Hiya, Logan! Welcome to planDisney! I'm so happy that you've stopped by with your planning question. Chatting Disney is my favorite!
In just days, you'll be arriving at The Most Magical Place on Earth, ready to begin your very first magical family adventure. How exciting! With the
50th Anniversary Celebration in full swing and the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in full bloom, you and your family could not be visiting at a better time. I remember the first trip to Walt Disney World Resort that I planned on my own and how the endless list of attractions, shows, entertainment, dining, recreation, and shopping felt so overwhelming. As someone who visits at least four times a year now, I've grown to love the more leisurely side of a Disney vacation, and I am thrilled to share my tips with you!
My first tip is to go into the trip with the expectation that you just can't do it all. Have everyone in your family choose their three must-do attractions in each theme park and make those a priority. I would suggest adding
Genie+ to your tickets and taking advantage of the
Individual Lightning Lane purchases so that you can minimize your time waiting in line and maximize the magic of the day.
On each park day, after making your Genie+ selection right at 7:00 a.m., plan to rope drop the theme park (arrive before the park opens), and if you're staying at one of the Disney Resorts Collection Hotels, be sure to take advantage of
Early Theme Park Entry, where you can get into the parks 30 minutes early. This way, you'll beat the heat and the crowds and will be able to jump on your must-do attractions with less wait. Have a loose plan of which attractions you want to hit first, but know that it is okay to throw the plan right out of the window! Sometimes, you just have to let your mood and the magic guide you. The magic always tends to guide me to the pool ...
I always recommend taking a midday pool break for some rest, relaxation and fun. While the parks are the hottest and most crowded, you will be enjoying some pixie-dusted fun and a cocktail poolside. Once you're recharged, head back to the parks for your Genie+ return times, a dinner reservation and fireworks to top off the best Disney day.
If you have more vacation days than park tickets, GREAT! That means you can plan entire days where you take full advantage of everything your Resort has to offer and relax as much or as little as you want. When you arrive at your Resort, be sure to snap a picture of the Resort Activities board in the lobby so that you always have easy access to the full list and schedule of your home away from home's recreation activities right on your smartphone. The fun and magic are NOT just in the theme parks. Check out the
Enchanting Extras Collection to add extra magic and luxury to any Resort day or park experience!
Logan, be sure to check out the first-ever episode of the planDisney podcast, where my planDisney pals and I chat about all things Spring Break in the Disney Parks and Resorts. I'll link it below so that you can watch or listen at any time, and I hope you find the tips and tricks super helpful to help you have the most unforgettable first Disney springtime vacation. I think you may just recognize the sponsor!
Stop by any time with any Disney planning questions you may have ... I think you'll be back!
I hope to see ya real soon,
Mandy