Starting your very first Disney World vacation can be a little daunting. You need to work out how you are going to get around, where exactly you need to be for any lightning lane or dining reservations plus you are dealing with the fact you are actually in Disney World. It’s all very exciting and I thought I would share some Disney World tips for First Timers.
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30 Tips for Disney World First Timers
I can remember the very first day of our first Disney World vacation. As most families do, we headed straight to Magic Kingdom and once inside the park the size and scale of the resort amazed me. But I had planned though. I knew the layout of the Disney Parks and our reservation times. I was organised as I could be.
But what would I say to someone is about to take their first Disney World vacation? I would say read these essential Disney World Tips For First Timers
1. You Need to Plan For Your First Time in Disney World
Long before you get to Disney World you should have planned quite a bit. Dining reservations need to be made 60 days before your vacation if you are staying at a Disney World resort.
I have been asked by friends in the past that have booked a Disney World vacation is it necessary to book dining reservations so early? My answer is simple, yes book as much as you can straight away. If you don’t you won’t get that restaurant reservation you really wanted for Cinderella’s Royal Table or another popular restaurant. Don’t gamble and take a chance not booking anything as soon as you possibly can. Remember there are people all over the world making reservations for the same time as you don’t lose out.
You can read our Disney World Planning Guide here.
2. Use the My Disney Experience App
The My Disney Experience App for your smartphone is such a great tool. With the app you can track all your Lightning Lane and Dining Reservations on the App and amend them too if needed. Also you can also check wait times on the App as well as use it for it’s park maps, mobile food ordering and taking a look at your Memory Maker photos.
You can find out more about about the My Disney Experience on the Disney World Website here.
You can also find out more about Memory Maker at Disney World Here.
3. Disney World is Huge
Just before I booked our first Disney World vacation, I was speaking to a work colleague who had been quite a few times and I asked the very silly question ‘can you walk to each park’? Now years later I know all about Disney World but at the time I really didn’t understand the actual scale of the resort and it’s huge. So be prepared for the scale and size of the resort and no you probably won’t be walking from one park to another (although you could walk from Hollywood Studios to Epcot).
4. Be Prepared for Jet Lag at Disney World
If you are travelling from overseas, especially from the UK or Europe do be prepared for the Jet Lag. It will take a couple of days to get used to the Eastern time zone. On our first Disney World trip the first few days we found ourselves getting tired from around 3 pm in the afternoon.
Try not to push yourself too hard on the first few days of your vacation like we did during our first time at Disney World. You tend to find that on your first day you will be awake really early in the morning as you are still adjusting to the new time zone, this is great for getting to the parks really early but you will find it catches up with you later in the day.
5. Younger Children Will Get Tired
Be aware that younger children will get tired during your Disney World Vacation. This might be obvious but sometimes you can forget about this especially when planning your first trip to Disney World.
We have written an article called “30 Tips for a Disney World Vacation with Kids” which you can find here or by clicking the image below.
6. Adults Get Tired Too
You will get tired too whether it’s your first time at Disney World or your tenth time! You will walk a lot during any given day, especially if you are in the Disney parks all day and the heat in Florida can be tiring too.
My advice would be not to be too over ambitious when planning what you can fit into one day and make sure you allow for some time where you can stop if needed.
7. Take Some Pool Breaks
As I have been talking about getting tired one thing that we didn’t take advantage of during our first Disney World Vacation was the pools at our resort. You can really benefit from taking a little time out and heading back to your resort and spending some time at the pool. Our kids love messing about in the pool and it gives everyone the chance to cool down and rest a little.
We will often head back to our resort during an afternoon grab our refillable mugs get some drinks and head to the pool and then hit the parks again after a couple of hours. It really does recharge the batteries.
8. Being Overwhelmed by the Scale of Disney World
Disney World can be a little overwhelming the first time you visit. I can remember this feeling on our very first full day when we had just got inside Magic Kingdom. I don’t think the jet lag helped or the fact we were all awake at 4.30 am the same morning but being inside the park and the reality of actually being there at Disney World did overwhelm me a little. If this happens to you don’t worry you will soon get the hang of everything and within a few days, you will feel right at home.
9. Not Stopping for a Drink or Snack
If you are feeling hungry or thirsty make sure you stop to do so. A short break where you can sit down for a few minutes whilst enjoying a drink or a snack (maybe both) can really help you get through a long day in the Disney Parks.
You are on vacation so enjoy a few treats for yourself and your family too. Taking a short break can really make your day a little easier and there are so many quick service kiosks located around all four of the Disney Parks and the Water Parks too that you should never be too far away from one.
10. Make Sure You Park Hop
Our first time at Disney World was very different from all our Disney World trips that followed because on our first trip we spent most days just in one park. This is fine if that is what you want to do but with so many transportation options to move around the resort you can really mix your days up.
Nowadays we will visit one park early, have a dining reservation and then move on to another park later in the day and possibly go somewhere else in the evening. I really wish we would have done this more during our first trip, but we were playing it safe, but we still had fun.
11. Don’t Take a Whole Day Off
Something else that we did on our first Disney World Vacation was to take a whole day off from the parks. Looking back, I see this as a mistake as we lost out on a day inside the parks that we had paid for. What we tend to do now is pick a few days where we have Fast Passes and dining reservations booked for later in the day so that if we feel the need to we can sleep in a bit and have a slower start to the day.
Also, as I mentioned earlier on in this post if needed, we will head back to our resort for a pool
12. You Will Do A Lot of Walking at Disney World
Be prepared for lots of walking. Make sure your shoes are worn in a bit if you have shiny new trainers for your vacation as you really don’t want any blisters during your first time at Disney World. Do think about how comfortable your footwear is before your vacation as you will be covering some miles when exploring Disney World. I like to check on my smartphone whilst on vacation how much walking we have undertaken and on quite a few days we have covered 7, 8 and even 9 miles in a day so be prepared.
13. There Will Be Crowds at Disney World
Walt Disney World is a huge tourist destination attracting visitors from all around the world, so it is highly likely at some point during your vacation you will have to deal with crowds. Disney over the last few years has become very good at attracting visitors consistently throughout the year by adding new festivals at Epcot,offering various deals throughout the year and adding new attractions so even if you are visiting at a quieter time of year don’t expect to have the parks to yourself.
Just be prepared to have to deal with some crowds and you’ll be fine. Some areas maybe busier than others for example Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios and Pandora at Animal Kingdom.
You can find our Disney World Line Hacks and Tips here.
14. It Can Be Easy to Spend a lot of Money
On our first trip we also got a little carried away with buying souvenirs, toys and gifts. This wasn’t just stuff for the kids either it was me! I am a big Star Wars fan and as you can imagine there is a lot of Star Wars merchandise available at Disney World. You can easily get carried away buying things using your magic band (they can be linked to your credit card) and my advice would be to think before you buy and perhaps leave any shopping until the end of the day.
You can read more about Saving Money at Disney World here or just click the image below.
15. Be Prepared to Tip (For Visitors Who Aren’t American)
If you are from the USA, the tipping is standard practice and part of your culture. If you are from outside of the United States you might not tip very much at home. At Disney World you need to be prepared to tip your server at a table service restaurant (tips aren’t included on the dining plan other than at a few selected locations) with the norm being 18-20%.
If somebody handles your luggage it is polite to tip along with housekeeping in your room and if you happen to use a Minnie Van Taxi service on the resort. Also, be aware that at bars in and around the parks you should consider a tip too. This can be a bit daunting for Disney World first timers, so it is best to have dollars in your wallet and be a little prepared before your first Disney World Holiday. I always budget and have the cash allocated for dining and housekeeping (I should say Mouse Keeping).
16. Take As Many Breaks As You Need
If you need to take a break,then definitely do so. Kids can definitely do with a good few breaks during along day at the parks and us adults can too. A little five-minute sit down in the shade somewhere can work wonders or even a little snack break somewhere like Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom can do your party the world of good. It can be a long day if you are out in the parks all day so definitely factor in time for some breaks. Yes, you will stop for meals, but you will benefit from the odd break now and again too.
You can even leave the parks and return later on in the day and take a break at your resort. Maybe enjoy the pool or take a short nap.
17. You Will Have to Wait in Line
At some point as during your first time at Disney World you will have to wait in a line. It could be to meet a certain character, more obviously for an attraction or perhaps even for the bus back to your resort. You won’t escape from the lines completely even with your fast passes so don’t expect to. To do everything to the fullest at Disney World will involve some time standing in a line. But don’t panic as so many of the attraction standby lines are so well themed that there will be some nice distractions whilst you are waiting inline.
18. Get A Feel for the Layouts of All the Parks Ready For Your First Time in Disney World
When we were Disney World first timers, I really made an effort to get an understanding of the layouts of all the parks. My wife had a work colleague who was at Disney World about six months before we went so, they got us copies of all the park maps that you find in the parks. This was really helpful as was the My Disney Experience App.
I also watched quite a few Disney World YouTube channels like Tim Tracker (who is very good at explaining where things are located). I have a fairly good sense of direction too so very quickly I was able to guide my family around all the park fairly well. Definitely do some homework before your holiday.
19. Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Get Between Parks
This is a little similar to the earlier ‘Disney World is Massive’ section but you do need to give yourself plenty of time to get between the parks especially if you have a dinner reservation. You need to give yourself time to get out of the park, wait for which ever form of transport you will be using and then time to get into your next park along with getting where ever you need to be in that park.
For instance, to get from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom you have quite a bit of distance to cover on the bus ride (in relation to distance between the other parks) so you need to give yourself plenty of time. Also, if you are planning to get to say Magic Kingdom for the fireworks in the evening then you need to consider that possibly a lot of other people are thinking the same too.
On our first vacation we were late for breakfast at the Wave restaurant located inside the Contemporary resort. Our bus to Magic kingdom to a lot longer to arrive at our resort than we anticipated, and it made us late.
I had to call ahead to advise them that we were running late which wasn’t a problem but that little period early in the day was a little too stressful for my liking. Give yourself plenty of time to get wherever you need to be at Disney World. Sometimes you can get to places quickly and easily and other times you have to wait so play it safe every time.
20. Keep an Eye on Your Magic Bands in the Water Parks
You can wear your Magic Bands in the Water Parks (you’ll need them to get in) but do keep an eye on them when you are on the various water slides. On our first trip Claire lost hers and we didn’t realize until we were about to leave. We checked at the slides and were advised to check at guest services, but it never turned up and we ended up having to spend some time at the reception of our resort organizing a replacement. Keep an eye on those magic bands.
21. Research the Dining Options at Walt Disney World
You will probably have researched you table service restaurants and probably some quick service restaurants too and that good. Make sure you take a look at the variety of snacks on offer too, especially if you are on the Dining Plan as you will want to get the best value on offer from your snack credits. A little research beforehand can work wonders and it can be annoying having just had a snack only to see someone else enjoying something you didn’t even know existed!
22. Stop and Take it All in
Do remember where you are! You are at Disney World so stop and take it all in. Look at some of the finer details in the parks. Stop and have a good look at the Tree of Life, read some of the signs in the windows along Main Street USA and take a good look at Cinderella Castle. You can get so involved with what you have planned and where you should be heading that you can easily miss what is around you.
23. Try Not to Over Plan
Disney World does involve a lot of planning but try not to over plan. You will need to know where you will be eating, what your fast passes are and where you need to be to make these. Beyond that try to slow it down a little if you can so that you enjoy where you. You will never do everything at Disney World during one vacation so don’t even try and make having fun a priority.
24. Don’t Leave the Disney World Parks at the Wrong Time
I have written about this a few times in other articles, but I will mention it again. Try not to leave any of the parks straight after the fireworks in the evening as it will be very busy. It is best to give it at least an hour before thinking about heading back to your resort. If you have already seen the fireworks, then leave when they are happening or just before.
25. Research Crowd Levels and Events at Disney World
Do try to look at what crowd levels should be like for when you are planning to visit. If you can aim to go for a quieter time of year. Also remember to take a look at when national holidays fall in the US as well as dates for other special events at Disney World. The RunDisney marathons and half marathons are very popular and can really bring the crowds into the parks over a weekend.
Take a look at the RunDisney website for a full list of event dates for Disney World.
You can also read more about The Best Times of Year to go to Disney World here.
26. Things Can Go Wrong During Your First Time in Disney World
Just be aware that although you are at Disney World things can go wrong. There could be quite a heavy rain storm, a ride might breakdown and there could be a delay in waiting for your resort bus at the end of the day.
I have been stuck on Rock n Roller Coaster in the past when it has gone down and had to wait for a cast member to guide us safely to the exit. I’ve also rushed from rope drop to Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom to find they are having technical issues and it will have a delayed opening. I have also experienced the monorail being closed temporarily at Epcot meaning loads of people were trying to get buses to Magic Kingdom for the fireworks. Something has probably happened on every one of my Disney World vacations, but I have still loved each one.
Nothing can quite be perfect and as hard as Disney try to provide the perfect vacation at Disney World sometimes things just go wrong. If you’ve read this and then you have your holiday, and everything is perfect well all the better!
27. You Can Take Food and Drink into the Parks
If you want to take some snacks and drinks into the Disney World Park, it is absolutely fine to do so. Your bags or backpacks will be checked by security before you enter the park and food and drink is allowed to be taken into all the Disney World parks, This can be a helpful way to save a little money.
28. Get Your Free Button on Your First Disney World Vacation
You can ask for a free button when you arrive at Disney World to celebrate your first time at Disney World. You might even find that you are asked if it is your first time when you check in at your Disney World resort and are given your first visit buttons without having to ask for them. If you are celebrating a special occasion like an anniversary or Birthday you can ask for a button at Guest Services in the parks too.
29. You Will Probably Get Disney World Withdrawal
Disney World Withdrawal is real and you will probably miss Disney World when you have to return home. It is such a magical resort that it very likely you will want to return as soon as possible. Make sure you focus on the memories yo made during your first time at Disney World and get ready to plan your next Disney vacation.
You can read more about Disney World Withdrawal Here.
30. Make Sure You Read All of Our Helpful Articles
When planning for your first time at Disney World be sure to check out all of our different articles on everything Disney World related.
My Disney World Planning Guide
Try My Disney World Dining Calculator
When Does Disney World Decorate for Halloween
So, these are some helpful Disney World Tips For First Timers to help you prepare for your first trip to Disney World. I’m sure you will have a magical vacation.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Darren
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