Oh, where can we even begin? Getting ready for a first time Disney World trip is so much work! But it is so worth it! For those who are fortunate to live in proximity to Walt Disney World in the Orlando area, there is probably much less stress involved. But for those of us making a week-long trek across the country or across multiple states, preparations are necessary to ensure a magical first time at Disney World experience! Hopefully, you will find our Disney World tips for first timers helpful for your first Disney World trip. You can also learn from a few of the learn-as-you-go mistakes we made!
Are we Disney gurus? Nooo! In fact, as I write this post on tips for Disney World, we have just finished our first trip to Disney World as a famiy. (I went 20-something years ago right after college, and my husband went as a child 30-something years ago. So much has changed in those 20-30 years so I consider us first time Disney goers in the modern day! We are definitely Disney first-timers when it comes to our family travel. We all know traveling with kids is a whole different animal.)
Our newbie status is exactly why I want to share this post. I am freshly aware of how overwhelming it is to plan the first trip to Disney World. Things are fresh and looming on my mind. Questions that I wasn’t sure about going into the trip have been answered, and now I am ready to share my small wealth of knowledge with other first time Disney World goers.
Rescheduling Our First Time at Disney World
We originally planned to go to Disney World in 2020. We had a local agent helping us plan at that time. Unfortunately, this planning session was happening in March, 2020 just before the whole world shut down with the pandemic. Disney announced it was closing its parks. Luckily, Allegiant Airlines refunded my flight tickets and I was days shy of paying for my Disney trip. (And it’s a good thing because at the time we were told that once the tickets were puchased, Disney would allow you to rechedule your dates later in the year but would not give refunds. On a school teacher schedule, rescheduling later in the year would have been next to impossible. So I guess I should say we were actually fortunate with the timing.
Fast forward two years, and we decided the time for our first timers Disney trip was this summer.
Selecting Travel Dates for Your First Time at Disney World
Because I am a teacher in Arkansas and our daughters are school age, we are limited to June-July travel. School here typically ends the third-fourth week of May and stars back the second week of August for teachers. In our research to plan our first trip to Disney in 2020, we learned late May and early June are some of the best summer weeks for Disney travel because many East Coast schools are still in session; meaning, fewer crowds than you might find mid summer. From what it sounds like, middle August to middle September are some of the cheaper weeks to visit Disney. Since most kids are heading back to school, prices goes down a bit. However, it is also hurricane season and still blistering hot in central Florida at that time.
If you have more flexibility or would simply like to aim for a time of fewer crowds, you might check one of the many crowd calendars for Disney World (based on forecasting).
How Many Days Do You Need at Disney World for a First Time to Disney Experience?
It is subjective to determine how many days you need at Disney World. Some families may plan a 2-3 day trip, hitting only Magic Kingdom and maybe one other park. Many of our friends seem to aim for 5 days. Some teacher friends (who go regularly) sometimes take a weekend Disney trip so they can go at a time other than summer. If you only had one day at Disney World and it was your first time to go, Magic Kingdom would probably be the park to visit.
I decided on a seven day trip for two reasons: the airline we were using only offers departures and return flights on two days of the week – Thursdays and Saturdays. Keeping this in mind, I booked from a Thursday to a Thursday. Also, my daughters tend to get overly stimulated easily and go into meltdown central. I decided we needed two days of chill time during the trip. The way it worked out, we wound up with two busy park days, two down days at the pool, and two more busy park days. Obviously, this meant spending more money for the two extra days at the resort, but I think it was the right decision for us.
Choosing a Disney Travel Agent to Help Plan a First Time Disney Itinerary
When the going got tough with the planning overwhelm, I reached out to a local Disney travel agent located in central Arkansas. She works for Time to Travel, and I felt so much weight lifted once I contacted her. Kristen, our agent, took the dates I wanted for travel and found several Disney resort options, giving me the main details (pros and cons) on each and letting me ultimately decide which one I wanted. She booked the resort (which I have written an entire separate post about and have linked below) and helped me through making the park reservations (which she said she was not allowed to do). She also set us up with the optional Disney Genie + which has replaced of what was formerly known as the fast pass system.
Kristen sent me the cutest mail ahead of our trip. It really added to the excitement of our family’s first time Disney trip!
Our Disney Trip Payment Plan
As for the payment plan arrangement, I paid a $200 deposit at the beginning when our agent first booked our stay. Then, about a month later, the rest of the total was due. I paid her directly, and she handled everything.
Does a Disney Agent Organize Transportation to Disney?
It was up to me to find my flights to work with the dates I had sent my agent. Summer flights to Orlando from Little Rock fill up fast so I just barely found some! I started my planning two months ahead. I would definitely recommend doing your planning as early as possible. This is especially true if you decide not to use an agent and plan everything on your own. I was pushing it with my two month planning window.
Understanding the Disney Resort Levels Before Booking Your First Time at Disney World
I had never realized there were different levels of Disney resorts until planning our family’s first time at Disney World. The more you pay, the nicer the place and possible park perks (like early entry hours and extended after-hours for rides) you will find.
In my opinion, you should evaluate how much time you will actually spend at the resort, consider the transportation options for each, room size, swimming options, resort dining options, etc. How important are each of those things to your family?
As for my family, I knew we could deal with a smaller room as we would likely not spend much time in it. I knew I wanted two schedule two low-key “chill days” in between our park days to help with overwhelm. This meant, good pools and convenient dining were important. Convenient transportation is HUGE for my family – especially at a hectic place like Disney World. Luckily, it seems most Disney resorts are well-equipped with guest transportation options.
Disney Value Resorts
These resorts are at the bottom of the Disney resort tiers. But they each offer something unique that might be worth exploring as your family plans its first Disney trip!
- The Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s All-Stars Music
- All-Stars Movies
- All-Stars Sports
Disney Value Plus Resorts
These Disney resorts offer a few more amenities and a load of fun! Our friends stayed at Pop Century the same week we were at Disney World. The pop culture by the decades theme at Pop Century is so clever!
- The Art of Animation
- Pop Century
Moderate Level Disney Resorts
The moderate level Disney resorts offer a slightly higher level of dining choices, guest services, etc. We stayed in a pirate room at Caribbean Beach Resort. Click my link below for my full review!
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- Port Orleans
- The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort
- Coronado Springs
Deluxe Disney Resorts
The deluxe Disney resorts are definitely heavier on the wallet. There are perks such as an extra hour of riding rides at the parks after they close.
Story time…we had a bit of an embarrassing experience during our stay. On our last night at Magic Kingdom, we heard the announcement regarding deluxe Disney resort guests being invited to stay after normal closing hours and ride rides for an additional hour. We missed the “deluxe” part of the announcement (and honestly didn’t really even know what that meant at the time). We thought the Caribbean Beach Resort would be included sine it was a Disney resort. So we approached the Dumbo ride at Magic Kingdom at 11:15 p.m. and were turned away. The attendant attempted to scan us in using my park passes and told me we didn’t qualify because Caribbean Beach Resort is not a deluxe Disney resort. In all honestly, that was the ONLY night we were even at the park at closing time so it is not like we missed a whole lot by not being allowed the extended hour.
- Riviera Resort
- Beach Club
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Wilderness Lodge
- The Contemporary
- The Polynesian (the one I plan to stay at next time! I loooove the boho vibes here! On a previous trip to Orlando, we ate at the ‘Ohana, one of the Polynesian’s on-site restaurants, and it was amazing!)
- The Grand Floridian (all the resorts are beautiful but this one is extra…well…grand!)
- BoardWalk Inn
- Yacht Club
- Dolphin Hotel
- Swan Hotel
You can find links to all of the resorts listed plus links to several sets of Disney villas on the Disney World website.
Understanding Transportation for Your First Time at Disney World
For me, planning a trip to Disney World on budget ranges that work for your family is more important than proximity of park to resort. Disney has made it so easy to get around no matter what! But you do need to understand what is offered.
With choices of the complementary Disney shuttles, the Monorail, and the new Disney Skyliner gondola system, getting yourself around the resorts and the Disney Parks is easy peasy! That is one gigantic perk for my family to stay at Disney resorts.
Bus Shuttles at Disney World
The bus shuttles are so easy to use. We simply showed up at our shuttle station at Caribbean Beach Resort and awaited the next shuttle. A shuttle arrives every few minutes with a sign on the front designating the destination. We used the shuttle multiple times a day and never had to wait long! Sometimes, the Disney shuttles get rather crowded. However, the rides are somewhat short.
Disney Skyliner at Disney World
The Disney Skyliner is awesome! It is a gondola system that can transport someone from one Disney resort area to another location through cables in the sky. It seems very Jetsons to me! My youngest daughter was scared to ride it at first (even though she was all about the roller coasters at the parks), but she warmed up. The Disney Skyliner route does not cover all Disney properties. We primarily used it to go to Hollywood Studios from our Caribbean Beach Resort. It also transports guests EPCOT. This Disney gondola system services guests at Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.
Monorail at Disney World
The Disney Monorail is a nice quiet ride that transports guests from the deluxe resorts such as the Disney Grand Floridian, Disney Polynesian, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom. We took a ride on it from the Contemporary Resort to the Polynesian to look at some gift shops. We boarded the Monorail inside the Contemporary Resort, and it was a super easy process.
Understanding Which Resorts are Closest to Each Park at Disney World
Aside from budget and amenities, maybe you simply want a resort close to Magic Kingdom or a Disney resort close to Hollywood Studios. However, as I just mentioned, the transportation options are so great at Disney World. I don’t really think proximity is much of an issue unless you will be driving and parking a car or using a ride service. If that is the case, the following information will be helpful to you.
Disney Resorts Closest to Magic Kingdom
- The Polynesian Village Resort
- The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- The Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney Resorts Closest to Hollywood Studios
- The Art of Animation
- Pop Century
There is also a non-traditional new Disney hotel right on the edge of Hollywood Studios. It is called Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. It opened in 2022. It is basically a ship with 100 multi-guest cabins. Guests book a two-night stay for an out-of-this world experience like no other. From what I have seen, the pricing is around $5K-$6k for the multi-faceted 2 night experience for 2-4 guests sharing a cabin. Why does it cost so much? My guess is because it is a first-of-its kind experience, and we know how those types of firsts go.
Disney Resorts Closest to EPCOT
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- BoardWalk Inn
- Beach Club Resort
- Yacht Resort
- Dolphin Hotel
- Swan Hotel
Disney Resorts Closest to Animal Kingdom
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Coronado Springs Resort
- All Stars Music Resort
- All Stars Sports Resort
- All Stars Movies Resort
What is an Average Disney Trip Cost for a Family of 4?
I would say there are many factors that determine the average Disney trip cost for a family. How many family members, time of year, current fuel costs (which affect flights), inflation (which affects food and such), how many days for the Disney trip, which resort level you choose, how many park days you choose, etc.
I don’t like to talk about how much I spend on travels, but I understand that the cost of a Disney trip is the primary question most people have. The cost of the Disney trip for my family of four in June, 2022 was around $7,000. This included a Disney package under $5,000 (just around $4,800 for a moderate resort with a 7-night stay), flights for four people that totaled around $1,200, and around another $1,000 for food (character meals plus quick dining), and miscellaneous spending.
This Disney trip was one of the most expensive trips we have ever taken. Luckily, we had two extra years to save and prepare because our family’s first time at Disney World trip was originally planned for two years ago. It will not be something we do every year. But I will budget for a Disney trip every three-four years or so, I think. It was one of the best family vacations we have ever taken. So many magical memories were made!
There are ways of planning a trip to Disney World on budget to work for your family’s needs. You can trim off the character meals, use a value resort, catch an off-site condo on a good deal, etc.
Getting Started with the My Disney Experience App BEFORE Your First Visit to Disney World
My agent guided me in downloading the My Disney Experience app on my phone so I could get started with reserving dining and my park days. She suggested the sooner, the better for getting everything reserved. I’m just going to say I found the My Disney Experience app to be extremely overwhelming the first few times I messed around with it. I would open it, scroll around a bit and then close it without accomplishing anything because it just seemed intimidating.
Once we actually arrived at Disney World and began using the app within the parks (like the Genie+ and the interactive map, I realized the true value of the app. Unfortunately, beforehand, I just didn’t get it and found there to be too many things to look at it and select from. My suggestion is you sit down and learn how to use the My Disney Experience app in advance of your trip. Don’t be an idiot like me and fumble around with it as you are entering the wildness of Magic Kingdom on day one.
Out here on the interwebs, there are some very handy guides to the My Disney Experience app. Once you understand how to use the app, it’s a golden tool – you can build your daily itinerary, change reservations, chat with a Disney customer service agent, reserve your Lightning Lanes through Genie+, see recommended activities, etc.
One feature that is extremely helpful is the interactive map for each park. It showed us the current wait times for each ride and how far away (in walking distance) we were from each ride and attraction. It gave us interactive directions on how to get from point A to point B. It was sooo helpful!
Carefully Selecting the Best Order to Visit Disney World Parks for First Time
You will use the My Disney Experience app to select which Disney parks to visit and in which order. The 8-day Disney trip schedule I decided upon included four days at the parks with two chill days in the middle so we could rest up and enjoy the resort on those days. The bookend days were for travel so we basically had a 6-day Disney itinerary.
There seem to be so many schools of thought when it comes to determining the best order to visit Disney World Parks! My agent had one suggestion, my veteran Disney friends had different suggestions, and I had my own ideas. It’s like asking a group of people which park is the best at Disney World. You will get all sorts of answers for all sorts of different reasons!
Variations of Order to Visit Disney World Parks On Your First Time at Disney World
- My Agent’s Suggestion: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT
- My Friend’s Suggestion: EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom (she wanted to build up from from low-key to ending with the magic)
- My Final Park Order: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom again (skipping EPCOT; I remember loving EPCOT from my Disney visit 20 plus years ago, and I felt really sad to skip it. However, I thought my girls, ages 7 and 9, would really enjoy starting with the magic and ending with the magic. My agent had also suggested this order as an alternate to the one mentioned above.)
Reserving Character Meals at Disney and Planning Quick Dining
For me, the most stressful thing about planning my family’s first Disney trip was reserving some great character meals for my girls. I really wanted this to be a special trip for my daughters. They had been begging to go to Disney World for the last four years. (And, to be honest, before planning this trip, I planned for this to be our only trip to Disney World. But since getting there and experiencing the magic, I know we will be back in a few years. Haha! That’s how they get you roped in…all that magic!)
Securing Character Meals at Disney World for First Time
I’m sure had I planned ahead (earlier than two months ahead for summer Disney trip), I wouldn’t have had as much trouble securing character meal reservations. You can get on the My Disney Experience app daily and search for all the meal openings on your selected dates. The things I wanted just rarely popped.
Then, I stumbled across the Mousewatcher website. For $20 a month, you can set up to five Disney restaurants and the Mousewatcher will send you texts and/or emails when a reservation on your selected dates comes open. It was because of this tool that I was finally able to secure breakfast at Chef Mickey’s (at The Contemporary Resort), lunch at Hollywood and Vine (at Hollywood Studios), and dinner in Cinderella’s royal castle (THE grand Disney castle at Magic Kingdom). I left my Mousewatcher account running for about two months and then I unsubscribed. I highly recommend forking out the $20 for a month if you find yourself having trouble securing specific reservations on the Disney app itself.
As a teacher with limited ability to use my phone during the work day, I still had a little trouble catching reservation opportunities when the Mousewatcher popped up with text message alerts. In my job, I can’t just pull out my phone and use it whenever I want. But when I was away from work, I was able to catch all of the reservations I wanted through Mousewatcher.
The character meals at Disney cost a pretty penny. Originally, I had reservations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on three different days. Once we were actually at Disney, I decided to cancel the lunch reservation at Hollywood and Vine because I realized (by day 3 in the parks) we didn’t want to dance around any appointments during the day while we were at the parks. You can easily cancel and modify dinner reservations right on the My Disney app.
Dining at Disney World (These Days)
For most meals at the park, we used the mobile food ordering option on the My Disney apps while we were at the parks. You can order about an hour ahead and then pick up in a scheduled time frame. Easy peasy! For other meals, we ate at our resort after a long day at the parks. For the nicer table-service restaurants, you will find you often need reservations.
Ever since the pandemic, there is no food plan included in your Disney package. You have to pay for all food out of pocket. Budget on the upper end for this because the food costs add up quickly!
Understanding How to Find Your Disney Passes When You Arrive at the Resort or the Disney Parks
My Disney agent linked my Disney package passes to my My Disney Experience app. One we entered the resort and the parks, I simply pulled up my mobile app. The resort had my name in the system anyway so there was no issue. At the parks, I had to pull open my Apple Pay Wallet in my phone and scan in my four Disney park passes from there at a scanning station at the entrance of each park.
A lot of people used their Disney Magic Bands for entering instead of using their phones. I never purchased Disney Magic Bands and panicked a bit on the first morning at Magic Kingdom when I saw so many people with them on their wrists. I thought I had missed something. But, no. If you use the Disney passes linked in your Apple Wallet, you do not need a Magic Band. You just need one or the other. Now, some people swear that the Magic Bands are helpful because you can simply swipe into your resort room and so forth right from your wrist. But given that they cost anywhere from $10-30 each (the average prices I have seen), I think we made it just fine without them. Anything we needed could be done with our phones.
Understanding How to Use the Lightning Lane Passes Before You Arrive for Your First Disney Trip
I’m sure you can understand how upset I was when I got back from Disney World and realized I had not used my Lightning Lanes (which cost around $15 per person per day at each park) to their full ability. When we arrived at Disney, in my mind I was thinking we could only use two Lightning Lanes per day. No! That is not true. True, there are limits – like using one Lightning Lane reservation up before signing up for another or abiding by the 120 minute rule between sign ups.
But you can actually squeeze in more than 2 rides a day if you plan your Lightning Lanes properly. This involves some strategy and understanding of how Lightning Lanes work. Again, don’t be like us. Study up! I could kick myself when I think about how much time we wasted in standby lines when we could have been taking more advantage of a tool we were already paying for!
To use your reserved Lightning Lanes, you simply walk up to the Lightning Lane line for the selected ride (rather than the standby line). You will swipe your Magic Band or your Disney passes in your Apple Wallet to redeem your Lightning Lane passes. You have a one-hour window (listed in your app) to redeem each Lightning Lane. The redeeming process is quite simple!
If You Are Enjoying This First Time Disney Guide for Beginners, Check Out the Other Disney Posts I Put Together!
Explore Our Other Disney World Tips and Additional Travel Guides
I had so many Disney tips and thoughts from our first trip to Disney that I had to split everything up into multiple posts! Hopefully, you find all of our Disney tips for beginners useful! You can check out our other travel posts, too.
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As you can see, there is a lot involved in getting ready for Disney World for beginners! I truly hope our first time Disney tips help you with your planning your first time at Disney World! I tried my best to do a brain dump of every question and thought I had myself while planning our trip so it would help you with any questions you had. Please let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
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