Preparing for a family vacation to Disney World is an adventure, especially for first timers and families with young children. Traveling with kids of different ages can make planning something for everyone tricky, and parents might be wondering if they will be able to enjoy epic thrill rides with the kids in tow.
This April, we traveled with a family of five for a four-day trip to the Wonderful World of Disney. For families new to the Disney experience, here are some tips for navigating Disney’s amenities and planning tools to get the most out of your trip—and maximize your time.
Learn from Other Visitors
If you do not like to plan things independently, there’s a resource for that. Visitors to Disney Parks have created planDisney, a digital guide to help families with members of all ages and relationships craft the trip that’s right for them.
In this guide, panelists use their personal experiences and platforms like the Disney Parks blog to provide accurate and customized information to different family setups and friend groups.
Some of the most thoughtful resources panelists advise visitors about are baby care centers—which are available at all four parks—stroller rentals, the list of restaurants where young children can eat free and the locations and availability of transportation around the park and to and from attractions and lodging.
There is also Rider Switch, which allows a complete experience for families with children too short to ride.
“If you have little ones and you want to ride some attractions, too, then your little ones can stay behind with another adult while you go ride and live your best life,” says panelist LeAndra Lalanne about Rider Switch. “You can then get off the attraction and switch with another adult, and then they can ride.”
Save Time with Lodging and Transportation
If you are tight on time and want to be as close to the magic as you can with access to transportation, Disney Resorts Collection hotels are in close proximity to all four theme parks and have multiple transportation options, including the Skyliner, boats and shuttle buses. These hotels also have swimming pools and splash pads that stay open late into the evening, as well as arcades, shopping and dining options.
The rooms, ranging from small to suites with kitchenettes, are character-themed, and for families who prioritize photo opportunities, there are multiple options on the grounds.
Some of the hotels offer early entry into the parks, which is key for parks with wildly popular attractions like Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars experiences, Magic Kingdom’s TRON Lightcycle and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. If Disney resorts aren’t within your budget, there are other motels and hotels within several miles of the parks.
Keep Track of Photos
While meeting princesses, Disney icons and beloved movie characters can be exciting for the whole family, remembering to snap photos—and ensure no family member is missed—can be difficult in the rush of a busy day.
With Disney’s PhotoPass, you can keep track of ride photos and photos taken by Disney cast members who have cameras. A tap of your MagicBand or pass will save the photos to your account, and PhotoPass will keep your easy-to-download images and videos for 45 days post-vacation.
Avoid Long Waits
Parkgoers can sign up for virtual queues for newer attractions, allowing them to continue enjoying their park experience while waiting for the ride. For rides without a virtual queue, the additional purchase of Lightning Lanes gives faster access to popular rides by allowing you to stand in a shorter line. The time saved using this feature makes it possible to enjoy attractions your visit might not otherwise permit.
Don’t Miss Out
Families with younger children likely won’t want to miss Disney Parks’ Magic Kingdom.
It’s where the most beloved characters live, and it’s home to iconic features like Cinderella’s castle, where an evening firework show takes place, and rides like the Mad Tea Party and Dumbo the Flying Elephant, which are timeless staples.
But there is more to offer for all ages at Disney’s other three magical theme parks. Here are some reasons to add them to your itinerary:
Hollywood Studios puts you in the scenes of your favorite Disney movies and TV shows, with spotlights on Toy Story, Disney Jr. and Star Wars. The park includes epic rollercoasters and entertainment experiences. In the evening, families can venture to the amphitheater and be entertained by Mickey and all of the Disney characters for the light spectacular, Fantasmic!
Animal Kingdom has real animals you can see up close in an African-style safari. There are interactive shows like Festival of the Lion King and high-flying ride simulations like Avatar Flight of Passage. This park is also home to the Tree of Life, and Disney cast members are readily available to capture your photo at this landmark.
Epcot is home to year-round festivals and experiences from across the world. Venture to different countries and experience their cultures and movie theme attractions, like Frozen Ever After in Norway and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France.
Epcot Vice President Kartika Rodriguez says this park also has many sensory experiences for kids who might be too short for rides.
“One of my favorites for [young kids] to see is the land boat ride [where] they get to learn about the land and understand how things are grown in food,” she says. “[The] aquarium is very, very popular. We also have Pixar short films, and then there’s Journey Imagination, which is a classic.”
Disney’s parks also have experiences intended for adults. Beyond thrill rides, there is also a wide variety of food and alcoholic beverage options, including a station where rum can be added to your Dole Whip at Animal Kingdom.
Don’t Lose Important Items
When planning a long-distance trip with multiple family members, it’s easy for things to go sideways when you’re in a rush—with lost keys, tickets or parking spots or missed show or ride times.
To keep everything together in one place, download the My Disney Experience app, an interactive resource that allows you to store your tickets, create a schedule, make dining and experience reservations, sign up for virtual ride queues, check the wait time on rides and even skip the retail lines by scanning and checking out merchandise.
It can serve as your hotel key and help you find your car, leave positive feedback for cast members and chat with Disney reps for assistance. You can also find your photos on the app if you use the PhotoPass option.
Here’s to a magical trip! All that’s left to do is pack your bags and get ready for a memorable time with your loved ones.
