- The first step to planning your first Disney World or Disneyland vacation is figuring out your touring strategy.
- Make a list of all of the attractions, dining, and characters your family wants to see while at the theme parks.
- See if there are any extras you may want to include in your vacation budget that will allow your family to have even more fun inside or outside of the parks.
If you’re dreaming of a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, or Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, “winging it” is not an option. Spontaneity and serendipity are great for some family vacation ideas, but not when it comes time to plan a Disney trip. Without a good strategy, your dream vacation to one of the best family vacation spots in the U.S. will be headed straight for epic meltdowns, long lines, and missed opportunities.
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The bad news is that Disney has made planning a trip more complicated, not less, with ongoing construction projects, closures, and the introduction of Disney Genie, a suite of trip-planning tools for the Disney parks.
Now for the good news: Unlocking true Disney magic is possible with the right strategy. And while there’s no single “right way” to plan a Disney trip, there are some important questions you need to ask yourself before you go. The answer to these questions will inform your entire vacation and ensure that everything goes according to plan on your Disney vacation.
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1. What Time Do You Want to Arrive at the Park?
If you want to avoid crowds, skip lines, and generally feel like you have the park to yourself for an hour or two, the tried-and-true strategy is to arrive at the park as soon as it opens (or even earlier if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or Disneyland hotel with extra perks). This is called rope dropping, and it’s a great strategy to get on some of the most popular rides before the crowds get too big at any of the theme parks.
But while that’s all true, there’s also nothing quite as miserable as watching a toddler in full-on meltdown mode at 7:30 a.m. If your family isn’t the type that can wake up and go, then don’t! Yes, you’ll have to deal with crowds and rides slightly differently—but the Orlando theme parks offer special light shows, parades, and experiences later in the day and evening that may better suit your family’s schedule. This is also true of the Anaheim parks, where parades and nighttime spectaculars can be seen in the afternoon and evening.
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On the flip side, if you are a family of early risers, use that to your advantage by getting to the park early. When you’d normally banish the kids back to their bedroom for a few more minutes of shut-eye, instead get them ready to roll for an early arrival that may include a character breakfast or a rope-drop celebration.
Pro-tip: If you plan to rope-drop, consider getting to the front gate of your chosen park at least 45 minutes before the listed opening time. This will allow you to be towards the front of the line and get to your number one attraction as soon as the park opens.
The point is to be honest with yourself about how well you and your kids will do with an early wake-up and plan your Disney arrival accordingly.
2. How Much Stimulation Can You and Your Family Handle?
Even for the most roll-with-the-punches kids and adults, the amount of stimulation you get in a day at Disney can sometimes be too much. One of the most overlooked Disney strategies is the midday nap, especially if you’re the family who used the rope drop strategy and got to the parks early.
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Disney theme park tickets are good for the whole day’s admission as long as the park doesn’t reach capacity. And if you have a park hopper pass, it’s easy to switch parks for the afternoon or evening and squeeze in a much-needed reset between all the magic. My favorite ways to take a break include having lunch in the park, then heading back to the resort to hang out by the pool or catch some shut-eye for a few hours during the hottest parts of the day. It’s a great way to decompress and reset for a fun evening ahead.
Speaking of overstimulation, if there’s one thing that really puts kids (and sometimes parents, to be honest) over the edge, it’s the evening fireworks at Disney. If thunderstorms or loud bangs send your kids cowering under the bed, then for the love of all things Mickey do not take them to watch the fireworks. Try to exit the park about an hour before the fireworks to avoid a meltdown.
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I know, I know. The fireworks are amazing! You can ooh and ahh! But you know what else is awesome? Night swimming, roasting marshmallows over a bonfire, or watching a movie as a family, all of which can be done at most Disney resort hotels.
Or if you really have to see the fireworks but don’t want to be inside the park with the big crowds, stay at a Disney hotel with fireworks views. In Orlando, the best bets are Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, and Disney’s Beach Club. In Anaheim, you can watch the fireworks right from your balcony at the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance if you book a resort view room. And if you stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa, you can see Disney California Adventure’s nighttime show, World of Color from the rooftop viewing area.
3. Do You Experience Motion Sickness Easily?
If car rides quickly get queasy, then you want to steer clear of certain rides that can trigger any motion sickness. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be down and out for every ride.
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Some of the newer Disney World rides, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway, use trackless and magnet-based technology for a really smooth experience, which means you’re less jostled overall.
But if you just want to ride gentler attractions like Jungle Cruise, Na’vi River Journey, and Living with the Land, that’s cool, too. Know your limits and plan the rides for your Disney trip accordingly.
Over at Disneyland Resort, rides that may trigger motion sickness include Guardians of the Galaxy – MISSION: Breakout!, Star Tours, and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. Instead of these, try riding things like the Disneyland Railroad, Haunted Mansion, and Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue.
4. What Kind of Food Do You Like?
In recent years, Disney has really stepped up its game when it comes to food. Besides the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT every fall, you can find pretty much any type of food, from Moroccan-inspired dishes at Tusker House at Animal Kingdom and gourmet grilled cheeses at Woody’s Lunch Box at Hollywood Studios in Orlando, to lobster nachos at Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure and a perfect breakfast spread at Carnation Cafe at Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
But if your kids just want chicken fingers at every meal, you’ll be able to get it just about anywhere you go. With hundreds of restaurants at Disney World and Disneyland, you can have your Mickey waffles for breakfast and sit down at a chef’s table for dinner. Even better is that most quick-service options offer mobile ordering so you aren’t waiting in long lines to order lunch and wasting valuable ride time.
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If you have dietary restrictions or are traveling with food allergies, add a note when you make your dining reservations. Cast members are well-trained and can point out allergy-friendly menu items, make substitutions and adjustments, and help you find the best places to dine in the first place, so you can breathe easy.
Reservations open 60 days in advance at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and top restaurants and times go quickly. If you do want to sit down for dinner at Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando or Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, for example, you’ll want to make sure you hop to it as soon as the reservations window opens. These are two of the most popular restaurants at both resorts, so it’s best to set a reminder on the day your reservation window opens.
Pro-tip: You’ll need to be up early to snag the best reservations. Bookings typically open at Walt Disney World around 6:00 a.m. EST and at 3:00 a.m. PST for Disneyland Resort.
5. How Tall Are Your Kids?
This may seem like a weird question to ask, but it’s important to set expectations with your kids that they may not be able to get on every ride. While the vast majority of rides and shows are designed for any height, you can’t effectively plan a Disney trip if you don’t understand that some of the big ticket attractions will turn kids away if they’re not tall enough.
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Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando provides a full list of height requirements for its theme park and water park rides here. Disneyland in Anaheim lists its height requirements for rides here. Required heights for rides vary, but the average height to ride is 35” or taller. For the biggest thrill rides at Disney, 44” is standard.
If your kids are just barely tall enough to ride some of the thrill rides, I suggest riding first thing in the morning. It’s true that people are taller in the morning due to the spine stretching out overnight, so kids may be just tall enough to ride some of the bigger attractions in the morning versus the late afternoon or evening. Kids are also more likely to stand up straight in the morning versus the evening when they are tired.
6. Which Characters Are on Your Must-See List?
If you know the words to Let it Go by heart (whether you want to know them or not), then you’re probably going to want to find a way to see Elsa and Anna while you’re at Disney. For many, one of the most magical parts of the parks is meeting their favorite characters in real life.
Instead of waiting in long lines for a traditional meet-and-greet experience, plan a Disney trip that includes character dining, where your favorite characters come to you. At Walt Disney World, you can see Lilo and Stitch at ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort, meet the princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom, or hang out with Disney Junior characters at Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood Studios. Over at the Disneyland Resort, you can see Minnie Mouse and her friends at the Plaza Inn at Disneyland Park, the princesses at Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian, or Goofy and his pals at Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel.
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If you still want to see some characters but don’t want to have to wait in long lines, try watching a parade or show where kids can wave at their favorite character from afar. Additionally, characters can often be found roaming around Main Street, U.S.A., and Stormtroopers are usually walking around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
7. What Are Your Must-Do Rides?
Disney gets crowded. Picture New York City during the holidays and you’ll have a pretty good idea of just how crowded. That means long lines and long waits, especially for the big rides. When you plan a Disney trip, decide which rides are absolute must-dos and which ones are okay to skip if you have to. Set a rule for how long you’re willing to wait. About 45 minutes is as much as I can stand, personally.
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You may also want to use park hoppers to your advantage and hit the same park multiple times to get a chance to ride everything throughout your stay. Or, you can spend up for Genie+, which lets you bypass the lines on most rides for a price.
8. Do You Want to Spend Your Whole Vacation Together as a Family?
Disney vacations are synonymous with family vacations, so it may seem like you have to spend every waking moment together to have the best Disney experience. But if you need a mini-vacation from your family vacation, Disney caters to adults, too. If you and your partner are looking for a date night out, consider booking one of the on-site babysitting services.
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If you’re at Disney World, consider spending a day relaxing at the Grand Floridian’s spa, heading for a night out at Disney Springs, or just sitting by the pool without having to watch your kid slide down the slide for the millionth time. At Disneyland, try the chef’s table at Napa Rose or enjoy a spa treatment at the Tenaya Stone Spa at the Grand Californian.
9. Does Your Family Love to Swim?
All of the on-property Disney World and Disneyland hotels have a pool, and sometimes two or three. Some are more exciting and elaborate than others, though. If your kids love nothing more than to spend hours splashing around at the hotel pool, consider booking a few nights at Disney’s Yacht Club, Disney’s Beach Club, Disney’s Polynesian Village, Disney’s Grand Floridian, or Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The best pool at the Disneyland Resort can be found at the Disneyland Hotel, where the slide is themed to the monorail.
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When you plan a Disney trip, build pool time into your stay with a resort day. It’s a great way to take a breather, and there’s plenty of fun music, games, and activities happening every day. The list of poolside activities can be found at the front desk.
And if you’ve got a family of water lovers, add a day at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, one of the two Disney water parks in Orlando. Kids should be strong swimmers for most of the rides or the wave pool, but there are fun splash zones and play areas for little ones too. The Disneyland Resort does not have a water park on-site.
10. Are You Celebrating a Special Occasion?
Special occasions are where the Disney magic really shines. Birthdays, anniversaries, babymoons, honeymoons, first-time visits, engagements—whatever you’re celebrating, Disney cast members love to help make it special. Make sure you let them know when you check in and you’ll find moments of magic sprinkled throughout your stay, even if it’s just “happy birthday” wishes in passing.
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If you want to help the magic along, a little foresight can go a long way when you plan a Disney trip. Whether you want to set up a surprise proposal, get a behind-the-scenes tour, or join a private fireworks showing, there’s plenty you can do to make your experience that much more special. Just be sure to set these things up well in advance. Activities like tours and private fireworks cruises can be booked 60 days in advance at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
