Hiya Maggie!
Welcome to planDisney! I see that you are ready to arrive at Walt Disney World Resort very soon. I hope that you have your Resort stay and tickets ready to go. We here at planDisney can help with all the details but I can give you a general outline to help you get started.
Make sure you have
tickets! There are quite a few options available. Just know that if you wish to visit more than one Park in one day you will have to purchase the Park Hopper Option. If this is your first time visiting Walt Disney World Resort, I suggest visiting one park per day for simplicity. If you have a date-based ticket which is what standard theme park tickets are then you won't need to make theme park reservations. Tickets are usually emailed and once
linked to your account you can download it to your smartphone digital wallet via the
Disney MagicMobile Service. Your phone can be used to tap into the Parks and attractions. You can also link a
MagicBand+ which is my favorite accessory in the Parks. They can be purchased at so many merchandise locations throughout the Parks.
Make sure to download the
My Disney Experience Mobile App to your phone as it is crucial to your trip's success. The app will let you know wait times for attractions, map you to a nearby restroom, help you join a
Virtual Queue, or purchase and manage Disney Genie+.
Something that I find very helpful in reducing my wait times in any of the Parks is purchasing
Disney Genie+ The price varies every day but I love using it at Magic Kingdom Park the most. Starting at 7 AM you can book Lightning Lane times where you can enter a shorter queue for certain attractions. You can then book another 2 hours after Park opening time or when the last Lightning Lane you booked is used. The app will let you know in the Tip Board when you can book another time. Set an alarm so you don't forget! My husband was able to spend the morning at the pool with the kids and book Lightning Lanes from his lounge chair for the afternoon. He then enjoyed a breezy afternoon in the Parks.
Dining reservations opened up for you 60 days ago but you can still find some if you look now. You can use the app if you are interested in having a Table Service meal. However, my family has several Quick Service locations that we prefer for their affordability and family-friendly options. My favorite Quick Service locations at each Park are:
- Magic Kingdom Park is Columbia Harbour House
- Disney's Hollywood Studios is ABC Commissary
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is a tie between Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes and Flame Tree Barbecue
- EPCOT Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie and Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue.
I highly recommend using
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering wherever and whenever you can. Use the app to pick a time and order your meals ahead of time. When you are close just select "Prepare my Food" and head to the designated pickup window when summoned.
I hope this was helpful and if you have specific questions about your trip please let us know!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy