I’ve compiled our favorite tips to help you have the best Disney World vacation possible! I’ve broken them down into categories to make them easier to reference.
Happy planning!
MONEY-SAVING TIPS
1. Buy discounted Disney gift cards.
Save money by purchasing Disney gift cards at a discount. If you have a Target RedCard, you can save 5% at Target or Target.com. Sam’s Club and BJ’s often offer discounted Disney gift cards as well, especially around the holidays/Black Friday.
You can use Disney gift cards for:
- Your room or vacation package
- Park tickets
- Meals & snacks
- Merchandise
- Mobile Ordering in the My Disney Experience app
To avoid carrying multiple cards, you can combine balances or check them on Disney’s gift card site.
Important: If you cancel your trip and paid with gift cards, the refund goes back to those cards—so don’t lose them.
2. Do a split stay.
Stay part of your trip at a less expensive Disney resort and part at a more expensive one. Disney will move your luggage for you!
3. Watch your dates.
Disney resorts are usually less expensive Sunday–Thursday, with weekends and holidays being more expensive. Bonus- less expensive dates usually mean lower crowds.
PRE-TRIP PLANNING & PACKING TIPS
4. Download the My Disney Experience app.
This app is essential. You’ll use it for:
- Mobile Ordering
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass & Single Pass
- Wait times
- Park maps
- Chatting with a Cast Member
- And much more
5. Use packing cubes to pack.
Our favorites are the Bagail Packing Cubes. Each family member has their own color:
- Small: toiletries
- Medium: pajamas & undergarments
- Large: outfits
Roll clothes to save space and reduce wrinkles. Unpacking is easy—just drop the cubes into drawers. Most cubes are washable.
6. Pack newspaper for wet shoes.
Crumple newspaper and stuff wet shoes to dry overnight. I keep newspapers in the front zipper of my suitcase so the ink doesn’t rub off on anything.
7. Bring an anti-chafing stick.
Body Glide or Gold Bond Friction Defense are lifesavers. Use on feet to prevent blisters—and ladies, use on inner thighs if wearing dresses or shorts. Trust me.
8. Pack sunglasses in your park bag.
I always forget mine and end up buying overpriced ones in the parks. Don’t forget them!
9. Motion sickness prep.
If screen-based rides bother you, pack Bonine or 24-hour Dramamine.
I take Bonine at least 30 minutes before riding something that makes me nauseous. You can usually find the generic Meclizine on Amazon here (just search for the least expensive).
Rides that commonly cause motion sickness:
- Hollywood Studios: Star Tours, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Animal Kingdom: Flight of Passage
- EPCOT: Mission Space, Guardians of the Galaxy
10. Bring a stroller cover or shower curtain.
Florida rainstorms pop up fast—especially in the afternoon. A shower curtain makes a very affordable stroller cover.
11. Visiting EPCOT during a festival?
Download the free Food & Wine app. Browse booth menus ahead of time and favorite what you want to try. The map feature makes finding booths easy.
(All EPCOT festivals are included, not just Food & Wine.)
12. Avoid EPCOT weekend evenings.
World Showcase crowds get intense. If visiting on a weekend, hit the booths as soon as they open (around 11am).
13. Pack electrolytes.
Liquid IV, Nuun, or something similar is a must. You’ll sweat more than you think.
14. Bring a small sunscreen in your bag.
I’ve burned my shoulders more times than I care to admit. Apply while waiting to rope drop!
15. Pack ponchos or an umbrella.
Cheap, disposable ponchos pack flat and are great for a one-time use on a water ride. If you’re wearing it for a full day of touring, Disney ponchos are great. They are pricey and bulky, but they are well-made, and Disney will replace ripped ones. I’ve found lightweight poncho jackets at Costco that worked great as well.
16. Bring a light sweater.
Even in summer, restaurants and indoor attractions can be cold. I tie mine to my purse.
17. Don’t forget a portable phone charger.
The app drains your battery fast. Disney does sell portable chargers if you forget.
RESORT & TRANSPORTATION TIPS
18. Do online check-in for your Disney resort.
You’ll get a text when your room is ready—no front desk stop required.
19. Check your room location before unpacking.
Use Touring Plans Hotel Room Views to preview your room. If you’re unhappy, visit the front desk and request a change before you enter the room. There are no guarantees, but it’s worth asking.
20. Check bus arrival times in the app.
If staying at a Disney resort, you can see real-time bus arrivals to parks and Disney Springs.
21. Use resort gyms.
Moderate and Deluxe resort gyms often have free water, sometimes fruit, and extra towels.
22. Cooler months = longer park days.
November–February is much easier weather-wise, so you’ll be able to tour longer.
23. Hotel A/C tip.
Many rooms use motion sensors. If the room feels warm, search YouTube for how to override your unit.
24. Schedule a full rest day.
Mid-trip rest days are gold. Sleep in, enjoy the resort, or visit Disney Springs, or explore some things I mention here.
25. Use Memory Maker perks.
PhotoPass booths and the PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs offer free digital downloads if you have Memory Maker or an eligible Annual Pass. Click here for info.
DINING TIPS
26. Mobile Order whenever possible.
Available at most quick-service locations and some resorts. Simply open the app and look for the location, or hit the + button to order food.
27. Anyone can order from the kids menu.
Unless dining at prix fixe, buffets, character meals, or on the Dining Plan. Great for lighter appetites.
28. Missed a dining reservation?
Use the free Mouse Dining Reservation Finder to get alerts when something opens.
29. Eat at off times.
Peak hours are 12–2pm and 6–8pm.
30. Want more dining tips?
I’ve dedicated an entire blog to Disney dining hacks—check it out!
THEME PARK TIPS
31. Add snacks to your Touring Plan.
It’s easy to forget must-try treats once you’re there, so add them to your touring plan as a reminder. (I provide these for my clients!)
32. Arrive early.
Disney resort guests should arrive 45–60 minutes before Early Entry.
Offsite guests should arrive at least 30 minutes before park opening.
33. Resort buses run early.
If you want to be near the front, get to the bus stop early. They fill up quickly.
34. Use First Aid Centers.
Each park has one staffed with nurses and basic medications (and band-aids, etc), so be sure to visit them if you require first aid.
35. Baby Care Centers are available.
Located in all four parks with feeding, changing, and nursing areas. They are a peaceful respite for littles!
36. Use Single Rider lines.
You’ll be separated, but waits are shorter.
Available at:
- Test Track
- Remy’s Ratatouille
- Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
- Smugglers Run
- Expedition Everest
37. Free ice water.
Available at any quick-service location—just ask.
38. Avoid crowded tapstiles.
Look far left or right—those lines are often shorter.
39. Soarin’ tip.
Request B-1 for the best views and no dangling feet on Soarin’ in EPCOT.
40. Haunted Mansion trick.
Once you enter the stretching room (elevator), stand under the lady holding the parasol—that’s the exit door to board the ride.
41. Kidcot Fun Stops at EPCOT.
If your kids aren’t into the World Showcase, visit the Kidcot Fun Stops to collect free country cards and chat with Cast Members—a fun way to explore each nation!
42. EPCOT festival scavenger hunts.
They offer these at most festivals. Purchase a map, hunt for clues, and get a prize at the end. We still love these!
43. Take midday breaks.
Especially in the heat. Great time for table-service meals or indoor shows. If your resort is easily accessible by walking/boat/monorail/Skyliner, take a break by leaving the park for a bit and returning later.
44. Fireworks without the crowd.
In Magic Kingdom, watch from behind Cinderella Castle or while riding PeopleMover, Big Thunder, or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
45. Use “Shop in Store.”
Some shops let you checkout in the app and skip the line. Check the app for this feature.
LIGHTNING LANE MULTI PASS & SINGLE PASS TIPS
46. Book early return times.
Tap in early and keep booking throughout the day.
47. Purchasing Single Passes is sometimes worth it.
Buying the Single Pass can free up time for other attractions, as the Single Pass rides usually have the longest wait times throughout the day.
48. Schedule hard parks later in your trip.
Popular rides like Slinky Dog Dash are easier to book later. So book your Hollywood Studios day for later in your trip. Do this with whatever is your biggest priority.
49. Don’t like the return times you have booked? Keep checking.
You can keep checking times all the way up until your park day, so other times could open up.
50. Keep refreshing!
Disney drops additional Lightning Lanes all day long—sold-out rides often pop back up. Keep checking!
Ready to plan your visit to the magic? Email me for a no-obligation quote, and I’ll help you plan the most magical vacation! My services are complimentary when you book with me, including all my tips and advice.
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