Walt Disney World is among the most magical trip locations on Earth. Nonetheless, it may also be difficult, costly, irritating, scorchingly sizzling and the epicenter of meltdowns.
Which model of Disney World you get is essentially in your personal fingers.
Fortunately, there are straightforward, expert-tested suggestions for visiting Disney World. Use the following tips to save cash, have enjoyable and guarantee your journey is a magical success.
Use secret menus
Along with their printed menus, a lot of our favourite Disney World eating places — together with Nomad Lounge in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs and Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen within the Magic Kingdom — have off-menu “secret gadgets.” Different eating places round Walt Disney World might even have further off-menu gadgets, too.
When you might assume you will discover the identical sky-high costs for these things because the menu staples, that is not at all times the case. Typically, these secret menus can find yourself saving you some huge bucks.
For instance, you may get Ohana noodles from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort with out paying the hefty prix fixe worth of an Ohana dinner by ordering a bowl from Tambu Lounge subsequent door. It isn’t on the menu, however you may ask for it.
1 of 2
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Eat at lounges, not full-service eating places
The key to a nice Disney World journey is putting a steadiness between maximizing your park time and taking sufficient breaks to recollect you are really on trip. A leisurely meal at Disney may be enjoyable, however conventional table-service eating places are sometimes dear.
As a substitute of selecting a standard full-service eatery for each meal, go for a relaxed lunch or dinner at one among Disney World’s many atmospheric lounges. You will nonetheless have a desk and a server however can order from a menu of lighter bites and artistic cocktails with out spending an excessive amount of on an costly meal.
Associated: Why Epcot is now Disney World’s must-do park
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
For instance, at Area 220 Restaurant in Epcot, the set lunch menu prices $55 for adults and $29 for kids. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless benefit from the house view within the lounge, which provides heavy appetizers ranging between $12 and $18.
Disney World’s different greatest lounges embrace the beforehand talked about Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Geyser Level Bar & Grill at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Steakhouse 71 Lounge at Disney’s Up to date Resort and Sanaa Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village.
1 of 3
Nomad Lounge. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
When you do not feel like sitting down in a restaurant or lounge after a protracted day at a park, ordering takeout meals from a few of Disney World’s hottest table-service eating places is a good different dinner choice. Simply kind “to go” into the search bar within the My Disney Expertise app to see a listing of eating places the place you may mobile-order a full meal. You’ll be able to take your meals again to your room or to the nightly out of doors film at your Disney World lodge.
Create your personal souvenirs
Recreation forged members at Disney World resorts run free day by day actions, from poolside trivia to night s’mores across the campfire to motion pictures beneath the celebs. In addition they supply paid actions that make enjoyable do-it-yourself souvenirs, resembling tie-dyed Mickey T-shirts.
At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, for instance, you may select coloured nuts and string to make your personal kukui nut lei ($15 for youths and $20 for adults). A number of Disney World resorts even have Neighborhood Halls the place visitors can watch motion pictures, play video games and make crafts — both without spending a dime or a small price.
Snag hard-to-get eating reservations
Disney World eating reservations can be found for reserving 60 days prematurely. Nonetheless, visitors staying on Disney World property with their reserving linked within the My Disney Expertise app could make reservations 60 days plus the size of their keep prematurely. In different phrases, for a five-day keep, these visitors can really e-book some meals 65 days earlier than their arrival.
Having this further-out reserving window means you will have a greater probability of scoring essentially the most fascinating reservations, which generally get scooped up greater than 60 days prematurely.
Among the hardest-to-snag reservations are for Cinderella’s Royal Desk, Area 220 Restaurant, Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera, Oga’s Cantina, Ohana and the brand new Roundup Rodeo BBQ venue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Friends have till two hours earlier than their reservation time to cancel, so one thing might open up on the final minute when you preserve checking.
In order for you another person to do the laborious give you the results you want, there are web sites particularly designed to provide you with a warning when a hard-to-find reservation opens up. Disney planning website Touring Plans has a free alert service that can notify you through textual content or e-mail when a reservation to your chosen date and time vary turns into out there.
Associated: One of the best $120 I’ve spent at Disney this yr bought me into the Magic Kingdom’s secret tunnels
Benefit from free ice water
Bringing a refillable water bottle to the parks isn’t a nasty concept. Nonetheless, when you want some water on the go, ask for a free cup of ice water at any quick-service location serving fountain drinks.
Oftentimes, a Disney forged member will probably be stationed on the door checking for cell order return notifications, so you may simply allow them to know you would like a cup of ice water. They’re going to direct you to a numbered pick-up counter to seize one.
Lower your expenses by selecting your dates fastidiously
Similar to it prices extra to fly or e-book a lodge throughout busy weekends and holidays, it additionally prices extra to get entrance tickets to Disney World on these days.
Disney World ticket costs now fluctuate by date and park. The Magic Kingdom is positioned because the priciest park, whereas Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the least costly. Single-day tickets begin at $109 per particular person however go as much as $189 every. This implies a household of 4 might spend as much as $320 extra on day by day tickets, relying on once they go and which parks they go to.
Associated: These are the perfect occasions to go to Disney World
Moreover, the price of the reduce-the-line move, Disney Genie+, varies by day. It prices extra on busier days (and has even bought out on a couple of events), so the value variations can add up if you wish to go to Disney World on a peak date.
You now not want a park reservation
As of Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations formally turned a factor of the previous for visitors with date-based tickets. You’ll nonetheless buy variably priced, date-based tickets for the times you propose to go to Disney World, however you’ll now not be required to make a theme park reservation for the park you want to go to on a given day.
Now, you may get up and go to whichever park you would like.
This variation applies to most ticket varieties, with the exclusion of annual passes and sure promotional tickets. These visitors should nonetheless make a theme park reservation to enter a Disney World park.
You now not want to attend till 2 pm to park hop
You probably have a ticket with the Park Hopper choice or are an annual passholder, you now not want to attend till 2 p.m. to go to a second (or third or fourth) park.
Earlier than this modification, you needed to wait till 2 p.m. to go to a park aside from the one you had made a theme park reservation for that day. Now, you may go to further parks any time you want all through the day, making the Park Hopper choice extra precious than it was once.
Go for different fee choices apart from money
A simple approach to shave wherever from 3% to 10% off the price of your journey is to purchase discounted Disney reward playing cards to make use of for all the things — your Disney lodge or Disney Trip Membership dues, park tickets, merchandise and eating.
You will get them from Goal (there is a 5% low cost when utilizing a Goal RedCard) or from Sam’s Membership and BJ’s at a 3% to 4% low cost. Even when you aren’t getting a reduction, you may earn bonus factors in your rewards bank card by strategically shopping for Disney reward playing cards at grocery shops and workplace provide shops.
Some cash-back bank cards additionally embrace wholesale warehouses of their quarterly cash-back classes, boosting your total financial savings. Chain retailers like Meijer, Kroger and Lowe’s sometimes run promos that may nab you much more financial savings on reward playing cards, too, so that you could possibly rise up to about 10% off.
In case your coronary heart is ready on one among Disney’s Deluxe resorts however your pockets says in any other case, you may typically get monetary savings on dear nightly charges by renting Disney Trip Membership factors.
Relying on which bank cards you retain in your pockets, you may additionally be capable of redeem factors to your Disney World tickets or a factors lodge close to Disney World.
The knowledge for the TargetRedCard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Assume it would rain — and plan accordingly
That is Central Florida, so there’s at all times an opportunity you will get caught in a pop-up afternoon thunderstorm. The suitable preparation can imply letting just a little rain roll off your (coated) again as a substitute of drenching your parade. You will get “rain prepared” with the following tips:
- Put on waterproof footwear (learn: no sneakers and socks that may get soaked).
- Convey a journey umbrella and a poncho or rain jacket.
- Cowl your stroller with a water-proof cowl every time there’s even the slightest probability of a bathe.
- Think about the forecast if you select what to trip first (you could must prioritize out of doors rides).
A lot of Walt Disney World’s out of doors points of interest shut briefly throughout rain and lightning. You probably have your coronary heart set on a top-tier trip — resembling Slinky Canine Sprint, Check Monitor, Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice — do not wait till the top of the day to attempt to trip. When you do and rain comes your means, you possibly can be out of luck.
Rigorously think about the place you keep
Disney World has some really fabulous resort lodges, however they usually value $500 or extra per night time. In case your finances cannot fairly deal with such a splurge, think about a few of Disney’s Reasonable lodges (this one could also be our favourite hidden gem) and renovated Worth choices.
Nonetheless, know that it is not a deal breaker when you keep off Disney property. Whereas there are a lot of causes to remain at a Disney resort lodge, there aren’t as many as there was once.
With the free Magical Categorical bus from the airport and free Magic Bands now lengthy gone, the on-site perks listing has shortened a bit. Nonetheless, you will nonetheless take pleasure in a couple of advantages, together with:
- Early entry to the parks every morning
- The flexibility to buy particular person Lightning Lanes for rides beginning at 7 a.m. (as a substitute of when the park opens, which is when non-resort visitors get entry)
- No theme park or lodge parking charges
- Further hours within the parks on sure nights (for Deluxe resort visitors)
1 of 5
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
If a standard Disney property is not possible for you, keep in mind you can get all of the above perks (aside from free parking) when you keep on the Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve, that are all within the Marriott household of lodges and sit on Disney property.
Have a plan for getting on the latest rides
Disney is aware of that visitors are clamoring to get on new points of interest like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and Tron Lightcycle / Run on the Magic Kingdom. The corporate additionally is aware of the expertise will probably be diminished if visitors have to attend in line for 4 or 5 hours earlier than they get to check out the newest and biggest rides.
To maintain wait occasions beneath management, Disney makes use of a digital queue system when it opens new rides. Fairly than have a standard standby line, visitors can strive for a digital queue spot on the My Disney Expertise app. Sometimes, rides that use a digital queue additionally supply a pay-to-ride Particular person Lightning Lane move, giving visitors a free and paid choice for getting on widespread rides.
There are two alternatives to hitch: at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. There’s an extra choice for Deluxe lodge visitors at 6 p.m. throughout prolonged theme park hours. You’ll be able to strive for the 7 a.m. slot from the consolation of your lodge mattress, however you should be within the park the place the trip is situated for the 1 p.m. alternative.
How lengthy the digital queue system stays in place is dependent upon how widespread the trip is. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been open for greater than a yr and nonetheless makes use of a digital queue as a substitute of a standard standby line.
Allot time for a resort day (or 2)
There’s a lot to do round Walt Disney World that you possibly can simply fill a number of days with actions that do not require shopping for a park ticket. When you’re visiting on a multiday park ticket quite than an annual move, think about loading the majority of your nonpark actions right into a day (or days) if you skip the parks solely — together with your arrival and departure days.
Attempt a spherical of miniature golf — or 18 holes of the true factor — within the morning or some pool time within the afternoon. Go to Disney Springs for dinner, procuring and a few Gideon’s Bakehouse cookies for dessert.
One other good time to plan a resort day is earlier than a celebration like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Get together, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Get together and different after-hours occasions. These go nicely into the night time, so you will want to avoid wasting up some vitality.
Save character eating for nonpark days
Character meals are usually a visit spotlight, however too typically, visitors make the error of making an attempt to cram a morning character breakfast into an already full park day. As a substitute, save these character meals for a resort day, as a particular dinner in your arrival night time or a farewell breakfast in your departure morning.
You probably have your coronary heart set on a selected in-park character meal, e-book breakfast as late as doable. Make it a brunch, so it can save you your early morning hours for scoring shorter waits on rides.
Do not ‘rope drop’ the preferred trip
Top-of-the-line methods to get a jump-start on doing as many points of interest as doable in a day is to rope drop. Rope dropping means arriving on the park not less than half-hour earlier than the official park opening (or the beginning of Early Theme Park Entry for Disney resort visitors) and heading straight to your first attraction the second the rope drops.
It might appear intuitive to beeline to the preferred trip on the park — which is often additionally the one that can value you essentially the most to skip the road by buying an Particular person Lightning Lane. Nonetheless, this is not at all times the perfect strategy.
Two of Disney World’s hottest rides — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — are two of the priciest Particular person Lightning Lanes. They’re additionally two of the longest queues, preshows and trip experiences. Which means that your rope drop benefit for the rest is lengthy gone by the point you have exited both of those rides.
As a substitute, when you can afford to, buy an Particular person Lightning Lane for these rides (or wait to hitch the standby line till simply earlier than closing when strains are sometimes shorter). Then, rope drop barely much less widespread rides which can be nonetheless in your must-do listing. With that technique, it is doable to get two to a few different rides completed in the identical period of time earlier than the crowds begin to construct.
Mix this with Disney Genie+, and you will simply knock out all the things you need to expertise in a day.
Commerce fireworks and parades for shorter waits
If parades and nighttime spectaculars aren’t must-see actions for you, particularly you probably have a number of days in the identical park, skip the present and hop in line for a preferred trip as a substitute. You are all however assured a shorter wait.
Control character meet-and-greet hours
Many character meet-and-greets begin later and finish sooner than when the parks open and shut. Due to this, you will need to verify any must-meet character’s look occasions within the My Disney Expertise app. This manner, you may keep away from the heartbreak of lacking out on a Winnie the Pooh hug or Wookiee fist bump from Chewbacca.
Know how one can get in early or keep late
Disney has a perk that lets resort visitors staying on property or in choose affiliated lodges (just like the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve and the Disney Springs lodges) into any of the 4 theme parks half-hour early to start having fun with choose points of interest.
Moreover, on choose nights, these in Deluxe Disney resorts (and once more, together with these on the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve and Shades of Inexperienced) can keep two hours after the parks shut to take pleasure in choose points of interest with comparatively minimal waits.
Often, Epcot and the Magic Kingdom alternate staying open late on choose nights. On nights that Epcot is open late, vacationers staying in eligible resorts get an additional probability to get a digital queue boarding move to trip the brand new “Guardians of the Galaxy” trip.
Associated: 13 new rides, points of interest and experiences coming to Disney World in 2024
Make your cell orders prematurely
Utilizing the cell order choice within the My Disney Expertise app can save a ton of time when ordering meals from quick-service eating places. However, on busy days at widespread spots, the return occasions can get backed up shortly.
As a substitute, keep away from that complete state of affairs by inserting your order early within the day to your excellent return time. Or, keep watch over return occasions to make sure you place your order earlier than your required return window is gone. You’ll be able to modify your return window inside Disney’s app if it’s worthwhile to change it.
Backside line
Between having the proper gear in your theme park bag, understanding concerning the hidden layers of magic constructed into Disney and following these sensible suggestions, you are nicely in your approach to being a Disney World professional. To not point out, you will be saving money and time.
Associated studying:
