Planning Tips for Your Disney World Trip - Start Here!!!

[crazymomof4]

Last time I did this, I felt so prepared, but it's like starting all over again now.....lol

I feel the same. We've been twice since Genie started but I still haven't gotten the hang of it. Used to consider myself a WDW veteran, but now feel like I got demoted to "newb" in many areas of knowledge. I should just toss in the white towel and let my adult kids handle ALL of that nonsense, and just follow them around. My days of tour-guide-mom have come to a close. Can't say I'm sad about that. LOL

 

[Tracey868]

QUESTION- We Came in on Monday- Staying at Beach Club. Going straight to Space 2020 to lounge. Maybe try for ILL for Guardians ???? Or Remi Then we have STk 71 for dinner then have tickets for AH in MK.

Tues- Animal Kingdom day- DO I Genie+ and then do a ILL for FOP or try for VQ???? DO not want rope dope.Hubby has to work till 10 ish

Wed- DoFlower feast during day for Epcot ( do Genie +???) AH at HS at night. I think I can do most rides IN AH (thoughts)

Thurs- MK /. What ever other park will like- then do Disney Spring for late dinner. Thoughts on all this?

Last question when I Genei Plus and get LL can I move the times??

Thanks
Newbie with all this

 

[crazymomof4]

If you're looking for a great summary of some of the changes that have happened since your last visit, this is a great place to start!

If It’s Been a While Since You’ve Been to Disney, Know Before You Go


Other helpful threads to read while planning your visit to the WDW Theme Parks:

Everything Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane

Everything Park Reservations

Everything Early Theme Park Entry

Everything Park Hopping

These threads and many more are pinned to the top, yellow section of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies Board. Please check those out as a great place to start planning your theme park visits.

Also, if you would like help and ask questions about your specific trip, please post these in the, Theme Park Plans sub-forum as there are many here who like to help out and that's where they look to help others with planning with WDW vacations.

Another area you may wish to check out is the, 'Doing the Happy Dance' board and find fellow DISboard members who are travelling the same month you are. Great discussions, suggestions and helpful information is shared in those monthly threads.

Package delivery service is NOT currently available to either the front of parks or resorts.

 

[supamaki]

Trying to figure out a schedule. I have convention tickets so I need to make a reservation still. We have 4 day park hoppers. Will be in Orlando Sat the 4th-leaving Friday the 10th. Friday is not a park day either.
Arriving Saturday May 4th, was gonna go to MGM, but my costume broke and I'm not bringing it, so thinking of bagging it and getting supplies. We're staying off site where there's a full kitchen so need to get some food. Also our flight lands at around noon, so earliest I could get to the parks is probably 2ish. I don't think I want to burn a whole park day starting at 2PM, but this is not set in stone.
We're staying one night at the Swan on the Wednesday 8th to get late night at MK, and EE for AK
Sunday is Epcot
Wednesday is gonna be EE at AK and MK late
Thursday MGM and hop wherever.
I'm trying to squeeze in a day at Universal too so I guess that would have to be Monday or Tuesday.
Any advice is appreciated!

 

[nighttowll]

I feel the same. We've been twice since Genie started but I still haven't gotten the hang of it. Used to consider myself a WDW veteran, but now feel like I got demoted to "newb" in many areas of knowledge. I should just toss in the white towel and let my adult kids handle ALL of that nonsense, and just follow them around. My days of tour-guide-mom have come to a close. Can't say I'm sad about that. LOL

Completely relate. This will be my first trip since Genie+, and its like starting all over again!

 

[Alice Sr.]

I feel the same. We've been twice since Genie started but I still haven't gotten the hang of it. Used to consider myself a WDW veteran, but now feel like I got demoted to "newb" in many areas of knowledge. I should just toss in the white towel and let my adult kids handle ALL of that nonsense, and just follow them around. My days of tour-guide-mom have come to a close. Can't say I'm sad about that. LOL

The same and that's what I did on our last few trips but I just grabbed 5/16 at Jambo for a solo so I'm on a crash course to figure out Genie+.

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

Planning our 2nd "Daddy-Daughter" trip for the end of October 2025. We want to catch both holidays in one trip. Looking to be at the World from Oct 28th to Nov 4th. Staying at All Star Movies. Hoping to do the new Universal park and HHH as well. Can't wait!

 

[FLCA026]

Are there parks that you can you in half a day?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Are there parks that you can you in half a day?

Are you asking if there are parks that take less than a full day to tour or, a park that offers a ticket for a partial day?

We find we don't need a full day to tour AK but others can easily spend a full day there. Some day DHS does not take them a full day but that is not our experience.

There are not any options for partial day tickets. There are tickets for After Hours parties with reduced number of tickets sold but, those tickets are often more than the price of a full day ticket.

 

[FLCA026]

Are you asking if there are parks that take less than a full day to tour or, a park that offers a ticket for a partial day?

We find we don't need a full day to tour AK but others can easily spend a full day there. Some day DHS does not take them a full day but that is not our experience.

There are not any options for partial day tickets. There are tickets for After Hours parties with reduced number of tickets sold but, those tickets are often more than the price of a full day ticket

Yes I meant a park that takes less than a day to tour. Thanks for the info!

 

[nighttowll]

Are there parks that you can you in half a day?

Yes and No.

In general, here’s how much time each park takes if you want to see 75% or more of what is there and stay all day.

MK - 1.5 to 2 days
EPCOT - 1.5 to 2 days
HS - 1 to 1.5 days
AK - .75 to 1 day

Here’s the thing, though, many people don’t want to see it all. They pick out only what interests them or focus solely on main attractions and don’t even realize there are street shows, scavenger hunts, exhibits, and other similar things to explore.

I’ve done trips were we spent 3 days in EPCOT seeing absolutely everything. I also just did a trip where we saw everything we wanted to in 3/4 of the day because the person I was with had more specific preferences.

If you are looking for a half day park, then I recommend looking into AK. It is a half day park for many people. They ride a couple of rides, maybe watch the Lion King, and leave. That’s doable in half a day. If you want to see all the shows, walk the animal trails, visit the petting zoo / art class, eat at a restaurant, or do the Wilderness Explorers booths, you’ll need more time. Personally, we love AK, so it’s never a half day for us, but I know a lot of people feel differently.

 

[FLCA026]

Yes and No.

In general, here’s how much time each park takes if you want to see 75% or more of what is there and stay all day.

MK - 1.5 to 2 days
EPCOT - 1.5 to 2 days
HS - 1 to 1.5 days
AK - .75 to 1 day

Here’s the thing, though, many people don’t want to see it all. They pick out only what interests them or focus solely on main attractions and don’t even realize there are street shows, scavenger hunts, exhibits, and other similar things to explore.

I’ve done trips were we spent 3 days in EPCOT seeing absolutely everything. I also just did a trip where we saw everything we wanted to in 3/4 of the day because the person I was with had more specific preferences.

If you are looking for a half day park, then I recommend looking into AK. It is a half day park for many people. They ride a couple of rides, maybe watch the Lion King, and leave. That’s doable in half a day. If you want to see all the shows, walk the animal trails, visit the petting zoo / art class, eat at a restaurant, or do the Wilderness Explorers booths, you’ll need more time. Personally, we love AK, so it’s never a half day for us, but I know a lot of people feel differently.

We just aren't sure if we should get the park hopper. we are only there for three days. thank you for the information.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We just aren't sure if we should get the park hopper. we are only there for three days. thank you for the information.

Have you visited WDW before? If not, you will likely find there is more than enough for you to enjoy a full day at whatever parks you choose to visit.

It will cost you the same to add the PH now or later (unless there is a ticket increase between when you bought and when you go) so you may wish to go with non-hoppers and add it while there if you wish.

 

[FLCA026]

We just aren't sure if we should get the park hopper. we are only there for three days.

Have you visited WDW before? If not, you will likely find there is more than enough for you to enjoy a full day at whatever parks you choose to visit.

It will cost you the same to add the PH now or later (unless there is a ticket increase between when you bought and when you go) so you may wish to go with non-hoppers and add it while there if you wish.

We haven't been to Disneyworld in a very long time.
ok good to know.

 

[nighttowll]

There will be more than enough to keep you busy at any one park without hopping somewhere else.

The only reason I can see to get the hopper is if you are trying to fit all 4 parks into 3 days or want to get in a few extra hours at a repeat park one night. Since AK closes relatively early and most don’t stay until closing anyway, you can sometimes pair it with a park open late or with a party night, and still get in 6 or more hours at the second park.

 

[FLCA026]

There will be more than enough to keep you busy at any one park without hopping somewhere else.

The only reason I can see to get the hopper is if you are trying to fit all 4 parks into 3 days or want to get in a few extra hours at a repeat park one night. Since AK closes relatively early and most don’t stay until closing anyway, you can sometimes pair it with a park open late or with a party night, and still get in 6 or more hours at the second park.

Yeah maybe we should just do three parks and not the park hopper so we an enjoy those parks and our stay. Especially since we haven't been there in a while. we do have another day that we want to just relax, go to Disney Springs or whatever.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yeah maybe we should just do three parks and not the park hopper so we an enjoy those parks and our stay. Especially since we haven't been there in a while. we do have another day that we want to just relax, go to Disney Springs or whatever.

Have you purchased tickets? If you are looking to potentially visit a 4th day (possibly combine AK + Disney Springs) you may wish to consider the 4-Park Magic Ticket if you’re visiting on or before Sep 22nd.

 

[FLCA026]

Have you purchased tickets? If you are looking to potentially visit a 4th day (possibly combine AK + Disney Springs) you may wish to consider the 4-Park Magic Ticket if you’re visiting on or before Sep 22nd.

We do not have our tickets yet, Still trying to figure out dinners, looking at menus, etc. That is a possibility!

 

[FLCA026]

Funny that you can't get Gene plus with your ticket. you have to wait til 7 days before the trip to purchase it.
At Disneyland, you purchase it with your ticket.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We do not have our tickets yet, Still trying to figure out dinners, looking at menus, etc. That is a possibility!

If I my visiting each park once it is definitely worth considering. I just looked at regular, single 3 day ticket starting Jul 29th ( just grabbed any date) and compared it to one of the 4-Park Magic tickets starting the same day and you can visit all 4 park for only $11 more per ticket!