Hi Phyllis, and welcome to planDisney. Thank you so much for sending in your question.
One of the things I love most about a
Walt Disney World vacation is the way Disney has created multiple ways for Guests to
access the magic. You can choose from a MagicBand+, a traditional Key to the World card, the My Disney Experience app, or Disney MagicMobile. Each option works seamlessly across your vacation, and many Guests find it fun to mix and match depending on their preferences.
Since you asked about using your phone, I am happy to share that yes, you can use it to do nearly everything. Through the
My Disney Experience app, you will be able to complete online check-in for your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel and even use your phone to unlock the door to your room. Once you are in the parks,
MagicMobile service allows you to enter with just a tap of your phone at the park entrances, and it also works for Lightning Lane access points. Even more convenient, you can use it for mobile food orders and contactless payment when purchasing food or merchandise. To set this up, you will open the My Disney Experience app,
create your Disney MagicMobile pass, and then save it to your digital wallet. From there, your phone essentially becomes your all-in-one key throughout your stay. A perk for Apple owners is that once your MagicMobile is set up, you don’t even need to unlock your phone, just pull it out of your park bag or pocket and hold it up to the Mickey reader!
As for the water parks during your late December and early January visit, that is a great question. For the first time in several years, both
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and
Disney’s Blizzard Beach were open together over the summer months and are scheduled to remain that way through September 7, 2025. At the moment, Disney has not announced what will happen beginning September 8, 2025. Looking at the posted hours, it appears that Blizzard Beach may be closing while Typhoon Lagoon remains open during the cooler months, which has been the pattern in the past. I recommend keeping an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for the latest news as fall approaches. That will be the best source for clarity on which water park will welcome you during your holiday vacation.
From planning restaurant reservations to helping with
Lightning Lane Multi Pass strategies, I am here to help you get the most out of your time at Walt Disney World. Please feel free to send me another question whenever you are ready, and
I would be glad to assist further.
See you see real soon!
Brent