Once you have decided to take a Walt Disney World trip, what should you do next? There is A LOT to think about when planning a WDW vacation, and I’m here to help! First things first, plan when you are going and purchase those park tickets. Keep reading for all the details on how to prepare for your upcoming Walt Disney World Trip!
Reservations
Obviously, you are going to need to make hotel reservations. You will also need to make Park Pass reservations for the days and first park you would like to visit. This is very important to remember since you can no longer just show up and go into a park!
NOTE: Disney just announced that this system will be changing in 2024, so make sure to check what the current system is when you go!
Dining
Make your dining reservations 60 days in advance of your trip. Some restaurants will fill up immediately when the 60-day window opens, so be aware of the hard-to-get reservations and snag those first. A tip that could help you get the more competitive reservations is to book those towards the end of your vacation. This is because the 60 window opens up on the first day of your vacation, essentially putting you a few days ahead of 60 days for the end of your trip.
I would also suggest making a snack list (or getting our free printable HERE). This is helpful if you are like me and have some must-try snacks that you don’t want to forget about. I like having lists with me when I’m in the parks and start to get hungry, it takes the guesswork out of snacking!
Special Events
Choose and book your special events. You need to keep an eye out for when they go on sale. There are many unique experiences you can have at WDW, from Halloween parties, Christmas Parties, after-hours events, special behind-the-scenes tours… the list goes on and on. If you are interested in some of the more unique things you can do at Walt Disney World check out our blog post HERE! Note, most of these are for an extra charge.
Transportation
Disney is no longer offering free transportation from the airport to WDW Resorts. Now everyone must find their own way to the magic! We’ve used the Sunshine Flyer and had great experiences. There’s also Mears Connect, Uber and Lyft, car rentals, or a taxi. No matter what you choose, make sure you are prepared, and make reservations ahead of time if you are able to.
Within the “Disney bubble” there are many ways to get around, so don’t worry about that!
Gear
Make those purchases online that you might need for the parks. By making these purchases before you go, you can save some money and stress when you get to the parks! Check out our must-haves for travel with a baby or toddler for some amazing travel finds! Also, check out our post about awesome Amazon finds for Walt Disney World! Depending on when you go to the parks I highly suggest fans, cooling towels, comfortable footwear, and breathable clothes.
If you love wearing Disney shirts or matching family shirts, don’t forget to order those! I love picking up a few new tops to wear to the parks!
Souvenirs
Take a peak at ShopDisney and see if there are any souvenirs you might want. I like to see what they have online, even when I am at the parks. You can sometimes get a better deal at ShopDisney than at the actual parks for the same items.
Gift Cards and Rewards Cards
If you want to save a bit of cash, consider buying some Disney gift cards at a discount. I’ve only purchased mine at Target with my 5% Target Card discount. If you are getting a discount at grocery stores on one of your credit cards, you may also be able to get a nice deal there!
If you have a Disney Visa, make sure to have that redemption card handy or order one if you need to! You can also pick one up at the parks (note, you will have to call into Disney Visa to have it loaded).
Magic Bands and My Disney Experience
Download the My Disney Experience App onto your phone, and make sure you have all your Magic Bands linked. Play around with the app so you are familiar with it. It will come in handy when you are on vacation!
Make a Grocery List
If you plan on ordering groceries and having them delivered to your hotel (which I highly recommend if you have littles and need specific items), start that list before you land in Orlando! This is something you will want to do pretty close to when you leave, maybe the day before. Make sure you have the correct delivery location listed in whatever app you are using (we use Instacart), then proceed to make your list. You can schedule a delivery, or wait and place your order when you land or right before you take off. If you are worried about seeing any replacements and approving them, I suggest waiting until you land! Seriously ya’ll, those Uncrsutables add up! Save some money and order them! =p
Loose Schedule
Plan a loose schedule for your trip. Some folks love to plan every minute of their vacation, and that’s fine. But even if you aren’t one of those people, have an idea of what rides are the most important to you, what food you want to eat, whether you are going to park hop, do you want to purchase Disney Genie+ or a single Lightning Lane entrance.
I say a loose schedule because plans change, and not overbooking yourself can be a trip-saver. Also, plan a nap back in the room if you have kiddos (or if you are a big kid that needs rest!). This can make for a much happier trip!
Ready, Set, Go!
After completing all the above you are all set to go! Also, remember that Walt Disney World is not on an island, and if you forget anything you can always purchase it there. Now go and enjoy your vacation! You earned it!
Looking to save some money on your next Disney trip? Check out our post on How to Save Big Bucks on Your Disney Vacation!
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