50 Disney World Tips for Your Family's Next Vacation

You're ready to surprise the kids with a trip to Disney World — but where do you start? With a wonderful world of choices, planning a Disney trip can seem overwhelming. Get the most out of your Disney vacation with these tips. Don't delay: Many popular experiences and restaurant reservations must be booked 180 days in advance.

Early Planning Tips

Think Ahead - This vacation isn't a fly by the seat of your pants kind of outing. There are many more components than your standard vacation. Start researching and planning well in advance.
Be Flexible on Dates - Disney World is most crowded when school is out. September and late January to early February are their slowest times. The week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest week of the entire year.
Plan for Park Attendance - Every Disney Park has a roughly 100,000-visitor limit to help ensure safety and enjoyment of the parks. Once that level is met, entry restrictions are put in place until sufficient numbers of guests leave. No one wants to spend vacation waiting around for a park to re-open. This is an important tip to be mindful of especially if you are planning to attend during winter holiday break.
Watch Free Vacation Planning Videos - Check out online videos for everything from restaurant reviews to hotel advice. Head to disneyplanning.com for free vacation planning DVDs and videos, especially if you're a Disney newbie.
Consider Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner - Using a Disney travel agent could be a great way to reduce your planning time and be easier on your wallet. Bonus: It doesn't cost you anything. Look online to find a specialized Disney travel agent.
Don't Over Do It - Once you figure out how many days you will spend in Orlando, be sure to build in downtime during your vacation. Depending on your group, consider a down day every other day or every two days. Spend time relaxing by your hotel's pool to recharge.
Download the Disney App - Download the My Disney Experience app on your smart phone. It will keep you up to date on wait times at rides, location/schedules of favorite characters and times for parades and fireworks. This free app will be a lifesaver for your family. Familiarize yourself with it before your trip.
Consider Single Day Pass or Multi-Day Pass - Single Day Pass is not the best deal. Discounts begin on tickets for two days or more, so Multi-Day Pass is a better deal. Some of the best bargains for purchasing tickets come through hotel packages. Do your research before buying park tickets online.
Splurge for the Park Hopper - A Park Hopper ticket provides access to multiple theme parks on the same day. Consider spending the first part of a day at one location, and then in the middle of the day, your family can head to the hotel for a quick meal or rest. After that, you can hit another park at the end of the day. It's one strategy to consider, but Park Hoppers cost more than Single Day Passes.
Get Free Entry - Children younger than 3 years old don't need a ticket.

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What You Need to Know About Disney Hotels

Harness Magic Bands - As a guest at one of the 20-plus Disney Hotels, you will receive complimentary high-tech Magic Bands, which are all-in-one devices. They act as your Disney Resort hotel room key, theme park entry tickets and Fast Pass tickets. You can also charge food and merchandise purchases to your hotel room using your band. These cool bands will arrive four weeks before your trip, and family members can request their favorite color.
Nab Extra Time - Guests staying at Disney-run hotels are admitted during Extra Magic Hours that fall outside of times available to the general public.
Plan for Small Guests - You can reserve a Disney crib for your room. Bed guardrails are also available on request.
Think About Proximity - The Contemporary Resort is within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom, and some rooms make it easy to watch the nightly fireworks display. Ask for one!
Opt Out of the View - Don't pay extra on your hotel room for an upgraded view. Most people do not spend enough time in them to make it worth the extra money.
Go Hands Free - You can arrange to have your park souvenirs delivered to your Disney hotel instead of carrying them around all day.
Reserve Easy Transport - All Disney resort guests receive complimentary resort transportation via bus, boat or monorail. (Not all routes are direct to your destination and may require a connecting mode of transport to reach your desired stop.)
Drive In - If you choose not to use Disney's transportation system, you receive complimentary standard parking at all theme parks for the length of your hotel stay.
Eat Out - With certain Magic Your Way Vacation packages, you can choose one of the dining plans, which offer the convenience and flexibility of prepaid dining at more than 100 locations throughout Walt Disney Resort.