices…

9. How to Spend Your Time at Walt Disney World:

The Basic Itinerary tells you exactly how to spend your time in Orlando (as do the Other Itineraries ).      More…     Other Itineraries…

10. What to do When:

See the To-Do List for an exact list of what to do when to prepare for your trip.        More…     To-Do Lists for Other Itineraries…

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1,261 comments

Thanks again for the quick response. Ya I’m still not 100 percent sure if or when we are going. I have looked at prices for tickets and as of now I’m seeing 485 for 2 two day tickets. does that sound about average or is there any other place that I maybe able to get them cheaper. Those prices are direct from disney btw. Thanks again for all your help

Brian, prices vary by the first day of eligible use–in the period you are looking at, the range for two two day park tickets is about $60. You can’t find short tickets elsewhere that will cost less. Some of the longer-day tickets are available for small saving from third parties, but not shorter tickets.

Can I get a copy of your schedule in word so i can use that to plug my plans into?

Hi Kristi, not sure what schedule you are referring to?

Dave! When is the 2020 book coming out???

Soon! All our copy is in our publisher’s hands

Just updating. We did go down 2 weeks ago was a fun trip for what it was but my little boy got sick the very first day at magic kingdom. But I’ll give disney credit I talked to the front desk at my room and they gave me 2 tickets good for a year for him getting sick. Def will be coming back down soon. What’s the weather usually like dec threw Feb. Want to come sometime in that area and curious on temp and swimming conditions. I know that’s a broad range but figured you would have an idea of the best time to go

Brian–so nice they worked with you on tickets.

On weather, I note on this page that highs are not reliably (80% chance or better) above 75 between the beginning of November and the end of March.

You can see a more nuanced version of this in the chart below. If you look at the bottom (blue) line, you can read a number for any date. 80% of the time the high will be over that, and 20% lower than that. The middle (pink) line is the 50-50 line–half the time the high will be lower, half the time higher.

Thanks again for the quick response. Ya they worked really good with me and even refunded 50 more dollars because they refrigerator wasnt keeping anything cool in the room. Also is it normal for a plan to be cheaper at the desk than buying online? I was paying half cash and half on card so they told me I could at the front desk and the plan I got was cheaper by about 60 dollars or so. Maybe a little more I’d have to check my figures for an accurate account. I wasnt aware they charged for parking at their hotels so that kind of blew but still no paying at the parks so I still came out ahead

What kind of plan?

I got two 2day passes and 3 nights at the all star movie resort (as I said it was a quick trip down and back literally left Sunday night and came back thursday morning) but the plan was cheaper at the desk vs what I was quoted online just curious if that’s the normal or I just got a off day on pricing

Brian, I have never heard of such a thing. There are some 10% ish off room rate deals out there–maybe you got put into one of those?

Ya I’m not sure. The original plan I looked at online and was quoted on the phone was right about 906 I believe. Not including the parking. Or at least it wasnt mentioned. But the price they gave me at the desk before parking was under 900. Close to around 880ish I believe. It was wierd for sure but like you said maybe I got put into a discount. I’ll definitely check ahead of time again before I come back. This time I’m thinking magic kingdom and then sea world instead of animal kingdom. Didnt seem like much to do kid wise there but then again he was sick so that was also an issue

Hi Dave, I just wanted to say Thank You again for all of your wonderful advice which helped us on our most recent trip a few weeks ago and also our visits in 2014 and 15.

Jane, so glad to have helped!

Your site is my favorite resource for Disney planning, since planning my family’s own “first visit” back in 2011!

I am now planning our third (and likely final—as my daughter will be graduating and moving away) visit for November 2020.

The Star Wars attractions are a priority for my husband and myself. With your experience, do you have any speculation as to how the process may be for riding Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler’s Run by that time? I realize the current practice with Rise of the Resistance is unprecedented. I guess my question is this—I need to determine to stay on-site vs. off-site. We will have a party of 6 this time, including my elderly parents and two teenagers, so space is important.

Obviously, even with the option of renting DVC points, we can get more bang for our buck for a large group if opting to stay off property. However, if there’s any chance of fast passes becoming an option for these attractions by then, the 60 day window alone would make it worth the extra money to stay on-site.

Of note, I’m a fan of the “Disney bubble” and we did stay on property our last two visits, though last time we rented a car and did 2 days at Universal, my kids’ “favorite” park. (I like it, too, it’s just no Disney!) We will go to Universal for a day this time as well (though we can take an uber now that that’s a valid option).

Hi Nadine! My best guess is that by then they will indeed be using FP+.

One thing you could do is double book both a 60 day eligible hotel and a 30 day eligible one. With the Disney hotels, you can cancel up until 5 days before on a room-only booking and get your full deposit back.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are now many more hotels eligible for 60 days than there used to be. All the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels are now eligible, as are a few others. Detailed reviews are linked to from the bottom of this page . If multiple rooms is an ok option, look in particular at the Wyndham Garden.

The Doubletree sleeps 6, but the room layout may not suit your group…

Thank you so much for the advice!

Hi, I wasn’t sure if this question was posted, I’m here at Disney now, I picked this week thinking it wouldn’t be crowded. but it’s PACKED. Someone said yesterday that the crowds were at 10/10! Any idea why?

Hey Jennifer, crowds Saturday were indeed at 10s, and Sunday at 9s. Everyone missed this. Touring plans had Saturday projected for a 6, and Sunday as a 4.

I have–in retrospect, so not helpful–several theories as to why:

Reschedules from hurricane Dorian; a general shift of people aimed at Food & Wine to Festivals of the Arts, because of several years in a row of hurricane issues. Both of these focus on this weekend as it is well into the second semester, so a good time to take kids out of school, but also avoids disrupting you-know-who’s watching of the super bowl. And Festival of the Arts is much better than F&W, anyway.

Also, this was the first weekend AFTER Rise of the Resistance opened that was also had a 60 day FastPass+ window open…so folks waiting to book a trip to WDW for Galaxy’s Edge until the RoR reviews came in would find this as the best first choice.

Will you be reviewing Disney’s Riviera Resort? We have reservations for August and I’m looking for what room to request if you have a 2 bedroom villa with a standard view! Haha! Looking forward to your awesome expertise! Thanks!

Hi Sue, I’m working on my review now! I hope to have it done within a couple of weeks–it’ll be coming out in bits and pieces…

Hi Dave, just found your site (I knew of your co-author’s). This is wonderful! Although it’s not our first time, this year I, the wife, and grandson are going Sept 19, and your calendars and crowd guides are invaluable info! But, when oh when will RoR go to FastPass+?

Hey Michael, welcome and thanks! FWIW, for someone coming here from easyWDW.com , the most different stuff is my resort reviews–you can find links to all my resort reviews here .

For Rise, is seems the main question is continuing reliability, so they know with some assurance how many FP+ to issue per hour. I don’t think any outside has any insight into when that will be resolved sufficiently…

Quick question. With the shutdown and everything that has happened do you believe there is a chance they will be running specials or reduced rates on rooms at resorts when they finally open back up? I enjoyed the room we had back in November but cant being myself to pay almost 200 for the “value” rooms next month or soon after when they reopen. Any thoughts are appreciated

Absolutely, I do Brian.

Hope so I have to get back down before july and was actually shooting for this month or april until everything happened. But we going threw prices for similar rooms we stayed in and it just seems to pricey for the same room in my opinion. Almost 200 last I checked a night for value rooms in the all star movie resorts. Hopefully they drop back down to a reasonable level or cheaper. If not any recommendations for offsite hotels? I’m sure you have a section on the site but I didnt see it. Thanks again for all your help

Well now that everything is in motion to open back up what are your thoughts on how long the mask policy will last? A few weeks or months etc? I’d assume the first time people start passing out from that heat in a mask they will recend it. but who knows. Any thoughts?

Brian, I expect masks to be the last policy to be reversed–although clinically the best last policy to abandon is physical distancing.

We would like to get back to WDW during the 50th, but limited to when children are not in school. We live in MA, and thus our vacation timeframes are President’s Week, the April vacation, and summer (about June 20th forward). We normally just do April but April 2022 is the week after Easter, and April 2023 is the month after the 50th is over.

What am I likely looking at in terms of crowds in ’22 for a President’s Day trip vs a week after Easter (Easter late next year – April 18th).

Also considering the late June.. a bit scared about the heat as we are wimpy New Englanders and we’ve been spoiled with prior trips being great weather (mostly mid April trips, couple early December).

Hi Luis, I have not done the data collection and analysis I need to do to give you an answer with conviction. However, it is typical that in late Easters the week after Easter is manageable–not good, but manageable. My vote right now would be that given the weather differences you should aim for the April dates.

Love your site even as a frequent Disney visitor, are you planning to post your 2022 recommendations soon?

Hi Lauren, and thanks!! I hope to have them out within a month

I love your content. I’m a pro with Disneyland (used to be a CM there,) but have only been to WDW once. My husband and daughter have been to Disneyland, but not WDW. We want to take our daughter next year when she is 5 1/2 years, she’s already 42″ and we plan on returning a couple years later, but we want this first trip to be special. We will be out of debt next year and this trip will be a celebration for us. We are excited to splurge and plan on staying at the Polynesian.

In 2022, out of September, October, November or early December, when do you recommend we go?

Thank you for everything you do!

Thanks Sarah! I’ll have specific week by week recommendations for 2022 out very soon–hopefully by the weekend.

Take a look at those when they come out and let me know any questions you have!

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Plan Your Dream Trip To Disney!

20 Insanely Useful Tips For Your First Time At Disney World

March 3, 2021 //  by  Kimberly Jones //   Leave a Comment

If it’s your first time traveling to Disney World, it might feel a little overwhelming! There seems to be so much that you have to do, pack, plan, reserve….the list goes on and on. However, your first time at Disney doesn’t have to be stressful! We have 20 Insanely Useful Tips For Your First Time At Disney World.

This is a list of tips that we think first time Disney goers should know! It goes over what you should bring, how you could be making money by declining housekeeping, freebies, magic bands, and much, much more! Read on to learn all the tips every Disney vacationer should be aware of!

Get Familiar with My Disney Experience

The My Disney Experience app is the best free tool Disney has to offer! You will definitely want to download and take a look at this app before your first time at Disney. It’s helpful to get familiar with it before you even leave for vacation.

This app allows you to hold your Disney vacation plans at your fingertips. You are able to do so many things on this app such as make park and dining reservations, check wait times , look up park hours, see digital maps, look at PhotoPass photos, and so much more! 

The first thing you will want to do when you download the My Disney Experience app is to link your tickets, your resort room, and all of the friends and family you will be traveling with. Linking up with the people you are traveling with will make it easier to book dining reservations. You will also need to be linked if you want to all ride Rise of the Resistance together! 

This app is a MUST for your first time at Disney. Check out our 16 Best Disney Apps to Download Before Your Vacation for even more helpful apps!

Consider Renting DVC Points

Disney resorts can get expensive, so we want to help you find the best ways to stay at Disney for cheap! DVC is the acronym for the Disney Vacation Club . This is Disney’s timeshare system that operates by using points to stay at Deluxe resorts. People pay a premium to be a part of the Disney Vacation Club, and they are able to buy points to use.

Sometimes Disney Vacation Club members aren’t able to use up all of their points, so they rent them out to others. That’s where you come in! Renting DVC points is a great option if you were planning on staying at a Deluxe Resort. These resorts can get very pricey, but renting points can make staying at a Deluxe Resort more cost effective!

Our favorite place to rent DVC points is David’s DVC Rental ! You’ll be able to see how much you’d be paying by renting out points. Compare these prices to Disney’s Deluxe Resort prices, and you will realize what a steal this is! 

Staying at a Deluxe Resort is super special because these are the best resorts Disney has to offer. Make your first Disney vacation extra special by staying at one of these resorts!

Don’t Forget to Make Park and Dining Reservations in Advance

Some people don’t realize that a Disney vacation involves lots and lots of planning beforehand! You have to buy your tickets and book a room, but you can’t forget to make advance park and dining reservations! 

Disney now operates on a park pass reservation system . This means you have to book a park pass for the park you want to visit on a specific day. For example, if you are vacationing at Disney for 4 days, but you are only going to the parks for 3 of those days, you will need to choose what dates you want to go to the parks and which park for that certain date. 

I know it may seem confusing, but it is super simple to do! Just go on My Disney Experience and go to the “Make Theme Park Reservations” section. From here you can select your dates and parks, and then you’re done! 

After you have your park days booked, now it’s time to think about where you want to eat! There are lots of Quick Service locations to choose from, but if you want to eat at a Table Service restaurant, you will need to book those reservations in advance. Sometimes you are able to walk up to a restaurant and get a table, but it’s safer to book a reservation, especially for those more popular restaurants.

You can also book your dining reservations in the My Disney Experience app. Click the “+” button at the bottom of the screen and then click “Check Dining Availability”. Make sure that you are booking restaurants for the dates and locations of the park you are visiting that day!

There Are Fun Things to do on Arrival Day

Some people choose to hit the parks as soon as they check into their resort, but there are also other fun things to do on your arrival day! Even if your room isn’t ready when you get there, you can still explore the resort! You can leave your bags with bell services, and they will hold onto your bags until your room is ready. This way you can go do fun things without worrying about lugging your bags around! 

Arrival day is a great day for swimming! Change into those swimsuits and hit the resort pool while you wait for your room to be ready. If you don’t feel like swimming, you can also travel to other neighboring resorts and explore them as well. 

One of my favorite things to do on arrival day is visit Disney Springs ! It’s super relaxing and fun to walk around and shop without worrying about which ride to run to next. There are so many tasty restaurants and fun shops to explore. It’s a great way to start off the trip, and you can find some great souvenirs to use throughout your vacation! 

It can also be fun to book a dining reservation the night of your arrival. Disney resorts and Disney Springs have lots of great restaurants, you can’t go wrong with whichever you choose!

Check out our 12 Things To Do On Your Disney Arrival Day for even more fun ideas!

Make Money by Declining Housekeeping

Did you know you can make money by saying “no” to housekeeping ? Crazy, right?! This is a great perk some people don’t know about, but we definitely want you to know before your first time at Disney! 

Service Your Way is part of Disney’s green initiative to cut back on electricity, laundry, and waste. They reward guests who opt out of housekeeping with a gift card! The gift card amount varies depending on how many nights you are staying. You get $10 per night minus one night. So if you are staying 5 nights, you will get a $40 gift card.

Now you can use this extra money for souvenirs and snacks! If you don’t plan on being in your room a lot and don’t make much of a mess, opting out of housekeeping is a great idea. You can feel good about helping Disney with their green initiative and you get money at the same time! It’s a win-win!

Resorts Charge for Parking But Theme Park Parking is Free for Resort Guests

There are pros and cons to staying at a Disney resort. One of the cons is that Disney resorts charge for parking per night. The cost varies depending on which category of resort you stay at. Value resort parking costs $15 per night. Moderate resort parking costs $20 per night. Deluxe resort parking is $25 per night. These nights can add up to a significant amount if you’re planning on staying for a while.

The pro for staying at a Disney resort in regards to parking is that parking at the theme parks is free. Guests staying off property have to pay $25 per day for standard parking and $45-50 per day for preferred parking. 

Overall, if you drive to Disney, you’re going to pay for parking whether or not you are staying at a Disney resort. Do be aware though that Disney offers free transportation from your resort to the parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks, so you don’t need to rely on a car to get around.

Prepare to Walk A LOT and Bring Comfy Shoes

Going to Disney is no joke. You will be walking around A LOT (seriously a lot)! It can get pretty exhausting, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. Know how much walking you can handle before you go to Disney. This way you can plan out your day to minimize the amount of walking you will have to do.

When we go to Magic Kingdom , we like to plan any reservations in the order we’ll be walking through the park. We’ll start in one land and work our way to the opposite side through all the other lands. This way we don’t miss out on anything while decreasing the amount of walking we will have to do. 

Another great way to be prepared for all that walking is to bring comfy shoes! We can’t stress enough how important it is to wear shoes you are comfortable walking around in at the parks. This will save your feet so much unnecessary pain or blisters! Make sure to break in any new shoes before you wear them during your first time at Disney. We have a list of the Best Shoes for Disney to help you find the perfect pair! 

It’s also important to give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place. Disney is huge, so it can take a while to get from your resort to a park or to another resort. If you have a reservation planned, make sure to schedule extra time for any mishaps. Sometimes a bus can be running late or there will be crowds. Don’t stress yourself out by waiting until the last minute to get somewhere!

Check the Weather Before Your Trip and Be Prepared for it to Change

Florida is super unpredictable when it comes to weather. It could be raining at one moment and then the sun could be shining in the next. It can be helpful to check the weather all the way up until you leave for your trip, but you should still be prepared for it to change. 

The summer months are the worst when it comes to rain in Florida . Even though Florida is in the south, it can still get a little chilly at night during the winter months. Depending on when you are vacationing to Disney, it’s important to have a few essentials for any unpredictable weather.

The most important item you will need in the summer months is a poncho or rain jacket! Always be carrying one in your bag for any unexpected rain. It literally comes out of nowhere in some instances. No one wants to walk around in the parks soaking wet! But we also know you don’t want to spend lots of money on Disney brand ponchos.

Prepare before your trip by purchasing cheap ponchos. These can easily be reused during your whole vacation and discarded at the end. They are definitely a life saver! 

During the winter months, it’s a great idea to bring a jacket. The day time outside will feel nice, but those nights can get cold. Having a light jacket on hand will ensure you’re never uncomfortable!

Don’t Miss Out On Freebies!

Before your first trip to Disney World, you’ll want to know about all of the freebies you can score! One of the best freebies, especially for your first Disney vacation, is a “First Visit” button. Ask any retail or resort cast member for a free button. They have different buttons for different occasions! You’re going to want that “First Visit” button for sure. When cast members see you wearing this button, they make sure to make your first Disney visit extra special! 

Another freebie most people don’t know about is that you can get free ice water. At any quick service location with a soda fountain, you can ask the cast members for a cup of water. No one at Disney wants you getting dehydrated! 

The Play Dinsey app is a free app that makes your Disney vacation even more immersive. The app tracks your location and gives you access to fun games themed to the ride or area you are located in. There is also trivia and you can earn achievements. The app turns into a data pad as soon as you enter Galaxy’s Edge ! Once here, you can complete missions, translate languages, hack into droids, and more! 

If apps aren’t your thing, trying going on a Hidden Mickey scavenger hunt! There are tons of hidden Mickeys all around the parks and resorts. You could spend a whole day just looking for them! 

Another fun free thing to do at Disney is to watch free movies ! Most Disney resorts have “Movie Under the Stars”, where you are able to watch a Disney movie outside on a big screen at night. Check with your resort to find out when and what movie will be playing while you are there! 

There are so many other awesome free things to do at Disney World, we made our own article for them! Check out our 17 Totally Free Things To Do At Disney World ! (Some things might be temporarily unavailable due to the current pandemic.)

Magic Bands Aren’t Required, But They Are Helpful

Back in 2020, Disney used to provide Magic Bands to every resort guest for free. Starting at the beginning of January 2021, Disney now charges $5 for the basic magic bands when you order them before your trip. If you wait to buy them in the parks, it costs $15 for the basic bands. They also have a lot of specialty designed bands for a higher price.

Magic Bands are insanely useful ! They are your park tickets , your room key, and your credit card (if you choose to link it)! These can make traveling around super convenient because everything is right on your wrist. 

Disney started charging for Magic Bands because they are planning on enabling a digital version of the bands on My Disney Experience. This would allow you to do everything from your phone instead. Fun fact: You can actually unlock your resort room with your My Disney Experience app! 

If the Magic Bands aren’t for you, that’s okay! Disney has other options. They also have the Key to the World card which can do the same things a Magic Band can, but in card form. You can get these for free at your front desk.  You can also just use a standard ticket to get into the parks and use your own credit card to purchase things. 

Deciding on which route you choose depends on what you’re comfortable with! Magic Bands are super useful because you don’t have to worry about carrying anything around. You can also reuse your Magic Bands for future vacations!

Make Sure to Have a Break and Don’t Worry About Doing Everything!

Contrary to what you might believe, Disney vacations can be exhausting! You’re getting up early every day to run around the parks from morning to night and trying to fit everything in! But please don’t push yourself too hard, especially during your first time at Disney! That’s the worst way to turn your dream vacation into a nightmare.

Make sure to schedule breaks either during the middle of the day or have a full break day in between your park days. This will ensure you and your family don’t get burnt out during your trip. Use these breaks to take a nap or relax at the pool. It will feel good to get off your feet for a little bit and not be constantly moving. You’ll thank us later! 

Also, don’t worry about doing absolutely everything at Disney World. Disney really has so much to offer, it would be impossible to fit it all into one trip. Instead, plan your must-do attractions and food ahead of time. Figure out what rides you have to do and the ones you could live with missing. This way you get to do everything you want to do, and then you might have some extra time for the other things! 

I have been going to Disney for years, and I still haven’t even done everything! Don’t sweat it and just enjoy your time at the most magical place on earth!

You Don’t Need to Go to the Parks to Have Fun

Some people think that Disney is only about the parks, but this is not true! There are so many wonderful things to experience away from Disney’s theme parks. 

Disney has water parks , resorts, mini golf, excursions, dining, shopping, and more! You could spend a whole day (or multiple) doing things outside of the parks.

There are lots of different resorts that Disney has to offer, and you can go visit them all! Even if you’re staying at a Value resort doesn’t mean you can’t go explore a Deluxe resort! Each resort has its own unique theming, shopping, and dining. You can even go see live animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! 

A lot of the resorts also have their own excursions or activities you can do! Fort Wilderness has horseback riding, you can rent a boat at the Grand Floridian , you can go fishing at the Yacht and Beach Club , etc. Each resort is unique in the kinds of activities they offer, but you don’t have to be staying at that specific resort to do them! 

Disney Springs is another great place to find fun things to do! You can go bowling at Splitsville, catch a movie at AMC Theaters, build a dinosaur at T-Rex Cafe, and much more. There are also a ton of fun shops, dining, and snacks to try! You don’t want to miss out on Disney Springs during your first time at Disney! 

The list goes on and on for what you can do for fun away from the parks! Use your break day to try some new adventures!

Some Splurges Are Worth It!

We know, we know, Disney is already expensive enough! But we are here to tell you that there are some splurgers at Disney World that are actually worth it! Like we had mentioned earlier, you can rent DVC points to stay at Deluxe Resorts, and this is a splurge that is worth it! 

Deluxe Resorts have nicer and bigger pools, immersive theming, more restaurant and lounge options, better rooms, and are just overall nicer. This isn’t to say that Value or Moderate Resorts aren’t nice! Deluxe Resorts are just a fun splurge that will let you enjoy the full Disney package! 

Another fun splurge is the Memory Maker . Memory Maker gives you access to all of the photos taken of you by the Photopass photographers at the parks. It even gives you access to your ride photos! Memory Maker costs $199 if you buy it at Disney or $169 if you buy it before your vacation. Memory Maker helps you capture all of your memories without you even having to pull out your camera! 

It’s some people’s dream to make their very own lightsaber, and now you can actually do that! At Savi’s Workshop in Galaxy’s Edge, you can build your very own lightsaber! It costs $200 per person, but it is well worth it. This is an experience you and your family won’t forget! 

If you’re looking for a cheaper splurge, buying a popcorn bucket is a great option! A regular popcorn at Disney costs $5 while a Disney popcorn bucket costs $12. Now you might think it’s crazy to spend an extra $7 on a bucket, but we’ll tell you why it’s worth it! Disney’s popcorn buckets are refillable for only $2 per refill! If you plan on eating a lot of popcorn during your vacation, buying a popcorn bucket will actually save you money ! 

Check out our 16 Best Splurges At Disney Worth The Spend for even more ideas! (Some things might be temporarily unavailable due to the current pandemic.)

A Guaranteed Way to See Characters is to Book Character Dining

Currently, the only way to see characters around the parks is during a character cavalcade parade or spotting a character just standing about at a safe distance. The only thing is there is no way to know when these small parades might be happening or when characters might be out. If you want to guarantee a way to see characters, we recommend booking a character dining reservation .

Here is a list of the current character dining locations that are open with modified character experiences and the characters you might see:

Garden Grill :

Toppolino’s Terrace Breakfast:

Hollywood and Vine Breakfast:

• Doc Mcstuffins
• Sofia the First
• Jake from the Neverland Pirates

Hollywood and Vine Lunch/Dinner:

Chef Mickey’s :

You won’t be able to get any autographs or hugs from your favorite characters, but you will be able to take socially distanced photos when they pass by your table!

Disney Offers Lots of Dietary and Vegan Options

You might be surprised to find out that Disney World isn’t all just hamburgers and chicken nuggets. They actually have some really tasty and unique options at both table service and quick service restaurants!

Just because you’re going to Disney doesn’t mean you need to forgo any of your special dietary needs. Disney is very accommodating to any allergies or dietary restrictions guests might have. If you have any dietary restrictions, just let the cast member or server know, and they will be able to help you modify your meal! 

If you have an allergy, ask the cast member for an allergy friendly menu! It will let you know what is and isn’t safe to eat. 

Disney even offers Halal meals at select restaurants. You have to make a request for a Halal meal 24 hours in advance or when you book your dining reservation. 

If you are vegan, you can still find delicious meals at Disney! Most restaurants have some sort of vegan option, but if they don’t for some reason, you can request to make them vegan! Disney wants everyone to be able to enjoy their food! 

Fun fact: Disney’s popcorn is actually vegan! Snack away! 

If you’re vegan or have dietary restrictions, check out our 20+ Best Places to Eat Vegan at Disney World for our favorites!

You Can Have Groceries Delivered to Your Resort

It might surprise you to know that you can actually get groceries delivered right to your resort ! That way you don’t have to try to fit a bunch of snacks and food in your luggage! 

There are lots of different ways you can get groceries delivered to your resort. You can use Instacart, Walmart Grocery Delivery, Garden Grocer, Amazon Prime Now, or whatever you prefer. This makes it super convenient for you to get all of the snacks/food you need without having to leave your resort.

Disney resorts have small convenience sections in the gift shops. Don’t waste all your money on those snacks though! They are overpriced, and you can get your food for much cheaper with a grocery delivery service.

You Are Able to Bring Your Own Food Into the Parks

After ordering all of those groceries, you don’t have to leave them at the resort! You can actually bring your own snacks and meals into the parks ! This is actually a really great way to save money during your first time at Disney. Especially if you have hungry kids that are constantly asking for snacks.

The only restrictions are:

• No glass, except for small baby food jars
• Loose ice must be in a sealed bag

Besides these restrictions, you can bring whatever food you’d like into the parks! I like to bring little ziploc bags full of snacks such as pretzels, goldfish, fruit snacks, and protein bars. This will help you avoid spending lots of money on Disney’s overpriced snacks. However, some are actually worth it! 

Tip: Gum is not sold anywhere on Disney property. Make sure to buy some before your vacation if you need it!

Prepare a Park Bag With All of the Necessities

It can be helpful to prepare what you will be bringing in your park bag before you get to Disney World! There are several things you might not have thought of to bring. It’ll be much cheaper to buy these items at home from places like Amazon or the Dollar Tree rather than when you get to Disney World. 

As mentioned above, you are able to bring snacks into the parks with you! Snacks are a great addition to any park bag to curb hunger while you wait for your next meal. 

An external battery charger and phone charging cord are another must for your bag. You’ll be using My Disney Experience a lot to keep up with your plans, so it’s important to have something to keep that phone charged!

Bringing your own water bottle is a great way to stay hydrated in the Florida heat. Cast Members do not want you passing out during your vacation! 

A poncho or umbrella is another great addition to your park bag. You will definitely need one of these if you are traveling to Disney in the summer! 

It’s also a great idea to bring some form of entertainment for long lines! Either download some fun apps on your phone or bring toys for your children to keep them occupied. 

There are lots of other things that might be necessary for you to bring to the parks. Read our What To Bring In Your Disney Park Bag for a full list of what we think you might need!

Utilize Rider Switch

If for your first time at Disney you are traveling with small children, you should know what rider switch is! If you’re bringing a child that doesn’t meet the height requirement of certain rides, don’t worry! Everyone in your family (minus the child that doesn’t meet the requirement) will still be able to ride.

Rider switch (also known as rider swap or child swap) is Disney’s service for rides with height requirements that will help you ride those rides without having to wait in line twice. You go up to the cast member of the attraction you want to ride and let them know you want to use rider switch. They will scan everyone’s magic bands to get you set up. 

Then, one part of the family can get in the normal line to ride the attraction while an adult stays with the child who can’t ride. After that part of the family is done riding, the adult waiting with the child can use the FastPass line to skip the regular line and bring two others to ride with them. This means that some people could ride the attraction twice! 

Now no one has to miss out on any attractions, and you don’t have to wait in the regular line two times for everyone to ride! Make sure to use rider switch if you have small children with you to save time. 

There are some rides at Disney that have no height requirements. This means anyone, even babies, can ride! It is possible to visit Disney with toddlers and still have fun !

Know Your Stroller Options

Another thing to consider when bringing children to Disney World is what kind of stroller to use. You can bring your own stroller or you can rent one, either from Disney or from a third party service. 

The only rules against strollers are that you can’t bring in wagons and the strollers cannot exceed 31” (79cm) wide x 52” (132cm) long. Keep these restrictions in mind if you are bringing your own stroller or renting any place else that isn’t Disney. 

If you bring your own stroller or rent from around Florida, you will be able to bring that stroller with you to resorts, Disney Springs, the parks, and pretty much anywhere you go. If you rent a stroller from the Disney parks, those strollers are not able to leave the parks! 

All in all, it really depends on what you need for your children. If you just need strollers in the parks, it might be easier to rent from Disney. If you need a stroller all the time, bring your own or rent from around Florida.

For more information on finding the right stroller, read our How To Choose the Best Disney Stroller Option For You !

We hope you have found these tips as useful as we did! Our goal here at Disney Trippers is for you to have the best Disney trip possible! What was your favorite tip? What was something new that you learned? Let us know and have fun at your first time at Disney!

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The Ultimate Disney World Guide for First Timers (2024)

Disney World for first timers can be…well…overwhelming! And there’s no way I want you to feel that way. So, I created the ultimate Disney World guide for first timers (and I’m so excited to share it with you!). 

I’ve been lucky enough to go to Disney World anywhere from 1-3 times per year my whole life. I’ve done Disney as a kid, teenager, adult…and now as a mom myself (which has been awesome, by the way! So if you’re going to Disney with kids, no need to stress…I got you!). 

No, I’m not a local, so I can’t just pop in and see the latest and greatest thing going on there any time I want. I have to plan for each Disney trip we take to make sure we make the most out of it, while still making it feel like a vacation. 

Believe it or not, planning a first Disney trip can be almost as fun as actually going on the trip. In this Disney World guide, I’ll cover it all thoroughly enough to give a great head start on this planning extravaganza, but also concise enough so that you’re not sitting here for hours reading it. 

Now, let’s get planning for your first time at Disney World!

Disclosure: You may see affiliate links throughout this post, which means these are the things I handpicked! If you purchase something through these links, I will get a small commission at absolutely no extra charge to you. And that sure means a lot to me, so thank you in advance! See the privacy policy for more information.

Walt Disney World is the size of the city San Francisco. And that’s probably one of the reasons it feels like such a big task to plan your first Disney vacation. 

So, needless to say, there’s zero chance you’ll do it all on your first trip to Disney (heck, I haven’t even done it all, and I’ve been more times than I can count!). And that’s okay . Please remember that as you’re planning!

But just to get started, let’s review some of what makes up Walt Disney World:

Four Theme Parks 

Magic kingdom.

Think quintessential Disney. A mix of classic attractions and new favorites, TONS of rides that everyone can enjoy , and a pretty epic fireworks show. Magic Kingdom is a must-do during a first-time visit to Walt Disney World in my opinion! 

At Epcot, you’ll find some amazing food and drink options. And this is absolutely the best park if meeting princesses is a priority. But my favorite part about it as a mom? There are a bunch of fun play areas around the park that my kids LOVE. 

Hollywood Studios

This park is the place to be if you’re a Stars Wars, Toy Story, or Disney Junior lover. While there are only a couple rides with no height restrictions, there are lots of shows and character meet and greets to keep even the littlest ones in your party entertained. 

Animal Kingdom

An animal lover’s dream, but so much more than a zoo.  In fact, I wouldn’t even put Animal Kingdom in the category of a zoo at all. You can learn so much about animal conservation here, enjoy unique attractions, and see my personal favorite show on property – Festival of the Lion King. 

Can’t decide which park(s) might be best for your family? Here’s a good review of what each park offers .

Two Water Parks

Typhoon lagoon.

Disney legend has it that this tropical paradise was hit by a huge typhoon, and now you get to enjoy all the fun that came from the aftermath. 

Blizzard Beach

This water park doesn’t have a tropical feel at all. In fact, you’re transported to a winter wonderland in the middle of Florida. 

Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a massive shopping and dining area. So, if you’re really into those things, this area might end up being on your must-do list for your first trip to Disney.

There’s also plenty of entertainment options and fun experiences there, as well, such as Cirque du Soleil, bowling, a movie theater, driving a car (that turns into a boat) right into the water, and taking a “hot air balloon” ride.  

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex 

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a large sports facility that hosts thousands of athletes in over 60 sports throughout the year. (Fun fact: I actually competed in dance team nationals there in high school!). 

Over 30 Resort Hotels

The resorts can honestly be attractions of their own.  Whether you’re staying on property or not, you can still enjoy all that the resorts have to offer including dining and resort activities. 

Now that you have a general idea of what Disney offers, let’s jump into the details of the planning stage. 

Setting Up a My Disney Experience Account

The very first thing you should do when planning a trip to Disney World for the first time is set up your My Disney Experience account. Head over to Disney’s website or download the My Disney Experience app on your phone to get started.

My Disney Experience will be your hub for basically EVERYTHING while planning your trip and enjoying your time at Disney. Your travel party and all of your plans, tickets, dining reservations, and resort information will be linked to this account as you plan everything.

This is also where you will access Disney Genie (as well as Genie+ if you decide to purchase this), virtual queues, mobile food ordering, and photos that are taken throughout your vacation. 

You’ll be able to find the park hours, park maps, ride wait times, character meet and greet locations, and SO much more.

If you’re staying on Walt Disney World property, you will even be able to check into your resort and open the door to your room through the app. 

So, the moral of the story? Go get this set up ASAP. And once you do, click around just for fun to get yourself familiar with it all. 

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Once you have your dates on the calendar, it’s time to choose where you’ll stay. There are two general options–staying on Disney World property and off Disney World property. 

Both have their pros and cons (the main con of staying on property being the price), but there really is something extra special about staying on property and being in the “Disney bubble.” Not only that, but there are also perks that come along with staying on property. 

On-property perks include:

• Extra park hours. All Disney Resort Hotel guests get to enter the parks 30 minutes early each day. And those staying at deluxe resorts get extended evening hours on select nights (I promise I’ll get into the different levels of resorts in a second).
• The ability to book your dining reservations for your entire trip 60 days prior to your check-in date (yep, I’ll get to this soon, too!). 
• Free transportation around property.
• Getting first dibs on Individual Lightning Lane selections (again, I’ll get to this later). 
• Free parking at the resorts and theme parks. 
• The ability to purchase the Disney Dining Plan (if you book a vacation package).
• Discounts on MagicBand or MagicBand+. And if you do decide to purchase those, you can set up the ability to charge your room for purchases made during your vacation.  

Ok, now let’s get into the deets about your on-property vs off-property accommodation options. 

On-Property Resort Hotel Options

Disney World has Resort Hotel options at various price points, with the value resorts being the cheapest option and the deluxe resorts being the most expensive option. Obviously, as the price goes up, the more amenities or better location you get. But here’s a quick overview of it all:

Value Resort Hotels

In general, you can expect the Value Resort Hotels to have motel-like outdoor entrances to your room, a food court, fun theming, and large pools with no water slides. 

Value Resort Hotels have the smallest rooms overall and usually sleep 4. But All-Star Music and Art of Animation offer family suites that sleep 6 for a higher price. 

List of Value Resort Hotels at Disney World + Transportation Options Around Property

• Art of Animation : Skyliner transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks. 
• All-Star Movies : Bus transportation only.
• All-Star Music : Bus transportation only.
• All-Star Sports : Bus transportation only.
• Pop Century : Skyliner transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks.

Moderate Resort Hotels

You can expect a little bump up in the quality and amenities at Moderate Resort Hotels compared to Value Resort Hotels.  The rooms will be a bit bigger, some of the studios have 5th sleeper options, pools will have water slides, and you’ll have table service restaurant options in addition to a food court.

List of Moderate Resort Hotels at Disney World + Transportation Options Around Property

• Caribbean Beach : Skyliner transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks.
• Coronado Springs :  Bus transportation only. 
• Fort Wilderness Cabins : Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Port Orleans French Quarter : Bus transportation to all theme parks and water parks. Boat transportation to Disney Springs. 
• Port Orleans Riverside : Bus transportation to all theme parks and water parks. Boat transportation to Disney Springs. 

Deluxe Resort Hotels

The Deluxe Resort Hotels are the cream of the crop when it comes to Disney resorts (and the prices reflect that).  These resorts will have the most square footage in the rooms with a balcony/patio, more elaborate pools and waterslides, and table service and quick service dining options (no food court style dining). 

These resorts *usually* have interior entry to your room, multiple transportation options to get you around property, and a location close to the theme parks or Disney Springs (sometimes within walking distance!). 

List of Deluxe Resort Hotels at Disney World + Transportation Options Around Property

• Animal Kingdom Lodge : Bus transportation only. 
• Beach Club : Boat transportation and walking paths to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Walking distance to Skyliner transportation (which connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios). Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Boardwalk : Boat transportation and walking paths to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Walking distance to Skyliner transportation (which connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios). Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Contemporary : Monorail transportation to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Walking path to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Grand Floridian : Monorail transportation to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Walking path and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Old Key West : Bus transportation to all theme parks and water parks. Boat transportation to Disney Springs. 
• Polynesian : Monorail transportation to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Riviera : Skyliner transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks.
• Saratoga Springs : Bus transportation to all theme parks and water parks. Walking path and boat transportation to Disney Springs. 
• Wilderness Lodge : Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Yacht Club : Boat transportation and walking paths to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Walking distance to Skyliner transportation (which connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios). Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 

Fort Wilderness Campground

Yep, there’s even a campground at Disney World! The campground is located at Fort Wilderness, and guests can enjoy the same perks and resort amenities as those staying in the cabins (except for the fact that you have to have a camper or tent with you!). 

Guests have access to boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. And bus transportation to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks. 

Disney Vacation Club Villas

The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is basically Disney’s version of a timeshare and has villas at all the deluxe resorts. One major thing that sets the villas apart from the regular resort rooms is that the villas have a bit more of a home away from home feel. In the studios, there are kitchenettes and in 1-bedroom villas or bigger, there are full kitchens and laundry facilities in the room. 

Now, this may sound like something that doesn’t pertain to you since it’s your first time at Disney World, BUT you can actually rent DVC points to enjoy the perks of staying in a DVC villa (and staying in a deluxe resort in general). This usually ends up being cheaper than booking a regular room at the same deluxe resort. In fact, at times, you may even find prices that are similar to stays at moderate resorts!

In order to rent DVC points, there are quite a few companies you could use. DVC Rental Store and David’s Vacation Club Rentals are a couple of options, but if you google “renting DVC points,” you’ll be able to see various options. 

It’s good to note that you’re not able to book a Disney vacation package when renting DVC points, so you’ll have to purchase your tickets separately. 

List of Resorts with Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney World + Transportation Options Around Property

• Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary : Monorail transportation to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Walking path to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge : Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 
• Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge : Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and water parks. 

Off-Property Accommodations 

There are plenty of off-property accommodations nearby, including vacation rentals (like on VRBO ) and nearby hotels. 

These are great if you’re looking for more budget-friendly or pet-friendly options, you need accommodations with lots of extra space, you want to use hotel points that you’ve been saving up, or you just don’t want to be *totally* immersed in Disney. 

It’s good to note that there are “good neighbor hotels” at Disney World, in which you can book a Disney vacation package (resort + tickets) at a non-Disney resort and get some perks as if you were staying on property. Check out a full list of good neighbor hotels here . 

Theme Park Ticket Options and Park Reservations

Next up on this Disney World beginners guide? Purchasing your park tickets. You can do so on Disney’s website , as part of a Disney vacation package, or on a discount ticket site (like Undercover Tourist ). My workplace even offers discounted tickets, so it’s something to look into!

IMPORTANT: Kids under 3 are FREE and will *not* need a park ticket. Kids ages 3-9 will have slightly discounted ticket prices. 

Check out this post if you’re trying to figure out which park(s) to visit , especially if you’re going with young kids.

Disney World Ticket Options

Standard theme park ticket.

The Standard Theme Park Ticket is also known as the 1 Park Per Day ticket. This is the least expensive option.

With this ticket type, you will receive admission to ONE of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks each day. You may leave the park and re-enter the same park later that day. But you will not be able to enter a different theme park that day.

My Disney World advice for first timers who are overwhelmed with all the options Disney offers? Get the 1 Park Per Day ticket to help streamline your decision-making. 

1 Park Per Day with Water and Sports Option

With this ticket type, you will receive admission to one theme park per day as described above.  Plus, you will be able to enjoy a certain number of visits to some fun extras. 

The number of visits you receive will depend on the number of days worth of theme park tickets purchased. For example, a 1-day theme park ticket allows one visit to one of the extras listed below, a 3-day ticket allows 3 visits, etc. These visits will be in addition to your theme park tickets, so you can choose to use them on the same day you go to a theme park or a different day. 

For each visit, you can choose one of the following:

• Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course – FootGolf
• Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (before 4 PM)
• Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (before 4 PM)

Park Hopper Option

Adding on the Park Hopper Option to your Standard Theme Park Ticket will allow you to visit more than one park on the same day. This is my favorite ticket type because it allows for SO much flexibility. 

Park Hopper Plus Option

The Park Hopper Plus Option is almost identical to the 1 Park Per Day with Water and Sports Option described above, so check out that section for more details. 

The only difference is that instead of only being able to visit one theme park per day, you will be able to visit more than one park on the same day, as described in the Park Hopper Option section. 

Annual Passes

Annual passes are most useful when you live close by or when you will be taking at least 2-3 separate trips to Walt Disney World throughout the year.

There are different types of Disney annual passes that consist of different benefits. Make sure to read through all the benefits of each pass on Disney’s website before purchasing, so you know exactly what it entails. 

Park Reservations

As of January 9, 2024, park reservations are a thing of the past IF you have a date-based park ticket! (Can I get a whoop whoop?!)

There’s a bit of a caveat, though. If you have a different ticket type (like an annual pass, military ticket, conference ticket, etc.), you will still need to make a park reservation. Don’t forget that important step if you don’t have a date-based ticket!

Special Ticketed Events

Throughout the year, Disney World offers special ticketed events, including After Hours Parties, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party , and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. 

If an event is offered during your Disney trip and you’d like to go, you will need to purchase a separate ticket for that event specifically. 

Disney World Transportation 

Airport transportation.

If you’re flying into Orlando International Airport (the easiest and most common airport to fly into when visiting Disney World), you’ll have several options for how you’ll get from the airport to your resort. 

Here’s a quick overview:

• Shuttle bus (such as Mears Connect ) : these shuttle buses tend to be one of the most affordable options and you don’t need to have a car seat. But with a decrease in price comes some things to consider. You’ll have to wait in a (potentially long) line to get onto the bus. Then you’ll have to wait for the bus to fill up. Then you’ll likely have multiple stops along the bus route (I’m not sure why, but we’re somehow always one of the last dang stops!). For your return trip at the end of your vacation, you’ll be given a pickup time that’s usually about 3 hours prior to your departure time. 
• Private transportation (my favorite is Away We Go ) : the great thing about this option is that they’re ready right when you get off the plane to take your family directly to your resort. A lot of them even provide car seats. With any sort of private transportation, the cost goes up though.
• Car rental : if you want more flexibility during your trip or if you’ll be traveling to the surrounding areas off Disney property, this will be the way to go. I highly recommend reserving your car in advance . 
• Uber/Lyft : a rideshare service might be the cheapest option of all (although you will see price surges during busy times). But of course, there are certain things to consider, such as the car seat situation if you’re traveling with your kiddos. We have personally never done this option with our kids.

On-Property Transportation

There are SO many fun Disney World transportation options (honestly, we take rides on the Monorail or Skyliner just for the fun of it sometimes!). Almost all transportation options on property are FREE for anyone. 

So, let’s say you’re staying off property, but you’re at the Magic Kingdom and want to take a ride on the Monorail to go grab lunch at the Polynesian resort. You can do that!

Here are the on-property transportation options you might come by during your trip:

• Monorail : the Monorail travels to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and select resorts. It also makes a stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center, which is important to know if you’ll be driving, taking an Uber, or using the shuttle from an off-property resort to get to the Magic Kingdom. *You do not need to collapse your strollers on the Monorail.  
• Skyliner : the Skyliner travels to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and select resorts. *You do not need to collapse your strollers on the Skyliner IF it’s a single stroller or tandem double stroller (you will need to collapse it if it’s a side-by-side stroller).
• Bus : if you’re staying on Disney property, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll take a bus to get somewhere on property. *You will need to collapse your strollers on bus transportation.
• Boat/Ferry : you’ll find boats or a ferry in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot resort areas. *You do not need to collapse your strollers on the boats or ferry.
• Minnie Van : this is a paid service offered through Lyft, picking you up when you’d like and taking you directly to your destination (often making it the quickest option to get anywhere on property). You can book a Minnie Van in your My Disney Experience app. Up to two car seats will be provided if needed.  
• Driving : if you have a car, you can drive anywhere on property. If you’re staying at a Disney World resort, parking at your resort and at the theme parks will be free (although you can pay a fee for premium parking if you’d like). It’s good to note that when driving to Magic Kingdom, you will not park at Magic Kingdom. Instead, you will park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and take the Monorail or a Ferry to the park. 

Dining at Disney World

Dining options at Disney World seem endless. So, let’s just stick with the basics in this guide.

Quick Service Restaurants at Disney World

Quick service restaurants are spread out all over the theme parks and resorts. You do not need reservations for these restaurants.

These restaurants will have large seating areas, you will get your food on trays, and you’ll be responsible for throwing your trash away at the end of your meal. 

As the name implies, this will be your quickest dining option. 

Table Service Restaurants at Disney World

These are sit-down meals, whether that’s family-style, table service, or buffets. All character dining is included in this category. 

It’s highly recommended that you make advanced reservations for table service restaurants at Disney World. However, at times, there is a walk-up list you can join at the last minute.

Some reservations are harder to get than others (there are some SUPER popular themed restaurants or character dining spots like Cinderella’s Royal Table, for example). 

I always try to make my reservations 60 days in advance. But if I don’t get the reservation I want, I check back every now and then leading up to our trip. I’ve even had luck getting popular dining reservations on the day of!

Advanced Dining Reservations

What’s this you say about making reservations 60 days in advance? Well, let’s talk about it. Because this is a very important part of the planning timeline for Disney World.

If you’re staying at a Disney World resort , your advanced dining reservation booking window will open at 6:00 AM Eastern 60 days prior to your check-in date for your entire trip. 

If you’re staying off property , your advanced dining reservation booking window will open at 6:00 AM Eastern 60 days prior to the day you want to make each specific reservation.

You can make dining reservations on your My Disney Experience account online or on the My Disney Experience app. (I personally like to have both options open in case one glitches!)

If you decide you no longer want or need the reservation, you can cancel it up to two hours prior to the reservation without penalty (you’ll have to put a credit card down when booking the reservation that can be charged if you no show your reservation).

Mobile Ordering 

There are lots of restaurants that offer mobile ordering using the My Disney Experience app. Most of the restaurants that offer mobile ordering are quick service restaurants, but there are some table service restaurants that offer it for to-go orders. 

To mobile order food, open up your My Disney Experience app, click the “+” button on the bottom, then click “Order Food.” Once you’re ready for them to start putting your meal together, click the button stating that you’ve arrived. 

This is a great way to save time waiting in lines at restaurants! 

Food Allergies at Disney World

Disney World is amazing at accommodating food allergies. All quick service and table service restaurants at Disney have allergy-friendly menus. And you are encouraged to ask to speak to the chef to discuss all allergies before ordering. 

Disney recommends contacting them in advance if you have 4 or more food allergies. Their website states they would like you to contact them by emailing [email protected] after making your dining reservations AND no more than 14 days before your trip.

Bringing Your Own Food into the Parks

You’re more than welcome to bring your own food into the parks (I always have snacks with me for the boys!). However, Cast Members will not be able to store, cook, or reheat any food you bring in.

Coolers are allowed as long as they’re smaller than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high. Loose and dry ice are not allowed, so bring along ice packs. 

Here’s a full list of what you can bring into the Disney World theme parks . 

Moving right along, now we get into the stuff that you don’t necessarily need, buuut may just make your trip a little more magical.  

First up, Genie+.  This is a paid service that allows you to skip the standby line at an attraction by booking a Lightning Lane reservation on the My Disney Experience app.

If you’re not quite sure what Genie+ is or if you’d need it, check out my full Genie+ review here . 

Long story, short…this can come in VERY handy if waiting in long lines doesn’t seem like something you’d like to do. But it’s super important to know how to use the service to get your money’s worth. 

I promise it’s not hard, but it can seem a little overwhelming initially. To learn all about it and prepare yourself in the best possible way, take a look at my full Genie+ guide . 

Memory Maker

Memory Maker is a photo service offered at Disney World. 

Around the parks, you’ll see PhotoPass photographers just about everywhere. If you purchase Memory Maker you’ll have access to download all the photos taken on your trip. And if you purchase it in advance, you’ll snag it at a discounted rate.

If you’re the picture taker in the family like me, this is a great way to ensure you get all the group photos you want during your first Disney trip (that aren’t selfies, of course). 

But my favorite reason to have it? Capturing my kids’ reactions during character meet and greets .  That way I just get to enjoy the moment instead of worrying about getting my phone out. 

Enchanting Extras

Finally, let’s talk about Enchanting Extras.  These are things like a fireworks dessert party, a cabana by the pool, getting a princess or knight makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, getting a haircut at Harmony Barber Shop, or building a lightsaber. There are a crazy amount of options!

To book an enchanting extra, you can do so online or by calling Disney World. The booking window is the same as the advanced dining reservations, BUT instead of opening at 6:00 AM Eastern, they often open at 12:00 AM Eastern (if you weren’t already tired enough thinking about booking advanced reservations…ha!). 

Disney World Tips for First Timers

Woohoo! You’ve made it through all the big decisions. But it’s one thing to just check boxes and another thing to make the most out of your time in the parks.  Here are some of my best tips for Disney World first timers. 

Get to know the My Disney Experience app ahead of time.

You’ll use the My Disney Experience every. single. day. of your trip. So click through it ahead of time to get an idea of where to find everything. 

Get to know how to use Genie+ ahead of time if you plan to purchase it.

This is a big one. To be blunt, if you don’t know how to use Genie+ before purchasing it, you’ll likely feel like you completely wasted your money on it. So do yourself the favor of getting to know how to use Genie+ before you even step foot in the parks. 

Looking for allll of my Disney tips? (Because there’s plenty more where this came from.)

Instagram is where it’s at! Check out @ThoseMagicalDays — an extension of Those Johnson Boys, where I let loose on everything Disney to help make your trip stress-free.

Check in at the front desk to get the lay of the land.

If you’re staying at a Disney World resort, you’ll be able to check into your resort in advance on your My Disney Experience app.  And you should definitely do that! (I usually do it anywhere from a month to a few days before our stay.)

BUT once you get to the resort, I still recommend heading to the lobby to check in there, too.

Why? They can go over all the resort details and give you a map. You can ask any questions you have. And SOMETIMES they can pull some strings to get your room ready a little earlier (this is not always the case, but it’s always worth a shot!). 

Prioritize your park days. 

Now, I’m not saying to plan your day down to the minute.  That’s the perfect recipe for a stressful day at Disney World. 

What I AM saying is to prioritize your day. Pick about 5 must-do attractions and experiences based on your family’s interests. Then get a nice-to-see list together to start knocking out once you’ve covered your priorities. 

This can include anything from rides, shows, playgrounds , character meet and greets, a special dining reservation or snack you want try, etc.

Planning a day at the Disney World parks can be overwhelming! But it doesn’t need to be.

Check out my FREE daily Disney World park planner to help prioritize and organize your day, so you can have the vacation you’re dreaming of.

Consider taking a day or two away from the parks. 

There is SO much more to Disney than just the parks. In fact, some of our favorite days (that actually feel like a vacation!) during our Disney World vacations are the days we don’t go to the parks. 

If the length of your first Disney trip allows, I’d highly recommend planning at least one non-park day. 

On those days you can relax, enjoy the pool, check out Disney Springs or a water park, go to a character meal without feeling rushed, explore the other resorts, participate in resort activities, go golfing or mini golfing…the list goes on!

Don’t over-plan…but also don’t wing it.

Like I stated earlier, there’s no way to see and do everything at Disney World.  So, don’t try to! Focus on what’s most important to your family, then let the little moments of magic in between fall into place. 

With that being said…please, please, PLEASE don’t wing it. I cringe a little whenever I hear someone say that’s what they’re going to do at Disney World.

The parks will get overwhelming QUICKLY if you go in without a plan at all, and you’ll waste too much time wandering around trying to figure out where to go and what to do. 

I like to have a basic plan each day. And I especially like to have a plan for what we’ll do at the start of our park days. That way we can start having fun right off the bat. 

Know that there are options for everyone to ride what they want.

If you’re going to Disney World with little ones, but you’re really looking forward to riding something your kiddo is scared of or way too small for, you can use Rider Switch. I explain it all in this Instagram post .

Review the Disney lingo.

Are terms like Rider Switch, Lightning Lane, and rope drop making you feel like you’re trying to learn a foreign language? Check out this quick vocab lesson to help things make a little more sense.

Know what to pack. 

Finally, what should you bring and what should you leave back at home? I cover it all in this article about what to pack for your entire family (complete with a printable checklist!). 

If you’re looking to learn what you need to bring just for your time at the parks, find out how I pack our stroller for Disney here .

If you want to just jump straight to the packing list, though…here you go.

Want to know EXACTLY what to pack for your upcoming Disney World trip?

Snag a free printable Disney World packing checklist by clicking the button below. (And how do I know it’s EXACTLY what you need? Well, it’s the list I personally use, so it’s been through plenty of trial and error.)

FAQ for Disney World First Timers

What do i need to know about disney world for the first time.

The most important thing to know about going to Disney World for the first time is that there’s something for everyone, which means there are a LOT of options to choose from. You won’t regret putting in some time before your trip to prioritize what you want to see and do to make your vacation individualized to your family’s interests. 

Which Disney park is best for first timers?

If I had to choose the best Disney park for first timers, it would have to be Magic Kingdom because of the nostalgia and quintessential Disney feel. But all four theme parks are so unique and fun in their own ways, so I would base which parks you’ll visit off of your family’s interests. 

How many days should I go to Disney World for the first time?

For a first time visit to Walt Disney World, I would recommend a 5-7 day vacation. 

Where should I stay in Disney World for the first time?

I highly recommend staying on Disney World property for your first Disney trip. The convenience of being close to the parks, the extra park hours, and having access to free transportation anywhere on property are huge perks. Plus being immersed in that Disney magic (and getting to experience the amazing customer service from the Cast Members) makes things extra special.  

Do I need a MagicBand at Disney World?

While having a MagicBand or MagicBand+ at Disney World makes things a bit easier, you don’t need to have one to enjoy your vacation. You’ll also have the option of using the MagicMobile service on your My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card (a physical card that you can get from Guest Services at the parks or the front desk of your resort) to perform similar tasks to the MagicBand. 

Does Disney World do anything special for first time visitors?

You can ask for a “first visit” button at the front desk of your resort or at any Guest Services location. Wear that button around the parks and the Cast Members just might take notice and sprinkle a little extra magic into your day! 

Wrap-Up: Disney World Guide for First Timers

I’m BEYOND excited for you that you’re going to Disney World for the first time… let the countdown begin ! While it can seem like a lot when you first start diving into planning a Disney vacation, I hope this guide gave you some good direction. 

Check out the Disney section of my blog for all sorts of Disney World tips and tricks. And if you want weekly tips and exclusive content sent straight to your email, subscribe to my newsletter here .

Counting down the days until Disney?

Well, let’s build that excitement even more.

Click the button to download a free Disney countdown printable. It’s FULL of fun Disney countdown ideas to choose from.

Wondering how I give my photos a bit of an oomph?

Well, let’s just say I’m a little obsessed with the Light & Airy Photographer photo editing presets.

In just one click, your photo goes from, “Aw, that’s cute,” to, “WOW!”

Jenn is the founder of Those Johnson Boys, a family travel blog on a mission to give parents the confidence to travel with their kids. As a mom to 3 young boys, she's learned all the tricks over the years to make family travel less stressful. Whether you're traveling to Disney World, the USA, or international destinations, Jenn loves sharing tips, itineraries, and travel inspiration to help you have the family vacation you've been dreaming of.

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Planning your first trip to Walt Disney World is incredibly exciting and thrilling when you think of all the opportunities and possibilities. It can also be quite complex. To make the most of your visit, you’ll need a mix of careful planning and just a touch of willingness to embrace the unexpected. This guide is designed to give you straightforward, practical tips on the essentials: choosing which parks to visit, buying tickets, selecting dining options, and finding a place to stay. This guide has answers to all your questions (answered from the perspective of seasoned Disney Annual Passholders). All these concerns and questions (and more!) are answered:

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• Simplified Planning: Learn how to navigate the planning process with ease, utilizing the best digital tools and resources.
• Optimal Timing: Find out how to choose the best time for your visit, with considerations for weather, events, and crowd levels.
• Understanding Tickets: Demystify the various ticket options to ensure you make an informed decision that suits your needs.
• Effective Park Planning: Learn how to use Disney’s Genie service, what Genie+ is, and when and how to use Lightning Lane access.
• Efficient Navigation: Discover tips for moving through the parks efficiently, maximizing your time and enjoyment.
• Dining and Entertainment: Gain insights into dining reservations to enhance your park experience.
• Choosing Accommodations: Compare Disney resorts and off-site hotels to find the best fit for your budget and style.
• Preparation Tips: Get practical advice on dealing with Florida’s weather and making the most of your Disney adventure.

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What is Walt Disney World?

Walt Disney World Resort, often simply referred to as Disney World, is a vast and expansive entertainment complex in the Central Florida region, near Orlando. Established by the Walt Disney Company, it opened on October 1, 1971. The resort spans approximately 25,000 acres and comprises four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It also includes two water parks, over twenty themed resort hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues, including the outdoor shopping center Disney Springs.

Designed as a place where families can spend time together (Walt’s original objective was to have a place where he could spend time with his daughters) and enjoy immersive experiences, Disney World is built on the principles of creativity, imagination, and innovation. Each theme park offers distinct attractions, entertainment, and dining experiences based on different themes, ranging from fairy tales and futuristic innovations to movie magic and wildlife adventures.

The Walt Disney World Resort is most famous for its four theme parks. The Magic Kingdom, the first and most iconic park, is designed with a Cinderella Castle at its center. EPCOT, themed around human achievement and international culture, features Future World and the World Showcase. Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers attractions based on movies, television, music, and theater. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the largest park, is themed for nature, the environment, wildlife and animal conservation.

Disney is also a lot more than just theme parks. There are dining and other entertainment opportunities that are world-class, each in their own right; whether it’s Cirque Du Soleil at Disney Springs, Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, the Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort,  or any of the numerous shopping and dining options at Disney Springs, there’s no shortage of ways to indulge yourself in a variety of experiences outside of the parks.

The resort as a whole emphasizes storytelling and immersive experiences, leveraging technology and creativity to create attractions and entertainment that align with Walt Disney’s vision of a family-friendly vacation destination where guests of all ages can enjoy themselves together.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park

Disney’s Magic Kingdom is the first of four theme parks at the resort. Modeled after Disneyland in California, Magic Kingdom is constructed with a central hub (Cinderella Castle) from which each of the themed lands radiate. The park is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters, embodying the essence of Walt Disney’s original vision for Disneyland.

The park consists of six themed lands:

• Main Street, U.S.A. : Styled after a turn-of-the-century American town, this entrance area offers shopping, dining, and entertainment, leading directly to Cinderella Castle.
• Adventureland : Featuring jungle-themed attractions, it provides a mix of adventure with rides like the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise.
• Frontierland : Reflecting the American Old West, it hosts attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain.
• Liberty Square : Inspired by a colonial American town, it is home to attractions like the Haunted Mansion.
• Fantasyland : Centered around Cinderella Castle, this land focuses on Disney fairy tales, with classic attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight and newer additions like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
• Tomorrowland : The classic retro sci-fi world offering a view of the future as imagined in the past, it features attractions such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

The Magic Kingdom is where stories come alive, parades literally fill the streets, and fireworks light up the night. It’s a place built on the simple joy of entering a story and the thrill of adventure, aiming to remind you of the magic of being together in a place where fantasy meets reality, and there’s not a better place to spend the day with your family.

Ready to go deeper? Read our First Time Visitor’s Guide to the Magic Kingdom .

Disney’s EPCOT Theme Park

EPCOT is the embodiment of Walt Disney’s ambitious vision for a community focused on innovation and international unity. Opening on October 1, 1982, EPCOT, which stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was originally conceived by Walt Disney as a utopian city aimed at fostering innovation and encouraging the exchange of ideas and cultures. While EPCOT evolved into a theme park rather than a lived-in city, it retains the spirit of Disney’s dream through its focus on technological advancements and global cultures.

EPCOT is divided into two sections:

• Future World: This area celebrates human achievement in technology and science. Attractions here, like Spaceship Earth, Test Track, the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster and The Land Pavilion, reflect Disney’s optimism in technological progress and innovation. Future World is designed to inspire guests with the possibilities of the future, showcasing how technology can improve our world.
• World Showcase: This section offers a tour of 11 countries around a picturesque lagoon, emphasizing Walt Disney’s vision for international harmony. Each pavilion represents a country, offering authentic architectural styles, restaurants, shops, and cultural performances. This global village promotes understanding and appreciation of different cultures, encouraging guests to see the world from multiple perspectives.

EPCOT stands as a tribute to Walt Disney’s forward-thinking ideals, marrying education and enlightenment with entertainment. It reflects his belief in the power of human imagination and innovation to shape a better, interconnected world. Through its twin focuses on the future and global cultures, EPCOT continues to realize Disney’s dream of an interconnected global community bonded by shared knowledge and understanding.

Want to dig deeper into the details? Read our First Time Visitor’s Guide to EPCOT .

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park

Hollywood Studios Theme Park is dedicated to the magic of movies, television, music, and theater. Opened on May 1, 1989, it was originally named Disney-MGM Studios. The park’s theme is inspired by the golden age of Hollywood, aiming to give guests a behind-the-scenes look at the making of movies and shows.

The park is divided into several areas, each offering attractions, rides, and live shows based on popular Disney, Pixar, and Lucasfilm properties, among others:

• Hollywood Boulevard: The main entrance, reminiscent of classic Hollywood, leads to a replica of the Chinese Theatre, which houses Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a ride that takes you into the world of Mickey Mouse cartoons.
• Echo Lake: Offers attractions like Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, a 3D motion-simulated space flight through the Star Wars galaxy, and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, a live show that demonstrates movie stunts.
• Grand Avenue: Styled to resemble a modern-day Los Angeles street, it’s home to Muppet*Vision 3D, a 3D film experience featuring Jim Henson’s Muppets.
• Toy Story Land: Brings Pixar’s Toy Story movies to life with attractions like Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster, and Toy Story Mania!, an interactive 4D shooting game.
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: An immersive land that transports guests to the planet Batuu, featuring attractions like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, where you pilot the famous spacecraft, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, an ambitious ride that puts you in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order.
• Animation Courtyard: Focuses on Disney’s animation history and includes Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a live show featuring scenes from the film.
• Sunset Boulevard: Hosts thrill rides such as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a drop tower dark ride, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, an indoor roller coaster.

Hollywood Studios celebrates the storytelling and creativity of on-screen entertainment, giving guests the chance to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favorite films and characters. The park’s focus on live shows, thrilling attractions, and immersive lands reflects its ongoing commitment to bringing Hollywood’s golden age and contemporary favorites to life.

Want to go behind the scenes? Read our First Time Visitor’s Guide to Hollywood Studios .

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Animal Kingdom Theme Park is a zoological theme park that opened on April 22, 1998. It’s the largest Disney theme park in the world, covering more than 580 acres. The park’s theme and layout reflect Walt Disney’s dedication to conservation and the natural environment, blending traditional zoo elements with attractions, entertainment, and experiences that immerse guests in exotic landscapes and cultures.

Animal Kingdom is divided into several distinct areas, each offering a unique experience:

• Oasis: The entrance area, providing a tranquil introduction to the park’s themes with lush landscaping and animal exhibits.
• Discovery Island: Central hub, home to the Tree of Life, a massive sculpted tree serving as the park’s main logo and the icon for Animal Kingdom. Attractions here focus on wildlife and conservation.
• Pandora – The World of Avatar: The newest of the realms in the Animal Kingdom, this is an immersive land based on James Cameron’s Avatar film, featuring bioluminescent flora (you really have to see it at night to fully appreciate it!), floating mountains, and attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage, a 3D flying simulator and probably the single best ride in all of Disney World, along with Na’vi River Journey, a boat ride through a mystical river.
• Africa: Styled as a traditional East African village called Harambe, this area offers attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safaris, a ride through an African savanna with a multitude of real animals, a walking trail with even more live animals (the gorilla family is not to be missed!) and Festival of the Lion King, a live musical performance.
• Asia: Themed around the cultures of Asia, featuring Expedition Everest, a roller coaster adventure through the Himalayas, Kali River Rapids, a river rapids ride, and Maharajah Jungle Trek, a walking tour of Asian wildlife.
• Dinoland U.S.A.: A whimsical area focused on dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, Dinosaur, a dark ride time-traveling adventure, and Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, an area with carnival games and rides.
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch: Accessible by the Wildlife Express Train, offers conservation education, a petting zoo, and encounters with animal care experts.

Animal Kingdom uniquely combines the principles of a traditional zoo with the magic of Disney storytelling and entertainment, emphasizing environmental awareness and animal conservation. The park aims to inspire guests with its dedication to nature and conservation efforts, providing an experience that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

Still curious? Read our First Time Visitor’s Guide to Animal Kingdom .

Beyond the Parks: A Universe of Fun

Beyond the iconic parks, Walt Disney World Resort is an entire universe of fun. It encompasses water parks like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, the shopping and dining paradise of Disney Springs, and a myriad of resort hotels each with their own theme.

This is a place where the adventure never ceases, where every corner holds a new possibility, and the magic spills into every experience.

The Birth of a Dream: How Walt Disney World Came to Be

Walt Disney’s creative spirit was never one to rest—the success of Disneyland in California was just the beginning. He envisioned a place where his storytelling could take on even grander dimensions, where families could step into a world entirely crafted from the threads of fantasy and innovation. In the early 1960s, the “Florida Project” began in secrecy, a massive undertaking that would transform swampland into a global destination. This was to be more than a park—it was to be a whole new world.

Walt’s Vision: A Place for All to Enjoy Together

At the core of Walt Disney’s ambition was a simple, powerful idea: a place where the young and young at heart could explore, laugh, and create memories together. He imagined a clean, orderly escape from the everyday, a place that would set the standard for what a theme park should be. His parks wouldn’t just be places to have fun—they would be showcases of technology, storytelling, and possibility, where every guest could feel the magic of Disney.

Preserving the Magic: How Disney World Honors Its Founder

Today, Walt Disney World stands as a monument to its founder’s ideals. It has grown and changed, yes, but at its heart, it remains committed to the principles that Walt Disney held dear. The resort continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, with new attractions and technologies that keep the spirit of innovation alive. From the enchanted lands of the Magic Kingdom to the futuristic visions of EPCOT, Walt’s legacy is honored in every detail, every story, and every unforgettable experience that awaits within this magical realm.

Planning Your First Visit

Planning on your first journey to Walt Disney World is an adventure in itself! The anticipation builds with each step of the planning process, and while it may seem daunting at first, a bit of preparation will set the stage for a trip filled with lots of fun, adventure and excitement. Here are the essentials of planning your Disney vacation, ensuring that when you arrive, you’re ready to embrace the magic without hesitation.

The Importance of Preparation

Careful planning is the key to unlocking the full potential of your Disney experience. Consider this your roadmap to a seamless adventure—a guide that helps you make the most of every moment. From choosing your dates to booking your stay, each decision paves the way for memories that will last a lifetime. Remember, the magic of Disney lies not only in its attractions but in the journey you craft around them.

From Dreams to Reality: A Timeline

Crafting the perfect Disney getaway begins months in advance. Start by setting your dates, keeping in mind the resort’s peak seasons and special events. Next, book your accommodations, whether you choose the immersive experience of a Disney resort or the flexibility of an off-site hotel. As your trip draws closer, reserve your park tickets, make dining reservations, and familiarize yourself with the My Disney Experience app—your digital companion for everything from Lightning Lane selections to wait times for your favorite rides.

Wondering where to rest after a day of adventure? Read about the comfort and convenience that comes with staying at a Disney Resort hotel .

The My Disney Experience App: Your Digital Guide

In today’s world, your smartphone is a powerful tool, and the My Disney Experience app is your gateway to a hassle-free Disney vacation. This app will be your guide, your planner, and your personal assistant throughout your visit. Use it to manage your reservations, navigate the parks with interactive maps, and even order food at select restaurants. With this digital magic at your fingertips, you’ll have more time to savor the moments that matter most.

Choosing the Best Time to Visit

Selecting the ideal time for your inaugural pilgrimage to Walt Disney World can profoundly impact your experience. This magical realm offers different flavors throughout the year, and finding the one that suits your taste can be the difference between a good vacation and an extraordinary one. Let’s dig into some things to think about that will help you pinpoint the perfect time for your Disney adventure.

Peak vs. Off-Peak: When to Go

The ebb and flow of guests through the gates of Disney World are as predictable as the seasons. Peak times often coincide with school holidays in the U.S., summer breaks, and festive seasons, bringing with them the excitement of special events but also larger crowds. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is “if the kids are out of school Disney is going to be crowded.” It’s not always true (we’ve had trips where we spent a few days during spring break and the crowds were pleasantly small), but, more often than not, it is. Off-peak periods, typically when school is in session, present a quieter and often more relaxed visit.

Holidays and Events: Special Considerations

Imagine the parks adorned with the golden leaves of fall or the twinkling lights of the holiday season—Disney World’s special events and holiday celebrations are truly something to behold. However, they also attract visitors far and wide. If you’re drawn to these unique times, plan accordingly; book well in advance and be prepared for a more bustling atmosphere.

Don’t get me wrong – there are few things that are more magical than Disney during the holiday season. Just be prepared for the crowds to be at their largest and reservations to be hard to come by.

Weathering Florida: Climate Tips

Florida is famed for its sunshine, but it’s also known for heat, humidity, and the occasional afternoon downpour. If you prefer cooler weather, consider visiting in the winter months. No matter when you choose to go, pack for comfort and the elements—sunscreen, hats, and rain gear are your allies. And remember, a midday break during the hotter months can rejuvenate you for the evening’s festivities.

Want to know more? Check out our comprehensive packing list for Disney .

Understanding Park Tickets and Passes

Your entry into the enchanting world of Disney hinges on the tickets you hold—these magical keys unlock the gates to kingdoms, adventures, and memories. As you plan your visit, understanding the different ticket options and what they offer is crucial to tailoring your Disney experience to your wishes. Here are the varieties of park tickets and passes, ensuring you make an informed choice that makes the most of your journey.

Ticket Types and Options

Disney World offers a spectrum of ticket types to cater to the diverse needs of its guests. Single-day tickets are the straightforward choice for a brief encounter with the magic, while multi-day tickets allow you to savor the parks at a more leisurely pace. Park Hopper options add the flexibility to visit multiple parks in a single day, perfect for those who wish to taste the full flavor of Disney’s offerings.

Choosing the Right Ticket for You

The right ticket for your trip is one that balances your desires, budget, and time. Consider the length of your stay and the depth of your exploration desires. For example, if you’re planning on a 5-day trip, it’s ok to only get park tickets for 2 or 3 days to leave room to have a leisurely pool day at the resort and a shopping day visit to Disney Springs. If you’re yearning to immerse yourself in each park and its unique atmosphere, a multi-day ticket without the Park Hopper option might be your best bet.

Here are the different types of tickets to consider for your trip.

• Single-Day Tickets : These tickets provide admission to one of the four theme parks for one day.
• Multi-Day Tickets : These tickets allow guests to visit the four theme parks over multiple days.
• Park Hopper Option : This add-on allows guests to visit more than one theme park per day.
• Park Hopper Plus Option : In addition to park hopping, this option provides a certain number of visits to other Walt Disney World fun, like the water parks, golf courses, or ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
• Water Park and Sports Option : This add-on provides admission to Disney’s water parks, golf courses, and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
• Florida Resident Tickets : Special ticket pricing and options are available for Florida residents, including the ability to purchase multi-day tickets at a discounted rate.

Navigating the Parks

With your tickets in hand, you stand ready to chart a course through the seas of attractions, shows, and experiences that await at Walt Disney World. A well-crafted strategy for navigating the parks not only saves time but also enriches your visit, allowing you to soak in more of the magic that each moment offers. Let’s set sail with some navigational strategies that will have you moving through the parks like a seasoned explorer.

Getting Around with Ease

The expanse of Walt Disney World Resort is vast, but fear not—the Disney transportation system is both efficient and part of the adventure. From the monorail’s sweeping views to the romance of a boat ride, each mode of transport offers its own magic. Familiarize yourself with the options and their schedules, and consider how they can enhance your park-hopping plans. And remember, sometimes the journey is as delightful as the destination (especially if you’re riding the Skyliner!).

Maps and Apps: Tools for Exploration

In this age of technology, the power to navigate the parks rests in the palm of your hand. The My Disney Experience app is your compass, your treasure map, and your guide all rolled into one. Use it to check wait times, find your favorite characters, and even secure your spot in line for popular attractions. But don’t overlook the value of a physical map—these can be especially handy for quick references or when digital devices need to conserve battery life. With these tools at your disposal, you’ll be well-equipped to chart a course for fun and adventure.

Making the Most of Your Disney Experience

Your first visit to Walt Disney World is a canvas waiting to be painted with experiences that will become cherished memories. With so many attractions and entertainment options, it’s important to prioritize and use the tools available to you to maximize your time. Let’s discover how you can make the most of your Disney experience, ensuring that every moment is as magical as it can be.

Must-Do Attractions and Entertainment

Walt Disney World is a mosaic of classic attractions, thrilling rides, and captivating shows. For the first-time visitor, certain experiences stand out as quintessential. Taking your family’s picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle, the joyous flight on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, riding “It’s a Small World” (even if you only ever do it just this once!) and the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Festival of the Lion King—these are just a few of the must-dos to put on your itinerary.

After you’ve experienced the classics at Disney World here are a few more:

• Space Mountain : A thrilling roller coaster through outer space.
• Pirates of the Caribbean : A swashbuckling boat ride adventure.
• Haunted Mansion : A spooky tour of a ghostly retreat.
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: Disney’s newest roller coaster where the cars rotate 360 degrees on the track!
• Frozen Ever After : A boat ride adventure with Anna and Elsa.
• Soarin’ Around the World : A breathtaking flight simulation experience.
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge : An immersive Star Wars-themed land.
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror : A drop tower dark ride.
• Toy Story Land : Interactive attractions in a toy-sized world.
• Avatar Flight of Passage : A 3D flying simulator experience.
• Expedition Everest : A high-speed train adventure with a Yeti encounter.
• Kilimanjaro Safaris : A guided tour of an African savanna.
• Fireworks and Nighttime Spectaculars : Shows like ‘Happily Ever After’ at Magic Kingdom are amazing.
• Live Performances : Including ‘Festival of the Lion King’ and ‘Finding Nemo – The Musical’.
• Character Meet and Greets : Opportunities to interact with Disney characters.

Genie+ & Lightning Lane Access: Skipping the Lines

While the FastPass+ system has been retired, Disney’s Genie+ service has taken its place, offering a new way to experience more with less waiting. With Genie+, you can select the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences. For those must-do attractions with higher demand, Individual Lightning Lane selections are available for purchase, allowing you to maximize your time. Embrace these tools, and you’ll find yourself whisked into the worlds you’re eager to explore with minimal delay.

Remember, your first visit to Disney World is not just about seeing and doing—it’s about creating moments that will linger in your heart long after you’ve returned home, so you don’t always need to be in a hurry to do absolutely everything you can possibly do . Savor your time, plan wisely and with a touch of planning and the use of these valuable tools, you’re set to craft a Disney experience that’s uniquely yours.

Dining at Disney: A Taste of the Magic

A visit to Walt Disney World is a feast for the senses, and the culinary delights you’ll encounter are an integral part of the experience. From quick-service snacks to immersive fine dining, the resort offers a world of flavors to discover. As you plan your adventure, let’s savor the thought of the dining experiences that await and ensure you’re prepared to enjoy every bite.

The World on a Plate

Walt Disney World’s dining options are as diverse as its attractions, with eateries to suit every palate and occasion. Whether you’re craving a quick bite between rides or a leisurely meal in an otherworldly setting, you’ll find an array of choices. The global cuisines of EPCOT’s World Showcase, the character meals that delight the young and young at heart, and the themed dining experiences that transport you to another place and time are all on the menu.

Dining Reservations: Securing Your Seat at the Table

To ensure you have the dining experiences you desire, advance reservations are key. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to dine at any table service restaurant in the Walt Disney World Resort without a reservation. It’s either make sure you have a spot by reserving a time and table at your desired restaurant or “hope” that you might be able to get in. The most popular places like Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT (probably my favorite among all the Disney restaurants!) are virtually impossible to get in without a reservation. Popular restaurants book up quickly, and securing your spot 60 days in advance is recommended. Use the My Disney Experience app or the Disney World website to make reservations, and rest easy knowing your table awaits. Remember, dining at Disney is not just about sustenance—it’s about the atmosphere, the storytelling, and the joy of shared meals.

Dietary Accommodations: Everyone’s Invited to the Feast

Disney World is committed to accommodating guests with dietary needs and preferences. Vegetarian, vegan, allergy-friendly, and other dietary options are available across the resort. Information is readily accessible through the My Disney Experience app, and you can often speak with a chef or special diets-trained Cast Member at dining locations. At Disney, everyone is invited to the table, and the magic of dining is an inclusive experience.

Accommodations: Staying in the Heart of the Magic

After a day filled with enchantment and excitement, a restful retreat is essential. Walt Disney World offers a variety of accommodations, each with its own theme and set of perks. Deciding where to stay is a key part of your planning process, and it’s about more than just a place to sleep—it’s about choosing the backdrop to your dream vacation. Let’s explore the options and find the perfect fit for your Disney stay.

Disney Resorts vs. Off-Site Hotels

Staying at a Disney resort hotel immerses you in the magic 24/7, with benefits like early theme park entry and proximity to the parks. Each resort tells its own story, with theming that could whisk you away to the African savanna or the charming New England coast. Off-site hotels might offer a budget-friendly alternative or different amenities that appeal to your group. Consider what matters most to you—convenience, theme, cost—and let that guide your choice.

A Resort for Every Style

Whether it’s the luxury of the Grand Floridian, the rustic charm of the Wilderness Lodge, or the value-conscious fun of the Pop Century Resort, there’s a Disney resort to suit every taste and budget. Themed pools, dining experiences, and character encounters are just some of the benefits that come with staying on property. Take the time to explore the range of themes and decide where you’d like to call home during your Disney vacation.

Essential Tips for a Magical First Visit

A successful first visit to Walt Disney World is the sum of many parts, and knowing a few insider tips can make all the difference. From packing essentials to navigating the parks, these nuggets of wisdom will help you avoid common pitfalls and enhance your overall experience. Let’s compile a list of tips and tricks designed specifically for first-time visitors to ensure your trip is as smooth and magical as possible.

Insider Advice for a Smooth Trip

Even in the most magical place on Earth, practicalities matter. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking miles each day. Download the My Disney Experience app before you arrive to familiarize yourself with its features. Pack a portable charger to keep your devices powered up. And don’t forget to make note of parade times and special events—they’re opportunities not to be missed and can affect crowd levels and wait times.

The Florida Elements: Weather and Wardrobe

The Sunshine State is known for its temperamental weather. Prepare for the heat with breathable clothing, sunscreen, and hydration. Afternoon showers are common, so pack a poncho or umbrella. And while the days may be warm, evenings can cool down, so a light jacket or sweater is advisable. By planning for the weather, you’ll stay comfortable and ready for whatever the day brings.

Walt Disney World Resort Itinerary Plans for Wedding Parties: A Step-by-Step Guide

Walt Disney World Resort Itinerary Plans for Family Reunions: A Comprehensive Guide

Walt Disney World Resort Itinerary Plans: Optimizing Your RunDisney Experience

Walt Disney World Disney Classics Enthusiasts Itinerary Plan: Timeless Adventures for the True Fan

Walt Disney World Festival Goers Itinerary Plan: Your Ultimate Guide to a Magical Experience

First Time Beginner’s Guide to Disney World (15 minute crash course)

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With so many Rides, Shows, and Attractions, it can be hard to know where to start at Disney World in Orlando Florida (Disneyland is in California, and offers different things!).

This is a comprehensive guide that covers all the basics about Disney World. If you’re familiar with Walt Disney World, this information is probably unnecessary. If your new to Disney, then this is the place to be.

Disney is a vacation packed full of so many options, from great rides at the four Theme Parks, to water fun at the Water Parks and Resorts, to Character Memories, fun Entertainment and Nighttime Fireworks Celebrations.

Refer to the Table of Contents below to jump around to areas you’d like to learn more about.

Does Disney World do anything Special for First Time Visitors?

Yes! Disney World offers a ‘1st Visit’ button that you can wear to celebrate that occasion and let Cast Members (the Disney Employees) know that it’s your first time.

So let’s jump into some quick tips for first time Disney World visitors and then you can pick where you want to get started with all this information! If this is too much, simply save or share this page for later.

This post may contain affiliate links, read my full disclosure here.

Table of Contents for Disney World Guide

• Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered

The Best Times to go to Disney World

• How many days do you need at Disney
• What do you need to bring to your Disney World Vacation?
• Overview of the Parks
• Overview of Entertainment in the Parks
• All about Disney Resorts

Quick FAQs for Disney World

What should you do on your first visit to disney world.

You should make a Bucket List/ Cant Miss list!

Disney World is intense… there’s so much more to do and see (maybe that’s why we have so many websites and vlogs and content creators sharing the Disney fun!)

Creating a list of things you want to do will make planning much easier and make the vacation more fun . Here’s a list of Can’t Miss fun for most families , and a Can’t Miss list for little kids !

How Much does it cost to go to Disney World?

The average vacation in 2024 is going to cost around $5000 dollars for a Family of Four to go for 5 days (this includes tickets, lodging, a food budget and souvenirs but not travel costs to get to the parks) See the full breakdown for the costs (with examples!) on how to do Disney World on a tight (yet realistic!) budget.

Having a dollar sign in mind is a good way to make sure that you stay on track with your Disney World Vacation. This is such an exciting time and you want to make sure that you make the most of it. There are many money saving tips that can help with your magical vacation.

The Best Time to go to Disney World is the time that fits with your schedule!

Disney World is ‘always’ busy now on the weekends and many times throughout the week. There is no ‘slow’ season, though the months of January and September are typically slower months than others.

Walt Disney World is such a popular resort that it can get a little crowded.  

I’ve been on some of the busiest days of the year, and while it is still magical, it’s not very fun waiting in a two hour line ! What you can do is check the best weeks to go and pick the week that works best for your family! 

Some of the Best Months to go for lower crowds are:

• The beginning of May
• The second week in December

Some of the best times to enjoy the Parks for lower crowds are:

• In the Evenings- especially if they park is closing in a few hours or staying open very late
• In the Early Morning- especially if you have early morning hours available to you when you stay on Disney World property
• During the Week Days- it helps to look at the MyDisneyExperience App and check the wait times. While these are often inflated, they are a good predictor of crowd levels during your vacation.
• Magic Kingdom on days that a party is planned, and the regular park closes at 6. Many people skip this day because it doesn’t include fireworks, but it’s a great option if you have a park hopper or want to get up early and spend a good 10 hours at Magic Kingdom.

⭐ What is a Touring Plan, and why is it recommended to know the crowd level when planning a touring plan?

Touring Plans are detailed lists that tell you where to go for rides and attractions at what time. These rely heavily on park hours, expected crowd levels, and what rides/attractions your party wants to do. A common Touring Plan example is to rope drop Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom as the wait time is high during the day (or to make it your last ride of the night).

What do you need to pack for your Disney vacation?

Whether it’s your first time to Disney World or your hundredth, it pays to be prepared.

But what you need for your Disney vacation really depends on each person and family (and reason for the trip!) I do recommend getting a packing list together- at least a month ahead of time, so that way you can get everything you need.

This should include the following items:

• Number of Outfits x your vacation days + one opposite weather outfit (so a sweater if you come in the summer, or shorts if you come in the winter)
• Two pairs of Comfortable Walking Shoes
• Sun Protection including Hat, Sunglasses and Sunscreen
• A Park Bag or Park FannyPack, for you to bring into the parks with you
• Comfort Care items like lotion, lip balm, and first aid kits
• Toiletries and Cosmetics
• Disney Items like Mouse Ears, Signature Books, Pin Collections, Penny Collections

⭐ Does Disney World offer personal care items, clothing, or other commonly forgot items? Yes. Lots of these items are found inside the Parks. But for a full selection, head to the resorts. If you are at a Value resort and can’t find what you are looking for (And have talked to a Cast Member to confirm it’s not hiding somewhere), head to one of the Deluxe Resorts to check out there selections.

The top 3 items I recommend to everyone:

1. Portable Phone Charger – you phone WILL go dead using the MyDisney App, and some of the rides will drain your battery as your phone looks for signal. The alternative is good ole pencil and paper- just make sure you can access your plans and reservations for the day! You can also use the swappable batteries, see more about where to find those swappable battery locations at Disney here .

2. Insulated Water Bottle – It gets HOT at Disney. Even in the winter you are dealing with the sun, the wind and way too much walking. Animal Kingdom also doesn’t do straws or lids- so you need a water bottle to prevent spillage. 

3. Body Glide- This stuff is phenomenal. I use it for anywhere my skin might get irritation (like shoes in sneakers or thighs in shorts). Its only a few bucks, so better to have it and not need it- then need it and not have it!

And if your headed to Disney World for a Birthday Celebration , consider what you want to pack, versus what you want to buy when you get there.

How many days should you plan for your Disney World Trip?

Most people will find that a First Time Disney Vacation is exciting and exhausting! There’s so much to see and do, and you cannot possibly get it all done in one trip (or even two!)

Most families will benefit from 3-5 days inside the Parks.

But there’s a lot of ways to do Disney! You could do two days inside Magic Kingdom, and one day at EPCOT. You could just do two days at Magic Kingdom and make it a long weekend. You could hit up all four parks, or two days at Disney and two days at Universal.

Tips for Disney World Tickets

If you are visiting for the first time, a standard ticket would be the most appropriate versus an annual pass- you can pick how many base days you’d like to have.

Recommended time at the resort is 6 days 5 nights . This gives you 4 days in the parks, and then your arrival and departure day. Some families will benefit from a ‘no park’ day in the middle of their week to relax, and take in the amenities at the hotel (and possibly recover from sunburn or dehydration that is so prone to Disney trips!)

There are some pros and cons to only doing Magic Kingdom in one day , but most people will find that with a bucket list, their one day trip is enough!

➡️ You will need a Park Reservation for some tickets and passes. To schedule a park ticket, head over to Disney World here and secure your dates (its better to have a date/park secured and change later than not have one at all!)

What’s not recommended:

-Having a Ticket for Arrival or Departure day (there is plenty to do that doesn’t require a ticket!) Unless you are going for something specific. Most people will benefit from resting on Arrival and Departure day.

-Park Hopper Tickets if you are staying for more than 4 days. If you plan to go to all the parks anyways, there’s no need to add the Park Hopper. I would recommend this if you are doing less than 3 days. Keep in mind that hopping parks can take some time (between 45-90 minutes) that may be better spent in the parks.

-Not getting the Park Hopper if you can only come for 1-3 days. The Park Hopper here will help you take advantage of all the staggered opening and closing times to get the most out of your ticket.

-Purchasing from somewhere like eBay- I would hate for your ticket not to work when you arrived

Overview of the Disney Parks

There’s no Harry Potter, Charizard or Daffy Ducks at Disney World my friends. But we do have 6 Theme Parks (4 Main Ones and 2 Water Parks). Disney World is the size of San Francisco, or double the size of Manhattan. And its also located in Florida, in Orlando. There’s a lot going on here!

Disney also has an amazing amount of themed resorts and restaurants that I also recommend you check out! You can peek around the resorts as a guest and eat at any of the locations on property – most require a reservation but they aren’t hard to get. 

Quick Note about Transportation at Disney World

Or said better, How to get where you need to go on Vacation!

⭐ Is Disney Transportation available to all guests, including those not staying on property? Yes! Respectfully of course, but you can hop on the Skyliner, or take the Monorail, or catch a boat without needing to stay on property. This is a fun option on your ‘no-park-ticket’ day, and here’s everything you can do at Disney World without a Park Ticket.

⭐How long does Disney Transportation take? Maybe the most important question of this entire post! Transportation can be quick, kinda slow, or completely closed. You might miss reservations or get stuck for an hour waiting for a bus. While most of it is free to use, it’s a gamble on the time requirements, so plan to give yourself extra time.

Complimentary Transportation Options:

• The Buses (available at most Disney Resorts, and will pop up if there is severe weather and you can’t take the Skyliner, Boats or Monorail)
• The Monorail. Three lines operate at Disney World. One takes you to and from EPCOT to the Ticket and Transportation Center. One takes you straight from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom and back again. The Last Line makes 5 stops. The Transportation and Ticket Center, The Contemporary Resort, Magic Kingdom, The Grand Floridian Resort, The Polynesian Resort.
• The Ferry Boat takes you from Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center and back.
• The Friendship Boats operate for the Hollywood Studios/EPCOT water front resorts, Between Disney Springs and Port Orleans Resort, and for the Magic Kingdom Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts.
• The Skyliner has three lines. One line goes from the Depot to Hollywood Studios and back (Caribbean Beach is where the depot is located). One line goes from the EPCOT Boardwalk (it’s the second EPCOT entrance called the International Gateway), to Riveria Resort to the Depot. The third line runs from Art of Animation/POP Century Resort to the Skyliner Depot.
• Parking at Disney Springs or the Water Parks and Mini Golf locations.

Paid Transportation Options:

• Parking at Disney World Parks. This is included if you have paid to park at a Disney World resort. There is a tram at several of the parking lots that takes you to the front.
• Minnie Vans, which are a partnership between Lyft Rideshare and Disney World. These are Disney employees who pick you up in a red and black polka dot ‘van’.

The Parks at Disney World

Disney World has four Major Parks, two Water Parks, and then Disney Springs.

Magic Kingdom

The Iconic Cinderella Castle and Main Street U.S.A. are just two of the notable landmarks at Magic Kingdom. This is the Number One Park at Disney World and at full capacity (so really busy with lots of long lines!) it can take a Visitor almost 20 hours to complete the rides and attractions.

Magic Kingdom hosts lots of other amazing attractions like Space Mountain, Fantasy Land and Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Not to mention, Magic Kingdom is also home to lots of character meet and greets and the amazing fireworks display at the end of the night. Seeing the Castle lit up is a magical experience that the whole family can enjoy, and one of the highlights of any Disney trip. 

Hollywood Studios 

Hollywood studios used to be considered among us Disney Goers as the ‘one day park’ because it was something that we could just hit up our favorite attractions and then catch dinner somewhere else on the resort. This is certainly not the case anymore though! 

If you follow Disney news at all, you’ll see that Hollywood Studios has been revamped lately to include Star Wars, Toy Story Land, Beauty and the Beast and the Disney Junior Characters.

This is exciting news because it takes this park and gives it a much needed update. If you’ve never been (or it’s been a reallyyyyy long time) don’t bypass Hollywood Studios because of old reviews. This is definitely a park you want to visit for all your movie and TV needs!

Epcot is the infamous park that houses all the other countries. The park actually has two sections, Worlds Celebration, Nature and Discovery at the Front of the Park and World Showcase around the lake (it’s a giant circle). 

The World Showcase is where you’ll find many scenic views, easy going rides and of course, the eleven countries with authentic gifts and cuisine. I love to go on Date nights to “Britain” or “Japan”-  it’s so amazing that we can step into another country without leaving Disney! 

With few exceptions, the World Showcase doesn’t open up till 11 for shops and drinks, but you can catch the Shops, Attractions and Food at the front of the park when the park opens. Options like the Soarin’ ride, Finding Nemo, Mission: Space and Test Track are great ways to start the day (and Frozen in Norway plus Ratatouille in France open when the park does!)

Epcot is also home to Festivals throughout the year. We have the Festival of the Arts to start the year, followed by the Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring and Early Summer. Then Food and Wine Festival in the Fall and The Festival of the Holidays to round out the year.

Animal Kingdom 

Animal Kingdom is where the animals are, seriously. With more than 500 acres and 1700 animals, it’s considered to be the largest theme park in the world! This makes for quite the adventure when it comes to planning your day as you won’t be able to see everything in one go. 

There’s several sections to Animal Kingdom, the newest of which is the Pandora land based off the movie Avatar. Some of the other sections, which are called ‘lands’ include Asia, Africa, Dinoland, Rafiki’s Planet Watch and Discovery Island.

Since Animal Kingdom is so large, it’s good to plan for exactly one day here and still pick your ‘must see’ items! The Thrill rides here tend to fill up quickly, just like at the other parks (namely Avatar Flight of Passage and Everest, plus sometimes slower Family Fun rides like Navi River Journey and the Animal Safari)

Animal Kingdom generally opens earlier than most of the parks, and it’s a great park to ‘Rope Drop’ (or show up before it opens!). Then you can leave around Dinner time to another park, Disney Springs or eat at the Resort.

The Water Parks

Disney has two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Both of these have lots of fun water activities with their own unique themes. 

Typhoon Lagoon is a tropical getaway filled with water rides the whole family can enjoy! It also features a kiddy play area and thrill rides for the older kids! 

Blizzard Beach takes a different spin on theming, think ski resort that has melted into summer water fun! Blizzard beach also has several options for everyone in the family, from kid sized water slides to one of the world’s tallest and fastest water rides!

Disney Springs 

Disney Springs was previously called Downtown Disney and if you look at old reviews or message boards it’s easy to get confused about where Downtown Disney went! 

It did get a major facelift and a new name. Most notably, it received lots of new parking, a slew of new stores (many of which are designer names) and several new restaurants.

Disney Springs is:

• Free to Park at
• Free to Enter
• Normally low crowd, but crowded on Weekends, Holidays and High Crowd Park Days

Notable Entertainment Offerings at Disney World

I get this question from Disney Vacationers all the time- “What is there to do at Disney?”

There is SO MUCH to do at Disney World that you simply can’t do it all! What I wanted to do was break down the basics for you!

There’s lots of Characters at Disney

You can meet the characters a few different ways. 

• 1.By going to the Character Meet and Greets inside the Parks, these are marked on the Map
• 2.By Scheduling a Character Dining Experience.
• 3. By purchasing a Special Event Ticket
• 4. By stumbling upon an unmarked Character Meet and Greet
• 5. By meeting Characters at the Resorts as they tour around to different locations daily

Some of the Characters you can meet in the parks are:

• Mickey Mouse
• Joy (Inside Out)
• Donald Duck
• Winnie the Pooh and Tiger
• Tinker Bell
• And SOOOO many more!

Character Dining is a great way to meet your favorite Pals! If you’re interested in how to meet characters without a ticket check out this helpful guide! 

Disney LOVES parades. They have a parade for everything it seems like! They even have one when it RAINS!

Don’t forget that Disney World also has seasonal parades for Halloween and Christmas. They go all out with these, as typically they are only shown for a separate ticketed event (like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas)

Here’s some of the memorable ones you can expect at Magic Kingdom:

Main Street Trolley Show

This happens in the mornings at Magic Kingdom, kind of like their welcoming act to bring you into the park! It’s a very “Mary Poppins” themed show, and oh so cute! 

Disney Festival Of Fantasy Parade

Featured so many Favorites, catch this show on Main Street USA during the day. Typically you’ll find this show at 12 pm and 3 pm, but check the app for updated times during your trip.

FireWork and Nighttime Shows

You can find FireWorks Displays at three Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT!

At Magic Kingdom, you’ll get to see Happily Ever After, typically at 9pm. You can best see this is you can see the Castle, but I also enjoy the Fireworks without the Castle Display by hanging out in FantasyLand.

At Hollywood Studios, line up for Fantasmic, with shows typically starting at 9pm nightly. This is in a Theater, so you’ll need to head down Sunset Blvd and join the crowd to see this performance. There’s minor Fireworks during the Visual Display broadcasted on the Chinese Theater.

At EPCOT, gather around World Showcase for a fun Visual and Auditory Show that you can see all around the lake. It’s an easy watch, and generally low crowd.

Nightlife and Nighttime Activities at Disney

Some would say that I saved the best for last- and that is probably the case! If we were going to cover ALL of the options for entertainment after dark at Disney we would be here awhile. Let’s look at some of the favorites! 

Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs)

Disney is not just for kids! Especially Downtown Disney, which was built more with the adult in mind. You can shop and enjoy Dinner, then grab drinks on the water. 

You’ve got several options to choose from. One of the newest additions is The Edison, which has flapper style dancers, a DJ and music floor. The Hangar Bar has lots of games to play over drinks, and Paradiso 37 will have you dancing to Latin Music all night long! Bar hopping is another favorite, with almost 10 places to choose from it can be a fun weekend night! 

The BoardWalk

If you want to stay near the resorts, definitely check out the Disney BoardWalk. Not only is it absolutely picturesque in the evenings with live musicians and plenty of restaurants, but it also hosts some 21 and up venues. 

Jellyrolls is famous for their dueling piano competitions- truly a must see experience. Then you have a Dance Venue featuring hits from the 80s and 90s. 

Disney World Resorts

Now, let’s talk about the resorts. Disney World has 36 resort hotels on the grounds, 26 of which are owned and operated by Disney.

The Resorts are set up in a tier system. What this means is that each resort falls under one of three categories. The categories for the Walt Disney World Resorts are Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, and Deluxe. These tiers are based on the resorts sizes, amenities, transportation options and price. 

Value Resorts 

We’ll start with the Value Resorts. These are the least expensive of the Walt Disney Resorts but they don’t lack in magical experience!

They all have a dining area, stocked with various goodies (and yes, they accommodate allergies!) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the gift area sections they have the standard souvenirs like coffee cups and towels while they also have snacks and drinks. 

All of the Disney Value resorts have the usual conveniences you would expect at a Disney hotel. Mail, laundry, dry-cleaning, complimentary wi-fi, airline check-in, designated smoking areas, and ATMs. 

The Value Resorts also have some other amenities like the pools and a jogging trail. While the pools don’t have slides, they do have poolside activities that happen throughout the day. Other cool options for the value resorts are the indoor arcades and the playgrounds.

The two best perks of the Walt Disney World Resorts are the free transportation and the Extra Magic Hours. 

The transportation and extra magic hours are the main reason we stay at Disney so often even though we live right up the road! Because you really can’t go wrong with the list of amenities, the adorable themes and the perks of transportation and extra magic hours that you get by staying on-site at  the Disney World Value Resort hotels.

Moderate Resorts 

The next tier up is the Moderate Resorts and these are some of my favorites! The moderate resorts at Walt Disney World Resort provide some of the best options for the price. Plus the blend of affordability and amenities make Moderate Resorts a great options for most families.

While the Value Resorts focus more on cartoonish theming- The Moderate Resorts focus more on cultural themes. They offer all the amenities of the Value resorts with some nice additions! 

Disney’s Port Orleans offers horse-drawn carriage rides, bike rentals and catch-and-release fishing. Disney’s Caribbean Beach offers a pirates adventure cruise, bike rentals, sand volleyball and catch-and-release fishing. Disney’s Coronado Springs offers bike rentals and sand volleyball. They also have nicer themed room with queen sized beds (value resorts have the full sized beds). 

Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas

Staying at a Deluxe Resort is similar to the name, its where Disney goes above and beyond! These rooms tend to be a little bigger than most other rooms on the grounds, and they have more amenities. 

So you get all of the perks of the other tiers, with some nice additions like valet parking, higher quality dining on site and more recreation choices at the resort. This takes your Disney vacation from regular to extraordinary! 

My favorite part about staying at the Deluxe resorts is how much closer they are to the parks, and transportation also seems to move a lot faster from these resorts (maybe its in my head… but I do feel that way!). We tend to save the Deluxe Resorts for special occasions, like honeymoons, but we’ve taken the kids before and their were lots of other kids there too! 

The Deluxe Villas are similar to the resorts, but they sleep way more people! Most of these are also at a different location than the other Deluxe properties, but still full of the same amenities. 

Disney Resort Features 

So now that you have a general understanding of the what and where, let’s compare some of the basic features of all the resorts. 

The value resorts have double beds that sleep four, whereas the Moderate and Deluxe resorts have queen beds. King Sized beds can be found sprinkled throughout the resorts, you just have to hunt to find them! 

Food Options

The value and moderate resorts have food court style options- which is great for a large family of picky eaters, but the Deluxe resorts only have one quick service option that can be limiting on food choices. Both the Moderate and Deluxe have Table Dining options that help to add to the ambience of finer vacationing. Deluxe resorts also offer Signature and Character dining as part of their 5 star service.

Transportation 

For the most part, the value and moderate resorts only options are the buses. There are three moderate resorts that have the Water Taxi boat service and those are Ports Orleans Riverside, French Quarter and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. The Deluxe Resorts have several more transportation options, like the monorail, boat taxis and walking. You can also call a ‘Minnie Van’ from any of the resorts (and they come with two car seats!) You’ve got options! 

Every resort on Disney property has a pool (thank goodness, because Florida is hot!) but the types of pools differ across the tiers. 

The value pools are, well, value based (but your kids won’t mind, I promise!). They don’t have anything fancy besides some theming and poolside activities that Disney Cast members run. 

The moderate pools are absolutely a step up. Here the theming is top quality and you’ve got water slides!! 

So how can the Deluxe pools beat water slides? With even bigger water slides, of course! They also have more pool options to choose from, which limits the amount of loud rowdy teenagers you might run into on your afternoon swim. 

How far in advance should you book a Disney World trip?

As soon as possible! Disney Rooms can normally be book over a year in advance, and park reservations can be book 365 days in advance!

Is it cheaper to stay on Disney Property?

Honestly, most of the time, not really–though you can get some good deals with the value resorts, what you’re really paying for is convenience and the experience. There are definite perks, the biggest of which is being so close to the parks. You’ll have to decide what’s right for you and your family!

How much money should I bring to Disney World?

It kinda depends on your budget and how much you plan on eating at the Parks. A single person can easily spend 100 dollars on food and drink for one day at Disney World. Budgeting 150+ per person, per day for food, drinks plus a souvenir budget (like 100 per person for the trip) is reasonable.

So there you have it, folks, just about everything a beginner needs to know (and then some!) about planning their first trip to Disney World!

If you’re a first time Disney World visitor, I know it can be a little overwhelming, but remember that priority number one is to have fun! You’re not going to be able to do and see everything, so make a plan and let the good times roll!

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The ULTIMATE Guide to Planning A Walt Disney World Vacation

You know the saying… “I’m going to DISNEY WORLD!!” That’s great! You’ve take the first step simply by deciding to visit The Most Magical Place On Earth . But… now what ?

Disney World Main Entrance

Walt Disney World is comprised of four theme parks, a shopping and dining district, two water parks, and over 25 Resort hotels. .. and that’s just scratching the surface! Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be a very complex — and potentially stressful — endeavor. (P.S. It’s also very worthwhile!) There are a LOT of decisions to make — and practically a whole new Disney language to learn — before you can enjoy all that Disney magic.

Click HERE to see the IDEAL Timeline for planning a Disney World vacation … or start HERE if you’re wondering how far in ADVANCE you should begin planning .

And that’s why we’re here to help with our Ultimate Guide to Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation !

• The Basics  

Theme Park Admission

Disney dining plan.

• PhotoPass/Memory Maker
• Cancelation Policies

Transportation

• My Disney Experience App
• MagicBands & Magic Mobile

Mobile Order

• Mobile Check-In and Walk-Up Wait List
• Virtual Queues
• Hey Disney!
• Play Disney App

Disney Genie

• Dining at WDW
• Rides, Parades, Fireworks, and MORE

Disney Characters

Packing list.

• DFB Guide Books
• DFB Guide Videos

Sure, you’ve probably seen oodles of pictures of Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. But Walt Disney World is made up of 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom , EPCOT , Disney’s Hollywood Studios , and Disney’s Animal Kingdom . 

Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle

Disney World also has two water parks — Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park  and  Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

Blizzard Beach Sign

There is also an entertainment, shopping, and dining district  called  Disney Springs that is full of stores , fantastic restaurants , and more for you to enjoy .

Disney Springs

Not to mention that there are also mini-golf and world class golf courses , and MUCH more on Walt Disney World property.

Click here to see your absolute Disney World MUST-DOs!

Vacation package options.

Okay, so you’ve picked your hotel and you know what type of tickets you want — so what do you do in terms of booking? Well, you can book the park tickets on their own and your hotel room separately. Or you can book a Vacation Package that includes both. (You can find information on payment plans for a booking that includes a Disney World Resort hotel stay here .)

Copper Creek Villas Room at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

You can also book a package that includes hotel, tickets, and the  Disney Dining Plan .  The Dining Plan allows you to pre-pay for your food. You’re then given a certain number of “credits” that you can use throughout your trip for meals and snacks. So, this is something to keep in mind if you like to feel like your trip expenses are mostly all covered before you even arrive.

Breakfast at Cape May Cafe

What combination of bookings is best for you? You’ll have to price out the discounts on hotels, tickets, and combined packages to find out. Often many discounts will require you to book a specific package, so check the fine print for any deals you’re eyeing.

Truly, we’ve only just started this guide and maybe you’re already coming to the realization that planning a Disney World vacation can be A LOT.  Our recommendation?  You might want to think about reaching out to a travel agent.   We specifically recommend the awesome folks over at  Small World Vacations!

The people over at Small World Vacations know about ALL of the discounts, and they stay up to date on new discounts that could be applied to your vacation to help you save some serious cash. They can give you personalized advice and really help make your vacation planning stress-free.  Oh, and did we mention that their services are TOTALLY FREE?! You won’t pay a dime extra than what you normally would pay to book your vacation on your own. In fact, you could SAVE money working with a travel agent. Their job is to look out for you. (We’ve scored some great deals this way!)

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

We’ve got all the contact information for Small World Vacations at the bottom of this page and you can fill out their form to get started right here!

Should you use a travel agent for your Disney World trip? Click here to see more of our thoughts!

There are a LOT of different  Disney-owned/run hotels to stay at on Walt Disney World property . There are also some hotels that are technically on Walt Disney World property but are not owned/run by Disney, like the Four Seasons Orlando or the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. And there are hotels that are off of Walt Disney World property, but very close by.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

With a LOT of options, it can be overwhelming to figure out which is the right choice for your family . There are three classes of hotels owned by Disney — Value, Moderate, and Deluxe — ranging from the less expensive Value resorts all the way up to posh Deluxe resorts will all the amenities you could want.

Which Disney World Resort Hotel is Best for YOU?

There are  many reasons why you might want to stay at a Disney World-owned hotel — including benefits that apply to Resort guests including free transportation to the Disney parks (a HUGE perk for many guests), the service you get from the Cast Members, extra park hours benefits , and the charming and immersive Disney theming. But there are also some reasons why you might NOT want to stay in a Disney World hotel — like the cost savings or additional room space you can find at other places.

Finally, before you book your trip, you’ll want to check and see if there are any  special deals or discounts being offered on Disney World hotel stays.

Room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sometimes, you may be able to score the hotel of your dreams for less through these deals. You could also look into renting points to stay at a Disney Vacation Club Villa and that could help you save BIG on some great spots . Finally, a lot of people make some rookie mistakes planning their first Disney World trip. Make sure YOU don’t make those same mistakes by reading our post below…

Click here to see the rookie mistakes you’re making when booking a Disney World hotel!

Okay, so you’ve decided what hotel you want to stay at, but what about the theme parks?  You’ll need to get tickets to enter the theme parks .  But, in Disney World, not all days are created equal when it comes to theme park admission prices.  Essentially, Disney uses a calendar system for its prices that is based on demand. So, “peak” days — holidays and days that Disney expects the park to be busier — are priced at a higher cost.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom entrance

If you go during a slower period, when the demand isn’t as high, the tickets will be lower in terms of cost. Prices can jump up or down depending on when you’d like to visit , so scouting out a slower time could mean big savings.

Click here to learn all about the various ticket options in Disney World.

Also, you’ll want to keep in mind that park tickets have an expiration date.  So, while your parents might have tickets from the ’90s that are still totally good, the tickets you buy tomorrow will have a set expiration date. You’ll want to mark that down in your calendar and make sure you get the full use out of that ticket before it expires.

Welcome to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

You can get tickets that give you access to 1 park per day , or you can opt for a ticket with the  Park Hopper  option. With the Park Hopper option, you can HOP between all 4 Disney World theme parks.   Park Hopper DOES add a fairly significant cost to your tickets, but if you’re looking to jump around to different parks for meals or are trying to do it all in just a few days, it might well be worth the added cost.

All 4 parks by 9:30AM!

One important thing to keep in mind: if you don’t get a ticket with the Park Hopper option at first, and later you decide you want it, that is fine. You can always add it on once you’re in Disney World, and you can even add it to your tickets in the middle of your trip. But Disney will charge you for adding the Park Hopper for the full length of your trip (meaning that even if you add on the Park Hopping on day 3 of 5, you’ll be charged Park Hopping for the full 5 days of your trip). So, if you are going to add it on during your trip, you’ll want to add it on early so you can take full advantage of it.

Also keep in mind, though, that you cannot remove a Park Hopper option from a ticket once you’ve bought it. Our advice? Really put some thought into if you actually NEED the Park Hopping ability before you decide to pay for it , but don’t wait until you’re too late into your actual trip. It may make sense for your group to build in rest time back at your Resort during the day instead of go-go-going to make the most of Hopping. Sometimes, less is more… and sometimes you may want to pack in as much as you can. Think about your family’s wants AND needs before tacking on the expense, and — if you choose to do so — be sure you make the most of it!

If you are interested in the water parks or some other activities, you can also get Park Hopper tickets that have a Water Parks and Sports option and a Park Hopper Plus option that will allow you to do more.

Winter Summerland Mini Golf

Just like the hotels, Disney often runs a variety of discounts and deals on its tickets that you’ll want to look into. You can learn about current deals and discounts HERE . And, if you’re really planning to commit, you can look into getting a  Disney World Annual Pass.

Annual Pass

There are 4 different passes to choose from. If you want access to PhotoPass for the year, or you want admission to some water parks and sports options as part of your Annual Pass, those are an additional cost.

Click here to learn more about the Annual Passholder program!

We touched on it briefly above, but the  Disney Dining Plan  is a way to pay for your Disney World meals in advance.  Plans are pre-purchased and added onto a Disney Vacation Package  (i.e. you must be staying at a Disney owned-and-operated hotel). With the Dining Plan, all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head to a restaurant on the list, eat, and scan your MagicBand or MagicBand+ , Key to the World card, or Disney MagicMobile feature on your smartphone to “pay.”

Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger

The credits for the meal (or snacks) for each person will be deducted from your total allotment. Easy peasy. Note that while you don’t pay while you’re at the restaurant (unless you order extras not covered, like additional drinks or appetizers), gratuity is not included on table-service meals .

There are two different plans to meet different budgets and dining needs and desires. The plans even include alcohol, if you’re able to partake (and include specialty beverages for those who do not).

And we’ve got tips on how you can MAXIMIZE your Disney Dining Plan credits here!

Photopass & memory maker.

During your trip, you’ll likely see Disney photographers taking other families’ photos.  This is called Disney PhotoPass .   The photographers are scattered throughout the parks and will take your photos for FREE! So, don’t be afraid to say cheese and take those pictures! You can then link the photos to your account with your MagicBand or admission card (or your phone ) so you can see them online later. Some photographers can even add in fun magical stuff to your photos (called “Magic Shots”), so be sure to ask!

Pluto and a PhotoPass Photographer

If you want to download those photos, you’ll either need an Annual Pass that includes free photo downloads, you’ll need to buy the Memory Maker service, or you can pay for each photo individually.   Memory Maker  is a service that you pay for that allows you to download all your PhotoPass photos for trips in a certain period of time.

A List of Every Disney Photo Pass Lens!

Hotel, ticket, and dining cancelation policies.

Before we continue… this Guide is intended to help you plan what will presumably be a magical vacation! But should you happen to need them — or simply want to familiarize yourself before making any big investments — you can find a list of Disney World Resort Hotel, Ticket, and Dining Cancelation Policies HERE .

If you’re staying at a Disney World owned/operated hotel,  one of the best perks is FREE transportation from the hotels to the parks and back.  Depending on the hotel you’re staying at, different transportation options will be available. Some hotels have  buses  to the parks…

Disney Bus Transportation to Hollywood Studios

…while others have  boats …

Friendship Boats

…or access to the  Disney Skyliner …

Walt Disney World Skyliner

…or  monorails , or a combination.

The Monorail

Some hotels even give you the chance to WALK to the parks.

Grand Floridian Walkway

For example, you can walk from  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa , Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and (if you’re willing to trek a little bit) Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Magic Kingdom.

You can also drive to and from the parks. If you’re staying at a Disney Hotel, you get free parking at the parks. Otherwise, keep in mind that there is a cost per day to park at Disney World’s theme parks . If you hop to the other parks, you won’t need to pay again on the same day though — just keep that receipt! Also, parking is free at Disney Springs !

Another thing you’ll need to think about is how you’re going to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) or any airport nearby (if you’re flying into Orlando) to your hotel.

Mears Connect

You’ll need to arrange for transportation from the airport to Disney World (and, of course, back again) .

Click here to learn the ins-and-outs of Disney World Transportation!

Disney & technology.

You may want to spend part of your vacation away from the computer or technology, but  in Disney World there are actually a LOT of apps and tech things you’ll want to know about and use. 

My Disney Experience app screenshot

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll need to download and know.

My Disney Experience app

First, we highly recommend that you download the free My Disney Experience  app. You’ll be able to use this app to check park times , make dining reservations , check the wait times for the rides , look at park maps , and SO MUCH MORE.

Keep your eye on the app! ©Disney

You can create accounts for your family members on there, link your tickets, and link MagicBands, too.

Click here to see the steps you should take on My Disney Experience BEFORE your Disney World trip.

Magicbands and disney magicmobile.

If you walk around Disney World, you’re sure to see people with colorful bands on their wrists that look like this:

Princess and the Frog MagicBand

These are called  MagicBands !   MagicBands can do a whole bunch of stuff! 

If you set it up online through My Disney Experience , you can link your park tickets to your MagicBand. Then, all you’ll need to do is scan your band (rather than take your ticket out of your wallet or pocket) to get into the parks. They can also be used to open your Disney World hotel room door, charge purchases to your Disney World hotel room, link PhotoPass photos, and more! It’s a mega-powerful tool right on your wrist.

MagicBands may be purchased at Disney World and on shopDisney.com . Disney World hotel guests and Annual Passholders can also  pre-order some MagicBands at a discount ahead of their trip, but you’re gonna have to pay a bit.  If you don’t like the discounted options available, you can also just buy a MagicBand in the parks or  online . MagicBands can be extremely convenient. But they are not required if you choose not to use them .

Click here to see our ULTIMATE GUIDE to MagicBands in Disney World!

MagicBand+ made its Disney World debut in July 2022 .

MagicBand+ comes alive with COLOR!

These interactive MagicBands offer all of the same features as the regular MagicBands, but also have special INTERACTIVE features with  color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition that allow wearers to experience park activities in new ways!

Click here to learn everything PLUS about MagicBand+!

No MagicBand? No worries! A service called Disney MagicMobile is also available for Disney World guests, and it incorporates many of the features of the MagicBand and transfers them to your smartphone !

You can learn all there is to know about Disney MagicMobile here .

Click here to learn about the Disney MagicMobile service!

The My Disney Experience app is packed to the brim with options to make dining in Disney World that much easier, too!

Mobile Order Signs

For instance, Mobile Order allows you to preorder and pay for your food on your phone at many Disney World quick-service spots.

Mobile Dine Check-in & Walk-up Waitlists

You’ll also be able to use the app to do  Mobile Dine Check-in for many Disney World Table Service restaurants.

Mobile Dine Check In

The My Disney Experience app also lets you join Virtual Waitlists for many Disney World restaurants , if they have walk-up availability .

Click here to see more about the Walk-up Waitlist feature!

Virtual queues for in-demand rides.

Disney also makes use of Virtual Queues through the My Disney Experience app when NEW rides debut in the parks as a line management tool for in-demand attractions. For instance, TRON Lightcycle / Run opened in Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2023 and a Virtual Queue is in place for guests hoping to ride the new coaster.

TRON Lightcycle / Run

When and where Virtual Queues are in use, you’ll need to download the My Disney Experience app to sign up for a Boarding Group for the ride . We recommend REALLY brushing up on our how-to tips before attempting to get one. These features we’ve discussed here simply scratch the surface of options available to you via My Disney Experience , and you can learn more about everything the online tool and accompanying free app has to offer here !

Hey, Disney!

A complimentary perk is available  to guests  at the  Disney World Resort hotels .   “Hey, Disney!”  offers  “custom voice assistance” to guests staying at Resort hotels in Walt Disney World. 

Hey, Disney at Art of Animation Resort

The service, which  works with Alexa on Amazon Echo devices ,  assists guests with room amenities, guest services, planning,  and  weather info … AND it brings along LOTS of  extra Disney MAGIC  to make all of these things a lot more FUN!

Click HERE to find out what you need to know about ‘Hey, Disney!’

Play disney parks app.

If you’re looking for a way to keep the little ones entertained as you wait in line or even give the older kids (*raises hand*) something to play, the  Play Disney P a rks App is something you might want to download (it’s FREE!).

Play Disney Parks in line!

The app is full of games and more to keep everyone busy. And it’s got  special features you can use in Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios .

Planning Your Days

One big thing you need to know about before your first Disney World trip is the  park hours .  Disney World theme parks  do not open and close at the same time as one another, and the hours for each theme park can vary by day.  It’s important that you know those hours when you plan your trip so you can try to get the most out of every single day you have.

Welcome to Magic Kingdom

Park hours can also  change ahead of your trip or even DURING your trip !  You’ll want to keep an eye on those park hours, ESPECIALLY once you’re there, and watch for updates from us here at DFB.  Disney World Resort hotel guests get to spend a little extra time in the parks, extending those park hours just a bit more with Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours .

Let’s start with Early Theme Park Entry . All guests staying at Disney-owned resorts and select other resorts are allowed 30-minute early entry into any theme park every single day . ( Select attractions are open during this early entry time.)

Extended Evening Hours is a separate perk only for those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts or Deluxe Villas . With this perk, those staying at eligible resorts are able to spend more time in a select park on select nights. ( Again, select attractions are open during this time.)

If you’ll be staying at a resort with one or both of these perks, you’ll be able to factor in that extra time in the parks as part of your plans.

Click here to see our page with LOTS of park hours updates.

Want a  month-by-month planning guide to your Disney World vacation ? We’ve got that here, too!

Festival of the Arts

Want to make sure you walk away from your first trip with as few regrets as possible? Click here to see some of our readers’  10 BIGGEST regrets in Disney World  so you don’t experience the same things.

The month MATTERS! Click here for a year-round look at Walt Disney World!

Disney Genie  provides  on-the-go planning tools  and  customized itineraries  to help guests maximize their time in the parks!

You will tell Disney Genie what you want to ride and what types of things (like Disney films or characters) you like, and Disney Genie creates a personalized, flexible itinerary for you!  With Genie, you can see forecasted wait times, mobile order your food, chat with a virtual assistant, see walk-up waitlist availability, make restaurant reservations, adjust your plans, and more! Essentially, Genie is designed to help you plan your day on-the-go and maximize your time in the parks.

There are also  optional add-ons available for a fee.  TWO different options are available, and they allow guests to  bypass the standby lines for attractions  and instead enter the  Lightning Lane . The  Disney Genie+ base-price option  —  starting at $15*  per person, per day  — allows guests to select the next available time to arrive at an attraction and enter that attraction’s Lightning Lane at over 50 attractions across the four Disney World theme parks.  (* Prices vary by date AND by park , and Lightning Lane access is  subject to availability .)

Lightning Lane

And another paid option is available for  DIFFERENT —  and  more in-demand — attractions .  Disney’s Individual Attraction Lightning Lane Selection  service  (pay-per-ride)  is how guests can pay a fee to utilize the  Lightning Lane for an individual attraction .

CLICK HERE to learn everything you NEED to know about Disney Genie!

Dining at disney world.

There are a LOT of dining options all around Disney World . There are  counter service spots — meaning places where you simply order your food, pick it up, and take it to your table. There are also table service restaurants  — where you will be seated, a Cast Member will take your order, and your food will be brought to you at the table.

Reservations are NOT required (nor can they be made) for counter service spots. But Advance Dining Reservations can — and should — be made for table service spots. At many popular spots, reservations essentially become required if you want to dine there. Right now, you can make dining reservations  60 days ahead of your Disney trip . 

Find out how to make Advance Dining Reservations for Disney World Table Service restaurants here!

Reservations can book up pretty quickly for some spots — particularly those popular locations. When we say “fast” we mean “gone 60 days out” for big spots. So, if you’re looking to eat at an in-demand place like ‘Ohana  a character meal , or other popular places, you’ll want to book those as quickly as you can!

Dining at ‘Ohana

You can change or cancel your reservations later if you change your mind. But please note that most Disney reservations will charge you a cancellation fee (usually $10 per person) if you don’t show up for the meal or  cancel up to two hours in advance  for most dining experiences.

Time for the main course at Homecomin’!

Also, if you’re on a serious budget or you’ve got picky eaters in the group,  you can bring food, snacks, water bottles, sodas, and more into Disney World parks .  If you’ve got  special dietary concerns or allergies ,  there are also several things you can do to notify Disney and help them best accommodate you.  Cast Members will be happy to help in any way they can.

Click here to see more about dining with a special diet in Disney World!

Rides, fireworks, parades, and a bit more.

There are a lot of rides in Disney World, and it’s important to know what rides are in what park so you can best plan your days.  You can find Disney World maps online or in the  My Disney Experience  app. We think it’s a good idea for you and your family to look at these maps ahead of time and make a note of what rides are must-dos, which ones you’d like to try, and which ones you’d rather skip.

Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Not sure what a specific ride is even like? Is it too scary for your little one or too scary for you??  Watch videos of the rides online!  There are tons of videos on YouTube that will give you a much better idea of what the ride is like. You can watch them with your family to get excited for your trip and help you narrow down your must-do list.

Avatar in Flight of Passage Queue

Some Disney World rides do have height requirements , so keep that in mind for little ones and be sure to look in advance so they aren’t disappointed when they get there. We recommend measuring your kiddo with their shoes on so you know before you go what they can and can’t do.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

If someone is too short, parents can take advantage of Disney World’s Rider Switch program . This allows you to split your party so those tall enough can ride while someone stays with the person too small to ride. Then, they switch and the person who waited can ride without waiting in the full line.

Aside from actual moving or simulation rides, there is lots of wonderful entertainment all around Disney World!

A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King

You can check out everything from parades and shows to live music and nighttime spectaculars and MORE here !

Click HERE to check out ALL the entertainment in Disney World!

Also, we wanted to briefly mention how to handle if someone in your party requires a bit of extra assistance to ride rides on your trip. Disney does have certain services available for those with disabilities . For example, Assistive Technology Devices for guests with hearing disabilities are available at Guest Relations.

Guest Relations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Those with disabilities can also get a  Disability Access Service pass   that allows them to stop by an attraction and receive a return time at which point they’ll be able to come back and be directed to an alternate entrance to get on the ride.

Virtual features are available for Disney’s Disability Access Service Program — click here to learn more.

Also, we couldn’t get through this guide without mentioning two of the things that Disney is so famous for (even though they aren’t rides) — parades and fireworks!  These are quintessential Disney things you’ll likely want to reserve some time to experience.

Happily Ever After

Make sure you catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom ! PACKED with characters and larger-than-life floats, it’s a full-fledged, can’t-miss production.

Festival of Fantasy Parade

You can enjoy character cavalcades at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom — which are sort-of like mini parades!

Animal Kingdom Cavalcade

Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After features  fireworks  and  enhanced lighting , all set to memorable  Disney music .

The magic literally surrounds everyone gathered on Main Street, as immersive projection effects extend down Main Street, U.S.A. from Cinderella Castle !

In EPCOT :  Luminous The Symphony of Us has taken over the skies . This production features fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects, and unforgettable Disney songs! It’s presented on World Showcase Lagoon each evening.

Luminous: The Symphony of Us

Fantasmic!  is a truly unforgettable production presented at the Hollywood Hills amphitheater in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Mickey in Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios

Combining  water effects, fireworks , and appearances by literally  dozens of Disney characters  — all set to Disney songs in an original story starring none other than Mickey Mouse — it’s a show you won’t want to miss!

Dreaming of meeting Mickey and Minnie? Hoping to say “HELLO” to Donald and Goofy? Would you love to give a wave to Woody and all our other  Toy Story pals?

We finally got to hug Mickey!

Well, we’ve got a list right here letting you know where to find ALL the Disney characters in the Walt Disney World theme parks !

Daisy signing her autograph in EPCOT

Find our FULL LIST of Character Meet and Greets in Walt Disney World HERE !

Additionally, Character Dining experiences give you the chance to interact with beloved Disney pals AS YOU DINE!

You could say hello to Mickey at Topolino’s Terrace!

The vast array of Character Dining options may surprise you ! Because Character Meals are such a great way to meet several Disney characters at once , they are a VERY popular option for guests.

We have a Character Dining resource pages you can visit to learn more about all your options, where you can find meals listed by mealtime , location , and — of course, CHARACTERS !

Learn MORE about Character Dining in Disney World here!

Additional resources.

Maybe you’ve got everything booked and ready…but what do you pack?! Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered there too! Check out ULTIMATE Disney World packing list .

We’ve also got a list of  12 essentials you NEED in your Disney World bag , and a video of the  things even the pros forget to bring to Disney World.  

The DFB Guide

Want a BIG guide to all things Disney FOOD related? Well, lucky you — we got you covered there, too! (What can we say. We like you and want you to have the BEST time ever!) You might want to check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining!

The DFB Guide to Dining in Disney World

The  DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is FULL of details, tools, and features to help your trip go smoothly, including:

• A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning , covering everything you need to know from  budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks.
• A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge , including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.
• Free downloadable worksheets for planning your trip.  These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips!
• Seven sample one-day dining itineraries  for a head-start on planning.
• A comprehensive index of bars and lounges WITH reviews.  An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic.

The book is a digital book, so you can easily look at it on your phone or computer before and during your trip.

Click here to learn more about the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining!

Don’t forget our dfb videos.

And finally, if you’re a videos type of person, then you’ll want to check out our DFB YouTube channel.  Truly, this is not just a shameless plug. The DFB videos on YouTube are totally FREE to watch and there are LOADS on there with tons of valuable information that could help you plan your trip.

Click here to check out our video of the 50 things to know before you go to Disney World!

We’ve got an  entire playlist dedicated to Disney World tips and guides  with videos showing you what things are banned in Disney World, things we wish we’d known before we went to Disney World, the worst Walt Disney World resorts, and more! We’ve even got a video dedicated to the  50 MOST important things to know before you go to Disney World . If you’re planning a trip to Disney World for the first time, some of these videos can really help you get prepared!

A flower Mickey!

And that’s our essential guide to planning your trip to Disney World! WHEW! Believe it or not, there is SO much more we could say, but then this guide would go on for AGES. We’ll leave it at this — planning a trip to Disney World can be a lot. But try not to let yourself get overwhelmed. Remember that at the end of the day, it won’t matter if you hit every single ride or ate every snack you had on your list. What will matter is whether you got to spend quality time with your family, soak in the magic, and create memories that will last a lifetime. We hope your first trip to Disney World is absolutely fantastic! And remember… we’re always here for you at the DFB to help make it happen!

Ready to start planning? Get the Magic started and complete a request for a price quote. An agent will review your travel preferences and provide you with a no-obligation quote along with their phone number so you can talk with them.

Our favorite people over at small world vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all , money, when you book your disney trip or cruise..

Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU ! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here !)

So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today , and let them know DFB sent you 🙂

Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know

The ultimate guide to planning a disney world vacation, a month-by-month guide to planning your disney world trip, tips, hints, lists, and videos for planning the best disney world trip, learn about the disney park pass system, the ultimate disney world packing list, everything you need to know about genie+, insider secrets for your first trip to disney world, a complete look at the current disney discounts and deals, the only disney dining planning tool you’ll need is here – get the dfb guide to walt disney world dining, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe, check out our other ebooks.

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Planning a First Trip to Walt Disney World

You’ve finally decided to go to Walt Disney World! You’re ready to pack up the kids (or just yourself) and head to Florida. You have images of rides, characters, and castles dancing in your head. But now what? Where do you start and how do you plan?  If this is your first trip to Walt Disney World, this is the place for you!

This guide will help you sort through some of the questions you will need to answer and will serve as a starting point for making your trip memorable. Here are some of the areas you will need to consider:

When to Go   How to Get There   Where to Stay   Where to Eat   What to Do When You Are There

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World will require a little time. Walt Disney World is big — almost 40 square miles big. That’s about the size of San Francisco or twice the size of Manhattan. There are over 70,000 cast members (the Disney word for employees) working at Walt Disney World. There are over 25 resort hotels and over 100 restaurants. All of these facts aren’t meant to scare off visitors, but rather show the size and variety available at Walt Disney World.

Know that planning a trip to a place of this size, especially a first trip, will require some decisions. You won’t do or so it all of this first trip. And since Disney parks are always evolving, there will always be something new to do on every trip. Plan this trip, your first, to see the highlights. See what interests you. Get a taste for the location. Know that you can always go back — and each year, many, many repeat visitors do just that!

There are many factors to consider when deciding when to go to Walt Disney World. Consider some of the first to narrow down your choices for your first trip: school schedules, work schedules, and other activities or family obligations may narrow down the dates. Once you have taken care of your obligations, you can look at other factors.

The lightest crowds tend to be

• Mid-January through Early February
• Late April through Mid-May
• The week following Labor Day through the week before Thanksgiving
• The week following Thanksgiving through the second week in December

Notice that these also tend to be times when schools are in session. It follows that these lighter crowd times also tend to be the times when the cost of a Disney vacation is the lowest. Please note, holiday weekends (such as President’s Day in February) are much busier than the surrounding days during each of these times.

Conversely, the higher crowd times are also the most expensive. The busiest week of the year is the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The hotel pricing for this week has its own special category. Other busy times are the weeks before and after Easter, the general spring break season (mid-March through mid-April), summer, and President’s Day Weekend.

The benefit of the busier times is that there are generally fewer attractions and amenities closed for refurbishment, and the park hours tend to be longer.

Along with crowds and pricing, the weather is another factor to consider. The summers in Florida are hot and humid. If you don’t like to be warm, this may not be the time for you. The summer also tends to be the rainy season, although most summer storms in Florida last a short time and disappear. It does tend to rain more often than not in the afternoon during the summer.

For a more in-depth look at these factors, visit our Choosing Vacation Dates .  Consider these factors when planning your first trip.

How to Get There

Planes, trains, and automobiles are all options. Which one to choose depends on not only the budget but time as well. Depending on your starting point, driving can add a significant amount of time to your trip. Flying is a fast way to travel, but it can cost more than driving, especially if you have a family traveling together.

You will need to often add a day each way for driving. If your time is limited, this can cut down on the park time and relaxation time.

While air travel or personal car are two of the more popular choices for getting to Walt Disney World, you can also explore the options of bus, train , or rental car . Take a look at each option to decide what would work best for your family.

Where to Stay

Central Florida has a significant number of options for your stay. There are over twenty-five on-site resorts at the Walt Disney World Resort that cater to a variety of tastes and budgets. Then there are off-site hotels, house rentals, and timeshares (not including Disney’s Vacation Club villas).

There are definite advantages to staying on Walt Disney World property. Transportation is one of those. Bus , boat , Skyliner , or monorail service (depending on the resort) is available to all four theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs free of charge for guests. This means no expense of driving or renting a car, and no need to find directions. While this is an easy option, it does require additional time to wait for transportation.

Another advantage of staying on Disney property is Early Park Entry . Each day, all the theme parks open thirty minutes early. In addition, for those staying at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels, there’s another perk. Those individuals will also be able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks. This means lower crowds for getting in rides and attractions.

To see more reasons to stay at a Disney resort, visit our Benefits of Staying at a Disney Resort page. Not sure about staying on property? There are times when it makes sense to stay off-site as well. Visit our guide on deciding where to stay when taking a Walt Disney World vacation.

If you have decided to stay at a Disney resort, but don’t know how to go about selecting which one, we have a guide to Choosing a Disney Resort that will highlight the differences between the categories of resorts. Once you settle on a category, you can see more about each resort, including amenities and rates, by visiting our Resort Guides .

Where to Eat

Right now, you may be thinking, “My vacation is many months away, why do I need to consider where I’m having dinner so far in advance?” It’s one of the differences in planning a Disney vacation and a vacation to another location.

Disney restaurants begin accepting Advance Dining Reservations 60 days ahead of time. Believe it or not, some locations will book up that far in advance. And if you have your heart set on a certain dining experience, you will need an Advance Dining Reservation. Guests traveling at crowded times (go back up to the “ When to Go ” section to see if you are planning during one of those times) will especially need to plan ahead.

While you won’t starve at a Disney park without planning ahead, you will miss out on some great experiences. Disney Parks and Resorts have some amazing table-service venues that add to the experience of visiting Walt Disney World. Some people find the restaurants to be one of the highlights of their trips. Disney works hard to offer a wide variety of different cuisines and work to provide healthy and delicious food alternatives. Of course, you will find burgers and chicken strips in the parks, but there are so many options, many guests don’t even look for these fast-food staples.

Start by exploring some of the menus at the restaurants. You don’t have to choose your exact meal, but you can see if the restaurant appeals to you and your family.

Some restaurants feature characters . These are great and relaxing ways to visit with some favorite characters. Imagine Mickey Mouse coming to visit you at your table while you eat. Photographs and autographs can be had without a line, and with a meal. You can see why these locations will book up first, and likely will not be available to walk up to and get a table. If characters are important to your family, we highly recommend booking at least one character dining experience on your first trip.

Another consideration for dining are the Disney Dining Plans . These are available for on-site guests who purchase a hotel package (hotel and tickets). There are a few options, with the Quick Service Dining Plan and the Standard Dining Plan being the most popular. These dining plans are a great way to get a handle on dining costs ahead of time. They also can be money savers. The dining plan that is right for you depends on how you will eat. Does your family prefer only quick-service (fast food-type) locations? Then the Quick Service plan may meet your needs. Do you like to have a table-service meal each day to have some family time to sit down and relax? Then a standard Dining Plan may work for you. If you prefer more table-service options, there are other plans as well.

Whether you choose a dining plan or not, planning for your dining choices -or at least some of your dining choices – will be a definite advantage when you get to Walt Disney World.

What to Do When You Are There

So you’ve saved, and planned, and made reservations. Now what? Have fun, of course!

That being said, even having fun at Walt Disney World requires a little advanced planning. There is so much to see and do; you can’t do it all it one trip, especially your first trip. That may be the most important thing for new visitors to remember. Even a two-week trip would leave things untouched. There are four theme parks, two water parks, the Disney Springs shopping and entertainment district, mini-golf courses, resort hotels, marinas, fishing expeditions, special events, and the list goes on. Find what appeals to you and your family and go from there.

Trying to do it all will undoubtedly lead to a less-than-magical experience. Make sure to build in some time to stop and smell the roses. While many people do go on their first trip assuming it will be their only trip and try to do it all, you may find after that you can’t wait to return.  Plan some time to swim in the resort pool. Make at least one Advance Dining Reservation at a restaurant and experience the food and fun. Check out any special events that may be happening during your stay. Just make sure to make your trip memorable.

One thing you may want to consider using is Disney Genie+ to help you get on attractions quicker. While this does come with an additional cost that does vary depending on the day you are traveling, it can allow you to see more attractions than you would have been able to experience without it.

You can also see travel specials highlighting different aspects of the parks. These are available on services like Disney+ for your planning enjoyment. You can also check out our own YouTube channel for great video content.

Remember that the crowd levels will determine the number of attractions you can visit. As will the age and stamina of the travelers. There is a handy guide that highlights the height requirements of specific rides. Take a look at that to determine what younger riders can experience.

There are several recreational activities to experience without being in a theme park. Our Recreation Pricing and Information guide will help you look at the experiences available and determine if you would like to add on to your first trip.

There is plenty to do without a day of tickets at Walt Disney World. There is also so much to do within the four theme parks . Each park can easily hold your attention for a day. Magic Kingdom and EPCOT may even take longer to explore — EPCOT because of its size and Magic Kingdom because of its classic attractions.

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Start planning your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation with The Magic For Less Travel . Use the form below to request a free no-obligation quote, and one of their counselors will get in touch with you to begin planning. The Mouse For Less recommends the Walt Disney World vacation planning services provided by our sponsor, The Magic For Less Travel. Their expert planning advice will help you make the most of your vacation time and money. The Magic For Less Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and provides service free of charge.

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Home » Walt Disney World » Planning and Tips

2024 Disney World Planning Guide | How to Plan a Disney Vacation

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: May 20, 2024

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Planning a trip to Walt Disney World in 2024 or 2025? We know it’s stressful, but don’t worry, our Disney World Vacation Guide will give you everything you need to know to get ready for your upcoming trip!

Whether you are looking for information about the Disney World Parks, hotels, dining, transportation, the best rides, how to save money, or how to avoid the crowds, we have you covered in this guide. Think of it as Disney World Vacation Planning 101.

This guide is especially great for beginners who have never been to Disney World or go rarely, but we also pack in a lot of good tips for regular guests too.

While we do have some of the most important tips & info on this page, we don’t have ALL the answers directly written out here. This guide organizes some of the best Disney planning content into categories giving you an overview of what you are looking for and then links to more in-depth guides on each subject.

In this post we will specifically cover:

• How to Plan a Disney World Vacation
• What You Need to Know BEFORE Going
• When to Visit Disney World in 2024
• Important Disney Vocab
• Where to Stay
• Buying Tickets
• Rides & Attractions
• Dining & Restaurants
• Disney Planning Timeline, & more…

Since this guide covers a lot of the planning steps of your whole trip in general, if you are looking for specific info on the Disney World Parks , then check out the following links:

• Magic Kingdom
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom

Unfortunately, Disney World is one of the most complicated vacation destinations in the world. We know planning a Disney World vacation has become one of the most frustrating exercises and you’d just like to be there already having fun. Hopefully, we can help you do that as painlessly as possible.

We’ve been going to Walt Disney World multiple times per year since the early 1980s when we were babies, and we continue to spend way too much time there today trying all the new food, rides, events, and hotels. To say we are huge Disney fans would be an understatement.

The byproduct of countless hours spent visiting Disney World means that we have some valuable tips that we are eager to share with you. We aren’t going to lie, it will take some work on your end. But in the long run, it will be invaluable for your trip. Let’s get right into it…

Table of Contents

Changes in 2024 and 2025

Going to Walt Disney World in 2024 or 2025 is a MUCH different experience than it was just a couple years ago, and different again from even last year.

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave for the last few years, you know that the parks closed down in 2020, and when they reopened Disney installed many new procedures to let guests back to the parks.

Thankfully, for the most part, the Disney theme parks have gotten back to normal again, and the restrictions Disney put in have gone away one by one. The Walt Disney World vacation experience should be “close to normal” once again.

For example, Fireworks are back with nighttime spectaculars happening in the parks nightly.

Many stage shows like Festival of the Lion King, Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage, and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular are back. There are still some missing, but the lineup of entertainment is heads and shoulders above where it was not too long ago. Not to mention, the overwhelming majority of attractions and restaurants have also returned.

If it’s been a few years, there are a ton of new attractions you have to experience, EPCOT in particular has gone through a pretty big transformation and the construction walls are almost all down now. There are still a lot of additions Disney would like to finish at some point during 2024, including what’s left of the massive EPCOT overhaul project .

There are also new hotel projects on the way including the new DVC tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort and the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort .

This should be a great time to visit, but if you are worried about the changes, you may want to wait until the end of the year.

That’s what to expect this year, now let’s get into some of the Disney vacation planning basics.

How to Plan a Disney Vacation

Believe it or not, some of the most important planning steps of your Disney World trip happen as much as one year BEFORE your vacation starts, or even more.

Some things you are going to have to think about are:

• What dates do I want to go? Are those dates flexible?
• What is my budget?
• What type of hotel do I want to stay in?
• How many days do I want to go to the theme parks?

The most important suggestion we can give you is to get organized. The more work you do before your trip to plan everything out, the easier things will be for you and your family once you get there.

Can You Go to Disney World Without Planning?

As always in life, what you CAN do and what you SHOULD do are two entirely different things, and that is also true in this case.

Yes, it is physically possible to go to Disney World without planning your trip, but I would highly recommend against such an action. Organizing everything months ahead of time is a lot of work and a big pain, but it is vital if you want to have a successful trip.

Your choice of hotel will be severely limited if you don’t book it well in advance. You won’t be able to get dining reservations at the best restaurants in Disney World. You won’t know which attractions to reserve with Genie+. Right now, you can’t even get into the parks without a prior reservation.

If you are looking to go to a destination where you can just “wing it” and not have to make any plans ahead of time, we recommend choosing another destination besides Disney World.

How Do I Start Planning a Trip to Disney World?

STEP 1: Write down notes. There are going to be a lot of details, prices, and dates to remember so get a dedicated notebook for your upcoming trip. If you prefer, you can take notes on your phone or computer, but make sure you have a way of jotting down notes in a convenient place where you will be able to find them.

STEP 2: Set a Budget. Make no mistake about it, a trip to Walt Disney World is expensive and costs can add up very quickly. So before you start choosing how many days you want to stay, your hotel, and ticket types, make a budget. It will be much easier to organize your vacation if you already have an idea of how much you are willing to spend.

STEP 3: Get familiar with Disney World. Even if you are not ready to book your vacation yet, start reading up on Disney World and familiarize yourself with all the locations, attractions, restaurants, and special events. A website like this is one way to do that, but also look through the official Walt Disney World website and download the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device.

STEP 4: Choose your Dates. These don’t have to be written in stone, but we recommend at least having some idea of when you would like to plan your trip for. Later in this guide, we will show you how to decide on those dates.

Once you get these four things done, you are ready to start planning the details.

When Should I Start Planning My Disney Trip?

When is the best time to start planning a Disney World vacation? We recommend to start planning as soon as possible , but at least one year before you plan to go.

The sooner you start planning your Disney vacation, the better. In fact, once you finish reading this guide, you should start writing ideas down for your trip.

As you will see in our vacation planning timeline, some of the first steps can be completed as many as 499 days before your vacation starts.

We believe the sooner you start the process of organizing your trip, the better. Starting now will give you a leg up on other guests when it comes to getting reservations for dining, hotel rooms, the parks, and any special events you want to attend+. I will also make you aware of discounts to save money on your trip.

What Do I Need to Know Before Going to Disney World?

Here are 9 main things to know about Disney World before going:

• There are 4 Theme Parks in Disney World: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom
• There are 2 Water Parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon
• 31 Resort Hotels to stay in.
• There are countless Outdoor Activities to do such as swimming, fishing, golf, boating, and more.
• WDW has 5 golf courses and 2 mini-golf courses .
• Disney Springs is the nighttime entertainment hub with dozens of first-class restaurants and shops
• You can catch a Dinner Show at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue or dine at one of the many character meals .
• It is a self-contained city with its own fire department, water treatment, waste disposal, and power generation.
• Disney World is HUGE at 25,000 acres. That means travel time can be long between two places.

How Many Days do you Need for Disney World?

There is really no wrong answer to how many days you need for a trip to Walt Disney World, and it depends on many factors, including if this is your first trip or not.

• The ideal Disney World vacation is 7 days long . That allows for 2 travel days (arrival and departure), and 5 open days to visit the parks and have fun.
• The bare minimum we recommend for first-timers is 5 days , ideally with an early arrival and late departure.

In fact, most Disney World vacations are between 4 to 7 days long. That gives you enough time to visit all the theme parks at least once, and have extra time for staying at the resort and swimming or shopping.

If you want to visit any other Orlando-based attractions like Universal Studios, for example, you can still do that in 6-7 days total.

It’s possible to visit Walt Disney World in only 3 or 4 days, but you will feel very rushed. You can make the highlights of each park, but you won’t really have time to do all the rides, see all the shows and take in the details.

One thing to keep in mind is the longer your trip, the less you pay per day for your park tickets. So in a way, it’s advantageous to stay longer than only 5 days.

If you have the time and money , we recommend doing a 9 or 10-night stay and really taking the time to soak it all in. That gives you enough time to visit all 4 parks multiple times, and have days off to relax.

How Much Does a Trip to Disney World Cost?

Let’s get to the bottom line…how much does a Disney World vacation really cost?

Everyone has different budgets, so the cost is going to depend on how many days you go, how many people are in your group, and how you like to vacation. Our Guide to Doing Disney World on a Budget will help you with more of the details.

The major costs to consider for a Disney World vacation are:

• Park Tickets
• Souvenirs/Shopping

We’ve made our estimated costs based on a family of 4 on a 5-Night vacation to Walt Disney World in the Summer, with 4 days of theme park passes.

For a family of 4, a Walt Disney World vacation in 2024 costs: $5,895.26 , $7,378.61 , or $10,757.96 . These prices include the above expenses and are broken down our price estimates into 3 categories: Budget , Moderate , and Expensive .

• For a family of 2 adults , the prices change to: $3,667.10, $4,684.80, and $7,323.00 .
• For a family of 3, the prices change to: $4,689.19, $5,861.19, and $8,768.94 .
• For a family of 5, the prices change to: $8,862.35, $10,005.00, and $12,203.90 .

Of course, there are many more factors to take into consideration, especially the time of year you visit. We calculated these prices based on a Summer vacation, but they can change by hundreds of dollars in either direction, so keep that in mind.

Read our post on the Average Cost to go to Disney World for more details and how to save money on your trip.

Should I Use a Disney Travel Agent?

One option you might want to consider is using an authorized Disney Vacation Planner when planning your trip. Even though there is a ton of great information on the internet to read, sometimes it’s just too much and you prefer having someone take care of the work for you.

The nice thing is most Disney travel agents don’t cost any extra money to work with. That means you can have someone personalize your trip for you and make the tough reservations, all for free. In fact, most of the time, using an agent will actually SAVE you money since they know when the discounts come out.

Using an authorized Disney vacation planner, your trip will be much better organized, less stressful, and save you money.

If you like the hands-off approach to trip planning, we highly recommend Rene Cittadino and her amazing team from Show You the World Travel. We’ve worked with Rene and her team of experts many times before and she is our Disney Travel Planner of choice.

• Contact René at Show You the World Travel for all your trip planning needs, including a FREE quote.

List Your Priorities

There is way too much to do at Walt Disney World, no matter how long your trip is. That means you need to make a priority list of must-dos.

• Is there a restaurant you absolutely must go to? Write it into the schedule.
• What are the attractions you have to do at each park?
• Which shows do you want to see?
• Which characters?

When we are planning a trip to Disney World, we put all the must-dos in one column and then find a place for them in the program. We also have a secondary list of things we’d like to do if time allows, and we fill in the cracks with those.

When to Visit in 2024 or 2025?

Above all things, deciding when to visit Disney World is the most important decision you have to make when planning your trip.

Factors such as crowds, price, weather, and special events should all be taken into consideration when choosing your dates. Unfortunately for some, it’s not always up to us to decide. If you have children in school, you might be forced to only choose dates during the holidays or summer break, and those can be the worst times to visit.

Let’s look at some of the factors, meanwhile, our post on The Best Times to Visit Disney World goes into more depth.

The crowds are probably our most important factor in deciding when to go to Disney World. Trust us, there is nothing worst than going to Disney World when the parks are their busiest.

Crowds at Disney World tend to follow the school calendar, which means holidays and the Summer are when they are at peak levels. If you can avoid going during those times you will be better off, but sometimes this is not possible, especially if you have to take your kids out of school.

Read our 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar post to see which months are the busiest and least busy.

Whether in Orlando, Florida can be brutal for a good part of the year with scorching temperatures and unbearable humidity. Even though it’s known for sunshine, Disney World also gets tons of rain during some months.

The best weather for the parks tends to be from November to March when the climate is mild and there are few rainy days. You also need to know when there are Hurricanes at Walt Disney World and how to avoid them.

What is the Cheapest Time to Go to Disney World?

Going to Disney World is expensive, so planning a vacation for cheap can be a huge help to many guests. So what is the cheapest time to go?

Disney World offers the best rates and the biggest discounts during the off-season when kids are at school. Prices are the highest during the summer and during holidays. Things like ticket prices, airfare, and hotel rooms are all more expensive during those times.

If saving money is important to you, try booking your trip in January, February, or September.

Read our post on the Cheapest times to go to Disney World for more info and tips for guests on a budget.

Special Events

Disney can throw quite the party, and many people come to Disney World specifically for the yearly special events put on. Depending on your needs, you might want to come during one of the events or avoid them altogether.

Here are some of the biggest special events to make note of in 2024:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (January 3-7, 2024)
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (January 12- February 19, 2024)
• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (February 28 – Early July, 2024)
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival (Mid-July – Mid-November, 2024)
• Walt Disney World 100th Year Celebration (Most of 2024)
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Select nights from Mid-August – October 31, 2024)
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Select nights November and December 2024)
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (Late November – December 30th, 2024)

Park Pass Reservations

Right now in 2024, Park Pass Reservations are no longer required for most ticket types (there are some exceptions for Annual Passholders and other special tickets) , and for the most part you no longer have to worry about park capacity.

If your ticket type does require Park Pass Reservations, make sure there are open dates for the parks you want before booking your trip, then once you buy your tickets, make your park pass reservations so you are sure to get in.

However, the good news is that park reservations are no longer required for the majority of ticket holders starting January 9, 2024.

We explain it all in our post on how to make Disney Park Pass reservations .

New Attractions

If you love attractions, then you might want to plan your trip around some of the new rides that are opening up. This is especially true if you’ve been to Disney World many times before and want to hold out until something else is new.

Here are the biggest new attractions opening in 2024:

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• Test Track 3.0
• New Country Bear Jamboree Show

We have been spoiled with a lot of new attractions over the past few years.

EPCOT has been a big focus of recent additions with our favorite being Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind which opened on May 27, 2022, and it has immediately become the most popular ride in EPCOT and a must-do on your visit.

Other new EPCOT attractions include Moana: Journey of Water , Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure , Space 220 Restaurant , and the new Luminous The Symphony of US Fireworks Show .

The TRON: Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster similarly has been a smashing success at Magic Kingdom when it opened on April 2nd of 2023.

Those are just a taste of what’s coming next. Read our guide on New Rides Coming to Disney World which will help you decide when to plan your trip.

What Month is the Best to Go to Disney World?

In general, we find that January and September are the best months to visit Disney World .

Both are incredibly quiet times of the year. January has nicer park weather for long days in the park. September can be wonderfully quiet if you can endure 90-degree days.

For a variety of reasons, we feel that September and May will also be great months at Disney World in 2024. Read our post on Disney World – Month by Month Rankings for a comparison of each one.

Wait Until 2025?

Unlike in 2020-2022 years, most of the health restrictions have now been removed from the Disney parks, making it much more like a normal visit. In our opinion, most guests don’t have reason to be fearful like at the beginning of the reopening.

If you have been waiting for a couple of years to visit, 2024 and 2025 may be the perfect opportunity for your perfect Disney World vacation with all that is coming down the pipeline.

Our article “Should you visit Disney World in 2024?” can help make the case for each year and includes the positives and negatives for both.

No matter what dates you have in mind, check out our post “How Far in Advance Can You Book a Disney Vacation?” That will give you the full timeline and let you know when to get started.

Limited Experiences & Closures

Some of the normal experiences guests are used to at Disney World are not running right now. Since a Disney World vacation is not cheap, this can be a huge factor in deciding whether it’s worth the cost at this time.

Some of the things missing are:

• Some Stage Shows
• Fewer Street Entertainers
• Fewer Characters in the parks

This is another problem brought on by the fact that Disney is not able to find enough cast members to fill the roles required for all the positions in the parks. That’s why we still have limited entertainment options compared to a few years ago.

Thankfully, we have seen the return of fireworks to the parks on a nightly basis and dessert parties to go along with them. Character meets are open again, and at least you can get hugs and autographs from them too!

We are also excited to know that more special events are running again in 2024 with the Disney After Hours Events in full swing. On top of that, the Disney Dining Plan is made its long-awaited return on January 9th, 2024! Guests can begin booking it for trips on that date and after.

At least park hours are pretty much back to normal once again so you can expect to stay in the parks like before.

Important Disney World Vocab

Genie+, PhotoPass, ADRs, MDE, EMH…anyone else confused yet?? In fact, before you start planning your Disney vacation, there are some basic vocabulary terms you need to learn.

Below we’ve listed the most Disney important terms you will see while planning your trip:

My Disney Experience

Everything starts with My Disney Experience when planning a Disney World vacation. Also known as MDE, this is Disney World’s app that handles dining reservations, Genie+, mobile ordering, park maps, resort stay information, itineraries, PhotosPass pictures, and much, much more.

My Disney Experience is accessible through the website or the mobile app on your phone. Get familiar with it, because it’s a necessary tool to use before and during your vacation.

As you may have heard, FastPass+ has been retired and replaced by the new Disney Genie service . Disney Genie is a day-planning app in My Disney Experience that includes two paid ride reservation systems, Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections.

They allow guests to reserve access to the most popular theme park attractions, essentially skipping the lines and saving you time along the way.

Genie+ is not free like its predecessor was and instead costs between $15 and $39 per day, per guest. With that fee, guests can make reservations for attractions they want to ride throughout the day in a specific time slot like FastPass+. They then come back when that time slot arrives.

Reservations are limited to one at a time, so you can’t have 3 all at once like before. Once a two-hour window passes from making your first reservation, you can then make a reservation for the next attraction.

A few of the most popular attractions instead use Individual Lightning Lane selections. These let you skip the line for a one-time fee between $10-$25 depending on the ride. Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane selections are two different pay-to-ride services and guests can use one without the other if they choose.

If you choose not to use either of these services, you will just wait in a standby queue to ride the attraction like normal.

• READ: We cover everything you need to know about Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes in our guide which is essential reading before deciding how to tour the parks each day. I also recommend reading our post “ Is Genie+ Really Worth the Cost? ” which helps you to know if you should spend the extra money.

Early Theme Park Entry

Early Theme Park Entry allows Disney World Resort hotel guests to have access to the theme parks in the morning before the general public . This is one of the biggest benefits of staying at a Disney World Resort hotel with guests experiencing fewer crowds in the parks.

It works in a similar way as Extra Magic Hours did only that Early Theme Park Entry runs every day of the week and lets guests in 30 minutes before the parks open. It’s unclear if EMH will ever return or if Early Theme Park Entry is here to stay long-term.

One thing is clear, you get a big advantage showing up early and it can really help you get the more popular rides in each park done before the crowds arrive.

MagicBands are an all-in-one mobile connectivity device disguised as colorful bracelets. These devices connect with My Disney Experience and can be used by guests to buy food or merchandise, unlock hotel room doors, redeem Genie+ selections at rides, and use them as theme park tickets.

In 2024, MagicBands are no longer free to guests but can be purchased for a small fee online or in the parks. The future of MagicBands and replacement technology is much more clear now that Disney finally launched MagicBand+ a couple of years ago.

Park Hopping

Park hopping is Disney’s system for allowing guests to visit multiple theme parks on the same day. It is an add-on feature to your Disney World theme park admission and is an extra cost. Whether or not it’s worth it to you depends on if you prefer hopping around to multiple parks per day or doing one park per day more thoroughly.

Park Hopping is alive and well in 2024 after being unavailable for a while after the parks reopened. Read our post on Disney World Park Hopping to see what changes there are to the system now.

ADRs is an abbreviation for Advanced Dining Reservations and it is how you reserve a table at Disney World restaurants. Dining reservations are a MUST to get into the more popular restaurants, especially for character meals, theme park restaurants, and the more elegant dining experiences.

If you are staying at one of the Disney World Resort hotels , ADRs can be made 60 days in advance of your check-in date, and reservations can be made for up to 10 days past the check-in date, for a total of 60+10. If you are staying off-site, you are at a disadvantage because you can only make reservations 60 days in advance of the dining date.

Read our Disney World Dining Reservations Guide for more details and tips on getting into the restaurants you want.

PhotoPass & Memory Maker

PhotoPass is Disney’s photography service offered at the Walt Disney World Resort . Professional photographers (and machines) are stationed throughout the parks and are available to take pictures of you and your family as a memory to take back home with you.

These photographers are set up in the most scenic areas, with many of Disney World’s famous icons in the pictures with you like Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, etc. These photos are connected to your My Disney Experience account and can be downloaded or printed at a later time.

Many of the photographs include MagicShots, which are photos with a little bit of extra Disney magic in them, often including the characters and funny poses. On-ride photos are also available on many of the attractions and also can be downloaded.

In order to get these photos, you will need to purchase the Memory Maker package for your trip. It is an additional cost of $210 + tax (or $185 + tax if you purchase it at least 3 days in advance) but gives you unlimited photo opportunities for your whole travel party during your entire vacation.

You also have the opportunity to purchase Memory Maker for only one day, and that costs $75.

Disney photographers will also take photos of you and your family with your own phones if you ask, so don’t be afraid. This service is free of charge.

Where to Stay?

The next step in booking your Walt Disney World vacation is figuring out where you want to stay.

Some of the factors to consider when deciding where to stay are:

• Staying On-Site or Off-Site
• Accommodation Type
• Location and Convenience
• Hotel Amenities
• Airport Transportation
• Extra Perks

Some of these will be important to you while others not so much. Base your decision on the accommodations that check off the most boxes for you and your family.

The first step in this process is deciding if you want to stay at a Disney World Resort hotel (on-site) or outside of the resort property (off-site).

Disney World Resort Hotels

Staying On-Site Benefits

• Location – Resorts are located near the Disney theme parks which means less travel time each day. You can also go back to your hotel for a nap in the afternoon before heading out once again later.
• Genie+ – Staying at a WDW resort hotel means you can make your Individual Lightning Lane reservations at 7:00 am, before guests who are staying off-site.
• Early Theme Park Entry – You will have extra time in the parks in the morning before the general public arrives.
• Transportation – Disney includes free transportation to and from the theme parks, Disney Springs, and other hotels. Free airport shuttle service is no longer provided through Disney’s Magical Express , and you’ll have to take care of getting from Orlando Airport to Disney World on your own. Options include the Mears Connect Shuttle , taxi, or a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft.
• Theming – Most Disney World hotels have unique theming that you and your kids will love.
• The Disney Bubble – There is something magical about stepping into Walt Disney World at the beginning of your vacation and then not stepping out until the end. You feel tucked away inside this magical world that you never want to leave.

Staying Off-Site

Benefits of Staying Off-Site:

• Lower Cost – This is the biggest benefit, one that could make a huge difference in your decision. Compared to each other, non-Disney hotels cost significantly less than Disney hotels of the same hotel class (value vs. value, deluxe vs. deluxe). You could save between 30-50% on hotel costs by staying off-site.
• Transportation – Some of the off-site hotels have a free transportation service between the airport and the hotel so make sure to ask for your options.
• Genie+ – While you don’t have the advantage with the Individual Lightning Lane selections, making Genie+ reservations is the same for guests staying on-site or off-site.
• Better if Visiting Other Orlando Destinations – If going to Orlando, Sea World or other destinations, a more central location outside Disney World is nice.
• More Luxurious – Some of the hotels available in the Orlando area like the Four Seasons Orlando or Ritz-Carlton Orlando, are true luxury hotels, and offer more amenities than the Disney World Resorts.

On-Site vs Off-Site

If you are looking for the easiest, most convenient choice and money is not your number one deciding factor, we recommend staying at a Disney World Resort hotel . The only real negative is the cost, and most of the time the benefits outweigh that, but it will depend on your priorities and budget.

We recommend exploring both options and weighing the cost vs value for you and your family. If you are only going for 4-5 days though, we think staying at a Disney hotel is the smart play since time is of the essence. If you have a longer stay (7 days or more), you might find more value in staying off-site.

Our On-Site vs. Off-Site Disney World Hotels Comparison will help you decide if the benefits are worth the extra cost.

Disney Hotel Types

There are 4 tiers of Walt Disney World Resort hotels and they are organized by cost:

• Value Resorts
• Moderate Resorts
• Deluxe Resorts
• Deluxe Villas

Value Resorts are the cheapest of the hotel types and can be booked anywhere from $130 to $415 per night depending on the season. They have the fewest amenities, the smallest rooms, the cheapest theming, the worst dining options, and the transportation is the slowest.

Moderate Resorts are a step up from value, but not nearly as nice as the Deluxe resorts. The rooms are bigger than value rooms, and the dining is much better at most of them. Prices range from $260 to $505 per night.

Deluxe Resorts are our favorite hotels in Disney World and for good reason. Most of the rooms are large and can fit more than 4 people. The best dining locations are located here with some world-class restaurants. The pools are the best and the locations and transportation options can’t be beaten such as the monorail, Disney Skyliner, and most are within walking distance of the parks.

Of course, expect to pay for this upgrade and prices can vary between $490 to $1350 per night depending on where and when you stay.

Deluxe Villas are Disney Vacation Club properties located at the Deluxe Resorts. Some guests own timeshare points they can spend at these resorts, while other rent points from members. This is the cheapest way to stay at one of the deluxe resorts without breaking the bank and a strategy we highly recommend.

We recommend reading our Guide to the Best Disney World Resorts where we rank them all from best to worst and share the pros and cons of each resort.

Vacation Packages 

Disney World Vacation Packages are your hotel room + theme park tickets in the same bundle. These can be a mixed bag. Sometimes they can be a great value and offer deep discounts on room rates or even include discounts on food like the Disney Free Dining package included.

Most of the time we find you can save more money by getting a hotel room-only discount and buying tickets separately. You should do your due diligence and compare prices between the two options. Disney World Vacation Packages can be booked at www.DisneyWorld.com

Again, we highly recommend you use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner as they will always be able to find the deepest discounts for you and save the most money.

Airbnb and Nearby Hotels

Instead of staying at a hotel, if you are really trying to save money on your trip , then consider staying at one of the many third-party hotels or an Airbnb near Disney World.

If you aren’t familiar with how Airbnb works, it is a service that rents out peoples’ residences to travelers like a hotel room.

The Airbnbs in Orlando include vacation homes, apartments, and condos. Besides the lower cost, guests have more privacy and space in a private residence than at a hotel. There is also usually a full kitchen so you can prepare your meals and save even more money.

Another cheaper alternative is staying at one of the nearby off-site hotels, or a hotel located on Disney property, but not run by the mouse. This can save you a lot of money, just make sure you are aware of the extra costs that could be involved.

The biggest downside for off-site hotels, Airbnb, or vacation homes is the distance from the parks and not being able to use Disney transportation. You will either have to rent a car or use a ride-sharing service like Uber to get around, and that can be inconvenient. If you already will be using a car, then consider this a great alternative.

Read our Complete Disney World Resort Hotels List for a look at all the Disney and Non-Disney hotel options in the area and what to expect.

Park tickets can be the most expensive part of a trip to Walt Disney World, even more than dining and your hotel. That’s why it’s important to do your research beforehand and know how to save money when buying them.

You also need to decide exactly how many days you want to spend in the parks so you don’t end up paying for more days than necessary.

Where to Buy Tickets

Options for buying Disney World Tickets include:

• Directly from Disney
• Authorized Ticket Reseller
• Travel Agent

Getting your tickets from Disney on the official Disney World website is your first option. It’s almost always more expensive, however, and it pays to look elsewhere.

To save money on your park tickets, we recommend using one of the authorized resellers online such as Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist . They are legit resellers so you don’t have to worry about being ripped off like other places online.

If you really want to save money, we highly recommend Orlando Va cation which often has the best prices for any of the Disney World ticket resellers.

Depending on what type of ticket you are buying, these options can save you as much as $50-$70 per ticket! That’s a huge savings, especially if you have a big family. Once you buy your Disney World park tickets, they can be linked to your My Disney Experience with a code.

In our Discount Disney World Tickets Guide , we cover the best places to buy tickets from and how to get the absolute cheapest tickets possible.

Ticket Types

There are three basic types of Disney World theme park tickets: Standard tickets, Park Hopper tickets, or Annual Passes . Both standard and park hopper tickets can be purchased as single-day tickets or multi-day.

Standard Tickets – This is the cheapest ticket type. They allow you admission to one theme park per day for the number of days you purchased. You can visit the same park for multiple days if you choose.

Park Hopper Tickets – This option allows you to visit multiple parks per day for the entire amount of days you purchased. Technically you can visit all 4 parks in one day if you like. There is a Water Park version too. They are more expensive but allow for greater flexibility.

Annual Passes – There are multiple versions with different restrictions but the higher-end options give you unlimited access to the parks letting you visit whenever you want. If you live close to WDW or are planning on visiting multiple times in a one-year period, an annual pass could be a good investment.

Here are some links that explain about all the various ticket types, differences, pros and cons, prices, and their unique features:

• Disney World Tickets Complete Guide
• 1-Day Disney World Tickets
• Disney World Annual Pass Guide
• Florida Resident Disney World Tickets

Disney World park tickets are priced on a date and length-based system. That means the prices will fluctuate greatly depending on when you go.

For example, in 2024, a 1-Day standard park ticket starts at $109 per day and goes all the way up to $189 per day (plus tax) . That’s a huge difference and you can get a lot of savings by going in the off-season.

Another important factor is that tickets cost less per day the more days you have on your ticket. In fact, Disney’s motto is: “the longer you play, the less you pay per day.” Once you get higher than a 3-day ticket, the price per day drops dramatically.

To find out the latest prices and how much they’ve increased this year, read our Disney Tickets Prices Guide .

When to Buy Tickets

There are multiple reasons to buy your Disney World park tickets as soon as possible . One reason is you can’t make Park pass reservations without them. That is important because the longer you wait the less likely you will get into the park of your choice when you want.

Disney tickets never become less expensive, so buying early also locks in your price before the next price increase comes.

Buy your tickets whenever your budget allows, just never wait until you get to the gate or you will pay more.

How to Travel to Walt Disney World

Now that you have your hotel and tickets all set, you need to decide how to get to Walt Disney World. This will depend on how far away you live and what your plans are when you get to Orlando.

Drive or Fly ?

These are the two most popular options for getting to Disney World and depend mostly on where you live.

Drive – If you are within a few hours of Walt Disney World, your best option might be to drive. You also might decide to drive if you are live close enough nearby, or if you are staying off-site and will be visiting other destinations outside of Disney World.

One thing to keep in mind is that many Orlando hotels charge parking fees for each night of your stay, and that will cost you an extra $20-$30 per night. These can be avoided if staying at one of the WDW Resorts.

Fly – For most guests, an airplane is the most convenient way to get to Disney World. The Orlando International Airport is the best choice and is located only 30 minutes from WDW. There are multiple flights per day arriving from most cities in the United States and Internationally.

Airfare is also not expensive and good discount flights can be found online with many between $150-$250.

Booking Airfare

We recommend setting your dates and to start looking for airfare 1 year before your vacation. That will give you the best chance to score a deal.

If you are booking airfare yourself, we usually find the best prices on ITA Software by Google , AirfareWatchdog , or Skyscanner . You can set up price alerts and they give a flexible dates option to find the best price.

Transportation to and from Airport

The Orlando International Airport is located approximately 20 miles from Walt Disney World, which means you will need transportation to get to your hotel.

The popular & free Disney’s Magical Express transportation was discontinued in 2022 so now in 2024, you’ll need another option to get from the airport to your resort hotel, which means you need to pay out of pocket.

One solution when staying at Walt Disney World is the Mears Connect Shuttle , the most similar replacement for the Magical Express.

Other options no matter where you are staying include taxi service or ride-sharing such as Uber or Lyft .

• Taxis are by far the more expensive choice and will cost around $50-$60 each way plus tip depending on where you are going.
• Uber is a much cheaper option and will cost between $30-$40 each way.

Allow sufficient time to get to your hotel from the airport. If you have a 10:00 am arrival you can expect to get to your hotel by around 11:30 am if taking a cab or Uber. It will be longer on one of the bus services and in that case you will probably arrive between 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm.

Read “ How to Get from Orlando Airport to Disney World ” for the full breakdown of all your options and how to save money with transportation.

Attractions and Rides

Most people come to Walt Disney World for the attractions, and you want to plan them out as best as possible in order to do all the ones most important to you.

Pay special attention to this section if this is your first time or you haven’t been to Disney World in a few years as there are many new attractions to experience. Make sure to check the Disney World Ride Closures List to see which rides will be open during your trip.

If you are going to EPCOT, make sure to read our post on How to Get a Boarding Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , and How to Get a Boarding Pass for TRON: Lightcycle Run over at the Magic Kingdom. These are two of the hardest attractions to ride in Disney World at this time.

You’ll definitely want to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , and right now you’ll need to use the standby queue to ride. You can also read How to Get a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance for the times it uses the virtual queue system.

For a detailed look at all of the attractions, be sure to check out our other Disney World Ride Guides:

• Best Rides in Disney World Ranked
• Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions Guide
• EPCOT Rides and Attractions Guide
• Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions Guide
• Animal Kingdom Rides and Attractions Guide
• Best Rides for Toddlers at Disney World

Pick Your Park Days

First, you need to pick how many days you need for each park and how many park days total. Depending on your interests, some parks you can get done in half a day, and some will take you multiple days.

If it’s your first time we recommend 1 full day for each park, and an extra half-day or more for the Magic Kingdom since it has the most attractions.

• Magic Kingdom – The best park for small kids and has the most rides.
• EPCOT – Best park for foodies, festivals, and culture.
• Hollywood Studios – Best park for teens and thrill-seekers.
• Animal Kingdom – Best park for animal and nature lovers and a good selection of rides and food.

The highlights of EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom can all be done in 3 half-days, but we recommend spending at least a day in each to soak up the atmosphere and not feel rushed.

Must-Do Rides

There are some truly special ride experiences at Disney World and each park has a number of Must-Do attractions you won’t want to miss. Here are some of the best ones:

Magic Kingdom – TRON: Lightcycle Run , Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, The Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Jungle Cruise

EPCOT – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Hollywood Studios – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway , Toy Story Mania!, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Animal Kingdom – Avatar: Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Na’vi River Journey

Those are by far the most popular attractions in each park and the ones that should be at the top of your list. That is a great starting point for any park itinerary.

Make sure to leave enough time to fully explore all the details in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora: The World of Avatar , two of the most immersive lands we’ve ever seen!

Characters are a huge draw for guests when visiting the parks, especially kids. Character meets can be found in all 4 theme parks and include favorites such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Princesses, and characters from the Pixar films.

Character meets were suspended temporarily for two years, but they returned in 2022, and you can hug the characters and get their autographs now just like normal! You can also see them in the new Character Cavalcades that go through the parks at various times of the day.

Entertainment

Besides rides, Disney World also offers first-class entertainment with amazing stage shows and nighttime spectaculars. Here is a list of the ones you shouldn’t miss and where to find them:

Fireworks/Nighttime Spectaculars – Happily Ever After (MK), Luminous the Symphony of US (EPCOT), Fantasmic! (HS), Tree of Life Awakenings (AK).

Stage Shows/Street Shows – Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (MK), Dapper Dans (MK), Jeweled Dragon Acrobats (EPCOT), Voices of Liberty (EPCOT), Serveur Amusant (EPCOT), A Frozen Sing-Along (HS), Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage (HS), Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (HS), Festival of the Lion King (AK), Finding Nemo – The Musical (AK)

Parades – Character Cavalcades (All Parks), Festival of Fantasy Parade (MK)

Most of these entertainment options are now back in 2024, and we are hopeful more will come back later this year.

High Priority Genie+ and Lightning Selections

FastPass+ has been retired and Disney has shifted to its paid replacement Genie+. However, not all Genie+ or Lightning Lane reservations are equal, and there are some attractions where it’s much more advantageous to use them.

After all, you are limited to one Genie+ reservation at a time for the most part, so you need to choose wisely.

You should use Genie+ selections on higher-profile attractions that always draw long wait times like Peter Pan’s Flight or Test Track. Using a Genie+ on Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios for example would be a waste.

Here is our list of High-Priority Genie+ attractions:

• Peter Pan’s Flight (Magic Kingdom)
• Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)
• Test Track (EPCOT)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (EPCOT)
• Frozen Ever After (EPCOT)
• Na’vi River Journey (Animal Kingdom)
• Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios)
• Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Hollywood Studios)
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios)
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios)
• Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)

Not all the Individual Lightning Lane selections are worth the money either as some don’t usually have long enough wait times.

Here is our list of rides we would spend an Individual Lightning Lane selection on if the circumstances were right:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
• TRON: Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom)
• Avatar: Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)

Here are some other posts about Genie+ and Lightning Lanes that you should read before planning your trip:

• Ultimate Genie+ & Lightning Lane Guide
• Is Genie+ Worth It?
• How to Purchase Genie+ at Disney World
• How to Purchase Individual Lightning Lanes

For some, dining is their favorite experience when visiting Walt Disney World, and there is an unlimited number of choices available for every palate. In fact, there are over 400 restaurants at Walt Disney World, with varying menus and themes to choose from.

Some restaurants are table service where you sit down and a waiter serves you and some are quick service/counter service which is more like fast food.

Among the decisions you have to make are where to eat, when to book reservations, and whether or not to use the Disney Dining Plan or not.

Choosing Restaurants

The first decision to make about dining in Disney World is which restaurants you want to go to.

It can be hard to make a decision, especially if you haven’t been to any of them before. We suggest reading through the menus on the Disney World website to see what stands out to you and reading some of our Disney Restaurant Reviews for more info.

Character dining and buffets are options to consider, and some restaurants are more kid-friendly than others.

Here are some of our rankings of the top places to eat at Walt Disney World:

• Best Walt Disney World Restaurants
• Best Restaurants at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
• Best Restaurants at EPCOT
• Best Restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Best Restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Best Restaurants at Disney Springs
• Best Disney World Resort Hotel Restaurants

Making Reservations

Once you’ve picked out your restaurants, it’s time to make reservations. They can be made using the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device or on your computer on the Disn e y World website.

Advance Dining Reservations can be made 60 days before your check-in date for the length of your vacation (Previously 180 days) . We highly recommend making them as soon as possible as the most popular restaurants fill up months ahead of time.

Read our Disney Advance Dining Reservations guide for more tips on how to book the restaurants you want and the highest priority restaurants.

High Priority Restaurants

Here is a list of the hardest-to-book restaurants in Disney World and ones that should be booked right at the 60-day deadline:

• Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)
• Chef Mickey’s (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
• Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort)
• Le Cellier (EPCOT)
• Oga’s Cantina (Hollywood Studios)
• ‘Ohana (Disney’s Polynesian Resort)
• Space 220 (EPCOT)
• Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge)
• Victoria & Albert’s (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort)

There are other hard-to-get ones like Via Napoli and California Grill, but the above ones are by far the hardest.

Our Favorite WDW Restaurants

Our favorite WDW Restaurants for First-Timers are:

• 50’s Prime Time Cafe (Hollywood Studios)
• California Grill (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
• Hollywood Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios)
• Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom)
• Morimoto Asia (Disney Springs)
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe and Inn (Magic Kingdom)
• Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom)
• The Boathouse (Disney Springs)
• Tusker House (Animal Kingdom)

That list has something for everyone no matter your budget or tastes.

Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan returned to Walt Disney World on January 9th, 2024 ! For all the news on the new dining plan, check out my post here .

Even though we aren’t fans of the Disney Dining Plan, many guests love to use it and it’s something you need to understand to make an educated decision on how you want to pay for your meals.

The Dining Plan lets guests pay for their meals before their vacation starts giving each person in the group a number of credits they can spend on meals each day. This makes it very convenient since you don’t have to pay for food “out-of-pocket” during your trip, and your budget is already set.

There are 4 levels of the Disney Dining Plan, (Quick Service, Standard, Plus, and Deluxe) each with different prices and tailored to how much you plan on eating during your trip.

In general, we don’t recommend the Disney Dining Plan because it is a bit too expensive. In order to make it worth it, you need to do a lot of research ahead of time, and pick the “right” restaurants and the most expensive items on the menu. Most people don’t end up using all their credits, essentially paying for food they never eat.

Disney World Transportation

Next, it’s important to know how to get around Walt Disney World once you arrive. With almost 500 buses, dozens of watercraft, a monorail, and a gondola system, Disney World has a larger public transportation system than many American cities.

Should You Rent a Car?

Renting a car at Disney World has its positives and negatives and is a big decision you need to make. It comes down to if you are going to visit other places outside of Walt Disney World or stay on property the entire time.

If you are going to spend the entire vacation at Walt Disney World, there is absolutely no need to rent a car. Disney’s public transportation is more than sufficient for your needs.

If you are just going to spend one day in another Orlando destination like Universal Studios, you don’t need a car and you will save money by catching an Uber or a taxi to your destination.

The best reason for renting a car is if you plan on spending multiple days outside Disney World. Just know that parking fees at the theme parks can add up if you aren’t staying at a Disney World Resort, so expect to spend an additional$25 per day on top of rental car fees.

Just remember, if you have a car, in some cases, you will need to pay parking fees either at the hotels or theme parks which is an extra expense on top of the cost of the car itself. Sometimes both. We explain it all in our Guide to Parking at Disney World .

The most common form of transportation at Walt Disney World, and also the worst. No matter where you are staying, you will eventually have to use a Disney bus at some point in your trip to get to at least one of the theme parks.

They can each hold 100+ guests so they can get very packed and uncomfortable. Buses also tend to be the slowest way of getting around at Disney World, so if there is an alternative to where you are going, take it.

If you do end up taking the bus, make sure to show up 20-30 minutes before the time you want to leave as they are notoriously late.

When Disney World’s monorail system debuted back in 1971 it was an instant hit with guests and become the most popular mode of transportation.

The monorail has 3 lines loops. 2 of them (Resort and Express) go around the Seven Seas Lagoon and connect the Magic Kingdom with the nearby hotels at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and the Ticket and Transportation Center.

The third line connects EPCOT to Magic Kingdom lines allowing access to the surrounding resorts.

We love the Monorail and it’s still a great time riding from resort to resort, but they are outdated and in great need of refurbishment. The trains haven’t been replaced since 1989 so it’s beyond time for a new system.

This is the newest transportation mode at Disney World and our current favorite. Reminiscent of the old Skyway buckets from the Magic Kingdom, this gondola system brings guests between Disney parks and resorts with a wonderful bird’s-eye view.

Disney Skyliner Stops – EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Read our Full Guide to the Disney Skyliner for more tips, maps, and everything else you need to know.

Disney World has a fleet of watercraft that 3 of the theme parks with various surrounding resort hotels. It’s a fantastic way to get to the parks, and to relax with great views on the way.

• Parks with Watercraft Service – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios.
• Resorts with Watercraft Service – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort (and Bay Lake), Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts, Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (Treehouse Villas).

Expect to wait 20-30 minutes between boat arrivals.

Ride Sharing (Uber/Lyft)

Sometimes you just don’t have time to wait for Disney transportation and you need to get to your destination fast. A ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft is perfect at Disney World in that situation.

Ride-sharing such as Uber will bring you anywhere you want in Walt Disney World. The only place they can’t go is to the front entrance at the Magic Kingdom. Instead, they drop guests off at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

Disney doesn’t offer hotel to hotel bus service, so we often use Uber to get from our hotel to another one where we have a dinner reservation. This is a big-time saver instead of taking a bus to Disney Springs or a Park and then over to the second hotel.

Minnie Vans

Minnie Vans are Disney’s attempt to counter the popularity of ride-sharing services over the last few years. They are now back at Walt Disney World after being discontinued for 2 years.

They were run through the Lyft app and would bring you anywhere on property for a fee. Cars were painted red and black with white polka dots to resemble Minnie Mouse’s patented dress. They were much faster than Disney buses, but in the end, 2-3x more expensive than an Uber and not worth the high cost.

Getting from Park to Park

If you are park hopping you will want to go from one park to the other in the same day. Thankfully, Disney offers park-to-park transportation for resort hotel guests.

You can take the monorail between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. If you want to go between the Magic Kingdom and any other park, you will need to take the bus. Right now they run from 2:00 pm daily between parks.

Hollywood Studios and EPCOT have multiple transportation methods between them with boats, walking, and the Disney Skyliner all options.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most difficult park to get to from another park and can only be reached by bus.

Other Stuff to Do

Most guests only come to Walt Disney World in mind, not realizing there is a whole world of other activities and entertainment to enjoy. There are water parks, boating, fishing golf, spa treatments, shopping to enjoy. You can even take a private tour or get a ticket to a special event.

You can celebrate a special moment in your life like an engagement or anniversary. Believe it or not, there are even a bunch of free things to do on your trip! There is something for the whole family.

Let’s take a look at some of the other things to do at Disney World.

Water Parks

Disney World has 2 water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. To go, you need to purchase the water parks add-on to your regular theme park admission or buy a single-day ticket.

• Typhoon Lagoon has 7 water slide rides, one kiddie slide, one kiddie play area, one lazy river, one wave pool, and one small exploration trail. More family-friendly.
• Blizzard Beach has seven water slide rides, one kiddie play area, one lazy river, one wave pool, and a chairlift. More thrilling water slides.

Both water parks are fun, but if we are going to spend one day at a water park, we choose Typhoon Lagoon every time. The overall theming of the park is amazing, and the lazy river and wave pool are much better than at Blizzard Beach.

Disney Springs

This is Disney World’s main shopping and dining district and where you go if you are looking for nightlife at Disney World. Disney Springs underwent a major refurbishment and expansion a few years ago and now has countless must-try dining options as well as a Cirque du Soleil show, a movie theater, a fun bowling alley, and more.

Most of the restaurants at Disney Springs are much easier to get a reservation for than the restaurants at the parks and resort hotels, so keep that in mind if you have difficulty.

Read our rankings of the best Disney Springs restaurants for suggestions of where and what to eat.

Resort Days

Disney World can be exhausting running from one park to the next. We recommend spending at least one day doing absolutely nothing at your resort hotel. When I say nothing I mean lounging by the pool with a drink.

A good strategy is to have one resort day in the middle of your trip so you can recharge your batteries before doing the rest of the parks.

What is there to do at the resort hotels you ask? Tons! Here are some of our favorite recreation activities at Disney World:

• Boating/Jet Skis
• Horseback Riding
• Organized Resort Activities & Games
• Painting, Pottery & Crafts
• Sports – Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Archery
• Jogging/Trails
• Movies Under the Stars

Those should keep you busy for a while!

Visiting Other Resorts

Another option is to visit other Walt Disney World Resort hotels during your stay. The theming on some of them is really incredible (Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, Animal Kingdom Lodge), it’s free to do, and it’s fun to just walk around and check out the grounds.

No, you can’t swim in the pools at a resort you aren’t staying at, but you can scout out the hotels to find the resort you will stay at on your next trip to Disney World. Many enjoy doing this during the holidays to see the various decorations at each resort.

If you don’t want to take a whole day visiting other resorts, we suggest booking a lunch or dinner reservation at one of the restaurants in the resorts and then going early to check things out.

Sure you can go to the parks and ride the attractions, but did you know there are dozens of tours (paid and free) that you and your family can take? Planning a tour can be a great addition to your vacation and there is one for the whole family.

Best Tours at Disney World

• Keys to the Kingdom (Magic Kingdom)
• Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour (Magic Kingdom)
• Behind the Seeds (EPCOT)
• English Tea Garden Tour (EPCOT)
• Star Wars Guided Tour (Hollywood Studios)
• Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience (Animal Kingdom)
• Wild Africa Trek (Animal Kingdom)
• Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour (All Parks)

(Some tours are back right now at Disney World and others are still suspended.)

Extra Magic

There are also other special experiences at Disney World we like to call “Extra Magic” as they add just that extra touch you or your family member is looking for on your vacation. Be sure to look into these, especially for a special occasion.

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – This is a special salon that transforms your little princess or prince with a complete makeover. There are multiple packages that include costumes, make-up, manicures, and hair styling. Packages range from $75-$450.
• Dessert/Fireworks Parties – Each of the theme parks holds Dessert Parties on almost a nightly basis. These parties include all-you-can-eat desserts and a reserved view of the fireworks shows. Prices range from $40-$70 per person.
• Hard-ticketed Parties – Periodically there are events at the parks that require an extra ticket to and private from the general public and are some of the most popular events in Disney World each year. These include Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party , Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party , and various Disney After Hours events . Expect to pay between $109-$200 for these events.

Have a Daily Itinerary

No one likes being tied to a schedule on vacation, unfortunately at Walt Disney World that is not an option if you want to have the best experience possible during your visit.

We’re not saying you have to walk around with a clipboard and spreadsheet, but you need to create a general itinerary for the parks you are going to, which restaurants, etc.

The hard truth is, Disney World is too big and you can’t do it all even if you are there for 2 weeks. That’s why you need to make a plan and prioritize the most important things to you each day.

Some of the general questions about your Disney World trip that you need to think about are:

• How many days are you going to spend in the parks?
• How long will you go to the parks each day? Full days? Half days? Leave and come back in the evening?
• What order will you visit the parks in? Do you need to visit some parks more than once?
• How many sit-down meals per day? Where will you have those meals, at the parks or resort hotels?
• Which extra experiences are important to me? Special events?

The clearer your answers are to those questions, the easier it’s going to be to plan your days, and ultimately the more fun you will have.

When You’re In the Parks

Assuming you know how many days you want to spend in each park, the next thing you need to do is choose the attractions that are most important to you. Make a list of the ones you absolutely NEED to go on and prioritize those first.

Once you have your list, you will know which ones to prioritize when making your Genie+ reservations . When you have those it will be easier to map out the park and decide what order to do the attractions in.

We recommend looking at the park maps and doing the rides systematically. If you are in Adventureland for Jungle Cruise, then do the other rides on that side of the park while you are there. It will save you valuable time instead of walking back and forth multiple times.

What to Pack & Bring

We are almost there, the only thing left to do is pack your bags. Walt Disney World is a unique place and there are many things you might not think about packing that will be very helpful on your trip. We usually think we packed everything, but inevitably leave something at home, that’s why it’s best to have a list.

Here are the most important things to pack:

Luggage/Bags – Make sure your suitcases are in good condition before packing and are big enough to hold all your essential items. Decide how many bags each person is bringing. This will also depend on how many bags your flight permits.

We always pack too much on our trips to Disney World and we find ourselves swimming in bags. If you have a room with a washing machine, take advantage of that and do a load of laundry to save space in your bags.

If you have colorful, character-themed bags, this is the time to use them, your kids will love them. Also, make sure to bring a small backpack. We like to carry one during the day so hold our camera, a bottle of water, sunscreen, medicines, and other necessities.

Shoes – This might be the MOST important item on the list. If you don’t have comfortable shoes in Disney World, you are going to have a miserable time. On average, we walk between 8-10 miles PER DAY on our trips. You may not walk as much as us, but it will be at least 2-3 times more than what you are used to back home.

Here are some other important things you need to bring with you to Disney World:

• Medications
• Phone Chargers
• Travel Documents
• Water Bottles
• Frogg Toggs Chilly Pads (when it gets too hot)

Disney Vacation Planning Timeline

Now that you understand the basics of planning a Disney World vacation, it’s time to put it all together. When are you supposed to do all these planning tasks?

Most planning items need to be completed a certain number of days before your trip. We’ve created a planning timeline for you to make it easier to know when you need to get all these things done by.

One rule you should live by with Disney vacations is “it’s never too early.” Start planning as soon as possible and things will go much smoother.

499 Days Before Your Trip

You have to be kidding right? I need to start planning my trip 499 days before I go? While it’s not absolutely necessary to start this early, it will give you an advantage.

Start Thinking about Travel Dates – Get at least an idea of the dates you want to go to Disney World. Consult our Best Times to Visit Disney World guide to see which months are the best and worst.

Research/Book Hotel Reservations – Disney makes resort hotel reservations available for booking as many as 19 months in advance. If you know where you want to stay already, you may as well book your hotel now because you’ll have a better chance of getting a room.

This is especially helpful if you plan on going during the holiday season or other very busy times of the year. Read our article on How to Book a Disney World Vacation for all the details and booking tips.

Download My Disney Experience – Even if you don’t have dates in mind, travelers should download the MDE app and open an account right away to start getting familiar with the layout. It’s also time to go on the Disney World website to start doing research on the hotels and parks.

1 Year Before Your Trip

Decide Travel Dates – By this time you should have picked out when you want to take your vacation. If you need help deciding, it’s wise to look at a Disney World Crowd Calendar to find out when the busiest and least busy times of the year are.

How Many Days at the Parks – You also need to think about how many days you are going to spend in each park and how many days total of your trip. Think about which parks you want to go to and if you want to visit one of the water parks.

Research Attractions – Familiarize yourself with all the top attractions at each park and think about which ones you really want to do.

Price Airfare – It’s never too early to start looking up prices for airfare if you are flying. You should aim to get your tickets no more than 6 months before your trip.

9 Months Before You Go

Make Hotel Reservations – By this time you should know when you are going and which hotel to stay at. If you wait any longer you really run the risk of not getting the hotel you want. Lock in your room and then wait and see if a better offer opens up.

Get Everyone on My Disney Experience – You should already have an account, but you also need to make sure your family and all members of your travel party also are signed up. You will need them to be in the system for your dining reservations and FastPass+ reservations down the line, so take care of it early.

Buy Tickets – It’s always good to buy your Disney World park tickets as early as possible. First, the price never goes down and you will not find a lower price than what you see today so lock it in. Secondly, you need to have your tickets before making park reservations which tend to sell out early, especially if going at a busy time.

Make Park Pass Reservations – Once you buy your tickets, you can now make your park pass reservations. Don’t waste time, they sell out quickly.

180+ Days Before You Go

Park Hours – A few days before the 180-day mark arrives, look at the park hours for each day. This will let you plan out your day and will play a park in where you plan your meals and which Genie+ reservations you plan on booking.

Write Itinerary Rough Draft – Start writing out your ideal vacation itinerary day by day. Go through which parks you will be at on which days and which restaurants you would like to dine at. You now have a good idea of how your days are going to play out. Do this a few days before the 180-day mark as you need to have all the restaurants decided by then.

Book Special Events/Experiences – Decide which special experiences you and your family want to do. After Hours events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party should be booked once they are available. Experiences like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique take reservations 180 days before and they sell out quickly.

Decide to Rent a Car or Not – If you are renting a car, start looking a prices and book one when possible.

Disney Dining Plan – You need to decide if the Dining Plan is worth it to you or not. If so, you can add it to your package.

Book Airfare – This is a good time to buy airfare and if you’ve been monitoring it for a few months, you have an idea of what a good deal is.

75 Days Before Your Trip

New Hotel Deals – Throughout the year, Disney introduces new discounts on hotel rooms. Periodically during the planning stage, check if any new deals have come out for your hotel. If a better room opens up at another hotel, so still have time to switch resorts.

Last Call on Tickets – If for some reason you haven’t got your park tickets by now, this is almost the final opportunity with park reservations sometimes filling up a couple of months before your trip. Make sure you have your tickets before then.

30-60 Days Before Your Trip

Book Your Restaurants (60 Days before your arrival date) – Wake up early and be on your computer by 6:00 am sharp to make dining reservations. This is the most stressful part of planning as it can be hard to get the most difficult restaurants. Write backups for the most popular restaurants in case you can’t book your favorites.

Write Final Itinerary – Now that you have your parks and dining reservations locked in, you can write a final copy of your itinerary. You can always make adjustments later but you now know how most of your vacation will go.

45 Days Before Your Trip

Order MagicBands – Even though MagicBands are no longer free to guests, we still recommend ordering them for a small fee. They are $5-$20 per guest depending on what type you order. These must be ordered no more than 11 days before your trip to arrive at your house in time, but we recommend doing it earlier.

10 Days Before Your Trip

Shuttle Service – You can make a Mears Connect Shuttle reservation or other shuttles sometimes even 24 hours before departure, but there is no reason to wait. Get it done early.

Online Check-In – To skip going to the lobby upon arrival we suggest using Disney’s Online Check-In through My Disney Experience. You can set your credit card for room charges and set a pin for your MagicBand.

3 Days Before Your Trip

Memory Maker – This is the photo package with unlimited photos and downloads during your trip for you and your whole family. This must be ordered 3 days before arrival to get the lower price.

Pack Bags – We sometimes start earlier if we have time, but you should start getting out everything on your packing list and seeing how it fits in your luggage.

Keep Looking for Dining Reservations – If you weren’t able to get any high-priority dining reservations, keep looking periodically from the 60-day point to now. Reservations are more likely to open up the closer you get to your dining date as other guests cancel and change plans. Keep trying up until the morning of the date you are looking for.

Double Check – Run through the list one more time to make sure you have everything covered.

Get Excited – You are going to Disney World, the most magical place on Earth, so get happy!!

Right now. Do it as early as you can and start making plans even up to a year or more before your trip.

The average guest vacation to Walt Disney World is 4-7 days. We recommend 5 to 7 days for first-timers depending on your budget.

You can, but it is a bad idea. Walt Disney World is one of the most complicated vacations you can take and it needs the proper planning to make the most out of your trip.

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our Disney Planning Guide…

• What are your best suggestions when planning a trip to Walt Disney World?
• What are your biggest questions about planning a Disney vacation?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

Sunday 14th of January 2024

My special needs son and I are going on the Disney Wish in early March. Have you ever tried a Disney cruise?

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

Can dining reservations be made 6 mo in advance or 2 mo in advance please?

Monday 19th of June 2023

I just love your site. All the information provided is extremely helpful and useful. Thanks so much for everything!!!

Yvette Parent

Tuesday 6th of September 2022

Hi Ziggy I would like to get a PDF copy of your guide. Would this be possible? Thank you

Thursday 3rd of February 2022

Hello my friend. We will be staying on Disney property this Sunday and we have a reservation for Epcot on Monday morning. Our plan is to ride Ratatouille and would like your advice to go directly to that ride and have a short wait. What should our strategy be? Thank you for your help. Dan and Lora ps we also just purchased an annual pass holder ticket that is only valid on weekdays - I am not sure if that helps.

Ziggy Oskwarek

Hi Dan. That's a good question you have. If you aren't planning on using Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, then going to Remy's Ratatouille Adventure right at rope drop is a good strategy. The day doesn't make a huge difference as it will be morning and festival crowds tend to come more in the afternoon. Have an awesome time and let us know how it goes!

Disney World Planning Tips (Complete Guide 2024)

Ready to plan your first trip to Walt Disney World? There are dozens of things every guest should do before their vacation to prepare. If you want a smooth vacation, you can’t just simply show up at Disney World. There is an overwhelming amount to learn about taking on Disney World but these are the top need-to-know tips before planning a first Disney World vacation!

Mom Rewritten uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links in these posts. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the Privacy Policy and Disclosures tab.

Planning a First Disney World Vacation

Several years ago I took my first trip across the country to Walt Disney World. As a lifelong Disneyland visitor going to Disney World , I didn’t think anything of going to this new-to-me Disney park. Wow, what a wake-up call that was! Not only are the Disney World parks totally different than Disneyland, procedures like Fastpass+ and Advance Dining Reservations vary dramatically.

As an example, in the excitement of my first Disney World trip I neglected to schedule the Magical Express bus back to the airport at the end of my vacation. A hurried taxi cab so we wouldn’t miss the flight and $80 later, I’d learned my lesson about not skimping on the Disney vacation research!

Park Closure Notice

Please note that some of the park attractions and features mentioned in this article may be changed or amended while taking the current health climate in mind. For additional details on Disney parks reopening as well as the thoughtful safety measures that the Disney resort hotels will be taking, read this post about taking kids to Disney parks after reopening .

Book Walt Disney World 2021 Now!

Disney World vacation packages have just reopened sales and you can now book ahead into 2021. Request a complimentary vacation quote through my travel partner Get Away Today.

Need to Know Before You Go!

This article will offer specific tips for planning your first Disney World trip. I’ll be talking about the four parks that make up the Disney World resort, creating a vacation budget, Magic Bands and lots more. If you’re going to Disneyland, be sure to read that post, Ultimate Guide to Planning a First Disneyland Vacation .

Do Your Pre-Planning Disney World Vacation Research

More so than Disneyland, which can be traveled more “spur of the moment”, Walt Disney World requires much more advanced planning. The Disney World resort is enormous (roughly the size of San Francisco) and made up of 4 theme parks and two water parks. So you don’t want to just show up without a plan! Planning for a trip to Disney World will begin months in advance. And while I’m not deep-diving into every single subject, this article will give you a decent overview on what you need to know!

Yes, planning a first Disney World trip can be overwhelming but it’s also a great way to get you in the Disney mood! Even a small amount of preparation can go a long way to maximizing your vacation. Embrace the research. Learn as much as you can about the WDW travel process. This will allow you to relax during the trip, knowing that you have everything under control! And there’s a concierge tip that will help you in the process, as I explain later in the article.

What Can You Do at Walt Disney World?

The large footprint of the Disney World Resort means that you can stay in the “Disney Bubble” during your entire trip. While Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are nearby, there’s plenty of things to do on-site at Disney World. You could spend a month there and still not see everything!

The Disney World resort offers 4 different theme parks, two water parks, 20+ resort hotels, an outdoor shopping center and multiple golf courses. The hotels in themselves vary from value, moderate to deluxe and are spread out around the property, with amazing pools, scheduled entertainment and playgrounds for kids .

I’ve traveled to Disney World with my family several times and have included links to articles that may help in your vacation planning. The following sections include questions you should ask yourself when planning a first Disney World vacation.

What Time of Year are You Planning a Disney World Trip?

When choosing a specific travel date, each family weighs in with specific reasons. Depending upon school and work schedules, the decision on “when to go” might already be made for you. The sections below offer some considerations when scheduling a trip –

Weather Considerations – If you’re unfamiliar with Florida’s weather, check monthly weather trends. My SoCal kids, who are accustomed to dry summers in San Diego, were shocked at the thundering rain storms that drenched us in Orlando. If humid, hot and wet weather isn’t your thing, you’ll want to schedule your trip outside of summer and fall. Winter and spring at Disney World offer more ideal climate.

Crowd Levels – Certain times of year like when children are on school break, holiday seasons and weekends are more crowded than an “off season” visit. If you don’t have a choice to travel because of vacation breaks, go into the trip making adjustments and know that crowd levels might be higher.

Check the Calendar

Grand Openings – Crowds of super fans came to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge . Follow the Disney Parks blog to see when new attractions are opening so that you can join in on opening day if you wish.

Seasonal Offerings – Disney World has some amazing seasonal events year-round that bring in the crowds. Epcot Flower & Garden Festival and the Food & Wine Festival are big attractions. Families love seasonal parties like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party . Events like runDisney races and after-hours parties will cause heavier crowds as well.

What is Your Disney World Vacation Budget?

Figuring out the travel budget is a must-do before you can even schedule the trip. While this post is talking about Disneyland, the free printable checklist is still helpful when used towards budgeting for Disney World.

Several things to discuss when figuring out a travel budget:

• Driving or flying to get to Orlando?
• How many days will you spend on vacation?
• Where will you stay? Onsite Disney World hotels offer complimentary transportation from the airport as well as to the parks, which may aid in the decision making process.
• Will you need a rental car if you stay at an off-site hotel? What would be the cost of ride share or does the hotel offer a shuttle?

• Are you on a tight budget or splurging on your trip?
• Eating in the parks or packing in food? A big way to save money at Disney World is to budget food. Pack in personal water bottles and snacks then read these additional tips to save money on food at Disney parks .
• Will you purchase souvenirs, and what is the budget per family member?

How to Get Disney World Vacation Concierge Service

As I’ve mentioned, a Disney World vacation has a lot of moving parts. This includes booking Fastpass+ reservations, Advance Dining Reservations, and keeping up-to-date on price changes. What if there was someone to take care of ALL this for you, at no additional cost?

My travel partners at Get Away Today offer this concierge service and more, to anyone booking a Disney World vacation package. To request a complimentary Disney World vacation quote , complete the form and a friendly rep from Get Away Today will be in touch!

Best Ways to Research a First Disney World Vacation

The first place to start Disney World vacation research should be the official Disney World website. You can filter based on your dates to see the entertainment schedule and find out which rides and attractions are closed for refurbishment during your trip. View full dining menus and prices for restaurants (ideal when creating the trip budget).

Additional Disney World Vacation Research Musts

• Disney World vacation planning books can offer lots of information in one accessible book (buy an updated version).
• Personal blogs (like mine!) can offer personal advice and practical tips from a parent’s perspective.
• Listening to podcasts, like my friends Joe and Leslie on Disney Deciphered Podcast , can brush you up on a variety of deep-dive Disney World topics.
• Read more Disney travel tips on TravelingMom , where I’ve been a contributing author for years.
• Can’t find an answer to your Disney World question? Ask specific questions on the Disney Parks Moms Panel website , where you’ll receive a personalized response.

Choosing Where To Stay at Disney World

With 20+ on-site Disney World resort hotels there’s a variety of locations for every budget. Disney World hotels are grouped into several categories.

Value – Basic hotel rooms with less fancy accommodations. Pools do not have water slides and dining options are quick service only. Includes Pop Century, three All-Star hotels and Art of Animation.

Moderate – Slightly more upscale, with themed pools and full service dining available. Moderate hotel stays include Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter or Coronado Springs.

Deluxe – Elegant option, often with ideal locations (like the Contemporary, which is walk-able to Magic Kingdom’s front entrance). Full service dining, awesome pools and spa options. The Deluxe Category includes Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Beach Club.

More Disney World Resort Discussion

Disney Vacation Club resorts – Renting Disney Vacation Club points is a budget-friendly option for those who aren’t DVC members. This only works if you’re planning your first Disney World trip extremely far in advance as the slots fill early. Locations include Sarasota Springs Resort, Riviera Resort and Old Key West.

Each location still receives the Disney perks of Extra Magic Hours and complimentary transportation to/from the Orlando International airport. These key perks alone often always sway me into choosing an on-site hotel.

Transportation on Disney World Property

Navigating the transportation in and around Disney World can be both magical and confusing! It’s important to have some understanding on how the different processes work so you can get where you need to be.

Magical Express bus transportation takes guests to and from the Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World hotels. As I learned my lesson in the story earlier, a reservation is needed to use this service. No car seats required for kids so that’s one less thing to pack! And Magical Express will also take care of your luggage transfer from the airport directly to your hotel room via luggage tags you’ll receive in the mail.

How Do You Get to the Theme Parks?

The Monorail, resort shuttle buses, and boats are a wonderful way for guests to get around. These various forms of transportation will take you to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Maps and signage at the station is usually clear. There are some transfers though so if you find anything confusing while you’re there, ask a cast member how to get where you need to go.

Additional transportation options include Minnie vans and ride-share (like Uber and Lyft). These are convenient ways to get around without a rental car or the potential crowds and waits for Disney transportation. You’ll want the app downloaded to your phone before your trip.

Considering an Off-Site Stay?

If the perks don’t add up for your family, think about staying at a non-Disney hotel. They are still within the Disney bubble and some are located extremely close to the parks. Other things to consider are price, convenience, space configurations and location. When working on your WDW vacation budget, think on these points:

• If your family prefers to have the use of a kitchen, book an off-site hotel at a timeshare like Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek . This location is also ideal for large families as these offer multiple rooms, washer and dryer and tons of space to spread out.
• Many of these resorts do not have an airport shuttle so you’ll likely need a rental car or pay out of pocket for ride share to the hotel.
• Planning lots of visits to Disney Springs? A walk-able location like Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista is a quick 10 minute walk from this popular shopping district.
• You will not receive a Magic Band when staying at an off-site Disney World hotel. If you want this perk to use in the parks, you’ll need to purchase one on ShopDisney before your trip.

Familiarize the Family with the Disney World Parks

While my family hasn’t been going to Disney World as long as Disneyland, we’re all still very familiar with the characters and theming of the parks. If you’re planning a first Disney World trip, you and your kids might not be as in-touch with Disney.

These are some ways to get more familiar with the 4 theme parks of the Disney World Resort:

• Create a profile in My Disney Experience on the Disney World website. This is where you’ll manage vacation plans, including linking park tickets, making FastPass+ reservations and more.
• Download the official Walt Disney World app to your smart phone. To be best prepared on a trip, play around on the app at home to familiarize yourself with it. Just like their website, you can spot ride locations, find out which attractions offer Rider Switch, see where characters greet, restaurant menus and more.

More Ways to Familiarize the Family

• Watch YouTube videos of Disney World attractions by searching “Disney World ride videos”. While some guests prefer not to “spoil” the trip by watching rides ahead of time, this can be a useful tool if you have kids who are nervous about new experiences.
• You definitely don’t have to watch every Disney movie ever made before your first Disney World vacation (though it is a fun way to pass the time!) A general familiarity with Disney characters can be helpful, especially when traveling with younger children. Watch a few relevant Disney movies before your trip to give first timers a bit of a background. This list of movies is especially designed for Disneyland, but can translate a bit for Magic Kingdom.

Who Are You Bringing on the Disney World Trip?

With so much to do and see at Disney World, the people in your vacation group will absolutely determine the kind of trip you’ll have. Families with babies and toddlers will have vacations that are dramatically different than those traveling with teens. Even more so if you’re traveling solo to Disney with a baby as I did with my daughter when she was 5-months old. Guests traveling with those who have special needs, disabilities or are pregnant will have a varied travel experience. I’m sharing below some notes with links, based on various ages and needs.

• Babies – A baby can ride anything at Disney World with their parent that does not have a height restriction. Disney World guests with a baby can also use Rider Switch, allowing adults to enjoy thrill rides while taking turns staying behind with the baby.
• Toddlers and Preschoolers – Disney World with a preschooler is a one-of-a-kind experience! Plan for plenty of time at Magic Kingdom with toddlers and preschoolers , as they’ll have plenty to do in this park. A stroller is a must-have and I highly recommend Kingdom Stroller rental.

Are You Bringing the Entire Family?

• Teenagers – For teens and thrill-seekers, Disney World is entertaining for all ages. These travel tips for teenagers will help!
• Pregnant – There’s still plenty for expectant mothers to do at Disney World while pregnant. Look for attractions that do not have height restrictions, which expectant moms can ride with their families.
• Special Needs & Disabilities-  Traveling with someone who has autism, is seated in a wheelchair or has other special needs? Disney parks offer a Disability Assistance Service (DAS) which allows families (up to 6 members) an alternative waiting location or alternate queue access.

2020 UPDATE – In these uncertain times of travel, some families may make other arrangements, not taking kids to Disney World . This updated post discusses what you need to know about Disney parks reopening guidelines and safety measures.

Which Disney World Parks, Rides and Attractions Are Best for Your Family?

Each family needs to have a basic plan of the rides, attractions and shows they’ll want to see and do. The research sections earlier in this article will help each family member gather general knowledge about the rides and attractions.

• Once each person has a bit of research under their belt, ask what they want to do during the trip. Keep a notebook and write down the must-dos. You may not be able to accomplish all the things on this list. However the goal is to make sure each person is able to ride/do/see the top things on their list!
• Measure the heights of all the kids. Use the Disney World ride height requirements on their website to verify. This is especially important for thrill rides if your family has added them to the must-do list.
• View the maps online for each of the four parks. This will help you get an idea of location of attractions within the parks and note which attractions are inside each park (ie: Expedition Everest is inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom).

Is a Surprise Disney World Vacation a Good Idea?

There are lots of reasons why surprising kids with a Disney World trip isn’t always a great idea. While it can be fun to plan the surprise, it can also backfire, depending upon your child’s temperament. I usually steer parents away from the Disney World surprise vacation.

Much of the vacation enjoyment is in the planning process and anticipation of the trip! Let kids know about your vacation. Have children help you in the planning stages, allowing them to choose the color and design of their Magic Band. Prepping before a big trip is particularly important if you have children with special needs.

Here is a really cool way to tell kids you’re going to Disney World! Natalie and I received a complimentary Walt Life box filled with 6 Disney surprise items. They offer a “Surprise You’re Going to Disney!” box when you’re ready to tell the kids about an upcoming vacation. There are several other boxes that Walt Life will curate for you, including subscription boxes if you want to receive one each month. Click through to WALT LIFE and use code MOMREWRITTEN10 for $10 off your purchase! 

Make Decisions As a Family Before Your Trip

Taking the first Disney World vacation alone? You can make some of your trip plans as you go. But if you’re taking this vacation with your family, you need a game plan in place. Some decisions need to be made before the trip. Everyone in your group will have expectations about what’s going to happen during their Disney World vacation. You want to keep that Disney magic going for everyone and fulfill those visions!

I’m my families biggest “Disney fan”. Often I plan our Disney days in my head without letting my husband know what’s going to happen! Naturally this can lead to major disappointment when the adults aren’t on the same page. I like to order food in the parks while my husband wants to pack our food in. He also prefers a mid-day break at the hotel for a swim and nap session. I want to stay out way after dark but he’s usually ready to leave after sunset. My last trip to Disney World with my husband resulted in a multi-hour afternoon trip to the grocery to get dinner supplies because he wanted to cook dinner in the timeshare’s kitchen! Didn’t discuss these things upfront before your trip? You’ll probably experience some major frustration!

Disney World Pre-Planning Family Must-Do

When planning a first Disney World vacation, these are the details to work out ahead of time with your group.

• Write down the top three things for each family member. Make sure that at least those happen during your trip, especially important when traveling with kids!

• Create a rough plan of your day. Include expected waking time, park arrival times, working in breaks back at the hotel during the day and approximate time you’ll leave at night.

More Family Planning Tips

• One of the best things about Disney World is all the amazing things to do outside of the theme parks! Work in off-days in-between park days to sleep in, resort hop, shop for souvenirs at Disney Springs, swim at the hotel pool or go to the Disney World Water Parks . Or will you explore other Orlando attractions including theme parks like Universal Orlando , SeaWorld Orlando or LEGOLAND?
• Dining is a huge factor when planning a first Disney World vacation. Full-service dining and character dining experiences are a big deal in the parks and the best reservations fill up early. Book Advance Dining Reservations 180 days ahead of your trip. Even with quick service meals, you should still plan on which restaurants and meals you’ll be eating so that the decision is already made beforehand. Decide also if you’ll be purchasing or packing in snacks and drinks.

Deciding on Walt Disney World Tickets

A major decision to make when planning a first Disney World trip is which type of ticket to purchase. And of course you’ll need to figure out how many days you’ll be going to the theme parks. The Walt Disney World Resort is made up of 4 theme Parks – Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studio and Magic Kingdom. A multi-day ticket is the best value with a one-day peak ticket being the worst value.

Disney World Magic Bands – Changes in 2021

Those staying at a Disney World resort hotel have always received complimentary Magic Bands upon arrival. As of 2021, this item will no longer be included but can be purchased at an additional cost. These can be purchased pre-trip on ShopDisney .

Disney World tickets are linked to a Disney Magic Band , which my friend Leslie at Trips with Tykes explains in more detail. Conveniently, your Magic Band not only holds your park admission, but also can open your Disney resort hotel room and can be used for payments.

Questions to Ask About Disney World Tickets

• How many days total will you visit the theme parks?
• Will you stay in one Park for the entire day? The base Magic Your Way ticket is what you’ll want (no Park Hopping on this ticket).
• Will you purchase a Park Hopper that allows access to multiple Parks on the same day? Park Hopping definitely takes time out of your day via transportation transfer. But it can be beneficial to families that take a mid-day hotel break. They can start in one park, take a break and attend another theme park later in the day.

• Are you going to be visiting any of the Disney World water parks? The Disney World Park Hopper Plus is a great option. The “Plus” option is a punch card, of sorts. For as many days you have of park tickets, you have an equal number of punches allowed for either water parks, ESPN sports complex access, or miniature golf (ie: 4 day Park Hopper? You also have a total of 4 extra visits to the “plus” locations).
• Does purchasing an Annual Pass make better sense? For families who plan to return again within a year, the free parking, Memory Maker photos, and dining & hotel discounts, a Disney World AP may save you money versus traditional park tickets.

Insider Tips for Disney World Vacations

Chances are you know someone who has been to Disney World. Ask them for their tips and advice when planning your vacation. These are a few of the extra things you might not find on the Disney World website that will help make your trip more magical!

• Maximize your park time by arriving in the first two hours of opening. Arrive at “rope drop” before the gates open and plan to stay until the Park closes. These earlier morning and later evening night hours tend to be least busy and allow you quicker line access to your favorite rides.
• Before you pack up your luggage, read these tips for comfortable but cute clothes to wear at Disney World , with outfit suggestions for the entire family.

• The Disney Springs outdoor shopping district can be a fun place to spend an off-day, enjoying dining, shopping,  live entertainment and family activities like bowling.
• Expect to stand in lines during your vacation? Check the wait times on the Disney World parks app ahead of your visit to watch regular queue times. See what helpful items you can bring in the parks to do while waiting in line at Disney World.

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50 Things You Need to Know When Planning Your First Walt Disney World Trip!

Planning your first trip to Walt Disney World ? We’re so excited for you! Disney World vacations are extra special, and we’re thrilled to help our readers prepare for them . The process can be pretty overwhelming, considering there’s so much to know , but don’t worry — you can do it.

Today, we’re starting with the basics and giving you 50 things that you need to know when planning your first Disney World trip!

NOTE: These 50 things are covering some of the most basic planning information. There are several articles linked throughout this post that will help you grow your understanding of the topics discussed, so we recommend you check those out once you read this list!

• First of all, Disney World is BIG — probably much bigger than you realize. The whole Walt Disney World Resort is made up of more than 25 resort hotels , four theme parks , two water parks, Disney Springs shopping and dining district, and so much more. The entire property is the size of the city of San Francisco. (That’s 40 square miles!)
• Magic Kingdom is Disney World’s first park, very similar to the original Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Magic Kingdom is home to Cinderella Castle and six themed lands: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street, U.S.A..

• Disney’s second park is EPCOT , which originally stood for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It’s divided into two parts, World Showcase and Future World, but it’s currently undergoing a massive transformation that will change the layout of the park. World Showcase has 11 themed pavilions dedicated to different countries from around the world, with shopping, dining, and attractions themed to that country’s culture. Future World has a variety of rides and attractions and will be changing drastically during the transformation.

• The third theme park is Disney’s Hollywood Studios , which takes you both to old Hollywood and  into your favorite films and shows. Many people get this park confused with Universal Studios (where Harry Potter is), but they’re not the same! Most of the park here is themed to old Hollywood, with places like Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. You’ll also find Toy Story Land and Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge here, which have drawn big crowds to this park!

• The fourth park at Disney World is Disney’s Animal Kingdom ! The various lands of this park are focused on nature and animals; the park’s landmark attraction is Kilimanjaro Safaris , where guests can spot all kinds of species roaming a replica African savanna! The theming in this park is very detailed, and it’s somewhat of a cross between a theme park and a zoo. ( But, like, a really cool zoo! )

• Disney Springs is Disney World’s shopping and dining complex, where guests will find dozens of restaurants and brand-name stores. You could spend a whole day at Disney Springs itself if you want to see everything, but this would also be a great place to visit on your arrival or departure day.
• Disney World also has two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. They’ve both been closed since the parks closed in March 2020, but Blizzard Beach will be reopening on March 7, 2021.

The Resorts

• Disney’s Resort hotels come in a few categories: Deluxe , Moderate , and Value. Individual resorts are separated into those categories based on price, so Deluxe Resorts often have more amenities or are closer to the theme parks. (Sometimes even walking distance!) Guests can also choose to stay at Disney Vacation Club properties (great if you want a kitchen/kitchenette) or at Disney’s campground, Fort Wilderness.

• Each of the Disney Resorts have food options for their guests . The Deluxe Resorts will have Table Service restaurants as well as Quick Service, while the Value Resorts are limited to food court-style dining.
• It’s important to note the location of your resort when booking. They are spread out all over the property, and the time it takes to travel to each theme park varies wildly by Resort hotel. If you’re interested in visiting certain parks more often than others, then you’ll likely want to choose a resort nearby.

• To start your planning, you’ll need to make an account on the Disney World website . This website will be essential to your planning, as it’s where you’ll book your resort, tickets, make your park and dining reservations, and learn more about the various offerings of Walt Disney World.
• After you make your Disney account, you’ll want to download the My Disney Experience app to your smartphone. The app can do a lot of the same things that the website does, but you’ll also be able to use the app in the park to check wait times, look at park maps, mobile order your food, and much more. You DEFINITELY want to become familiar with the features of this app before you leave for your vacation!

• We highly recommend that guests make all their various reservations in advance. You can make Advance Dining Reservations 60 days ahead of your trip , and you’ll need to make them ahead of time if you want to visit the most popular restaurants . Currently, you’re also required to make reservations for each park that you visit on each day of your trip through the Disney Park Pass reservation system. Sometimes these days fill up, so do this as soon as you know your plans. Finally, you’ll definitely want to reserve your dates and times if you plan to build a droid or a lightsaber in Galaxy’s Edge at Droid Depot or Savi’s Workshop.

• It’s also important to note that there are different types of park tickets. The 1 Park Per Day option allows guests to visit (you guessed it!) one park each day of their visit. You can purchase a Park Hopper ticket for more money , and it will allow you to visit multiple parks a day but with some restrictions.

• If you’re planning on purchasing a Park Hopper ticket , there are a few things to note. Everything is based on availability, so if a park is at capacity, you won’t be able to “hop” to it . (There’s a phone number you can call to check availability.) You must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for your first park of the day and scan into that park before heading to your second . You also won’t be able to park hop outside of the Park Hopping hours listed on the Disney World website, which means you’ll have to wait until 2PM to visit your second park.

• Traveling during less busy times of the year can make a HUGE difference in your Disney World vacation. It’ll help you avoid big crowds and long wait times. In general, Walt Disney World tends to be most crowded during the Spring Break season, any long holiday weekend, Thanksgiving week, the weeks of Christmas break , and the summer months. Basically, any time students are out of school.

• Make sure to check out the park maps online or in the My Disney Experience app before you visit. This will help you get a layout of the parks in your mind and plan out your day so that you aren’t zigzagging back and forth. Take note of all the rides and attractions, and decide which ones you’d like to accomplish most!
• When picking your dates, make sure to check and see if any events are happening. Look for festivals at EPCOT , holiday celebrations , and any ride opening dates. Visiting during an EPCOT festival is something that many guests enjoy, but if you show up at a park on the day of a ride’s grand opening, you may be in for some shockingly large crowds.

Saving Money

• For those looking to save some money on their Disney trip, we definitely recommend checking out the Special Offers tab on the Walt Disney World website . Here, you’ll find all the current deals on resorts and tickets , and these discounts can often be added to your reservation after you book — you’ll just need to call Disney to get them applied.
• It’s also important to note that most of Disney World’s pricing is date-based, which goes back to the benefits of traveling during the less-busy times. Tickets and resort rooms are going to be much more expensive the week of Christmas than they are in the middle of September. You could literally save hundreds (or maybe thousands, depending on your party size) by traveling during slower times.

• A smaller, but still very useful, money-saving tip is that guests are allowed to bring their own snacks and drinks into the parks ! As much as we love Disney snacks, buying them every day of your trip can add up, and you can save a good bit by not purchasing water bottles and sodas in-park .

• Let’s talk about the big one: Rise of the Resistance ! It’s Disney’s most popular attraction at the moment, and the only way to ride is to get a virtual boarding pass. There are a lot of technicalities to this that you’ll want to research in advance, so click here to learn more!

• For the rest of Disney’s attractions, there’s currently no way for typical guests to skip the line. Disney World used to have the free FastPass+ system, but it has not returned since the reopening of the parks. The only people that you’ll see skipping the line are those using Disability Access Service or on a VIP Tour (unless the ride broke down and guests received return passes). Unlike other theme parks, Disney World doesn’t offer a pass that you can purchase to skip the lines at rides.

• Many rides at Disney World have height requirements for guests’ safety. If your child is too small to ride, then you can always try the Rider Switch system , where one adult rides while the other waits with the non-riders, then the adult that sat out gets to board the attraction without waiting (since the first group already waited).
• If you’re concerned about finding rides that your whole family will enjoy at Disney World, then don’t worry. Most of Disney’s rides are family-friendly , even the coasters. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest are Disney’s most intense coasters , and some rides (like Tower of Terror, DINOSAUR, and Mission: SPACE) can be a bit scary , but you’ll still have PLENTY to do with the whole family.

• Wait times get the longest in the middle of the day at the parks. If you want to avoid the long lines, the best time to visit the popular attractions are first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening. (Pro Tip: You can get in line for rides up until the minute that park closes.) When the lines get longer in the middle of the day, that’s a good time to visit the less popular attractions or shows, those with short wait times.

• You’ll want to make your Advance Dining Reservations as soon as they’re available to book, which is currently 60 days ahead of your trip. The popular restaurants will book up quickly, so hit up the Disney World website to make those reservations 60 days out at 6AM ET.
• If you’re not planning on dining at Table Service restaurants, you’ll want to become familiar with the Mobile Order system on the My Disney Experience app. When visiting Disney World’s Quick Service dining locations, you’ll likely be asked to Mobile Order your food , so take some time to practice using the features before you leave for your trip!

• For those who are big fans of Disney characters, you may want to consider booking a character meal. During these meals, various Disney friends will walk by your table and greet you and your family. It’s a slightly modified experience with health and safety precautions , and there are only a few character meals open right now, so you’ll want to research this more if you’re interested.

• There are SO many great snacks out there , so it’s probably wise to research them ahead of time and decide which ones you want to try. Take note of their locations so that you can find them in the parks. If you skip this step, you might miss a ton of great eats!

• EPCOT has four festivals throughout the year that offer unique activities and delicious small plates at various themed food booths. The four festivals are Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival , Food and Wine Festival , and Festival of the Holidays . We recommend taking a look at the menus for the booths before you arrive so that you won’t fill up before trying the things you really want to try!

• Before the pandemic, Disney World used to offer a few different Disney Dining Plan options, where guests could essentially pre-pay for their food. However, we haven’t seen any Dining Plans return since the parks reopened, and Disney hasn’t released any details on when they might come back.
• If you make a dining reservation and you can’t show up, do your best to cancel more than 24 hours in advance. Many Disney restaurants have cancellation fees, so pay attention to the details when making your booking.

Health and Safety

• Since the reopening of the parks back in July 2020, several new health and safety measures have been put into place . All guests ages two and up are required to wear appropriate face coverings for their whole visit. The only time these may be removed is when eating or drinking while stationary, or while visiting a Relaxation Station. You can also skip the mask when in the pool.
• Guests will also be subject to temperature checks when visiting the theme parks and Disney Springs. Any visitor with a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will be given a few minutes to cool down, then they will be checked again. If you fail the temperature check twice, you and your whole party will be required to leave.

• Due to the new health and safety precautions, several offerings are temporarily suspended . There are currently no fireworks , parades, or character meets. Much of Disney’s live entertainment has been cut, and several restaurants still haven’t reopened. As more of these things return , we’ll be reporting on them, so make sure to stay tuned to AllEars!

Transportation

• Disney has plenty of free transportation options to help guests get around the property! These various options can be used whether or not you’re staying onsite.
• Disney buses are the most common form of transportation, and they’re also the most widespread. With Disney’s bus system, you’ll be able to travel to and from the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.

• The Disney Skyliner is the newest form of transportation . It’s a gondola-style system that offers great views of the resort but isn’t the best for those with a fear of heights. It travels between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, with stops and lines that extend to Disney’s Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation Resorts.

• Disney’s Monorail is perhaps the most famous method of transportation. It travels from the Magic Kingdom parking area (located at the Transportation & Ticket Center ) to Magic Kingdom Park. A second line travels between these two locations with stops in-between at Disney’s Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian Resorts. There is also a line that travels between the TTC and EPCOT, but it hasn’t operated since the parks reopened.

• Friendship Boats travel between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, with stops along the way at Disney’s Yacht Club, Beach Club, BoardWalk, Swan, and Dolphin Resorts. The boat ride isn’t Disney’s fastest mode of transportation , but it’s certainly relaxing!
• Guests are also welcome to drive their personal vehicles to Disney World. If staying onsite, you’ll pay parking fees per night at your resort , and if staying offsite, you’ll be required to pay for parking at the theme parks. It’s $25 a day for basic parking.

• When visiting Disney World, make sure you factor in time for transportation! For instance, if taking a bus to a theme park, you’ll walk to the bus stop, wait for it to arrive, board, travel, unload, and then go through the process of getting in the park. We recommend budgeting an hour to travel around the property, even when driving your own vehicle.

Things You Didn’t Expect

• When visiting Disney’s theme parks, you will be walking a RIDICULOUS amount of steps each day. We’re talking 20,000+ steps, which is likely twice what you’re taking each day at home. Prepare yourself ahead of time with some extra walking, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes!

• Another thing that tends to surprise first-timers who choose to drive is that you don’t actually park at Magic Kingdom . Magic Kingdom’s parking area is at the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) , not actually attached to the park itself. Once you park, you’ll be required to take the Monorail or Ferry Boat to the Magic Kingdom park entrance.

• Guests are allowed to leave the parks and come back later, and you’ll only be required to pay for parking once. If you’re getting tired midday or the parks are too crowded, then take a break and come back later ! It could be a great time to take a nap in your room or go for an afternoon swim.
• Occasionally, there is last-minute availability for popular experiences . If you’re looking for a specific dining reservation, experience reservation, or Disney Park Pass, keep checking your My Disney Experience app in the week before in case of cancellations. For dining, it could also be helpful to visit the host(ess) stand and ask about walk-up availability.

• Florida’s weather is incredibly unpredictable, so you’ll definitely want to prepare for a variety of possibilities. It rains nearly every day in the summertime and the temperature changes drastically throughout the day in the winter . Don’t forget your rain gear, and pack clothes that can be worn in layers!

• There’s a LOT to do at Disney World , and you likely won’t be able to get everything done , and that’s okay. Prioritize the things you most want to see and experience, and if you get those things done, then consider it a successful trip!
• Perhaps the most surprising thing for first-timers is how much you’ll want to come back again! If you get the chance to relax, enjoy yourself, and let go, then you’ll probably end up falling in love with Disney and want to visit over and over again!

That’s a wrap on our 50 things that you need to know for your first trip to Walt Disney World! We hope this list of tips is helpful in planning your first Disney World vacation, and we encourage you to stick around for more Disney news and planning advice!

Check Out Our List of 50 Walt Disney World Must-Dos!

How many times have you been to Walt Disney World? Tell us in the comments!

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My Disney Experience – Frequently Asked Questions

How should I begin planning my Walt Disney World Resort vacation?

The first step in planning your trip is to browse disneyworld.com to discover all that Walt Disney World Resort has to offer: 4 incredible theme parks , 2 great water parks , attractions and entertainment for the whole family plus dozens of hotels , hundreds of restaurants and much more.

Next, shop for a Disney Resort Hotel Package —which includes multi-day theme park tickets and a Resort hotel stay—for the dates of your visit.

As you book and link your plans to your MyDisney account, use your My Plans page to manage your vacation details all in one place:

• Get next-steps and key planning dates.
• See your hotel and dining reservations and personal reminders organized in a daily itinerary.
• View your tickets at a glance.
• See which plans you share with Guests on your Family & Friends list.
• Add, modify or cancel plans with a few clicks.

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What is My Disney Experience?

15 BEST Disney World Tips for First Timers

Posted on Last updated: June 8, 2024

Categories Disney World

Planning your first trip to Disney World can leave you feeling like this… overwhelmed and confused.

That’s why I’m sharing the best Disney World tips for first timers from a bunch of Disney World pros in this post!

Read on to get the inside scoop on planning an incredible first visit to the Mouse House…

Disney World Tips For First Timers #1: Don’t Try To Do It All

Disney World is twice the size of Manhattan, contains four huge theme parks, two water parks, 25 resorts, and a gargantuan shopping and dining venue. There is no way humanly possible to see it all in a one or even two-week vacation.

I hope I’m driving the point home that since there is no way to see it all, please don’t try. Trying to do too much is the #1 way people ruin their Disney vacation. 

But rest assured – almost everything is amazing at Disney World. You will have to make choices during your vacation about what is most important for your family, but no matter what you choose, you will be surprised and delighted.

I hope that takes some of the pressure off and helps you to not try to cram too much in on your trip. 

Tip #2: Avoid Disney Sticker Shock

I think the #2 thing that ruins many Disney vacations is when expectations don’t match up with the reality at Disney World. This disconnect happens mainly in regards to prices!

Be prepared for costs comparable to what you will pay at any major sporting event or tourist attraction. Here are some examples: 

• Bottle of water or fountain drink – $4.50 – $5.00
• Mickey ice cream bar – $5.75
• Popcorn – $4.50
• Cheeseburger with fries – $13.50
• Kid’s Macaroni & cheese with side and drink – $7.50
• Typical character buffet dinner – $50 adult, $25 child under 9

You can also plan to avoid some of these expenses by bringing your own drinks and snacks into the parks (which is totally allowed at Disney) and planning your meals carefully.

The portions are quite large at Disney so many people find they are even able to share meals between two people!

Disney World Tips For First Timers #3: Dodge The Crowds

To be ready for the crowds, use a crowd calendar such as this one from Undercover Tourist .

A crowd calendar can help you plan your trip around less-crowded times of year and help you know which theme park will be less crowded than the others on a certain day. 

Click here for my picks for the best time to go to Disney World to avoid the crowds. 

Tip #4: Know How To Get Around Disney World

The fourth of my Disney World tips for first timers is to be prepared for getting around at Disney World. Knowing the realities of transportation at Disney World can help you make a decision about where to stay. 

If you stay at a hotel on Disney World property , you can take the complimentary Disney transportation (in the form of buses, boats, and the monorail) to get to and from the theme parks and Disney Springs. 

If you stay off of Disney property, be prepared for a 10-30 minute drive to the parks each morning. You’ll also have to pay $30 each day to park at the theme parks. At Magic Kingdom, you’ll have to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) lot and either take the ferry or monorail to get to the entrance to the park ( learn all about parking at Disney World in this post ). 

Knowing what to expect in terms of transportation time can help you enjoy your trip and plan accordingly. It can also be the deciding factor related to my next tip, which is about deciding where to stay. 

Tip #5: Know The Difference Between On and Off Property Hotels

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

More people stay at off-property hotels than on-property Disney owned resorts. There are more options off-property and some Disney hotels are VERY expensive. 

That said, it is a misconception that it is always cheaper to stay off-property than at a Disney resort. You need to factor in any additional costs when deciding what’s the best deal. 

Here’s an example:

Off-property hotel near Disney World: $90/night Disney Value Resorts : $150/night

At first glance, the off-property hotel appears to be the better deal. But if you are flying into Orlando, you’ll also need to consider these average additional costs:

• Rental car: $25/day
• Parking at theme parks: $30/day
• Hotel parking fee: $15/day
• Resort fee: $15/night

Disney resorts also don’t charge a nightly resort fee. 

So when you add in these additional costs, here is how the two hotels compare:

Off-property hotel near Disney World: $175/night Disney Value Resort : $150/night

That off-property hotel doesn’t seem so cheap anymore, right? So be sure to consider ALL of these costs when you are comparing hotel prices at Disney World area hotels.

Tip #6: Research Your Dining Options

The Polite Pig, Disney Springs

There are literally HUNDREDS of restaurants in Walt Disney. Some are incredible and others are definitely lacking. 

You don’t want to end up eating at the worst restaurant in Disney World when there’s an excellent option right down the path!

Even if you aren’t making any dining reservations, spend a little time learning about the best quick service (i.e. order at a counter and pick up your food/it is brought to you) restaurants. 

You can view the menus for all of the restaurants in Disney World here .

You can also check out my dining reviews of the best Quick Service restaurants in Disney World here!

Disney World Tips For First Timers #7: Know What To Pack

Tammi from My Organized Chaos shared an incredible packing list for Disney World . It includes things you would never think of for your first trip to Disney World, such as:

• Ponchos for the Florida afternoon thundershowers
• Autograph book to have characters sign
• Mouse ears or kids’ costumes for the parks

You can get the full Disney Word packing list as a handy printable here . 

Tip #8: Know Where To Meet The Mouse

Your little ones are likely envisioning a meeting with Mickey Mouse as part of their Disney World vacation. I think meeting Mickey is the highlight of many folks’ first trip to Disney!

Luckily, Janine from Confessions of a Disneyholic Mom shared her picks for the top 10 places to meet Mickey Mouse in Disney World in this post. With a little planning, you’ll be able to meet Mickey without waiting in any long lines.

Tip #9: Print Disney Parks Maps Before You Leave Home

The ninth of my Disney World tips for first timers is to print off maps of the parks before you leave home. The maps will be fun for you and your kiddos to study. Plus it will help you navigate once you arrive!

Here are links to printable maps of each park straight from Disney:

Magic Kingdom Park Epcot Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

You can also play around with the maps in the My Disney Experience App. Which leads us to the next tip…

Tip #10: Download The My Disney Experience App Before You Go

The tenth of my Disney World tips for first timers is to embrace Disney tech. Technology is going to play a big part in your Disney vacation. The key to using most of the tech at Disney is the My Disney Experience app for your phone or tablet. 

You can make FastPasses on the go, switch up your dining reservations, check for bus times, and even find the closest bathroom using the app! I suggest you get familiar with how it works before you leave for your trip. Then you will be a pro with it once you are there!

Tip #11: Have A Stroller Plan

To stroller or not to stroller? That is the question that MANY people ask before their first Disney trip!

You will easily walk up to 10 miles per day in the Disney World theme parks, which can be a lot for almost anyone. Little ones tire quickly so you may want a stroller for kids who have outgrown one in all other instances. 

Cat from Mary Martha Mama tackles the popular question in this post on how to decide if you need a stroller at Disney World or not .

We opt to bring a light-weight stroller from home for our six-year-old daughter for those long park days. We think it helps everyone have a more magical time. 

#12: Become a Lightning Lane Master

Disney Genie Plus and the Lightning Lanes allow you to skip the wait on attractions during your trip.

It will feel so nice to walk past people waiting 2 hours for a ride and go right to the front of the line, all thanks to some advance planning. 

Check out my ultimate guide to Disney Genie Plus and the Lightning Lanes here!

Tip #13: Bring Home Ways To Remember Your Trip

Before you know it you will be home from your Disney World trip and the magic will begin to fade. But if you plan ahead you can hold on to the wonderful memories from your trip for years to come!

Patty from My No-Guilt Life shares seven unique souvenirs and way to remember your Disney World vacation in this post .

I love her idea to buy items you’ll use often to help you remember your vacation. My favorites are my Disney coffee mugs and umbrellas. 

Tip #14: Decide if a Dining Plan is right for you

Flame Tree Barbecue, Animal Kingdom

Food is a subject unto itself at Disney World. There are hundreds of places to eat, from churro carts to 5-star fine dining. 

If you are staying at a Disney World resort, one option is to get a Disney Dining Plan as part of a package.

I get asked about the dining plans almost daily. First, it helps to understand who benefits most from a dining plan and who probably won’t get their money’s worth in this post.

Also check out this post on Free Dining at Disney World , the most popular discount at Disney World. 

Disney World Tips For First Timers #15: Don’t Overplan

Ok, so it might seem like I am giving contrary advice (since I just told you about all of the planning you should do), but it is easy to go overboard with planning your Disney vacation. 

Don’t try to plan out every minute of your trip, or you are bound to be disappointed. Rides sometimes close unexpectedly, you might have to wait longer than you want for a bus, or your little princess might have a meltdown right before your character meet and greet. 

The key to having fun at Disney World is to embrace the adventure each day brings and to be ready to go with the flow. I see lots of grumpy (and tired) families at Disney who I expect have overplanned and didn’t leave much unstructured time during their trip. 

I like to have a loose plan and be ready to pivot if needed. Then I can soak up the most Disney magic possible!

I hope these Disney World tips for first timers help you have an incredible vacation experience that you will cherish for years to come. You can get a free quote from my recommended Disney travel agent Siera with Destinations in Florida here. 

If you want to get help planning your trip, please join my free private Facebook group for my Disney site, The Budget Mouse . Or feel free to ask a question in a comment below. Have a magical day!

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Tuesday 18th of January 2022

This is good advice. I am planning a trip to Disney with a mobility issue person. Have any tips?

Also we were going to stay at a Disney hotel. I see discount tickets everywhere. Is it better to get tickets from Disney or buy somewhere else?

I am getting confused with everything.

Saturday 7th of August 2021

Touring plans and undercover tourist crowd calendars differ quite a bit. Which do you think I should use? I keep changing my park reservations and want to make best use of time. Thanks

Friday 14th of January 2022

@Tina, although I use both I would say Touringplans. They are more detailed. I have relied on TouringPlans for all of my trips for more accurate and detailed crowd calendars.

Sunday 8th of August 2021

Oooh that's a tough question! The crowd patterns are pretty unpredictable right now due to changing park hours and what is available. HS and MK are going to be the most crowded parks, followed by Epcot after lots of stuff opens on October 1st. So those should be your priorities. I'd avoid MK and HS on Saturdays and Mondays. Avoid Epcot on Fridays and Saturdays during Food & Wine festival. Hope those general guidelines help a bit.

Sunday 22nd of September 2019

Big tip, I haven’t seen on any site, bring Dishsoap and Sponge. Only way to really clean your reusable mug other than a quick rinse near the soda fountain

Monday 23rd of September 2019

That's great advice - thanks, Marian!

Sunday 11th of August 2019

Thank you for all of your advice! My family of five are heading to Disney next September for the first time ever. I am trying to keep the planning to a minimum knowing tat we are going to go back. My kids are going to be 2,3 and 6 when we go so I know we can't do much. One thing we were not sure about is the stroller situation. We know we need one for our two little ones but our son is 6 and hasn't used a stroller in years. Now I'm considering renting one of the double strollers so that when he gets tired, we can switch it up! My kids know about the trip and have helped make decisions. My son is even putting all of his allowance on a Disney gift card so he can buy his own toys when we are there!! Can't wait, Thanks again!!

Tuesday 13th of August 2019

Sounds like a fantastic trip, Lana! I would definitely get the double stroller for your sanity. Tired kids at Disney World is rough and there is SO much walking involved - easily 6-10 miles per day.

Sunday 4th of August 2019

My grandkids found out they were going to Disney the 2nd time when they were handed “This Kid Is Going To Disney” t-shirts. They thought it was a great idea and actually had said before that they would love that to happen to them. There was nothing they wanted to do that they didn’t get to do. Their 4th trip is planned for November and they still don’t know about it.

5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When We Were Planning Our First Walt Disney World Trip

by Gregg Taylor | Jun 5, 2024 | Walt Disney World

Are you planning your family’s first trip to Walt Disney World? The Disney lovers in your life have probably started coming out of the woodwork, all of them full of tips and tricks and great advice. When I was in your shoes ten years ago, I had help from some of the very best, and they were super excited for us, just like your friends are for you.

Lessons for Your First Disney World Trip

Disney Friends are the best! They plot, plan, and share to help you have the very best family adventure. But if you’re like me, you might be starting to find it all a little overwhelming. After all, this is about making dreams come true and creating memories that last a lifetime. You want it all to be perfect, and that might just be starting to suck the fun out of this for you.

If I could, I would send Past-Gregg this message in a bottle back in time, but instead, I’m sending it to you to help you enjoy your planning as much as your Disney Friends do!

Don’t Keep It A Secret

If this trip is still at the “daydream” stage, feel free to keep it to yourself, just in case. But if it is actually happening, tell the kids. I know, some folks disagree. We’ve all seen videos of super-surprised children losing their minds with excitement, and I bet every one of those families had a great time.

We decided to hold out until a week before go-time to tell our kids (then four and seven). Truth be told, I think we were trying to avoid months and months of “How many days until Disney, Daddy?” In doing so, we created extra drama trying to avoid spoilers from extended family, and when the time came to tell them, the little stinkers didn’t believe us!

I am not the sort of Dad who pranks his children at all, but it was obvious that this seemed more likely than the idea that we were actually Disney-bound. I had to show them the reservation online before they accepted it. It was not a great video, and I had robbed myself of the chance for the next item:

Plan Your First Disney World Trip Together

We figured this out eventually, and from little ones to tweens and now teens, our kids have been the best planning partners we could have ever asked for. Sharing news about attractions both new and “new to us”, restaurant reviews, online resort tours and ride-through videos, we’ve had a lot of fun planning together even when we couldn’t be in the parks.

Planning for that first trip, though, shrouded in secrecy as it was, was “grown-ups only,” which made it tough to know which of the million things to do would be the most important ones to the kids. In the end, I got lucky, when my daughter volunteered some information.

“Know what I would want to do if we ever went to Disney World?” she asked out of the clear blue sky.

“What’s that?” I replied, wondering if this mission was no longer covert.

“Meet Anna and Elsa,” she said with grim determination.

I had no idea. We had not really been prioritizing character meets because they were both so shy, and I almost missed out on the thing she cared about the most because we were keeping it a surprise instead of planning together.

(She did meet Anna and Elsa. She did not speak a single word and then talked about it constantly for days. I cried like a banshee.)

Savvy Souvenir Shopping is Super

This is a tough one, because every day you will find yourselves in the biggest and most beautiful toy stores you have ever seen. It’s hard to set a limit when you don’t want to be the guy saying “no” all the time. My wife solved this one, of course.

“Grandma has given you each X dollars to spend on the trip, and you can decide what you want the most,” she said. I don’t remember what the value of X was, but I know it was something that seemed acceptable to Mom and Dad and like an incalculable fortune to a 4-year-old. Taking Grandma on as a co-conspirator was genius since she wasn’t there to change the rules. Some very careful shopping was done, the bank remained unbroken, and much-loved stuffies were secured.

Resting is Not A Waste Of Time

There’s so much to do, and it feels wrong to let any of it go, but leave room in your plans for naps, resort pools, and quality time flaked out in the air-conditioned comfort of your Disney Resort . Believe me, as a first-time visitor, you are not prepared for how much walking is involved in a visit to a Disney park, and your trip may be a multiple-day affair. Now, remember how much longer your legs are than theirs. Build in a rest plan and be prepared to adjust it as needed.

Photo by Danny Shuster

I learned this the hard way on the evening of day four at a dinner reservation at ‘Ohana , where my daughter fell asleep at the table from pure exhaustion, having eaten exactly one shrimp, easily the most expensive single shrimp I have ever bought, much too the delight of her brother.

You Can Do This

You are planning this adventure because you want to create something special for your family, and the pressure of trying to make everything perfect for your first Disney World trip can feel overwhelming at times. Just remember that no matter what happens, your kids are sure to have a joyous, memorable time because they will be with you. Find the good in as much as you can, and the humor in the rest, and you will share an experience you will always remember.

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How to Plan a Disney World Vacation

W alt Disney World vacations can be stressful to plan. They are expensive and are often a dream trip for families. There are also so many different things to see, and it’s pretty much impossible to see everything during one trip. Prioritizing everything is essential.

Walt Disney World vacation planning is also difficult. You’ll need to think about many things in advance, and planning a last-minute trip is tough. If you are thinking of taking a trip to WDW, here’s how to plan a Disney World vacation, step by step.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing and/or clicking on one of these links may result in a small commission paid to us. I am a former member of the planDisney panel and have been on some complimentary press trips at Walt Disney World, but all opinions are my own.

By clicking on an affiliate link, you agree that we may share your personal information with our affiliates and their affiliates.

When booking your Walt Disney World vacation, consider purchasing through our affiliate Get Away Today . They offer great prices on tickets and can book many hotels.

Start With the Dates of Your Vacation

The first thing you should do before booking your Walt Disney World vacation is to look at the calendar and decide on your vacation dates. There are several factors you should consider.

First, if you have children, you may need to stick with school vacations for your vacation. Those, however, can be some of the busiest and most expensive times to travel (especially spring break and Christmas break). So, if you have the option, you should consider traveling when kids are in school to avoid peak times.

You may also want to consider the weather. While the summer months may be the most convenient time to visit, the weather can be very hot. I usually prefer to travel in the spring or the fall.

Depending on the ages of your children (or if you are traveling with an adult-only group), you may also want to consider special events taking place at the parks. I especially love visiting during the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival , which typically takes place from late summer through the fall.

Establish Your Budget

It’s never fun to think about money, but it’s important to establish your budget before planning your vacation. Think about how much you’d like to spend on your trip. Depending on your budget, you may have to save a bit. Otherwise, you still may be able to save some money by limiting the number of days of your trip or by staying at a less expensive hotel.

Be sure to include all of the costs of your vacation. Add in flights, parking/rental car/ride-share, park tickets (plus add-ons like Genie+ or the park hopper option), meals, snacks, and your hotel. In addition, you should also include expenses at home, like parking at your home airport, and pet care.

To get the costs of your trip, just do a high-level search on your dates. You can even find sample menus online to get an idea of restaurant prices. Once you are ready to book, you can finalize the costs and your budget.

Research Hotels For Your Disney Vacation

At the Walt Disney World resort, you will have many different hotel options, including on-property and off-property resorts. Within the on-property Disney resorts, there are deluxe, moderate, and value resorts, all with a variety of themes.

There are pros and cons to staying on property. You’ll be able to get an early theme park entry (30 minutes before general opening) if you are staying at the Disney resorts, as well as select other hotels. You can see the full list on this website . This early theme park entry replaces the old system, which was called Extra Magic Hours.

The Disney resorts also offer some fantastic themes, and all have the same great service you’d expect from the Walt Disney Company.

You may find, however, that you can get more affordable hotel rooms by staying off-property. There are loads of chain hotels off-property, many offering family suites and other rooms with more space. Keep in mind that if you stay off-property, you’ll most likely have to rent a car, which can add to the expense.

In the past, there were some other benefits to staying on property, but these have gone away. One of these is the Magical Express, which has unfortunately been retired.

If you decide to stay at a Disney Resort, you’ll have many options. First, based on your budget, decide whether you want to stay in a deluxe , moderate , or value resort . There are plenty of options in each category. Then, you can look at the various locations to see if one appeals to you more than the others. The theme is also a big consideration.

Purchase Your Tickets and Reserve Your Hotel

Now that you’ve done your research and have your budget, it’s time to book your vacation. Before spending any money, however, I recommend checking the flights for your vacation dates.

Flight prices have been notoriously high recently, so don’t commit to a trip until you know how much it will cost to fly. Switching dates, even by one or two days, can sometimes help you save money .

After doing this, you are all set to book. If it’s your first time planning a Disney World vacation, using a travel agent, like our affiliate partner Get Away Today , can be a good idea. You’ll want to figure out how many days you want park tickets for, and if you want to add on any of the extras, like the Disney water parks, or the park hopping option.

Base tickets can be purchased for the number of days that you want to visit the parks. Those will allow you to enter one theme park (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios) per day. Park Hopper tickets, which are offered at an extra cost, let you visit other parks in the same day.

I generally recommend adding the park hopper if it’s in your budget. It will give you a lot more flexibility when trying to experience as many attractions as possible, as well as with your dining options. The park hopper does have to be added to your entire park ticket purchase – you can’t choose to just purchase that option for one day.

Keep in mind that Disney Springs doesn’t require tickets to just walk around, shop, and visit restaurants. So, it’s always a nice option if you want to have one day without park tickets.

You may need to rent a car, especially if you are staying off-property. However, if you are staying at a Disney hotel, you just need to get from the Orlando International Airport to the hotel. Then, you can take Disney transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.

Even if you are just dining in the park, you need a ticket. So be sure to plan your dining reservations for a park you are planning to visit that day. If you want to dine in a different park from the one you are visiting, you will need a park hopper ticket.

Reserve Table-Service Dining For Your Family Vacation

Walt Disney World offers two main dining types – table-service restaurants and quick-service restaurants. At a table service restaurant, you’ll be seated and a server will take and bring your order. Quick service restaurants are counter service – place your order at a counter and find your seat.

The table service restaurants take reservations, and it’s a good idea to book them when they are available to reserve. Right now, you can book them 60 days in advance.

It can be difficult to think about what parks you’ll want to be in on which days. But, the most popular restaurants, especially character meals, do require reservations. So you’ll want to spend some time plotting out your trip so you can make the dining reservations.

Look at Attractions To Decide Your Must-Dos

In the past, FastPass reservations could be made in advance. With the introduction of the new Disney Genie, you won’t have to do as much work in advance.

You can learn much more on this Disney Genie post . In general, there are two systems – the standard Disney Genie and the paid Disney Genie+ (which works on the most popular rides). Regardless of which system you use, you’ll want to do a little research in advance on your must-do attractions.

If you are traveling with small children, you’ll also want to look at the height restrictions. That way, you’ll avoid disappointment when you arrive at the parks.

Traveling with older kids? It’s always a good idea to involve them in the planning process so they feel some ownership over the trip.

The free Disney Genie can be used with the My Disney Experience app. You can select which attractions, character experiences, and shows you want to see. Then, the Genie will give you a plan for your day, minimizing waiting in long lines and telling you the best time to experience an attraction.

Purchase Theme Park Supplies

Before you go, make sure you purchase any of the items you’ll need before your trip. Complimentary MagicBands are no longer provided and are optional. But they do make your Disney vacation easier, especially if you are staying at a Disney resort hotel and have charging privileges to your hotel room.

The new MagicBand+ band is now available and offers even more functionality. You can purchase them at the resort, or buy them in advance on the Disney Store . It can be easiest to get them in advance, that way you can link them to your account before you leave.

There are other things you’ll want to purchase as well. Check out this Disney packing list as well as suggestions on what to wear at Walt Disney World month by month to prepare yourself.

Purchase Genie+

When it was first introduced, Genie+ could be added to a park ticket purchase. However, that has changed in recent months.

Now, it has to be purchased individually, starting at midnight each day of your trip. You can make your first selection at 7 am, so it’s a good idea to make sure you purchase it before then.

Currently, Genie+ starts at $15 per person, per day (but increases based on demand for the day). It can add up, especially if you also purchase the added Individual Lightning Lanes. So be sure to include it in your budget if you decide to purchase them.

The post How to Plan a Disney World Vacation appeared first on Family Travel Magazine .

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Our family is taking our first trip to Disney World and are very interested in the Fantasmic dining package at the Brown Derby. First is it appropriate to bring a 4 and 2 year old here? And do we need to pay for both kids since it says kids 9 & under? ”

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Disney wins approval of $17b development deal with desantis truce.

The deal, which includes the company dropping an appeal of a ruling dismissing its First Amendment lawsuit, clears the path for a major expansion of the 25,000-acre resort.

By Winston Cho

Winston Cho

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Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis have put the finishing touches on a deal to end a contentious legal battle for control of the district that oversees development around its theme parks.

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With the deal, Florida lawmakers can no longer threaten to undermine Disney’s plans for growth, like DeSantis did in 2021 in retaliation for the company’s public opposition to a state law that restricted instruction in the classroom on gender identity and sexual orientation. But it also signals a new future for Disney in which it can’t essentially govern itself within the borders of its resort.

Brian Aungst Jr., a member of the district’s board, said on Wednesday when the development plan was greenlit that Disney World is “inextricably intertwined with in the fabric of the state of Florida” and that the “success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida.”

Under the deal, which lasts until 2040, Disney will invest up to $17 billion over the next ten to twenty years. The expansion includes nearly 14,000 hotel rooms and 270,000 retails stores and restaurants, as well as another major theme park and two smaller parks. The company will keep the ability to control building heights.

“It’s no secret that Disney is not only an economic engine for Florida but, more importantly, to the nearly 450,000 Hospitality employees across the central Florida region,” said Robert Agrusa, president of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, at the approval hearing.

Robert Earl, chief executive of Planet Hollywood, stressed the significance of Disney’s partnership with the state, which the company said will bring another 13,000 jobs to the area.

At least half of all project spending must go to Florida businesses, according to the agreement. Disney, which didn’t respond to a request for comment, also committed to funding affordable housing, earmarking at least $10 million over the next decade.

The development agreement stipulates that the district, which agreed to make improvement to infrastructure throughout the duration of the deal, must provide the public services and facilities, including transportation, sewage and health systems, necessary to support Disney’s investment. The company will donate up to 100 acres for the construction of infrastructure projects, according to the deal.

The truce ends nearly two years of legal wrangling, including a lawsuit accusing Disney of covertly cobbling together a “series of eleventh-hour deals” to illicitly retain development powers after DeSantis assumed control. The settlement of that case, which noted that the deals are “null and void,” came after a federal judge dismissed Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit after concluding that the statute granting the governor the authority to appoint every member of the district’s governing body is “facially constitutional” and cannot be challenged with a free speech claim.

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7 Best Cruises for Singles in 2024

Updated : June 14, 2024

AAA Travel Editors

Table of contents.

• Celebrity Millennium: Bali, Malaysia and Thailand
• Celebrity Apex: Norwegian Fjords
• Celebrity Summit: Grand Heartland Adventure
• Celebrity Edge: Taste of Luxury
• Disney Wish: Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
• Oceania Cruises: In the Path of Cartier — Boston to Montreal
• Oceania Riviera: Ancient World Wonders — Athens to Istanbul

Plan Your Cruise With AAA

With many cruise lines now catering to the single crowd, going on a cruise as a single adult can be a great way to meet interesting people to make new friends, new connections and lifelong memories.

No matter what you envision from your dream singles cruise, you can find a ship and a series of destinations that will create unforgettable memories. There are a lot of options to explore, however and the sheer range of choices can quickly feel overwhelming. To help, we've highlighted several of the best cruises for singles. Keep reading to learn what, exactly, sets these expeditions apart. 

1. Celebrity Millennium: Bali, Malaysia and Thailand

Many singles gravitate towards exciting adventures in exotic destinations such as Bali, Malaysia and Thailand, which hold appeal simply because they provide such distinct scenery and such powerful cultural experiences.

Not all singles are willing or prepared to navigate these destinations on their own, however and this is where the Celebrity Millennium comes into play: an upscale cruise removes the hassle of planning and, instead, encourages you to relax in style.

This particular Celebrity Millennium adventure spans nearly two weeks, incorporating a unique blend of serene island adventures, cosmopolitan exploration and meaningful temple visits. Onboard, globally inspired menus and resort-style lounges are to be expected, along with plenty of adults-only spaces that will appeal to singles. 

2. Celebrity Apex: Norwegian Fjords

If Norway's iconic fjords are on your bucket list, you can't afford to miss this awe-inspiring Celebrity Apex trip . Departing from Southampton, the eight-night cruise meanders along the coast of Norway, hitting pleasant spots such as Geiranger or Kristiansand for spectacular scenery and outdoor adventures. Side trips are available and, with up to ten hours docked, there is plenty of time to explore at your own pace.

Accommodation options abound and, when traveling alone, the staterooms' king-size mattresses feel extra spacious. An adults-only solarium will appeal to relaxation-oriented solo travelers, while abundant dining and entertainment options make it easy to find and connect with new friends. 

3. Celebrity Summit: Grand Heartland Adventure

If you're struggling to choose between glamorous onboard experiences and outdoorsy experiences on land, you're in luck: Celebrity Summit provides the best of both worlds with its various Cruisetour offerings. There are many excellent options that depart from Vancouver, Anchorage or Fairbanks — but the Grand Heartland Adventure is worth considering if you crave something new.

During the Grand Heartland Cruisetour, you'll explore the stunning Inside Passage by cruise ship, before docking in adventure-oriented destinations such as Juneau and Sitka. From there, you'll continue to observe national treasures such as the Hubbard Glacier. Further exploration takes place aboard a glass-domed railcar and even a riverboat.

There's also a lot to experience onboard. The AquaClass stateroom represents a true oasis for single travelers, but the exclusive cocktail lounge and martini bar also warrant a visit. With nearly two weeks of cruising and exploration, you'll have plenty of time to unwind on your own but can also form fast friendships with similarly adventurous travelers. 

4. Celebrity Edge: Taste of Luxury

Cruises for singles over 50 often emphasize the finer things in life, like elevated cuisine or exquisite wines. These sophisticated details are in abundant supply aboard the Celebrity Edge, which offers a decidedly elegant experience with its Taste of Luxury tour. Although often frequented by retired couples, Celebrity Edge's trips work well as singles cruises.

Available for three or four nights, this remarkable journey begins in Sydney and primarily emphasizes curated on-board experiences. That being said, there are enticing opportunities to explore while docked in Tasmania. With such glamorous suites, restaurants and clubs on board, however, the best attractions can be enjoyed without ever leaving this luxury cruise ship. 

5. Disney Wish: Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral

Don't assume that Disney cruise adventures are only for kids or families. If you are a proud Disney adult, you can make amazing memories aboard a thematic cruise for singles. This is a popular vacation among theme park enthusiasts, who enjoy a dose of Disney magic while also finding valuable opportunities to indulge and relax.

Disney Wish's three-night Bahamian cruise is also an excellent option for singles who crave a sea-based experience but only have a few days to spare. Yes, young travelers will be around, but there are plenty of adult-only spaces, including sports bars, dance clubs, dedicated pools and even an onboard spa and salon. Musicals, 3D films and fireworks encourage you to embrace your inner child. 

6. Oceania Cruises: In the Path of Cartier — Boston to Montreal

As we've mentioned, smaller ships provide some of the best cruises for singles over 50. Not everyone desires a river-based trip, however and with Oceania Cruises , there is no need to choose between exclusivity and ocean liner grandeur.

A signature experience can be found aboard Oceania Cruises' iconic Nautica ship, which is calming, yet elegant. Echoing the journey of the famed explorer Jacques Cartier, this tour provides a powerful introduction to Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick.

The land-based excursions are highly educational and, of course, beautiful to behold, but there's also a lot to love on board. Belgian chocolate, Bulgari amenities and turndown service await, with many accommodations also providing spectacular views. Open-seating dining makes it easy to interact with other vacationers while wine-tasting and guest lectures promise plenty of onboard enrichment. 

7. Oceania Riviera: Ancient World Wonders — Athens to Istanbul

Another appealing option for singles who prefer slightly smaller ships, Oceania Cruises' Ancient World Wonders tour provides stops at some of the world's most iconic locations, such as Santorini and Corfu. Adventures in Dubrovnik and Istanbul can also be expected. On board this remarkable vessel, you'll gaze in awe at the Lalique Grand Staircase and, in general, enjoy a refined ambiance.

Be prepared to try new flavors and forms of expression as you explore unique offerings such as the Artist Loft and Culinary Center. Deep relaxation awaits at the Aquamar Spa or within your luxuriously contemporary stateroom or suite. This ten-night voyage provides plenty of time to lose yourself in the grandeur of the ship and the treasures of Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Turkey.

Join the over a million people who are AAA members and start planning your cruise today. Dream up the perfect trip with our Trip Canvas research tool and use your membership to get the best discounts on hotels , rental cars and entertainment tickets.

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