Hi Tara and welcome to planDisney! A full week at
Walt Disney World, how exciting! You and your family are in certainly in for a lot of fun. Let’s talk through how you can best spend that time with your little one!
Tara, did you know that your visit will coincide with
Cool KIDS’ SUMMER? If you’re staying at a Disney Resort Collection hotel, one of the best benefits of this promotion is the
free admission to a Disney water park on your check-in day. With summer in full swing, this is a great way to cool down and make a big splash to start off your vacation!
With 5 days at the parks across 7 days, I suggest a full rest day somewhere in the middle of your trip. That will give your family time to recharge for your remaining theme park visits. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel or other select hotels, you’re also eligible for
early theme park entry. This is a great way to get some of those popular attractions with minimal wait times. A popular strategy is to coordinate early entry with some
Lightning Lane Passes so that you have time to go back to your Resort midday to avoid being in the parks when it’s really hot and the crowds are high. If going back to the Resort hotel is a hassle or if you prefer to maximize your time in the theme parks, I still recommend Lightning Lane Passes so that you can minimize wait times and check out some of the indoor attractions that may have shorter wait times! Speaking of minimizing wait times, don’t forget to download the
My Disney Experience app so that you can mobile order quick service meals and avoid potentially long waits for your meals!
If you’re a foodie like me, well then I’d save some time towards the end of your trip to visit EPCOT. The
International Food & Wine Festival will start on August 27, 2026. Our family loves sampling all the delicious food across the various food booths. Also with the summer heat, you’ll want to make sure you bring extra sunblock, a cooling towel or fan, a UV umbrella (that will protect you against the sun and the rain!), and a water bottle. Here’s a pro tip: you’ll be able to request free cups of ice water at some of the quick service locations within the theme parks!
Tara, I hope this gives you some helpful tips on how to spend your upcoming summer vacation at Walt Disney World! If you have any further questions, please feel free to
contact me and my fellow panelists here at planDisney!
Your pal,
Sean