Hey, howdy, hey, friend, and welcome to planDisney! It's definitely no secret that planning a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you've come to the right place to get some insider tips and tricks that I hope will make you feel more at ease and ready for your arrival! Planning ahead and getting everything lined up now means you'll be able to embrace the magic of every moment with your family during your holiday visit!
First things first, make sure you have downloaded the My Disney Experience mobile app! This app puts the power of planning and making magic right at your fingertips. You'll be able to use this app in advance of your visit to complete your Online Check-In and pre-order MagicBands if you've chosen to stay as a Guest at a Disney Resort hotel, purchase and select your Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass experiences when the time arrives, book your advance dining reservations, and connect with your travel party as Family and Friends. The power of this app will continue once you arrive; you can use it to unlock your Disney Resort hotel door, check wait times at the theme parks, Mobile Order snacks and meals, and even find your way around the parks!
Be sure to keep up with important dates for securing magic! Advance dining reservations can be made 60 days before your meal, and if you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you will be eligible to book all of your meals for the entire length of your visit 60 days before check-in. Take some time to look over the menus and decide which meals you'd like to experience so you will have a plan in place when your 60 day window opens.
Those Lightning Lanes I mentioned before are yours for booking 7 days before check-in to your Disney Resort hotel or 3 days before your park visit if you're staying offsite. Be sure to check out the attractions and experiences offered with this paid service so you can decide if it's right for you, and which attractions you'd like to book if you decide it is! And if you're planning to purchase Memory Maker, you can save a little on the price by pre-purchasing online before your arrival! We love all the memories the PhotoPass photographers have captured for our family over the years!
Some other logistics you'll want to take care of in advance:
-Verify whether your theme park tickets require theme park reservations, and if so, be sure to make those selections before arrival to ensure entry to the parks you're visiting each day.
-Keep up with announcements on the Disney Parks Blog! Especially with your visit falling during the holiday season, this is a great place to hear about special seasonal events, offerings, and even snacks before your arrival!
-Come back to planDisney at any time with more questions! There's a whole new world of magic waiting for you; and we're happy to help you navigate it!
Happy Planning,
Alison