- Make sure to get your complimentary buttons! From “First Visit” and “Happy Birthday” to “I’m Celebrating” and “Happily Ever After” there is one for every occasion! You can pick up one of these buttons at the front desk of your Disney resort, or at Guest Services in all four theme parks!
- Pack snacks! Did you know you can take food and drink to all four Disney theme parks? Grab your snacks, lunch, and water bottles ahead of time for your next park day! It’s no secret that purchasing food in the parks can add up quickly; a lot of first-time guests don’t know that you can bring your own!
- Early park entry! It pays to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort, as guests are eligible for extra magic hours! Check your My Disney Experience app for early entry or late-night magic hours! If you have any questions about park hours, ask the front desk!
- Different modes of transportation are available to & from certain Walt Disney World Resorts! Want to ride the monorail to some of the parks? Stay at a monorail-accessible resort! Have your heart set on flying back each night in a gondola? Several moderate resorts are on the Disney Skyliner route! Prefer to set sail to the parks each day? No problem! Be sure to ask about transportation when selecting your resort; it can make all the difference!
- Disney shops can ship purchases HOME for you! The shopping possibilities are truly endless, as Disney offers shipping options in most of their shops! If you want to purchase something that won’t fit in your luggage, or want to Christmas shop without the kiddos knowing, you can! Simply ask a cast member about your shipping options and let Disney send the package right to your home, hassle-free! (If you decide last minute you need to ship purchases home, you can also do this from your Disney resort gift shop! Just bring all of your receipts with you!)
- Your Magic Band can do it all! While an even more advanced version of these bands is set to debut this year at Disney, the current version is pretty cool! Not only is it your key to the magic, but it can act as your wallet, too! Most guests know that their Magic Band will unlock their resort room, scan them into the parks, and access their Lightning Lane reservations; did you know it can also be used to make purchases everywhere on Disney property? You can set your Magic Band up to link to a credit or debit card on your My Disney Experience account; all you have to do is scan your band to pay for food or merchandise!
- Make sure you’ve downloaded the latest version of the My Disney Experience app! If you have multiple mobile users traveling with you, link everyone together by adding them to the party in your account! This way, your whole group can access reservation info, etc. any time right on their phones! Your MDE app is the key to literally everything you need during your stay: dining reservations, Genie+ & Lightning Lane reservations, current wait times, park maps, mobile ordering, and more! Be sure to download & learn how to navigate the app prior to your trip!
- Your park bag should have the essentials! Beyond packing things like snacks, etc. there are a few things we highly recommend you add to your park bag: Umbrella and/or raincoat, refillable water bottle, bandaids, sunscreen, an external phone charger, medicine, sunglasses, baby powder, hand sanitizer and/or wipes, and, of course, Mickey ears!
- Be in the know about Disney Genie+ & how to use it! In case you’re not familiar, Genie+ is the new system that has replaced what was formerly known as “Fast Pass.” Genie+ is used to book “Lightning Lanes” at available attractions, which gives guests an assigned time to ride without having to wait in the stand-by line. While the purchase and use of Disney Genie+ is optional, most guests nowadays are opting for it on a least one park day, if not all, during their vacation! Most users who do their research and learn how to use it BEFORE they go, ultimately end up having a much better experience! Lucky for you, we have a whole guide that will teach you exactly how to use Genie+ and get the most out of each day in the park!
- Hand the stress of planning every detail over to your Academy Travel Agent! A Disney vacation is complex to organize on your own, so why not let someone else take care of it for you? Academy Travel is the number one seller of Walt Disney World vacations WORLDWIDE. Yes, you read that right! A million little details go into making your Disney vacation as magical as it can possibly be; let an agent who knows all the ins and outs handle it for you. From resort, dining, and park pass reservations, to ground transportation and flights, they can take care of it all! There is absolutely no fee for using an Academy Travel Agent; you literally get a Disney vacation expert to plan your whole trip for free. There’s a reason Academy Travel is Diamond EarMarked, the highest designation that Disney Destinations can bestow upon a travel agency; they’re simply the best. Find your Academy Travel Agent now!
BONUS TIP: Consider early morning or late evening dining reservations in the park! Picture yourself walking down an empty Main Street USA, or being the only one on Batuu around the Millenium Falcon at night when it’s all lit up! Some dining reservations start before the park opens or run after the parks close! This makes for the ultimate photo op; who doesn’t want their picture standing solo in front of the castle?!
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