55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World
23 – Get the kids involved
Unless your trip is an absolute last-minute surprise for your kids, get them involved in the planning as soon as you can. One thing I think is really helpful is to get a guidebook and look through it with your child. Birnbaum’s publishes a great Disney World guidebook written specifically for kids.
Find out what looks most appealing to your kids and do your best to incorporate this into your plans. And try not to say no. After all, a trip to Disney World is a chance for all of us to be a kid again. Who better to guide your touring plan than a young person?
24 – Watch the movies
Many of the attractions at Disney World are inspired by Disney movies. And when you go to Disney World you’ll notice a lot of references to movies you may have never seen, or that you haven’t seen in a long time.
If you want to know what that princess dress is from that you’re seeing everywhere, or who that is in the parade, it’s time for some Disney movie nights.
Top movies to watch before you head to Disney World
Currently, a few of the more ubiquitous movie references at Disney World are (click the title for Amazon link):
- Frozen
- Encanto
- Star Wars
- Avatar
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Indiana Jones
- Snow White
- Moana
- Toy Story
- Princess and the Frog
- Cinderella – that’s her castle in the Magic Kingdom!
Get Disney Plus
If you don’t already subscribe to Disney+, now is a good time to join. You’ll find tons of classic movies plus shows about the theme parks with lots of behind-the-scenes action.
Hear about Disney World’s movie-inspired lands
Check out these Go Informed Podcast episodes about specific lands inspired by Disney movies:
- Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios
- Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios
- The Rise of the Resistance Attraction at Galaxy’s Edge
- Marvel at Disney and Universal
- Marvel Avengers Campus at Disneyland
Marvel Avengers Campus Quick Peek
25 – Be realistic
I guess this is funny advice since Disney World is all about fantasy, but a little reality is a good thing when it comes to your expectations.
Odds are that not every moment is going to be a fairy tale. Keep your attitude positive and know that on a vacation of this scale not everything will go according to plan.
If you plan well and do your homework, you should have a pretty good handle on what to expect, realistically.
26 – Know your group
If you’re traveling to Disney World with a group, or even just one other person, it’s important to have a sense of how they’re going to experience the trip. Before you get too far into your planning, think about which activities you might do together, and what might be better done separately.
Educate your traveling companions
Give the rest of your group some homework too. Send them each a copy of the Birnbaum’s Official Guide to Disney World and start a conversation about some of the Disney World basics.
You want to know before your trip if there’s anyone who hates roller coasters, or wants to do everything Star Wars in all the parks, or needs to nap each afternoon. Take this into account when you make plans that include the whole gang.
*(Why not the Unofficial Guide? Birnbaum’s is less comprehensive with more pictures – it’ll give your travel-buddies a good overview without overwhelming them.)
Got an animal lover in your group? Check out this post and podcast episode to learn about Disney World’s amazing animal encounters.
27 – Learn the language of Disney World
You may have already noticed that Disney World has its own specific jargon. Knowing the difference between an ADR and an ILL, or that all Disney World employees are called “cast members” (because Walt wanted it that way), will help you better understand the intricacies of Disney culture.
Just like any language, immersion is the best path to fluency. Here’s another case where doing your homework will pay off. Dive into guidebooks, websites, and podcasts to help tune your ear to Disney-isms.
Then you can walk around the parks like a veteran APH. (That’s Annual Passholder to you and me).
Here is my glossary of 27 of the most commonly used Disney Parks words and phrases.
28 – Count down
How many days do you have until Disney? Counting down to a vacation is a fun way to think about your trip long before you hit the road.
Put a countdown app on your phone or make a paper chain for each day remaining until your trip. Kids love breaking the links on the chain, and it’s pretty fun for adults too!
29 – Consult a crowd calendar
There are many online resources that estimate Disney World crowds. As soon as you start your planning, take a look at the predictions. This may affect the dates you choose for your trip, or just which park you decide to visit each day.
Knowing what to expect will help you make smart judgements about how to tour and how much you can expect to see.
A couple of great resources for crowd predictions are:
30 – Disney World park schedules can change
Disney adjusts their park schedules constantly. Keep an eye on the calendar, particularly when it comes to park opening hours.
If you have a breakfast reservation, make sure it doesn’t end up happening right at rope drop – the last thing you want to do during the park’s first hour is be stuck in a restaurant instead of waltzing onto a ride.
31 – Check-in before you leave home
One of the big advantages with Disney’s Magic Band technology is the ability to completely skip the front desk when you first arrive at your hotel.
You can check in weeks before your Disney World stay
A few weeks before your trip, head over to the My Disney Experience portal and check-in. The online check-in will verify your credit card information along with a few other details. Once this is saved in the system, Disney can check you in before you even leave home.
Using your Magic Band or the Disney World app as your room key, there’s no need to stop by the front desk on your way in to the hotel.
Disney will text or email your room number as soon as the room is ready. Then you can just head straight to the door and start your vacation.
32 – Know the rules
Review Disney’s security rules before you pack your park bag. Get all the do’s and don’ts on the Disney World website here.
33 – Arrive well-rested
Even if you don’t get up at the crack of dawn, your Disney World trip is going to take a lot of stamina. Do whatever you can to show up in Orlando fresh and energized.
Avoid a red-eye flight or an extreme road-trip drive to get to Disney World. If you know you’ll be tired or jet-lagged when you arrive, it’s a good idea to plan a rest day, or a half-speed day, at the beginning of your trip.
And make sure you get to bed early so you’ll be recharged for the rest of your touring.
Here are some additional resources to help you accomplish this:
