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, 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 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 Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day of your visit. This costs anywhere from $15-$39 per day, per person. With Multi Pass, you can access Lightning Lane at select attractions in each park. You can initially book three attractions before your trip. After you’ve visited your first attraction, you can book another selection based on availability. 

A second option is to purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass. Each park has attractions that are NOT included with your Multi Pass purchase and must be purchased separately. These can be purchased at the same time you purchase and select your Multi Pass. Prices will vary by date, attraction, and park. We’ve seen prices range anywhere from $10-$25 per person, per attraction.

Click here to learn more about 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. 

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.