So You’re Going to Disney World? 6 Things to Do Next

There is no feeling in the world as exciting as deciding to go to Walt Disney World. There is a reason that the vacation destination is called the “The Most Magical Place On Earth” as it is filled with four theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, over two dozen Disney Resorts, attractions, dining, entertainment, and shopping. With so many amazing things to experience and enjoy on a Disney vacation, planning is a big part of making sure that each vacation moment will be magical. After deciding to enjoy a Disney vacation, guests should plan and follow a few simple steps to ensure their vacation will run smoothly and create lasting memories. Once a Disney vacation is officially in the works, here are the six things to do next!

1 – Choose The Right Disney Resort

Part of what makes a Disney vacation so full of magic is staying on property at a Disney Resort. With over twenty options, it can be a little overwhelming when deciding which Disney Resort to stay at, but a simple step can make a choice a lot easier. Guests should look at their vacation budget and decide how much they are looking to spend per night on their vacation. Once they have a number in mind, they can consider which price category they should choose from. Disney Resorts are broken down into three price categories: Value being the least expensive, Deluxe being the most expensive, and Moderate falling somewhere in the middle. Once guests have an idea of the budget and which category to choose from, they will only choose between a handful of Disney Resorts instead of two dozen.

2 – Book Advanced Dining Reservations

Guests should definitely opt to book Advanced Dining Reservations if they are planning on enjoying any full-service meals when at Walt Disney World. Advanced Dining Reservations can be made up to sixty days in advance and are absolutely necessary for many full-service restaurants in Walt Disney World. Some of the most popular options that tend to book the quickest are Space 220, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Le Cellier Steakhouse, the California Grill, Chef Mickey’s, and Be Our Guest Restaurant.

3 – Make a Schedule

When planning ahead for a vacation, guests should opt to make a tentative schedule for each day of their trip. By deciding ahead of time what park or parks to enjoy for the day, guests can head into their vacation confident and not waste time each morning trying to formulate a plan on the spot. Guests should consider their Advanced Dining Reservations and park hours when creating a schedule.

4 – Consider Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes

While it’s not right for everyone, purchasing Lightning Lane access will let you “skip the line” and give you more time during your day.  If you plan to use the paid Lightning Lane service at the parks, you need to understand and be prepared so you know how and what attractions you want to book. Learning about the services ahead of time means you don’t have to figure it out when you get to Walt Disney World, saving you precious vacation time. 

There are two Lightning Lane paid options that include different attractions. First, you can purchase Disney Genie+ for the day of your visit. This costs anywhere from $15-$39 per day, per person. With Genie+ you can access the Lightning Lane at select attractions at each park. Much like the original FastPass system, you can only book one Lightning Lane attraction at a time. At 7 am on the day of your visit within the My Disney Experience App, you’ll book your first return window at one of the attractions below. After that, you can make one selection at a time based on availability. Also, note that you can only use the Lightning Lane for each attraction on the list one time. You will not be allowed to book another return window for an attraction you’ve already used for Lightning Lane that day.

A second option for purchasing Lightning Lane is the a la carte method. Each park has attractions that are NOT included with your Genie+ purchase and must be purchased separately. Lightning Lane selections for the top-tier individual attractions will also be made on the same day of your visit and can be made across multiple theme parks (great for those who have the Park Hopper Option). Access to purchase Lightning Lane for the individual top-tier attractions is available to all guests at park opening. However, guests staying on Disney World property receive the benefit of early access to top-tier reservations and can make their purchases at 7:00 am on the day of their visit. Access to the Lightning Lane can hit capacity and will sell out, so we highly recommend you purchase access right at 7:00 am if you plan to purchase access. Prices will vary by date, attraction, and park. We’ve seen prices range anywhere from $7-$25 per person, per attraction.

Click here to learn more about Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes.

5 – Learn Where and What Things Are

One of the easiest things guests can do at home to make their Walt Disney World vacation so much easier is to learn where and what things are. By learning where things are located, guests will be able to move about their Disney Resorts and the parks easily and not waste time stopping for directions or constantly consulting a map. Some key things to locate are the front desk, Disney transportation stops, guest relations, and must-do attractions. In addition to knowing where things are located, guests should also have an idea of what things are. This is so that guests know exactly what attractions and experiences entail once in the parks to avoid wasting their time on something they don’t have an interest in experiencing or avoiding an attraction that might be too intense for their preferences. Finally, learn more about Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes to learn if it is right for your family.

6 – Pack Well

Packaging well is the final step in preparing for the perfect Disney vacation. Guests should make lists before packing to ensure that they don’t leave any key items behind. Important things to pack are extra clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, electronics chargers, an easy-to-access bag, rain ponchos, bathing suits, and medicines. By preparing a packing list and packing the necessary and convenient options, guests are sure to have a blast on their Disney vacations.