Your first
trip to Walt Disney World is one you’ll never forget. But planning it might feel like information overload. Not sure where to start? We’ve put together this handy guide with everything you need to know for a fairytale Florida escape.
Preparing for Your Trip
Research is key to planning your first Disney trip. First, you need to work out how many days you want to spend and where. It’s also a good idea to have some sort of itinerary, so you can make the most of your days at the parks.
And Disney isn’t all rides and rollercoasters. A huge part of the experience is the magical shows and events, so make sure to check timings and locations and plan them accordingly. For example, the Festival of Fantasy Parade, in Magic Kingdom, kicks off at 2pm. And there are special events for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Mardi Gras – keep an eye on Disney’s website for more.
Ticket options
Depending on how long you’re staying, you have the option of a
Disney 7-day Magic Ticket or a Disney 14-day Magic Ticket. They both promise an abundance extras as part of the package. Not only will you get access to all the Disney theme parks and water parks, but they also promise a Memory Maker for unlimited family photos, the Disney Genie Service for creating tailored itineraries, entry to ESPN Wide World of Sports, and the Park Hopper benefit - allowing you to visit more than one park in a day.
If that wasn’t enough, we are currently giving away 5 x $1,000 Disney Gift Cards for anyone
buying a Disney Magic Ticket*. Simply secure a ticket before 26th September and you’ll be in with a chance to win one gift card each week. Better yet, the offer is available for new or existing holiday bookings that are yet to include a Disney Magic Ticket – whether you’re staying in a Disney hotel, or off-site.
Should you stay on or off site?
Stay in a Disney hotel or in an off-site hotel or villa – that’s the question. There are a total of 27
Disney themed resorts to choose from. They’re split into different categories – Value, Moderate or Deluxe, which means there’s something to suit everyone.
Value resorts offer affordable family breaks with easy access to the parks, food court dining, and supersized pools – minus the slides. Moderate resorts line up pools with waterslides and table service dining. And Deluxe Resorts throw in extras like extended evening hours at the parks and fine or character dining experiences.
Here are some of the other perks you can expect from staying at a Disney hotel:
- Early access to the parks – 30 minutes before everyone else.
- Free transport to the parks, ranging from monorail to buses and boats.
- Early access to dining reservations – 60 days in advance, over the usual 45 days.
- On-site activities, like Movies Under the Stars, poolside games and campfires.
A lot of Disney visitors also opt to stay off site, especially in a villa. It can be a more affordable option, especially if you make use of the self-catering facilities and extra space for the whole family. And it works well if you’re planning on visiting other theme parks or areas of Orlando during your trip, because you’ll probably already be hiring a car to get out and about.
Making advance dining and attraction reservations
There’s a way to minimise your time in line at the parks and it’s called Lightning Lane. There are two pass options to choose from. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass lets you skip the line and join a shorter one at up to three different attractions. Meanwhile, the Lightning Lane Single Pass lets you save time in line at one of Disney’s most popular rides – like Avatar Flight of Passage and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
You can buy Lightning Lane passes on the free My Disney Experience app, which is also handy for park maps and wait times. And it’s where you go for dining reservations. Lots of the most in-demand character experiences sell like hot cakes. So, if you’re after a spot at Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Sanaa or California Grill, you’re going to want to book as far in advance as possible. You can book restaurants up to 60 days in advance via the app, or 45 days if you’re staying off-site.
What to pack
When it comes to packing for Disney, there are some essentials no matter what the season. A refillable water bottle, your comfiest trainers or sandals, a small first aid kit for plasters and such, a sun hat and plenty of suncream. Then, depending on when you’re visiting, you’ll also need to consider a poncho or umbrella, and a portable fan – extra points for one you can clip onto a buggy.
Other handy things to pack include a portable charger, as the photo ops are non-stop, and a buggy. The latter’s a good idea even for older kids, as the heat and walking can tire them out. You can hire strollers at Disney World, though, if you don’t fancy bringing yours. And if you’ve got some extra space, why not throw in some Mickey Mouse ears to get you in the spirit?
If you forget something, don’t sweat – you can pick up pretty much anything in the park shops, from ponchos to phone chargers.
Resorts, Transportation and Attractions at Disney
There are a total of four theme parks to choose from – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT,
Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, not including the two water parks.
Complimentary buses and Minnie Vans take you between the parks, as well as certain Disney hotels. But that’s not the only way to travel. You can also get around by boat, monorail or Skyliner. Colourful gondolas connect EPCOT and Hollywood Studios to select Disney hotels, while other resorts deliver guests to the park via large ferry boats or water taxis. And the Walt Disney World Monorail System has three lines – the Resort Monorail,
the EPCOT Monorail and the Express Monorail.
What’s more, walking is an option from some hotels – Disney’s Contemporary Resort is just a 10-15 minute stroll from the Magic Kingdom gates. And EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are easily walkable from the likes of Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.
Are you ready to experience the magic? Book your Disney World holiday with Ocean Florida today.
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