It’s funny… I never saw myself as a Disney fanatic or expert. But then friends started asking me for help with their Disney World vacations.
Apparently, my 40+ visits to Disney World, along with some insider tips from my Imagineer dad, made me quite the resource for planning magical trips! Below is a compilation of my best tips, tricks, and a few Disney World hacks.
Let’s kick things off with my 10 best Disney World tips overall and then jump into my tips for each of the parks and hotels. For specific tips, follow the table of contents to find exactly what you’re looking for!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Top 10 Overall Disney World Tips
- Making Park Reservations
- Money Saving Tips
- Dining Tips
- Packing Tips
- Time-Saving Tips
- Tips for Staying on Property at a Disney Resort
- Magic Kingdom Tips
- Epcot Tips
- Animal Kingdom Tips
- Hollywood Studios Tips
- Bonus Tips!
- Best Ways to Enjoy Your Disney World Vacation- Hire a Professional (FOR FREE!)
Top 10 Overall Disney World Tips
1. Always Start Your Day from the Back of the Park
Arriving at the park at opening time? Head straight to the back and explore in the opposite direction of the newest ride. You’ll find fewer crowds and get to enjoy some fantastic attractions before the masses arrive.
Most people flock to the latest or most popular ride, so heading in the opposite direction is the best move.
2. Book with a Disney Travel Agent
This sounds counterintuitive, but booking a Disney vacation directly through Disney is not the best way to book. Instead, use a Disney Travel Agent! They know all the special offers, they will save you a boatload of time, and often their services are free.
Not all Disney travel agents are created the same. Our travel agency, Best Day Ever Vacations, aims to save you money and help you build the most magical vacation. Our agents are truly amazing!
3. Get the Most Epic Picture in Front of the Castle – with no crowd!
If you’re on Main Street and want a picture of the castle without the crowd, there are five spots you should go to for a clearer shot. These locations offer fantastic views without a crowd in the background, ensuring you get the perfect photo of the iconic castle.
Check out our favorite spots!
4. Save Hundreds of Dollars on Stroller Rentals
If you are bringing some tiny humans along on your Disney World trip, there is no doubt you will need a stroller. Disney World can put a beating on your stroller at home, so I recommend renting one.
Renting at the parks can cost quite a bit and you can only use them at the parks, so I highly recommend renting from an offsite vendor. We are loyal to Kingdom Strollers.
Kingdom Strollers has been around for over 20 years and they will save you a ton of money plus they deliver the stroller to your hotel or Airbnb! You simply place your order and then meet them at your hotel at one of their 5 daily meetup times and grab your stroller.
If that is not convenient enough you can grab the stroller directly at their onsite locate inn the Orlando Airport!
5. Save up to 50% OFF On-Site Disney Resort Rooms!
One of my favorite tips for visiting Disney World is DVC Rentals. Disney Vacation Club is a Disney timeshare that offers stays at their deluxe resorts. However, you don’t have to be a member to reap the benefits. Members are allowed to book resort stays for their guests.
There are several sites that allow you to “rent” points from a member. This can save you a considerable amount of money if you are planning to stay on property.
Our favorite DVC Rental site is the David’s Vacation Club Rentals. Before we had the Disney Vacation Club, we used DVC Rentals for a few trips.
We once booked a studio at Beach Club Villas for $184 a night and the regular price was over $420! See how much you could save by renting points by clicking here. You can check out my full review of the DVC rental here!
6. Make Yourself Glow at Pandora
This might not seem like one of the Disney World tips that is worth being in the top 10, but let me tell you, your kids will love it.
Order some glow-in-the-dark paint from Amazon before your trip and then apply some fun designs to your kids before you head to Animal Kingdom at Night (or pack it in your day bag, if you are spending the day at Animal Kingdom).
At night, Pandora glows and so will your child. They do not sell the paint anywhere at Disney World so make sure to order it before your trip.
7. How to Get a Restaurant Reservation Anywhere!
Getting a restaurant reservation at some of the most popular Disney World restaurants can be tough. Reservations can be booked 60 days in advance and many book up immediately.
But don’t worry if your dream restaurant is booked, we have some great tips for scoring reservations!
- Head to touring plans and sign up for a basic account (It’s FREE)
- Visit their restaurant finder
- Enter the reservation details you are interested in. You can set a wide range (multiple days) or as narrow as you prefer.
- If there is a cancellation (which happens a lot), you will get a text.
- Click on the link and book your reservation directly on your My Disney Experience App 🙂
Bonus Restaurant Tip! At Disney Springs Restaurants, many of the restaurants also take reservations via Open Table. There are many more openings when you check on Open Table, some even on the same day.
8. Watch Fireworks at Magic Kingdom with no crowd
I love the Magic Kingdom Fireworks but I don’t love being smashed between thousands of people trying to watch the show. If you head towards Fantasy Land, plop yourself down in front of the Dumbo Ride and enjoy a pretty much private viewing of the fireworks show.
9. Snag the Best Magic Kingdom Parade Viewing Location
This one is a little more known, so you will need to plan ahead if you want this spot. Head to the flag pole at Magic Kingdom and park yourself on the curb facing the castle.
We learned this from one of our travel agents at Best Day Ever Vacations who saved us this spot for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
From this location, you will be able to see the parade head directly to you with the castle in the backdrop. It is an absolutely amazing view.
10. How to Find Affordable Snacks and Meals
Disney World is expensive (not really shocking news there). So, I am always on the lookout for the best deals to make the trip more affordable including on snacks and meals.
- In Epcot, you can grab a Baguette in France and it will feed a few people for only a few bucks.
- Grab a budget-friendly Chimichanga in Frontierland. I often use that to feed my teenage boys for dinner.
- Order tortilla chips from Pecos Bill and then load them up at the toppings bar to create full-fledged nachos.
- If you love popcorn, snag the refillable popcorn bucket on the first day! A souvenir popcorn bucket costs $10-$17 but once you have it refills are only $2.25, so you can enjoy a tasty snack for under $3.
- Adults can order kid’s meals, which are more affordable, at any food location.
11. Take Advantage of Free Water
One of the best Disney World tricks is that you can get water for FREE. You don’t need to pay $3.00 per bottle for Dasani water. Head to any quick-service dining location and ask for a cup of ice-cold water.
12. Visit During Low Crowd Season (even during the holidays!)
Yes, you can actually visit Disney World when it’s not too busy, though it’s becoming rarer each year. There are still several times annually when crowds are low, even during the holidays.
Of all the Disney World tips, this is crucial if you want to experience the holiday decorations without the crowds. Visit after Thanksgiving Break and before Christmas Break to enjoy the festive atmosphere with minimal crowds.
Making Park Reservations
- Purchase a Ticket: Ensure each guest has a valid park ticket.
- Log In: Access your My Disney Experience account.
- Link Tickets: Connect your tickets to your account if not already linked.
- Navigate to Reservations: Go to the “Park Reservations” section.
- Select Date and Park: Choose the date and park you wish to visit.
- Confirm Selections: Confirm your park and date choices.
- Repeat if Necessary: Repeat for each day of your visit.
- Modify if Needed: Use the app to modify or cancel reservations if plans change.
Make sure to book as early as possible since reservations are subject to availability. You can get complete details on the park reservation system here!
Money Saving Tips
Now on to some money-saving Disney World tips. Any trip to Disney World can get costly, so we have some tips on how to save you some serious money on your vacation.
Stay On-Site
One of my favorite Disney World tips for first-timers is to stay onsite. Staying onsite at one of the Disney Resorts is probably my favorite thing in the world.
I have stayed at both onsite and offsite hotels, and there is just something magical about staying on site. I think it’s that the Disney service, decorations, begins the moment you wake up and continues throughout the day.
Now, staying at a Disney Resort can be costly, luckily we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help you out.
Save up to 50% OFF Your Disney Hotel Stay with Disney Vacation Club Rentals
As I mentioned above, One of my favorite tips for visiting Disney World is DVC Rentals. You can save up to 50% off rooms at Disney World, Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii or Disneyland’s Grand Californian by renting points.
Our favorite DVC Rental site is the David’s Vacation Club Rentals.
Before we had the Disney Vacation Club, we used DVC Rentals. We booked a studio at Beach Club Villas for $184 a night and the regular price was over $420 – See how much you could save by renting points by clicking here or clicking the banner below. You can check out my full review of the DVC rental here!
Use a Travel Agent for Traditional Room Reservations!
We mentioned this above, but a travel agent is the way to go when booking your Disney Vacation. Best Day Ever Vacations services are completely FREE, but usually, they save you money. They will also guide you with booking dining reservations, Disney Genie +, and so much more.
Check out all of Best Day Ever Vacation’s guest testimonials.
Stay Off Property
While we love staying on property it tends to add up really quickly. So, occasionally we book off-property. One of our favorite offsite hotels is Caribe Royal Orlando it is an all-suite hotel with spacious 2-bedroom private villas (perfect for families), a great pool, and included park transportation. Plus, with the included full kitchen you can save on food costs too!
Purchase Discounted Tickets from a verified vendor
We have a full breakdown of where to get discounted Disney World Tickets, however, typically Undercover Tourist is our go-to resource for discounted Disney World tickets. Check Current Prices Here!
Dining Tips
Like I said earlier, you can book reservations 60 days in advance, some restaurants are easier to book than others, here are the restaurants that you should book as soon as possible as they book up quickly.
- Cinderella’s Table
- 1900 Park Fare
- Ohana
- Be Our Guest Restaurant
- California Grill
- Chef Mickey’s
Here are some of my favorite restaurants that I highly recommend visiting while at Disney World:
- Animal Kingdom: Yak & Yeti
- Magic Kingdom: Be Our Guest or Skipper’s Canteen
- Epcot: Chefs De France OR check out Spice Road Table around 7:30 and you’ll have an amazing view of the fireworks show
- Hollywood Studios: Brown Derby
- Disney Springs: Morimoto, Frontera Cocina
Adults can order kid’s meals at Disney
Whether you are health conscious or trying to stay on budget ordering off the kid’s meal can be a great choice. There are a number of healthy options available and the portion sizes were just right for me.
Snag the refillable popcorn bucket on the first day!
A souvenir popcorn bucket costs $10-$17 but once you have it refills are only $2.25, so you can enjoy a tasty snack for under $3.
Bring your own snacks into the parks
I always recommend bringing in some of your own snacks to keep you full throughout the day. We like to bring Clean Simple Eats Offbeat Butters packets, granola bars, and fruit snacks.
Packing Tips
I have a complete packing list for Walt Disney World to make it super easy to pack for this once-in-a-lifetime vacation. In the meantime, here are a few items that most people forget that are definitely needed for a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth!
Pack a strong but compact umbrella
It rains in Florida…a lot! Let me tell you something. I have done every type of umbrella/poncho. I packed the giant ones but they were a pain to take on the planes and the Disney buses, so I recommend going with something smaller but sturdy. Here is a great option!
Bring a Portable Blanket
If you are planning on hitting up a parade, Fantasmic, or even as a little cover for your little one at night, this portable blanket is perfect. Simply click it on your backpack or stroller and unpack it when it is time to sit back and enjoy the parade without having to sit on the ground stepped on by millions of people. Once the parade is over, it is super easy to smush it back into the bag it comes in. Check it out here!
Don’t Forget a Portable Charger
There is surprisingly a lot of phone usage that happens when you’re at the parks. When you are using the my Disney Experience App to check your wait times, book Lightning Lane passes, or check on dining reservations, you will find your battery can get drained fast.
Snag a great portable charger (this is our fave) and everyone’s devices will be charged all day.
Time-Saving Tips
Learn to Use Your Magic Bands
Magic Bands are a convenient way to enhance your Disney World experience, acting as your park ticket, room key, and payment method. While the free distribution of Magic Bands has ended, they can still be purchased online or at the park.
Link your Magic Band to your My Disney Experience account to access all your reservations and plans. You can customize your Magic Band, and consider opting for the new MagicBand+ for interactive experiences within the parks.
Check out 13 Amazing things Disney Magic Bands can do!
Download the My Disney Experience App it’s AMAZING!
The My Disney Experience App is essential for a smooth Disney World visit. Use it to check wait times, make dining reservations, and manage Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections. The app also allows mobile food orders, which can save time at busy restaurants. Utilize the map feature to navigate the parks and find attractions, restrooms, and more.
Make sure to set up your profile and link your tickets and reservations before your trip for a seamless experience. Enable push notifications for important updates and reminders.
PRO TIP: Use the My Disney Experience App to get your boarding time for Rise of the Resistance. Arrive 30 Minutes before the park opens and once you enter the park request a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance! Keep in mind, the rules frequently change, but this is our latest tip.
Take Advantage of Lightning Lanes and Genie+
Maximize your Disney World experience by using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. Genie+ allows you to skip the standby lines at many attractions, saving you time and letting you enjoy more rides. For an additional fee, you can reserve access to Lightning Lanes for popular attractions, avoiding long waits.
Be sure to book these early in the day through the My Disney Experience app to secure your spot and make the most of your visit. For more detailed tips, check out our full guide here.
Stay away from the Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours
The parks offering extended hours for Disney Hotel Guests are often busier throughout the day. If you have Early Theme Park Entry and are staying at a Disney resort, take advantage of the early morning to enjoy the attractions before it gets crowded then head to a different park.
If you miss the early entry, consider changing your plans and visiting a different park instead.
Visit the Next Day after Extra Magic Hours Evening
On the same note, if a park has an Extra Magic Evening, visit that park on the next day because a ton of guests were just there late into the night so the morning should be a lot quieter.
Use Single Rider Lines
Single Rider Lines are usually half the wait sometimes even more. Test Track, Expedition Everest, and Rock N Rollercoaster all have a separate line for single riders.
Get a Rider Switch Pass
Have little ones that can’t or don’t want to ride? Have one parent and said child wait outside while the rest of the party walks through the queue as normal. Then let a cast member know you are doing Rider Switch. They will give you a Rider Switch Pass (like a Lightning Lane Pass).
You simply enjoy the attraction as normal and exit. Then, you hand the person waiting with the child outside the Rider Switch Pass and they go through the Lightning Lane pass line with up to 2 additional riders. This way everyone gets to ride and you DON’T have to wait in line twice!!
Take Advantage of Mobile Food Ordering
One of my favorite Disney World tricks is not waiting in line for food. Nothing is worse than being hungry and then having to wait in line. Lucky for you, Disney has rolled out Mobile Food Ordering directly from the My Disney Experience App. Simply place your order, head to a specially marked window and pick up your yummy food.
Make Dining Reservations 60 Days in Advance
There’s nothing worse than being hungry at Disney World with no reservations. You might end up eating food you didn’t want after waiting in long lines or finding places fully booked. To avoid this, make dining reservations in advance using the My Disney Experience app, online, or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.
Note that you can make reservations up to 60 days in advance, and checking availability frequently can help you secure your desired spots.
PRO TIP: Check availability the day before you want to dine. Reservations must be canceled 24 hours in advance, so you might find last-minute openings as others cancel.
Tips for Staying on Property at a Disney Resort
I love staying at Disney World hotels. It’s a great way to carry on the magic throughout your entire stay. Here are some fun tips to help enhance your stay at the Disney Resorts.
The Best Resort Restaurants to Grab a Bite
- Best Food: Kona Cafe (Polynesian), Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge), California Grill (Contemporary) & Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge)
- Top Character Dining: Chef Mickey’s (Contemporary), Cape May Cafe (Beach Club), O’hana (Polynesian Breakfast Only)
Buy the refillable drink mug the first day you arrive
Great for morning coffee, sodas, tea, and hot cocoa at night! Plus, a fun souvenir to take home. I think this is my kids favorite Disney World Tip because they remind me to get the mug the moment we arrive. See below.
Plan Extra Time for Disney Transportation
Plan more time than you think you need if using Disney Transportation. It is a great way to get around but buses only come every 20 minutes or so and sometimes they have multiple stops.
Check out our simple Guide to Disney World Transportation here!
Sign up for a Character Wake-Up Call (It’s FREE!)
You receive a phone call in the morning from a Disney character and the kids will love it!
Use the Souvenir Room Delivery Service (It’s FREE!)
You can have souvenirs delivered straight to your room from any Disney park. This way you don’t have to carry them around all day! You can also order items straight from the My Disney Experience app and have them delivered to your room or items can also be mailed home directly.
- Order Groceries or Snacks to Your Room- You can save money by ordering groceries or picking them up on the way in. Disney will place a mini-fridge in your room + DVC villas have a fridge in them already. Read why Walmart is our grocer of choice near Disney World here.
- Take a Pool Day– Disney resorts have some of the best pools with Yacht & Beach club being the best. If you are staying for a full week at Disney World, enjoy a pool day and then visit the parks at night. It’s a great way to break up the trip and recharge.
Magic Kingdom Tips
How to Avoid the Crowds
Work the park from the back to the front and counterclockwise to avoid the crowds.
Also, plan to ride the big rides when others are watching the parades. I usually head to Frontierland where Big Thunder is and start working my way back through the park from there.
In midday when the park is packed rides/shows like Mickey’s Philharmagic & Monster’s Laugh Floor still have small waits.
Tricks to Stay Cool
Most of the year it’s pretty darn hot. Magic Kingdom Park has some awesome spots to cool off in that will help make your day much better. Try checking out:
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
- Country Bear Jamboree
- The Hall of Presidents
- Haunted Mansion
- Small World
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Pirate’s of the Caribbean
- Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- Jungle Cruise has a nice shaded line, so that does help with battling the sun.
*And, honestly if it is just too hot head over to the Walt Disney World Water Parks.
Tips for Traveling with Little Ones
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & Goofy’s Barnstormer Rollercoaster are great rides for little ones who love adventure. The height limit for Dwarf’s is 38″ and Barnstormer is 35″
- You can view the fireworks from the Dumbo ride in Toon Town if you want to skip/ avoid the crowds. It is still a great view. While most people go in front of Cinderella’s Castle you can relax behind the castle with a great view minus the crowds right in front of Dumbo.
Parade Tip
Watch the parade at the second viewing time when possible. It is less crowded because everyone goes to the first one.
Magic Kingdom Food Tips
When we first started visiting Disney World, Magic Kingdom honestly had subpar food. That has completely changed! They have incredible quick service options, sit-down table service restaurants, and amazing snacks.
- Eat Inside the Castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table– an amazing princess-character dining restaurant. Little girls will feel like real princesses as you eat inside the castle!
- Columbia Harbor House is a great option for lunch located near the Liberty Bell in Frontierland. With two stories, there is always an indoor table available and the food is good too.
- Be Our Guest has the best food in the park and the kids will love the way the waiters deliver the food straight to your table with a fancy food cart thanks to your magic rose locater. You do have to book a reservation for even the quick service dining which is served for breakfast and lunch.
- Dole Whip is available in multiple locations in Adventureland. One across from the Swiss Family Treehouse and the other by the Magic Carpet Ride.
- Get Delicious Cinnamon Rolls at Gaston’s Tavern has the amazing HUGE cinnamon rolls that used to be on Main Street. YUMMY!!!
Epcot Tips
The front of the park is GREAT for Hot Days!
Innoventions is full of hands-on educational games and simulators for the kids. The attraction is all indoors and air-conditioned.
Most rides are located inside air-conditioned buildings that are filled with smaller attractions as well giving you a much-needed break from the heat. There’s even a playground inside the exit of Mission: SPACE that kids love. Also, check out the cars inside the exit of Test Track, where kids can enjoy pretending to drive them.
Tips for Little Ones
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a great ride for kids and usually a quick queue.
- Turtle Talk with Crush is super fun and it’s located indoors along with a giant aquarium offering ample time indoors.
- Spaceship Earth is slow moving and if you go later in the day the queue isn’t bad.
- Innoventions is full of hands-on fun.
- The Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride with Donald Duck in Mexico is so fun. Our kids love it!
PRO TIP: Head to Frozen Ever After Ride in the morning, not many people head to the World Showcase in the morning so the line for Frozen is usually short (or at least reasonable) during that time.
Characters
Want to see the princesses? Book breakfast at Akerhaus in Norway and you’ll see a bunch. Book the breakfast before the park opens to be one of the first allowed in the parks 😉
You will also find princesses throughout the worlds of Epcot
Unique Characters – Mary Poppins is often seen in England and the Three Caballeros are found in Mexico, check the daily Disney Park Guide for their location and times.
Kidcot
Kids love coloring the Duffy Bears (free) at the Kidcot Fun Stops in the World Showcase. You can start in any country and the kids get their bear and first stamp. The kids continue collecting stamps in each country they visit!
Pro Tip- kids can also ask cast members in each country to write their name in the cast members native language on the back of their Duffy Bear.
Epcot Food Tips
Epcot is home to some amazing food. I still have not tried everything I want to experience. There are over 30 restaurants and an endless number of food carts and quick service especially during special events like the Food & Wine Festival.
Best Epcot Restaurants
Our personal favorites are Teppan Edo (fun for the kiddos), Chefs de France, and La Hacienda de San Angel. Schedule a dinner at La Cacienda de San Angel to coincide with illuminations show and request for a table by the window. Their tacos and margaritas are fantastic!
Incredible Snacks & Drinks!
Epcot has by far the best snacks and desserts of any park. Here are some you have to try:
- Spiked Dole Whip! they spiked the delicious favorite with coconut rum. Get one… it will make your day SO much better!!
- Snack on a Croissant Donut available at a stand near Canada in the World Showcase.
- For a couple of bucks you can get a delicious baguette in France and it will keep the family’s bellies quite full.
- Italy has the BEST latte, and a great walk-up counter to grab a slice of pizza
- Check out the incredible sweets in Norway
- Visit the Tequila bar inside the temple in Mexico for some incredible Margaritas
Epcot Quick Service Dining
When it comes to quick service dining, Epcot is the best as well. I have a full list of my favorite places to grab a quick meal in Epcot. My favorite spot is at LES HALLES BOULANGERIE-PATISSERIE in Paris, with some of the most amazing sandwiches on fresh baguettes and the quiche is quite good.
Afterward, stop by next door for some authentic gelato.
PRO TIP: There is a back exit that drops you into Boardwalk which is a great place to walk around, grab a bite (we like picking up a whole pizza pie from the walk-up window), or watch the nighttime entertainment. You can also walk or take a boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from here. Just make sure if you parked at Epcot you get back to that park before closing.
Animal Kingdom Tips
Pandora Tips
My tip, visit Pandora at night! Pandora opened in May of 2017 and has been quite popular ever since. The Flight of Passage ride is my absolute favorite ride in all the Disney Parks. The only problem, long lines. The lines are shorter, the weather is less hot, and the entire place glows.
Get Some Glow Paint before you go! – We purchased some glow paint and got our kids all done up before heading to Animal Kingdom. It’s an absolute blast. Grab the paint here!
Check out my insider’s guide to Pandora, it has tips you need to know before you go.
Character Tips
This park is a great place to meet characters as it typically has much shorter wait times than the other parks.
Most are located at Discovery Island
You can also catch the characters by arriving early and heading to the Tree of Life. The characters arrive by car to kick off the day.
Or book a character breakfast at the Tusker House and see them there.
PRO TIP: Book Tusker House before the park opens so you can be one of the first in the park!
Food Recommendations at Animal Kingdom
- My favorite restaurant in all of the parks is at Yak & Yeti. It is incredible.
- Find some great cocktails at the Dawa Bar
- Satu’li Canteen – is great quick service dining and it’s air conditioned! My kids love this place for the cheeseburger pods, my husband loves the chicken plates.
- Harambe Market has excellent lunch. I love their Chicken Tikka Masala!
- Grab Samosas from the food cart at the entrance of Africa.
- Waffles and Ice Cream are tasty from Tamu Tamu.
How to Cool Off at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom, for whatever reason, always feels like the hottest park to me. I don’t really understand why as there are trees all around the park. So, I am always on the lookout for places to cool down.
- Plan to get wet, really wet if you are riding Kali River Rapids. Plan to pack ponchos and spare clothing as necessary.
- The Lion King Show is awesome- very entertaining and is in a giant air-conditioned theater.
- It’s Tough to be a Bug is also a great show to cool off in.
Hollywood Studios Tips
Getting to Hollywood Studios
The Disney buses will take you from any of the Disney resort hotels with the exception of Disney’s Yacht Club, Disney’s Beach Club, & Disney’s Boardwalk Hotels where you can take a boat or simply walk. There is also the new skyway which will take you from the new Riviera Hotel and Port Orleans.
Hollywood Studios Time Savings Tips
Get there Early and Head to Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, or Toy Story Mania first if you are at the park early as everyone else will run to Slinky Ride or the New Star Wars Land. Get Lightning Lane passes for those!
Where to Cool Off
- Indiana Jones Stunt Show
- Star Tours – the line is mainly indoors or in lots of shade
- Muppet Vision 3D
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Little Mermaid
Hollywood Studios Food Tips
- The Brown Derby has the best food in the park in my opinion.
- Pro Tip- they also have a bar called the Brown Derby Lounge where you can grab amazing cocktails and appetizers too!
- 50’s Prime Time Cafe is a hoot especially with tweens as they get bossed around by the funny wait staff. Think “elbows off the table” “eat your veggies” type stuff.
- Hollywood & Vine has character dining with the Disney Jr. Characters. It’s best to book prior to park opening to be allowed in the park early or book lunch because it’s a great place to cool down and relax.
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Tips
Galaxy Edge is finally here! This land is a completely immersive experience that takes you to Batuu where the first order is battling against the resistance. Here are some of our best tips for Star Wars Galaxy Edge
Galaxy Edge is definitely a must-see, so these Disney World tips are extra important if you are a Star Wars fan. Here are my top tips!
- Make Reservations Early! You can make reservations up to 60 days in advance for Oga’s Cantina and Building a Lightsaber.
- Be ready to be completely immersed in the land. Every cast member plays a role and rarely breaks character so you truly feel like you are part of Star Wars. It is a really unique experience
- Interact with the stormtroopers, they are very funny and make the experience that much better
- Visit and interact with a full-size R2-D2 inside the droid depot, our daughter absolutely loved it.
- Request to be the Pilot for Millenium Falcon Ride, it is so much better than any of the other positions on the rides, but be prepared to fly the falcon
Rise of the Resistance Tips
Currently, you need a boarding pass to board the Rise of the Resistance. These are given out via the My Disney Experience app first thing in the morning to those who are in the park. Check out my tips on the best way to score a Rise of the Resistance Boarding Pass.
- Use Mobile Order Dining to order any food, as lines will be long for food as well.
- Visit the land towards the end of the day. This area will be packed non-stop but at around closing time it will be less packed as people head home to get some shut-eye
- Lastly, just take it easy, it might be hard with everyone rushing to Star Wars Land, but take it easy and enjoy the area.
Bonus Tips!
How to Save your Feet & Legs
You are going to do a lot of walking. First off, get some comfortable shoes. Second, when you are done with a day of Disney, lie down on your bed backward and put your feet up on the headboard for about 15 minutes. (trust me, it will make your legs feel so much better)
Take it Slow
Yes, I know, you are at Disney World, you have got to try to see as many things as possible but after my many many visits, I have realized the times we have had the most fun is when we take it nice and slow. We still get on pretty much the same amount of rides, except everyone has a much better time. If you miss one ride or a princess greeting, don’t worry enjoy the time. It truly is a great place to be.
Staying for more than 3 days, get the Memory Maker – PhotoPass Plan
Disney has professional photographers throughout the park ready to capture your special moments. They will give you a photo pass or link your magic band so you can view the photos on the Disney Experience app or website at a later time.
PRO TIP: Did you know these photographers will also take a photo of you using your camera or phone? Pretty cool & it’s FREE!
If you can afford it, the Memory Maker is an AMAZING tool!!! It tracks the photos you take on the rides, while meeting characters, and any photo you take with a Disney Photo Pass Photographer.
The photos come directly to your My Disney Experience app or can be viewed online almost instantly. From there you can download the photos to keep with just one click! There is an additional fee but with all the special photo memories we brought back I would say it’s totally worth the cost. I won’t even bring my big camera next time we go.
Here are some of the moments our Photo Pass captured!
Best Ways to Enjoy Your Disney World Vacation- Hire a Professional (FOR FREE!)
Planning a Disney Vacation is, in my opinion, one of the hardest trips to book, especially if it is your first time. Heck, I’ve been over 30 times and it’s still quite a challenge for me.
Between planning the Lightning Lane passes, ordering the magic bands, booking advanced dining reservations, and figuring out how to get to the parks, it’s just A LOT!
One of my best Disney World tips is to save yourself a lot of time and some money by booking with an authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
The best Disney Travel Agents will do an assortment of things for you that will make your trip so much easier. For example, Best Day Ever Vacations will provide:
- Itinerary Planning
- Lightning Lane Pass Recommendations w/ Height Requirement info
- Give you recommendations on which dining reservations to make as well as what type of Theme Park tickets are best for you and your family.
- Remind you of your Advanced Dining Reservation (so you don’t miss it and get charged $10 per person for a no show… that’s not fun)
- Even more Disney World Tips then we provided here!
- Video Tutorials on how to use My Disney Experience App & Personalizing Magic Bands
- Plus, they always are researching for promotions, so if they find a better price for your vacation, they will call Disney to get you that promo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Best Month to visit Disney World?
November & December Between Thanksgiving & Christmas Break
Late April
May
September
October
What should you not miss at Disney World?
Flight of Passage
Rise of the Resistance
Fantasmic
How many days do you need at Disney World?
Ideally one week is the right amount of time so that you can take your time and enjoy the parks. However you can probably get a lot done in 4-5 days
Which Disney Park is the Best?
1) Animal Kingdom
2) Magic Kingdom
3) Epcot
4) Hollywood Studios
- 7 Best Rides at Epcot for When You Aren’t Eating Your Way Through the Park - November 15, 2024
- 11 of the Best Rides at Magic Kingdom - November 7, 2024
- The Ultimate Guide to The Best Rides at Animal Kingdom - November 3, 2024
I wish I knew these tips before I took my son to Disney.
Thanks for sharing these incredible tips and apps we can use to make our Disney trip a memorable one! Definitely bookmarking! 🙂
Oh my gosh – great tips! My parents live in FL so we go often and I had no idea about some of these! Thank you!
Brilliant post! We are hoping to visit Disney Paris, so I’m not sure how many of them will apply, but these are still great to know!
Thank you Desirae… we visited Disney Paris last May and LOVED it! The wait times were much shorter than we were used to in the states. I have a couple posts about it here- https://globalmunchkins.com/category/disney-trips/disney-paris/ 🙂
I live in California so typically frequent Disneyland instead and I can’t wait for Magic Bands to come here! I don’t really have a tip, but a recommendation. If you like taking pictures with characters and have a Polaroid camera, ask the cast members to take the Polaroid & then have the character sign it- it’s a great souvenir! Great post 🙂
Megan that is such a fun tip! I think I will do that for my daughter and make our own autograph book. Love it!!!
Before we planned our Disney trip I devoured anything I could about how to survive Disney, this is a great post to add to the collection!
So, glad you found it useful! Thank you for adding it to your collection!!
This is just what I’ve been looking for! Thanks so much! I’m in the UK so haven’t been to Disneyworld before but we’re taking our little ones (they’ll be almost 5 and almost 2) in September and these tips are so great. Looks like I am going to come home a stone heavier though haha, the food looks amazing! Pinned for later 🙂
September is one of our favorite times to visit. The wait times are significantly less and the weather is beautiful. You’ll have a great time! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
I went to Disney for my honeymoon 5 years ago and it was amazing. Before we went I read everything Disney so I could be all prepared. I’m glad I did. xx
It really does help when you do your research prior to traveling. We’ve learned that the hard way a few times.
[…] Here are some tips from Global Munchkins: Disney World Tips & Tricks […]
[…] all my tips & tricks on outsmarting the crowds at Disneyworld check out my post here. Or for my Universal Orlando Tips from a Pro check out this post […]
Start at the back of the park and go counter clockwise…that’s genius! So many great ideas, bookmarking this to review before our next Disney trip. thx!
So, glad you were able to find some good tips 😉 Happy Travels!
[…] […]
I’d add: Bring a spray bottle of watee and midst yourself and your kids to stay cool. Pack cooked tortillini or ravioli … doesn’t spill and fills little bellies. Play the sorceres game in between fast passes (MK). For a stroller that reclines to flat, lay it down totally flat and put your backpack there for kid to lean on, I add a blanket to keep it soft, less to carry and conceals a backpack when you park your stroller. I do this with one side of a double stroller to keep access to the underneath compartment accessible. Water is free, yes, but tastes terrible. Bring frozen waterbottles, no matter what time of year, they.will.melt. bring lemon essential oil or lemonade packet drop ins if you must drink disney water, or just get ice from Disney and bring your own drinks. Get a popcorn bucket on day 1, it’s $10 but only $1.50 to refill… with a bunch of kids ask for cups for everyone in the party to easily share with all.. then refill again before leaving. If you want to buy something expensive and have cash, ask a annual passholders to buy it for you with their 20% discount. Unlike Disneyland, strollers must be folded on parking trams. Not sure how they get away with that in regards to wheelchairs, maybe special hc parking. Don’t pack your stroller if you want to take the tram (mines always too full so I never take the parking tram at any park). You can walk a stroller onto the MK boat or monorail without folding it though. Go to the ride you got a fp for way if your in that area, if ghe line for standby is reasonable, jump on and cancel that fp allowing yourself a chance at another instead. Pack pjs, toothbrushes and water bottle in your car, make sure kids go to the bathroom before you leave the park then change um brush um and they will pass out on your way to.. whever. Easy transfer when all that is out of the way
great tips. thanks
So, glad you found them helpful! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
[…] a regular part of my childhood summers. But, when my husband and I were dating we took a trip to Walt Disney World and that trip changed everything. We ended up purchasing Disney Vacation Club points soon after […]
[…] […]
I went in Disneyworld last year. I really love the experiences I made there. I will be back soon.
It is such a fun place to go. Glad that you enjoyed yourself 😉
[…] Not ready to purchase but still want to save? Rent points from members like me. I listed several rental stores you can do this with that we have used in the past in this Disney World post here. […]
[…] Disney character breakfast and we have been to almost all of them! (read about our Disneyland and Disneyworld experiences + tips & […]
Parking a Disney Springs is free. Park there and take the bus to where you’re going.
Bring your own food. (Great in strollers).
But souvenirs off of Ebay
Buy autograph books on Ebay
Buy pins off of Ebay
If possible, go on off season
Child wants to dress like favorite character? Buy the outfit and dress them up before they go in.
Mickey ears are expensive. $40 to $80 Check ebay
I’m so glad I found your page! We are visiting Disney world this weekend and I’m printing out some of your tips to take with me. We have been saving for this vacation for 5 years and I’m glad your ideas will help us make the most of it. Seeing all your fun photos has made me even more excited to go! Thanks for taking the time to let other families know how to make great memories . Now I can’t wait to check out the rest of your site.
If we have a couple of disabled people in our group how does that work for rides?
Hi Samantha, Disney has a disability pass available. You simply head to guest relations after entering the park and they will be able to help you. You can find information on the disability pass here- https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/
Great tips! One of the best Disney tips articles I’ve read! Thanks!
Wow!! You just made my day. Thank you. Let me know if you have any questions. We love our Disney trips and I would love to help you plan yours too 🙂
I found Hollywood & Vine and Mama Melrose’s to be THE worst restaurants we’ve eaten at anywhere on the Disney World resort area. It’s pretty sad when a kid who loves breakfast foods won’t eat the scrambled eggs because “they tasted funny.” It’s pretty hard to mess up scrambled eggs.
When we dined at Mama Melrose’s, we had more flies at our table than people (ack). They also messed up my meal. I asked that something be left off of my meal and was told no problem. Apparently it was a problem because the meal came with it anyway. We left hungry because the food just wasn’t that great.
We now leave the park to eat, then go back to the park later.
Oh no… I am so sorry that you had that kind of experience. I will say it’s been awhile since we ate at that particular character breakfast. I would encourage you to reach out to Disney and let them know about your experience too. We have had hits & misses with character dining both at Disneyland and Disney World. Most recently I was less than impressed with Cinderella’s Royal Table and delighted with the O’hana and Cape May character breakfasts so those would be my go to suggestions. Thank you for being honest and helping future travelers. Again, I am terribly sorry you had to experience that.
This is so helpful! Thanks for the great tips. I will use them when I go to Disney 🙂
Fantastic! I am so happy that you liked them.
Your tips were great…. I would add two packing tips…
1.). Bring two pair of tennis shoes. We went last summer and it rained while we were at Animal Kingdom and the water got up to our ankles in some places!! Still a blast even in the rain,but it was nice to have an extra pair to wear that afternoon.
2.) Buy disposable cameras for your children. kids enjoyed taking their OWN pictures of whatever they wanted and liked!! Plus it saves room in your phone storage!
I love the idea of disposable cameras. So smart!
Thank you for all of your tips! They definitely made our recent trip much easier. We tried to rope drop at Animal Kingdom to get on Flight of Passage and it was kind of a nightmare. Everyone was doing it, grownups were pushing kids out of the way to get there first and the wait was three hours long within five minutes of the park opening. We found it was better to do closer to park closing time with the wait being half as long.
I’m so glad you found the tips helpful. Thank you for the update on Flight of Passage. We’ll have to try that when we are there next week 🙂
Since when can you not catch a bus from one park to the next? I have ALWAYS done that… is it new for 2018?
I took my 14 year old daughter 2 years ago by ourselves. I highly recommend taking just 1 kid (especially since we have 4:)
We shared every meal & snack. Saved a ton of money and got to do so much since it was just 2 of us.
We got to MK 30 minutes before it opened so were first at the rope, first in property. This was so special to us, walking in to an empty park is a huge delight!
Wow, that does sound like a wonderful experience.
These tips are amazing! Will definitely use them on next Disney trip next year! However, I disagree with just one minor detail – the transportation. You stated that you cannot catch shuttle buses between parks, but back when I went in 2016, we were easily able to get a shuttle bus to any park from any park. Is this correct still? But these tips are still fantastic!
The refillable drink mug you advise to purchase on the day of arrival, is that from a resort hotel or at the parks?
Hi Jessica,
You get the refillable drink mugs at the resort hotel.
Some great tips here, even for those that have been before.
I disagree re. the park to park transportation though. Unless things have very recently changed, there are buses to take you directly from park to park in most cases.
Minor exceptions for Magic Kingdom and needing to go via. the TTC and/or monorail.
Love your tips! Question for you, when booking the fastpass attractions how do you know what time to reserve the next one. Do you need more than an hour in between each ride? Also what time do you suggest to get to the park before gates open, I have heard the lines to get in are long?
Hello Sarah, thank you so much I am happy to hear you found our tips useful. I would suggest arriving to the park about 30 minutes prior to opening unless it is a park with new rides (Animal Kingdom) then an hour is good.
Fast Passes can only be reserved once per hour so spacing them out an hour is good. Some people recommend booking three fast passes for one park in the am. And, then when you get to that park you book three additional (day of) fast passes for the same park in the afternoon or at another park.
Great, thank you so much. First time to DW and US with 4 under 6 yrs old, I’m a little intimidated but we are bringing a grandma so we should survive 😉
These tips are amazing. It’s my first trip to America let alone Disney. We are coming with my parents and my brother and his family 10 of us).
We go in April and I am so excited. Thank you for your inside tips. Truly they are very helpful. Many thanks
Kate x
Hey Kate,
Thanks for the nice comments. April is one of my favorite times to go. The weather is perfect and Epcot’s flower and garden festival is going on. Have a great time.
I’d like to add another tip if traveling with kids. Take along a travel journal for them to document their experiences as they happen. My book, Kid’s Travel Journal – Disney Edition (#1 Disney Travel Journal on Amazon) is a great option. It fits nicely into a backpack or purse and contains 10-days worth of entries, with multiple pages of writing prompts per day. There is also space to get passport stamps at Epcot’s World Showcase, lots of pages for character autographs, games and activities and more! A great keepsake for any child heading to Walt Disney World in Orlando!
As a mom and a Disney lover, I really like your post. Every people should read this content before planning a trip to WDW. Thanks “MAMA MUNCHKIN” for your very effective post.
Hi! Thanks for the tips, they’re great! Question—for the Jedi training sign up you say they actually start taking names 30 minutes before they open, but park hours say open at 9am. Can you actually go in the park early or should we just plan on getting there as close to 9 as possible?! Thank you!!
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering problems with your RSS.
I don’t know why I am unable to join it. Is there anyone else having identical RSS problems?
Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Thank you lady! We’re headed there at the end of February! My husband’s fam have been there more times than you can count, but your tips are ones that they loved and we will certainly put into effect! Thank you! Crazy… you’re famous chica! Congrats!
thanks for the information
These are great tips! We are considering going to Disney World for the first time and this didn’t exactly help me narrow things down, but still gave me a great idea on what to plan into our trip. Thank you!
Hi Heidi,
Disney World definitely can be overwhelming when you try to think of everything. My biggest tip is don’t try to pack everything in. Have everybody write down a couple things they absolutely must do. Once you accomplish those things, everything else is a bonus. If you need any help at all feel free to ask.
Awesome read. Thank you. Me and my wife are actually trying to plan a Disney trip. We have a 12 year old and a 4 year old and it drives us crazy to find the right way to do it. With your tips and recommendations its so much easier.
Has Disney ever considered doing
Some type of monthly or two month pass for the Snow Birds that migrate to Flotida for the winter. Since we have retired we still go to Flotida every year and look forward to going to Disney. I know there are several other Seniors that feel the same way. I hope they can keep the Senior group in their thoughts of future pass holder specials…Thank You…
Thanks for the Disney tips! Love reading all the info you have to share 🙂