Top 10 Tips for the Best First Disney World Vacation

It’s finally happening! You are headed to Disney for the first time ever! What you are about to experience is magical, alright, but as with anything worth your time and investment, there are a few things you should know before you slap on those Mickey ears. Here are our top ten tips for the best first Disney Vacation!

1 – Homework

Ok, so the word ‘homework’ immediately makes us squish up our faces in resentment. This homework is so important; however, we put it as our top tip! If you’re reading this, you are already doing it right because blogs and articles are an excellent way to learn more about Disney! You’ll want to review locations, attractions, entertainment, dining, characters – the whole works with your family. Take your notes and put together a budget that will take the guessing game away from what can and cannot be afforded.

If any of this seems overwhelming, don’t fret! We highly recommend booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to ensure you are well taken care of and get all the discounts available to you. For more details and help booking your vacation, call our travel partners Magical Vacation Planners at (407) 442-0227. You can also get a no-obligation, FREE vacation quote by clicking here. Their services are free to you, and they can answer any questions you may have. A general understanding of how things work at Disney and a personal plan is key to making your first trip the best Disney vacation you’ll ever experience!

2 – Staying On-Site 

Editor’s Note: Disney Dining Plans are temporarily suspended. However, Disney has confirmed that they will return for vacation packages beginning January 9, 2024. Those packages are now on sale.

If at all possible, we highly recommend staying on Disney property for your first trip. Several resorts vary in themes and pricing, so you’re sure to find one that works best for your family. The resort guests receive fantastic perks such as early Advanced Dining Reservations, Dining Plans, convenient transportation, and paramount guest services. Plus – our favorite – you’ll feel like you never leave Disney’s magic!

3 – My Disney Experience

Do yourself a favor, and if you haven’t already, go in and make yourself a MyDisneyExperience.com account. Disney offers these incredible accounts to help guide you through the vacation process. It’s super easy to follow along, and you can do things such as connect with family and friends, link everything to one location, make reservations and Disney Genie+ and a la carte Lightning Lane selections, view photos, and more! Once you’ve reached the park, you’ll have all of your information right at your fingertips with the My Disney Experience app. It really has become an essential tool for a Walt Disney World Vacation.

4 – ADRs

No, that title isn’t a Star Wars character! Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) allow you to snag dining reservations 60 days before your check-in day. Non-resort guests are welcome to make reservations 60 days in advance but are not able to book for the length of their trip. Resort guests, however, have the potential to book 70 days in advance (60 days from check-in date, up to 10 days of their length of stay), giving them the more significant advantage of snagging those hard-to-get dining spots. If you have a dining reservation that is known to be challenging to get in, book the moment you can put the reservation online (6 am) or speak with a Cast Member over the phone when they open for the day (7 am). You’ll want to check the calendar and put your advanced reservation dates in as a reminder on your phone.

5 – PhotoPass

Say cheese! Since this is your first vacation to Disney, you’ll want to capture those amazing moments you will soon experience. Disney offers a great system called PhotoPass. Anywhere you see PhotoPass Cast Members, you’ll want to take a moment and smile for the camera. These photos are linked to your MyDisneyExpereicne.com account. Suppose you want to have ALL of your Disney photos rather than selecting just a couple to purchase from the PhotoPass system, check out the Memory Maker Package. And don’t forget to smile as you plunge to the ground on the Tower of Terror because attraction photos are included in PhotoPass selections!

6 – Use Disney Genie (Complimentary) and Consider Disney Genie+ and A la Carte Lighting Lane (Paid)

Disney has a program designed to improve a Walt Disney World vacation. Since this is your first trip, you’ll want to know the options. We’ve got an article with all the details, click here, but here is a quick overview:

Disney Genie (Complimentary)

As a first-timer, you may be overwhelmed by the number of choices and options in front of you and might be interested in some help. That is where Disney Genie can be a fantastic option for new guests. Tools include giving guests customized itineraries and suggestions based on interests and top picks. Other features include forecasted wait times, an experience tip board, a dining tip board, and guests can ask the app questions to get information. In your MyDisney Experience app, you’ll be asked several questions about your interests, and the service will give you an itinerary based on those. You can always mix things up and make substitutions, but it’s a great place to start. Also, these tools are totally free! So there’s no reason not to try them out!

Lightning Lane Access (Paid)

As a first-timer, you probably haven’t heard of FastPass, but if you have, you’ll need to know that there is a new system in place to “skip the line.” The new Lightning Lane allows guests to skip the regular queue by paying for access. There are two ways to do this. First, you can purchase Disney Genie+ for the day of your visit. This costs anywhere from $15-35 per day per person. With Genie+, you can access the Lightning Lane at select attractions at each park. A second option for purchasing Lightning Lane is the a la carte method. There are attractions at each park that are NOT included with your Genie+ purchase and must be purchased separately. Prices range from $7-$25 per attraction per person. Keep in mind that you do not have to purchase either of these options to enjoy these attractions. The standby queue is available for all attractions. However, this may be a good option for you and your family if you want to skip the line and get more done. 

7 – Enjoy Your Resort

One of our biggest blunders from our first trip was not taking the time to enjoy our resort. We were so occupied with the parks that we forgot to check out what our Disney Resort had to offer. Disney Resorts are known for its excellent amenities, so why not enjoy them while you are there? Plan a resort day during your trip, if possible. Plus, there is always resort hopping as an option to check out Disney’s other resorts and plan for where you want to stay on your next trip to Disney!

8 – Go Big!

Don’t just go through the motions and pick the basics on everything, but instead, make your first Disney Vacation super memorable! Instead of a standard table service restaurant, check out a dinner show and/or character dining option. Maybe instead of going swimming every day, you can rent a boat one of those days. Are you shopping at Disney Springs? How about a ride up into the sky with Aerophile! Disney is where dreams come true, and if traveling to Disney is a rare event for you, we suggest you go big whenever possible!

9 – Park Preparedness

Strap on that backpack, slap on that MagicBand, and tell the kids to file in behind you! If you want to alleviate any unnecessary stress while in the park, it’s as simple as being prepared. Some of our favorite items to bring in the parks are bottled water, snacks, sunscreen/sunglasses, hand sanitizer, cell charger, and don’t forget the Tylenol (just in case). Be sure shoes for you and your family – especially kids – are comfortable. Plus, Disney does not have a runway show for their guests, so forget fancy and go with comfortable clothing. The more prepared you are for the park, the happier those around you will be.

10 – Let’s Be Honest 

This tip may be last on our list, but it’s definitely in the top 10 for a reason. Disney doesn’t have to be all about scurrying around, trying to do everything despite meltdowns and unforeseen circumstances. We think a plan is essential, but most importantly, is having flexibility when things don’t go according to the plan! Our best recommendation here is to have each person in your family pick two or three must-dos to make their first Disney trip magical. Try to knock out these must-dos and count the rest as icing on the cake. Don’t forget – you are on vacation, so when things don’t go as planned, breathe and have a Mickey ice cream!

Alright, Disney fans – what are your top tips for first-timers? We’d love to hear from you!