You won't be surprised to hear people ask usDisney World Planning Tipsa lot. Therefore, after many years of experience in providing planning advice,What is our best advice?
We have various resources at AllEars such asDisney World's Best Restaurant Guide, listSouvenirs you should absolutely never buy,Advice on which hotel to book, and more. But if we had to narrow it down, what advice do we always give when people say they're planning a trip to Disney World?
We are in Disney World Parks every day, andWe have stayed in all the hotels.We ate at all the restaurants there, andWe have seen all kinds of goods. So it's hard to narrow down all our ideas when it comes to planning advice! But we asked our team about theirsMost used tips, that's what we all think.
We're breaking this list down to make it easier to work with. Here are some basic packing tips, things to keep in mind before you travel, and some advice to keep in mind when you travel!
Packaging tips
The perfect Disney World trip starts with top-notch packing skills.
bring comfortable shoes
first,Make sure you have very comfortable shoes. This is a big deal in Disney World since you are moving around most of the day.
Parks and hotels are scattered, and our reporters often go10-12 miles a day. To ensure you end your vacation with as few blisters as possible, pack a pair of your most comfortable hiking boots.
Now is not the time to wear stilettos or plastic flip-flops (unless you can actually walk miles in them and feel comfortable - in which case, great!). We know you want to take cute pictures in front of Cinderella Castle. But you'll have to trade the cute shoes for the most functional ones - you'll thank us later!
In fact, we recommend bringing several different pairs of hiking boots. This way, you can change them on the go and if one of them starts to hurt your feet, you have a backup.
Since we always want a plan B, you better invest in someMoleskin and plasterJust in case the dreaded blisters appear.
Backpacks for all kinds of weather
In addition to comfortable shoes and a blister solution, you needAll weather packaging. The weather in Orlando can change in a matter of minutes, and if you're going to be at Disneyland for a few days, there's a good chance it'll rain at least once.
We don't want you to spend $12 (or more) on plastic raincoats at the park. Instead, bring your own raincoat or buy one from Amazon and take it with you.
The temperatures are also unstable, so it is best to do soDress in layerswhen you walk in the park. In the morning or when the weather is cold, you can put on a jacket or sweatshirt, and when the sun comes out, you can take them off and walk around in a t-shirt.
Please don't forget the sunscreen! Even in winter, you can get sunburned if you go out in the sun all day.
Want more packing tips? We have more content for youher!
Learn 20 different ways to pack for your trip to Disney World in 2022.
before the journey
Before you go to the park by car or plane, there are a few important things to do.
Save the park early pass
First you must getPark Pass reservations.
The system was introduced when Disneyland reopened after being closed due to the pandemic. It started as a way to control capacity, and the pass has stuck around long afterSome other changes back to normal.
We recommend that you reserve your park pass as soon as you visit Disney World and purchase your tickets. Passes to these parks sometimes run out and you will not be able to enter the park without a reservation. It's too bad if you get ready for a magical day, arrive at the Magic Kingdom and find out you don't have a park pass and all passes are sold out for the day!
Disney World park ticket holders can reserve park passes (free) each day. Annual pass holders can hold a certain number of cards at a given time, the amount depends on which cards you own.
If you visit several parks in one day with Park Hopper, you only need to order a park pass for the first park you visit. Once you've scanned into that park, you can move on to other parks.
These passes can fill up the parks at least a few weeks before major events and holidays. Usually we don't see them fill up too quickly at other times of the year. But if you're here for spring break, summer break or Christmas break, you might want to prioritize getting these cards a few months in advance.
Learn how to get park card reservations here.
order a meal
You can pre-order meals at Disney World's table service restaurantsUp to 60 days before holiday. If you are staying at a Disney World hotel, you can book your entire trip up to 60 days before the first day of your trip. If you are not on site, you can make a reservation up to 60 days before each day.
So if you are staying at a Disney World hotel on a 5-day trip, you have 60 days before the first day of travel to pre-order food and beverages for all 5 days.
If you are staying at Disney World for more than a few days, we recommend ordering some meals. A Disney vacation can be exhausting, but it's nice to sit down to a few meals.
If it's a particularly busy time of year, you won't have to worry about long waits at restaurants if you have reservations at nearby eateries.
In addition, there are some really good restaurants, and many require reservations. some fan favorites includeOhanaexistsDisney's Polynesian Village Resort,mickey terraceexistsDisney's Riviera Resort, andSteakhouse 71existsDisney's Contemporary Resort.
If you want a table service (non-fast food) restaurant at Disney World, you must make a reservation. Although these venues are rarely able to accommodate guests without a reservation, it is safer to go in when a seat is guaranteed. So get ready before the 60-day deadline and grab those pre-orders fast!
Check out the 20 best foods you've never eaten at Disney World.
Learn how to use the My Disney Experience app
With introductions such asmobile order(we'll get to that later),elves, andLounge Online waiting list, useMin Disney Experience-appAt Disneyland, cell phone use is almost mandatory.
The app has a number of tools to help you stay in the park. You can see restaurants in each park and wait times for all attractions. There are also interactive maps that help you navigate to different areas.
if you plan to buyElf+As with any park, use the app to select expressways throughout the day.
Before you arrive at Disney World, make sure you have downloaded and updated the My Disney Experience app on your phone. You must be logged into your Disney account and linked to all the information you need for your vacation!
You can explore the app before you arrive to become more familiar with what is available and which tools will be most useful. That way you don't have to stop in the middle of the park day to fix this.
Click here to learn how to use the My Disney Experience app.
List your top priorities
Plus, before you head to the park, you'll want to make a list of the best things to do during your vacation. There are so many things to do in the park, but you can never do it all.
So do some research on what rides are available at each park and what other attractions you're interested in visiting. Everyone on the team can pick a few must-dos and these should be the first things you do in each park.
Once you've done all of these things, anything you do in the park is a bonus! But having these checklists will help ensure you leave Disney World without regrets because you forgot a ride or didn't have time to buy a certain treat.
Doing research to find things to do will also help you explore the park during your trip as you will learn about all the attractions available and more.
Check out the best and worst rides in the Magic Kingdom
See videos and reviews from AllEars
Time for some shameless jamming! Before you leave, be sure to check ourvideo,job planning, andComment. (If you're reading this, you've already started - good job!)
Seriously, our first goal is to help you have a happier, easier, and more magical vacation. we have different videoshotel tourism,restaurant reviews, andriding arrangement.
And in oursAll ears blogYou can find the latest news from Disneyland as well as posts covering almost everything about Disney World.
So keep following our postsblogor through social media such asInstagramandTwitter), we will make sure to keep you informed of the latest updates and changes that may affect your upcoming holiday.
Check out our YouTube channel here!
Plan breaks throughout the trip
As you've probably learned, Disney World vacations aren't always an easy time. With so much to do, you may find yourself slipping between attractions and getting up much earlier than you would at home.
To make sure you don't burn out mid-trip, plan plenty of rest each day. This could be ordering table service for lunch, visiting a show like the Mickey Philharmonic Show or Presidential Hall, or even just scheduling a time to sit on a bench and take a break.
We know it's tempting to be out all day, but you don't want to hit a wall at 3pm and realize you're not feeling well. It's better to do fewer things and enjoy them than to do everything and be miserable all the time!
Check out the best places to take a nap in Disney World (aside from hotel rooms).
during your trip
You've got all your reservations ready, your luggage is packed with everything you need, and you've finally arrived at Disney World! …What should we do now?
get to the park early
Many people go on vacation to rest and recover from the hectic routine of everyday life. Disney World vacations aren't usually like that. If you want to get the most out of your trip, it's best to get up early and get to the theme parks before they open so you're ready to go straight to the most popular rides. This way you can avoid standing in line for hours later in the day.
The tactic is known as "roping" because actors used to raise a rope with their hands before the park opened, then throw it down when guests were allowed to enter. You can still see this in some areas of the park, but it usually doesn't involve real rope anymore.
Check the "My Disney Experience" app (that you downloaded before your vacation) to see when each theme park is open each day. Opening hours vary from park to park and even change from day to day, so check carefully before planning your morning.
we recommend at the doorAt least half an hour before the park's opening time. Remember, if you're staying at a Disney World hotel, you can take advantageEarly access to theme parks, which means you can enter each park half an hour before normal opening hours. In this case, please arrive at the entrance one hour before normal opening hours.
please rememberNot all rides have early access to theme parks. In the Magic Kingdom, only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open for half an hour in the morning. Double check with the cast and crew to make sure you go to the open rides and don't waste precious hours in the morning.
Whether you're staying at a Disney World hotel or not, the best time to ride the popular rides is early in the morning. If you really don't want to get up early for your ride, plan to stay in the park until closing time, as late night hours can also shorten wait times.
Learn how to rappel like a pro at Disney World here.
Order via mobile
If you're looking for an easy way to skip the lines at Disney World, be sure to take advantage of itmobile order. This is another feature of the My Disney Experience app.
Mobile Order allows you to order food from fast food restaurants around the park and choose a return time to pick it up. When it's time to return, you can skip the line and go straight to the pickup area to pick up your food.
Note that not all fast food restaurants use mobile ordering, but many do. Just search for a restaurant in My Disney Experiences and look for the "Order a Meal" button.
The first step is to choose a return time. You can choose the nearest time (if you're hungry at that time), or you can order from your phone earlier in the day and choose a time further away. We recommend that you place your order as soon as you arrive at the park so you know you will get food when you want it. If you wait too long, the order window may fill up and you will then have to wait hours for your order to be picked up.
You build your order by choosing appetizers, sides, drinks and more. Some of them are customizable, so you can ask to have ingredients added or removed, or you can replace by-products.
You can see your order at the end and pay there. When it's time for your arrival, go to the restaurant and tap "I'm here" on the app. You will be notified when your order is ready and you can go in and pick it up!
It's an easy way to avoid the queues and prevent a hunger pang later in the day!
Click here for the best Disney World mobile booking tips.
Use solo lines whenever possible
Some rides at Dinsey Worldsingle line, there are separate lines for those who don't mind riding alone. When other groups are unable to fill the ride, the cast will invite people from the line to fill the void.
These lines sometimes move faster than the normal alternate lines, so if you're the only one in your group who wants to ride a particular ride, you can take advantage of the system.
but please noteSolo lines are not guaranteed to move faster than alternate lines. It all depends on how the groups in the standby channel and the lightning channel adapt to the wheelchair. Solo tours can still take a long time if these groups don't have a lot of extra space. When the wait was long, we kept standing in line for hardly any time, and we also waited longer than expected for the solo tour.
In general, however, the waiting time for a solo trip is usually shorter than the standby time. So if the rest of your group isn't interested in riding a particular attraction, or if none of you would mind doing it yourself, it can save a lot of time.
See the waiting time experiment with a single passenger here.
Please be aware of some limitations
There are some things in the world of Disney that you cannot avoid or bypass. For example, if the day you visit the Magic Kingdom is extremely crowded, there isn't much you can do to change that.
With adequate preparation, you may be able to mitigate the situation. For example, on a busy day, you can use mobile ordering to skip the food line and hide in a quiet area where everyone can escape the chaos of the park.
You can't control the weather, but you can pack a raincoat and sunscreen to be prepared for sudden downpours or high temperatures.
But remember, you can't control everything to create the perfect trip. It all depends on your reactions when the inevitable obstacles arise! Pack your patience and remember that some things will be out of your control.
See 11 questions everyone has at Disney World.
flexible
This trick is consistent with the last one. Don't be afraid to change your plans when problems arise beyond your control.
If you're heading into a theme park early in Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the cast tells you it won't open right away (we've been through that), you can get upset with the cast and let it all get ruined or turn right and enjoy a tour of Space Mountain.
Doing your research before your trip allows you to make a quick, informed decision if you need a backup plan. We really want your trip to go well, but with years of experience with Disney World vacations, we know that some things will surprise you.
Provide some backup options for your plan so you don't get overwhelmed if the first option doesn't work. As we mentioned before, there are plenty of things to do in the park that can give you a head start when you need new plans.
These are our tried-and-true tips we give whenever someone tells us they're planning a vacation to Disney World! We hope they help you as you prepare to visit some of the most amazing places on earth. Stay tuned to AllEars for more news and planning tips as you plan your upcoming adventure.
Check out 8 new things to plan for your 2022 trip to Disney World.
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What's your Disney World planning tip? Tell us in the comments.