Who doesn’t love a few — or a SLEW of!!! — GREAT tips for their Disney World vacation? We sure do. But something we love even more is letting YOU in on them!

So, here’s the scoop… If you’re looking for a starter list, we also invite you to watch our DFB YouTube video featuring 50 NEW Tips for 2024 right here. And if you’re looking for more ways to REALLY add some ease to your trip, you can get into the nitty gritty right here with 50 EASY Tricks for Your 2024 Disney World Trip! All of these Disney World tips and tricks have three things in common: they’re quick, they’re easy, and they’re hard won from our team members on the ground in Disney World every single day.

Are you ready? Deep breaths and happy thoughts, first. Okay. Now… LET’S GOOO!!!!

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

1. Use The Hidden App Features

The My Disney Experience app is a FREE Disney trip planning and navigating tool. And it’s PACKED with a TON of features that make navigating the parks WAY easier than ever before!

These include — but aren’t limited to — the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist option where you can see the current walk-up wait times for table service restaurants and lounges, just like you would be able to for a ride!

If you find one that you’re interested in with a wait time that works for your crew, you can join the waitlist right from the app.

Check out HOW and WHERE you can use the Walk-Up Waitlist HERE!

Then there’s the Water Bottle Refill Station toggle. This helps you see all the water bottle refill stations right there on the My Disney Experience map.

To find this feature, just search “water bottle refill stations” on My Disney Experience. The tap “Find on Map.”

Ditto goes for Phone Charging locations, though it’s a wee bit different: When you search for “charging locations” on the MDE app, you’ll see two different options pop up: One is for the “Portable Phone Charging System Kiosks,” which shows you ALL the places you can pick up a FuelRod inside Disney World if you’re without a portable charger of your own.

Then, there’s the “Mobile Charging Stations” option, which — at the moment — highlights ONLY charging stations in Magic Kingdom (though we expect to see this option pop up across ALL the other parks sometime in the future).

But that’s not NEARLY all the ways My Disney Experience can help you during your vacation…

There are LOTS of ways you can use My Disney Experience… See Them ALL here!

2. Get To Disney From The Airport… For $2!

No need to adjust your screen — what you just read just is 100% true. You can get from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and into the Disney Bubble for a whopping 2 bucks!

THIS is how it’s done: A Lynx Route — called Link311 — has DIRECT service from MCO over to Disney Springs, and back to MCO when your trip wraps up for TWO DOLLARS each way!

The bus comes every 30 minutes each day from 5AM to 11PM, and is a fantastic and easy way to get from the Orlando Airport to your vacation destination.

Do keep in mind that when you arrive to Disney Springs with your luggage, you WILL NOT be able to take all that luggage onto one of the Disney World buses to make it the rest of the way over to your Resort. This shouldn’t be a problem if you only brought a backpack, but for roll-on suitcases, you’ll still need to book a rideshare — like Uber or Lyft — to get you the rest of the way to your resort once you’re at Disney Springs. The GOOD news, though, is that a rideshare from Disney Springs should be MUCH cheaper than ordering one from the airport!

How do we know all this? Because we’ve done it ourselves…

Check out our experience getting to and from the Orlando Airport and Disney World for just $2!!

3. Save Money; Skip The Sides

Trying to save a little stomach room for EXTRA SNACKS when you dine?? Well, you can save a little dough, too! Here’s the scoop: If you’re ordering a meal at a Quick Service restaurant that includes a side item such as French Fries, chips, or fruit that you may not want at that moment, see if you can order your meal minus the side to shave down the price by a couple dollars.

Now, you’ll likely have to wait in the restaurant’s physical line to ASK a cast member directly about this (as opposed to using Mobile Order, which doesn’t typically have the “ditch the side” option). So this may not save you time, per se.

BUT if it IS worth it to you, you could make your lunch in the parks even cheaper than it would’ve been before!

4. Get Last-Minute Seats At EPCOT’s Space 220

Wanna dine at the SUPER popular Space 220 in EPCOT without A.) scrambling to get an in-demand Advance Dining Reservation and B.) having to pay the FULL prix-fixe menu prices at Lunch and Dinner? Then you may want to try eating at the Space 220 BAR instead!

Now, we must note that there is a Space 220 LOUNGE that, uniquely, you can make reservations for. But seating at the bar itself does not require — or, in fact, even accept — reservations.

However, this also means that there is no Walk-up Waitlist option on the My Disney Experience app. Instead, you’ll visit the restaurant’s host stand after the restaurant opens at 11:30AM and add your name to the physical walk-up waitlist. (The earlier, the better, since bar seating is first come, first served.)

Next thing you know… it’s up into SPACE you go!

Take a look INSIDE Space 220 HERE!

5. Enter EPCOT’s Through Its Back Door… For A Whole New Reason

The way we USED to navigate EPCOT is completely different these days, and this isn’t solely due to the recent completion of the park’s historic transformation. Back in the day, World Showcase did not open until 11AM, whereas the front of the park from the main entrance opens at 9AM. (This is the area formerly known as Future World which has been transformed into World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery.)

Now, it remains true that World Showcase as a whole doesn’t officially open until 11AM. However, select World Showcase attractions, stores, and even restaurants DO open at 9AM with the park!

Though subject to change, these include:

• Gran Fiesta Tour (attraction) and The Plaza de los Amigos “open air” market in Mexico
• Frozen Ever After (attraction), Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, and Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (attraction) and Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in the France pavilion
• Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Japan pavilion
• Oasis Sips and Sweets in the Morocco pavilion
• Many gift shops in the United Kingdom pavilion
• Northwest Mercantile and Trading Post Refreshments in the Canada pavilion
• Gift shops and Karamell-Küche (!!!) in the Germany pavilion
• Gift shops in the Italy pavilion
• Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea kiosks around World Showcase

You can enter the park through the World Showcase by using EPCOT’s International Gateway (between the France and United Kingdom pavilions) which you can access by taking the Disney Skyliner from a Skyliner hotel OR by walking there from one of the EPCOT-area resorts.

Learn MORE about the Disney Skyliner HERE. 

6. Rope Drop Certain Bars And Lounges

Since we’re already on the subject of getting to certain bars right when they open, let’s talk about a few others where you’ll want to join Walk-up Waitlists for RIGHT when they go live.

Our beloved Nomad Lounge in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a bit of an easier walk-up waitlist to join because you can ALSO add yourself to the list via the My Disney Experience App right when it goes live at 10:30AM. Consider setting an alarm if it’s important to you to enjoy this delightful respite, because this popular spot can fill up quickly on busy park days.

And THEN there’s Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which is somewhat… well, less easy.

Trader Sam’s opens up at 3PM daily and doesn’t take any advance dining reservations or offer a virtual walk-up waitlist either. Instead, you need to line up for this little immersive bar about 30 minutes before it opens so you can get your name on the physical walk-up waitlist as early as possible (before it fills up for the rest of the evening).

May the odds — and the tiki gods! — be ever in your favor. (P.S. And trust this: it’s all gonna be WORTH IT; this place is a blast!)

Find out why we LOVE Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto HERE!

7. Don’t Do THIS After The Parades

Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy Parade is a HUGE draw in the park — and it’s definitely something you’ll want to work into your touring itinerary! Our tip here is to have a plan in place for immediately after the parade ends, when there is something of a sudden “parade surge” for several nearby rides whose wait times have dropped while everyone was watching the actual fire-breathing Maleficent!

Let’s take Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland, for example: Big Thunder is a great ride to check out DURING the Festival of Fantasy Parade because many guests will be busy staking out their spot for the parade rather than getting in line for the coaster. So the wait time often drops for Big Thunder during the 12PM and 3PM* parades. (*Be aware that some days, only a 3PM parade is presented.)

As soon as the parades wrap up and everyone sees that there’s a relatively short wait for Big Thunder Mountain according to the My Disney Experience app… BAM! Everyone rushes over and BOMBARDS the queue all at once… and suddenly that low wait time climbs exponentially. So avoid the popular ride rush right after the parade… unless you for some reason want to wait much longer than you expected to. This is a great time to cool down in Carousel of Progress or Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room after all that time in the sun, or grab some ice cream and some shade to chill out for a bit while everything else sorts itself out.

(BONUS TIP: If you’re spending two days in Magic Kingdom, plan seeing the parade for one, and tackling some rides DURING the parade for the other!)

Plan your Magic Kingdom Showtime strategy by see ALL OF THE PARK’S SHOWTIMES in advance!

8. Link Up!

LOTS of guests make this simple mistake even BEFORE they head out on their Disney World vacations. But not YOU, because YOU are about to learn a big mistake to avoid so you don’t end up blindsided… If you’re traveling to Disney World with friends and family, you MUST link all your accounts together in the My Disney Experience app, which you can do in the app or when logged into your account on the Walt Disney World website.

This will allow you to share plans with everyone in your group, book Lightning Lanes and Virtual Queues for popular rides together, share dining reservations, and even PhotoPass photos.

To take care of this before you go (so you’re not wasting those seriously precious seconds when trying to join a Virtual Queue for a new attraction). This all happens in the My Disney Experience app by creating a Family & Friends list. 

To start the process, go to your Profile on the app and switch to the tab that says “Family & Friends List.”

From here, you’ll find the option to “Add a Guest,” and you’ll be prompted with the info you need to fill in, including their name and age, or you can search for someone by their name, phone number, and email address through the app — this will work as long as they’ve chosen to make themselves searchable by choosing the “Allow” option when prompted to allow others to find them.

OR you can take this super sweet SHORTCUT using linking codes — we have a tutorial here!

Once you’re done, choose the “Add Guest” option again to confirm, and VOILA! You are LINKED!

Check out this HANDY TIP for linking My Disney Experience accounts!

9. Use An Abandoned Restaurant For Personal Gain

Um, hey, Disney? Whatever happened to the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant? Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service dining location that used to occasionally open during busier park seasons.

These days, though, this place is only really used during the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Viewing Parties in the evenings.

But during the day? It’s basically a big, open — and, best of all, SHADED — space with oodles of tables!

So if you just ordered a hot dog from Casey’s Corner or a Jumbo Mickey Waffle from Sleepy Hollow Refreshments — and you, like many others, are struggling to find a place to sit — come relax with your eats, enjoy the view of Cinderella Castle, and cool down at Tomorrowland Terrace!

Wait… what’s this about a Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party?! Find out HERE!

10. Give Your Day Wiggle Room… Even While Using Lightning Lanes

Lightning Lanes are a time-saving tool that allow guests to bypass the standby lines for select attractions by purchasing Lightning Lane access. For this tip, we’re chatting about Lightning Lane Single Passes, which are the pay-per-ride options for the most popular rides in Disney World.

We would love to say that things always move quickly with Lightning Lanes — that, after all, is the intent. But every once in a while, an attraction may experience a bit of unexpected downtime due to unforeseen circumstances. So, HERE’S our big tip when it comes to your touring plan if you intend to purchase Lightning Lane Single Passes:

Leave at least an hour between your Lightning Lane Single Pass reservation and anything else you plan to do that day — like a dining reservation, a show, or even catching the parade if that’s important to you! If you feel like there’s going to be a conflict — especially with a dining reservation — speak with a Cast Member. They may be able to help you by giving you a new Lightning Lane return time or modifying your dining reservation so you don’t accidentally get counted as a “no show” and incur a cancellation penalty. It’s best to do this BEFORE you miss either of those reservations, though, so try to think ahead and speak with someone in advance about your potential time crunch!

That said, as we mentioned, sometimes changes in a ride’s operating hours are unforeseen… we’ve found Cast Members to be quite helpful even when we haven’t been able to give advance notice for a potential conflict. Even so, building in that extra hour here and there surrounding your Lightning Lane can offer some extra peace of mind so you aren’t feeling any additional stress in the moment.

11. “Pregame” The Lines

If your eyes lit up when you read the word “pregame” just now, then this easy trick is TOTALLY for you. Here goes…

If you’re about to enter a queue that has a 45+ minute projected wait time, then you need to PREPARE YOURSELF before entering the line by doing the following:

1.) Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged OR have a portable phone charger at the ready. Then, you can use it for entertainment to make the time pass more quickly!

2.) Grab a snack or drink (or fill your water bottle) before your long wait, either from your own bag stash or from a location in the parks.

3.) Make sure EVERYONE in your party uses the bathroom!

Congratulations… you’ve just made everyone’s wait time experience a LOT more comfortable.

Spend your time in line PLAYING on the Play Disney Parks app!

12. Multitask!

You know what ELSE you can do while waiting in line? You can feed two birds with one scone and place a MOBILE ORDER at a quick service restaurant to pick up your food right after your ride!

When you’re using Mobile Order through the my Disney Experience App while waiting in line for something else, simply select the “schedule for later” option!

This will give you a list of open time windows (in slots of 15 or 30 minutes increments, typically) — so you can select the return time that works best for you.

When that return window comes around later on in the day — and it’s time for you to chow down — head to the restaurant and make sure you press the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” button on the app so the restaurant knows you’ve finally arrived.

THEN, they can start making that food fresh for ya and alert you when it’s ready to be picked up!

See? You are SO GOOD at this!!

Here’s Your COMPLETE GUIDE to Using Mobile Order in Disney World

13. Bide — and ENJOY! — Your Time OUTSIDE Ride Lines

If you’re not using Lightning Lanes to skip over the main standby ride lines during your Magic Kingdom day, then you may come to find that — by the afternoon — pretty much ALL the ride lines are going to be fairly hefty. And your family MIGHT be getting a case of the “queue burnout” by then.

So what do you DO in Magic Kingdom when you’re TIRED of waiting in lines? As it turns out… LOTS of stuff!

Check out the new Smellephants on Parade in Storybook Circus! It’s a family-friendly “search and sniff” adventure where guests will become Timothy Q. Mouse’s ‘Whiff-sistants’ and join Dumbo’s newest act! Just stop by the ticket booth near Big Top Souvenirs to get a free guide map to get started.

Or, you can channel your inner PIRATE at A Pirate’s Adventure: Legend of the Seven Seas in Adventureland for a 5–part interactive scavenger hunt where you’ll track down treasures, evade antagonistic scallywags, and learn about secrets you never knew were lurking around this particular region of Magic Kingdom.

You’ll get a prize for your efforts once you’ve completed all 5 missions: it’ a card signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself. (No waiting in a meet-and-greet line necessary!)

Check out a chill attraction that’s not necessarily a ride like Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.

Or swing by Sir Mickey’s Gift Shop OR Bonjour Village Gifts in Fantasyland and ask a “fairy godmother” if you can be sprinkled with pixie dust FOR FREE. (The fairy godmothers are holding wands in the middle of the store.)

This free and fun activity is for kids and adults alike… just don’t forget to make your wish!

What, you ask, is a SMELLEPHANT and WHY do you want to sniff one? Find out here!

14. Don’t Forget: Parks Can STILL Sell Out

Even though Park Pass reservations are no longer required for MOST guests, the Disney World theme parks can still reach capacity during those super-busy times of the year, like from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day.

But it’s good to know that even though a park might be at capacity NOW, it doesn’t mean it will stay at capacity all day long. Guests come and go from the parks ALL DAY, so you may have a much easier time entering the park at the start of the day (around rope drop or Early Entry) OR after those afternoon crowds start to disperse.

This is when having a Park Hopper ticket can come in handy. If one park is at capacity NOW, you can always visit a DIFFERENT park that’s NOT at capacity currently, and then try HOPPING over to that sold-out park later on when crowds aren’t as intense.

Just remember to call Disney’s capacity number at 407-560-5000 BEFORE you try park hopping. You may also see a pop up notification on the My Disney Experience app, but when in doubt: CALL.

The Cast Member or automated phone message will inform you IF the park is still at capacity or not BEFORE you travel all the way over there to see for yourself.

See EXACTLY what happens when a Disney World park reaches capacity. 

15. GET THE FREE WATER CUPS

I’m aware that writing this IN ALL CAPS MAKES THIS POINT SOUND LIKE A THREAT, BUT I PROMISE IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF LOVE AND WORRY AND BY NO MEANS HAS ANY ILL-INTENTIONS BECAUSE WATER AND I ARE YOUR FRIENDS.

EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE HANDY, ASK QUICK SERVICE LOCATIONS FOR A CUP OF FREE WATER SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING FOR A BOTTLE OF WATER MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

Whew! Okay, I’m done abusing my caps lock button. Oh! And if you’d rather bring your own water bottle…

Check out the Water Bottle that EVERYONE is taking to Disney World right now!

16. Bring Your Own Storage

No leftovers get left behind… not on MY watch! If you bring your own plastic baggies or plastic containers to keep in your park bag, you can use them in SEVERAL different ways. For instance, they can hold your leftover snacks (like Mickey Rice Krispies or giant lollipops) so you can munch on them later.

You can them to protect your electronics from getting wet when it gets rainy out (OR if you plan to go on a water ride and have to take your bag with you).

They can also carry snacks that you purchase from the grocery store ahead of time so you can avoid paying $5+ per snack every time you (or the kiddos) start feeling kinda munchy during your park day. Our favorite containers that we’ve been carrying around the parks lately are these Foldable Silicone Storage ones that we found on Amazon.

Not only does that price give you multiple storage containers in varying sizes, BUT since they’re also collapsible, they don’t have to take up a whole lotta room in your bag until you need to use them!

17. Don’t Be Embarrassed By The Chicken Exits

Look, I’ve been there. Sometimes a ride like the Tower of Terror gets too intimidating, or sometimes you know — deep down — your stomach may not be able to handle it. No matter the reason, you may need to dip out of the ride queue before you get up to the front of the line. And that’s what the “Chicken Exits” are for! (Don’t take the name personally.. No one is judging you).

If you — or someone in your group — decides they’d prefer to use the “chicken exit,” simply ask a Cast Member for help. They can show you the way out, and you can breathe easy once again!

You’re Not the Only One Who’s a Bit Afraid of the Tower of Terror… 

18. Check-In To Your Hotel Minus The Small-Talk

When you FINALLY arrive at your Disney World Resort hotel, sometimes the last thing you want do is wait in line to check in at the front desk. Which is why the Mobile Check-In feature on the My Disney Experience App can be a real nifty find!

This time-saving perk lets you go straight to your room once it’s ready for you. (Got luggage? Ask the front desk to store it for you — no problem!) All you need to do is wait for the notification alerting you when your room is ready. Once you are notified and given a room number, you’ll just scan the sensor on your hotel room door with your device (via the My Disney Experience app) or MagicBand and there you go! You’re in!

You may also choose to use automatic checkout when your trip is complete as long as you’ve got a credit card on file in the app. With auto-checkout, you don’t need to do anything except leave your room by 11AM.

19. Track Down Unlimited Soda Refills

YES!!! Unlimited drink refills ARE A THING in Disney World theme parks! You just have to know exactly where to find them, because only a handful of Quick Service restaurants have self-refill stations…

Ready to know where those self-serve stations are located inside the parks? Then here you go…

• In Hollywood Studios, you can find self-serve soda stations at Backlot Express and ABC Commissary;
• In EPCOT, check out Connections Eatery, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, and Sunshine Seasons. (Or hit up Club Cool is you want sample-sized sodas featuring international flavors for FREE!);
• And in Animal Kingdom, you can refill your own soda opportunity at our FAVORITE quick service of the park, Satu’li Canteen, as well as Restaurantosarus.

BAM!

20. Drop Off Your Luggage

Being early to your Disney World vacation is never a BAD thing… even if that early morning flight feels a little bit painful. It just means you can get your trip started even SOONER! However, if you’ve just traveled in from the airport, you’ll likely still be dragging around all your luggage with you. Which isn’t exactly IDEAL if you’d like to hit up your resort pool or start a shopping spree around Disney Springs while you’re waiting for your hotel room to be ready.

Good news — you don’t HAVE to keep dragging your luggage around. Instead, you can drop off your bags at Bell Services in your Resort! Bell Services will safely hold your bags for you while your room-to-be if your room isn’t check-in ready just yet. On the sad (but inevitable) day when it’s time to check out of your room, bell services will be more than happy to hold onto your luggage during your last “hurrah” around the Disney World, too.

Oh! And if you checked out of one hotel and you’re grabbing one last breakfast or lunch at a different Disney hotel, the Resort where you are dining can hold onto your luggage too!

(P.S. Feel free to tip those cast members who are holding onto your luggage. A good rule of thumb is to tip at least $1 per bag.)

21. Master Virtual Queues BEFORE You Go

Chances are you’ll want to ride the newest attractions during your Disney World trip: rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle / Run AND Tiana’s Bayou Adventure which are BOTH in Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s current practice when new rides open is to do something outside the norm of a traditional standby queue. Instead, there are typically two ways to ride. You can purchase Lightning Lane access for them, OR you can do what we’re talking about now: try to snag a FREE spot in the attraction’s Virtual Queue.

The thing is that Virtual Queues fill up FAST… sometimes in literal seconds. So you’ll need to be prepared if you want to grab a Boarding Pass! (BTW, a Boarding Pass is what your place in line is called when you’ve successfully nabbed a spot in the Virtual Queue.)

Ride that use Virtual Queues have two Boarding Group distribution times each day: one at 7AM and the other at 1PM. Try for that 7AM time slot first, since you can snag it from the comfort of your hotel room without having to worry about it once you’re in the middle of your park day. To be on the safe side, be awake and ready to get in that queue via the My Disney Experience App BEFORE 7AM.

You can use these precious moments ahead of 7AM to Confirm Your Party (everyone who’ll be joining the queue with you). You can do this starting at 6AM and skip this extra step when the Virtual Queue opens to save some time and join the queue even faster!

Right on the hour (LITERALLY! If you can, have someone in your group monitor time.gov so you know the VERY SECOND the hours turns), you’ll select “Join Virtual Queue.”

And if all has gone well, you’ll be rewarded with a ride on a NEW Disney World attraction!

BONUS TIP: If you’re on Disney property, you may be tempted to leave your phone connected to Disney Wi-Fi. But Disney Wi-Fi is notoriously spotty and it could cost you a spot in the virtual queue. So turn off Wi-Fi on your phone BEFORE that boarding group distribution time IF you trust your phone’s service more than the park’s.

We know. It’s a LOT. But we have a COMPLETE TUTORIAL on Disney World Virtual Queues HERE.

22. Learn About ALL of the Restaurants in Disney World in Record Time

We want to make sure the way YOU dine around Disney World is as easy as pie, which is why we have put together the ULTIMATE DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, detailing literally EVERY restaurant and snack kiosk in Walt Disney World from the theme parks to ALL the resorts, and the entirety of the Disney Springs shopping and dining district, too!

You can visit the DFB Store to download YOUR guide TODAY!

While you’re at it… check out Disney World’s BEST RESTAURANTS here!

23. DON’T Start In Magic Kingdom

Taking a super-short weekend getaway to Disney World? THIS is how you can make the MOST of your very limited time… First, purchase those Park Hopper tickets. Now… start your day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Why? Because this park typically opens AND CLOSES earlier than all the others — so you can get in there and hit the ground running while the lines are still short!

 

Once you’ve hit up everything you want to in Animal Kingdom, you can hop over to Magic Kingdom when you’re ready, and stay until until 10 or 11PM (two common closing times for the park), if you so choose!

24. Set An Alarm

Hoping to score a Virtual Queue for a popular attraction in the morning? If so, remember that those open up EXACTLY at 7AM each morning. And since you’re schedule will be different than what you’re used to back home, be sure to SET AN ALARM… even if you are typically an early riser.

Speaking of Alarms… Here’s a Gentler One for your Disney World Wake-Up 

Being startled by a blaring alarm clock is NOT how I want to start my Disney World day. I’d much rather be woken up naturally and gently by this Sunrise Alarm Clock and Sound Machine. It has 26 different soothing sounds, so it can help you get to sleep each night, too, after a long day in the parks.

Shop this item on Amazon!

25. Ship Your Souvenirs Back Home

Once upon a time, Disney World was able to send souvenir purchases you made in the parks back to your Disney World Resort hotel room so you wouldn’t have to lug them around with you all day long. Unfortunately, package delivery has remained suspended since the Resort reopened after the temporary closures in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we still hold onto that faint sliver of hope that someday we’ll see this hotel perk return to us once more, there are still a couple of easy solutions that you can turn to for any package problems.

First, you can rent a locker in the Disney theme parks to store your items in so you don’t need to hold onto them all day long or have to backtrack to your hotel room. (Lockers tend to range in price between $10-$15 for the day.)

OR you may opt to use Disney’s shipping services so you can have your items sent DIRECTLY to your home (your REAL home, not your hotel home) for an added fee. This can be especially helpful if you’re purchasing a larger item or just don’t have much space left in your suitcase.

Disney will even ship items internationally, with a few exceptions. It may not be the service we once knew and loved, but — hey — at least it’s something!

26. Request A Room

Have a room preference for your Disney World Resort hotel? Your wish is Disney’s command! Sometimes. Here’s the thing: at check-in time AND/OR in the My Disney Experience app, you can make room requests for certain buildings or locations at your resort!

Want to be close to the pool? Or perhaps near Disney transportation? Prefer a building FAR away from all the foot traffic? Disney will do their best to accommodate requests — but keep in mind that there’s no guarantee you’ll get what you ask for.

Ditto goes for room upgrades. It’s always worth asking for one — because the worst case scenario is that a Cast Member will tell you there aren’t any available; no harm done!

Just remember that IF a request can’t be accommodated, it’s not because Cast Members aren’t trying. It could be for any number of reasons (most commonly, though, it’s simply because the room type you asked for is already booked by other guests). But, hey, it’s certainly worth a shot to put in a polite request without any expectations.

Which Disney World Resort Hotel is Best for YOU? 

27. Know Which Building You WANT To Request

Of course, HOW do you even know which building or room you WANT to request? Well… that part’s actually up to YOU!

Look at a map of the hotel you wish to stay at and figure out which building will put you in a comfortable walking distance to the area most important to you. You’ll be presented with a map during your check-in at the front desk, or you can put in some online research before your trip.

If you do find yourself checked into a room that’s not what you were hoping for location-wise, contact the front desk and see if a room switch is still possible.

Be prepared for various scenarios and if it turns out that you’re placed in a room that’s TOO close to all the resort action for your liking, make sure to pack sleeping aids like earplugs to help block out any extra conversations and giggles that you might be hearing going on in the hallways.

Or you often find yourself having trouble catching some zzzz’s, we’d recommend packing a white noise machine for your nightstand that will help lull you to sleep using soothing sounds and lights. This one measures just 4 inches across and weighs 11 ounces — it’s easy to pack.

28. Juice Up Your Phone

How much you use your phone during your Disney World day is up to you. But whether you use it CONSTANTLY, or just every now and then for a quick picture and wait time check, you’ll want to make sure your phone doesn’t use up its whole battery before you use up yours!

We highly recommend packing portable chargers so you can use them WHILE you’re strolling around the parks. BUT if you have a charging cord with you and you to take a break to recharge both your phone and yourself, here are some low-key locations around Disney where you can sit back, relax, get out of the sun, and charge away:

Disney World Hotel Lobbies: Several lobbies are now equipped with either new seating or newer tables that’re high-tech enough to allow you to charge your phone while you’re sitting idle, waiting on your bus, or fellow party members, or maybe even just trying to get some quick work done.

EPCOT’s Connections Eatery: This still-relatively-new Quick Service restaurant is stacked with spots to charge your phone while you dine! Ditto goes for lots of outdoor tables at the World Celebration Gardens just outside, but again — there isn’t much in the way of protection from the elements.

Magic Kingdom’s Storybook Circus: In this whimsical part of Fantasyland, there’s a yellow circus tent that many people tend to pass up simply because they don’t know what’s inside it. This tent is located near the Fantasyland train exit, and is easy to overlook, but for that reason it’s a great place to charge up and enjoy a little peace. Another great Magic Kingdom spot to charge your phone is in the area surrounding Rapunzel’s tower in the park; however, since it’s outdoors, there is no A/C.

But guess what? These are JUST A FEW of many, MANY spots we’ve discovered along the way!

Remember: Our TOP TIP is to bring your own charger… 

29. Split Your Hotel Stay

What to do, what to DO? You want to SAVE money, sure, but you also want a taste of the high-life during your Disney stay. How can you somehow manage to do both?

You can opt for something called a Split Stay between two (or more) Disney World Resort hotels! If you opt for a Split Stay, you can book one Disney hotel for the start of your vacation (like at a more affordable value resort), and then cap off your trip at a different Disney resort stay (in a Deluxe Resort room, for instance).

If you do book a split stay, Disney will even help transport your luggage between hotels for you! You can drop off your luggage at Bell Services in the morning when you check out of your first Resort, and then head out for the day without having to worry about needing to transfer your bags over to your second hotel! They should be there, ready to greet you when your next room is ready at your second Resort.

Check out ALL of the Disney World Resort Hotels HERE!

30. Split Up

NOW let’s talk about a different kind of split – not a split stay, but a split GROUP.

If you’re traveling with a large group (or even if you’re traveling with a medium-sized group that has a lot of different opinions about what should be prioritized during your visit), don’t be afraid to break up the party for a while so EVERYONE can attempt to accomplish what they WANT to accomplish.

Splitting up from your group ALSO comes in handy when you’re trying to attack multiple experiences at once — like the Food Booths at an EPCOT Festival, for instance.

If one person gets in line for one booth, and another person gets in line for another booth, then you can cover MORE ground and MORE food in LESS time. (This is a strategy the DFB reporters use all the time!)

31. Purchase A Rental For The WHOLE Day (Keep That Receipt!)

Disney World offers stroller, wheelchair, and ECV rental locations at the front of each theme park. And while your rental purchase is good for the whole day, the rental items themselves do NOT transfer between locations.

Let’s say you have a park hopper ticket, and you’re planning on visiting both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in a single day. You can purchase your first rental starting at EPCOT, but when it’s time to hop on over to Hollywood Studios, you’ll have to return your rental to the front of EPCOT before you head on out.

Once you arrive at Hollywood Studios, just show your rental receipt that you got from EPCOT at the Hollywood Studios’ rental location. Once a cast member confirms your purchase for the day, you can pick up a whole NEW rental from the second park (without being charged all over again).

Ditto goes for parking at the theme parks. If you’re not staying at a Disney World Resort hotel and are planning on driving to the parks each day, you will have to pay $30 per day for standard parking.

But, again, if you plan to park hop that day, HOLD ON TO YOUR PARKING RECEIPT and show it to the parking attendant at the next park to avoid a second charge.

32. SKIP The Regular Park Ticket

Ummm, okay, sooo… I get it. You’re going to Disney World to visit the PARKS. Why would we recommend that you NOT get a Disney World theme park ticket?

Don’t worry: we’re not telling you to skip the parks here. We’re recommending that you choose a DIFFERENT kind of park ticket option, instead. One that will give you cooler evening temps, shorter lines, complimentary snacks (!!!), and waaaaay less people to navigate around.

After Hours Events are a separate ticket option from your standard theme park purchase (capped off at a limited number of guests) that gives you the opportunity to hang out in select parks on select nights for an extra three hours AFTER they’ve closed to the general public.

That being said, After Hours guests can enter the parks a couple of hours BEFORE the event officially kicks off — even without a regular day ticket — to enjoy some of the other park offerings before the sun goes down.

Tickets vary in price depending on which park you visit and which date you choose, but EPCOT After Hours starts at $149 per person, Hollywood Studios After Hours starts at $145 per person, and Magic Kingdom After Hours starts at $165 per person.

These events are offered less frequently in the fall and around the holidays, but during those seasons you can consider Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

Disney World offers ALL SORTS of EXTRAS… See Them HERE!

33. Buy ONE Annual Pass

Getting a Disney World Annual Pass has the potential to save you money in some instances. For instance, Annual Passholders are eligible for discounts for merchandise and at select dining locations, and even for experiences like backstage tours and After Hours events! And that’s just to name a few.

But here’s what a lot of people DON’T know: Even if only ONE person in your group has an annual pass, you can use those passholder discounts for EVERYONE in your party.

Check out the full list of passholder discount opportunities here (you can also find info on the Disney World website) to see how you can “share the wealth” when it comes to Annual Passholder benefits to determine if the expense is worth it for your group.

PSSST! We’re letting you in on a Disney World Annual Passholder SECRET here. 

34. Get Discounted MagicBands

Long gone are the days of free MagicBands for Disney World hotel guests. But you can still manage to get a MagicBand or MagicBand+ for less than everyone else if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel.

To access this MagicBand discount, open your (now very familiar) My Disney Experience app and tap on the three horizontal line icon in the bottom right corner of the page. From there, scroll down to the section that says “MagicBands and Cards.”

If you tap on that, it will take you to a screen with more options — You want to select “Discover More with MagicBand+”.

If you have a stay at a Disney World hotel coming up, you can “browse the latest online,” which is where you’ll find those hotel guest-specific discounted options!

These discounts are subject to availability and could always change — but it never hurts to check and see if you can buy a band for less than you would in Disney World!

What Can a MagicBand+ Do? Click HERE to find out!

35. Book The CHEAPEST Deluxe Resort (If You’re Eligible)

An EXCLUSIVE group of people have access to Disney’s most-affordable Deluxe resort: Shades of Green. Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) Resort, meaning that it’s owned by the United States Department of Defense, but located at Disney World.

Be aware that you MUST be a member of the Armed Forces (or be sponsored by one) to book a stay at Shades of Green.

This resort is meant to be an affordable option for service members and their families, so room rates are on a scale, which means that pricing is based on the military member’s pay grade. So one can expect to pay less if they’re just starting out in their military career compared to someone who’s worked their way up in ranks over time.

(P.S. If we haven’t said it recently… THANK YOU, service members!)

36. Find EPCOT’s Hidden Bars

You may be well aware of some of EPCOT’s most famous watering holes like La Cava del Tequila, Choza de Margarita, the Rose & Crown Pub, and the Space 220 Lounge. But then there are some rather hidden gems where you can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail while also enjoying a little respite from the crowds.

One small and charming example is tucked in The Brass Bazaar at the back of the Morocco Pavilion: Sangria Sips in the Souk!

This tiny, unassuming little bar packs quite the punch — and by punch, we mean Shareable Sangria! You’ll find both red and white sangria for sale here served for two, so you’ll pay one price but receive two cups. There are a few snacks (like Mediterranean Olives and Roasted Chickpeas) up for grabs, too.

Word of warning: this spot doesn’t seem to have any set hours — meaning you’ll have to just catch it open by chance. From what we’ve seen, though, it usually seems to be open during the middle of the day.

In the France Pavilion, Le Vins de France may look more like a gift shop rather than a bar… but that’s because it literally IS a gift shop with a bar hidden on the inside!

Choose from champagnes (including a Flight) and different French wines. Ooh, la la!

The Weinkeller is also tucked inside the shopping area in the Germany pavilion. These small-but-fun finds often serve up selections you won’t find elsewhere in the park!

37. Grab Sorbet From An Underrated Spot

Speaking of hidden treats… there is a tiny Gelato Cart parked next to MuppetVision 3D in Hollywood Studios that serves up some BIG flavors!

Best of all, you’ll often spy a Flavor of the Month up for grabs. One such “limited-time” flavor — POG Gelato, featuring the same passion fruit, orange, and guava flavors as Disney’s famous POG Juice — was met with some enthusiasm that you can now find it on the regular menu!

From Prickly Pear Sorbet to Pumpkin Cheesecake Gelato in the fall, you never know exactly what you’ll find! Just be sure that YOU find this fantastic Gelato Cart!

38. Check For Last Minute Reservations

If there is a popular Disney World restaurant that you’ve been itching to try, but it never seems like it has ANY Advance Dining Reservations available, I am here to tell you… DON’T GIVE UP!

First and foremost, you might be surprised what openings suddenly pop up a day or two in advance when you “Check Availability” on the My Disney Experience app. (That’s how I made my dream of having Breakfast with Mickey and pals at Topolino’s Terrace come true at long last!)

Second, remember that Walk-Up Waitlist that we mentioned for Nomad Lounge earlier in this post? Well, DITTO goes for Table Service restaurants! You can check day-of and see if your dream dining location )or, in any case, a pretty great one) is suddenly accepting walk-up guests.

With the cancellation window for most Advance Dining Reservations being reduced to two hours, you really never do know what might come up.

Let’s look at the Mobile Order Walk-Up Waitlist!

39. Grab Dole Whip At These SECRET SPOTS

Wait, there’s MORE Dole Whip hiding out in Disney World? You betcha! These days, you can find this iconic treat well beyond DOLE Whip’s best-known homes like Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle and Pineapple Lanai in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

At El Mercado de Coronado — AKA: the quick service location inside Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort — you can order from a small selection of soft serve flavors. And one of those flavors just so happens to be the famous Pineapple Dole Whip!

And get this. If you visit the Dolphin side of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, the grab-and-go Fuel market has a little station where you can get self-serve frozen yogurt… AND self served Dole Whip, too!

SELF! SERVE! (Just remember that every ounce is about 70 cents, and swirl up your mile-high DOLE Whip with that in mind.)

THIS is EVERY. LAST. LITTLE. THING. You Ever Wanted to Know about DOLE Whip. 

40. Take The Resort Monorail

I know this trick might SOUND complicated at first, but it’s really only the difference between choosing one Monorail line over the other.

Picture it — it’s the end of a very FUN — but also long and tiring — day at Magic Kingdom and you’re just trying to get back to your parked car which is aaaaaaall the way across Seven Seas Lagoon at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC, for short).

And the only thing standing between you and your nice cool hotel bed is a long line for the Monorail that’ll take you over to your car. BUT! There are TWO monorail lines you can potentially join:

The Express line will take you straight to the TTC, and the Resort line will make a few extra stops at, umm, the Monorail Loop Resorts) before EVENTUALLY getting to the TTC.

And while the obvious choice in the scenario seems like you should go express or bust, we’re telling you to choose the latter. More often than not, the line for the Express monorail is very long, but if you look over to the other side, the Resort monorail is usually shorter at the end of the day.

As long as you don’t mind a few brief stops along your route, you may find it easier and quicker to hop in the Resort line to reach your stop rather than spending more time on your poor, tired feet.

Learn all the ins-and-outs of Disney Transportation HERE. 

41. Check Construction and Refurbishment Schedules

Heigh ho, heigh ho, there’s more construction to go…

No matter what time of year it is, you can probably find some kind of construction or refurbishment project going on at Disney World (which is why it’s ALWAYS a good idea to research your resort BEFORE you book it and see if there’s any sort of renovations and projects that will be going on during your trip).

We always do a round-up of updates like this via our FREE DFB newsletters to make sure everyone who’s signed up for them is ALWAYS ALERTED about the LATEST Disney Construction and news…

But we also have a page where we keep ALL of the Disney World closures and construction projects up-to-date, and you can visit any time by clicking here to make sure you’re not caught off-guard by an unexpected closure when your favorite attraction needs a little TLC!

Are there any ride closures that will affect your upcoming Disney World vacation? Find out HERE. 

42. Keep Disney Informed

Disney continually works to improve dining experiences for those who visit their parks with food allergies and intolerances. But, in some cases, you can address this concern BEFORE your trip*!

Table Service restaurants are locations where guests can make Advance Dining Reservations prior to dining, and the process of dining with an allergy concern can begin as soon as you make your reservation.

1. Make your Advance Dining Reservations and note your special diet on each reservation.*
2. You may also e-mail the Special Diets department ([email protected]); or call them at (407) 824-5967 if you wish, prior to your trip.
3. Talk to the Chef or Restaurant Manager when you arrive the restaurant.

*As mentioned above, it’s best to notify Disney of any special dietary concerns upon making your Advance Dining Reservations for Table Service restaurants. If you call (407) WDW-DINE to make your reservations, the cast member you speak with can make a note on your reservation. Be vocal that you want your special diet noted on your reservation and request a consultation with a chef, if needed.

If you are making your reservation online via the Walt Disney World website, you will be presented with the option to note a Food Allergy or Special Request as part of the reservation process. When you see the option below, click “Add.”

From here, you can indicate which foods may be an issue. (Note that “Other” is also an option.)

You may also contact a representative at [email protected] after booking your ADR. Guests are also encouraged to inform their server and are welcome to speak with the Chef or Restaurant Manager when you arrive the restaurant.

*P.S. While our example above is in regards to Table Service restaurants, you can learn more about dining with allergies at spots all over Disney World — including Quick Service locations — on this page!

43. When Available, Try Single Rider

This tip works best for teenage guests and older… If your group is comfortable with being split up while you ride, you can queue up in the Single Rider line at select attractions and potentially save some serious time! And it won’t cost you anything extra.

The single rider lines have the BEST track record when it comes to shortening your wait include Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Hollywood Studios and Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom.

44. ALSO Try Rider Swap!

You know what ELSE is free to use at Disney World ride queues? Rider Swap!

Okay, so TECHNICALLY Rider Swap (or Rider Switch) is NOT a way to shorten your wait time. It’s just a way to make sure everybody in your group who WANTS to ride a thrill ride GETS to — even if you’ve got a kiddo in your party that may not yet meet the attraction’s height requirements, or simply isn’t ready for a certain level of thrill.

Just ask a cast member at the front of the attraction about Rider Swap BEFORE you jump in line, and they’ll get you all set up so one member of your party can wait with the little one while the other members or your group get their ride on, and then the waiting member SWAPS places and gets to ride next!

Okay, that was a VERY brief explanation, so if you’d like the full scoop, you can read all about how Rider Swap works HERE.

45. SKIP Booking Disney Springs Restaurants On The Disney Website

This is probably one of my FAVORITE Disney dining hacks of all time. Disney-owned restaurants allow you to make your Advance Dining Reservations 60 days out. (If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can make reservations for your entire trip at the 60-day mark.)

But there is one major EXCEPTION to this rule!

Many Disney Springs area restaurants are available to book on the OpenTable website — and if you make your reservations there, you might be able to get them EVEN earlier than Disney’s 60-day window. You may even be able to book some a YEAR in advance!

Now, this can vary: You can book Summer House on the Lake 90 days in advance, while both STK Orlando and Raglan Road Irish Pub can be booked 180 days in advance. Wine Bar George can actually be booked 365 days ahead of time through OpenTable.

Again, some spots like The BOATHOUSE keep to that 60-day window; but Open Table STILL provides an additional way to grab a reservation if you’re not finding them availability through the My Disney Experience app.

46. SKIP The Hollywood Boulevard Restroom At Rope Drop

A super niche tip? Perhaps. But this one may impact the start of your Hollywood Studios day more than you realize.

The restrooms on Hollywood Boulevard — the ones located to the right immediately after the park entrance — are WAAAYYY too packed during rope drop (park opening time) for you to waste your time on… especially if you, y’know… REALLY need them.

Not a lot of guests are aware that there are bathrooms just OUTSIDE the Hollywood Studios entrance (to your right facing the park). There are also restrooms available right near the Disney Bus stops. Take care of things before you enter the park, when possible… and thank us later.

47. Get The Waterproof Makeup

Y’all, for real. If you wear makeup around Disney World… just go ahead and get the WATERPROOF stuff.

Why? Because your face will get WET. Wet with RAIN. Wet from WATER RIDES. Wet with SWEAT. Wet with TEARS because you’re just so happy or just so tired.. Hey, overwhelm happens. Why do you think we share so many tips around here?

Anyhoo, there are a few waterproof makeup items our DFB reporters tend to favor more than others, and they won’t break the bank, either!

For instance… if you wanna keep your cheeks rosy all day (not because you’re overheating, but in the adorable way) these blush stix from ColourPop are only $10, and they’re quite hydrating, so the color doesn’t flake like some powder blushes can.

And while lipstick is usually the FIRST thing to fade when you’re facing a long day at the parks, the Maybelline Super Stay Vinyl Ink goes on and STAYS on, delivering up to 16-hour wear with a Color Lock formula (and only costs about $10, as well).

So, go ahead… take those selfies with CONFIDENCE!

48. Be Flexible

It’s true: a LOT of items on this list refer to advance planning strategies and tactics. But the truth of the matter is that something unexpected may very well happen during your vacation that can throw off at least a chunk of your well-planned itinerary, be it an attraction with unplanned downtime, more crowds than you anticipated, or one of those classic Florida thunderstorms smack dab in the middle of your afternoon.

And the other truth of the matter is THIS: you’ll have to roll with the punches. Sure, you may have a bad moment, or even two. But that doesn’t mean your ENTIRE VACATION is ruined.

Our advice? Be prepared to take a few deep breaths now and then. Don’t be afraid to bow out for a bit if the temperatures (or the tempers in your group) are a bit too hot.

For as many moments of frustration that may pop up, I think you’ll find that there are more moments of magic… and that’s what you’ll remember in the long run.

49. Get Ready For A FREE PARK In 2025!

Okay, this one is for the folks who are coming to Disney World in 2025… You see, starting January 1st, 2025, there is a BRAND NEW benefit for guests staying at a Disney World Resort hotel… and it involves a FREE PARK DAY.

Disney World has announced that in 2025, those staying at Disney Resorts (including DVC properties) will get a FREE park ticket to the water parks on their arrival day. You’ll be able to use this perk at either Blizzard Beach Water Park or Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and only on your check-in day.

So get ready to MAKE A SPLASH in 2025!

Find out about this ALL-NEW Disney World Resort hotel perk HERE!

50. Get a Hug

And above all? Remember THIS:

There’s always SOMEONE ready to give you a BIG HUG at Disney World. (Seriously, THANKS, Mickey.)

Find ALL THE HUGS here. 

Looking for EVEN MORE Disney World planning tips for your 2024 trip? (I mean, if you’ve got the time — why not spend it PLANNING, right?) Be sure to check out our 50 New Disney World Tips for 2024 RIGHT HERE…

Do YOU have a favorite Disney World tip that you’d love to share? Because we would love to hear it! Please leave a comment below.