Whether you’re a seasoned expert or this is your first time visiting Disney World, take note of these incredible tips and tricks that will make your trip a lot easier for you and your family!
A trip to Disney World requires a lot of planning. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve visited the parks before – there’s always something new to keep in mind. Because of this, we’ve put together a great list of everything you need to keep in mind before and during your trip!
1. Figure out the costs
A trip to Disney World is definitely an investment. Before you decide to embark on this incredible adventure you need to figure out how much it’s all going to cost. Are you going to drive there? Make sure you take into consideration parking fees. Will you be taking a flight? Book tickets in advance. If you’re going to book a hotel, you also need to consider the number of nights you want to stay. Plus, you also need to decide if you’ll stay at a Disney Resort or book somewhere separately. Whatever you decide, make sure you keep notes of everything that comes before arriving at the park so you can be sure of how much money you have left.
2. Choose which parks you want to visit
Depending on what you like, Disney has a lot of offers and different parks you can visit. If you’re an animal lover, you should consider a visit to Animal Kingdom. If you love food and culture, Epcot is definitely the place to be! Do you want to meet all the beloved Disney characters? Run down to Magic Kingdom! There’s also Universal Orlando, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon, Legoland…the list of parks in Orlando goes on and on. Once you’ve chosen the parks you want to see it’s time to buy the tickets.
3. Buy your tickets beforehand!
There are so many different options when it comes to Disney World tickets that you need to be careful and sure of exactly what you want. Depending on how long you plan to stay you might want to invest in a multi-day park ticket, or purchase the park hopper option. This lets you visit even more parks during your holiday, which means you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun. Make sure you check out our ticket offers to get the best price out there!
4. Plan around special events
Disney hosts special events throughout the year. If you’re visiting Orlando during a special occasion, like Christmas or Halloween, there might be something extra special happening at the parks. Special dates might cost a little bit extra, but it’s worth paying a bit more to celebrate with Mickey and the gang. Make sure you check out the parks’ events calendar so you can book accordingly and avoid any surprises.
5. Make reservations beforehand as well
If you’ll be dining at one of the restaurants, it’s worth booking in for a specific time. Once you figure out which park you’ll visit you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to food. You don’t want to spend precious time waiting in line for lunch!
6. Plan a route
Once all your reservation and ticket purchases are done, it’s time to plan a route. Pinpoint the attractions you want to ride and make sure you’re aware of character Meet + Greet schedules. Try to arrive between 10-15 minutes before it begins so you can secure a spot and snap all the shots you want.
Also, make sure you know where each ride is located. The last thing you need or want to do is to run around from one area of the park to the other trying to catch up with a character or return to a ride you missed the first time.
7. FastPass+!
If you want to make the most of your time, you want to avoid lines as much as possible, making your FastPass+ selections in advance lets you enjoy rides a lot quicker. While most parks ask guests to pay extra for an express line, Disney World lets everyone make their selection beforehand. If you’re staying at one of the resorts you become eligible for it. New attractions like the ones in Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge tend to have really long lines. So do popular attractions like the Tower of Terror and Space Mountain. If you can, try and score FastPass+ selections for rides like those!
8. Dress for the occasion
Depending on the time of year you visit, Orlando can get really hot and really sunny. The parks are no exception. Make sure you wear comfortable, loose clothing that won’t chafe or start to annoy you halfway through the day. You should also invest in a comfortable pair of walking shoes that won’t blister because you’ll be doing a lot of walking around. Hats, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle are also a must!
Last, but not least, make sure you stop by one of the souvenir shops and invest in a trusty pair of mouse ears! The shops around the park have different options and themes to choose from so you and your family can all choose your favorites!
9. Enjoy the magic
Once all the planning and buying are done it’s time to immerse yourself in the magic of Disney! Make the most of the experience, take as many photos as you can, and grab one or two souvenirs to take home with you. It took a lot to get here and now it’s your turn to enjoy it!
