This can be a ton of knowledge out there for planning your go to to Walt Disney World. Some over planners (like me) get pleasure from combing by way of each element to ensure nothing is missed. For everybody else, you simply want the perfect Disney World suggestions to assist profit from your journey.
I’ve lived simply down the highway from Walt Disney World for twenty-four years and I labored there for 12 years. As you’ll be able to think about, I’ve quite a lot of expertise visiting the Disney parks and staying on the resort lodges.
I may write for hours about my Disney World suggestions, however I made a decision to slender it all the way down to my finest Disney World suggestions if you find yourself planning your journey.
Disclosure: Journey Lemming is an impartial reader-supported weblog. You possibly can assist us by buying through the affiliate hyperlinks on this web page, which can earn us commissions. Thanks!
49 Journey Suggestions for Walt Disney World
1. Go Proper Round World Showcase
A majority of Disney followers say you at all times want to begin your journey across the World Showcase in Mexico (also referred to as “going left”). I’ll humbly disagree. By going proper to Canada first, you get by way of a reasonably boring pavilion first and keep away from the crowds. Plus, you’ll be ending in Mexico. That is the proper place to get pleasure from some tacos and margaritas whereas watching Harmonious, Epcot’s nighttime spectacular.
📚 Associated Studying: Use my 1-Day Epcot Itinerary to plan your total day!
2. Use Apple AirTags to Maintain Monitor of Belongings (and Youngsters!)
That is certainly one of my newer Disney World suggestions, however I would like it extra now with a toddler working round. Apple AirTags might be connected to a stroller, backpack, youngster, or something that you just wish to hold monitor of. It isn’t unusual for forged members to maneuver strollers, wheelchairs, or ECVs across the parking areas, so AirTags make it simpler so that you can discover your car instantly.
For kids, connect the AirTag to a necklace or safe it in a zippered pocket. This may give dad and mom peace of thoughts on days with heavy crowds.
3. Don’t Purchase Souvenirs on the Parks
There are a few the explanation why I don’t suggest shopping for souvenirs on the parks. The primary is that costs will probably be highest on the Disney parks.
Most comfort shops, grocery shops, and shops in Orlando may have Disney-licensed merchandise at extra inexpensive costs. It’s also possible to discover offers on the Disney Retailer on-line. Sellers on Etsy have choices for personalised gadgets, akin to matching Disney shirts.
4. Particular Occasions (Often) Aren’t Value It
All year long, Walt Disney World hosts particular ticketed occasions. The preferred are Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration and the Christmas occasion on the Magic Kingdom. The occasions could have distinctive character meet and greets, parades, or exhibits. General, the high-priced tickets aren’t well worth the cash if you find yourself already paying for park tickets and lodging in your trip.
👉 Bonus Tip: In case you particularly love the vacations at Walt Disney World or particular characters that aren’t often discovered on the parks, a particular occasion could also be best for you. The tickets often value lower than a one-day park ticket and you’ll nonetheless get pleasure from lots of the rides and points of interest.
Ordering from the child’s menu may help you lower your expenses and never waste meals. For many quick-service areas, child’s meals include an entree, two sides, and a beverage.
I discover that that is greater than sufficient meals for me, however these with greater appetites could also be left hungry. In case you choose to get pleasure from as many meals as potential at Disney World, child’s meals may help you from getting overfull as you eat your means by way of the resort.
6. Take a Noon Break
In case you solely act on certainly one of my Disney World suggestions, let or not it’s this one. My advisable schedule for a day at Disney World is: early breakfast, get to a theme park early, head again to the resort at noon, and return to the theme park within the afternoon.
Including a noon break to your Disney World itinerary is essential for holding younger children rested and funky on lengthy, scorching days on the theme parks. Take a dip within the pool, get pleasure from a nap within the room, or eat a gradual meal at one of many eating places.
7. Take Benefit of Disney Transportation
One of many greatest perks of staying at a Walt Disney World resort is entry to the intensive transportation community. Each resort has bus transportation to Disney Springs, the theme parks, and the water parks.
Disney World additionally has the Skyliner, monorails, and boats that join varied lodges and theme parks. Disney transportation is just not at all times the quickest possibility, however it’s the most handy and magical.
8. Keep at a Disney Lodge to Maximize the Expertise
If it really works in your price range, keep at a Walt Disney World resort. The expertise can’t be matched as a result of from solar as much as solar down you might be immersed in Disney. You possibly can get pleasure from character meet and greets at your resort, get a wake-up name from Mickey himself, and doubtlessly view fireworks out of your resort room.
Disney lodges have quite a lot of worth ranges. Worth resorts sometimes have fewer facilities. Deluxe resorts often have table-service eating choices and connections to the parks. For instance, at Disney’s Grand Floridian resort, you’ll be able to eat at 5 totally different desk service eating places, entry Magic Kingdom and Epcot from the monorail, and luxuriate in early theme park entry perks.
9. Get a Celebration Button
At your resort concierge or park visitor relations, you’ll be able to decide up a celebration button. There are specialty buttons for birthdays and first visits, in addition to “I’m celebrating” and “fortunately ever after” buttons. Solid members will often congratulate you in your button and chances are you’ll even get some magical moments from it. Additionally, it’s a free souvenir to recollect your journey.
10. Use OpenTable for Disney Springs Eating Reservations
Superior eating reservations for Disney World eating places might be discovered on the My Disney Expertise app or web site. Nevertheless, lots of the Disney Springs eating places will also be discovered on OpenTable. I discover that this reservation system often has extra out there instances than the Disney app.
11. Hit the Retailers After the Park Closes
If you wish to seize your souvenirs on the theme park or when you have your eye on an unique merchandise, save your buying till the tip of the day. The outlets situated in the direction of the entrance of the parks often keep open for an hour or extra after the park closes. Chances are you’ll run into some crowds right now, however no less than you didn’t waste any of your time through the day.
👉 Bonus Tip: In case you do find yourself buying throughout your day on the park, you’ll be able to have your gadgets held on the entrance or despatched again to your Disney World resort room.
12. Use Minnie Vans to Journey From One Lodge to One other
In June 2022, the Minnie Van transportation service returned to Walt Disney World. This service is operated in partnership with Lyft, however the autos are pushed by Disney forged members.
Each Minnie Van is supplied with two automobile seats for households with younger youngsters. Since Disney transportation doesn’t function between all of the lodges, this can be a nice possibility to take a look at different lodges or get to a eating reservation.
13. You Don’t Essentially Want Genie+ or Lightning Lane
Sadly, FastPass isn’t any extra at Walt Disney World. This free service has been changed with Genie+, a paid add-on, and Lightning Lanes (the earlier FastPass lanes). Some points of interest are so standard that you must pay for his or her particular person Lightning Lane, as much as $17 per individual per attraction. After paying for park tickets, lodging, and meals in your journey, that is an exorbitant worth simply to attend in a shorter line for an attraction.
As a substitute, I like to recommend prioritizing your favourite points of interest, profiting from early entry for Disney resort company, and spending a full day at every theme park. You will get planning with my detailed Epcot Itinerary, Magic Kingdom Itinerary, Animal Kingdom Itinerary, and Hollywood Studios Itinerary.
14. Journey Sights In the course of the Fireworks
I could also be within the minority, however I believe in case you’ve seen one fireworks present, you’ve seen all of them. In case you are like me and don’t thoughts lacking the fireworks, you’ll be rewarded with a lot shorter wait instances at among the busiest points of interest.
Since most individuals line up for fireworks and nighttime exhibits early, you will notice wait instances drop 30-45 minutes earlier than night exhibits. This is among the finest instances to experience the Magic Kingdom “mountains” or Take a look at Monitor at Epcot.
15. Purchase Park Tickets in Advance
Walt Disney World is at the moment utilizing a park reservation system. Along with buying tickets for the theme parks, you additionally want to order the times you wish to go to every park. These reservations might be over a 12 months prematurely (reservations are at the moment out there by way of January 2024).
Nevertheless, you might want to have park tickets or an annual go bought to make your reservations. By buying your tickets early, you’ll be able to be certain that you gained’t be blocked out of visiting a park as a result of the reservations are all taken.
16. Carry a Moveable Fan
You’ll see moveable followers on quite a lot of strollers at Disney World, however this tip isn’t only for children. Anybody can benefit from the cool air of a transportable fan. Disney sells followers and misters on the parks, however you’ll be paying a mark-up worth. Carry your individual so you’ll be able to keep cool on the parks.
👉 Don’t Overlook to Pack: My household makes use of this portable fan and we like it. The bendable legs make it simple to connect to the stroller or prop up on a picnic desk.
17. Purchase Disney Pins on eBay
Pin buying and selling is a enjoyable exercise for all ages all through a Disney World journey. Nevertheless, you’ve in all probability seen that these pins can value fairly a bit. In case you’re not too choosy and simply wish to benefit from the expertise of buying and selling pins with forged members, purchase some Disney pins forward of time on eBay.
You’ll want genuine Disney pins to commerce with and this can be a nice technique to get some for a less expensive worth.
18. Do Analysis Earlier than Your First Go to
You’re already studying right here, in order that’s an amazing begin! Between the lodges, eating choices, theme parks, and extra actions, there is usually a lot to plan for a Walt Disney World trip.
While you take the time to do a little analysis forward of time, you’ll have a greater thought of what to anticipate. I at all times love watching video summaries of Disney holidays so I can get a visible of what to anticipate at totally different areas.
📚 Associated Studying: After you end studying all my Disney World suggestions and tips, take a look at my journey information to Orlando and the remainder of our Florida guides on Journey Lemming.
19. Don’t Pay for Water
Each single quick-service restaurant may give you free cups of water. A number of the eating places have already got water cups out there by the drink machines. The water fountains at Disney World have a status for tasting horrible, however the water from eating places is filtered. I like to recommend bringing an insulated refillable water bottle so you’ll be able to have chilly water out there all day lengthy.
20. Take pleasure in Fireworks Viewing Outdoors the Parks
Since Disney fireworks explode excessive within the sky, there are many locations to look at the exhibits whenever you aren’t within the parks. A number of Disney resorts have views of the fireworks and chances are you’ll even see them as you drive by way of the property. A number of the finest viewing areas embrace:
- Polynesian Village seashore
- California Grill at Disney’s Modern Resort
- North stairs and 4th-floor statement deck on the Modern Resort
- Fireworks dessert boat cruises
- The bridge between the Boardwalk Inn and Seashore Membership
- Topolino’s Terrace on the Riviera Resort
21. Carry a Rain Jacket (As a substitute of a Disposable Poncho)
A day rain bathe is a protected wager through the summer season in Florida. There’s additionally an opportunity of rain all through a lot of the 12 months. As a substitute of coping with a sticky, disposable poncho, go for a snug rain jacket. Many choices fold up for simple storage and have breathable vents to maintain you cool through the summer season.
👉 Don’t Overlook to Pack: I’ve had this Helly Hansen rain jacket for years and it’s nonetheless in nice situation. Plus, you’ll be able to even purchase it on the Norway pavilion in Epcot!
22. Go to Animal Kingdom Lodge to See African Animals
In case you beloved driving Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom however you would like you had extra time to see the animals, you’ll get pleasure from visiting Animal Kingdom Lodge. Yow will discover lots of the similar species because the safari, together with giraffe, zebra, ankole cattle, and extra! You don’t have to be staying on the resort to benefit from the animals although, you’ll be able to simply stroll across the property.
I like to recommend grabbing a drink and exploring. There are a number of areas across the two buildings the place you’ll be able to loosen up and benefit from the views.
23. Get on One Final Journey at Park Closing
One Disney World tip that many individuals don’t notice is that the rides don’t cease working at closing time, the forged members simply shut the strains. Meaning you’ll be able to sneak on one final experience on the finish of the evening even when it has an extended wait time. Because the crowds often skinny out by the tip of the evening, you’ll be able to often slot in a number of points of interest within the final hour that the park is open.
24. Enhance Your Door or Window
Adorning your door or window is particularly enjoyable for households with youngsters or these celebrating particular events. The custom appears to have began on the Disney Cruise Line, the place company often cowl their doorways in magnets and celebratory decor.
Ensure that all of your decorations are simple to take away and don’t depart residue on the door or window. This enjoyable custom can simply be ruined if folks don’t clear up after themselves.
25. Don’t Skip the Outdated Faculty Sights
Older points of interest, just like the Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, and Nation Bear Jamboree, are sometimes on the backside of the listing of most-desirable points of interest at Magic Kingdom. I don’t disagree that they’re a bit outdated and fewer thrilling than different rides.
Nevertheless, these points of interest are a good way to get pleasure from a present whereas sitting down and cooling off within the air con. The much less standard points of interest often have little to no wait time. Youngsters will probably be comfortable that they don’t have to attend in one other line and they’ll nonetheless get to get pleasure from a Disney present.
26. You Don’t Should Journey The Seas to Go to the Aquariums
In case you haven’t been to Turtle Speak with Crush at Epcot, you might be lacking out! This attraction permits the viewers to work together with Crush (Discovering Nemo) and even ask him questions on life beneath the ocean. This attraction and the massive aquarium tanks are situated inside The Seas attraction.
If the road for The Seas is just too lengthy (otherwise you simply wish to skip it), head to the left facet of the constructing and enter by way of the reward store. The aquarium inside may be very spectacular and it features a 5.7 million gallon tank full of fish, sharks, and turtles.
👉 Bonus Tip: In case you are SCUBA-certified, you’ll be able to go diving at Disney World! DiveQuest is a 3-hour tour backstage at The Seas and it features a dive in the principle tank.
27. Carry Your Personal Chewing Gum
Two of the issues that Walt Disney didn’t need at Disney World have been alcohol and chewing gum. Now, you should buy alcoholic drinks at each theme park and resort. Nevertheless, chewing gum remains to be unavailable throughout the property. The hope is that by not promoting gum, there will probably be much less used gum caught to the bottom, on tables, and on experience autos.
In case you do select to convey your individual gum, be certain it at all times leads to a trash can!
28. Get to Know the My Disney Expertise App
My Disney Expertise is a planning software that you need to use in your Disney journey. It retains all of your tickets, park reservations, advance eating reservations, and extra in a single handy place. Smartphone customers can obtain the app, however a web site can be out there to handle your My Disney Expertise account.
Earlier than you go to Disney World, it’s useful to mess around on the app. You’ll wish to know easy methods to get in digital queues, modify eating reservations, and consider your PhotoPass.
29. Cellular Order Your Meals
Of all my Disney World suggestions, this one would possibly prevent essentially the most time. Most quick-service eating areas make the most of cellular ordering. On the My Disney Expertise app, you’ll have the ability to select the restaurant and time-frame that you just’d wish to eat. Peruse the menu and order your meals forward of time. While you’re able to eat, head to the restaurant and let the app know that you’re prepared in your meals to be cooked.
Talking from expertise, my toddler completely hates sitting at a restaurant and ready for his meals. Because of cellular ordering, we now have prevented a number of meltdowns throughout Disney World visits.
30. Let a Journey Agent Plan Your Disney World Journey
If planning your go to to the Walt Disney World Resort appears utterly overwhelming, think about reserving all the things with a licensed Disney trip planner. These journey brokers are in a position to arrange your resort, park tickets, eating reservations, and extra.
One of the best half is that utilizing a Disney trip planner is totally free for you. They earn a fee from the Walt Disney Firm for reserving your trip. Since they focus on Disney World holidays, journey brokers are at all times updated on the latest experiences and offers.
👉 Learn Subsequent: The Prime Issues to Do in Orlando
31. Skip the Park Hopper
You do not want park hopper tickets. A park hopper ticket means that you can go to multiple park per day. In case you plan on visiting the parks for 4 or extra days, simply stick to at least one park per day. By buying one park per day tickets, it can save you tons of of {dollars} in your trip.
In case you are planning on reserving eating experiences, simply be certain the eating areas match up along with your theme park days. That is simple to arrange since you might want to make park reservations and eating reservations prematurely.
32. For Luxurious, Ebook a Membership Degree Room
Membership degree is just not a necessity to get pleasure from your Disney World trip. Nonetheless, in case your price range permits, membership degree is a luxurious expertise in your journey. All of the deluxe Disney lodges and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs provide membership degree rooms.
The principle perk of membership degree rooms is entry to snacks, drinks, and alcoholic drinks all through the day. Moreover, company staying in membership degree rooms have entry to devoted concierge employees. The concierge may help you modify experiences or reservations (and so they could even have the ability to get you a final minute reservation at a preferred restaurant).
33. You Don’t Want a Rental Automotive When You Keep at a Disney Lodge
In case you are planning to spend your total Orlando trip at Disney World, there isn’t a want for a rental automobile. Apart from transportation from the Orlando airport to your Disney resort, you need to use free transportation to get round.
Disney Springs, the parks, and the Disney Resort lodges are all related by bus transportation. Moreover, the monorail, boats, and Skyliner join a number of lodges to Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.
34. Give Every Disney Park At Least One Full Day
You’ll ceaselessly see folks on-line say that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a half-day park. Some folks additionally say it about Hollywood Studios. I disagree utterly. Each single park provides loads of points of interest and leisure to get pleasure from a full day. Plus, you gained’t really feel the necessity to rush over to a second park within the afternoon.
📚 Associated Studying: In case you’re not conscious of all of the superior choices at every theme park, take a look at my 1-day itineraries:
35. PhotoPass Photographers Will Use Your Telephone or Digicam
At the perfect photograph areas, together with in entrance of Cinderella Fort, you’ll discover PhotoPass photographers. They’ve their very own cameras and you should buy these images by way of My Disney Expertise. Many individuals don’t notice that the photographers can even use your telephone or digital camera to take photos. Simply have your settings able to go, as a result of they won’t modify photograph parameters.
36. Verify For Final Minute Eating Reservations
As a neighborhood, I by accident stumbled upon this Disney tip. Presently, you’ll be able to start making eating reservations 60 days out. One of the best Disney eating places and character meals are inclined to replenish extraordinarily shortly.
Nevertheless, I discovered that the day of or the day earlier than, you’ll find a number of reservations open up! It may be worrying to attend till the final minute to search out eating reservations, however that is when I’ve essentially the most luck in getting my most popular eating places.
37. Be Sensible When Ingesting Across the World
You already know that it is best to drink responsibly, however many individuals don’t take the climate into consideration. Florida is scorching for a lot of the 12 months. World Showcase doesn’t provide quite a lot of shaded areas when strolling round. While you combine alcohol and warmth, it will possibly result in severe well being issues.
As you drink around the globe, be sure you are additionally consuming and consuming water alongside the best way. I additionally suggest trying out the points of interest and outlets within the totally different nations as a technique to cool off.
38. Pack Much less and Do Laundry
Each single Walt Disney World Resort resort has laundry amenities. This implies which you can afford to go a bit of lighter when packing for Disney World. Much less baggage means much less problem in your highway journey or flight all the way down to Orlando.
In case you are visiting for quite a lot of days, get pleasure from a calming day at your resort in the course of your journey. This can be a nice time to get a load of laundry accomplished, so you’ll be able to get pleasure from contemporary garments for the remainder of the holiday.
To be sure you keep in mind all of the necessities, bookmark my Disney World packing listing.
👉 Don’t Overlook to Pack: SinkSuds can be utilized for handwashing a pair gadgets in a sink or for laundry a complete load of laundry. It’s also possible to buy detergent at laundry amenities.
39. Carry Your Personal Meals
One of many finest methods to save cash at Disney is to convey your individual snacks and make your individual meals. Because the Disney Eating Plan has not returned because the pandemic, you’ll be able to not get pleasure from free eating promotions or lower prices with the eating package deal. You’re allowed to convey your individual meals into the parks and you’ll sit at any quick-service restaurant to eat.
It’s simple to eat a easy breakfast in your room earlier than heading out for the day. If you wish to put together extra intensive meals in your room, be sure you guide a Disney Trip Membership villa as a result of all of them have kitchenettes or kitchens.
40. Use Rewards Factors at Accomplice Resorts
There are just a few lodges on the Disney World Resort that aren’t owned and working by Disney. These embrace the Swan & Dolphin Resorts, the 4 Seasons, Wyndham Grand, Waldorf Astoria, and extra.
I like to recommend the Swan and Dolphin lodges as a result of you’ll be able to stroll to Epcot and entry Disney transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The opposite lodges have buses or shuttles to get across the property.
41. Save Cash By Buying Disney Present Playing cards
For the true couponers or financial savings fanatics, I like to recommend buying Disney reward playing cards to pay in your trip. At Goal, you need to use your REDcard to get 5% again on reward card purchases. BJ’s and Sam’s Membership have Disney reward playing cards at 1-5% off. In case you use a cash-back card, you’ll be able to get pleasure from much more financial savings. Whereas this won’t appear to be some huge cash saved, Disney holidays value hundreds of {dollars}, so 1-5% provides up.
👉 Bonus Tip: Consolidate your reward playing cards on disneygiftcard.com so that you don’t need to hold monitor of all of them.
42. Journey Kilimanjaro Safaris within the Rain
You’ve in all probability heard folks say to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris very first thing within the morning. I truly suggest ready an hour after the park opens to see the perfect animal viewing.
After engaged on the safari for over 6 years, I can confidently say that driving within the rain is among the finest experiences at Disney World. Most of the animals run round and luxuriate in cooling off within the bathe. The very best a part of a rainstorm is that the elephants wish to hop of their pool and splash round.
43. Journey Outside Coasters After Darkish
Because the theme parks are set as much as function into the evening, driving outside curler coasters after darkish is particularly enjoyable. Generally it seems like a totally totally different expertise from driving through the day. My favourite coasters to hop on at nighttime are Slinky Canine Sprint in Toy Story Land, Large Thunder Mountain Railroad, Expedition Everest, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare.
44. Defend Your Journey With Journey Insurance coverage
Everyone knows that issues occur which might be out of our management. Since a Disney journey can value hundreds of {dollars}, look into journey insurance coverage to guard your trip. Relying on the plan you select, journey insurance coverage could cowl medical payments, rental automobile accidents, misplaced baggage, and extra.
You possibly can get a quote now through World Nomads right here.
45. Be Climate Conscious
Florida is scorching for a lot of the 12 months, so be ready for heat climate. This implies hydrating and consuming all through the day, in addition to carrying acceptable clothes. Moreover, thunderstorms are frequent at Disney World, particularly in the summertime.
While you hear thunder, it’s a good time to search out an indoor location to experience out the storm. Don’t fear although, most summer season storms go by way of shortly and also you’ll be again to the enjoyable very quickly.
For extra data, learn my information to when to go to Disney World.
46. Carry a Distinctive Merchandise for Autographs
In fact, you’ll be able to convey a conventional autograph guide to gather character signatures. For a singular memento, convey an merchandise like plain Mickey ears or a photograph body. You’ll have the ability to show your assortment of autographs in a enjoyable means.
47. Join With Mates on My Disney Expertise
In case you are touring with a number of folks, join with one another on My Disney Expertise. It will permit anybody in your celebration to create eating reservations and guide Lightning Lanes for the complete group.
48. Request Particular Seats on Sights
Chances are you’ll not notice which you can request particular seats or rows on points of interest. Many thrill-seekers like to experience within the entrance row of curler coasters. Do you know that the again row sometimes feels just like the quickest and whips you round essentially the most? One row I’d keep away from is the again row on Kilimanjaro Safaris as a result of the highway can get a bit of too bumpy.
49. Get Your Star Wars Repair on Star Excursions
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the most well-liked land in Hollywood Studios. The points of interest often have wait instances of an hour or extra and eating areas are at all times busy. If you wish to go to a galaxy far, distant with out the trouble, head over to Star Excursions. That is the unique Star Wars attraction, however the wait instances are sometimes a fraction of the wait instances for the newer points of interest.
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📚 Associated Studying: Ensure you take a look at all my Disney articles to plan the last word trip!
Now that you just’re geared up with my high Disney World suggestions and tips, you’re able to profit from your trip!
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