A Disney trip is commonly a splurge, and in case you are planning a household trip to Walt Disney World, there are some issues you want to know. While I’ve a lot of in-depth recommendations on this website, it may be overwhelming to Disney World first-timers. To make it simpler for first-time guests to Walt Disney World, I created this put up with suggestions for first-time Disney friends as a place to begin – though these Disney suggestions are nice for any visitor.
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks, and buying and/or clicking on among the hyperlinks on this put up (together with on the map) could end in a fee paid to us at no extra price to you. I’m a previous member of the planDisney panel and have gone on some complimentary press journeys previously. All opinions are my very own.
Save cash in your Walt Disney World theme park tickets by reserving via Get Away Today. They provide trip packages in addition to particular person ticket gross sales. A Disney journey agent doesn’t cost friends an additional fee and can assist you discover offers.
8 Absolutely Essential Disney World Tips for First Timers
You can’t simply wing it in the case of planning a Walt Disney World trip
You can attempt to go together with no plans (or last-minute plans), however you’ll most likely be disillusioned, particularly for a primary journey. To finest take pleasure in your Walt Disney World trip, I’d undoubtedly advocate doing a little analysis effectively prematurely (at the least 6 months prematurely).
Pick up a guidebook, ask some questions of mates, examine blogs (like this one), and ask questions on the planDisney Panel (the place I used to be a panelist).
For our very first Walt Disney World trip as a household, I did a mix of these items. I talked to mates with youngsters that have been the identical age as mine, in addition to individuals on message boards. Guidebooks and blogs have been additionally an enormous assist. Keep in thoughts that issues change regularly so that you’ll need to make certain the knowledge that you’ve is probably the most present.
One factor you will see that with Disney World is that there is no such thing as a lack of assets. In addition, most individuals who regularly go to love speaking in regards to the 4 theme parks, two water parks, eating places, and resorts, so that you’ll get a lot of info to assist if you’d like it. Remember that everybody’s expertise is completely different, and it’s at all times good to get a number of opinions.
Currently, you’ll should have a park reservation to enter a park every day along with park tickets. You’ll need to do this as early as potential so that you don’t miss out. If you could have a park hopper choice in your ticket, you solely want the reservation for the primary park after which can hop, based mostly on availability, at 2pm (which can be completely different by day).
In addition, you might be questioning when is the most effective time to take a Walt Disney World trip. Undercover Tourist affords a crowd calendar that may be useful in determining an excellent time to have your first go to to the Walt Disney World resort in case you are hoping to keep away from the biggest crowds.
Staying on Walt Disney World property is often the simplest
There are a lot of resorts, visitor houses, motels, and resorts within the better Orlando space. But it’s typically a lot simpler to remain on Disney property, particularly for a first-time go to.
Convenience is unquestionably one of many large advantages, however there are others. In addition, it’s straightforward to make use of Disney transportation to get round (that is free transportation, so that you received’t should hire a automobile till you need to). The Disney Resorts are closely themed, so staying there provides to your trip.
Disney lodge friends can also benefit from early theme park entry. You’ll be capable to enter the parks half-hour earlier than exterior friends. It’s an effective way to keep away from lengthy traces for the most well-liked sights. Those touring with younger youngsters could need to benefit from “rope drop” (when the park opens and issues are much less crowded).
If you might be staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, there are Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for very restricted days. These night hours may be an effective way to expertise the sights with fewer crowds, however younger youngsters could discover it to be too late. It could be a very full day except you return to your lodge room for a break in between.
Make Advance Dining Reservations effectively prematurely
Did you recognize you could (and will) make advance eating reservations for Disney desk service eating places prematurely? While it may be troublesome to consider when and the place you need to eat effectively earlier than your trip, it’s vital when you’ve got particular locations you need to go to.
Reservations for the most well-liked locations (particularly the princess character meals and Be Our Guest) do e-book up VERY early. If you might be touring over a busy time, it’s particularly vital. Make these reservations after which plan round them.
You don’t want reservations for fast service areas, so these are an excellent choice once you aren’t precisely positive which park you’ll be in. You can save time by cellular ordering via the app if you find yourself able to eat.
Make a Plan for Your Days
While there is no such thing as a longer a have to make FastPass+ reservations prematurely, you’ll nonetheless need to set up a plan to your days. Genie+, the alternative for FastPass+, is a paid program you could buy on the day of your go to.
Genie+ means that you can undergo the lightning lane which is usually a a lot shorter wait time. Individual Lightning Lane is a separate paid program that’s supplied for the most well-liked rides at a further cost.
Having a primary plan is a good suggestion to maximise your day, no matter whether or not or not you buy the improve. The free Disney Genie program on the app can assist you do this. Set your preferences and it’ll let you know the most effective time to go to every attraction.
If you don’t use Genie+ or particular person lightning lane, some rides provide a single-rider line. This may be an effective way to avoid wasting time however understand that you can be cut up up and received’t be capable to experience with them.
All 4 Walt Disney World theme parks are price a go to with youngsters
Often first-timers to Walt Disney World assume it’s not price going to all the parks. EPCOT, particularly, has a fame as being a extra “adult” themed park. But my youngsters love all 4 parks and we at all times attempt to go to all of them.
The finest solution to go to all 4 of the theme parks is to buy the park hopper choice in your Disney park tickets. That method, you’ll be capable to go to multiple park per day (presently after 2 pm on the day of your go to).
During our household holidays, we at all times go to two parks per day. When the children have been youthful, we took a break round lunchtime after which went to a second park later within the afternoon.
You might be doing a LOT of strolling throughout your Walt Disney World household trip
For occasion, it’s 1.2 miles from one finish of the World Showcase in EPCOT to the opposite facet. Bring comfortable strolling sneakers and put on them. Make positive that you simply’ve already damaged into these sneakers earlier than your trip. You received’t need to be breaking them in throughout your trip.
If you might be visiting with younger youngsters, you might discover that you simply’ll want a stroller, even when your youngsters don’t often use one. Luckily, leases can be found on the parks in the event you don’t deliver yours alongside. Keep in thoughts that you simply received’t be capable to deliver these again to your lodge room, so in the event you want a stroller on the lodge, deliver your personal.
There are a lot of character experiences on the Disney Parks
You could make advance eating reservations for character meals and get a Genie+ for character meet and greets, however you’ll additionally discover characters all through the parks. Check your Times Guide or the My Disney Experience app every day for specifics. Young youngsters particularly will love getting autographs from the characters.
If there’s a personality that you simply completely need to meet, it’s a good suggestion to make use of Genie+ or make a personality eating reservation at a spot the place you’ll be able to see the character. Lines can generally be lengthy.
You can’t do all of it at Walt Disney World
You can strive, but it surely’s practically inconceivable to do every thing in a single journey, 5 journeys, and even ten journeys. Do your analysis, make your reservations, after which have enjoyable!
I at all times advocate that you simply save a while to spend at your Disney lodge and at Disney Springs. You don’t at all times should be operating across the theme parks to have enjoyable.
If you might be touring with youngsters who’re a bit older, it’s best to embrace them in any discussions about advance eating reservations and experience plans. It’s a good suggestion to have buy-in from the entire household when planning a trip with teenagers and tweens. That method, nobody is disillusioned with the plans as soon as you might be on property.
Are you searching for extra particular suggestions for planning your trip? Here’s a assortment of all of my Disney suggestions.
If you will Walt Disney World, I like to recommend the next resorts. Note that I’ve stayed in a few of these resorts as a part of press journeys, however all opinions are my very own.
You can even discover lodging choices on this map (affiliate hyperlinks).
It’s develop into harder to do this. You’ll at the least want a park reservation, ideally prematurely. While some could also be out there on the day of your go to, you received’t need to danger it.
It’s as much as you, however it may be simpler to remain on Walt Disney World property.
We love all 4 parks, and advocate visiting all of them!
Typically, you’ll discover that they’re probably the most busy throughout college holidays and holidays. They can be busy throughout particular occasions, just like the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend.
