The size of Disney World and the many options are overwhelming, making planning a bit daunting if you haven’t been before. I actually worked at Disney 20 years ago, and so much has changed, the planning made my head spin.
I was very nervous booking fast passes, because I didn’t know where all of these rides were and if we would be zig-zagging across the park in an order that didn’t make sense. There are many apps & websites that will help you with planning. I found these to be invaluable:
1. My Disney Experience: if you haven’t done this already, do it now. Practice using it before you go so you know how it works. You will use this app throughout the day while you are at the parks. It will show you a map of the park, what the wait times for each ride are, what your plans are for each day including fast passes and dining reservations. It will also allow you to book dining reservations and look at your photos taken with memory maker at the park almost instantly.
2. Mouse Dining: I could never have gotten the dining reservations I wanted without this website. You can add an alert for any Disney restaurant and they will notify you by text or email when something opens up. If it is a really popular place, such a Be Our Guest, you have to jump on that reservation immediately because there are so many people trying to book. There were a few times that I got an alert, tried to book right away and the reservation had already been taken.
3. Disney Dining: I referred to this blog many times when choosing where to eat at Disney. This blog is not run by Disney so you can expect unbiased opinions. If you have a dining plan, you will want to figure out which quick service vs table service meals you would like to have at each park. Some snack credits can get you enough food to be an actual meal, so take a peek at that too. Whatever you do, do not miss out on the three most beloved snacks at Disney: Mickey ice cream pops, churros and the heavenly Dole Whip.
4. My Touring Plans: there is a small annual fee to use this app. I paid $14.95 for the year. With this app, you can enter what rides and shows you are interested in and they will plan your day for you. You can refresh the plan throughout the day as it takes wait times as well as your current location into effect. It can help take all the stress out of your planning and save you a ton of time. Even if you don’t use this app, make a list of your must-see attractions for each park. If they are shows, write out the times that they are playing. Try to hit up those attractions early in the morning when the wait times are at their lowest. When we visited, Pandora had just opened and the wait times were over three hours for those rides!
Related:
Everything you need to know about planning a trip to Disney… and more!
What is the Best Age for Disney?
The Best Place to Stay at Disney World
The Best Character Meals in Disney World
How to Tell Your Kids they are Going to Disney
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