Ten Tips for Planning your First Disney World Trip!

Oct 1

Published: October 1, 2015

Use a Trained Disney Travel Agent- Walt Disney World vacations need to be planned out, from how many days you need tickets, what dining plan, reservations for dining, Fast Passes, what resort to stay in, and many other choices. There is a lot that goes into planning a Walt Disney World vacation. The right travel agent can help take the stress out of the planning and let you just enjoy your vacation and time with the family.
Try to go when the parks are not as crowded. Holidays and when school breaks, these are the busiest times to go. If at all possible, if you have children try taking them out of school whenever possible. Speaking with the school and the teachers ahead of time, always a good idea to get their work to take with them so they don’t get behind. Again, a good travel agent can help you pick the best time of year for your family.
Don’t try to do it all your first trip. Enjoy- do 1 park a day. There is so much to see, slow down take in all the smells and sights around you. Walt Disney World is known for the small details in the parks that make them so magical. Small detail tip: Hidden Mickeys! These are all over the park and resorts! Be careful, once you start looking for them and you will see them everywhere! And not just at Disney!
Take a break in the afternoon- Go back to the resort- take a nap or cool off in the pool. This way you are relaxed and can head back to the park refreshed and ready to go play till closing.
Take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours- When staying on property, Disney guests are given what is called Extra Magic Hours- and each park has these hours- They might open 1 hour earlier or stay open later. Only guests staying on property get the advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. And here again, a trained Disney agent will be able to help you plan this out.
Don’t spend your whole vacation looking through a camera lens. Yes, you want to get photos, but if you try to take all the photos you are going to miss out and you won’t be in of the photos. Take advantage and purchase the Memory Maker. When you are in the parks or water parks, you will see Disney Photopass Photographers, they are there to capture your Disney moments for you. Let them take your photo. Then when you get back home or in your room you can log on and see all the photos of the family. Well, you know Disney, there is always a little magic in everything! You’ll see……
Wear comfy shoes and sunscreen! Walt Disney World is BIG!!! You will be doing a lot of walking and the last thing you want is blisters. Make sure you have a good pair of shoes. Also be sure to wear sunscreen in the hot Florida sun. You sure do not want a sunburn to ruin your vacation now do you?
Hot days or just tired? Take a break mid-day. Head back to your resort and relax in the pool or take a nap. You paid for the room and pool, you might as well use them. Then later on go back to the park feeling refreshed and ready to finish your day. This will help you if there are late Extra Magic Hours. You will be able to stay up late and be in the park when it is not so busy.
Don’t do more than one park a day. This all goes back to just slow down and take it all in. There is so much to see and do on your first trip you don’t need to park hop. Enjoy the park you are in and see as much as you can. If you’re also planning on going to the Disney water parks, I have found it helps to go to a park and then next day do a water park. This gives you a break from all the walking.
RELAX…enjoy your vacation. If your Walt Disney World Vacation is well planned out you should have nothing to worry about. You will know what park you’re in on what day and where you are eating dinner every night. You will have your first 3 Fast Passes for the day already to go. This is again a lot to plan, but by using a Trained Disney Travel Agent, like myself and a Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency, Wishes Family Travel, your vacation will all be planned and all you have to do is show up and SHOW US YOUR DISNEY SIDE!