The Disney World Advice Every First-Time Visitor Absolutely NEEDS to Hear

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Here at MouseHouseNews.net, we’re all about helping you plan your most magical Disney World trip ever! If this will be your first time visiting Mickey Mouse and friends, you may be wondering how you can make the process easier. I’m here to tell you a few tips that will help. Some of these suggestions are things you should do while planning your vacation, and others will be helpful while you’re basking in the glow of Cinderella Castle. Let’s get started!

Choosing Your Disney Resort

One of the first things you’ll need to do when planning your vacation is decide where to stay. There are over 25 Disney Resorts Collection Hotels on property. You can choose from three different resort categories with varying price points, amenities, and theming. Need some help deciding? Check out the playlist on our MouseHouseNewsNet Youtube Channel for a growing collection of full room and resort tours. As of time of publication, you will find these resort tours on the channel:

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

We’re constantly adding more tours, so be sure to subscribe to the channel to see more tours created after this blog was posted.

We’ve also started a new video series on our YouTube channel in which Marcus pits two resorts against each other in a head-to-head showdown. Will his winner be your winner? Watch MouseHouseNews.net’s Disney Resorts Showdown to find out!

Prefer to read written reviews instead? You can find detailed reviews of those same resorts here on the blog:

Above all, no matter which resort you choose, definitely check out Disney’s Special Offers page for available discounts. Even after you’ve booked your resort or vacation package, keep checking back periodically. Special Offers can be applied to existing reservations, so you never have to miss out on a deal. You can do this yourself or, if you book your vacation through a Travel Advisor like our pal, Marcus, they can keep an eye on offers and update your reservation for you!

Understand Your Transportation Options

There are many advantages to staying on site in a Disney Resort. One of the biggest perks is the complimentary transportation available to guests. Determining which methods of transportation are available can help you form a plan of action. Things to consider:

  • transportation from your resort to the theme parks
  • ways to get from theme park to theme park (if you’ll be park hopping)
  • how you can travel among the different resorts (if you plan on resort hopping)
A Disney bus is taking guests to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Generally, Disney buses are the most common way to get from here to there. However, depending on your origination point and destination, you may have other transportation options available including:

MDE app

The My Disney Experience App Is Your Go-To

Perhaps your best friend during the planning phase (other than MouseHouseNews.net) is your My Disney Experience app. The app is also extremely helpful once you’re actually at Disney World. If you haven’t already downloaded it, go ahead and do that now. Don’t worry, I’ll wait right here for you…

I highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the basics of the app prior to your trip. There are numerous useful features:

Use the app to unlock your room door
Get dining info in the app
Check your resort bus arrival times

Navigating Disney World Once You’re There

In addition to all of the app features mentioned above, you can also use the app to get directions to a specified location. For first time visitors who may not have the layout of the theme parks memorized, this is super useful. You can access the “Get Directions” feature in a couple of different ways:

  • On the map view, tap on the icon for the attraction, dining location, entertainment option, etc. that you wish to visit. It will pop up a box listing the name of the location and “Get Directions”. If you tap on “Get Directions”, the app will provide updated real-time directions from your current location to the desired one. Additionally, you’ll receive an estimate of how long it will take to walk to your destination.
  • If you know where you want to go, but aren’t sure where it is on the map, you can use the search feature. Tap on the magnifying glass at the bottom of the app. This will allow you to search for a location. Once you’ve conducted your search, tap on the result to view details about the location. You will see an option for “Find on Map” and another one for “Get Directions”. This is somewhat self-explanatory, but “Find on Map” will show you where it is, and “Get Directions” will give directions on how to get there from your current location.
The app shows directions, ETA, and wait times!

It’s important to remember that while the app is a great resource, some of these features can drain your phone’s battery quickly. This is especially the case with the “Get Directions” feature. Make sure your battery is charged and/or you have a portable charger available, just in case.

Expect The Unexpected

Sometimes, the unexpected can happen. The universe isn’t trying to ruin your Disney World plans, honest! It’s just an important reminder to be flexible.

Construction can sometimes force a change of plans

Have you ever heard the phrase “everything that can go wrong, will go wrong”? Parades can be delayed. Outdoor attractions can temporarily close due to inclement weather. Wait times can be long (this includes not only for attractions, but also for food and even restrooms). The monorail might be down or the Skyliner may be temporarily unavailable. You get my point.

Transportation may be impacted during severe weather

For that reason, sometimes you have to roll with the punches and take things as they come (such is the case in life). Your Disney World vacation is no different. That’s why it’s good to have a loose plan but not worry about scheduling every single minute of your vacation. I like to pick a couple of “must do’s” for each day, and anything else I can accomplish feels like extra.

Don’t Overlook “Extras”

Speaking of “extras”, don’t overlook them! When considering a Disney World vacation, the first thing most people probably imagine is the excitement of attractions, shows, and characters at the theme parks. It’s true that the theme parks are magical! However, there are lots of things to do beyond the theme parks. Here are some ideas:

WDW travel packages oftentimes include discounts for Surrey bike rentals
  • If you booked a vacation package, prior to your trip you will receive an envelope in the mail containing your “Magical Extras“. In addition to a complimentary luggage tag for each person, there are vouchers for free rounds of mini golf and entry into the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. You can get discounts on Surrey Bike rentals (at select locations) and bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes in Disney Springs. There are also a number of dining and shopping discounts.
  • Disney also has what they call Enchanting Extras. This collection consists of additional paid experiences that guests can book to “level up” their vacations. These experiences vary widely in style and price. You can select from experiences like Capture Your Moment private photo shoots in the parks, Fireworks Dessert Parties, carriage rides, exclusive behind the scenes tours (including Behind The Seeds at EPCOT), and more.
Check your resort’s activities for even more fun
  • Check out the activities offered at your resort. Every resort has an activities schedule. You’ll find a variety of free activities and paid experiences, some of which are unique to specific resorts. Planning a resort day or two as part of your Disney vacation not only allows you time to relax, but also gives you the ability to have some unique experiences. Nightly campfires with complimentary marshmallow roasting? Yes, please!

Brush Up On Your Disney Lingo

There is one bonus piece of advice I can provide you. You’ll want to know the basic Disney lingo as you plan your trip. There are many acronyms that you will hear tossed around, and knowing what these mean will ensure you are one step ahead of the game. Trust me, it will save you a lot of head scratching later!

Need Help With Planning?

Finally, I’ll leave you with this bit of shameless self-promotion. If you’d like some help navigating every aspect of planning your Disney World vacation, contact Marcus with Purely Luxe Vacations by clicking the button below. He’ll share his wealth of knowledge and expertise with you, and using his services doesn’t cost you anything extra. That magical vacation of your dreams is just around the corner!

Above all, Disney World is truly full of magic. From thrilling roller coasters and favorite boat rides to enjoying tasty snacks or meeting favorite characters (especially our pal, Mickey), there’s something for everyone. I encourage you to explore your options and try something new each visit (because let’s face it, you’ll want to return again and again). Stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net for more tips, reviews, and news for first-time visitors and beyond. We’ll see you real soon!