Planning a trip to Disney World
Disney World is one of the most exciting trips to plan but it can also be THE most overwhelming trips to plan. Here are 5 Things I wish I knew Before Our 1st Disney Trip:
5. Purchase tickets as far in advance as possible.
If you’re planning to go to Disney World, buy your tickets as far in advance as possible. Because once you have them, you can download the “My Disney Experience” mobile app on your phone and make FastPass+ selections. A FastPass+ is a “reservation” for a ride or attraction in the park (minimizing your wait time); the best part is: it’s FREE! You are able to get 3 FastPasses at a time (be strategic –use them on the very popular rides i.e. Splash Mountain, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (in Magic Kingdom), or Pandora, Kilimanjaro Safari (in Animal Kingdom) etc. Try to schedule your FastPasses as early in the morning as possible because you won’t be able to get additional FastPasses until you’re done with your original 3 (for example: if you schedule your 3rd FastPass+ for 8pm you will not be able to get additional FastPasses until after you’re done with your 8pm ride/attraction).
Also, don’t be fooled by the “standby wait time” in the regular line. Back in 2014 the standby wait time to meet some princesses was “20 minutes” but in reality we waited 1.5 hrs. Unfortunately, our very excited 18-month old didn’t make it before falling asleep?.
4. Download the My Disney Experience app on your cell phone.
Aside from being able to select your FastPasses, you can search ride wait times, book dining reservations, link your MagicBands, get GPS-based directions, ect. It’s an amazing app! I wish I had it for our 1st Disney trip, it would have saved us a lot of time!
3. Make character dining reservations 180 days in advance!
Yes, that’s correct. 180 days in advance, especially if you want to dine with Cinderella at the Royal Table, Belle at Be Our Guest, or with Winnie the Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace. If you don’t, then your only option will be dinner at 9:20pm or 10:30pm?. Character dining is a little pricy? but oh, so worth it! You get to enjoy quality time/take photos with multiple Disney Characters/Princesses at a time without the wait!?
Royal Table
The Crystal Palace
2. Bring or rent a stroller.
If you’re traveling with young kids, this is a must! You end up walking approximately 7-10 miles/day. In 2014 we brought one stroller for our two kids (big mistake); we ended up carrying our 18-month old, so that our son could sit in the stroller. In 2017 we rented a double stroller at the park. The rental strollers are plastic, very uncomfortable and they do not recline. I would highly recommend bringing your own. Plus, a single stroller costs $15 per day and a double costs $31 per day. Buying multi-day/length of stay rental saves $2 per day for a single and $4 per day for a double. Every ride/attraction has a dedicated “stroller parking.” Don’t freak out if your stroller is not in the same spot where you left it. Cast members (Disney employees) constantly move them around to create more space.
1. Invest in a Photopass Memory Maker ?
This is the best investment ever! Disney has professional photographers throughout the park ready to capture your special moments. They will give you a photo pass or link your MagicBand and you can view the photos on My Disney Experience mobile app (almost instantly). The Memory Maker includes: unlimited digital downloads of your photos and videos, select attraction photos and videos, select character dining, magic shots added to your photos (like special borders and stickers). The Memory Maker costs $169 if you purchase it at least 3 days in advance, after that it’s $199.
This was on the Seven Dwarf Mine Train; you also get a very cool VIDEO!
One last piece of advice: You MUST visit the talking Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater (Magic Kingdom). It’s an amazing experience for the kids!
My son’s expression when Mickey Mouse was talking to him!
You can read about our most recent Disney World trip HERE.
xoxo, Ania
