Hi Ashley,
Welcome to planDisney! We are so glad you stopped by with your great question. I have a soft spot for Disneyland Resort and am always happy to welcome Disneyland friends to Walt Disney World Resort! Here are a few of my top tips for visiting Walt Disney World.
You've probably already realized that
Walt Disney World Resort is exponentially larger than Disneyland Resort. So, make sure to allow plenty of time to move between places. The
MyDisney Experience app has a helpful "directions" feature to help you navigate between destinations and complimentary
Walt Disney World transportation makes it easy to get around.
I would consider purchasing
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass during your visit to expedite your wait times for most attractions. This will help ensure you make the most of your days in the theme parks. Of course, your seven-day visit will give you plenty of time to experience your favorite, so you might not need to purchase passes for your entire stay.
And speaking of a seven-day visit, consider
enjoying your resort amenities. Pack your swimsuits because the pools are heated making it a great way to take a break during the day. When my girls were young, we loved arriving at our room to find a listing of events, activities, and entertainment to enjoy at our resort hotel throughout our stay––I highly recommend taking advantage of this perk. There are great
places to dine in each of the resort hotels, so you could truly spend a full day never leaving!
In December, there are several special holiday events that I highly recommend.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a special ticketed event, is one of my favorite experiences. There are special holiday Meet and Greets with Characters, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Parade (one of the best Disney parades, in my opinion), and a holiday Nighttime Spectacular that is sure to get you in the Christmas Spirit. Oh! I almost forgot, there is snow on Main Street, U.S.A.! Over in EPCOT, you will love the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays featuring celebrations from around the world. One of my favorite events is the Candlelight Processional, which is a retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator and an amazing choir and orchestra.
Remember, even on a seven-day vacation, you may not experience everything there is to enjoy at Walt Disney World Resort! So, I encourage you to make a list of your top must-do attractions, dining experiences, and other options and make those a priority. Keep in mind that though Walt Disney World and Disneyland share some of the same attractions, there is often a little twist of difference between the two making it almost a new experience. And if you don't get to do everything on your wish list, well that seems like a great reason to visit again!
Ashley, I hope this gives you a few tips for making the most of your stay. Please feel free to write back if you have questions about these or any other Walt Disney World visit tips!
Wishing you many magical memories,
Shannon