35 Basic Disney World Tips
There are two domestic Disney theme parks: Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida. This is my personal favorite Disney location because I have more nostalgia for it. It is also much larger than its sister park which means there is much more to see and do.
So, let’s get started! I have categorized these tips, but will start with the random ones that didn’t seem to fit in any of the other groups.
Categories: Random, Early Riser, Food, Navigational, Avoid Disappointment, Comfort and Preparedness.
Random Tips
1. Familiarize yourself with the “My Disney Experience App”: This app is an essential part to any Disney vacation. It houses all of your tickets, reservations and plans. It also allows you access to the parks and to your resort room. Finally, it gives an enormous amount of information about each and every park including wait times for rides, maps, special experiences and so much more. There is a separate app for both Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. So, make sure that you download the right one. Then play around with it prior to your tip. If you use me as your travel planner, I will help you link everything and give you tips on how to navigate it. (Check out my General Walt Disney World Guide Book for a full look at all of the app features)
2. Pay in Full Before Arrival: It is important to note that Disney requires your vacation package to be paid in full prior to your arrival. In most cases, this means 30 days in advance. While it is nice to know you won’t have park tickets or resort bills to pay off when you arrive home, I suggest taking this a step further. I recommend setting aside spending and dining money ahead of time too. This will keep you from overcharging and coming home with too many souvenirs and an empty bank account. This leads to my next tip…
3. Pre-Load Disney Gift Cards: Disney gift cards can be used at all locations across property and will keep you on budget. It makes it easy to swipe for purchases and ensures that you are not over spending. This is of course, as long as you commit to being done with spending when the gift card limit has been reached. If you spend well over it, I would not judge. I have had my fair share of experiences in which I get caught up in the Disney magic and buy far too much.
4. Allow Time for Unexpected Magical Moments: While you should never go in to Disney without a plan, you should also never have a plan that is so rigid, it leaves you with no wiggle room. There are random magical moments that happen all the time in Disney parks such as, random character sightings, street performers, cavalcades and more. Leave time in your day to embrace these moments of joy when they arise. Let yourself appreciate them because they are a huge part of what makes Disney so special.
5. Get Expert Updates: Disney parks are always changing and evolving. Even just a couple of years can make a big difference. So, keep yourself up to date. (Join my monthly newsletter for updates, closures, refurbishments, event news and many other fun features).
6. Build in Time for Relaxation and Luxuriation: What is the difference? I shall happily tell you. To me, relaxation means time away from the parks and the crowds. It is a time to rest and recharge and take in quieter moments. This could include a nice meal or pool time at your resort. Luxuriation, on the other hand, are the moments where you let yourself rest in the parks, but in a calmer way. You may sit down in a place that is less busy with a drink or simply people watch. It is a time to take in the magic without rushing on to the next thing. I believe a successful vacation, even a busy Disney vacation should include both. (Check out my Detailed Tips and Tricks Guide Book on Etsy for all of the best luxuriation spots in each park)
7. Don’t Sleep on Disney Springs: This is the incredible shopping and dining district in Disney World. It is filled with phenomenal dining locations and shops. This area goes far beyond Disney, featuring award winning restaurants, incredible drinks, decadent food created by Michelin star chefs and live entertainment. If you are looking for a date night location or something more upscale this is the place to go. Additionally, if you want to shop beyond Disney merch there are over 100 shops and kiosks here. Please check it out! It is one of my favorite places in all of Disney.
Early Riser Tips
8. Go Directly to the Most Popular Rides: When you enter the park (especially if you arrive early) you should prioritize popularity before anything else. In any other circumstance that sentence would be totally cringe worthy. Popularity is the least important thing to worry about in all cases, except when it comes to Disney rides or attractions. There are some rides in each park that will have long lines all day without fail. Therefore, you should try to ride them first to avoid the heaviest crowds and to maximize your time in other ways. (e.g. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, located in Epcot might have a 45-minute wait when the park opens and a 120-minute wait later in the day).
9. Never Start at the Front of the Park: It can be tempting to go to the first ride you see upon entering because you are of course filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement. Stay strong and head to the back of the park instead. There will be less people and you will have an easier time getting on to rides quickly. Then move yourself forward throughout the day. This also ensures that some of the last things you do are at the front. So, when you’re tired and ready to go back to your hotel room to get off your feet, you will have a shorter walk.
10. Utilize Early Entry or Rope Drop: Early Entry refers to the additional 30 minutes of park time that all Disney resort guests get prior to the park being officially open. It is a great perk of staying on Disney property. In many cases, it will allow you to knock out a couple of popular rides before crowd levels grow. Rope Drop refers to the time in which the park is officially open to the public. Disney uses this term because in the past there was a literal rope that was dropped to the ground each morning as guests were welcomed into the parks. Now, it simply means, park open. The rope is just symbolic. Utilizing one or both of these strategies is the method of getting to the parks as early as you can in the morning to beat the crowds.
11. Attractions First, Then Coffee: Your early entry time should be dedicated to rides. Now, please know that I understand the need for morning caffeine better than anyone. It is essential for me to function well throughout the day. However, the coffee lines in the parks can get extremely long first thing in the morning. Like, longer than some attractions. So, I ask do you really want to waste your early entry time standing in a Starbucks line or would you rather get some rides accomplished with lower wait times? I challenge you to either get your coffee prior to coming into the parks or to wait until the coffee lines decrease a little later in the day. This will help you better maximize your time.
Food Related Tips
12. Plan ALL Meals including Quick Ones: This does not mean you have to have a dining reservation for everywhere you want to eat. This also does not mean you should eat at only table service (sit down) restaurants. What I do mean is this: there are great places to eat in Disney and not so great places. I want every bite of food that you put in your mouth to be tasty and enjoyable. So, decide where you want to eat to avoid disappointing or basic theme park food, when you could be eating something delicious. There are a multitude of snack stands and quick service food locations that have incredible items. (e.g. Don’t waste your money on a basic hot dog from Rosie’s American Café in Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, when you could eat a Ronto Wrap in Galaxy’s Edge instead). If what you are craving is a basic hot dog though, I’m not here to judge. (Check out my General Walt Disney World Guide Book on Etsy to see a full list of recommended quick service meals and snacks in each park)
13. Use Mobile Order: This is a feature on the “My Disney Experience App” that allows you to order quick service food options and then go straight to the pick-up window to avoid waiting in long lines for your meal. It is highly convenient and can save you a ton of time.
14. Bring in Snacks of Your Own: Yes, you read that correctly. Disney does allow you to bring your own food into the parks with a few small conditions. We will get to those, but first let me say, I don’t suggest you only eat outside food. There truly are some incredible Disney snacks and bites to be had so allow yourself to enjoy some of them. The food is part of the whole experience. However, if you have a picky little one, you want to save some money, or you need a quick pick me up on hand, you are more than welcome to pack small snacks. Disney’s only rule is that you cannot bring in glass or loose ice. So, use an ice pack if something needs to stay cold.
15. Buy a Refillable Resort Mug: Trust me, these can save you so much money on drinks at your resort. So, let’s break it down. Each mug is $25 and can be used for unlimited drinks throughout your entire resort stay. Imagine you are like me and need a solid three diet cokes per day. If you are staying for even five days that would be fifteen diet cokes for the trip as a whole. With each soft drink purchase being approximately $5 each, that means you are spending at least $75 just on drinks at your resort. My suggestion, get a refillable mug and then use it over and over again. Just note it can only be used at the resorts, not in the parks, but don’t worry I have park drink tips coming up too, so keep reading!
16. Make Dining Reservations for Table Service: Table Service means full service, sit down dining experiences. Story Time (I promise it will be fast). When I was a little one, at Disney World with my mom, we ate dinner at 50’s Prime Time restaurant located in Hollywood Studios, Orlando. (It is still there and is one of my favorites). We checked in at the hostess stand and were told our table was almost ready. Excited to eat in this uniquely themed location we stepped aside to look at the décor and so that the family behind us could speak to the hostess. It was quickly made clear, that they did not plan ahead with a reservation. The lovely cast member (worker) kindly said that there was nothing available until next month. The family was clearly upset and left in a huff because they weren’t going to be able to sit down anywhere to have dinner. So, what is the point of this little tid-bit? Dining Reservations are a necessity for sit down experiences. Not all locations fill up the same way as others. So, while I guess it is not an absolute must to make advanced reservations, it is highly recommended, especially if you want great food in fun places. You can begin to make reservations 60 days prior to your trip. If you use me as your travel planner I will do this for you. :)
Toppolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Navigational Tips
17. Get Up Early or Stay Late: While I don’t personally recommend both, some people swear by staying in the parks from open to close. My suggestion, as someone who wants balance, is that you either get up early to utilize less crowds in the morning or wait until later in the day and head to the parks when people are leaving for the night. Basically, what I am saying here is that, I am an early bird, but if you are a night owl and want to sleep in a little on your vacation that is totally okay! Around 3:00 each day the crowds start to decrease. Give yourself time to relax and then head to the parks in the evening. If you are a deluxe resort guest and happen to be traveling during a time when extended evening hours are happening this would give you even more late night time in the parks with fewer crowds. Just make sure you pay attention to park hours because some parks close earlier than others and the times change each day depending on specialty events.
18. Zig Zag: An unfortunate truth of Disney is that wait times for many rides and attractions fluctuate throughout the day. This means that riding things as you come to them is not a good strategy for getting a lot done. You could be waiting in an hour-long line and then later in the day notice it has dropped under 30 minutes. So, keep an eye on wait times using your “My Disney Experience App” and then move around the park in a zig zag rather than in a smooth line or circle. Is it ideal? No. Is it helpful? Yes.
19. Utilize Free Transportation: The easiest way to get anywhere on Disney property is to use complimentary transportation. Buses, monorails, skyliner and boats are all offered to and from varying locations. In some cases, it isn’t always the quickest so plan accordingly and allow more time than you think you need to get from point A to point B. With this in mind, note that it is extremely convenient and allows you to sit back while someone else takes care of your getting you around property.
20. Consider Ride Share: This might sound like it contradicts with the tip above, but I promise it doesn’t! I love Disney transportation and use it 90% of the time. However, there are some instances in which ride share is a better option. If you are running behind in the morning and traveling to the parks from a large resort; it may be quicker to have someone pick you up and bring you straight to your destination. If you want a little break from the crowds, it can be nice to not wait in transportation lines or sit with random strangers. Finally, if you have stayed late somewhere, such as Disney Springs-the shopping and dining district, and Disney transportation has stopped running, you might need a ride back to your resort. Keep in mind, ride share may drop you off a little further away in some cases.
21. Consider Focusing on Just One Park Per Day: This one may be controversial for people that love park hoping, but hear me out! Park Hopping is simply not for everyone. I strongly believe that if this is your first time or only time in Disney, you should not be doing this. Every park has so much to offer and park hopping eats up time. You will be able to experience so much more if you stick to one location per day. This is not to say that no one should ever park hop, but if you are worried about being able to take in as much as possible, it is not the right tactic.
22. Utilize Park Maps: Every park has a different layout and a variety of unique ride experiences. So, it is important that you have a general idea of where you are going, but more importantly that you use maps. No one will judge you for using them. Trust me, other people are using them too. Paper maps can be found at the front of the parks and there is also an interactive map on the “My Disney Experience App”.
Avoiding Disappointment Tips
23. Make Plans Ahead of Time: If you go in to any park expecting to just freely wander around and experience everything, you will probably end up doing very little. You don’t have to make big plans, just have some plans and an idea about what you want to accomplish. Just don’t leave it up to fate. It is that simple. This leads to the next tip...
24. Make a Priority List for Each Park: Before you arrive, have a clear idea about what you want to experience in each park. Is there a ride that you would be disappointed to miss or a snack that you are dying to try? Take note of these things. Do so by using the next tip… (Isn’t it cool how they all connect with one another? That must mean they are important.)
25. Utilize the 3,2,1 Rule: This rule is a simple way to help you make your priority lists. For every park or every day that you are in Disney, come up with three rides, two snacks and 1 show that are your absolute musts. These are the things that without experiencing them your day would be ruined. You will most likely get to experience more than the items on this list, but they will all be seen as a joyful bonus. (Check out my 3,2,1 Rule Blog Post to see my personal lists for each park).
26. Check Height Requirements Ahead of Time: Your little one might be dying to go on a specific ride or attraction, so what do you do if they simply aren’t tall enough? Well, the answer is simple. You don’t promise it in the first place. It can be devastating to not be tall enough to experience a ride especially when your heart was set on it. Make sure that you inform your kids that no rides are guaranteed until their height is checked and have a general idea prior to your trip of how tall they are. This will allow you to avoid rides that will be completely out of the question. (Check out my General Guide Book or Family Guide Book on Etsy for a full list of height requirements across all Disney World Parks)
27. Stay Flexible: Despite our best efforts, along with, our deepest hopes and dreams, things do not always go according to plan. Things will inevitably go wrong and much is out of our control. So, just plan for flexibility and keep your head high. You are in Disney after all so there really is little to be too upset about. Don’t let a minor inconvenience ruin the magic.
28. Do Not Try to Do Everything: Another unfortunate truth of Disney is that, it is simple not possible to do it all. Disney is massive. If you go in with the mindset of wanting to ride every single attraction and eat every single snack, you will be just setting yourself up for disappointment. At the end of your trip, you will have a hard time looking past what you didn’t accomplish rather than being happy about what you did accomplish. So, use the tips above and do what you can. No matter what, you will probably want to go back after your first experience anyway. :)
29. Split up from Large Traveling Parties: Typically, when I go to Disney I am just with my husband or a couple of close friends; all of whom tend to want to experience the same things. However, this is not always the case with large families or groups traveling together. If every single individual wants to experience different things, who are you to tell them they can’t because we are doing this instead? Don’t be that person. Sticking together the entire time will make navigation harder and will guarantee that someone is disappointed. I highly recommend having portions of each day together and portions of each day a part so that everyone can embrace the magic in their own way. (e.g. The little ones may be too small for thrilling attractions and would rather meet characters, while the older group members may want to experience thrill rides and a drink). Do what makes sense for your traveling party and do your best to make sure everyone has a great time.
Comfort and Preparedness Tips
30. Wear your Most Comfortable Shoes: Walking in Disney is no joke, even for people who walk or run on the regular, it can be a lot. It is said, that guests walk anywhere between 7-15 miles per day in Disney. So, where your tennis shoes or crocs because your feet will thank you. I am not here to judge what makes you happy, but I personally will never understand how someone can wear cute sandals or heels into a theme park. By the end of the day my feet would be screaming!
31. Bring Moleskin Bandages: The first time I went to Disney with my husband, I got the most awful foot blisters. They were unbelievably painful. I was limping by our last day despite, having worn my most comfortable broken in tennis shoes and crocs the entire time. Moleskins were a life saver. They helped my feet keep up with my energy and provided much needed comfort. I highly recommend having some on hand just in case.
32. Bring Sunblock: This might sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many people forget it and then suffer the consequences. I am one of those people that burns immediately. I am either pasty white or a bright red lobster. There is no in between for me, so that is why I mention this one. I know from experience how brutal the sun can be.
33. Pack a Park Bag: I have mentioned a few things that you should bring with you into the parks, but where do you keep all of this stuff? Bring a small park bag with you that allows you to have everything you may need in case of emergencies. Disney does not require bags to be see through, but I highly recommend that they are convenient and allow you to remain hands free. I love a Kavu sling bag, fanny pack or small back pack. (Check out my Detailed Tips and Tricks Guide Book on Etsy for a complete park bag packing list)
34. Stick Out the Rain: This one falls under preparedness because in Orlando it rains a lot. There is always a chance of a random down pour even if it is not the peak rain season. In these instances, the rain rarely lasts long. It can be a huge waste of time to leave the parks and then come back after it has stopped. I suggest the “Accu-Weather App”. It is the most accurate weather tracker I have found, sometimes down to the minute. If it starts to rain, just track it and do indoor activities until it stops. (Check out my Detailed Tips and Tricks Guide Book on Etsy for weather and crowd information throughout the entire calendar year)
35. Stay Hydrated for Free: It is important to drink lots of water when in Disney parks because it can get hot and you are moving around a lot, but please do not waste your money on buying bottled water. There are two ways to get free water in the theme parks. One- Kindly ask and you shall receive, a free cup of ice water at any quick service dining location or kiosk around the parks. You do not have to buy anything and can have a cold drink. Two- If you bring your own water bottle, there are free water refill stations scattered around every park. All of these locations can be found on the “My Disney Experience App” with a quick search.
Wow! I know that was a lot, but I hope you will find it helpful, when thinking about your next trip. Sharing my Disney knowledge with others brings me so much joy because I love Disney with all my heart. Check out my other blog posts and you will see that love come through in various ways. Thank you so much for reading!