10 Things You Should Know Going into Your First Disney World Trip

October 19, 2016

So you’ve decided to plan your first trip to Walt Disney World! You’ve taken the first step to creating magical memories for your family that will last a lifetime. However, things have certainly changed at Disney World quite a bit since you visited the parks as a child and at times it can all feel like a pretty steep learning curve. Here at DisneyAddicts we’re dedicated to helping you get the most out of your Disney Vacation. With that in mind, we’ve created a list of 10 trusted tidbits that will help make your planning process a little bit easier- enjoy!

1. MagicBands are kind of a big deal. These handy little wristbands have revolutionized the way visitors do almost everything. They are your resort room key, your tickets to the theme parks, hold your dining reservations, are used to check in for your Fastpasses, allow you to use the Magical Express airport shuttle and even can be used as form of payment. One of the first things I recommend that families do when booking your Disney package is to create your MyDisneyExperience account, link your reservation and start customizing those MagicBands. It’s a rite of passage. And because these bands are all important, don’t forget them at home or pack them in your checked luggage. You’ll want to put them on before you leave the airport!

2. Car? Who needs a car? A lot of first time visitors don’t realize just how easy it is to get around Walt Disney World property without a car. Each of Walt Disney World’s 25 resorts will have transportation to get to and from just about anywhere on Disney property. The majority of on-site guests will use Disney’s Resort Bus system with buses leaving your resort for the theme parks every 20 minutes. Some hotels also offer monorail or boat transportation. So if you’re on the fence about whether or not to get a rental car and are planning on spending all of your time at Walt Disney World Resort, it really isn’t necessary. And if you’re driving to Disney World- leave you car in the parking lot (for Free) during the duration of your stay. Take a bus and say goodbye to sitting in traffic.

3. Staying onsite has its perks. Though the thought of saving $40 a night by staying off property may sound tempting, I always encourage visitors to do the math. Though on the surface this sounds like a great deal, Disney has a lot of onsite perks that may ultimate make staying on property the more sensible option. On site guests can park anywhere on Disney property for FREE (including the theme parks). There is also FREE transportation throughout the parks, and a FREE shuttle service to and from Orlando International Airport. Meanwhile offsite guests will have to pay for parking, gas, taxis etc which quickly shorten the price gap. Couple that with extra perks like the ability to book Fastpasses early, dining plans, Extra Magic Hours and there’s a lot of added value there that you just aren’t getting with offsite options. Plus nothing beats having that Disney Magic around every corner.

4. Make those dining and Fastpass reservations early. When it comes time to make your dining reservations at the 180 day mark or book those Fastpasses at 60 days, don’t procrastinate. More popular restaurants and attractions will fill up quickly and some of them will be near to impossible to get if not booked on the day they are released. So it pays to watch those deadlines, have a plan and get in there early. Its that extra little bit of insurance that you’ll be able to spend your Disney days enjoying more of the things on your “must-do” list.

5. You won’t believe how flexible Disney is. Disney has any incredibly flexible cancellation policy. So if you’re on the fence about a Disney vacation, I say take the plunge- there’s nothing to lose. (And I mean this literally.) When you book a Disney vacation package guests are usually asked to pay $200 as a deposit. (If you book flights through Disney these must be paid upfront as well). However, the balance on your package isn’t due until a month before your vacation is set to begin. Cancel anytime before then and you’ll get a TOTAL refund! Want to add a day? Take a day away? Change your total number of park tickets? No problem! You can make changes as often as you like before those 30 days with no penalty. Want to pay off your holiday weekly? Use the 150 Gift Cards you’ve amassed or pay in one lump sum at the end? All of these are fine. As long as you pay off your holiday before you reach the one month mark, there is total flexibility! You do it the way you want want.

6. Not everything costs an arm and a leg. Yes. Your trip to Walt Disney World will undoubtedly be a hefty chunk of change but not everything at Disney will break the bank. In fact there are lots of Disney freebies that you should take advantage of during your visit. Whether its the complimentary glasses of water available at all of the restaurants even if you aren’t dining there, free Wi-Fi throughout the parks and resorts, watching the Electric Water Pageant from the banks of the Polynesian or making S’mores at Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Singalong at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, there’s a lot to see and do at no-extra charge. Oh and don’t forget to stop by Guest Services to get your free button!

7. It pays to wake up early. The first two hours of the day are a great time to visit the theme parks. Crowds are trickling in, temperatures haven’t reached their peak yet and the lines are the lowest they’ll be all day. Hit the park early, ride as many of your favorite attractions as you can and save your Fastpasses for later in the day when the lines are long. Though you may not be an early bird, make an exception when you go to Disney World – it’s definitely worth it.

8. Disney World is huge! Plan accordingly. If you’ve not been to the parks before, something that may initially surprise you is just how big Walt Disney World really is and how spread out everything is. Walt Disney World is approximately 40 square miles. That’s the size of San Francisco. Though the transportation system at Disney World runs pretty efficiently, if you think you are getting from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Magic Kingdom in 5 minutes- think again. You’ll actually be looking at around 25 minutes. If you have big aspirations of jetting around between more than one theme park in a day- ask a Disney veteran if your plans are realistic. Especially for first time visitors its best to focus on a park a day and take things at a slower pace while you get your bearings.

9. Shop til you drop without lugging around your purchases. If you see something you want to by while you are at the theme parks but you can’t be bothered to carry it around all day- you don’t have to. Simply ask the Cast Member at the register to have it delivered to your resort. The item will be packed up for you and you can usually pick it up at the front desk within 24 hrs of purchase. This service is available to all onsite guests provided you aren’t checking out within the next 24 hrs.

10. Take time out in the afternoon. When temperatures, lines and tempers start to reach their peak..take a time out. The ease of getting to and from your resort using Disney transportation means that you can head back to your room in the afternoon, lounge by the pool or have a quick nap. If you hit the parks early in the AM then don’t put the pressure on you and your family to plow on until the evening fireworks. Enjoy a break, rest up and then return to the parks later in the evening (as crowds start to diminish) for round two. It’s a much kinder, gentler approach to doing Disney.

Before I leave you to your Disney planning, here’s one last tip! Working with a Disney Travel Agent is FREE! I’m not kidding. When you work with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, you get a concierge level service at no-extra cost. A good Disney Travel agent will do everything from helping you find your perfect package, getting up early to make your dining and Fastpass reservations so that you don’t have to, will monitor of discounts so that you’re always getting the best deals out there and will be your wise Disney counselor to share tips and tricks designed to make your holiday more enjoyable. All this, and your package will cost the same as if you were to book with Disney directly. In the words of a new client I worked with last week: “I don’t understand, why everyone going to Disney doesn’t book through a TA?” Exactly!

To find out more get in touch at 1.800.801.4025, at mroden@mickeytravels.com or by filling out our form below to receive your FREE quote. As an agent with MickeyTravels. I’d be delighted to show you the ropes!

10 Things You Should Know Going into Your First Disney World Trip 1

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started Now for your FREE No Obligation Quote.