Many of our go-to Disney World tips and tricks have had to adapt over the last few years, but we still think every Disney-goer should know them. There are so many hacks to make your Disney trip a little more seamless, a little less hectic, and a we’re happy to share them!

We’re here to share 28 of our tried and true tips! And for those that don’t totally work right now, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered for those, too!

Trip Planning and Packing

Typically, a LOT of planning can go into a Disney World trip. The excitement often begins as soon as you book your vacation (for many guests, often a YEAR out!), and there are a lot of things you can do to make your visit better before you’ve even left!

Choosing Dates For Your Trip

Let’s start off with some of the tricky decisions you have to make when planning your Disney trip. Different times of the year offer various special events (think Halloween or Christmas and the EPCOT Festivals). If there’s an event that’s a must-do for you, then you’re going to want to research those dates and book your trip for that time of year.

If you’re flexible with your time, then you have the ability to choose one of the “slower” times of year to visit. Slow is a relative term in Disney World. It’s always busy, but we’re talking about the difference between a 15-minute wait for it’s a small world and an hour wait! Timing is everything.

The least crowded months typically include January and February (apart from Presidents’ Day Weekend and Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend. More on that below!), September, and October (the farther away from Halloween, the better). Watch out for any 3-day weekends or special events in Disney World though! Those are typically much more crowded and some of them can sneak up on you if you’re not careful. We broke down ALL the events in a Disney World year here!

Even during typically “slow” times, we still are noticing higher crowds, so be mindful of when you visit and you can save yourself added stress from crowds, if possible.

Check out our month-by-month breakdown of EVERYTHING that happens in Disney World.

Packing

Something that will help you at the beginning of your park day — and throughout the day too — is a good park bag! Security lines can get long, and you can make that process easier with a bag that doesn’t have too many pockets and compartments. This will streamline the process and save time during the day so you’re not searching every last pocket for your chapstick. A waterproof material helps as well. We’ve sat our bags in puddles or gotten them soaked in a storm enough to know this is a lifesaver!

If you’re looking to save a little extra cash (and honestly, aren’t we all?) do your best to remember packing those things that Disney will try to sell to you when you need them the most — that’s right, we’re talking umbrellas and ponchos.

If you feel like we sound like a broken record telling you to bring a poncho from home it’s for good reason — this is one of the EASIEST ways guests can save a surprising amount of cash. Disney upsells these pieces of plastic for around $12! Florida is infamous for its almost daily, torrential downpours, especially during the summer. Disney will whip out those umbrellas and ponchos the minute water falls from the sky just about everywhere you look! But if you remember to pack them, you’ll be saving yourself loads of money.

Plan ahead and stay dry! Other essentials that you’ll find at Disney you’ll regret not bringing from home include sunscreen, water bottles, a way to cool off, and many more. Don’t fall victim to the last minute upcharged convenience items.

Check out 8 gadgets you NEED for your Disney hotel room!

Shopping

Ship to Your Resort

Many people don’t know that you can actually have your purchases from Disney sent to your resort! Unfortunately, this service isn’t being offered right now; but typically, as long as you won’t be checking out within the next two days, your items can be sent to your resort. However, you can have purchases held at the front of the park while you go about your day and pick them up on your way out.

If you don’t want to stuff your new souvenirs in your suitcase, Disney can help you arrange to ship your items home. And select stores are currently offering a mobile checkout system to make your shopping experience easier and allow you to skip the line and complete your purchase in the My Disney Experience app.

Here’s how to skip the line at one of the busiest stores in Disney World!

When in Doubt, Head to the Check Out

Items in Disney can sell out really quickly, especially when they’re limited or new. If you see something you think you want, we recommend getting it then and there.

Certain merch can only be found at designated locations. For example, it’ll be pretty tricky to find any Avatar merchandise outside of Pandora or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and certain Haunted Mansion merch will ONLY be sold at Memento Mori in Magic Kingdom. When in doubt, it’s best to purchase something and then return it, rather than find out on the last day of your trip that it’s no longer available.

Dining

Lots of dining locations in Disney World have reopened since July 2020. However, you’ll always want to check which restaurants are open, what their reservation procedures are, and what type of menu they’re offering before booking.

Mobile Ordering

Disney introduced mobile ordering in 2017, and what once was a convenient option has now become a way of life! Many quick service locations will strongly suggest that guests use Mobile Ordering. (By strongly suggest, we mean borderline mandatory unless you’re paying with cash or need assistance!) This alleviates long lines and makes your ordering process much simpler and quicker.

Prior to the park closures, this was one of our BIGGEST tips! Nowadays, be sure you’re familiar with how to use Mobile Order BEFORE you hit the parks. Ensure you have a credit card tied to your My Disney Experience account and you’ll be a Mobile Order pro in no time.

See step-by-step instructions for Mobile Ordering here!

Character Meals

Character Meals are finally returning! As we continue to get back our beloved character dining, we would recommend that if a character meal is a top priority for you, eat breakfast rather than lunch and dinner, which can be pricier.

Right now, you can still get your fill of character meals at spots like Garden Grill in EPCOT, Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort, and Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios, Chef Mickey’s, Tusker House, and Artist Point – Storybook Dining with Snow White. A few locations, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest have character appearances, but the interactions have yet to return to their full pre-closure fun.

Here are photos of Halloween-themed character dining back in Disney World!

Portion Planning

There are lots of snacks at Disney World that are large enough for two people to share. Kids’ meals are a great option because you’ll still typically get a decently sized portion for a much lower price.

If you have two adults that aren’t ravenous, you can likely get by splitting an adult-sized entree. These are usually far larger than your average meal you’d find back home, so you can stretch those dollars even further.

Check out 15 Huge and Shareable Disney World snacks!

Knowing the Best Seat in the House

Many Disney World restaurants have super interesting things to see while you chow down. However, it does matter WHERE in the restaurant you sit if you want the best views! For instance, Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Kidani Village has an incredible savanna view. You can watch animals roam inches from your table while you eat…if you remember to request a table by the windows!

If you head over to San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT, you can request a table on the waterfront and watch the Gran Fiesta Tour float by while you dine. Or, just across the walkway at La Hacienda de San Angel, you can request a table by the windows to have prime fireworks views in the evening. Be sure to do your research and let your seater know exactly where you want to sit upon checking in for your reservation. They’ll do their best to accommodate you.

Here are all the best (and some of the worst) tables in Disney World!

Attractions

Wait Times

When you check the wait time for an attraction on your My Disney Experience App, or at the ride itself, the posted time is often longer than the actual amount of time you’ll wait in line.

These trends do tend to fluctuate, but if you’re feeling discouraged about the wait time of a ride, more often than not your wait will actually be shorter than what’s posted!

Here are some of the wait time differences we’ve noticed!

Rider Switch

Rider Switch is a great option for people traveling with little kids. This service is still happening in Disney World! Rider Switch allows one or more guests to wait in line for the attraction, while someone waits outside with the guest not riding the attraction.

A Cast Member will scan your MagicBands, and after the first riders exit the ride, the second rider will, well, swap with them and enter through a much shorter line than the full standby line! This saves you some time by preventing you from having to wait in line twice!

Here are recent changes made to Disney World’s Rider Switch policy.

Knowing Which Seats are the Best

Similar to knowing which table is best at a Disney World restaurant, your ride experience can also be affected by where you’re situated on the ride.

Soarin’

This attraction will have you gliding across the sky, but sometimes things can look a little…warped. Depending on the row you’re in and your location on each row, your view of the screen might be kind of wonky! Plus, maybe you don’t want to see a bunch of dangling feet in front of you!

For this attraction, ask for the center of the first row. In the boarding groups, this is typically the B1 section you’d preload into. Your view will be centered (meaning no curved, distorted Eiffel Tower) and you won’t have to worry about any feet blocking your view of the world.

Splash Mountain

While you can get pretty wet in any row on your Splash Mountain boat, one thing we can practically guarantee is that you’re more likely to get wet sitting on the right side of the boat in comparison to the left side…and it’s not because of that big drop.

Near the end of the ride, after that big ol’ drop, your boat will pass what you may think is a tiny, seemingly harmless waterfall — wrong. Boats often back up to this spot as ones farther up at the exit unload. This means you could be parked here for a minute or so. This waterfall will definitely splash on that right side of the boat and often get you far wetter than that drop ever did! Maybe trick your friend into sitting there if you don’t want to get as wet. 😉

Learn more about the re-theming of Splash Mountain!

Rise of the Resistance

This extremely popular attraction actually offers TWO different experiences depending on which transport vehicle you’re sorted into, once you get to the trackless portion of the ride.

You’ll encounter some different things (no spoilers here) depending on which ride vehicle you’re in, but regardless you’re still in for an incredible experience!

Learn more about the differences between ride vehicles here! 

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

This is another Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction where your experience is dependent on your position on the ride. In this case, you’ll be assigned to the position of either pilot, engineer, or gunner.

Pilot is definitely the most hands-on role as you get to navigate the Millennium Falcon! Gunners will mostly just hit a lot of buttons but at least feel like they’re contributing. Poor Engineers sit in the back and just mash buttons hoping for the best 😂.

Check out this treasure trove of Millennium Falcon merchandise in Disney World!

Kilimanjaro Safaris

The expansive views of the savanna are definitely immersive on this real-life safari tour in Animal Kingdom, but we think one side of the safari vehicle has a teeny advantage over the other. The left side will get you closer to the majority of the animals, like the crocodiles, hippos, and the African wild dogs, while the right side might give you a better view of the giraffes.

Unless giraffes are your absolute only priority, try sliding down towards the left of your row (meaning be first to board when it’s your turn!).

See photos of the adorable baby giraffes born last year in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Rollercoasters

Generally speaking, any ride that incorporates a fast-moving, train-like ride vehicle like Expedition Everest, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster, the intensity of your ride will depend on where you’re seated.

For a less intense ride, hop in the front! If you love thrills, aim for a seat in the back as you’ll get pulled along and whipped around a whole lot more!

Check out our full list of ride hacks here!

Disney Genie

FastPass+ has officially been discontinued and has been replaced by the Disney Genie service. The Disney Genie is a free service within the My Disney Experience app that helps facilitate customized itineraries based on the guest’s interests, plans, and more. You might say that the Disney Genie will act as your personal assistant.

While the Genie is a complimentary service, there are two additional paid services that are optional. These services allow guests to skip the standby lines and use Lightning Lanes (what used to be the FastPass+ lanes), so depending on your budget and interests it might be worth it.

Understanding Disney Genie in 500 Words or Less.

Genie+

The Genie+ is an optional, paid service that will cost $15 per ticket, per day in Disney World. If you decide to pay for Genie+ you’ll have the opportunity to select the next available times for a variety of rides and attractions and use the faster Lightning Lane rather than the standby line.

Beginning at 7AM in Disney World, guests can start making their Lightning Lane reservations. It’s important to note that you can make one reservation at a time and you can’t repeat rides.

The differences between Disney Genie and Genie+.

Individual Attraction Selection

Individual Attraction Selection, also known as pay-per-ride, is the second paid service within the Disney Genie. This service allows guests to pay for access to the Lightning Lanes of a maximum of two qualifying rides that are NOT available with the Genie+ service. Most of the rides included with this service are the most popular, in demand rides in Disney World.

Each ride has a different price depending on the day and the ride with a maximum cost of $15 for a single ride, and you can make reservations in different Disney Parks as long as you have a Park Hopper ticket. Note that you cannot modify or cancel your reservation, so you have to be absolutely sure before booking. This is a good option if none of the Genie+ rides appeal to you or if you only want to prioritize paying for the most popular rides.

What’s the difference between Disney Genie+ and pay-per-ride?

Fireworks

Fireworks have officially returned in Disney World, with the Disney Enchantment fireworks show in Magic Kingdom and the Harmonious Nighttime Spectacular in EPCOT!

In Magic Kingdom, there are some unique spots to watch the fireworks when the space in front of the castle and on Main Street, U.S.A. is just too crowded.

Within Magic Kingdom, one place that offers a really different view is the Swiss Family Treehouse over in Adventureland. You won’t get to hear the soundtrack, but the elevated view will make your experience a little more unique than it would normally be on the ground.

A spot that will give you an opposite vantage point of this nighttime spectacular is over in Fantasyland. From behind Cinderella Castle, you’ll have a completely different view. It’ll feel like the fireworks are right on top of you!

Although you won’t be able to see the castle projections, this is a really unique perspective!

Watch the debut of Disney’s Enchantment here!

Monorail Resorts

The beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort offers a good panorama to see the fireworks from a distance. Speakers at the resort pump in the show’s music so don’t worry — you’ll still be able to sing along. However, you won’t be able to really see the projections on the castle from this far away.

Another popular spot (for good reason) is California Grill and California Grill Lounge in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. You can book the new Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors and Fireworks dining party to get an exclusive view of the fireworks.

These spots will let you enjoy the fireworks without tons of crowding and a just about perfect view!

Check out our review of the fireworks dining party at California Grill!

EPCOT Fireworks

Now that EPCOT’s new fireworks show, Harmonious, has begun, here are the best restaurants around the World Showcase Lagoon to snag a seat to watch the show.

Dining at Rose and Crown in the UK Pavilion will give you a stellar view if you book the Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package. You’ll have to guarantee your reservation by making an Advance Dining Reservation, which currently becomes available 60 days before the day you wish to reserve. You will need valid park admission and a Park Pass reservation for that park.

La Hacienda de San Angel is another great spot to catch the show (and you remembered to request a window table from our earlier tip, didn’t you?!). Its expansive windows provide a clear view of the World Showcase Lagoon. We recommend grabbing reservations for this location as well! It’s quite popular when the fireworks are happening.

There are also a couple of spots like Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the UK and La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico that won’t necessarily give you the best view of the fireworks, but you won’t need to worry about making a dining reservation for these spots. Just grab a seat early!

Another cool vantage point to see EPCOT’s fireworks from is Disney’s BoardWalk! You won’t see any of the lower to the ground spectacles that happen on the lagoon, but anything up in the sky is definitely fair game and really puts the scale of these nightly fireworks shows into perspective!

Grab a cupcake from BoardWalk Bakery and pick out a bench on the BoardWalk while you’re waiting to watch the show.

Here are the best and worst spots to watch Harmonious in EPCOT!

Parades

Although we love the character cavalcades that occur randomly throughout the day, we are so happy the Festival of Fantasy parade has returned! We think the best spot to watch it from is Frontierland.

It’s typically the least crowded there, and this is where the parade begins so you can see it and then move on with your day.

The ULTIMATE Guide to Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation

 

Be Flexible

Doing your research and being flexible during your trip will help it feel more relaxing. You might not be able to do absolutely everything you wanted, and it’s important to not set your expectations too high.

Even before the closures, being flexible was a big key to success in Disney World. Things go wrong all the time — rides break down, it rains, or your bus never shows up on time. The new challenges are navigable, but flexibility is key. Being flexible will help you to relax and enjoy — you’re in Disney World, after all!

How much does it cost for a family of 4 to visit Disney World

And those are 28 tips that every Disney World pro knows! How many of them have you tried? As things in Disney continuously change, we’re always learning new tips, and improving upon some old ones — we can’t wait to share even more of them with you!

Which of these tips will you be using on your future trips to Disney? Tell us in the comments!