Hi Brian!
Thank you for stopping by planDisney with your My Disney Experience question. As someone who loves planning almost as much as visiting the parks, I’m so excited to help you prepare everything for your magical adventure—because, as Carl would say, “Adventure is out there!”
Let’s explore all the gadgets and gizmos
My Disney Experience offers! While I highly recommend using the app, it’s not required to enter the parks. All your friend will need is a valid theme park ticket, which can be a physical card, a digital card on their phone, or a MagicBand.
That said, the app is like having some Disney magic in your pocket. It’s a fantastic tool for managing daily plans. Without it, your friend would miss out on some helpful features, like booking
dining reservations (both quick service and table service), viewing ride wait times, managing plans throughout the day, using online
hotel check-in, viewing
Disney PhotoPass photos, adding Lightning Lane experiences, and updating their Family & Friends list.
Here’s the good news: if your friend isn’t tech-savvy or prefers not to use the app, someone else can easily help with the planning! My father-in-law, who I lovingly say is from the Steamboat Willie era, refuses to use a smartphone. When we visit the parks, I manage everything for him through my My Disney Experience account.
To add your friend, log into your My Disney Experience account and go to the "Family & Friends" section. Scroll down and select "Add a Guest." Once added, you can link their park tickets, include them in dining reservations, and even add them to Lightning Lane experiences. It’s a great way to make sure everyone gets to enjoy the magic together!
I hope this helps you and your friend have a pixie-dusted planning experience. If you have more questions, I’m here to help!
Happy planning,
Christina