Top Tips for Visiting Disney World

There is a whole lot of strategy that goes into planning a Disney vacation. You could spend endless hours researching and planning to make the best use of your time while at the parks. As a travel agent I can help you make some of these decisions to get the most out of your Disney vacation. Below are my top ten tips and tricks for Disney.

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. 

1. Set Priorities. Discuss what the top priorities are for each member of your party and make a game plan to hit those attractions first so everyone is happy. After you check off those top priorities use the rest of the day to be more spontaneous with your plans.

2. Book your dining reservations in advance. There are so many wonderful restaurants at Disney and many require you to make reservations well in advance of your trip. As a travel agent this is one of the things I am able to do for clients so they have the best shot at those hard to get reservations.

3. Rent a stroller from a third party. There are many companies that rent strollers for you to use while at Disney. Many of these companies will drop your stroller off for you at your resort so it’s ready to go when you arrive. The ones you will rent at the parks are uncomfortable and expensive. Consider getting one from a third party so your child will be more likely to take a nap in it when they need some downtime. Also if you’re questioning whether your child is too old for a stroller just go for it. I would ride in one if someone was willing to push me, your child will feel the same way.

4. Visit during off peak times whenever possible. Disney does a great job at offering discounts to maintain higher crowd levels year round but there are still times of the year with noticeably fewer crowds. For example, some of the best times to visit are right after Thanksgiving and before Christmas break (think first two weeks of December).

5. Know how FastPass works. I see SO many people not taking full advantage of FastPass and it’s such a shame! With COVID FastPass has been temporarily suspended but be sure to stay informed of the latest updates in case it returns by the time you travel. Common misconceptions people have about FastPasses are: 1) They cost extra – completely false! Disneyland has a similar benefit that does cost extra but at Disney World for the time being FastPasses are free, 2) They are only available to guests who stay at resorts – also false! All guests are eligible, 3) You only get three per day. Yes you can only make three FastPass reservations in advance but once you use those FastPasses you can book more depending on availability at the park you are visiting.

6. Get Disney gift cards. Did you know you can get discounted Disney gift cards at places like Target and wholesale clubs like BJ’s and Sam’s Club? These are great to use for dining or souvenirs once you are at Disney. This is also a great budgeting tactic to make sure you stay on track with dining and/or souvenir spending. PS at Target you will need to use a Target Red Card for the 5% discount on Disney gift cards.

7. Be prepared for bad weather. The chances of you getting stick in a huge downpour are high at Disney. Don’t let it ruin your time in the parks! Check the weather regularly and keep ponchos and an umbrella or two on hand. Consider even packing an extra change of clothes in plastic bags. If you’re well prepared you can take advantage of those downpours by getting in line for the most popular attractions while everyone else is ducking for cover!

8. Get there early. If you’re staying at an onsite Disney property or qualifying Good Neighbor hotel take advantage of Extra Magic Hours as often as possible. It can be hard to get motivated to wake up early but it is WELL worth it! We’ve been able to ride so many super popular rides like Na’vi River Journey and Frozen Ever After multiple times before the parks open to the general public with little to no wait.

9. Familiarize yourself with the latest protocol and changes. Things are ALWAYS changing at Disney. Be sure you know the latest before you leave so you’re not caught unprepared. (Hint sign up for our free newsletter and we can help you out with this)! Go left, not right. When you do arrive at Disney consider going against the crowds and heading to the left of the park instead of the right. It’s a natural tendency for most of us to enter on the right so you can make the most of those early mornings if you go against the crowd. Of course if you’re dying to ride something that is on the right side of the park and that is your top priority by all means go for it!

Did you know, we can help you with planning out all the details for your Disney vacation and best of all our services will cost you nothing extra when booking a Disney trip. We can save you money, time and your sanity. Click the link below to get a customized quote.

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.