- Planning a Disney vacation just got a little easier with our all-encompassing guide.
- Use this as a launching point to plan your next Disney World trip, with tips about when to visit, tickets, dining, hotels, and more.
- This guide will be updated periodically as new planning tools become available, hotels are reviewed, and new attractions are added to the Disney World parks.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida can be overwhelming, to say the least. I’ve been going to the parks for nearly 30 years and still find planning some aspects of a trip daunting (hello, virtual queues). Even worse is that Disney keeps changing the rules about planning trips, which affects how you can get the most from your vacation budget and time in the parks.
With four theme parks, dozens of hotels, a shopping and entertainment plaza, two water parks, over 100 dining options, and more to explore at Walt Disney World there’s no way your family can do it all in one trip. But with the right tips, tricks, and tools everyone in your group can check everything off their must-do list while on vacation.
If you’re thinking about a Disney World vacation, in the middle of planning one, or getting on your flight to Orlando tomorrow, our ultimate guide to the theme park resort is a great tool to have in your arsenal. Think of this as a launching point for all your planning needs from parks and resorts to dining and fun.
When to visit
There’s so much to think of while planning a Disney vacation, including when to visit. I like using a crowd calendar to help plan when to visit. My favorite crowd calendar is from MickeyVisit.com, which is updated monthly. The calendar breaks down crowds based on what park you want to visit and when which can help you plan what day to go where.
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Like any crowd calendar, the one from MickeyVisit is all based on predictions, and many factors can influence crowds on any day at Disney World.
“Disney World crowd patterns have shifted in the years since the COVID closure as Disney has attempted to spread demand throughout the year with variable prices,” says Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com, a guide to help readers save money and experience more at Disney. “I saw a lot of existing Disney World crowd calendars fall out of date based on their reliance on old data. When defining the parameters for our crowd calendar, we aimed to use factors that could best predict future crowds based on our understanding of the current landscape at Disney World.”
“Our Walt Disney World crowd calendar integrates ride wait time data from most recent years, current demand-based ticket prices, school calendars, weather patterns, and more. It also differentiates between crowd levels at the four theme parks by integrating special events and celebration dates,” Doyle continues.
Where to stay
Picking your hotel is one of the most important parts of a Disney vacation. Disney World’s on-site and owned hotels are divided into four categories, each with a different price point, amenities, and proximity to the parks.
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Value resorts
Disney’s cheapest resorts are the value resorts, which start around $182 a night. These resorts are often the farthest from any of the theme parks, have more limited transportation options, and less luxury amenities. The dining options at these resorts are also limited to quick-service restaurants only. These resorts include:
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
My favorite option of these five resorts is Disney’s Pop Century Resort since it’s connected to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner gondola system. I also like the retro theming of the resort and how easy it is to park near your room.
Moderate resorts
The next level is moderate resorts, with room rates that start at $279 a night. These resorts are my favorite for the mid-range pricing, better amenities, and the proximity to the parks and Disney Springs. Moderate resorts also feature multiple quick-service and table-service dining options. These resorts include:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (The Wilderness Cabins are currently being replaced with one-bedroom cabins. The new cabins are part of Disney Vacation Club, Disney’s flexible timeshare program, but are still bookable with cash.)
Deluxe resorts
The most luxurious resorts at Disney World are the deluxe resorts, with a starting rate of $485 a night. These highly-themed hotels are often the closest to the theme parks and offer multiple modes of transportation and dining options, plus luxury amenities. These resorts include:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Deluxe villas
If you have a large family or are looking for a room with even more amenities consider booking a deluxe villa. These rooms are typically found at the deluxe resorts and offer more spacious accommodations. The room sizes vary from studios that sleep four to five people to massive three-bedroom villas that accommodate up to 12 people. Rates start at $476 per night.
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To me, the real bonus to booking a deluxe villa is that one-bedroom villas and larger offer a full kitchen to cook some meals and a full laundry suite in the room so you can pack less on vacation. These resorts include:
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Campgrounds
Disney World has its own campsites for those who want to pitch a tent or park an RV. The campsites are located at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and start at $103 a night.
Other deluxe hotels
On Disney’s property, there are a few other deluxe hotels that are not technically owned by Disney, but are bookable by anyone and come with unique amenities and access to the parks. If you’re looking for a luxury escape consider one of the following:
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World
Disney Springs hotels
Next to Disney Springs is an area brimming with hotels. These include many of the big-name brands like Wyndham and Hilton. If you book these hotels through Disney you typically have to book the rooms as a resort package that includes tickets. Alternatively, you can book directly with the hotel for hotel-only bookings. These hotels include:
- Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
- Holiday Inn Orlando
- Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
- B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Bonnet Creek hotels
Another resort complex within Walt Disney World is Bonnet Creek. The resorts within this secluded hotel neighborhood near EPCOT are higher-end properties with plenty of on-site amenities and easy access to the theme parks. To book these through Disney you must book as a package, but you can book directly through the hotel for room-only bookings. These hotels include:
- Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
- JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
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Hotel discounts
Throughout the year, Disney-owned hotels will run discounts on rooms. These can include discounts for annual pass holders, Florida residents, military members, and Disney Visa cardholders. Additionally, Disney also runs deals based on length of stay, dates booked, and if a ticket package is included.
To learn about the latest deals on rooms and tickets check out Disney’s special offers page on its website.
Tickets
After picking your hotel, getting tickets is the next thing you’ll want to do. There are multiple types of tickets, ticket packages, and ticket deals going on at any one time. Remember kids under three years old have free admission to every Disney theme park.
Date-based tickets
You may be looking at purchasing date-based tickets. The standard date-based ticket starts at $109 per day for those 10 years old and older, and you must pick the dates you are going to use the tickets in advance. You can save money the more days you add to your ticket. Ticket prices are based on many factors including when you plan to go, the day of the week, if you’re visiting a single park or adding on the Park Hopper Option, and more. If you’re on a budget, but flexible with time, try playing around with the ticket calendar to see when you can get the best deals.
Ticket add-ons
There are three different ticket add-ons to think about for date-based tickets.
Water Park and Sports Option: With this add-on, you get a set amount of entry days into a water park, mini golf, foot golf, the walking golf course, or the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This does not include multiple theme park visits in one day.
Park Hopper Option: This add-on lets you visit multiple theme parks every day that your ticket is valid.
Park Hopper Plus Option: This gives you the same access to the recreational activities and water parks as the Water Parks and Sports Option, but also includes the ability to visit multiple theme parks in one day.
Annual Passes
If you plan to visit multiple times a year a 12-month annual pass may be a better option for your family. Annual passes come with perks including free parking at the theme parks and discounts on dining and merchandise. Each pass type can be purchased outright, or be put on a 12-month payment plan.
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You would have to price this out for yourself, but we’re giving you the basic rundown of how many days you need to go into a park to make each pass type worthwhile. Our calculations on the breakeven point are based on the starting date-based ticket price of $109.
Disney Pixie Dust Pass: This annual pass is for Florida residents only. The price for those ages three and older is $439. You have to go to a theme park for at least four days to make this pass worthwhile. This is the most restrictive pass, where you can only visit on Mondays through Fridays, and some blocked dates apply.
Disney Pirate Pass: This annual pass is also for Florida residents only, and costs $799 for one pass for those three and older. You would have to visit a Disney World theme park at least seven times to make this pass worth the cost. This pass is good every day of the week, but there are some blocked dates, including peak seasons around spring break and major holidays.
Disney Sorcerer Pass: This level of annual pass can be purchased by Florida residents and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members. The price is $999, so you have to enter a park about nine times to break even with this pass. The ticket does have a few blocked dates around big holidays like Christmas and the 4th of July.
Disney Incredi-Pass: This is the top-tier Disney World annual pass and can be purchased by anyone, regardless of where you live or if you’re a Disney Vacation Club member or not. The pass is $1,449, and you have to visit a theme park at least 13 times to break even.
Parks
Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks, all of which have a completely different vibe, exciting attractions, dining options, and fun for everyone in the whole family. In this section, we’ll also cover Lightning Lane MultiPass, the two Disney World water parks, and Disney Springs.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is one of the most iconic theme parks in the world. The park is known for its grand Cinderella Castle at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., thrilling rides, and cute entertainment offerings. This is also Disney World’s busiest park, so I suggest planning at least a day and a half to see and do everything.
My must-dos at Magic Kingdom include watching the nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After, riding Space Mountain, and seeing Mickey Mouse. I also love to have a meal at Skipper Canteen.
EPCOT
EPCOT recently completed a multi-year transformation and is a great way to spend a day at a Disney theme park. The park is divided into four large sections: World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery, and World Showcase. My favorite part of the park is the World Showcase, where you can visit multiple country pavilions to learn about places around the world, try authentic cuisine, and even interact with Cast Members from each represented country.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is my favorite park at Disney World. I love the old Hollywood feel at the front of the park and can’t get enough of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This park is also great for families with younger children since it’s where they can meet their favorite Disney Junior characters.
Every good day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios should end with seeing the nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!, which is about 25 minutes long. The show takes place in a massive amphitheater, and during the show, you’ll see some of the most popular Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Moana, Elsa, and more.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
While many families think Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is a half-day experience, I would beg to differ. The park is filled with animals, but it’s not a zoo. Start your day by riding Kilimanjaro Safaris, seeing the Festival of the Lion King show, and gliding down a bioluminescent river on Na’vi River Journey. Then spend the afternoon taking in all of the animal exhibits around the park.
If you get hungry during your adventure consider stopping at one of my favorite places to eat here, Satu’li Canteen, which is known for its build-your-own-bowl concept. I love the salad base with the charred onion sauce with chimichurri-braised beef on top.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and virtual queues
Disney World has completely overhauled its paid skip-the-line service, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, formerly known as Disney Genie+. In short, the service now allows you to pre-book up to three Lightning Lanes per day and choose your arrival window for the attractions before you buy a pass. You can also make plans for multiple days all at the same time.
After you enter the park and scan your ticket at your first booked attraction, you can make additional selections at the same park or other parks, depending on what type of ticket you have.
Those staying at Disney hotels and other select hotels can purchase Lightning Lanes up to seven days in advance of your stay. Everyone else can purchase passes up to three days in advance of a visit.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Some attractions are part of the Lightning Lane Single Pass program, which is not available to book through Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You can purchase up to two single passes per day. Pricing for these attractions is on a sliding scale. The rides that use Lightning Lane Single Pass include:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom
- TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Virtual queues
Some of the most popular and newest rides at Disney World utilize a virtual queue system to gain entry to the ride. Virtual queue entry is free and based on a lottery system. To get a virtual queue for your group you must have the My Disney Experience app on your phone and everyone’s tickets must be linked to your account.
Virtual queues open at 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. For the morning opening you do not have to be in a theme park, but for the afternoon opening you should have at least scanned your ticket into a park. Your best bet to get a virtual queue is to be ready to join the queue right at the designated opening time. If you are able to get a spot in the queue you will get a boarding group number and an estimated return time.
When your group is called you’ll get a push notification on your phone and you must return to the attraction within one hour. There are a few instances when you may not be able to return within an hour, such as your calling time overlapping with a dining reservation. If this is the case, take your receipt with you from your meal to prove you were eating at a restaurant and the Cast Members should let your group into the queue.
You can hold a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass plus a virtual queue for the same attraction at the same time.
Attractions that are currently using virtual queues are:
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom
- TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
Water Parks
Disney World is home to two exciting water parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Each one is currently open seasonally, with Typhoon Lagoon being open in the spring and summer, and Blizzard Beach being open in the Fall and early winter (yes, it’s usually still warm enough to swim in December at Disney World). Water park tickets start at $64 for adults and $58 for kids ages three to nine.
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Disney Springs
Disney Springs is the shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Walt Disney World. The complex features dozens of restaurants, the world’s biggest Disney store, an exciting Cirque du Soleil show, and more. Disney Springs does not require a ticket and is free to walk around and enjoy some window shopping or live entertainment that takes place outside.
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If Disney Springs is part of my trip plan, I like to visit on my arrival or departure day since those days can be impacted by travel changes. Some of my favorite shops to go into are the World of Disney and Disney Ever After for fun souvenirs. I also love that Disney Springs has a handful of celebrity chef-run restaurants including eet by Maneet Chauhan, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and Chicken Guy! from Guy Fieri.
Transportation options
To get around Disney World there are complimentary and paid transportation options.
Complimentary options
Bus: the complimentary buses can take guests to and from their on-site Disney-owned hotels to the four theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Be mindful of the start and end times for buses, which can range from 45 minutes to an hour before or after a destination opens or closes.
Water transportation: many Disney hotels have complimentary water transportation to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom. Boats take guests from Disney’s BoardWalk, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Clubs, and Disney’s Swan and Dolphin to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you are staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or Disney’s Fort Wilderness you can catch a boat to Magic Kingdom.
Monorail: The Disney World monorail is an iconic mode of transportation. You can catch the monorail to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT from Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Disney’s Polynesian Village.
Disney Skyliner: One of the newest modes of transportation is the Disney Skyliner, which is a gondola system. The Skyliner connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk, and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts.
Paid transportation options
Minnie Van Service: Minnie Van service is a Disney-owned ride share that’s run through the Lyft app. The cars are driven by Disney Cast Members who can pick you up and drop you off just about anywhere at Disney World.
Where to eat
There are literally hundreds of places to get something to eat across Disney World. Most of the restaurants at Disney World take reservations, which open 60 days in advance of a visit.
Here are a few of my favorites that you may want to consider for your next trip.
Character dining
Garden Grill at EPCOT: Every day Mickey and some of his pals don their best gardening outfits to greet guests at Garden Grill at EPCOT. The all-you-can-eat restaurant is known for its lunch and dinner feasts which are served family style. I love the cornbread with honey bitter and the grilled steak here.
Ravello at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World: One of the hidden gems of character dining is lurking inside the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World at Ravello. The characters only appear on select days for breakfast. The meal is buffet-style with multiple stations including fruit and pastries, hot entrees, and eggs.
Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort: The best character breakfast at Disney World can be found at Topolino’s Terrace. The breakfast is a plated meal and the characters come to your table to take photos. During your meal, you’ll see Mickey and Minnie Mouse plus Donald and Daisy Duck, and each one is decked out in an outfit to represent what type of art they enjoy doing the most.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review: While it’s technically not character dining, the cast of this dinner show will make it feel that way. The zany antics and musical numbers at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review are combined with a down-home meal complete with fried chicken, ribs, cornbread, and strawberry shortcake. Adults can also enjoy all-you-care-to-drink beer or sangria included in the price.
Table service dining
The Plaza Restaurant at Magic Kingdom: At the end of Main Street, U.S.A. is The Plaza Restaurant, which dishes up American fare. I love the onion rings, turkey club, and fried chicken sandwich. The milkshakes here are also impeccable.
Wine Bar George at Disney Springs: One of my favorite restaurants at Disney World is Wine Bar George. The restaurant has over 200 different wines by the ounce, glass, or bottle, plus an impressive menu of sharable dishes, entrees, and desserts.
Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: If you’re looking for a great spot for a Disney date night, Cítricos is it. The elegant restaurant has a slight Mary Poppins Returns theme, and the menu highlights the bounty of Florida with dishes like corn bisque and butter-poached cobia.
Quick service dining
D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs: If you’re looking for one of the best burgers at Disney, try out D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. The quick service spot dishes out fresh smash burgers and hand-cut fries that make for a perfect lunch while enjoying Disney Springs.
Flame Tree BBQ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: One of my favorite spots at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is Flame Tree BBQ. You’re going to smell the smoked meats before you see the restaurant but don’t let the long line deter you. The ribs and pulled pork here are worth the wait.
Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: One of the more interesting options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is Satu’li Canteen, where you can build your own bowl from the bottom up, complete with a base, sauce, and choice of protein.
Events throughout the year
If you’re planning your Disney World trip to align with an event or holiday these are some ones you should keep in mind.
The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival: This charming festival happens every year between February and May. The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is popular with foodies because of its outdoor kitchens with fun menus and of course, nature lovers enjoy seeing the character topiaries and walking through the butterfly gardens.
The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival: Foodies rejoice because the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival kicks off every fall from around August through November. The festival celebrates foods from around the world, plus nightly concerts in the America pavilion in World Showcase.
Halloween: Most of Disney World’s Halloween celebrations take place at Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The separately ticketed event is a great way to get into the spooky spirit, and as the name suggests, it’s great for kids since it’s not super scary. The Halloween party starts at the beginning of August and runs through October 31.
Holidays: The winter holidays are a great time to be at Disney World. The festive activities kick off in the first part of November and run through early January. There are two separately ticketed events during the holidays, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you don’t want to pay extra for a party ticket, don’t worry because all four parks, every resort hotel, and Disney Springs get into the holiday spirit with decorations, treats, and entertainment.
runDisney races: Every year Walt Disney World hosts four runDisney race weekends. The races take place in January, February, April, and November, and have distances ranging from 5Ks to full marathons.
