Planning a Disney trip is not only about running to get on rollercoasters and pretending it is just for your younger siblings. A vacation to Disney World can be fun for people of any age, so as long as you follow this guide, you can make the trip as stress-free as possible. Disclaimer: this guide is designed for trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando, not Disneyland in California, and while some aspects may transfer over, this is more aimed at a local weekend trip than a winter-break-long vacation.
Hotels:
For people who are less familiar with Disney and its ever-complicated reservation system, some may say that the hotel you stay at can make or break your trip. As someone who rarely stays at a true Disney Resort hotel, I can confirm this is not true. The last time I stayed “on property,” my hotel did not even have elevators; the only perk I did enjoy was the increased access to the parks because of buses.
There are different levels of affordability for Disney Resort hotels, ranging from Value (All-Star Resorts, Pop Century), Moderate (Port Orleans, Caribbean Beach) and Deluxe (Grand Floridian, Contemporary). All of these hotels will grant you early entry to the parks by 30 minutes, increased transportation opportunities and early access to ride reservations. Staying off the property will not grant you any of these amenities. Honestly? With the proper timing that I will explain later, there are plenty of opportunities to access food and rides exactly the same as those staying on property.
There is also a secret third option for hotels that people do not take advantage of often enough. If you are someone who does not care for the hotel theme and just wants to get to the parks, then a Disney Springs-area hotel is for you. While affordability varies by time of year, the hotels in this area offer the same early entry and some transportation options, just without the early access to rides. As someone who goes three or four times a year, this is where I usually choose to stay.
Dining:
Staying fueled on a Disney trip can be anything from an exciting experience to a quick pit stop on your way to the next ride. There are two categories of restaurants at Disney: Quick Service and Table Service. Wherever you choose to dine on your trip, here is how to make the most of it.
Quick Service: These restaurants are cheap, casual and located all around the parks. They are perfect for people who have a busy day ahead of them, and should not be slept on just because they are more laid-back. There is a quick service restaurant for every cuisine, and some even offer seating for those who have a few minutes to spare. Some top-rated quick service spots at each park include Pinocchio Village Haus (Magic Kingdom), Docking Bay 7 or Woody’s Lunchbox (Hollywood Studios) and Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom). The only exception is Epcot, where every country has exceptional food.
Table Service: These are the meals that will take up around an hour of your day, but are worth every bite. Sit-down restaurants can be costly or just a light meal, depending on what you make of it. Signature dining at places such as Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom or California Grill at the Contemporary Resort can be highly difficult to obtain, which is why it is important to book reservations as soon as possible: 60 days out from the trip. While staying up until midnight on that first day is not necessary, booking as early as possible is the key to getting quality reservations at the places you want to eat.
Rides:
Possibly the most difficult part of booking a Disney trip is securing all the attractions you want to visit. There are over 100 options, and much like restaurants, some are harder to book than others. Here is the exact way I manage to book every ride I want to go on, every trip.
- Commit! If you are staying on Disney property, you can book ride reservations seven days in advance of each day. Otherwise, you can only book three days in advance, but I rarely stay on the property and still manage to book everything. Ride reservations open at 7 a.m. three or seven days in advance, so be awake and ready to select the rides you want.
- Know the Difference! The two options for ride purchases are Lightning Lane, Multi-Pass and Single Pass. Purchasing a Lightning Lane ensures that you not only have a reservation to ride an attraction, but your own separate, shorter line to wait in. Single Passes are reserved for the most popular rides, like Rise of the Resistance and Seven Dwarves Mine Train. These will sell out the fastest, so these are the rides you want to focus on when making purchases. Multi-Pass rides are every other ride, and these can still feature some popular rides, so make sure you choose the rides you want as quickly as possible. (Pro tip: book Multi-Pass rides early in the morning, so that you can keep choosing rides for later in the day!)
A trip to Disney is as magical as you make it; with the right hotels, restaurants, and attractions, it does not just have to be for kids. Some of my favorite trips have been to Disney with my mom and using my guide, your vacation can be just as memorable!
