If you’re one of those people who enjoys planning trips, you’re going to love putting together a Disney World vacation. Even if you don’t fall into this category, there’s absolutely no reason to panic! Here are a few tips for planning your first trip to Disney World.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World

When my husband and I took our kids to Disney World for the first time, we were so unprepared. If you’ve been to any other Disney Parks, you should know by now that Disney World is the biggest / largest of them all. If you haven’t been to any, now you know. This should give you an idea of how much planning you have to put into making sure that you have an enjoyable Disney World vacation.

I’m sharing these tips below with you below because it is important to know when planning your first trip to Disney World.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 1

Decide On Your Budget

Before you plan your first trip to Disney World with kids, write down your budget first. When choosing your budget for Disney World, keep in mind flights, transportation, accommodation, souvenirs and food – use these to set your budget accordingly.

A lot of people don’t know this, but Disney World is not a budget trip. It can be done on a budget, by staying off site and cooking meals versus eating out and more, but you will still be spending a significant amount of money especially on park tickets.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 2

Make Travel Plans

After you’ve decided on your budget, it is time to make travel plans. Yay!

Based on your budget, you will be able to assess how many days you can to spend at the park and how much to allocate to each item. When making your travel plans, it is very important to pay close attention to dates when traveling to Disney World because holidays and weekends tend to be very crowded.

You can then book your flights, and make hotel reservations. You can do this via the Disney website, or by contacting a Travel Agent – both options allow you to put down a deposit and make payment plans as you go.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 3

Use the My Disney Experience App

My Disney Experience is a free mobile app you can start using today to plan your future dream vacation. Use it to explore and reserve dining options, make your selections for Fastpass+ attractions, create a day-by-day plan to follow during the trip and SO much more!

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 4

Invest in MagicBands

MagicBands are colorful wristbands which give you a simple and unique way to access your vacation plans through the My Disney Experience app, mentioned above.

Magic Bands add a new level of convenience to mundane tasks. For example, use it  to open your resort room door and gain access to the parks. This way, there’s no need to worry about carrying around (or losing) admission tickets and room keys.

You can also use MagicBands to check in at attractions you’ve reserved through Fastpass+. Receive them at no-cost, when you choose to book accommodations at a Walt Disney World resort. Ordering them online is easy-peasy, if you plan to stay off-site.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 5

Decide on Priority Attractions

With four theme parks and over 25 resorts on the property, Walt Disney World is huge. There’s so much to see and do, many guests don’t get to see everything they want to on their first trip.

Do a bit of research to pin down which attractions you feel are must-see’s during the vacation. Once you decide, put together a plan that lets you explore as many of those attractions as possible.

If you only plan to spend one day at Disney World, don’t expect to see everything on your list. Instead, stick with one park and spend the day checking out your favorite attractions there.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 6

Reserve Dining Experience in Advance

Disney dining experiences are just as memorable as the park’s attractions and entertainment. They combine great food with live shows and atmospheres inspired by your favorite Disney classics.

Reservations fill up quickly for these shows. So, decide which dining options you want to reserve as early in the planning process as possible. If you decided to invest in the Disney Dining Plan, each member of your party will get a number of credits each day which they can use to pay for snacks and quick meals as well as immersive dining experiences.

Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Disney World # 7

Take Advantage of Fastpass+

Fastpass+ lets you reserve a seat on a ride or for an attraction, visiting it later without waiting in line. You can reserve these spots even before your vacation starts and be reminded when the time comes to actually take part. This is achieved via the MyDisneyExperience app.

Taking advantage of these tips will certainly help you plan your first vacation to Disney World. Remember, it isn’t typically something you can do in just a couple of hours. The more time you’re able to devote to planning, the smoother and more memorable the trip will be.

Of course, you don’t have to plan the whole thing yourself. Part of the fun is getting family members, especially your kids involved and excited. This way, everyone gets a chance to recommend the things that interest them the most.

Read more posts on Disney World With Kids below:

• Tips For Planning Your First Trip To Disneyworld
• How To Visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom In One Day
• Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants For First Time Disneyworld Visitors

If you want to visit Disneyland California With Kids instead, see posts below:

• Disneyland California With Kids & Disney California Adventure
• A First Timer’s Guide To Disney California Adventure With Kids
• Your Complete Guide To Booking Family Friendly Disneyland California Hotels