We’re not going to sugarcoat it: planning a Disney World trip can be HARD!

There’s a lot that goes into planning your trip, like budgeting for the trip, deciding where you’re going to stay, figuring out whether or not you want to buy Genie+, and more. Now, we’re rounding up some of the biggest tips you NEED to know before your next Disney World trip. We went over to our Facebook page and asked our readers to share their tips, and we’re compiling them here! So without further ado, let’s get into the Disney World planning tips you absolutely need to know before your next trip.

Plan Downtime

A Disney World vacation can often feel very go-go-go, which is why it’s a good idea to plan some downtime into your trip. You can do this in a couple of different ways. A lot of people choose to take a break from the parks about halfway through their day. At that time, they go back to their hotel room and take a nap, grab a bite to eat, or go to the pool.

You can also, depending on the length of your vacation, take a day off from the parks entirely. Guests who choose to do this will often plan a day in the middle of their trip where they don’t go into the parks at all. They take that day to either hang out at their hotel, go to Disney Springs, or take advantage of other things that Disney World has to offer like the water parks, mini golfing, and more.

Another thing you can do on a day off from the parks is Resort hop. Resort hopping is when you visit Disney World Resort hotels that you are not staying at. Keep in mind that you often won’t be able to park at the Disney World Resort hotels unless you are staying there or have a dining reservation.

Click here to see how to drink around Disney World without a park ticket!

Be Mindful of Your Dining Reservations

We get it — there are SO MANY unique and interesting dining options within Disney World that you might find yourself wanting to book a sit-down dining reservation for every meal of your vacation.

We’d strongly caution you to think carefully about this because it can cause a lot of unwanted stress during your vacation! If you book a LOT of dining reservations, then you might feel rushed. You may feel like you can’t take your time in the parks because you need to rush to get to every single dining reservation you booked. There are plenty of good dining options that don’t require reservations, with lots of good quick service restaurants and snacks in the parks.

Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to your dining reservations is how long it will take you to get from Point A to Point B. Disney recommends giving yourself up to 90 minutes to travel within Disney World, which is a safe bet, especially if you’re relying on Disney’s transportation like the buses, Skyliner, or Monorail.

Click here to see EVERYTHING you should consider before making a Disney World dining reservation!

Be Prepared for Rain

If you’re going to Disney World, you should be prepared for bad weather and rain. This is especially true in the summertime, but it can rain a lot in Florida, even outside of the traditional summer months. Being prepared can include packing an extra pair of socks (because who wants to have to walk around with wet socks all day?) and a rain jacket, umbrella, or poncho, even if there isn’t any rain in the forecast.

Some guests even choose to pack entire changes of clothes in their park bag in the event they get caught in a rainstorm or get drenched on a water ride (looking at YOU, Kali River Rapids). You can also bring Ziploc bags so you can keep your technology and valuables safe from the rain or water.

Click here to see 8 things you’ll regret not having when it rains in Disney World!

Manage Your Expectations

There are a LOT of things to do in Disney World, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to see and do everything Disney World offers on one vacation.

But that’s okay! You don’t have to do EVERYTHING on your trip. It’s important to be patient with yourself and with your group. Make a game plan of some absolute must-dos and make sure you accomplish those, and then try to be flexible with the rest of your trip. You never know what you might stumble across in the parks, so having an open mind is key.

Click here to see 7 TERRIBLE things we recommend in Disney World!

Don’t Overlook the Shows

When you’re vacationing in Disney World, you’re going to want to make sure that you get on all of the rides that you want to experience (of course), but you shouldn’t overlook the shows! Disney World has some really great and entertaining shows available for you to watch that shouldn’t be missed.

If nothing else, taking a break to watch a show in the parks will give your legs and feet a break and will allow you to cool off in the AC, which sounds like a win-win to us!

Click here to come with us to see Disney World’s reimagined Fining Nemo show!

And those are some of the biggest Disney World planning tips you should remember the next time you’re planning a Disney vacation. If you’re in the midst of planning, we have some resources for you! You can check out the hardest dates to get a Disney World Park Pass in 2022 here, or you can take a look at what you can do if you don’t get the Disney World hotel reservation you wanted.

Click here to see 9 reasons you still need to pick up a Disney World park map!

And if you’re looking for some vacation planning help, be sure to check out our friends over at Small World Vacations for all your Disney World vacation planning needs! As always, make sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World news and information.