Last week, I shared a list of the ways I think you can make your trip to Walt Disney World absolutely terrible. Today, I want to share my top tips for making it the magical vacation it should be for your family.
Plan ahead - You don't have to plan a year or more in advance, though it may be beneficial to start a savings program a year out. I recommend at least 90 days in advance, possible more if you have a very specific resort in mind, like Disney's Polynesian Resort. That one may be sold out for popular dates if you don't book ahead.
Stay at a Disney Resort. While there are perfectly fine hotels near Walt Disney World, I find that staying at an on-site resort makes for a better experience overall. You cannot beat the convenience of staying near one of the theme parks, for example. I love being at Wilderness Lodge, near the Magic Kingdom. I can close down the park and take the boat to my resort with no hassle. The Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom is just a ten minute walk! Or staying at Yacht Club and walking back after a fun evening at Epcot or Hollywood Studios.
Have a basic touring plan in place before you arrive. I recommend that you have your top Must Do attractions in each park planned out ahead of time. Ask each family member for their top 2 or 3 things and make a good list. Pro Tip: a GREAT day at a theme park would be experiencing around 10 attractions. So keep your list simple and don't over plan. I usually plan half the day and let the rest of it flow based on how everyone is feeling, the weather etc.
Download and Update the My Disney Experience app. MDE, as it is known, has a lot of features and you will want the latest version ready to use. You can check wait times, view park maps, even order lunch on it!
Get to know Genie+. Genie+ can help you skip lines and manage your visit but it is a little complicated at first. I send a complete guide to Genie+ to my booked clients. You can also watch YouTube videos on it. Once you use it, you will see how it works.
Park Reservations. For the rest of 2023, you will need Park Reservations for each day of your visit. It's not enough to buy tickets. You must reserve your parks in advance and some may be completely booked if you do miss this step. In 2024, we will no longer need to make reservations.
Plan some sit down dining. You may be tempted to skip dining reservations and just eat quick service during your stay. I recommend planning at least a couple meals where you can sit and relax. There are some quieter dining locations as well as fun character meals where you can eat and meet your favorite Disney stars like Mickey and Minnie Mouse. My family usually books one table service meal each day, and, even though we are technically grown ups, we still enjoy a character meal!
Take weather into account. Make sure you are dressed for the weather and bring an umbrella, poncho and even a change of shoes into the parks with you.
Stay hydrated with a refillable water bottle. You can get a free cup of ice water at any quick service dining location. Just ask!
Stick to your normal diet. I know those giant pink frosted donuts, candy apples (pictured), Dole Whips, and Mickey Bars are all so tempting! Maybe just have one treat each day so you don't have an upset tummy.
#1 BEST TIP - Plan your trip using a Travel Advisor who specialize in Disney destinations. We can help you navigate all the ins and outs of planning to make your trip as magical as possible. Trips by Mary makes your planning easy peasy and you don't have to stress about any of the details. You will get all of my tips, including a guide to using Genie+ in each park to make the most out of your visit.
Mary Graham, Certified Travel Advisor, owns Trips by Mary, an affiliate of Cruises & Tours Unlimited and is celebrating seven years in business. With extensive experience in planning cruises, European itineraries, Adventures by Disney vacations, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and all-inclusive resorts, she takes the stress and hassle out of planning.
Contact her by email: mary@tripsbymary.com
or call 919-817-4081.
Visit her website: www.tripsbymary.com.
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