First Disney Vacation tips

Planning your first visit to Disney World?  These days it’s no longer just a walk in the park.  With bigger crowds than ever, rules, restrictions and reservations in high demand, you may ask yourself where to begin.  Here are a few tips to get you started.

 

                                                                                  Start planning early.

Research all the best deals for park packages, airfare and hotels and accommodations.   If flexible on dates, check crowd predictors such as Touring Plans or just do a google search.  Planning early for your travel and hotel bookings can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

 

                                                                Try to book an early morning flight.

 

Early morning flights and direct flights in our experience have been the best with children.  If you can manage to find an early flight, then, once you arrive you have the rest of the day to explore the resort, go for a swim and relax in your resort/hotel.  Also, we often make reservations for dinner in Disney Springs on that first night.  Just walking around Disney Springs and going to the giant Disney store (World of Disney Store) gets everyone excited and in the Disney mood (without having to spend the money on park tickets).  Then you can get a good nights sleep before your Disney park day!

We usually try to find airfare on Jet Blue or Southwest and found that recently they have been opening up their schedules earlier than usual, so you can book many months in advance if you know your dates.  

 

                                                          Create an account at the WDW web site.

 

Once you have created an account, you can purchase park tickets and make park reservations (if necessary) as soon as you have airfare and accommodations secured.  Your account will link all of your tickets and reservations under the My Disney Experience tab.  Park ticket prices decrease with each additional day ticket you purchase.  Visit the WDW website to see ticket pricing for your dates.  Disney has changed their pricing recently and are charging more on high demand dates.  This would be another reason to travel at off peak times if possible. 

Once you know what days you are going to be in each park, decide which days you will be in which park, and go ahead and make your park reservations on the Disney.com web site.  Disney began requiring park reservations in addition to purchasing tickets a few years ago so they could keep track in advance as to how many visitors to each park there would be and they could cap that number if necessary by only allowing a certain number of guests in each park.  They raised the number allowed into the parks now, but are still requiring the park reservations.  They seldom sell out unless it is peak season or Holiday time, but make the reservations as soon as you know what days you are visiting to secure your plans.  You can also edit these reservations at any time. 

 

 

                                        Make a spreadsheet/plan for each travel day.

Start with entering the dates and days you are visiting and which park you would like to see.  This is where the park crowd predictors come in handy.  Also, you can check on the Disney world web site to see park hours on the dates you are visiting.  If certain days offer early entry or late hours, consider those dates if interested.  Continue building the itinerary with detailed plans, reservations, and shows.  And if all this seems overwhelming, you may want to opt for using a Disney Travel Planner.   They have all the experience and knowledge of planning a custom tailored vacation for you and your family and most are at not cost to you.  Contact me today for more information. 

 

                                                          Book Dining and Special Events.

Mark your calendar for 30 days prior to your first ticket to Disney world parks.  At 7am that morning, you can book any dining or special event reservation for the entire length of your vacation.  The most popular restaurants and time slots will sell out in minutes.  This is why it’s important to have your plan laid out ahead of time and know which park you will be in each day.  If you are unable to secure the dining reservation you were hoping for, do not give up.  Check back regularly as people often change and cancel plans.

 

                                                         Don’t try to see and do everything.

Disney is huge and each park could conceivably take several days to see and do everything each park has to offer.  We have been going to the parks for decades now and every time we go we see and experience something new.  Trying to ride every ride or see every attraction will only lead to dissapointment and exhaustion.    Enjoy the day whether you are on a ride or seeing an attraction.  Sometimes the best memories are with the small unexpected occurrences.

 

                                          Schedule a “resort” day in the middle of your trip. 

If it is possible, schedule in a non-park day during your stay.  Having one day to sleep in, and enjoy all the amenities of the resort or hotel really keeps you from getting trip fatigue.  Additionally it helps to feel like you are getting more value with the high cost of accommodations.  If this is not possible, consider taking breaks on park days and going back to the resort for a break. 

 

                                                                     Consider alternative Plans.

If you are not traveling with small children, consider the option of visiting the parks at night.  Check the WDW web site for dates of Disney After Hours events.  These are special dates when you can purchase a separate ticket and you have access to the parks from 9pm-12am or 10pm-1am.  There are usually no lines for rides, and includes unlimited popcorn, snacks and drinks.  The event is 3 hours, but you are allowed into the parks at 7pm.