Your First Disney Trip: Tips from the Pros

Looking to go to Disney World soon and feeling overwhelmed? We understand! As a first timer to Walt Disney World, you can become inundated with blogs, tips, dos and don’ts and more that can make you stressed out before even booking a trip. Do not worry, you have come to the right place.

Below are the top 10 tips our Mickey’s Dream Vacations Pro Travel Agents have come up with to make sure your vacation goes off without a hitch. 

Tip #10: Staying on Disney Property has its perks

The big debate of staying on or off Disney property is always a hot topic. It’s a no-brainer, staying on Disney Property will help your family have a seamless vacation. Transportation to and from the parks is included, and the Disney magic is all around you with amazing pools, and an unmatched staff. The biggest bonus is the extra time at the parks dedicated to Disney World Resort Guests. Disney has resorts that fit every family and we can help you find the perfect one!

Tip #9: Book Far in Advance

Thinking about going to Disney World? Book Now! Booking far in advance has its perks. You have more resort and room options, and you can make your park reservations to ensure you get to go to the theme park you want to on each day. Plus, it’s only a $200 fully refundable deposit to lock in your package. ​

Tip #8: Packing these items will be a lifesaver

Your Mickey’s Dream Vacations travel planner will make sure you receive the ultimate packing list. However, here are a few items you may not have thought of that will make your Disney Trip more enjoyable. Ponchos-Buy a couple disposable/throw away ponchos before your trip. Throw them in your bag and if the rain starts, throw one on and then throw it away when you are done so you don’t have to carry around wet ponchos. Toss in a pop-up hamper to keep your hotel room nice and tidy. Lastly, extra clothes-nothing like your child spilling a Mickey bar all over their shirt and not having a change of clothes. ​

Tip #7: My Disney Experience will be your Best Friend

Disney has an awesome app that guides you through your whole trip-from park hours and ride waits to character meet ups and more! Pro Tip: Download the app BEFORE your vacation. Go on it periodically and play around. Being comfortable with the app before you get to the park is a huge timesaver. ​

Tip #6: Use Early Morning Magic Hours and Extended Evening Hours

Staying on Disney Property? Great news, you get to enter the park EARLY! Staying at a Deluxe Resort? Even better news, you get extended evening hours at the theme parks on select nights. The early morning and extended evening hours are a great way to have low wait times, low crowds, and more rides. ​

​Tip #5: Utilize Genie+

Genie+ might seem overwhelming at first. With Disney just releasing this new “fast pass” program, there is definitely a learning curve. Genie+ is an extra purchase, but our pros recommend it! Pro tip: speak to your Mickey’s Dream Vacations travel planner to get all the inside tips of how to best utilize Genie+.

Tip #4: Snacks, Dining, and More

Did you know you can bring in your own snacks to the theme parks? This is a great way to save some money and have a snack ready when the kids get hungry. You can also get groceries delivered to your hotel-a great way to stock up on water and snacks. Booking your vacation early also helps with dining reservations, this allows you to research and plan the restaurants you think your family will love and reserve them right at your dining reservation day (60 days before arrival). ​

​Tip #3: Freebies in the Parks

The word Free and Disney are not often thought of together. Here are some tips to score a few freebies at Disney World. Celebrating a birthday, graduation, anniversary, first vacation…make sure to stop by guest services to pick up a fun celebration pin. Thirsty and don’t want to purchase water…pick up a free cup of ice water from any quick service location. Looking for a little extra pixie dust, stop by the gift shop located right by Cinderella’s Castle and you can make a wish and get a little extra pixie dust sprinkled on you!

​Tip #2: Don't sweat the small stuff!

With all the time and planning that can go into a Disney World Trip you of course want everything to go off perfectly. The reality is, sometimes it doesn’t. Our best pro tip is to go with the flow, remember you are on vacation making memories that really will last a lifetime. Take it slow and if the kids need a break, take a break. Sometimes the best memories are made when you least expect it. 

TIP #1: Book Your Trip with a Mickey’s Dream Vacations Travel Agent

There are a lot of reasons why this made it to the number 1 spot! A few top reasons why booking with a travel agent will save your trip: It’s FREE and we help find the best resort, dates, and packages that fits your family. We monitor all the discounts for you to make sure you save money, and best of all, we keep you updated on all the new policies, park updates, and Disney World News! We do all the work, and you have all the fun! ​

​We hope you found these tips as useful as we did. Remember, whether this is your first trip to Disney World or your 10th, these tips will be sure to help!