Are you a Disney World first-timer eagerly anticipating your very first trip to the magical realm of Mickey and friends? Well, get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure that crosses 4 theme parks, 2 waterparks, a mega shopping/dining complex and myriad recreation activities. Whether you’re a lifelong fan finally making your dream come true or someone who has just discovered the magic, this blog is your ultimate companion to ensure that your first trip to Disney World becomes an extraordinary experience that you’ll cherish forever.
From where to stay, what tickets to buy and other necessary tidbits of information, these are the vacation planning tips you need to know when planning your first trip to Disney World.
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There Are Just So Many of Them: Selecting Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Disney World
Disney World has over 25 onsite resorts and vacation club villas where Disney World first-timers can stay. In addition, there are many offsite hotels near Disney World that can be an option for your trip, including well-known chains, such as Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott.
Deciding whether you will stay at an onsite resort, such as Disney’s Caribbean Beach or Animal Kingdom Lodge, instead of nearby accommodations comes down to a few basic considerations: convenience and cost.
Many Disney World first timers think that the cost of a Disney Resort is out of budget. In reality, Disney hotels cover a broad range of prices from under $200 a night (depending on the season) to over $1,000 a night.
With options for multiple budgets, selecting whether you will stay onsite or off comes down to the perks and advantages of each.
H3 Advantages of Staying Onsite at a Disney World Resort Hotel
To encourage vacationers to stay with them, Disney offers a number of perks to guests who do so. We recommend that Disney World first timers stay onsite to take advantage of the following advantages:
- Early Theme Park Entry: Guests of Disney resorts are allowed to entered one theme park a day a half hour before posted opening. It might not sound like much, but it’s definitely enough time to experience an attraction or two with little to no wait. For more information on how a Disney World first time can use this perk to your advantage, be sure to read our blog on Early Theme Park Entry.
- Early booking of Genie+: When you stay at a Disney World hotel, you can make your first Genie+ reservation as early as 7:00 am, giving you a jump on travelers who stay offsite. Genie+ allows you to reserve a spot in an expedited queue to experience attractions with little to no wait. More on this in a minute.
- Complimentary transportation: By staying at a Disney resort, you can take advantage of Disney World transportation. Options include buses, watercraft, the monorail and the Skyliner. While not every type of transporation is available at every resort, you can rest assured that there is a vehicle available to convey your family efficiently from your hotel to the parks and back again.
- Early Advanced Dining Reservations: Guests staying with Disney are able to book advanced dining reservations beginning 60 days before arrival for the length of their stay. Vacationers who stay elsewhere can make reservations 60 days ahead of each day of their stay. If you’re looking to book a character meal or popular restaurant and staying offsite, this could mean logging in at 6:00 am 60 days before each day of your vacation to try for open spots.
- Mid-day Breaks: Staying at a Disney resort makes it easier to duck out of the parks to take an afternoon break or dip in the pool. You won’t have to worry about finding your car in the lot, getting into a hot vehicle and navigating the Florida traffic back to your hotel, or even waiting for infrequent offsite shuttles. Most Disney resorts are located in quick proximity to the parks, letting you get to your nap a little faster.
- Free Parking: Guests may park for free at a Disney World resort, while many area accommodations charge parking fees.
- Disney Bubble: Most guests agree that going from your resort to the parks and back again, using Disney transportation, helps to keep you in a bubble of enchantment and extends the magic of the parks throughout your stay.
Cons of Staying Onsite at a Disney World Resort
Most guests vastly prefer staying at a Disney World resort over offsite accommodations, since the long list of amenities outweigh most other concerns. However, there are always drawbacks to anything, and Disney resorts are no exceptions. Here are a few of the disadvantages most commonly cited by travelers:
- Hard to Book Last Minute: Depending on when you want to visit, it may be hard to find accommodations at a Disney World resort last minute. Some of the most popular accommodations will easily book up during peak travel seasons.
- Seclusion: This goes along with the Disney bubble mentioned above as a perk. While many guests love the immersion of the Disney experience, some guests have felt isolated from reality and confined to Disney property. If this is a concern, we suggest renting a car and driving offsite for meals or to visit some of the local attractions.
- Limited Restaurant Selection: While most Disney resorts do offer at least a few table service and quick service dining locations, guests may find the variety lacking or not to their taste. That means eating every meal in the parks, even if you plan to spend a day poolside at your hotel. Again, renting a car or even dialing up a Lyft rideshare can provide the opportunity to travel offsite for meals. Door Dash is also an option.
Staying at a Non-Disney Property
While the list of perks associated with a Disney World resort stay can definitely make your vacation more enjoyable, there are perks of staying at an offsite location for some guests:
- Loyalty Points: Guests who participate in hotel loyalty programs can earn or use points by staying at one of the nearby hotel chains. This is often a tremendous money saver for frequent business travelers who earn points when traveling the globe on the company dime.
- Larger Accommodations: Some offsite hotels offer suites for larger groups traveling together. Additionally, there are many homes for rent in the area that can accommodate large groups.
Cons of Staying Onsite at a Non-Disney Hotel
Missing the perks associated with an onsite Disney hotel stay is probably the biggest disadvantage of staying offsite, but here are a few other factors to consider:
- Extra fees: Many hotels situated outside Disney boundaries assess an additional per-day resort fee as well as fees for parking a car. Others charge you to use their shuttle service to the parks. When comparing rates between onsite and offsite properties, make sure you understand all of the ancillary fees the property charges, as these could easily make your nightly rate far higher than you originally anticipate.
- Less convenient travel: When staying offsite, you’ll be required to book a spot on the hotel’s shuttle to the park or drive a car and pay for parking. Travel times may also be longer, as hotels are farther away and shuttles arrive and depart at less frequent intervals.
Planning the Best Time to Visit Disney World for First Timers
Many Disney World first-timers are lured into a Disney World vacation by the glitz and glam of a holiday visit. However, the week between Christmas and New Years or Thanksgiving week may be one of the most crowded times to visit. For that reason, some travelers will avoid these weeks, but high crowds don’t necessarily mean a bad time. We know people who visit every year the week of Christmas and love it.
The important thing to think about is what makes a good experience for you, and that means looking at 2 primary factors: weather and crowds.
Sun-lovers and those who thrive in heat will enjoy the summer when temperatures can reach into the 90s. If melting under a blanket of humidity isn’t your thing, consider the months of October or November.
While many Disney World first timers might consider winter for their first trip to Disney World to escape the grip of snow and ice common to northern climates, be advised that Florida temperatures can dip into the 40s during the day. It isn’t common, and usually won’t last long, but if you only plan a short stay, you might spend a significant portion of it wearing a coat.
If you’re hoping to avoid the most crowded days in the parks, skip weekends, school breaks or holidays. Since many people have time off of work or school, this is when the largest number of travelers visit the parks.
Higher crowds will often equate to higher ticket and hotel pricing, so keep that in mind when you plan your first trip to Disney World.
Understand Your Ticket Options
When planning your first trip to Disney World, it’s important to understand how Disney World tickets are priced and sold. Theme park tickets come in 3 basic varieties: Base ticket, park hopper and park hopper plus.
A base ticket will allow you to visit one park per day, while a park hopper ticket expands your horizons and lets you visit multiple parks in a single day. If your trip is short, and you want to be able to hit everything, this may be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you plan to spend most of your time visiting just one or 2 parks, you probably won’t need the park hopper flexibility.
A park hopper plus ticket boosts the perks of a park hopper by adding additional experiences, such as visits to a water park. To compare ticket options, read our guide to Disney World tickets.
In addition to these basic tickets, Disney may from time to time offer specially discounted tickets to Florida residents, members of the military or Disney Vacation Club members. During the summer of 2023, a discounted 4-day ticket is even being offered to the general public. With this special offer, guests can visit one park per day for 4 days and pay only $396 per adult. This is a great deal for Disney World first timers who don’t mind a shorter stay.
The second thing to decide when purchasing your tickets on a first trip to Disney World is whether you will bundle them into a package or buy them separately. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, a package makes a lot of sense.
For one thing, you will only be required to drop a $200 deposit when reserving your package. The final balance is not due until 30 days before arrival.
When booking hotel and tickets separately, you’ll be asked to leave a hotel deposit equal to one night’s stay when reserving your room and pay for the total cost of your tickets when purchased.
Package reservations also allow you to pay for your vacation over time. This budgeting flexibility is a boon to many first timers visiting Disney World, since they can set up a convenient payment plan instead of withdrawing funds all at once.
Your First Trip to Disney World: How Will You Get There?
When traveling to central Florida, guests will either drive from their home location or fly. Both have advantages and disadvantages that worth considering.
Driving the Open Road
If you’re a road tripper or just love the feel of the open road beneath your tires, driving to Disney World might seem like a no brainer. However, you’ll want to take the following into considerating before loading up your car:
- Tolls are common in central Florida and can add up as you make your way to Disney World. While most roads have eliminated toll booths in favor of overhead gantries, you will spend time waiting in line to pay your fees where this isn’t the case. You may also receive quite a shock when you open your mail on your return home and receive a bill from the state of Florida for your tolls.
- Traffic and congestion are also common on the roads around Disney World. Be prepared for frequent stop and start traffic patterns as you get closer to the parks.
Hopping a Plane to Disney World
While flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) or Sanford Airport (SFB) is certainly the easiest way to reach central Florida if you live more than a few hours away, there are some things you’ll want to know before buying your tickets and heading out on your first trip to Disney World.
- Finding the best price: We are often asked how to find the best price when booking airfare. Our advice is to take the same approach as we do ourselves. Go to Google Flights and look up prices for your travel dates. Make sure to look at round trip and one way flights separately, as you can sometimes save money by booking your outbound and return flights as stand alone tickets.
Next, take note of the prices for the most advantageous flight times and layover combinations. Then, set an alert for these flights. Google will then email you when prices rise or fall. Monitor these fluctuations over time and when you see a strong dip in the price, grab it.
- Beware the overnight flight: With the rise of flight comparison tools like Google Flights, many travelers jump at a bargain basement price only to find out that they have a lengthy layover of several hours or more. We’ve seen flights that leave in the morning on one day and don’t arrive until the afternoon on the next day. That’s a lot of time to sit in an airport in anticipation of your first trip to Disney World. When booking, be sure you’re looking at flight details as well as price.
- The maze that is MCO: When flying into Orlando International Airport, your flight will land at one of the terminal wings. To reach baggage claim, you’ll need to take a tram. It’s simple enough to do if you follow the signs to baggage claim, but first time flyers may be a little thrown off when their trail ends in a holding area in front of the tram doors. If this happens, don’t be alarmed. Simply wait for the next tram to arrive and hop on. When you get off, there will be more signs guiding you to a location to pick up your bags.
- Think about airport transfers: If you’re flying into either Orlando or Sanfield airports, you’ll need transportation from the airport to your hotel. Unless you plan to order an Uber or Lyft, you’re better off booking these services before you leave home. Check out our complete guide to airport transportation to learn more about your options.
- Watch out for Terminal C: If you’re flying into Orlando, international flights, as well as a small number of domestic flights, will arrive at terminal C. While this newest terminal is spacious and beautiful, it’s also not connected to the main terminals where ground transportation is located. To reach car rental counters and hotel shuttles, you’ll need to take a train over to the main terminals. You’ll find plenty of signage to guide you, so this is more a minor inconvenience than a major hassle.
- Leave plenty of time to make your flight: Check-in and security lines at Orlando International airport can be quite lengthy. In May of 2022, we waited over an hour to check bags for a Southwest flight departing early in the morning, since no separate line was being offered to passengers who paid the additional price for a Business Select fare. We recommend arriving 2 hours before your scheduled departure, particularly if you are leaving for home early in the morning or late afternoon or evening. These are 2 of the most popular times for flights.
Disney World First Timers May Benefit from Genie+
If it it’s you’re first trip to Disney World, there will be an unbelievable number of things you’ll want to see and do. From rides, to parades, shows and nighttime spectaculars, you’ll want to experience it all.
As a result, many Disney World first timers ask the same question. How will I fit it all in?
If you’re planning a trip of 6-7 days, you should easily be able to soak in all the magic, including a nice afternoon or two at your hotel pool. But if you’re planning a shorter trip, you’ll need to maximize every moment. This is where the Genie+ service can be a real ally.
Genie+ lets you skip the regular queue on popular attractions by booking a ride window to enter an expedited queue known as the Lightning Lane. While there is a daily cost to use Genie+, it can be a real time saver.
For more information, be sure to read our Genie+ guide.
MagicBand or MagicMobile, Which Is Best For Disney World First Timers?
A MagicBand is a wrist worn device that holds the key to your Disney World vacation. We find MagicBands to be the easiest and most efficient way to do Disney. Here are some of the things you can do with it:
- Open your Disney World hotel room door
- Swipe to enter Disney World theme parks, without carrying around a separate ticket
- Pay for purchases and meals
- Check in for Advanced Dining Reservations
- Redeem Disney Dining Plan Credits (coming in 2024)
- Enter the Lighting Lane when using Genie+
There is no denying the simplicity of the tap and go convenience of MagicBands, but there is a charge to purchase one. As a result, many guests will stick with MagicMobile.
With MagicMobile, your park tickets are stored in your Apple wallet. You can easily open them to enter parks. Conversely, opening your hotel room or entering the Lightning Lane are done through the My Disney Experience app.
As you can see, the MagicBand experience offers a much simpler functionality and can be a wise investment in your first trip to Disney World. If you do decide to make the leap into MagicBands, be sure to pre-order these before you leave. You should be offered the option when accessing your My Disney Experience account on a computer. Prices are cheaper if you order before you leave.
And By the Way, You’ll Need to Create a My Disney Experience Account
Now that we’ve mentioned it, we’d better explain about this thing called a My Disney Experience account. In short, this is your portal to manage all things Disney, from making park reseration, Advanced Disney Dining Reservation and managing the details of your hotel.
While you can use a computer to create your My Disney Experience Account, once inside the park, you’ll use the My Disney Experience app. Simply install it on your device and sign into your account to make Genie+ reservations, check ride wait times, mobile order food at quick service restaurants and more. The lead guest on a Disney World hotel reservation can even use the app to open their hotel room door.
To learn more about creating an account and linking your reservations, read our guide to My Disney Experience.
How Will You Book Your First Trip to Disney World?
You have options when booking your first trip to Disney. The Disney World website allows you to review accommodations and book yourself. It’s a fairly straightforward process and many travelers take this route to booking their Disney World vacation.
However, Disney World first timers might appreciate the extra guidance and support of a travel agent, particularly one who specializes in Disney travel. There are many advantages to booking this way. For example, when clients book with us, we provide the following services, free of charge:
- Help selecting the right travel dates based on budget and availability as well as the best resort for your party size, budget and preferences.
- Guidance on whether Genie+ is necessary for your trip as well as how and what to book. We’ll even make your first reservation of each day, so you don’t have to rise at 7:00 am.
- Daily planning and itineraries for your trip, so you don’t miss any of the magic.
- Advanced dining reservations made on your behalf. This saves you the early morning wake up call to secure the most popular restaurants. We also have access to automated tools that check for canceled reservations in real time. We can often get you a reservation before your trip, even if there is no availability when your booking window opens.
- Automated payment plans are also available for first-time guests booking a Disney World vacation package or resort reservation. Plans are personalized to your needs. You pick the frequency of payments, and we set it up so funds are paid using your method of choice. You don’t ever have to worry about missing a payment.
- Ongoing support with monthly emails and handouts leading up to your trip, so you know what to expect when you arrive.
While it’s up to you how you book your first trip to Disney, working with a travel agent can set you off on the right foot and provide you with advice and guidance along the way.
IMPORTANT TIP: You should never pay more than Disney’s published prices when booking with a travel agent.
While some agents may need to assess a planning fee when taking care of non-commissionable travel services, your agent shouldn’t be charging you more than Disney prices for hotel accommodations or tickets. If you encounter one who does, we recommend seeking another travel planner.
With decades of experience in hand, we provide customized guidance, cutting through the confusion with clear explanations and actionable tips. We’ll help you create the best experience, with recommendations and travel planning advice based on the trip you want to have and the memories you want to make.
As travel agents with Mickey World Travel, we at Seconds to Go can take the fuss out of a Disney World vacation. Request your free Disney World vacation quote today or email kathleen@mickeyworldtravel.com!
Arriving at Your Disney World Hotel: What First Timers Should Know
Arriving at your Disney World hotel for the first time is an exciting experience. If you’re wondering what will happen when you get there, keep reading.
If you rent a car and drive to your Disney World hotel, or take an Uber or Lyft, be prepared to be stopped at a security gate. You’ll also need to have a quick chat with the security guard who will ask to scan your MagicBand or to see other evidence of your hotel reservation, so it’s wise to have documentation ready. Once this step is cleared, the gate will lift, and you’ll be invited to drive through.
You can either find a parking space in the lot and walk to the lobby with your bags or pull up to the lobby and unload them there. Parking is free for guests of the resort.
If you take a shuttle bus to the resort, you won’t be required to produce documentation related to your stay at the security gate. Your driver will simply pull up to the lobby of the hotel and let you off. He or she will also retrieve any luggage you have stowed under the bus for you.
Checking in at Your Disney World Resort Hotel
Once you’ve gathered your bags, head on into the lobby of your hotel. A friendly cast member will be waiting here to assist you. You’ll need to provide the name of the guest who holds your hotel booking, often called the lead guest. This person may also be asked to show identification, so no one else fraudulently takes over your reservation.
If you’re traveling with little ones, you’ll usually find a cozy sitting area equipped with activities. A television is usually playing classic Disney films, to distract children from the tediousness of waiting.
Once the cast member at the desk has located your reservation, they will see if your room is ready. If not, you may have to wait for a bit, or the cast member may offer you another room. Be sure to ask about the pros and cons of the new location over the room originally assigned. If it’s far from the lobby, in a noisy location or on a top floor when you prefer ground floor, you may want to wait for your room to be ready.
My Room Isn’t Ready, Now What?
Established checkin at most Disney World resorts occurs between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. While rooms are often ready before then, you may arrive at your hotel and find your accommodations are still being cleaned and prepared.
Fortunately, there is no need to sit around and wait. You can easily explore your resort, grab a bite to eat or even head over to the parks by dropping your luggage with bell services. A friendly cast member will collect your bags and provide you with a ticket. Make sure you note how many bags are written on the card and check that it aligns with the number of bags you’ve left in the care of bell services.
Then head off on your adventure. Once you’re in your room, simply call bell services and ask them to deliver your bags. Keep in mind that it is customary, though not required, to tip the person who delivers your bags.
Should I Use Online Checkin on My First Trip to Disney World?
We usually recommend that Disney World first timers don’t utilize the online checkin option available through My Disney Experience, and check in at the resort instead.
When you use online check-in, you will be texted a room number as your accommodations become ready. You may then visit your room at any time.
However, when you check in at the resort, available cast members will provide you with a lot of useful information about your hotel, including the shortest path to your room. If you have luggage with you, and your room is far away, you can also receive assistance getting your bags to that area of the resort.
By checking in at the lobby front desk, you can also ask any questions that you might have, such as how late the pools stay open, where to grab the best cocktail or takeout and how to order Door Dash or Uber Eats.
Arriving at the Parks for the First Time
So, you’ve hopped on the monorail, bus, watercraft or Skyliner at your resort and disembarked at your first Disney World Park. Here’s what you can expect.
Passing the Security Checkpoint
First up is security, where you will be asked to pass through metal detectors. In days of old, you were required to submit to a bag search which created a lot of hassle for guests.
Now you can simply walk through a metal detector with your bag on your shoulder, your back or in your hand. However, if you have an umbrella, sunglass case or anything with metal in your bag, be sure to take it out and hold it in front of you.
The security screening devices are sophisticated enough to identify where any suspicious item is located on your person. If security officials see what it is you’re holding in your hand, you’ll be waved through without further incident. If the item is hidden away in your bag, you’ll have to stop for the dreaded bag search.
The only exception for this rule applies to guests staying at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts and traveling by monorail to Magic Kingdom. Security checkpoints will be located outside the monorail station at your resort and may still require a bag check.
Lining up to Enter the Park
If you’re arriving before the parks open to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry, expect to find lines at many of the turnstiles or guest entry points. If you don’t see anyone standing at a particular location, don’t step up to be the first in line. This entry point may not be manned by cast members that morning, meaning someone will eventually redirect you to another gate, putting you behind other guests who may have arrived after you did.
On the other hand, be sure to keep your eyes on these unmanned entry points. As cast members arrive for the morning, new gates are opened. You can always switch to a new one at this point to take advantage of a shorter line.
If you’re arriving two hours or more after park opening, you likely won’t encounter much of a line to get into the parks.
How Do I Enter a Disney World Theme Park?
Entering parks is a fairly easy process if you have a MagicBand. You’ll simply step up to the entry gate and press your MagicBand against the scanning device. It’s easy to recognize. Just look for a circular device emplazoned with the shape of Mickey’s head.
You’ll then be asked to place a finger on a fingerprint reader. Hold your digit in place until the scanner lights up green, then you are free to enter the park.
After this initial entry, you will simply need to tap your MagicBand and scan your fingerprint simultaneously. At the green light, you are free to enter. Just be sure to remember which digit you used for the initial scan and utilize that print each time.
If you’re using the wallet feature of Disney MagicMobile, have your passes pulled up as you approach the gate. You’ll be asked to scan each one individually and have the appropriate person step up to scan their fingerprint. You’ll need to repeat this process each time you enter a Disney World park.
I’m in! What Should I Do First?
We recommend that Disney World first timers take a few moments to grab a map, usually conveniently located right after you enter the gates. You can also pull up the My Disney Experience app and locate the map function there.
Either way, take a few minutes to locate your first ride or attraction before heading deeper into the parks. With multiple people milling about, it can be hard to get your bearings unless you have an idea of where you are going.
Concluding Thoughts
While these tips will get you started on planning your Disney World vacation, there a number of things you’ll need to consider when taking a first time trip to Disney World. To help, we’ve compiled a number of resources. You’ll find them listed below.
Of course you can always contact us directly with questions at info@secondstogo.net. You can also contact us through our travel agency connections: Kathleen@mickeyworldtravel.com. Either way, we’re happy to help you plan your first trip to Disney World.
More Tips for Disney World First Timers
