Top 10 Tips for Your Summer Trip to Disney World
Tip 1: Book Your Hotel and Dining Reservations As Soon As Possible
Disney doesn't offer "Last Minute Deals" because they have to staff hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and transportation and last minute surges just create problems. Disney gives the best rates to the people who book their Disney World vacation packages early. Not only that, Disney Dining Reservations can be booked up to 60 Days Prior to Arrival. Popular locations like Space 220, Cinderella's Royal Table, O'hana, and Chef Mickey fill early so booking early gives you the best shot at getting your first choice in restaurant and dining time.
Tip 2: Have good Disney World or Universal Orlando theme park touring plans
We are convinced that everyone can benefit with good theme park touring plans (itinerary). During busy times, a good plan will absolutely keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines. During less crowded times, a good plan factors in shorter park hours and fewer performance times. But the most important benefit of a good plan is that everyone gets to ride and see the things that they are looking forward to because everyone's priorities are included in a plan that tours the parks efficiently and effectively.
Tip 3: Arrive at the Disney World Parks at least 45 minutes prior to park opening!
The parks are at their least crowded in the first hour or two of the day. It is so much better to arrive early and take a mid-day break than to arrive late and get in line behind everyone else. Disney will also start letting people through the gates prior to official opening, depending on crowds. When you are in the park ready to head to your first attraction, you are so far ahead of those that are still outside the park, waiting to get in. During summer months, it is great if you can get to the parks at least 30 minutes prior to park opening - giving you time to get through security and get near the entrance. Guests of the official Disney World resorts and select Good Neighbor hotels area allowed to enter the theme parks at least 30-minutes prior to posted opening times - we’ll talk more about this in point number 5. Click here to learn more.
Tip 4: Avoid early morning Character Breakfasts
I don't want you in a restaurant when the crowds are low, just to leave and get in line when the crowds are getting long and the day is getting hot. Get a late (brunch) seating or, better yet, book character lunches or dinners instead - you'll enjoy the lower morning crowds in the parks and then sit down to eat when you're ready for a break. Remember that character breakfasts are now confirmed with a credit card and subject to a $10 per person "no show" penalty giving you another big reason to avoid early morning reservations. If you really want a character breakfast, consider booking one of the last seatings so you can still take advantage of the lower early morning crowds.
Tip 5: Be Smart about Extended Theme Park Hours!
Early Theme Park Entry is a fantastic benefit for registered Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels. This benefit allows you to enter and enjoy attractions at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks at least 30 minutes prior to regular park opening. As mentioned above, you will want to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to early theme park entry (or 1 hour prior to normal park opening).
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours is a benefit for registered Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts on select nights in select parks. Disney has nearly 10,000 Deluxe hotel rooms and villas which means that during Extra Magic Hours, many people are being pointed in the same direction at the same time. If you choose to use this benefit, you may be too tired to get to the next day's park before park opening.
Important! This information is especially important for anyone not staying at a Disney World hotel! You really don't want to arrive at a Disney theme park at park opening just to find that Disney hotel guests have been forming lines for a whole hour so it is really important that you know which park has Extra Magic Hours on each day of your visit so that you can visit that park another time.
Exception to the rule: There is one exception to this recommendation and it only applies if you have Park Hopper Tickets - some young adults and teens really love being at the Disney parks until the wee hours of the morning. If this sounds like you, enjoy the evening extra magic hours but know that you'll be crowded and know that you'll be tired the next day. Do you have the water park option? Then go to a water park after your late night at Disney World - a late arrival at a water park won't be a problem, just plan on riding the most popular attractions closer to the end of the day when the crowds are thinning.
Tip 6: Fantasmic Tip
Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios will have two (2) performances on certain nights. If you can stay up later, the second performance is always a lot less crowded than the first one. Check your Disney's Hollywood Studios Times Guide to be sure that going to the later performance doesn't mean missing the Star Wars themed fireworks though.
Click here for special event and ride closure information
Tip 7: Save Time & Money on Snacks and Water with Grocery Delivery Service.
You can pay $3.50 for a bottle of soda or water in the Disney theme parks or you can get a whole case s of spring water for about the cost of 3 bottles in the park through a grocery delivery service that will bring food and beverage items right to your resort. Our family of six saves a lot of money by doing a quick breakfast in our room, rather than buying it at the resort food court. Disney will allow you to bring snack items into the park so you can save money that way too, just remember that hard sided coolers, glass containers and alcohol are prohibited. There is usually a fee added to your grocery order for delivery service but it less than you would spend on a taxi and you won't waste valuable vacation time wandering around an unfamiliar store. You can schedule delivery for your arrival day and Disney will store your food until you arrive; they'll even refrigerate cold items for you; however, you must be present to receive grocery orders that contain alcohol. There is no charge from Disney if you pick your groceries up from Bell Services but there will be a $6 charge + tip if you have Bell Service delivered to the room. Here are a few important tips: 1) Remember that most of the Disney resort hotel rooms now have beverages coolers, instead of mini refrigerators. These don’t get as cold so plan your cold items carefully. You can purchase quarts of milk from the food court or consider shelf-stable milk products like Horizon-brand milk boxes. 2) Florida water has a distinct taste (my daughter calls it “alligator armpit water”) so you may want to order a one-gallon container of filtered water if you plan to use the coffee maker in the room. Most of the Disney resort rooms have the Keurig style coffee makers, something to keep in mind if you’re ordering coffee. The value resorts have Cuisinart coffee makers that use coffee pouches, instead of the pods. Housekeeping will bring you as much coffee as you need. Disney uses Joffrey Coffee.
Garden Grocer has been a a tried and true grocery delivery option for years. They do have a limited number of deliveries available for each hour and date so ordering early is a good idea. You will also often receive a small discount by ordering early. Click here to learn more about Garden Grocer.
Walmart and Instacart are also good delivery options.
Amazon Prime members will find lower prices through their grocery delivery service; the $99 Amazon Prime membership fee will probably negate any savings for non-members. There is no delivery charge for orders of $35 or more though you need to be careful because it is easy to order from both their Whole Foods side and Prime and orders under the required minimum will result in a delivery charge. There is also recommended $5 tip for each order. We’ve used this service and it worked wonderfully for food items. Their diaper selection was very limited and the brand available for next day delivery was not the best qualify so I would not recommend this service for diapers. There is no charge from Disney if you pick your groceries up from Bell Services but there will be a $6 charge + tip if you have Bell Service delivered to the room.
Tip 8: Do These Attractions As Soon As The Park Opens!
As soon as the theme park opens, get hustle over to experience these attractions immediately if you don’t have Genie+ for them:
Disney's Animal Kingdom: If you have an Individual Lightning Lane reservation for Avatar Flight of Passage, go to Expedition Everest as soon as the park opens. If you aren't into roller coasters, go to the Africa area and ride Kilimanjaro Safari and see the first Festival of the Lion King of the day. If you don’t purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Avatar Flight of Passage, you really need to arrive early to ride this - click here for more information.
Disney's Hollywood Studios: This park is actually at its most crowded in the morning because you have to be at the park as soon as it opens. You’ll probably be allowed into the front area of the park 30 minutes or so before opening though you might not be able to ride until park opening. If you purchase Tower of Terror is one of the hardest and most helpful Genie+ reservations to get - if you don’t have a Genie+, you need to arrive before park opening and ride as soon as you get your Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance boarding group. Slinky Dog Dash has a fairly low rider capacity, and it closes for rain so lines get really long but only ride first thing if you can be in the very first wave of riders, otherwise, wait until a little later and enjoy the short lines at another attraction. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area is another good option for the first ride of the day if you’re there at park opening. If you have a child age 12 or younger who wants to participate in the Jedi Training Academy, you'll need to go within the first hour of day to the stand near the entrance of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular to reserve their spot; the child must be present to register.
Epcot: Depending on what Tier 1 FastPass you chose, you may need to ride Test Track or Frozen Ever After as soon as the park opens if you don't have FastPass+.
Magic Kingdom: If you arrive before park opening, go as far forward as possible to be in the first wave of riders to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. If you aren’t in the first wave, ride later and head over to Space Mountain; or you can head over to Frontierland to ride Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Families with small children will want to start with Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, and the Under the Sea - Voyage of the Little Mermaid, followed by Dumbo, Barnstormer, Mad Tea Party, the Carousel, and "it's a small world" for a great Fantasyland morning with the least line time.
Click here for more Toy Story Land Information.
Tip 9: Go to Quick-service restaurants at non-standard times & Use Mobile Ordering
During peak travel times, try to eat lunch around 11:00AM and dinner around 4:00 - 4:30PM; you'll enjoy shorter lines at the counter and have an easier time finding a table.
Mobile Ordering is another great time saver at the Disney World quick-service restaurants. You need to set up a MyDisneyExperience account prior to your trip and download the app to your smart phone but then you'll be able to order meals at many Disney World quick-service restaurants and pay for them through the app. Once you get to the restaurant, you go back into the app and click the "I'm Here; Prepare My Order" button. The app will let you know when your food is ready to be picked up at the designated "Mobile Ordering Pick-Up" location. Mobile ordering is available when you pay using the credit/debit card linked to your MyDisneyExperience account or with a Disney Dining Plan but is not an option for cash payments.
Tip 10: Book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip
We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney World vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your experience. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.
Here’s How We Help You Have A Great Vacation:
Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.
“Best Days” Vacation Planning – We’ll help you pick the best park for each day based on hours and expected crowd levels then we help with dining reservations and understanding which Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane selections might be right for you.
Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.
We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer.
Bonus Tip - 4th of July
The Magic Kingdom is typically really crowded on the 4th of July. The great news is that the Magic Kingdom usually presents their Independence Day fireworks display on July 3rd too so there is no good reason to battle the holiday crowds.