Must know tips for your first time at Disney World

Planning for your first time in Disney World can be overwhelming and it’s easy to get bogged down. If you have begun reading articles and watching videos on Disney World you may have noticed that many Disney experts skim over (or skip entirely) key essentials that they assume readers already know. With that in mind, I’ve created this list to cover the basics that first time visitors to Disney World need to know.

Let’s get started!

Your mindset matters more than anything else

This is so important I am going to put it at the VERY beginning! Your attitude is what is going to determine whether or not you have fun on your first Disney World trip – and the whole point is to have fun right?? You are going to need to be able to go with the flow. Everything is not going to work out perfectly even with the best-laid plans and that is okay. If you prepare yourself mentally beforehand you will be better equipped to handle any mishaps that occur. Give yourself permission to not have to do everything (because it’s unlikely you’re going to and guess what that’s okay too). Identify your key “must do” attractions, restaurants, etc but realize even with a short list you may not be able to hit all of your must dos. You can still have fun even if that is the case. Don’t forget WHY you are there. Yes hitting everything off your to do list feels great but having fun is the most important thing (that and not murdering anyone else there but I digress).

Hire a free travel agent

It blows my mind how many people do not realize they can hire a travel agent who is a Disney expert to plan their trip – for free. If you are planning to stay onsite at a Disney World resort you should absolutely do yourself a favor and get a travel agent. Your travel agent can do things like give you the best advice on when to travel to Disney World, where to stay and even make those hard to get dining reservations for you. Special note that there are some travel agencies that may charge additional planning fees so ask up front before going with an agency. Even if you enjoy handling all the aspects of planning a trip yourself you can use a travel agent to bounce ideas off of and help you with any tasks you find yourself too busy to tackle.

Personal plug, I am a travel agent specializing in Disney World vacations so please reach out if you need help planning your trip. I would love to work with you!

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You’re going to need to book in advance (like WAY in advance)

First time Disney World visitors are often blown away when they hear how far in advance they should book their trip (prepare yourself). Ideally you want to plan a year maybe even more in advance. Of course last minute trips are better than no trips but if at all possible book your trip out as far as possible. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there is a LOT to cover when you plan your trip to Disney World. Give yourself plenty of time to do all the research necessary to make the most out of your time at Disney World. Another major reason is that things fill up quickly at Disney. From resort rooms to dining reservations to unique Disney experience – you will want to book all of these as far out as you can.

The good news is that at the time of this writing to secure your reservation only a $200 deposit is needed if scheduling further trips that are at least 30 days out. The remainder of the balance will be due 30 days before the trip.

Technology is going to be your new best friend (or your worst enemy)

Even if you are not a “techy” person you are going to have to buff up your skills before traveling to Disney World. This is even more true now that Disney has released Disney Genie. Before your trip download the My Disney Experience app on each traveler’s phone and get familiar with it well before you arrive. You will use the My Disney Experience app to do things like put in mobile orders, check wait times at attractions, get directions, check show times, search for merchandise and more. As someone who loves new technology this is all very exciting to me and if used correctly will save you lots of time and hassle at the parks.

Prepare, prepare, prepare

I know I said above to go with the flow so this sounds counter intuitive doesn’t it? Well it’s not. I believe you can (and absolutely should) do both. After keeping a positive attitude, putting in the proper preparation for your trip is the number two thing that is going to determine how enjoyable your time will be at Disney. But trust me, don’t “wing it.” You need to properly prepare for Disney World.

Rides:

So what exactly does that mean – oh boy a whole bunch if you haven’t already guessed! For starters, you need to be familiar with the rides at the parks you are going to visit and decide which are going to be your highest priority. I recommend having an A, B, C priority list to keep, which will help you to quickly adjust when inevitably a wrench is thrown into your plans and you need to switch course. You should have each member of your party decide their non-negotiable must rides and from there create a game plan on how to hit all of those rides.

Dining:

One of the very very first things you need to do when you are planning a trip to Disney is also determine where you want to dine. Dining windows at Disney currently open 60 days before your ticketed entry and I strongly, strongly recommend you wake up early the day that window opens to have your best shot at getting your must have reservations. Quick plug – as a travel agent this is something I take care of for my clients. This lets them not have to worry about keeping track of when that window opens and avoid an early wakeup call interfering with their day.

Know the best time to travel

Disney has gotten pretty good at keeping crowd levels high throughout the year but there are still several times during the year when crowds historically drop. Some of the best times to visit Disney world are January to mid February (avoiding Martin Luther King weekend), the month of May up until Memorial Day and the first two weeks in September. In general you should try to avoid holidays, spring and winter breaks and summer if possible. Check out a crowd calendar for specific predictions on which days are expected to receive lighter crowds.

Be ready to walk – A LOT

Many first-timers are shocked at the amount of miles you will log at the parks when visiting Disney World. Even if you are a meticulous planner and try to limit the amount of trekking you do in a day. The parks are massive and logging in lots of miles is an inevitable part of visiting Disney World. That being said, packing comfortable – WORN IN – shoes is so so key. Invest in a good and comfortable pair of walking shoes/sneakers and be sure they are completely broken in before your trip. I also recommend that you keep blister band-aids and ibuprofen on hand to treat sore spots.

Florida weather is unpredictable

From oppressive heat to torrential downpours, Florida weather can be extreme and has a reputation for being unpredictable. While most of the year is steaming hot, other times of year there can be cold spells or you may be chilling in the early mornings or evenings. Your best beat is to pack layers even if you don’t think you will need them. You are also going to need to have a rain game plan. Most people don’t go through the effort of thinking ahead about what they will do if rain comes into play so you will be ahead of the curve if you put some thought into this in advance. If you do run into rainy weather don’t be disheartened! With a good poncho on hand you can often get onto popular rides with dramatically reduced wait times.

Dining is a BIG deal

First time Disney World visitors often do not realize how big of a deal dining is at Disney World. There are more than 200 dining locations across Disney World properties featuring all kinds of fare. You are going to need to be strategic about when and where you will dine during your trip. Do your research to make sure you can fit in your top dining picks. As mentioned above you will also want to snag those dining reservations as soon as your booking window opens (or better yet have your Travel Agent do this for you).

You will need a transportation plan

Disney World is absolutely massive and it’s important not to overlook having a transportation plan in place to get you where you need to go. Each of the Disney resorts has complimentary transportation to and from the parks and Disney Springs. Be sure to check bus schedules and speak with the front desk for tips on when to arrive in line for the buses. In addition to the buses, Disney’s Skyliner is a wonderful means of transportation to and from some select resorts to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I also recommend that you download the Lyft app on your phone in case you are ever in a bind (or simply exhausted from waiting) and want to use Lyft’s Minnie Van service. If you are bringing a vehicle you can of course also park, just be sure to factor in time to walk from your parking spot to the park entrance (which can sometimes be quite a haul).

You’re going to be in for some early mornings

Another surprise to first time Disney World is how early Disney experts recommend you arrive to the parks. If you are staying at a Disney property or other select hotels you are able to entry the park 30 minutes before general admission. To make the most out of your time though you should aim to be through the security line at least 45 minutes before that. You will of course also need to factor in time for transportation and buses tend to be very crowded early in the morning so line up for the buses early as well. If you are asking yourself if all of this is worth it I am here to tell you YES it is 100%. You will be able to knock out some of the most popular attractions with little to no wait before crowds start rolling in.

If waking up early just absolutely isn’t your thing you can also try to take advantage of shorter lines typically during lunch hours and late in the evening.

Schedule in some breaks

It’s easy to get caught up in all the many things Disney has to offer but you will quickly run out of fuel if you do not strategically plan in some downtime. A good option is to plan for a resort and/or pool day. You may also want to choose a sit down dining reservation during lunch to give yourself a midday break off of your feet. If you are strategic with your time you may even find that 1/2 day is enough at one of the parks giving you the afternoon off to relax and recuperate.

Stay up to date on the latest news and changes

The only constant at Disney is change. Be sure you are following along for last minute changes in hours, refurbishments and other need to know Disney news.

_{Planning a trip to Disney World? The Travel Resource can help. We are an authorized Disney vacation planner and can assist with every aspect of planning your perfect Disney vacation. Best of all, our services are completely free. We can save you time, money and a whole lot of headache when it comes to planning a Disney vacation. Reach out today for a free customized quote.}