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Planning a trip to Disney World Florida can be confusing for first timers.
When’s the best time to visit? How long do you need for all four parks? Is it worth staying onsite? How do you avoid long lines? Do you need to book restaurants?
In this post, I answer all these questions and share my best Walt Disney World tips and tricks.
Simon and I have visited the parks many times and have learnt that advance planning pays off and allows you to enjoy the magic of Disney so much more.
Contents
- An Introduction to Walt Disney World in Florida
- What’s Changing at Disney World in 2025
- When to Visit Disney World
- How Long to Spend at Disney World
- Where to Stay at Disney World
- The Essential App
- Disney World Transport
- Tips for International Visitors
- Disney World Tickets
- Time Saving Tips for Disney World
- Planning Your Itinerary
- Disney World Dining
- More Disney World Tips
- Final Thoughts
- More Disney Posts
An Introduction to Walt Disney World in Florida
Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida, USA.
It’s by far the largest Disney park in the world, with four main theme parks:
- Magic Kingdom – The most Disney of the parks with a fairytale castle, classic characters, and nostalgic rides.
- Hollywood Studios – This park has more thrill rides, shows, and the immersive Galaxy’s Edge Star Wars land.
- Epcot – It’s less about rides (although it has our favourite rollercoaster) and more about experiences, from snacking around the World Showcase to learning about our planet.
- Animal Kingdom – The least visited park is still a must do for animal safaris, interesting food, and the stunning Pandora land and Avatar ride.
In addition, there are two water parks—Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon—but usually only one is open at a time.
You’ll also find shopping, restaurants, and entertainment in the free Disney Springs area and a couple of themed mini golf courses (plus real golf courses).
More than 20 Disney resorts are spread over the vast Disney property, plus several partner hotels.
What’s Changing at Disney World in 2025
Some major changes are coming to the parks. If you are visiting Disney World in 2025, here’s what to look out for:
Magic Kingdom
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure no longer requires a virtual queue.
- Rivers of America (including Tom Sawyer Island and the Riverboat) will close at some point. It will be filled in to make way for a new Cars-themed expansion.
- Big Thunder Mountain is closed for refurbishment for all of 2025 into 2026. A new Villains land will be built behind it.
- Disney Starlight, a new nighttime parade, will debut in summer 2025.
- Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge – The first bar in the park is due to open in late 2025.
Hollywood Studios
- Muppet Vision 3D and the whole Muppets Courtyard will close on June 8, 2025. Eventually, it will be transformed into a Monstropolis land including a Monsters, Inc. rollercoaster.
- Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster will change themes from Aerosmith to the Muppets.
- Two new stage shows are due in summer 2025: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid.
Animal Kingdom
- Dinoland (including the Dinosaur ride) will close. Building will start on a new Tropical America-themed land featuring Indiana Jones and Encanto rides.
- It’s Tough to be a Bug will close on March 17, 2025, and will be replaced by a Zootopia show at the end of 2025.
Epcot
- Guardians of the Galaxy no longer requires a virtual queue.
- Test Track will reopen in late summer 2025 after a major refurbishment.
- Spaceship Earth Lounge – This new lounge/bar will open in late spring 2025.
Now, moving on to our top tips for visiting Disney World and how to plan your perfect trip.
When to Visit Disney World
1) Avoid Holidays
Disney World is busy year-round these days, but some dates are worse than others.
If you can, avoid visiting during Thanksgiving week and at Christmas and New Year when parks are heaving. Easter/spring break in March/April is another very popular time.
It’s best to avoid holiday weekends—President’s Day weekend (and the whole week) in mid-February is especially crowded.
Check crowd calendars on WDW Prep School, Your First Visit and Undercover Tourist to get an idea of the times to avoid.
2) November is Our Favourite Month
If you avoid the dates above, you can visit Disney at any time of year and have a wonderful time. Every month has pros and cons, so go to Disney whenever works for you.
That said, early to mid-November is our favourite time to visit—as long as we leave by the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
The weather is usually delightful—hot and sunny but not too humid. On our last trip, our daytime temperatures were 79ºF-82ºF (26ºC-28ºC). Mornings were cooler, but I only wore a cardigan once.
There can be some surprisingly cold days in Orlando in winter, but the first half of November is usually early enough to avoid them. That said, on one trip, I did have to buy a sweater for one rogue freezing day in the parks.
In November, there are Christmas decorations in all the parks except Epcot, and you can enjoy the food stalls at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
We’ve also visited Disney in early September when crowds are at their lowest. We enjoyed the quieter parks, but I’m not sure it was worth the trade-off of very hot, sweaty weather and afternoon storms (which closed some rides, the Skyliner gondola, and hotel pools).
We still had an amazing time, though, and would visit again in September if it was the only time available for us.
If you can only visit in the summer, the second half of August is the cheapest and quietest time, as many US schools are back in session.
How Long to Spend at Disney World
3) One Week is Ideal
I recommend at least four full days (five nights) at Disney World, but a week is better.
On a longer trip, you can visit the parks multiple times (you won’t do it all in a day), take a rest day (you’ll need it), or even explore the water parks.
International visitors (especially from the UK) often stay for two weeks. This makes sense if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you want to visit Universal Studios, too.
Where to Stay at Disney World
4) Stay Onsite for Perks
The big question—is staying onsite in a Disney Resort worth it? The simple answer is yes!
Here are the advantages of staying in a Disney resort:
- Free transport to all parks and Disney Springs (usually by bus, but some have boat, monorail or Skyliner). This is especially useful if you have a group that may split up. I sometimes leave the parks earlier than Simon and this would be more difficult (and expensive) staying offsite.
- 30-minute Early Theme Park Entry to all four parks every day.
- Advance booking of Lightning Lanes and restaurants.
- Disney theming and the feeling of being in the Disney bubble, away from the real world.
- Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for Deluxe resort guests (stay after closing twice a week, usually at Epcot and Magic Kingdom).
- New in 2025: Free water park entry on check-in day.
- Check-in via the app to go straight to your room. Use a MagicBand as a park ticket, room key, and charge card.
You could also consider one of the partner hotels (such as those at Disney Springs), which are located on-property and have some (but not all) of the same perks. You won’t have Disney theming, though, and the All-Star resorts can be around the same price.
On our first trips to Disney as adults, we were on a tight budget and stayed off-site at a cheap motel. These days, the cost of motels and car rentals has increased so much that it’s now not that much more expensive to stay at a Value Disney resort.
See my guide to planning a trip to Disney World on a budget for a price comparison of off and onsite accommodation.
5) Which Disney Resort? Decide Your Priorities
Every Disney resort has its fans, so you need to decide what’s a priority for you. Budget, Disney theming, pool, bigger rooms, easy access to a certain park?
If you are on a budget, stay at the value All-Star resorts. The motel-like rooms are nothing fancy, but they have everything you need. We were fine at All-Stars Music.
If you’ve got a bit more to spend, the Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts have better theming and are on the Skyliner for a quick, fun journey to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
If you want the most comfortable rooms, resort facilities, and easy access to the parks, consider the Deluxe resorts, but they are very pricey.
Now that we have more to spend, we prioritise being in walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios, which means a Deluxe resort.
We love the Yacht Club, but last time, we saved thousands by staying at the partner Dolphin Hotel. We had all the same perks and great location, but the rooms and atmosphere weren’t as lovely.
There are so many more options. I recommend searching on the Disney website for rough dates to get an idea of prices and then researching the options that fit your budget.
6) Keep an Eye Out for Disney Discounts
To book a Disney package you only need to make a $200 deposit, which is fully refundable up to 30 days before your visit. It makes sense to book as soon as you know your dates.
Disney often has discounts on resorts, or deals like free dining, especially at quieter times of the year.
If you see these deals appear after you’ve booked (the newsletter I recommend below is a good way to find out), you can cancel and rebook with the discount.
Some people like to use a Disney Travel Agent who will monitor for discounts and rebook for you.
The Essential App
7) Download the My Disney Experience App
The My Disney Experience mobile app is absolutely essential for any Disney trip.
You’ll use it to book Lightning Lanes, make mobile food orders, check wait times, find your way around, check resort bus times, and so much more.
You’ll also need to set up a My Disney Experience account before you book your trip. If you have a Disney+ account, it’ll be the same login. You can access your account on the website or app.
8) Use the App Before You Visit
It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the My Disney Experience app before you visit.
In the week before our trips, I like to keep an eye on wait times at various times of day to get a sense of how busy the parks currently are.
Disney World Transport
9) Fly into MCO
Unless you live in driving distance, you’ll likely fly to Disney World. Orlando International (MCO) is the closest airport to fly into and is served by many airlines.
There is no longer free transport from the airport to Disney. You can book the Mears Connect shuttle bus, but for two or more people, an Uber or Lyft isn’t much more expensive. We’ve paid $36-42 plus tip.
The drive is about 30 minutes from MCO to the Disney resorts.
10) Don’t Rent a Car
If you stay onsite, it’s not worth renting a car. Disney transport is free and drops you nearer than the huge car parks.
You can always supplement it with the occasional Uber/Lyft if the bus waits are too long or you want a day off-site (such as at Universal Studios).
You can also take Minnie Vans within Disney. These themed vans seat up to six people and are bookable on the Lyft app, but they can be up to three times more expensive than a regular Lyft.
If you aren’t a resort guest (with free parking), standard parking at the parks is expensive at $30 a day—another reason to stay onsite.
Tips for International Visitors
11) Apply for an ESTA Far in Advance
You’ll need a visa to enter the US but visitors from many countries (including the UK) can apply for an ESTA visa waiver instead. This is valid for two years.
I recommend applying for an ESTA at least six months before your trip. We left it until a few weeks before and then freaked out when we thought we wouldn’t be eligible. We’d have had to apply for a visa, and the wait for an interview can take up to five months.
We were worried because Cuba is on the list of countries that if you’ve visited, you can’t get an ESTA. Luckily for us, it’s only if you visited on or after 12 January 2021, so when we disclosed we’d visited in 2013, it all worked out and we were approved in an hour.
12) Download the Mobile Passport Control app
If you have an ESTA, you can use the Mobile Passport Control app to save time at immigration on arrival.
Download it before your flight, fill in what you can, and then when you arrive at MCO you have to take photos and add some extra details.
We were then able to use the diplomat line with no wait. We still had to see an immigration officer but it was quick.
13) Book Via the Disney UK Website
If you go to the Disney World website when in the UK, you’ll automatically be taken to the disneyholidays.co.uk website.
It’s the official UK booking site and can have some great deals compared to the US website (which you could access with a VPN).
Usually a 14-day park ticket costs the same or only a little more than a 7-day ticket and includes perks like park hopper, water parks, mini golf, and Memory Maker (free photos).
Hotels can also work out cheaper on the UK site (it did for us booking the Dolphin).
Check out the Disney UK site here.
14) Use a Fee-Free Card
You won’t need cash at Disney, except if you want to tip hotel housekeeping or bell services.
You can charge everything in the parks to your room if staying in a Disney hotel (not a partner hotel) using a MagicBand (for a fee) or Apple Wallet (free).
To pay your bill, make sure your credit or debit card doesn’t charge international fees.
As Brits, we have a Starling debit card, which is fee-free for card spending and cash withdrawals.
We also have a Halifax Clarity credit card, which is useful if you want to rent a car (we did before Disney last time for some Florida Keys beach time at Baker’s Cay Resort).
15) Use Jet Lag to Your Advantage
Jet lag is a pain, but coming from the UK or Europe you can take advantage of the fact that you’ll wake up early.
Plan for your earliest rope drop starts in the first few days. We woke up between 4.30am and 6am for days. Late nights are harder, though, so plan those for later in the week.
Disney World Tickets
16) Buy Tickets in Advance
We usually buy park tickets as part of our hotel package as it’s easiest.
You’ll still want to book tickets online in advance if you aren’t staying onsite.
Prices vary depending on the time of year and how many days you’ll visit. It’s cheaper per day the more days you add, so always buy a multi-day ticket rather than individual tickets. Check the Disney website for your dates.
Park hopping is a nice add-on that we love, but it isn’t essential. You can see how much we used it in our 7 day Disney World itinerary.
17) Use a MagicBand or Apple Watch
Buying a MagicBand (from $35+) can be worth it—it works as your park ticket, room key, and credit card to make purchases. The new Plus versions (now the only ones on sale) interact with the park and light up during shows.
Being able to tap in at park gates and rides (when using Lighting Lanes) without taking out a ticket or phone makes things much quicker.
We already wear an Apple Watch, so we use that instead for free. You can add your park ticket to Apple Wallet. Express mode is turned on automatically so you just tap at the gates (no need to open the ticket).
The only thing you can’t use the watch for is a room key. We use our phone instead (or you can ask at reception for a key card, which also works as a park ticket).
Time Saving Tips for Disney World
Now we get to our absolute best tips for Disney World!
Yes, the parks are almost always busy, but with some planning, you can avoid long lines for rides. We rarely wait more than 15 minutes.
18) Arrive Early
Arriving early at Disney World (30-60 minutes before the park opens) is the best way to save time as the first two hours of the day are quietest.
If your trip is longer than four days, you won’t need to do this every day (it gets exhausting), but it’s worth rope-dropping every park once.
The arriving early strategy works for everyone, but it’s much more effective if you stay onsite and have early entry. You can enter each of the four parks 30 minutes before they officially open.
The gates often open earlier than 30 minutes, so it’s always worth arriving at least 30 minutes before early entry (an hour before official opening).
At Hollywood Studios, they usually open gates at 8am when early entry is at 8.30am and park opening is 9am. So we try to arrive at 7.45am to be further ahead in the line.
The same applies for Magic Kingdom. For an 8am official opening, they let people in at 7am, but you have to wait at the entrance to either Tomorrowland or Fantasyland (the only areas open for early entry) until 7.30am.
Note that if you don’t have early entry, you can still enter Magic Kingdom and access Main Street and outside the castle (perfect for crowd-free photos), but you won’t be able to move beyond that.
We usually spend the first few hours hustling to rides, and then when lines get longer, we slow down, have some food, take photos, and enjoy the less popular rides and shows.
19) Consider Lightning Lanes
Lightning Lanes are separate entrances at rides that allow you to skip the line (or at least have a far shorter wait).
If you decide to use these, book as soon as you are eligible—three days in advance for guests staying off-site and seven days before check-in (for your whole stay) for Disney resort guests.
Rides do sell out and onsite guests have a major advantage.
Multi Pass
There are two Lightning Lane options. Multi Pass allows you to initially book three rides at set times. Once you’ve tapped into one ride, you can book another. However, you are limited by availability.
Multi Pass is most useful for Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. It’s also helpful when park hopping, as you can select rides in any park once you’ve tapped into your first ride.
If you are visiting at a very busy time or have limited days at Disney, Multi Pass is worth considering, but you can get by without it. We only used it for one of our seven days on our last visit (park hopping from Hollywood Studios to Magic Kingdom).
It’s a complicated system, so see my Lightning Lane Multi Pass guide for more details.
Single Pass
One or two of the most popular rides in each park are not included in Multi Pass, and you have to buy a Single Pass to skip the line.
These are more expensive, but they can be worth it if you want to guarantee your ride. Last time, we bought Single Pass for Tron (to ensure a night ride) and Guardians of the Galaxy (so we could ride it multiple times).
20) Stay Late
We typically arrive at the parks for early entry, take a break at our hotel in the afternoon, and then return (perhaps to a different park) in the evening.
After dark, the parks have a unique atmosphere, and you can enjoy fireworks shows.
Ride queue times often decrease in the last hour or two, so if you didn’t manage a ride early, give it another go now.
The end of the day is especially good at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (although not always). Epcot and Magic Kingdom are more of a mixed bag.
If you are staying in a deluxe resort, take advantage of the extended evening hours. The last hour is especially productive.
21) Use Single Rider Lines
One way to skip lines during a busy park day is to use the single-rider line. You’ll have to sit next to strangers, but you can sometimes end up in the same car as your party.
Simon uses single rider when I don’t want to ride as many times as he does!
Rides with single rider lines currently are:
- Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios
- Millennium Falcon at Hollywood Studios
- Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios (sometimes)
- Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot (this may be temporary)
Test Track at Epcot had one before it closed and may do so when it reopens.
On a similar note, if you are travelling with a small child who can’t go on all rides, the adults in the group can take advantage of Rider Switch. With this service, two adults can ride separately without queuing both times, while the other waits with the child.
22) Visit Magic Kingdom on Party Days
This is one of our best Disney World hacks if you visit during party season—Halloween (August to October) and Christmas (November to December).
At these times, Magic Kingdom hosts a paid event on some evenings, so the park closes earlier than usual (typically at 6pm).
This puts people off visiting the park that day—they’ll choose another day to visit so they can stay late and see the fireworks.
This makes party days a fantastic time to visit Magic Kingdom. We’ve done this during Halloween and Christmas seasons, and it has worked wonderfully.
The park usually opens earlier at 8am and the whole morning is quiet.
My recommendation is to get a park hopper ticket and, on party days, visit Magic Kingdom during the day and then park hop to another park in the evening.
Then do the reverse on non-party days—start in a different park, and then go to Magic Kingdom in the evening if you want to see the fireworks. Expect high crowds on those evenings (a dining reservation might be a good idea).
Our Disney World itinerary shows how we managed this in November.
Planning Your Itinerary
Planning in advance for Disney is essential. You need to book restaurants and Lightning Lanes before you arrive, so you’ll need a rough itinerary.
Our 7 day Disney World itinerary (from our last trip) has tips on how to create your ideal itinerary, but here are a few ideas.
23) Check the Disney Calendar
Park hours are released on the Disney World calendar two months in advance. Check then and again a week or two before your visit as it can change.
Note any special events as well as fireworks and parade times and if rides are closed for refurbishment.
24) Decide Your Priority Rides
Talk to the rest of your party and decide which rides are must-dos for each of you.
Then research how long the queues typically are (see Queue Times for averages or the Disney app for live wait times) and the best time to ride.
For example, Tron is best ridden at night (the lights look amazing), but waits can be long, so if you don’t want to risk waiting until the end of the night, you might purchase Single Pass.
Whereas Pirates of the Caribbean rarely has long waits so you can ride it any time.
See our park guides for ideas: Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom.
25) Allow For Rest
If you visit for more than four days, you’ll want to allow some rest time—a whole day or at least a morning.
I recommend a day off (or at least a relaxed day) after three park days (or two if you want maximum chill).
You can also save money on tickets by having a day when you don’t go into the parks. Instead, hang out at your hotel pool, shop and eat at Disney Springs, have lunch at another Disney resort, or visit a water park.
Also, try to have a mix of early and later starts so you aren’t rope-dropping every morning—it can get exhausting.
26) Find Your Hidden Gems
Although we do engage in rope drop rushing, you don’t want to spend your whole trip dashing about focused on the big rides.
Allow time to slow down, wander the back corners, and experience the Disney magic. So much work has gone into every detail of the parks, so spend time appreciating them.
Here are a few of our favourite non-ride things to do:
- Play the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure game at Epcot. It takes you to so many hidden gems in the World Showcase and allows you to make objects move. So fun!
- Catch the opening ceremony at Casey’s Corner (Magic Kingdom), and then enjoy a hot dog at an outside table with pianist entertainment and a castle view.
- Relax in Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom – A quiet retreat with excellent cocktails and small bites.
- Admire the Tron canopy at night – You don’t even need to ride it, just stand underneath and watch the lightcyles whizz past as the lights change colour.
- Stroll Epcot’s World Showcase at night – Snack, drink, and watch the entertainment in each pavilion. It’s even better during the Food & Wine Festival when Eat to the Beat concerts are on.
- Drink a margarita at La Cava del Tequila (Epcot) – You would not know you’re at Disney.
- Walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek at Animal Kingdom to spot animals.
- Grab a pretzel and IPA (or margarita) in BaseLine Tap House in Hollywood Studios.
- Wander Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora after dark.
Plus so much more! See our individual park guides for more ideas.
27) Be Flexible
Yes, advance planning for Disney is essential, but consider your itinerary a rough guide rather than a set-in-stone plan.
Things will change, and you need to be flexible. The bus is delayed, the ride you planned for early entry is down (what’s your backup?), your next pick for Lightning Lane Multi Pass is sold out, another ride has an unexpectedly long standby line, you are exhausted, your feet hurt, etc.
Don’t stress if things don’t go to plan. Even if you don’t get on your must-do ride, there is still so much to enjoy in the parks. Accept it’s impossible to do it all.
If you let your expectations go, you’ll enjoy the experience much more.
Disney World Dining
28) Set a Reminder for 60 Days Ahead
If there are any table service restaurants you want to eat in, book 60 days in advance at 6am EST.
Seriously, be ready as soon as bookings open, as many sell out fast (such as our favourite Space 220 in Epcot). You can always cancel later if your plans change (up to two hours before for most places).
Resort guests have a major perk—you can book 60 days before your check-in date for your whole stay. This gives you a nice head start, so for popular places, book for later in your stay.
If you can’t get the restaurant you want, keep checking (especially the day before) as people will cancel. You can also try walking in and seeing if a restaurant can accommodate you (just expect a wait).
See my guide to the best vegetarian food at Disney World for our favourite places to eat.
You can also find all the restaurant menus on the Disney website and app.
29) Counter Service Restaurants Save Money and Time
You don’t have to eat at table service restaurants to have an amazing trip. They are expensive (especially once you’ve added on tax and the standard 20% tip), so we usually only eat at a few per trip (and on our first trips, none at all).
There are some great counter service restaurants where you can eat without booking and save money and time (especially if you make a mobile order). Many have fun theming, too.
Our Disney World on a budget guide has more money-saving food tips.
30) Skip the Dining Plan
Unless you get a deal where a Disney dining plan is free with your resort stay, I would skip it.
It’s unlikely to save you money and you’ll have to worry about which places are included and offer the best value. You’ll have more freedom without it.
31) Bring Snacks
If you are on a budget, you can bring your own food into the parks (as long as it’s not a whole cooler).
We used to bring sandwiches when we were on a tight budget and just eat one counter service meal a day.
Nowadays, we bring granola bars and buy some fruit for quick breakfasts before we leave our hotel or standing in line for early entry. It saves time and money and we’re ready for lunch early (when the restaurants are quieter).
Last time (as we had a car before Disney), we made a Trader Joe’s run to stock up on snacks and drinks to keep in our room.
Some people use grocery delivery services to the hotels.
32) Hydrate
Drinking plenty of water is essential in the Florida heat.
We always bring our own water bottle. You can fill up at water fountains and ask for a cup of ice in quick service restaurants to cool it down.
More Disney World Tips
33) Wear Comfy Shoes
We typically walk 6 – 13 miles a day at Disney, so comfortable shoes are essential.
We prefer Teva hiking sandals, as they keep our feet cool and supported, and they dry quickly if they get wet from rain or water rides.
I have the Teva Verra and Simon wears the Teva Terra Fi Lite.
Most people wear sneakers. Just make sure they are well worn in, and you have moisture-wicking socks (your feet will get sweaty).
A spare pair of shoes is a good idea (especially in the summer rainy season). When Simon’s sandals started rubbing, he switched to his Allbirds Tree Runners with socks.
We both love ultra comfy and lightweight Allbirds. The Tree models are best for Florida as they are more breathable.
Bring plasters (bandaids) or moleskins in case of blisters.
34) Get in Training
If you aren’t much of a walker, start increasing your walking before your trip. It will make your visit much more comfortable.
This is a good opportunity to wear in your shoes, too.
35) Pack a Phone Charger
You’ll use the Disney app frequently, especially if you have Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so it’s a good idea to have a phone charger.
We managed without one, but only because our phones were fairly new, and we took afternoon breaks when we could top up our charge.
If you forget, you can purchase FuelRod chargers in the parks and then swap them out when empty for a fully charged one.
36) Bring a Poncho
It can rain at any time of year in Orlando, but it’s most likely from June to September.
In early September, we had thunderstorms and often heavy rain every afternoon for 30 minutes to a few hours.
A poncho is the best way to stay dry. You can buy one in the parks, but it’s cheaper if you buy it ahead of time. We found some cheap ones on Amazon.
In November we didn’t need them.
37) Keep Up to Date
Things are constantly changing at the parks, so even after doing your initial research, it’s a good idea to check the details before your visit.
Have Lightning Lane rules changed? Have any new rides or shows opened? Does anything require a virtual queue?
The Disney Tourist Blog has a good newsletter that will keep you updated (just be aware that it’s a lot of information).
38) Ask for Your Preferred Spot on a Ride
When you get near the front of the line on a ride (when the cast member asks how many in your party), you can request a preferred spot.
For example, riding at the front of Tron is incredible and we only had to wait a few minutes extra for it.
Another popular one is asking for the pilot role in Millennium Falcon, which is much more interactive than gunner or engineer.
39) Use Your Language Skills
If you speak another language (even just hello and thank you), it’s fun to try out your skills in the Epcot World Showcase, where cast members from the countries staff each of the 11 pavilions.
We had some lovely interactions in Japan and Italy.
40) Pick Up a Free Button
Go to Guest Relations at the parks to pick up a complimentary celebration button. These can celebrate a birthday, anniversary, first visit, or whatever you choose.
For Simon’s birthday, they customised the button with his name, and cast members wished him a happy birthday throughout the day. It’s a fun extra dash of magic!
Final Thoughts
I hope these Disney World tips help you plan a magical trip!
It can be an overwhelming amount of information when you first start researching, but it will all make sense eventually.
Advance planning for Disney does pay off and allows you to enjoy your time in the parks much more.
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.
More Disney Posts
Plan your Disney World Orlando trip with our other guides:
Disney World Park Guides
- 27 Best Things to Do at Disney World
- 21 Must Do Rides at Magic Kingdom Orlando
- 24 Best Things to Do at Hollywood Studios
- 25 Best Things to Do at Epcot
- 22 Best Things to Do at Animal Kingdom
Other Disney World Tips
- A Magical 7 Day Disney World Itinerary
- Vegetarian at Disney World: 16 Best Places to Eat
- Is Lightning Lane Multi Pass Worth It?
- Planning a Trip to Disney World on a Budget
If you’re looking for a beach break before or after Disney, check out our Baker’s Cay Key Largo Resort review.
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