You know the saying… “I’m going to DISNEY WORLD!!” That’s great! You’ve take the first step simply by deciding to visit The Most Magical Place On Earth. But… now what?

Walt Disney World is comprised of four theme parks, a shopping and dining district, two water parks, and over 25 Resort hotels... and that’s just scratching the surface! Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be a very complex — and potentially stressful — endeavor. (P.S. It’s also very worthwhile!) There are a LOT of decisions to make — and practically a whole new Disney language to learn — before you can enjoy all that Disney magic.

Click HERE to see the IDEAL Timeline for planning a Disney World vacation… or start HERE if you’re wondering how far in ADVANCE you should begin planning.

And that’s why we’re here to help with our Ultimate Guide to Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation!

• The Basics 
• Vacation Package Options
  • Hotels
  • Theme Park Admission
  • Disney Dining Plan
  • PhotoPass/Memory Maker
  • Cancelation Policies
• Transportation
• Disney Technology
  • My Disney Experience App
  • MagicBands & Magic Mobile
  • Mobile Order
  • Mobile Check-In and Walk-Up Wait List
  • Virtual Queues
  • Hey Disney!
  • Play Disney App
• Planning Your Days
  • Park Hours
  • Dining at WDW
  • Rides, Parades, Fireworks, and MORE
  • Disney Characters
• Additional Resources
  • Packing List
  • DFB Guide Books
  • DFB Guide Videos

The Basics

Sure, you’ve probably seen oodles of pictures of Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. But Walt Disney World is made up of 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 

Disney World also has two water parks — Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

There is also an entertainment, shopping, and dining district called Disney Springs that is full of stores, fantastic restaurants, and more for you to enjoy.

Not to mention that there are also mini-golf and world class golf courses, and MUCH more on Walt Disney World property.

Click here to see your absolute Disney World MUST-DOs!

Vacation Package Options

Okay, so you’ve picked your hotel and you know what type of tickets you want — so what do you do in terms of booking? Well, you can book the park tickets on their own and your hotel room separately. Or you can book a Vacation Package that includes both. (You can find information on payment plans for a booking that includes a Disney World Resort hotel stay here.)

You can also book a package that includes hotel, tickets, and the Disney Dining Plan. The Dining Plan allows you to pre-pay for your food. You’re then given a certain number of “credits” that you can use throughout your trip for meals and snacks. So, this is something to keep in mind if you like to feel like your trip expenses are mostly all covered before you even arrive.

What combination of bookings is best for you? You’ll have to price out the discounts on hotels, tickets, and combined packages to find out. Often many discounts will require you to book a specific package, so check the fine print for any deals you’re eyeing.

Truly, we’ve only just started this guide and maybe you’re already coming to the realization that planning a Disney World vacation can be A LOT. Our recommendation? You might want to think about reaching out to a travel agent. We specifically recommend the awesome folks over at Small World Vacations!

The people over at Small World Vacations know about ALL of the discounts, and they stay up to date on new discounts that could be applied to your vacation to help you save some serious cash. They can give you personalized advice and really help make your vacation planning stress-free. Oh, and did we mention that their services are TOTALLY FREE?! You won’t pay a dime extra than what you normally would pay to book your vacation on your own. In fact, you could SAVE money working with a travel agent. Their job is to look out for you. (We’ve scored some great deals this way!)

We’ve got all the contact information for Small World Vacations at the bottom of this page and you can fill out their form to get started right here!

Should you use a travel agent for your Disney World trip? Click here to see more of our thoughts!

Hotels

There are a LOT of different Disney-owned/run hotels to stay at on Walt Disney World property. There are also some hotels that are technically on Walt Disney World property but are not owned/run by Disney, like the Four Seasons Orlando or the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. And there are hotels that are off of Walt Disney World property, but very close by.

With a LOT of options, it can be overwhelming to figure out which is the right choice for your family. There are three classes of hotels owned by Disney — Value, Moderate, and Deluxe — ranging from the less expensive Value resorts all the way up to posh Deluxe resorts will all the amenities you could want.

Which Disney World Resort Hotel is Best for YOU?

There are many reasons why you might want to stay at a Disney World-owned hotel — including benefits that apply to Resort guests including free transportation to the Disney parks (a HUGE perk for many guests), the service you get from the Cast Members, extra park hours benefits, and the charming and immersive Disney theming. But there are also some reasons why you might NOT want to stay in a Disney World hotel — like the cost savings or additional room space you can find at other places.

Finally, before you book your trip, you’ll want to check and see if there are any special deals or discounts being offered on Disney World hotel stays.

Sometimes, you may be able to score the hotel of your dreams for less through these deals. You could also look into renting points to stay at a Disney Vacation Club Villa and that could help you save BIG on some great spots. Finally, a lot of people make some rookie mistakes planning their first Disney World trip. Make sure YOU don’t make those same mistakes by reading our post below…

Click here to see the rookie mistakes you’re making when booking a Disney World hotel!

Theme Park Admission

Okay, so you’ve decided what hotel you want to stay at, but what about the theme parks? You’ll need to get tickets to enter the theme parks. But, in Disney World, not all days are created equal when it comes to theme park admission prices. Essentially, Disney uses a calendar system for its prices that is based on demand. So, “peak” days — holidays and days that Disney expects the park to be busier — are priced at a higher cost.

If you go during a slower period, when the demand isn’t as high, the tickets will be lower in terms of cost. Prices can jump up or down depending on when you’d like to visit, so scouting out a slower time could mean big savings.

Click here to learn all about the various ticket options in Disney World.

Also, you’ll want to keep in mind that park tickets have an expiration date. So, while your parents might have tickets from the ’90s that are still totally good, the tickets you buy tomorrow will have a set expiration date. You’ll want to mark that down in your calendar and make sure you get the full use out of that ticket before it expires.

You can get tickets that give you access to 1 park per day, or you can opt for a ticket with the Park Hopper option. With the Park Hopper option, you can HOP between all 4 Disney World theme parks. Park Hopper DOES add a fairly significant cost to your tickets, but if you’re looking to jump around to different parks for meals or are trying to do it all in just a few days, it might well be worth the added cost.

One important thing to keep in mind: if you don’t get a ticket with the Park Hopper option at first, and later you decide you want it, that is fine. You can always add it on once you’re in Disney World, and you can even add it to your tickets in the middle of your trip. But Disney will charge you for adding the Park Hopper for the full length of your trip (meaning that even if you add on the Park Hopping on day 3 of 5, you’ll be charged Park Hopping for the full 5 days of your trip). So, if you are going to add it on during your trip, you’ll want to add it on early so you can take full advantage of it.

Also keep in mind, though, that you cannot remove a Park Hopper option from a ticket once you’ve bought it. Our advice? Really put some thought into if you actually NEED the Park Hopping ability before you decide to pay for it, but don’t wait until you’re too late into your actual trip. It may make sense for your group to build in rest time back at your Resort during the day instead of go-go-going to make the most of Hopping. Sometimes, less is more… and sometimes you may want to pack in as much as you can. Think about your family’s wants AND needs before tacking on the expense, and — if you choose to do so — be sure you make the most of it!

If you are interested in the water parks or some other activities, you can also get Park Hopper tickets that have a Water Parks and Sports option and a Park Hopper Plus option that will allow you to do more.

Just like the hotels, Disney often runs a variety of discounts and deals on its tickets that you’ll want to look into. You can learn about current deals and discounts HERE. And, if you’re really planning to commit, you can look into getting a Disney World Annual Pass.

There are 4 different passes to choose from. If you want access to PhotoPass for the year, or you want admission to some water parks and sports options as part of your Annual Pass, those are an additional cost.

Click here to learn more about the Annual Passholder program!

Disney Dining Plan

We touched on it briefly above, but the Disney Dining Plan is a way to pay for your Disney World meals in advance. Plans are pre-purchased and added onto a Disney Vacation Package (i.e. you must be staying at a Disney owned-and-operated hotel). With the Dining Plan, all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head to a restaurant on the list, eat, and scan your MagicBand or MagicBand+, Key to the World card, or Disney MagicMobile feature on your smartphone to “pay.”

The credits for the meal (or snacks) for each person will be deducted from your total allotment. Easy peasy. Note that while you don’t pay while you’re at the restaurant (unless you order extras not covered, like additional drinks or appetizers), gratuity is not included on table-service meals.

There are two different plans to meet different budgets and dining needs and desires. The plans even include alcohol, if you’re able to partake (and include specialty beverages for those who do not).

And we’ve got tips on how you can MAXIMIZE your Disney Dining Plan credits here!

PhotoPass & Memory Maker

During your trip, you’ll likely see Disney photographers taking other families’ photos. This is called Disney PhotoPass. The photographers are scattered throughout the parks and will take your photos for FREE! So, don’t be afraid to say cheese and take those pictures! You can then link the photos to your account with your MagicBand or admission card (or your phone) so you can see them online later. Some photographers can even add in fun magical stuff to your photos (called “Magic Shots”), so be sure to ask!

If you want to download those photos, you’ll either need an Annual Pass that includes free photo downloads, you’ll need to buy the Memory Maker service, or you can pay for each photo individually. Memory Maker is a service that you pay for that allows you to download all your PhotoPass photos for trips in a certain period of time.

A List of Every Disney Photo Pass Lens!

Hotel, Ticket, and Dining Cancelation Policies

Before we continue… this Guide is intended to help you plan what will presumably be a magical vacation! But should you happen to need them — or simply want to familiarize yourself before making any big investments — you can find a list of Disney World Resort Hotel, Ticket, and Dining Cancelation Policies HERE.

Transportation

If you’re staying at a Disney World owned/operated hotel, one of the best perks is FREE transportation from the hotels to the parks and back. Depending on the hotel you’re staying at, different transportation options will be available. Some hotels have buses to the parks…

…while others have boats…

…or access to the Disney Skyliner…

…or monorails, or a combination.

Some hotels even give you the chance to WALK to the parks.

For example, you can walk from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and (if you’re willing to trek a little bit) Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Magic Kingdom.

You can also drive to and from the parks. If you’re staying at a Disney Hotel, you get free parking at the parks. Otherwise, keep in mind that there is a cost per day to park at Disney World’s theme parks. If you hop to the other parks, you won’t need to pay again on the same day though — just keep that receipt! Also, parking is free at Disney Springs!

Another thing you’ll need to think about is how you’re going to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) or any airport nearby (if you’re flying into Orlando) to your hotel.

You’ll need to arrange for transportation from the airport to Disney World (and, of course, back again).

Click here to learn the ins-and-outs of Disney World Transportation!

Disney & Technology

You may want to spend part of your vacation away from the computer or technology, but in Disney World there are actually a LOT of apps and tech things you’ll want to know about and use. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll need to download and know.

My Disney Experience app

First, we highly recommend that you download the free My Disney Experience app. You’ll be able to use this app to check park times, make dining reservations, check the wait times for the rides, look at park maps, and SO MUCH MORE.

You can create accounts for your family members on there, link your tickets, and link MagicBands, too.

Click here to see the steps you should take on My Disney Experience BEFORE your Disney World trip.

MagicBands and Disney MagicMobile

If you walk around Disney World, you’re sure to see people with colorful bands on their wrists that look like this:

These are called MagicBands! MagicBands can do a whole bunch of stuff! 

If you set it up online through My Disney Experience, you can link your park tickets to your MagicBand. Then, all you’ll need to do is scan your band (rather than take your ticket out of your wallet or pocket) to get into the parks. They can also be used to open your Disney World hotel room door, charge purchases to your Disney World hotel room, link PhotoPass photos, and more! It’s a mega-powerful tool right on your wrist.

MagicBands may be purchased at Disney World and on shopDisney.com. Disney World hotel guests and Annual Passholders can also pre-order some MagicBands at a discount ahead of their trip, but you’re gonna have to pay a bit. If you don’t like the discounted options available, you can also just buy a MagicBand in the parks or online. MagicBands can be extremely convenient. But they are not required if you choose not to use them.

Click here to see our ULTIMATE GUIDE to MagicBands in Disney World!

MagicBand+ made its Disney World debut in July 2022.

These interactive MagicBands offer all of the same features as the regular MagicBands, but also have special INTERACTIVE features with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition that allow wearers to experience park activities in new ways!

Click here to learn everything PLUS about MagicBand+!

No MagicBand? No worries! A service called Disney MagicMobile is also available for Disney World guests, and it incorporates many of the features of the MagicBand and transfers them to your smartphone!

You can learn all there is to know about Disney MagicMobile here.

Click here to learn about the Disney MagicMobile service!

Mobile Order

The My Disney Experience app is packed to the brim with options to make dining in Disney World that much easier, too!

For instance, Mobile Order allows you to preorder and pay for your food on your phone at many Disney World quick-service spots.

Mobile Dine Check-in & Walk-up Waitlists

You’ll also be able to use the app to do Mobile Dine Check-in for many Disney World Table Service restaurants.

The My Disney Experience app also lets you join Virtual Waitlists for many Disney World restaurants, if they have walk-up availability.

Click here to see more about the Walk-up Waitlist feature!

Virtual Queues for In-Demand Rides

Disney also makes use of Virtual Queues through the My Disney Experience app when NEW rides debut in the parks as a line management tool for in-demand attractions. For instance, TRON Lightcycle / Run opened in Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2023 and a Virtual Queue is in place for guests hoping to ride the new coaster.

When and where Virtual Queues are in use, you’ll need to download the My Disney Experience app to sign up for a Boarding Group for the ride. We recommend REALLY brushing up on our how-to tips before attempting to get one. These features we’ve discussed here simply scratch the surface of options available to you via My Disney Experience, and you can learn more about everything the online tool and accompanying free app has to offer here!

Hey, Disney!

A complimentary perk is available to guests at the Disney World Resort hotels.  “Hey, Disney!” offers “custom voice assistance” to guests staying at Resort hotels in Walt Disney World. 

The service, which works with Alexa on Amazon Echo devices, assists guests with room amenities, guest services, planning, and weather info… AND it brings along LOTS of extra Disney MAGIC to make all of these things a lot more FUN!

Click HERE to find out what you need to know about ‘Hey, Disney!’

Play Disney Parks App

If you’re looking for a way to keep the little ones entertained as you wait in line or even give the older kids (*raises hand*) something to play, the Play Disney Parks App is something you might want to download (it’s FREE!).

The app is full of games and more to keep everyone busy. And it’s got special features you can use in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Planning Your Days

Park Hours

One big thing you need to know about before your first Disney World trip is the park hours. Disney World theme parks do not open and close at the same time as one another, and the hours for each theme park can vary by day. It’s important that you know those hours when you plan your trip so you can try to get the most out of every single day you have.

Park hours can also change ahead of your trip or even DURING your trip! You’ll want to keep an eye on those park hours, ESPECIALLY once you’re there, and watch for updates from us here at DFB.  Disney World Resort hotel guests get to spend a little extra time in the parks, extending those park hours just a bit more with Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours.

Let’s start with Early Theme Park Entry. All guests staying at Disney-owned resorts and select other resorts are allowed 30-minute early entry into any theme park every single day. (Select attractions are open during this early entry time.)

Extended Evening Hours is a separate perk only for those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts or Deluxe Villas. With this perk, those staying at eligible resorts are able to spend more time in a select park on select nights. (Again, select attractions are open during this time.)

If you’ll be staying at a resort with one or both of these perks, you’ll be able to factor in that extra time in the parks as part of your plans.

Click here to see our page with LOTS of park hours updates.

Disney World Lightning Lanes

Lightning Lane services are available to purchase within the My Disney Experience app. There are two different Lightning Lane systems guests may opt to utilize.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an optional paid service which allows you to bypass standby lines and enter the Lightning Lane (previously known as the FastPass line) at select attractions in the parks by paying a base price for multiple attractions. 

And another paid option is available for DIFFERENT — and more in-demand — attractions. The Lightning Lane Single Pass service (pay-per-ride) is how guests can pay a fee to utilize the Lightning Lane for Disney World’s most popular attractions.

BOTH of these services can be purchased and ride selections can be made IN ADVANCE of your trip! Those staying at a Disney World Resort hotel (and select other hotels) can purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Passes up to seven days in advance of their check-in day for their entire stay (up to 14 days), with all other guests being able to purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Passes three days in advance.

There is a LOT to learn about Lightning Lanes, so you can find ALL the info you need HERE.

CLICK HERE to learn everything you NEED to know about Disney World Lightning Lanes!

Months At-a-Glance

Want a month-by-month planning guide to your Disney World vacation? We’ve got that here, too!

Want to make sure you walk away from your first trip with as few regrets as possible? Click here to see some of our readers’ 10 BIGGEST regrets in Disney World so you don’t experience the same things.

The month MATTERS! Click here for a year-round look at Walt Disney World!

Dining at Disney World

There are a LOT of dining options all around Disney World. There are counter service spots — meaning places where you simply order your food, pick it up, and take it to your table. There are also table service restaurants — where you will be seated, a Cast Member will take your order, and your food will be brought to you at the table.

Reservations are NOT required (nor can they be made) for counter service spots. But Advance Dining Reservations can — and should — be made for table service spots. At many popular spots, reservations essentially become required if you want to dine there. Right now, you can make dining reservations 60 days ahead of your Disney trip. 

Find out how to make Advance Dining Reservations for Disney World Table Service restaurants here!

Reservations can book up pretty quickly for some spots — particularly those popular locations. When we say “fast” we mean “gone 60 days out” for big spots. So, if you’re looking to eat at an in-demand place like ‘Ohana a character meal, or other popular places, you’ll want to book those as quickly as you can!

You can change or cancel your reservations later if you change your mind. But please note that most Disney reservations will charge you a cancellation fee (usually $10 per person) if you don’t show up for the meal or cancel up to two hours in advance for most dining experiences.

Also, if you’re on a serious budget or you’ve got picky eaters in the group, you can bring food, snacks, water bottles, sodas, and more into Disney World parks. If you’ve got special dietary concerns or allergies, there are also several things you can do to notify Disney and help them best accommodate you. Cast Members will be happy to help in any way they can.

Click here to see more about dining with a special diet in Disney World!

Rides, Fireworks, Parades, and a Bit More

There are a lot of rides in Disney World, and it’s important to know what rides are in what park so you can best plan your days. You can find Disney World maps online or in the My Disney Experience app. We think it’s a good idea for you and your family to look at these maps ahead of time and make a note of what rides are must-dos, which ones you’d like to try, and which ones you’d rather skip.

Not sure what a specific ride is even like? Is it too scary for your little one or too scary for you?? Watch videos of the rides online! There are tons of videos on YouTube that will give you a much better idea of what the ride is like. You can watch them with your family to get excited for your trip and help you narrow down your must-do list.

Some Disney World rides do have height requirements, so keep that in mind for little ones and be sure to look in advance so they aren’t disappointed when they get there. We recommend measuring your kiddo with their shoes on so you know before you go what they can and can’t do.

If someone is too short, parents can take advantage of Disney World’s Rider Switch program. This allows you to split your party so those tall enough can ride while someone stays with the person too small to ride. Then, they switch and the person who waited can ride without waiting in the full line.

Aside from actual moving or simulation rides, there is lots of wonderful entertainment all around Disney World!

You can check out everything from parades and shows to live music and nighttime spectaculars and MORE here!

Click HERE to check out ALL the entertainment in Disney World!

Also, we wanted to briefly mention how to handle if someone in your party requires a bit of extra assistance to ride rides on your trip. Disney does have certain services available for those with disabilities. For example, Assistive Technology Devices for guests with hearing disabilities are available at Guest Relations.

Those with disabilities can also get a Disability Access Service pass that allows them to stop by an attraction and receive a return time at which point they’ll be able to come back and be directed to an alternate entrance to get on the ride.

Virtual features are available for Disney’s Disability Access Service Program — click here to learn more.

Also, we couldn’t get through this guide without mentioning two of the things that Disney is so famous for (even though they aren’t rides) — parades and fireworks! These are quintessential Disney things you’ll likely want to reserve some time to experience.

Make sure you catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom! PACKED with characters and larger-than-life floats, it’s a full-fledged, can’t-miss production.

You can enjoy character cavalcades at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom — which are sort-of like mini parades!

Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After features fireworks and enhanced lighting, all set to memorable Disney music.

The magic literally surrounds everyone gathered on Main Street, as immersive projection effects extend down Main Street, U.S.A. from Cinderella Castle!

In EPCOT: Luminous The Symphony of Us has taken over the skies. This production features fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects, and unforgettable Disney songs! It’s presented on World Showcase Lagoon each evening.

Fantasmic! is a truly unforgettable production presented at the Hollywood Hills amphitheater in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Combining water effects, fireworks, and appearances by literally dozens of Disney characters — all set to Disney songs in an original story starring none other than Mickey Mouse — it’s a show you won’t want to miss!

Disney Characters

Dreaming of meeting Mickey and Minnie? Hoping to say “HELLO” to Donald and Goofy? Would you love to give a wave to Woody and all our other Toy Story pals?

Well, we’ve got a list right here letting you know where to find ALL the Disney characters in the Walt Disney World theme parks!

Find our FULL LIST of Character Meet and Greets in Walt Disney World HERE!

Additionally, Character Dining experiences give you the chance to interact with beloved Disney pals AS YOU DINE!

The vast array of Character Dining options may surprise you! Because Character Meals are such a great way to meet several Disney characters at once, they are a VERY popular option for guests.

We have a Character Dining resource pages you can visit to learn more about all your options, where you can find meals listed by mealtime, location, and — of course, CHARACTERS!

Learn MORE about Character Dining in Disney World here!

Additional Resources

Packing List

Maybe you’ve got everything booked and ready…but what do you pack?! Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered there too! Check out ULTIMATE Disney World packing list.

We’ve also got a list of 12 essentials you NEED in your Disney World bag, and a video of the things even the pros forget to bring to Disney World. 

The DFB Guide

Want a BIG guide to all things Disney FOOD related? Well, lucky you — we got you covered there, too! (What can we say. We like you and want you to have the BEST time ever!) You might want to check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining!