time travel ride in disney world

Home » Walt Disney World » Attractions

Best Disney World Rides & Attractions Guide (2024)

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: November 23, 2023

• Pinterest 157

Ranking the best rides at Walt Disney World on one list is a truly monumental task. Many readers ask us: “What is the best ride at Disney World?” and with over 100+ attractions around the resort it is an almost impossible question to answer.

That’s where we come in! In this post, we are going to rank every ride at Disney World from worst to best. After all, with such a big choice of attractions to choose from, deciding which ones are must-do and which ones can be skipped can be a hard decision.

A list of the top Disney World rides is also very subjective and varies greatly from guest to guest. Some people are thrill-seekers and the faster and scarier the attractions are the better. Others like to take it slow and a nice relaxing boat ride or dark ride could be their favorite. And when nostalgia kicks in, anything goes.

Further complicating the issue is that Walt Disney World is always building new rides and attractions. As the new ones open up, we will continue to add them to our top rides rankings.

By ranking all the rides at the Magic Kingdom , EPCOT , Hollywood Studios , and the Animal Kingdom , at least you have a guide to go by for all the potential must-do attractions when you visit. These are the attractions you keep coming back to Disney World to ride over and over again!

Before we get started, if you are looking for the best rides at a specific park and not all Walt Disney World, check out these individual attraction guides for each park:

• Best Rides at the Magic Kingdom Guide
• Best Rides at EPCOT Guide
• Best Rides at Hollywood Studios Guide
• Best Rides at the Animal Kingdom Guide
• Best Rides for Toddlers at Disney World

Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest updates on all the newest Disney attractions as well as vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Table of Contents

Walt Disney World Rides Overview

Before we look at our rankings, here are some basic questions that many people ask about Disney World Rides:

How Many Rides are there at Walt Disney World?

Officially there are 53 rides currently at The Walt Disney World Resort. That number includes only actual rides that move and not stage shows or various other attractions that do not move.

If you count up all the rides, attractions, shows, and experiences, there are over 100+ attractions at Disney World.

Which Disney Park has the Best Rides?

This is very subjective and it will depend on your overall list, but in our rankings, it came out that Disney’s Magic Kingdom has the best rides in Walt Disney World. It only has 2 of the top 10 rides but 6 of the top 16. Again having so many more rides helps here.

As a surprise pick, Animal Kingdom was also very close to the top having 3 of the top 8 rides at Disney World. Obviously the fact there are so few attractions in this park speaks to the quality of the ones they do have.

Which Disney Park has the Most Rides?

If we are talking about just sheer numbers, Disney’s Magic Kingdom has the most rides of all the theme parks in Walt Disney World. It has 25 official rides , and 35 attractions, giving it far and away the highest number.

EPCOT has 11 rides, Hollywood Studios has 9, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the fewest amount of rides with only 8.

How Many Rides Can You Ride in a Day at Disney World?

Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to ride every single ride in Walt Disney World in one day. That’s right all 53 in one day. It will take as many as 18 hours, but it can be done.

In fact, over at Parkeology, they have a challenge with official rules that people have actually completed.

What is the Longest Ride at Disney World?

The longest ride at Walt Disney World is the Carousel of Progress, which has a length of 20 minutes and 45 seconds. Since the whole room moves from each scene we are counting this as a ride.

The longest ride with a moving vehicle is Kilimanjaro Safaris in Disney’s Animal Kingdom with a ride time of between 18 and 22 minutes. Exactly how long your ride lasts depends on how fast your driver is.

The shortest ride at Disney World is the Barnstormer in Fantasyland only 1 minute and 3 seconds long.

The longest attraction in Disney World is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular with a run time of approximately 35 minutes.

Our Ranking Factors

As fun as it may sound to rank the best rides at Disney World, it turned out to be a lot more complicated than we thought. There are so many factors when considering the top attractions that it was overwhelming.

Some of the rides at Walt Disney World are amazing, some are good and others are just downright bad and on the level of a standard amusement park. Although we do encourage you to try each attraction at least once, it’s our goal for you not to waste your time with the bad ones as much as possible.

We didn’t use some scientific method with spreadsheets and charts, we went with our gut after our hundreds of visits to Walt Disney World over the years. In our rankings we considered how fun the ride is, re-rideability, storytelling, ride length, theming, thrills, and originality.

We broke down the rides into 4 categories : “You Can Skip These,” “If You Have Time,” “Good Rides,” and “Best of the Best.”

Any rides in the first group we very rarely ride because they just aren’t very good. We do the ones in the second group if we have extra time and we make sure to do all the ones in the last two categories each and every time we visit, some of them multiple times as these are all “must-do.”

We aren’t saying our list is the end-all-be-all, it’s just our opinion of the top Disney World rides and completely subjective. Everyone who reads this will probably have a completely different list, and that’s what makes rankings so fun.

We encourage you to leave your favorite rides in the comments section below, at least your Top 10 so we can see how wrong we are!

Best Rides at Walt Disney World Ranked

Some lists are more strict on what they count as a ride. We chose to use all the attractions considered rides as well as the attractions with audio-animatronic figures or a purposeful infrastructure (think MuppetVision 3D, The American Adventure, and the Country Bear Jamboree).

We left off our list of stage shows with live performers, nighttime shows, character meets, and other experiences.

In the end, we have two bonus lists with the best family rides and best thrill rides in Walt Disney World.

Now let’s get into the actual rankings…

Honorable Mention

Splash mountain.

(UPDATE) – Splash Mountain officially closed on January 23, 2023, and is being replaced by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Late 2024.

Splash Mountain is a classic Disney attraction, one of the best ever built and we had it as high as #3 on this list only a few months ago. However, this ride is now permanently closed and we can’t yet rank its replacement Tiana’s Bayou Adventure until it opens.

It will be using the same general ride system, but there will be a lot of differences between the new theme and the way the attraction is decorated on the interior. We hope that the new ride will be up to the same level of quality as Splash Mountain, but it will be hard to land as high on our list as the original.

Below is what we originally wrote when we had it at #3…

Even though Splash Mountain is based on the controversial 1946 film Song of the South, this remains a guest favorite and one of the pinnacles of Walt Disney Imagineering. It’s actually a log flume ride and dark ride combined into one epic attraction.

It has beloved characters, great storytelling, and one of the best soundtracks of any Disney ride. Not only that, but the big drop at the end is sure to please all the thrill-seekers. I mean is there any bigger build-up waiting for that drop to come throughout the whole ride? “Please don’t fling me in that briar patch!”

Splash Mountain is a must-do on any trip to Walt Disney World and shouldn’t be missed.

“You Can Skip These” Group

63. triceratop spin.

The worst ride at Walt Disney World is TriceraTop Spin. You will see we aren’t that high on any of the spinner rides because they are standard amusement park attractions and nothing special.

TriceraTop Spin happens to be the worst of the group because we hate Dinoland USA where it is located, offering views of an empty asphalt and the closed Primeval Whirl ride. Not exactly a recipe for Disney’s finest.

62. Alien Swirling Saucers

We had high hopes for Alien Swirling Saucers to be something unique in the spinner ride category, but those hopes were quickly dashed a few seconds into our first ride.

It’s a clone of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Disney California Adventure just with a Toy Story theme slapped on. They could have made the special effect much cooler and there was a lot of potential wasted here.

61. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

If you notice a theme, it’s that we aren’t super fond of the spinner rides. We put this one ahead of the previous two just because Adventureland is a cooler backdrop for a ride than the other locations.

If you don’t end up riding it, you aren’t missing much so don’t lose any sleep.

60. The Barnstormer

The Barnstormer is the smallest and worst roller coaster in Walt Disney World. It’s made for kids, so we don’t expect it to be groundbreaking, but it’s only one minute long and not worth the wait it takes to ride.

59. Main Street Vehicles

It’s fun to take a ride down Main Street U.S.A. in these vehicles and they are a trip down memory lane into the turn of the century. They are charming and it’s a nice way to start your morning, but there isn’t much to them so don’t expect big thrills.

58. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Did you know that the Prince Charming Regal Carousel is the oldest ride in Walt Disney World? It was built all the way back in 1917 Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The horses and the painting are beautifully done, but there isn’t much to offer here for a ride experience and it’s pretty standard.

57. Mad Tea Party

This is a tea cup spinning ride, similar to what you can find at any local amusement park. There isn’t much theming going on here except the painted cups.

This was a childhood favorite ride of ours that we no longer can go because it causes severe motion sickness. If you don’t have that problem then jump on and have a ball.

56. Journey Into Imagination with Figment

The original version of Journey Into Imagination was an incredible dark ride with amazing characters, music, and a unique storytelling narrative. This however is not that ride and is a much watered-down version of the original attraction.

We still ride it from time to time, but it’s in dire need of refurbishing, and we hope they do it right the next time.

“If You Have Time” Group

55. astro orbiter.

Another one of the Disney spinner rides and pretty much the same as the rest. You go up, you go down and you spin around and around. Astro Orbiter takes it to a slightly higher notch with thrills since it starts at a high elevation on a platform.

You can get some good views of Tomorrowland and the Magic Kingdom, which are even cooler at night.

54. Tomorrowland Speedway

When I was a kid I loved the Tomorrowland Speedway. However, since they haven’t changed the ride vehicles since then, this ride has gotten pretty bad and is in desperate need of updating. It could be a fun ride, but the cars are underivable 90% of the time.

Small children will still probably have a ball though.

53. Mickey’s PhilharMagic

If you like Disney animation you will enjoy this show, especially if you grew up on the films featured. Some of the animations are a bit dated, but it’s still an entertaining attraction for guests of all ages.

52. Swiss Family Treehouse

Let’s face it, kids love treehouses, and the idea of living in one is even cooler. Of course, most young people have never actually seen the Swiss Family Robinson film, but it’s still a fun walkthrough nonetheless.

51. Dumbo the Flying Elephant

The best of the Disney World spinner rides (which isn’t saying much). This is a class ride that’s been around since the parks’ opening in 1971, though it has gone through some upgrades throughout the years.

The interactive queue is one of the coolest in any park and is a lot of fun for your kids while you are waiting in line. Try riding it at night for a better experience.

50. Liberty Square Riverboat

If you have some time to kill, take a spin around the Rivers of America on the Liberty Square Riverboat. The authentic 47-foot tall, steam-powered paddle wheeler is pretty impressive and it’s like stepping back in time.

It’s not a particularly exciting ride, but it offers some of the best views in the Magic Kingdom and unique photo opportunities you will love.

49. The Seas with Nemo & Friends

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a slow-moving dark ride in The Seas pavilion. It’s a basic re-telling of the Finding Nemo story and mixes in projection effects inside the aquarium.

Kids will think it’s cool, but there isn’t too much special about this ride and it’s pretty run-of-the-mill. This is one example of how not to insert characters into EPCOT.

48. Turtle Talk with Crush

This is a screen-based attraction where guests interact with Crush from Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo. It’s very similar to Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and uses the same incredible technology that allows the interaction you see.

It’s really pretty amazing how they make it work and your kids will be speechless but the effect. It’s also a pretty funny show with some adult humor thrown in.

47. Tom Sawyer Island Rafts

Technically, the rafts you take over to Tom Sawyer Island count as a ride. It’s not a particularly interesting ride and is pretty straightforward. Once you get to the Island though, that is fantastic and you will be immediately thrown back into your childhood and into the adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Take some time here to explore all the areas of the island and to enjoy the relative quiet outside the chaos present in the rest of the park.

46. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

This is a dark ride/game where you join Buzz Lightyear in taking down the evil Emperor Zerg. It’s a lot like a more rudimentary version of Toy Story Mania! and not quite as engaging or fun. The targets and background effects could use some updating.

It’s nice for what it is and it’s always fun to try and beat your previous score and compete against your family and friends. If you don’t have time though, it’s no big deal to skip, make sure to do Toy Story Mania! instead.

45. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

This hybrid attraction/show features a really cool Lightning McQueen audio-animatronic figure, which teaches the audience how to race and that is by far the highlight. The special effects on the wrap-around screen are cool too.

We wouldn’t really call it a must-do attraction, but it’s fun. Fans of the Cars franchise will love it and it’s fun both for kids and adults.

44. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Another one of the only attractions remaining that Walt Disney actually had a hand in creating. In fact, all the audio-animatronics you love so much on other rides, started here in the Enchanted Tiki Room.

The song is catchy and the ride is a piece of Disney history. It’s a must-do for anyone visiting for the first time and a Disney classic.

43. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

This is a typical Fantasyland dark ride featuring Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and all their friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. The basic idea is Winnie the Pooh is having a nightmare and you are there along for the ride.

Some of the effects are neat, but most of them feel a bit cheap and the overall show scenes are not on par with some of the better Disney World dark rides. It’s a fun ride and nice if you are a big Pooh fan but don’t expect anything too grand here.

“Must-Do Rides” Group

This is where the rides at Disney World really start getting good. From here on, we consider all of the following attractions “must-do” on every trip, and some of them you should even do multiple times. Make these your priority and leave out the previous ones if you don’t have time.

42. Mission: SPACE

Depending on how much you enjoy thrills, this could be up toward the top of your rankings or down at the bottom. For us, Mission: SPACE is somewhere in the middle. The ride experience is for sure one of the most unique in Disney World as you are loaded into a space shuttle and it simulates what it feels like to space travel.

The G-forces and sensations it gives you are unreal, but the story is not done very well and the interactivity is basically non-existent. This could be much better with a few changes.

41. Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids is a fun ride, but it’s very disappointing and doesn’t live up to its high potential. It starts off with one of the coolest and most detailed ride queues in Disney World, and that really makes you think you are in for something special.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Sure the big drop is a lot of fun, but the whole ride is so short and it doesn’t do a great job in story-telling either. We still recommend doing it, but taper your expectations.

40. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros 

The Gran Fiesta Tour is a simple boat ride through the pyramid in the Mexico pavilion in EPCOT. It takes you on a journey with Panchito Pistoles and José Carioca in search of Donald Duck. There are no thrills here and the special effects are low-tech, but it is a relaxing ride that lets you soak up some of the Mexican culture.

We wouldn’t be surprised if this is eventually replaced by something Coco -themed, but until then we’ll keep enjoying this EPCOT classic in-between laps around World Showcase during the next festival.

39. The Hall of Presidents

If you are a fan of American history, The Hall of Presidents is for you. This attraction has animatronic figures for each president in United States history and is an impressive display seen together.

This one goes way back and continues to be an incredible feat by Walt Disney Imagineering and it doesn’t get nearly the love it deserves. It’s far more interesting than its reputation leads you to believe and definitely worth doing.

38. Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

This is a basic Disney dark ride based on characters from the Disney animated film, The Little Mermaid . It’s essentially a re-telling of the film in a shortened version and the main plot points in the story are shown.

This is one of the newer dark rides at the Magic Kingdom and overall it’s a pretty good ride. There are some cheesy moments and some, where they could have spent a little more to go the extra mile to take it to the next level. We love the queue and with a few tweaks and imagination, this ride would move up our rankings.

37. Walt Disney World Railroad

It only feels right that there is a ride in the Magic Kingdom based on Walt Disney’s own personal obsession, trains. The Walt Disney World Railroad takes you on a leisurely tour around the outside edges of the park, passing through almost every land on the way.

While not as good as the Disneyland Railroad, we still find the East Coast version highly entertaining and it gives you a connection with the man who was responsible for bringing theme parks to life.

36. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor

The idea behind Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is pure genius. Using a unique screen-based technology, monsters interact with guests in the audience, in a hilarious comedy show that is completely different every time.

If the audience doesn’t participate it can be hit-or-miss, but we find that more times than not the show is “on” and very entertaining.

35. Na’vi River Journey

The Na’vi River Journey is a slow-moving boat ride in Pandora The World of Avatar. We really like this attraction and think it has an incredible environment inside the bioluminescent forest and some of the coolest special effects of any ride. The Shaman of Songs is one of the most impressive animatronic figures anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, it falls just short for us of what it could have been. It’s too short, there is no story, and there is no real point in the ride that really grabs you and pulls you in. It ranks in the middle of the pack for us and could have been much better.

34. “it’s a small world”

Love it or hate it, you knew “it’s a small world was coming up somewhere on our list. We ranked it this high because however much you don’t like it, you can appreciate its importance in the history of Disney rides and the incredible undertaking that went into creating it. That alone makes it one of the top rides.

We think somewhere secretly inside you actually like it, or at least you’ll be singing the song for the rest of the day after riding it.

33. Country Bear Jamboree

A lot of people find the Country Bear Jamboree old-fashioned and boring, and that’s ok, there are flat-out bad opinions out there and we accept that. We find the show extremely witty, clever, and just a downright fun time.

We’d be ok with it getting an upgrade if done tastefully as it’s one of the most iconic shows at Disney World. If you are in the mood for a nostalgic Disney attraction, look no further, the Country Bear Jamboree is for you.

32. Frozen Ever After

Frozen Ever After is located in EPCOT’s Norway pavilion and takes over the space formerly belonging to the Maelstrom ride. It’s been done over with a “Frozen” theme and features your favorite characters like Anna, Else, Olaf, Sven, and more.

We like the special effects here and think Imagineers did a very good job with the limited space given, and the animatronic figures are very impressive. We would have preferred a total overhaul of the ride system as Frozen Ever After uses the existing one, but it’s still a fun ride that fans of the film will love.

31. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

This is the original Star Wars motion simulator and a ride that George Lucas himself actually had a hand in designing. It features randomized missions from all the Star Wars films and puts you right in the middle of the action.

The actual missions and ride experience is arguably better than Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, though the queue and pre-show aren’t quite to that level leaving us to rank Star Tours slightly below it. It does stand the test of time though and remains one of the most popular rides at Disney World.

30. Muppet*Vision 3D

Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppet gang in their latest innovation: “Muppet*Vision.” It’s a 3D show and any fan of the franchise will feel right at home with their classic humor.

The attraction has been around since 1991 and it does feel a little dated (see the outfits on the Disney World guests in the final scene) but we still get a kick out of it and laugh throughout the whole show.

We wish it got more love from younger park-goers because this show is genius and a true masterpiece of creator Jim Henson.

29. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

EPCOT needed to get some more kid-friendly rides in the park, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is the newest one. This is the headliner attraction of the new France pavilion expansion, and guests are led through the beautiful square, past a towering golden Remy fountain on their way to the entrance.

The ride itself is a clone of the version in Walt Disney Studios Park at the Disneyland Paris Resort. The trackless ride system and cute rat cars are the same and only the ride queue is different. We wish Imagineers improved on the Paris version and got around to fixing its flaws, alas, that is not the case.

Don’t get us wrong, this is a fun ride and if you are going with kids or fans of the Ratatouille film, they will love it. To us, it seems like they underperformed slightly here, and we prefer Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway which is a similar experience but done a bit better.

28. Living with the Land

Living with the Land is a slow-moving boat ride in EPCOT and a great example of the park’s “edutainment” mission statement. It explains the balance the human race has with our planet and how we are coming up with new and more efficient ways of cultivating plant life.

It isn’t the most exciting ride and there are no big drops or fast turns, but we don’t care. It features a real working greenhouse that supplies some of EPCOT’s yearly festivals and shows off cutting-edge horticulture techniques. If that sounds boring then so be it. We find Living with the Land a fascinating look into science and entertainment put together.

27. Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise is a classic Disney attraction that goes all the way back to the opening of Disneyland in 1955. It takes you on a trip through some of the world’s most famous jungles where you see dozens of animatronic animals like elephants, crocodiles, lions, gorillas, and more.

While the animals are cool, the real show here is the skippers driving the boats. Sure the one-liners and jokes are corny, but you know you can’t help but laugh anyway. If you get a good captain, this is one of the best experiences at Disney World.

The Jungle Cruise has stood the test of time and the variations in the ride each time make it extremely entertaining and a can’t-miss.

26. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is one of the newest attractions at Walt Disney World and might move up a few spots as time goes on. It’s an interesting ride because it uses some breaking-edge technology to make everything happen.

First, it has trackless vehicles which make the ride very unpredictable not being able to know where you are going next. It also utilizes a new projection mapping technology that fills what are essentially empty rooms, bringing them to life and being able to change scenes at the drop of a hat.

While the new technology is really cool, we like to see more physical show scenes in rides that could use projection mapping to supplement what’s already there. That said, it’s still a great ride and one of the overall most “fun” ones at Disney World.

25. It’s Tough to be a Bug!

It’s Tough to Be a Bug is a 3D show located underneath the Tree of Life and features characters from the Disney-Pixar “A Bug’s Life” franchise. Spiders, ants, stinkbugs, dung beetles, and dozens of other insects take the stage and help show humans what it’s like from their perspective.

The show is full of funny moments and a few surprising gags that will have you on the edge of your seat. Kids will love this show and it’s a way to introduce Disney characters without making it feel forced or out of place.

We love watching the animal carvings on the tree outside and the theater itself is in a really cool location. Definitely a must-do for all age groups.

24. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

The Carousel of Progress is often used for a 20-minute nap and continues to be one of the most underappreciated attractions in Walt Disney World. This classic ride is taken from the 1964 New York World’s Fair and is one of the only rides left that Walt Disney himself had a part in designing.

The attraction is filled with memorable scenes following an American audio-animatronic family from the early 1900s up until our modern day. The jokes are corny, and the last scene needs an upgrade, but it still holds one of the highest nostalgia factors of any ride and is a must-do for all guests.

23. DINOSAUR

DINOSAUR is a dark ride at the Animal Kingdom that brings you back to the time when these majestic beasts roamed the Earth. It’s a motion-simulator ride, very similar to Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland.

This ride is definitely not boring. There are twists and turns, and loud sound effects, most of which happen in the dark. The animatronic dinosaurs are pretty impressive and kids will love them.

Disney pulls off these ambitious show scenes, making you think you’ve traveled back to the pre-historic period. It’s still one of Disney World’s best, just be aware the loud noises might be too much for young children.

“Best of the Best” Group

22. seven dwarfs mine train.

I had a hard time separating the next three rides. They are all roller coasters and to me, it’s really splitting hairs so I went with my own personal favorites. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great attraction, in fact, it’s the first ride in our “Best-of-the-Best” category.

The interactive queue is great, the storytelling elements are wonderful, and it has some of the most impressive in-ride show scenes of any ride. The reason we put it just behind the next two coasters is that it’s a little too tame for us and it’s really short. It’s a fun ride, but thrill-seekers won’t get much from it.

21. Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is undoubtedly one of the most popular rides at Walt Disney World, and long lines start the minute Hollywood Studios opens up. While not the most thrilling ride, the thrills sneak up on your and it’s more intense than you think before riding.

The roller coaster trains are very large, comfortable, and the whole ride is incredibly smooth. We especially love riding Slinky Dog Dash at night, a very underrated experience and much better than during the day.

We wish it included more detailed show scenes and that it was a bit longer, but overall it’s one of our favorites.

20. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is 100% thrills, high speeds, and just a plain, rocking good time! Guests load into a super-stretch limo with backstage passes to an Aerosmith concert but run into traffic on the way which turns out to be no problem whatsoever.

Call us suckers, but jamming out to “Love in an Elevator” while going through a corkscrew loop is one of the coolest Disney World moments we can think of. We bumped it just above Slinky Dog Dash for this reason alone, even if Slinky might be the overall better coaster.

The only reason we don’t rank this higher is that it’s really short and it’s often not worth the long wait time. Still, we love this ride and so will any thrill-seeker.

19. Millennium Falcon : Smugglers Run

We struggled with where to put Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and we settled here in the 20-ish range. The reason we don’t put it up higher is that it’s actually the queue that is the star and it outshines the actual ride experience.

This is all about the build-up to getting on board the iconic Star Wars ship and then when you finally step inside, it’s like a dream come true. The details here are unbelievable, and it really feels like you are walking the halls of the falcon.

The ride experience is cool, and we like the idea of guests taking part, but the flying system is clumsy, and jobs other than pilot are pretty boring. It also could use multiple missions to give it more re-rideability. It’s still one of the best attractions, however, it disappoints slightly from what it could have been.

18. Peter Pan’s Flight

This is the quintessential Fantasyland ride and one of the most popular in the Magic Kingdom. When you think about classic Disney dark rides, Peter Pan’s Flight has to be at the top of the list. It’s just plain iconic.

The beauty of this attraction is in its ride system, an overhead track making it appear as if you are flying over the streets of London and then Neverland. All the Peter Pan characters are in here for fans of the film. Yes, it needs some updating to make it even more incredible, but for an attraction based on a ride system from 1955, it still is a must-do ride at Disney World today.

17. The American Adventure

I can hear it already…”Great Ziggy, another boring attraction for us.” While many would disagree and our own family members enjoy The American Adventure as a great nap time opportunity, we find it to be one of the most gripping and interesting shows in any Disney theme park.

In a nutshell, it’s a brief look into the most important moments in American history, done with a mix of video and elaborate audio-animatronic sets which are extremely impressive.

The American Adventure has stood the test of time and remains one of Walt Disney Imagineering’s greatest feats and one of its top attractions.

16. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Don’t judge us, but we can’t get enough of the PeopleMover. From the outside, it may seem like a “boring ride.” It isn’t fast, there are no sharp curves or loops, but that doesn’t really matter, it’s beautiful in its own way and needs to be appreciated for what it is.

The PeopleMover was designed as a first ride and tour of Tomorrowland, giving guests a glimpse of what’s to come. We love riding it as a way to sit back, relax and do some of the best people-watching and views at the Magic Kingdom.

It’s especially awesome at night, as the last ride before going home since there are no crowds and you can just walk right on. The opportunity to see the Progress City model and go inside Space Mountain are gravy!

15. Test Track

Test Track is a thrill ride taking you to speeds of over 60+ mph, the fastest in Walt Disney World. The idea is to show you what goes into designing a testing a car and it is somewhat educational, in line with EPCOT’s original mission statement.

The pre-show includes an interactive area where you design your own car, before then taking it out for a rigorous performance test. This would be much more interesting if the design actually had some consequence on how the test actually came out.

If we were talking about the original version of Test Track, it would rank even higher on our list, though this one is still one of Disney World’s best rides without a doubt.

14. Toy Story Mania!

Toy Story Mania is basically a hybrid ride and 4D video game, all put together in one shiny package with Toy Story characters. We have to admit, this is our guilty pleasure of Disney World rides, and we go multiple times during every visit hoping to beat our high score.

The nice thing about it is that it has an easy learning curve, and even guests with no video game experience will still have a ball. It also gets the competitive juices flowing in the family (The loser pays for Mickey Ice Cream bars in our family!)

Some think that it’s overrated, but we can think of few rides that have such re-rideability as Toy Story Mania! Even though you will no doubt have an arm cramp after riding, it’s well worth the pain and you’ll find yourself going on again and again.

13. The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is no doubt one of the most popular rides in Disney World and has a faithful following. This slow-moving dark ride is one of the crowning achievements of Walt Disney Imagineering and uses tricks that still amaze guests today.

The Stretching Room is one of the coolest effects in any Disney ride, and this is only one of the dozens of effects you’ll see. It uses a good mix of scary effects, yet at the same time, it uses silly gags to keep it light and fun.

There are an endless amount of theories and books written about the ride, attesting to its iconic status. There is no doubt this is one of the most complex and intricate rides ever created.

12. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

We had a hard time deciding between Big Thunder Mountain and our next coaster since they are both such classic attractions. We went with Big Thunder Mountain here, but the difference is negligible.

Is there anything not to like about a runaway mine train in the Old Wild West that takes you through caverns and an abandoned mining camp? It’s not a scary coaster and is pretty tame compared to some, but it’s all about the theming here, the stunning visuals, and the overall experience.

For the best experience, ride it at night during the fireworks show. You’ll never forget it because it’s “the wildest ride in the wilderness!” 

11. Space Mountain

Space Mountain was the first real thrill ride at Walt Disney World and remains an icon of the resort down to today. Through the eyes of a child, this is the absolute coolest ride. The whole roller coaster is in the dark and you can barely tell when the next turn or drop is coming.

The space theme in the queue and after-show area is awesome, the special effects are great, and the nostalgia factor is undeniable.

Sure it’s rickety, uncomfortable, and makes your head feel like a milkshake when you get off, but we still can’t help but love Space Mountain. We prefer the Disneyland version, but Space Mountain is still a classic.

10. TRON Lightcycle Run

TRON Lightcycle Run is the newest ride and roller coaster, but it’s not surprising that it made our top 10. Think of it as a more updated Space Mountain. It’s definitely the most thrilling ride in the Magic Kingdom, and probably number 2 behind the Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster in sheer thrill factor.

Not only is it the fastest roller coaster that Disney Imagineering has ever designed, but it’s a blast to ride. The ride vehicle is totally new and instead of sitting like a regular coaster, you are riding something similar to a motorbike which gives you an incredible feeling of freedom, almost like you are flying.

What really seals the deal for us though is the incredible atmosphere in and around the attraction. Guests are launched onto The Grid which starts in the Upload Conduit (the huge canopy) outside. It lights up all colors and uses a myriad of special effects as guests whizz by.

Our only knock on TRON is that it’s really short (under 2 minutes long), otherwise we might bump it up even a couple more spots on our list.

9. Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth the ride is located in the iconic geosphere dome of the same name. It’s a classic, slow-moving dark ride that takes you on a trip through time to see the evolution and history of communication and the human race.

It has dozens of audio-animatronics and some of our all-time favorite show scenes in any Disney ride. Just the fact they could put all this into a wonder of engineering is amazing in itself.

Even though it is a bit outdated and could use some upgrades, this is one of the only remaining opening day attractions at EPCOT, and it still holds true to the park’s original mission statement. We cannot visit EPCOT without going on Spaceship Earth and neither should you.

8. Soarin’ Around the World

Soarin’ Around the World is no doubt EPCOT’s best attraction and right near the top in all of Walt Disney World. It’s a flight motion simulator and takes you on a hang-gliding tour to some of the most iconic locations on planet Earth.

Yes, the CGI effects are overdone, but the minor flaws that Soarin’ has are easily made up for by the stunning visuals and epic soundtrack. The one-of-a-kind ride system is also one of Walt Disney Imagineering’s best creations. To get you further immersed in the experience, unique scents from each location are added to the scenes, making it all the more real.

The best part is the flight simulation doesn’t make you sick and just about anyone can ride without any problems. It has great re-rideability and even if you do it hundreds of times, it never gets old.

7. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Even though this is one of the newest attractions in Walt Disney World, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Roller Coaster is rising up our list and already made it into the top 10 which is quite a feat! It’s also our second-favorite roller coaster only behind the next ride on our list.

What makes it so good? Think of this as a mix of Space Mountain and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, taken to the next level.

Cosmic Rewind is a flat-out blast to ride, and we like practically everything about it. The ride system is ultra-smooth and we love the way that the cars rotate with the turns. Going around the corners makes it feel like you are gliding through space. In fact, it’s probably the smoothest coaster we’ve ever been on.

We also LOVE the soundtrack for the ride. There are 6 different songs on the Awesome Mix Tape, so each time you ride it’s like getting a totally different experience. All of them will have you bopping your head and singing along throughout the entire ride.

Cosmic Rewind delivers all the fun you would expect from the Guardians of the Galaxy theme, and from start to finish, there isn’t a moment you won’t have a smile plastered all over your face!

6. Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Expedition Everest is definitely at the top of the list of best roller coasters at Walt Disney World and one of the best in Florida. It may not be the tallest or the fastest, but its mix of gripping storytelling, anticipation, thrills, and suburb execution put it right near the top of the list.

Like any epic Disney ride, the experience starts in the queue, well before you board your train. You are on a hiking expedition in the Himalayas and the “base camp” shows off the Nepalese culture from the architecture, artifacts, and the legend of the mythical Yeti.

The ride itself is a steel coaster and is like an upgraded version of the Big Thunder Mountain coaster. It’s incredibly smooth and though there are no loops or inversions, Everest has plenty of thrills with a backward drop going into a 250° turn at high speeds, and another 80ft forward drop.

While we wish the Yeti animatronic was fully functional , it still doesn’t stop Expedition Everest from being one of the best coaster experiences you will ever have.

5. Kilimanjaro Safaris

If you’ve ever wanted to go on a real African Safari, this is your chance! Kilimanjaro Safaris is as close to that experience as you will get and is a Disney World must-do ride.

To see animals is the reason you go to the Animal Kingdom after all, and there are dozens of species here to see. Lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinoceroses, elephants, and crocodiles are just some of the animals you’ll run into. Some animals like the giraffes will come right up to your vehicle for a close-up.

The expert guides on the tour are also great at explaining all sorts of interesting facts about the animals and keep your attention the whole time. Kilimanjaro Safaris is like a living version of the Jungle Cruise and fulfills Walt Disney’s dream of having an attraction where guests can see live animals up close.

This whole ride is done brilliantly and is one we can do over and over again without ever getting tired of it.

4. Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is the quintessential Disney dark ride and a masterful job of storytelling. Even though this ride is decades old, it continues to captivate generations of guests over and over again.

There are dozens of audio-animatronic figures throughout the ride as it tells a swashbuckling story of pirates invading a port town somewhere in the Caribbean. It mixes adventure, fright, and comedic relief perfectly. It’s so popular that it spawned a wildly successful film franchise.

Pirates is able to set the mood so well and the iconic music will be stuck in your head as you leave. Even though the Magic Kingdom version is the worst version of the ride worldwide, it still lands near the top of our list of best Disney World rides.

3. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

For pure thrill rides, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror might be the best in Disney World. Disney Imagineering did everything right when designing this ride. The fact that from way down on the street you can see other guests plummeting 13 stories before you even get in the queue, sets the stage.

The extreme detail in every room of the queue is unmatched and helps create the eery and spooky mood. All of this makes the spectacular build-up almost unbearable. The “fourth dimension” sequence where your ride vehicle moves back and forth before the drop is great. The randomized drop sequence is also top-notch and you never know you you are going up or down.

The Tower of Terror is a Disney classic and a masterpiece in storytelling. As long as you aren’t terrified of heights, you can’t miss the Tower of Terror!

2. Avatar Flight of Passage

Deciding between the #1 and #2 rides was extremely difficult, but ultimately we decided to put Avatar Flight of Passage in second place. Up until only a couple of years ago, this was our top attraction at Disney World and many people do have it #1.

Flight of Passage is a 3D flight simulator ride and has everything you want. That description doesn’t do it justice. It’s like “ Soarin’ on steroids”, and is truly a life-changing experience. It starts out with an amazing backstory and a great build-up to the attraction, taking you through perhaps the best ride queue in any park.

Did I mention you get to ride a dragon?? Well, really it’s a banshee, but it’s basically Pandora’s version of a dragon. The details here are unbelievable and you can actually feel it breathing beneath you. The visuals are spectacular, the music is amazing, and you actually feel like you are flying!

The whole thing leaves you speechless and makes Flight of Passage right at the top of anyone’s list. If you want to make the case this is the real best ride at Disney World, you won’t get an argument from me.

1. Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance

That means, the overall best ride at Walt Disney World is…Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance . Was there any doubt this is where we were going with the number one position? Some other lists don’t have it as the best attraction just because it’s relatively new. We don’t find that to be a good excuse to deny Rise of the Resistance its rightful place at number 1.

Rise of the Resistance is more than just a ride, it’s an entire experience. What makes it so special is its ability to wow you. It’s an 18-minute adventure that is almost more like being in a film than on a theme park attraction.

It’s the most advanced and ambitious ride ever built with gigantic show scenes that are flat-out mind-blowing. I’ve never had a reaction like that to a ride before and it’s something that must be experienced first-hand.

The only negative is that the ride at times has technical problems due to its extremely ambitious design. It has so many moving parts that at times not all of them are working perfectly. Even so, it remains the most popular ride at Walt Disney World and our personal favorite.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is not only the best ride in Hollywood Studios, but it’s also the best ride in Walt Disney World and absolutely can’t be missed. Read our How to Ride Rise of the Resistance Guide for more info on getting a boarding pass. You DON’T want to miss riding this!

Best Family Rides

Walt Disney World has some of the best family-friendly rides you will find anywhere with dozens that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. After all, you don’t always want a thrill ride, some people like a nice and relaxing ride instead.

Here are the best family rides at Disney World in order:

• Kilimanjaro 
• Soarin’
• Rise of the Resistance
• Toy Stoy Mania!
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• “It’s a small world”
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Frozen Ever After

Best Thrill Rides

While there are other parks in Orlando more dedicated to high-flying, high-speed attractions, Disney World still has a decent amount of thrill rides if you’ve got the need for speed. These include roller coasters, flight simulators, and rides with high drops.

Here are the best thrill rides at Disney World in order:

• Avatar: Flight of Passage
• Tower of  Terror
• Expedition Everest
• TRON Lightcycle Run
• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
• Mission: SPACE
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain (Closed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
• Big Thunder Mountain

Read the full list of Height Requirements at Disney World so you know which ones of these attractions your kids can go on.

New Attractions Coming to Disney World

Just as Walt Disney himself said, the Disney theme parks are never completed, but they are living things and continue to grow and change as time goes by. In fact, Walt Disney World is always adding new attractions for guests to enjoy and for us to add to our list.

The newest rides at Disney World are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle Run . Both of them are incredibly well done and shouldn’t be missed if you are a fan of thrill rides.

There is also the recently opened Moana: Journey of Water in EPCOT, a beautiful walk-through attraction full of interactive water elements.

The list of the rides & attractions currently under construction is:

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)

Surprisingly, there isn’t much being worked on at the moment and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, is the only new ride coming to Disney World, which is in reality a refurbishment of Splash Mountain.

Besides that, there aren’t any confirmed new attractions, but there are still plenty that Disney has teased and that we will be hearing more about shortly.

For a more detailed look at more Disney attractions in the next few years, read our post on the  Best New Rides Coming to Disney World .

How to Avoid Long Lines for Rides at Disney World?

If there is one thing we hate is waiting for hours in queue for an attraction, even if it is a great ride. With so many awesome rides to do at Disney World, saving time by avoiding long lines is crucial.

Here are our best tips to avoid long lines:

Go Early in the Morning –  We always suggest doing this for every theme park at Disney World. By showing up at least 30 minutes before the parks open, it will give you an advantage over most guests and you will be able to do all the best rides right away in the morning before the masses arrive.

Go When the Crowds are Low –  Try planning your trip during a time of the year when crowds are lower. This means avoiding big holidays and going more on weekdays than weekends. To help you out, use our  Disney World Crowd Calendar  to find when there are fewer people in the parks.

Use Genie+  – The Disney theme parks give you the opportunity to skip the lines to your favorite attractions by using the Genie+ service and Lightning Lanes . You can make Genie+ reservations starting each morning at 7:00 am for the park you are visiting that day. The only downside is you have to pay for the service, but it does save you serious time if used right.  ( FastPass+ has been permanently discontinued .)

Make sure to look at the  Disney World Attractions Refurbishment Calendar  while planning your trip to see if any of your favorite attractions are scheduled to be closed while you are there.

There are 53 attractions that are technically classified as rides in Walt Disney World. When you count all the other attractions, shows, and entertainment experiences there are over 100.

If you plan everything perfectly, it’s actually possible to ride all 53 rides at Disney World in one day. It’s not easy and it takes a day when the crowds are low, but it’s possible.

It’s hard to narrow down the list to just one ride, and it depends a lot on personal preference. There are rides for everyone though including thrill rides, roller coasters, dark rides, boat rides, and educational rides.

That finishes our rankings of the best rides at Walt Disney World, we hope you share your favorites with us down below in the comments section.

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the coming future, make sure to read our  Disney World Planning Guide . There you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our rankings of the best rides at Walt Disney World…

• What are your favorite rides?
• What is your Top 10?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

Thursday 21st of December 2023

My favorite ride personally is Toy Story Midway Mania, It's just so fun to play!

George Mells

Saturday 25th of November 2023

This is my third comment on what turned out to be a rerun article. My previous comments still apply. I have not seen the Alien Swirling Saucers ride but I was actually impressed with the coordination of the Mater version at Disneyland. I have to assume that by now that a version of Trump has been added to the Hall of Presidents and wonder home they are keeping it from trying to take over the show. I still regret that my trip to Galaxy's Edge n 2019 was about four months too early to experience "The Rise of the Resistance". But considering all I have read about the Genie+, reservations and Lightning systems I doubt I would enjoy another visit even if the wife would permit it.

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Avatar is the best ride in my opinion! It’s incredible!

Raymond Shaw

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

I agree with all your choices great job. Our first time for Avatar we waited 21/2 hours when we got off my wife and I looked at each other and said at the same time let’s do it again and we did.?love it. Keep up your great job writing ✍️ we are back to Disney World in April hope to ride the new ride in magic kingdom will let you know if we are successful. Until then let the Force be with you.

Nigel Channing

Monday 5th of September 2022

You had me until you disrespected Figment. That purple dragon put Epcot on the map.

All Walt Disney World Ride Lengths (2024): Rides Time Guide

Alexis is a travel blogger and author with lifelong travel experience visiting unique destinations around the US as well as a decade of experience in theme park entertainment and circus arts.

Carousel of Chaos is a collection of travel guides, trip planning resources, historical archives, recipes and other lifestyle content based on amusement attractions and unique US travel destinations.

Similar Posts

Ultimate Virginia Beach Restaurants Guide: Best Eats In The Beach

The ultimate rundown on the best restaurants in Virginia Beach, from town center to the Oceanfront!

Carousel stop: beach eats

The 8 Thrilling Busch Gardens Williamsburg Roller Coasters Ranked

The Busch Gardens Williamsburg roller coasters are thrilling, world-class attractions. But which of Busch Gardens rides are the best? Let’s find out!

Carousel stop: Williamsburg

12 Best Brunch Virginia Beach VA & Top Places For Breakfast

We’re back in Virginia Beach to find the best brunch on the Atlantic coast.

Carousel stop: VB eats

The Top 5 Best Resorts In Williamsburg VA & Discount Deals

Exploring the top five resorts in Williamsburg VA, plus deals on your next stay!

Carousel stop: lazy rivers, movie nights, & happy hour

Hampton VA Hotels: The 5 Best Places To Stay In Hampton Virginia

Buckroe, Phoebus, Fort Monroe–here are the best hotels in Hampton VA! Pet friendly, affordable, and near the Coliseum.

Carousel stop: Hampton VA

The Top 5 Hotels Near Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Looking for the best hotel near Busch Gardens Williamsburg? Look no further than the top 5 in this post!

Carousel stop: World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Pingback: Best Rides At Magic Kingdom Disney World Ranked: 2024 Guide
• Pingback: 100 Magical & Unique Disney Gifts For Adults (2023)

Best Times to Go to Disney World

We all know that Disney World vacations are memorable and magical. But did you know that the season, month, week, and even day you choose can make a big difference in your in-park experience? In addition, the time period you visit will also have an impact on costs and your ability to make  dining and Genie+ reservations . Therefore, the best time to visit Walt Disney World is an important consideration as you book your family vacation.

Deciding when to visit Disney World will depend on variables like crowds, cost, and weather. You should also weigh other aspects like special events, seasonal festivals, and extended park hours. This article highlights the main factors to consider as you plan the best time to visit Disney World. Let’s get started!

Rather speak directly with someone?  (It’s free!)  Contact a Vacationeer today!

Crowds – Best Time to go to Disney World

Walt Disney World is the single most visited vacation resort on the planet. And with an average annual attendance of over 58 million people, you should expect to encounter crowds on any given day of the year. Sorry – this is just a fact. However, there  are  certain times of the year with fewer crowds. So if you think the best time to go to Disney World is when there are fewer people to contend with, here are a few tips.

When is Disney World the most crowded?

Generally, you can expect the crowds to be  higher  during school vacation weeks, holidays, weekends, and the summer season. In particular, the crowds swell around February school vacation week, Spring Break, Thanksgiving week, Christmas, and holiday weekends (i.e., MLK, Memorial Day, and Labor Day).

You can also expect the park to be busy right after a new section/land or attraction opens (such as  Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ). Some parks even have days of the week that are generally better or worse than others (see  Best Days to Go To Magic Kingdom ).

When is Disney World the least crowded?

Disney World theme parks are usually  less crowded  from January 2nd until Presidents’ Day weekend (the third Monday in February), the week following Labor Day until the weekend preceding Thanksgiving week, and the week after Thanksgiving weekend until the weekend before  Christmas  vacation week.

There are also some lighter non-vacation weeks in the late winter/early spring. But it goes without saying that Disney World is less crowded when families are busy with school and work and more crowded during school breaks, holidays, and weekends.

When is the best time to go to Disney World in 2023?

The least crowded times to go to Disney World in 2023 are:

• January 9-14
• January 22 – February 15
• March 31 – April 8
• April 17-30 (weekdays only)
• June Tuesdays-Fridays (only if you must go during summer)
• August 22-31
• September 1 – October 5 Weekdays (except Labor Day)
• October Weekdays (beginning and end of the month)
• November Weekdays (not including Thanksgiving week or Wine & Dine Half Marathon)
• December Weekdays (not including the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

The worst time to go to Disney World is during school vacation weeks, weekends, holidays, and the beginning and middle of the summer season — but if you have school-aged kids (and they’re not homeschooled ), you might be limited in your choices.

Disney theme park tickets are sold via a surge pricing model – ticket prices rise daily as the demand increases, and some parks are more expensive than others. Disney insists that this policy was instituted as a mechanism to even out the crowds throughout the year. But despite this new ticketing model, the normal seasonal patterns remain in play for the most part. So you’ll still need to factor in crowd levels when you’re  planning your Disney Vacation .

Planning a Disney World trip? Need help figuring out the best time to go?

We highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer !

Their  expert Disney travel planners  are frequent Disney World visitors themselves, so they know all about juggling schedules and finding the best times to go. They can help you  find just the right balance  of hotel prices, ticket prices, and crowd levels.

The Vacationeer  provides free help planning your Walt Disney World vacation, and they’ll make all your reservations for you!

And best of all, there are no planning fees!  Their services are completely free  to use!

Plus, you’re  never under any obligation  to book. So contact them today — there’s nothing to lose!

Weather – Best Seasons to go to Disney World

Florida is known as the sunshine state. But while everyone loves the sun, most people dislike the heat and humidity that often accompany the Florida sun. Rain showers and thunderstorms are commonplace at Disney World during the summer months, and there’s even a  remote chance of a hurricane  from June through October. Therefore, we recommend you  pack  an array of cooler and wet clothing items in your luggage because  Disney World weather  can be unpredictable.

That said, Disney World experiences really great weather for most of the year. It’s rarely cold, and snowstorms are unheard of.

As far as weather is concerned, we think the best time to go to Disney World Resort is during the spring and autumn seasons. Temperatures tend to be warm yet quite comfortable for walking around the park. Humidity levels are lower than in the summer, and the UV index remains relatively safe. And for the record, winter isn’t so bad either. Summer is the only season that is routinely unpleasant because of the heat and humidity.

Spring at Disney World

The Spring season is short, but it’s gorgeous this time of the year. With its vibrant flowers and blooming, aromatic trees, spring is a wonderful season to go to Disney World. Low temperatures range up to around 82°F with moderately low rainfall and relative humidity of around 50%. The sun is strong for at least nine hours per day, giving you plenty of daylight hours to enjoy the park.

Autumn at Disney World

The Autumn season is near perfect at Disney World. It, too, is a short season, but it’s well worth a visit during this stretch between Labor Day and Christmas. Granted, the start of fall may be on the warm and humid side as summer drags on, but the rest of this time frame experiences crisp air, mild to warm temps, and lower rainfall. Visitors will still have up to 8 hours of full sunshine. Then evening and nighttime temperatures often drop enough for a jacket or sweater. It’s good to keep in mind Florida’s hurricane season.

Winter at Disney World

Don’t let the name scare you off because winter isn’t so bad at Disney World. In fact, it has quite a few things going for it. The average high temperatures are typically in the low 70s and rainfall is less common than in other seasons. In addition, humidity is usually around 59% and the evenings cool off considerably. However, winter suffers from a few drawbacks, including fewer daylight hours, less incentive to jump in the pool because of the cooler temperatures, and the park grounds aren’t as lush and beautiful.

Summer at Disney World

Walt Disney World’s summer is its longest season because it extends from May through September. On the surface, it may seem like the perfect time to visit the park. School is out, there are roughly 14 sunlight hours each day, and the theme parks usually have longer hours and more entertainment offerings. But the major downside is the heat. Mid-day temperatures often reach over 90 degrees and some days are even over 100 or 110! High humidity is also a factor, with an average of 61%. Then there’s the rainfall; Disney’s average precipitation of 6.4″ during the summer months, and July and August normally experience 13 days of rainfall. Yet if pools, water parks, longer park hours, and more entertainment are your top priorities, summer may be the best time to visit Disney if you don’t mind the summer crowds.

Cost – Cheapest Time to go to Disney World

When is the Cheapest Time to go to Disney World?

Generally speaking, the cheapest time to go to Disney World is when the park is least crowded. This is often over the winter months and other slow times of the year and during weekdays. Disney World often runs special promotions and discounted vacation packages during these slow times in an effort to entice more visitors. The most expensive time to visit Disney World is over the warmer-weather months, during school vacation weeks, holiday weeks, and weekends, or when Disney is hosting a popular event or festival.

Disney Theme Park Ticket and Hotel Prices

The cost of Disney World vacation packages fluctuates throughout the year. As far as nightly Disney World Resort Hotel pricing goes, the hotel rates increase during peak periods (like school vacations and holidays) and decrease during the slower, off-peak times of the year. This variable pricing policy is also in effect for theme park tickets. As demand for tickets increases, the price of theme park tickets also increases. As a result, more popular parks (or at least parks with smaller capacity and higher demand) cost a bit more than larger parks or those with lower demand. The advantage of this policy is that crowds are more evenly dispersed throughout the year (or that’s Disney’s stated reasoning, at least).

Disney World Theme Park Ticket Tiers

When Disney first introduced its variable ticket pricing model, there were three tiers of single-day theme park tickets: value, regular, and peak days. That seems like a distant memory, as tickets now have several price points and vary from park to park.

Starting Price for a 1-day Disney World theme park ticket in 2023. Exact price will vary based on which park is selected.

2023 base ticket (one day at one theme park) price ranges:

• Animal Kingdom: $109-$159
• EPCOT: $114-$179
• Hollywood Studios: $124-$179
• Magic Kingdom: $124-$189

Pick your days wisely, and you will save money! It’s always best to go to Disney World when there are fewer crowds. You usually pay less for theme park tickets and hotel stays, and have  shorter lines .

Multi-day theme park tickets work differently than single-day tickets. With multi-day tickets, the more days you purchase, the less you will pay  per day .

2023 multi-day ticket (one park per day) prices:

• 2-Day Ticket: $112+ per day
• 3-Day Ticket: $114+ per day
• 4-Day Ticket: $114+ per day
• 5-Day Ticket: $99+ per day
• 6-Day Ticket: $85+ per day
• 7-Day Ticket: $75+ per day
• 8-Day Ticket: $70+ per day
• 9-Day Ticket: $65+ per day
• 10-Day Ticket: $60+ per day

You might notice that the per-day pricing drops significantly at the five-day mark.

Of course, dining and lodging costs will greatly add to your overall expenses. So an extended stay – just to spend less per day on tickets – is not a money-saving strategy. However, it’s important to note this theme park ticket policy because most people spend more than a single day at Disney parks.

If you can afford it, we recommend Visiting Disney World for an entire week and experiencing at least one day at each theme park. There is so much to see and do!

Disney World Ticket Prices for Children

Disney world hotel prices.

There are more than two dozen official Disney resort hotels on the property. Walt Disney World Resorts are categorized into three tiers: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.  Disney Value Resorts  are the least expensive tier, followed by  Disney Moderate Resorts  as the middle tier, and  Disney Deluxe Resorts  as the most exclusive and costly.

Like theme park tickets, hotel prices vary based on the time of year. With so many variables in play — room type, location within the resort, location of the resort itself, view from the room, amenities, time of year, and even day of the week — it’s very difficult to provide a single price range for a stay at a Disney Resort Hotel. But the same general rules we give for tickets apply to hotels, too; if it’s a more popular time of year, hotel prices will be higher.

All-Star Sports Resort – Standard Room – 2023 Base Rate

The graph above shows sample starting prices for a stay in a Standard Room at All Star Sports (a Disney Value Resort). Those regular spikes you see represent increased prices around every weekend of the year. You can also see that the prices, in general, are higher during the more popular times of year and lower during the less-crowded times. You’ll pay $113  on January 3rd, 2023; the same room costs  $255  on December 25th, 2023.

This pricing model is generally in place at all Disney Resorts. An Outer Building Theme Park View room at the Grand Floridian (a Disney Deluxe resort) costs $827  on January 3 and  $1,449  on December 25. You can literally save hundreds of dollars per night just by changing your dates; even changing from a weekend to a weekday might save you between $50 and $100.

Perks of Staying at Disney Resort Hotels

Staying at any one of Disney’s hotels is more convenient because of the free  Disney World transportation  to and from the parks. It’s also more cost-effective when you consider all of the extra perks you will receive, and you’ll be about to make your dining and  Individual Lightning Lane  reservations before non-Disney guests. You can also create a  Disney payment plan  to pay off your trip in installments.

There are tons of non-Disney resort hotels in the Orlando area. Most of them are adequate and cheaper than many of Disney’s offerings. However, when you add up all of the perks offered to Disney Resort guests, we think the benefits greatly outweigh the extra cost. Stay at a Disney World Resort and be close to the action! See our  Disney World Resorts Comparison  page for suggestions.

Confused about Prices? The Vacationeer Can Help!

Holiday Festivals and Seasonal Events

For many people, the best time to go to Disney World is during the holiday season. This is the time of year when the park dazzles with decorations, and there is holiday cheer in the air.  Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party  kicks things off in August – October. Then  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party  takes over for November and December. Popular non-holiday events include the extensive  Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival  and the adult-friendly  Epcot International Food & Wine Festival . Let’s look at what each month offers at Disney World.

January may be the quietest month of the year at Disney World because the holiday vacation crowds are gone, and cool temperatures keep people away. The high temperatures only reach 70 degrees during January. If you don’t mind the frosty early mornings and chilly evening temperatures – and the fact that at least one of  Disney’s water parks  might be closed – then January may be the best time to go to Disney World. The pools are still heated, and the cheaper off-season rates and shorter lines make them worthy of your consideration.

January events include:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
• EPCOT  International Festival of the Arts

With the exception of Presidents’ Day week, Disney World in February usually experiences a rather slow month. And like January, at least one of Disney’s two water parks usually remains closed during this time. In addition, off-peak pricing is in effect for non-holiday weeks. If crowds are a major concern, then February is a decent choice so long as you avoid the school vacation week (Presidents’ Day week). February might lack some of the beauty and excitement that other months at the park have — but it’s also a favorite month for locals precisely because of lower crowds and cooler weather.

February events include:

• Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon weekend
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

March experiences heavier crowds because of Spring Break, Bike Week, and Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. However, the weather begins to rise in March, and the water parks re-open during the first half of the month.

March events include:

• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

April at Walt Disney World is characterized by heavier Spring break crowds and milder temperatures. Spring Break season and the Easter holiday are especially popular times to visit Disney World, so we would avoid these periods if possible. Temperatures rise to the mid-80s, and the flowers and trees are in full-bloom mode.

April events include:

• RunDisney  Springtime Surprise weekend

Crowds moderate during the month of May because the spring break season is over, and there are no “major” holidays or school vacations. Memorial Day causes a brief blip in crowd levels but the impact is nowhere near the levels seen at Christmas or even President’s Day. Although it’s spring and the flowers are still in full bloom, the weather feels more like summer, with temps reaching into the 90s. Thunderstorms are common occurrences during the afternoon.

May events include:

The summer season kicks off in June . While the first half of the month sees fewer crowds, the latter half experiences heavy traffic as students are off on summer break. Single-day ticket prices increase as the crowds swell, but the parks have extended hours and more shows and activities to even out the lines. June has long days of sunshine and hot weather, so come prepared with your sunscreen. A great time of the year to visit the water parks! (See our  Blizzard Beach vs. Typhoon Lagoon  page)

June events include:

Most people associate July with family vacations, so it’s no surprise that it is Disney’s peak month. Florida is sizzling hot during July, and temperatures can reach 100+ during the afternoon with lots of humidity. Rain and thunderstorms are also common. The good news is that the theme parks have extended hours. So you may want to hit the air-conditioned attractions, eat your meals, or head back to the pool during the hottest times of the day while experiencing the main attractions during the mornings and early evenings. Prices are typically higher during the summer months, so don’t expect to find any deep  discounts .

July events include:

• Fourth of July fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
• EPCOT  International Food & Wine Festival

The  Disney World weather  can reach extremes during August , one of the hottest months of the year. You can beat the afternoon heat by seeking shelter at air-conditioned attractions and shows, restaurants, AMC movie theatre (Disney Springs), water parks, and Disney resort pools. Crowds are heavy for most of August, but the parks do thin out (a little) as kids return to school towards the second half of the month. However, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween  Party and EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival help to draw visitors during the latter half of the month. Like July, it’s a hot, humid, wet, and crowded time to go to Disney World.

August events include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins in mid-August
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Early September at Disney World is still hot, but temperatures do moderate slightly as the month wears on. While it is  the peak of  hurricane season , storms  usually  don’t cause major impacts to central Florida. The latter half of September is one of the best times to go to Disney World because the weather is decent, and lines are manageable since most kids are back to school. Hotel rates and park tickets are also lower. In addition, EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are in full swing. September is a great time to visit Disney World!

September events include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The afternoons are still hot, but the evening temperatures drop considerably during the month of October . Disney’s parks are decorated for autumn, and most evenings showcase Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events. The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is still going strong, and the crowds are moderate. October may be the best month to visit Disney World!

October events include:

November would be an excellent month to visit Disney World if it weren’t for the crowd swell during Thanksgiving week. But if you avoid this week (and weekends around the holiday), you will experience pleasant weather, relatively short lines, and a festive holiday atmosphere. Cast Members are decorating throughout the month, but most of Disney’s Christmas holiday decorations are up by mid-November. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off, and guests can enjoy many holiday events during the month.

November events include:

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
• RunDisney  Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
• EPCOT International  Festival of the Holidays

Disney’s theme parks are festively decorated in December , and holiday-themed events happen daily throughout the month. December is a popular time to visit Disney World because most people love the holidays and most children are out on school break. As a result, the beginning of the month experiences slightly lighter crowds, but the latter half of December is among Disney World’s busiest times of the year.

December events include:

• Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
• Special New Year’s Eve fireworks displays at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

Final Thoughts on the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World

In conclusion, the best time to go to Disney World will depend on your personal preferences. It will depend on what your budget and timing allow. There is no universal “best time to visit Disney World” because everyone’s vacation goals and lifestyle realities are different.

That said, certain times of the year have better weather and fewer crowds. This is quantifiable. Luckily, many of these periods are also less expensive.

We personally view September – Early December (minus Thanksgiving week) as the best time to go to Disney World, followed by the late winter through the short spring season. These periods have favorable Disney World weather and fewer crowds. Just avoid school break weeks, if possible. At the end of the day, you’ll have to make your own determination as to what works best for you.

We would certainly recommend staying at a Disney Resort and checking out  at least  two of the theme parks. However, you really have to stay at least 3-5 days to get the full Disney experience. And if you can go for a full week – and hit all 4 theme parks (and a water park) – even better!

Hopefully, this information will help you make more informed decisions to get the most enjoyment and value out of your trip. But whatever dates you pick, we are sure you’ll have a magical Disney World vacation!

Enjoy your trip!

Free Help Planning Your Disney World Vacation

As you’ve seen in this article, there’s a LOT to consider when trying to find the best time to visit Disney World. For personalized vacation planning help — all at  no additional cost  to you — we highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer !

As our pick for the  best Disney travel agency  out there,  The Vacationeer  provides a dedicated agent to handle your trip from start to finish. No more  waiting on hold with a Disney call center  for you! That alone is a prime  reason to use a Disney travel agent . Then, consider the fact that they’ll help you find the best price for your vacation, even adding new discounts to your already-booked trip! Finally, add in the fact that their planning help doesn’t cost you a dime. It’s a no-brainer!

So let  The Vacationeer  handle all of your reservations for you — you won’t regret it!

We hope our Best Time to Visit Disney World has helped you decide the best week for your next vacation.

For more useful Disney World information, please review some additional pages on  MagicGuides  like our  Animal Kingdom Restaurants ,  Best Magic Kingdom Rides ,  Best Hollywood Studios Rides ,  Disney Travel Agents ,  Disney World Youtube Channels ,  Disney World Map ,  and  Adventures by Disney Reviews  articles.

Considering California? Check our Disneyland Crowd Calendar and our Best Time to Visit Disneyland article, too!

Thanks for reading, and we hope you have a magical Walt Disney World vacation!

Related Posts:

Live Walt Disney World Wait Times

• MK Magic Kingdom
• DHS Disney's Hollywood Studios
• AK Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Refreshing...
• Data Temporarily Unavailable
• Select a Park

• How to buy discount tickets for Disney World
• The five best travel agencies for Disney World
• Disney World Pocket Planner – Free PDF
• Our Go-To Disney World Planning Resources
• How early can you make Disney World dining reservations?
• Easy WDW Dining Reservations
• Hardest to get WDW Dining Reservations
• Guide 2 Disney World Dining Reservations
• The Ultimate Disney World Packing Guide for 2023
• Toddler Packing Guide
• Items To Beat the Heat
• The Best Shoes for WDW
• The Best Weeks to Visit Disney World
• The Best Days to Visit Magic Kingdom
• The Best Days to Visit EPCOT
• The Best Days to Visit Hollywood Studios
• The Best Days to Visit Animal Kingdom
• The Best Magic Kingdom Rides
• Magic Kingdom Motion Sickness Guide
• Magic Kingdom Toddler Guide
• Magic Kingdom Dining Guide
• Magic Kingdom Table Service Restaurants Ranked
• Magic Kingdom Menus
• Magic Kingdom Tips
• Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Guide
• Tron Virtual Queue Guide
• The Best EPCOT Rides and Attractions
• EPCOT Toddler Guide
• EPCOT Motion Sickness Guide
• EPCOT Dining Guide
• Epcot Restaurants and Menus
• 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Guide
• 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Guide
• 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Guide
• 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Guide
• Guide 2 EPCOT Festivals
• Epcot Lightning Lane Guide
• The Best Hollywood Studios Rides & Attractions
• Hollywood Studios Motion Sickness Guide
• Hollywood Studios Toddler Guide
• Hollywood Studios Dining Guide – Best Restaurants, Snacks, and Desserts
• Hollywood Studios Restaurants and Menus
• Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Guide
• Hollywood Studios Tips
• The Best Animal Kingdom Rides & Attractions
• Animal Kingdom Toddler Guide
• Animal Kindgom Motion Sickness Guide
• Animal Kingdom Restaurants and Menus
• Animal Kingdom Tips & Tricks
• Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Guide

52 Magic Kingdom Tips for 2024

53 epcot tips for 2024, 35 hollywood studios tips for 2024, 28 animal kingdom tips & tricks for 2024, the 175 best disney world tips for 2024, disney world dining tips & tricks, time saving tips at disney world, tips for taking kids to disney world.

• The Guide 2 Disney Genie
• Genie+ and Lightning Lane, Explained
• How to Maximize Genie+ Lightning Lane Reservations
• Free Vacation Planning

23 Time Saving Tips for Disney World in 2023

Looking to save time at Walt Disney World? Time is extremely valuable during a trip to Disney’s theme parks. Most families spend thousands of dollars on their Disney World vacation, so time is money, even at the most magical place on Earth! Our tips and tricks will help you maximize your time, avoid long lines, and save precious hours during your WDW vacation.

Our Disney World time saving tips come from our decades of experience visiting the four theme parks, plus advice that Guide2WDW readers have shared with us over the years.

Our tips are organized into the following sections:

• How to Save Time in Line at Disney World: Nobody likes lines! Here are our tips to spend less time waiting in line.
• Tips for Saving Time with the Disney World App: The My Disney Experience App can be a great resource to help you save time in the parks.
• Time Saving Transportation Tips:  Walt Disney World is MASSIVE. Getting from point a to point b can eat up a lot of your vacation. Save time by following these transportation tips.

Table of Contents

How to Save Time in Line at Disney World

1) Go left. Many attractions have two lines – a right line and a left line. If you cannot see the end of the line, choose the left line. It’s usually shorter, as most people will subconsciously pick the right line.

2) When lines at Disney World are the shortest. Lines at WDW theme parks will always be shortest in the morning and in the evening. So if you want to get the most out of your day at the parks, try to rope drop the park — which means getting to the park 30-45 minutes before park opening. You’ll have short waits for popular rides like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run,  Frozen Ever After ,  Avatar: Flight of Passage , and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (if you can get there early enough). If you missed any popular rides first thing in the morning, try again in the evening when wait times go down.

Guide2WDW readers Jocelyn and Mike used a morning/evening strategy to avoid long lines and take a nice break in the afternoon.

When we go to the parks, we try to get there early in the morning before the big crowds hit. We usually stay for a couple hours depending on the crowds, when it gets busy we head back to the resort and relax by the pool and catch an early dinner. We then return around 5pm (depending on which park and when it closes) the lines are considerably shorter and as the evening wears on the lines keep getting shorter, it is cooler and less humid. Last year we rode Splash Mountain 4 times in a row. The last time they did not even make us get out of our boat!

3) Use Lightning Lane. The replacement for FastPass, Lightning Lane is a way to pay to go into a much shorter line at dozens of Disney World attractions. It can be well worth the money, if you know how to use the system. Check out our Guide 2 Disney Genie and Guide 2 Lightning Lane at Disney World for a complete rundown of how to save hours in line during your WDW vacation.

Guide2WDW reader Sam recommends Lightning Lane, even during less busy days at Disney.

Tip: Use Lightning Lane to save time – even during slow season! We jammed an extra day’s worth of rides into our trip thanks to Lightning Lane. We flew by lines at Disney World’s most popular rides. Mind you, the first week of February, the longest waits were 30-45 mins (that’s nothing compared to summer wait times, I know), but we got to ride all our favorites. Since the parks close early in this low season, we more than made up for the reduced hours.

• Be strategic about which rides you Lightning Lane. While many attractions feature Lightning Lane, some will save you much more time than others. For example, a Lightning Lane reservation on Slinky Dog Dash can easily save you over an hour in line, while a Lightning Lane for Muppet Vision 3D will save you almost no time at all. Know which Lightning Lane attractions to prioritize with our park-by-park Lightning Lane guides:

5) Use the Single Rider Line. If you don’t mind riding alone or being split up from your party, try using the Single Rider line at  Test Track ,  Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster , Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, and  Expedition Everest . Disney uses this line to fill in empty seats on these rides. Your party will go through the line together, but most likely will go on the ride separately. However, your wait time will be dramatically reduced.

6) Families with small children: know about Rider Swap. Rider Swap lets everybody in your party experience rides with height limits without the person or people who watched your kid having to wait extra in line. This works if a child either doesn’t meet the height requirement  or   just if they don’t want to go on the ride. From Disney: “If a Guest doesn’t meet the boarding requirements or doesn’t wish to experience a particular attraction, it’s not a problem for family and friends who do! With Rider Switch, one adult or supervising Guest (14 years or older) can wait with non-riders while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. Then, they simply switch roles to allow the supervising Guest to experience the attraction without waiting in the regular queue again.” Simply approach the cast member at the entrance of the ride and say that you’re interested in Rider Swap, and they will take care of you. This also works on rides that have Individual Lightning Lane like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Avatar: Flight of Passage.

You can find more Tips for Taking Kids to Disney World here.

7) Rides operate past closing time. If you want to ride a popular ride, but couldn’t get a Lightning Lane reservation and the standby lines are too long during the day, get in line right before park closing. Two reasons for this. 1: Disney policy is that anyone in line at park closing gets to ride , even if they don’t get on the ride until after the official closing time, and 2: there will be very few Lightning Lane riders entering (none after closing), so the actual wait time will be MUCH shorter than the posted standby time.

8) Save shopping for after park closing. Many Disney World shops stay open one hour after park closing. So you can save your last minute shopping to the very last minute and not miss any late night rides, when the lines are shortest.

9) Enjoy EPCOT Festival Booths early in the day. The EPCOT Festival food booths don’t typically open until 11 am, although sometimes some will open early. Whatever the case, late morning and early afternoon are the best times to sample their offerings. Lines can get looooong at the food booths around dinner time. They are usually much more reasonable in the morning, especially in off dining hours. Try for an early or late lunch, or just do what we do and graze throughout the day.

10) Take advantage Extra Hours – or avoid them! One of the perks of Disney World Resorts and certain Good Neighbor Hotels is Early Morning Entry. This lets you get into the park 30 minutes early, which is great (and almost required) for taking advantage of short lines at popular rides. However, for guests who don’t have this perk, you might want to avoid rope dropping rides like Rise of the Resistance, as the lines will already be long by the time you’re able to get into the park.

Certain parks will also have Extended Evening Hours on specific nights. This perk is only for Deluxe Resort guests (as well as guests of a few pricey non-Disney resorts). It’s a great perk if you can use it. However, if you don’t have access to Extended Evening Hours, you might want to avoid the parks on those days, as crowds will be higher.

Guide2WDW reader Heather G shared her experience with extra hours at WDW.

My fiancée and I have been to Disney World a total of 5 times since 2000 and it was really just last year that we started to take advantage of the extended hours benefit offered to guests of Walt Disney World Resorts. What a difference going a bit early or staying a bit late makes in terms of waiting in lines! First of all, it’s much cooler than in the middle of the day when the sun is its warmest. Second of all, the waits for rides are cut in half!! There aren’t as many people around at these hours, especially at night, so a normal wait for Splash Mountain might take 2 hours, but at night you might only wait ten minutes. I understand that staying late might be difficult for families with young children, but if you can manage it, then I highly suggest you do it.

11) The Tower of Terror line trick. On  Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios , when you enter the first staging room (the library), immediately go to the far corner (furthest away from the door you enter the room in). After the TV presentation, the wall opens up there to the rest of the ride. At that point, choose the left line – it’s quicker.

12) The Haunted Mansion line trick. Here’s where to stand in the stretching room on  Haunted Mansion . This is the room with “no windows and no doors” that has all the painting that stretch. You’ll enter this from a room with a fireplace and a creepy portrait. As you enter, stick to the side closest to the fireplace. There are actually two stretching rooms side by side, and the exit is always between them. This will help you board the ride faster.

The other way to find this spot is to stand directly under the painting of the woman holding a parasol on a tightrope.

13) Look out for a 13 minute wait at Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion. If there’s a posted wait time of exactly 13 minutes, it’s code that there’s almost no wait at all. This usually means you can walk straight through the line and into the stretching room almost immediately, so a 13 minute wait may actually mean a 5 minute wait or shorter.

Tips for Saving Time with the Disney World App

14) Always use Mobile Order when available . Many counter service restaurants offer mobile order via the My Disney Experience app. This is a great time saver, especially since you can plan out and order your lunch or dinner while you’re waiting in line.

15) Mobile Order Speed Trick.  Click “I’m here” as you’re heading to the restaurant. Many times I’ll do this, and the food will come out just as I arrive. Otherwise, you may have to wait a few minutes for your order to be prepared.

16) Link all tickets to MagicBands or app beforehand. One of the big benefits of Disney World’s MagicBands is their ability to be your park ticket. Tapping your MagicBand at the park entrance or to get in to the Lightning Lane removes a lot of friction, and saves you time from fumbling through your wallet or bag for your tickets. Link all of your tickets and MagicBands to your Disney World account before your trip, so you don’t have to mess around with it once you get to Orlando.

17) Confirm Your Virtual Queue Party. Ever since Disney World debuted a virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance, they have tweaked the process for securing a boarding pass. Within the MyDisneyExperience app, you can now  confirm your party  up to 1 hour before the virtual queue opens up. You can do this by going to the menu in the app (bottom right button with three lines), tapping “Virtual Queues,” clicking “Join Virtual Queue,” then clicking “Confirm Your Party.” You can select all of the guests linked to your account that you will be securing a boarding group for. This will make it easier to join the virtual queue with the correct group selected, and you can avoid having to waste precious seconds by deselecting a guest who isn’t eligible. If you’ve linked your Disney World account to a lot of different family members and friends like I have, this will make a big difference.

It should be noted that while the ability to confirm your party opens up 1 hour before the virtual queue opens (so starting at 6 am for the 7 am queues at Disney World), you don’t have to get up at 6 am to confirm you party. You have all the way up until the virtual queue opens up to confirm your party, so you can wait until 10 minutes before to confirm.

Read more about how to use the Virtual Queue at Disney World here.

18) Choose your Lightning Lane priorities as “Top Picks.” When you  sign up for Disney Genie , you’ll be asked what your Top Picks are in each park. This lets Disney Genie know your preferences and give you smart suggestions throughout the day. But for power-users, there’s an even more useful way to use Top Picks. The Tip Board section of Disney Genie lists all attractions alphabetically, but it places your Top Picks at the top of the list. The Tip Board section is also where you will be  booking your Lightning Lane reservations . You can save yourself a lot of scrolling and put the attractions that you’re most interested in getting Lightning Lane reservations for as your Top Picks. That way when you scroll to refresh the Tip Board, you’ll see the updated Lightning Lane slots for the attractions you’re interested in first. This tip could be the difference between snagging that elusive Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane slot and missing out.

Time Saving Transportation Tips

19) Use the Resort Monorails at Magic Kingdom. When everyone is leaving the Magic Kingdom, the monorails tend to get very crowded. Most people head toward the Transportation and Ticket Center monorail, which is the first monorail to the right. It is always crowded. Just past that is the Resort Monorail. Use the Resort Monorail! This takes you to the Contemporary but stay on and you’ll get to the Transportation and Ticket Center a lot faster, and without dealing with all the crowds.

20) Don’t miss the bus! Guide2WDW reader Jason shares this tip for using Disney World buses.

When using the Walt Disney World transportation system (mainly the buses from the resorts to the parks), make sure you catch the right bus. Ask the driver where he/she is going and what stops if any there are: you may be farther away from your goal then you think. Be careful if a bus pulls up and the scrolling destination in the window changes. Ask the driver where he/she is going. Don’t EVER assume a bus is going somewhere, you may be taking a long ride. Finally, during really busy seasons, try to get to the bus before the park closes…jockeying for a seat with 100 other tired, sunburned guests as everyone leaves can be a nightmare…this is especially true if you have small kids. Leave the park early and it is much smoother.

21) Consider using Ride Share. You can use Lyft and Uber to get around Disney World, and it can save you a lot of time compared to Disney’s busses. Disney has a fleet of ride share vehicles called Minnie Vans that you can order through Lyft, but both Lyft and Uber have cheaper options. When you consider resort and theme park parking prices, taking ride share vehicles can make financial sense versus renting a car.

22) Know the bus schedule at your resort. Official Disney World busses come every 15-30 minutes, but third party hotels may only have transportation once per hour. Familiarize yourself with the bus schedule at your hotel so you don’t have to wait a really long time to get to the parks.

23) The Skyliner after Harmonious. If you can, avoid leaving EPCOT via the Skyliner after Harmonious. It is extremely crowded. Instead, try to take a bus or ride share, or walk around World Showcase for a bit to let crowds die down.

How to Have a Terrific Time at Disney World

Planning a trip to Disney World? These Disney World trip planning tips are just the beginning. Get in touch with our friends at Vacationeer for free Disney World vacation planning.  Their travel agents can help you plan your vacation for no extra cost. They are Disney experts, so they’ll have their own recommendations and advice. Plus, they can help with dining and hotel reservations at Disney World.

If you want to be as prepared as possible, check out our Disney World Guides , including an in-depth Disney Genie Guide . Our resources will help you plan your Disney World trip and get the most out of your vacation. And don’t miss our other Disney World Tips and Tricks . We have hundreds of quick bits of advice for visiting WDW.

 More Disney World Tips

Genie+ and lightning lane tips, 50 money saving tips for disney world in 2024, disney world trip planning tips, disney world resort and hotel tips, disney springs tips, privacy preference center, privacy preferences.

• Skip to right header navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Plan Your Dream Trip To Disney!

20 Insanely Useful Tips For Your First Time At Disney World

March 3, 2021 //  by  Kimberly Jones //   Leave a Comment

If it’s your first time traveling to Disney World, it might feel a little overwhelming! There seems to be so much that you have to do, pack, plan, reserve….the list goes on and on. However, your first time at Disney doesn’t have to be stressful! We have 20 Insanely Useful Tips For Your First Time At Disney World.

This is a list of tips that we think first time Disney goers should know! It goes over what you should bring, how you could be making money by declining housekeeping, freebies, magic bands, and much, much more! Read on to learn all the tips every Disney vacationer should be aware of!

Get Familiar with My Disney Experience

The My Disney Experience app is the best free tool Disney has to offer! You will definitely want to download and take a look at this app before your first time at Disney. It’s helpful to get familiar with it before you even leave for vacation.

This app allows you to hold your Disney vacation plans at your fingertips. You are able to do so many things on this app such as make park and dining reservations, check wait times , look up park hours, see digital maps, look at PhotoPass photos, and so much more! 

The first thing you will want to do when you download the My Disney Experience app is to link your tickets, your resort room, and all of the friends and family you will be traveling with. Linking up with the people you are traveling with will make it easier to book dining reservations. You will also need to be linked if you want to all ride Rise of the Resistance together! 

This app is a MUST for your first time at Disney. Check out our 16 Best Disney Apps to Download Before Your Vacation for even more helpful apps!

Consider Renting DVC Points

Disney resorts can get expensive, so we want to help you find the best ways to stay at Disney for cheap! DVC is the acronym for the Disney Vacation Club . This is Disney’s timeshare system that operates by using points to stay at Deluxe resorts. People pay a premium to be a part of the Disney Vacation Club, and they are able to buy points to use.

Sometimes Disney Vacation Club members aren’t able to use up all of their points, so they rent them out to others. That’s where you come in! Renting DVC points is a great option if you were planning on staying at a Deluxe Resort. These resorts can get very pricey, but renting points can make staying at a Deluxe Resort more cost effective!

Our favorite place to rent DVC points is David’s DVC Rental ! You’ll be able to see how much you’d be paying by renting out points. Compare these prices to Disney’s Deluxe Resort prices, and you will realize what a steal this is! 

Staying at a Deluxe Resort is super special because these are the best resorts Disney has to offer. Make your first Disney vacation extra special by staying at one of these resorts!

Don’t Forget to Make Park and Dining Reservations in Advance

Some people don’t realize that a Disney vacation involves lots and lots of planning beforehand! You have to buy your tickets and book a room, but you can’t forget to make advance park and dining reservations! 

Disney now operates on a park pass reservation system . This means you have to book a park pass for the park you want to visit on a specific day. For example, if you are vacationing at Disney for 4 days, but you are only going to the parks for 3 of those days, you will need to choose what dates you want to go to the parks and which park for that certain date. 

I know it may seem confusing, but it is super simple to do! Just go on My Disney Experience and go to the “Make Theme Park Reservations” section. From here you can select your dates and parks, and then you’re done! 

After you have your park days booked, now it’s time to think about where you want to eat! There are lots of Quick Service locations to choose from, but if you want to eat at a Table Service restaurant, you will need to book those reservations in advance. Sometimes you are able to walk up to a restaurant and get a table, but it’s safer to book a reservation, especially for those more popular restaurants.

You can also book your dining reservations in the My Disney Experience app. Click the “+” button at the bottom of the screen and then click “Check Dining Availability”. Make sure that you are booking restaurants for the dates and locations of the park you are visiting that day!

There Are Fun Things to do on Arrival Day

Some people choose to hit the parks as soon as they check into their resort, but there are also other fun things to do on your arrival day! Even if your room isn’t ready when you get there, you can still explore the resort! You can leave your bags with bell services, and they will hold onto your bags until your room is ready. This way you can go do fun things without worrying about lugging your bags around! 

Arrival day is a great day for swimming! Change into those swimsuits and hit the resort pool while you wait for your room to be ready. If you don’t feel like swimming, you can also travel to other neighboring resorts and explore them as well. 

One of my favorite things to do on arrival day is visit Disney Springs ! It’s super relaxing and fun to walk around and shop without worrying about which ride to run to next. There are so many tasty restaurants and fun shops to explore. It’s a great way to start off the trip, and you can find some great souvenirs to use throughout your vacation! 

It can also be fun to book a dining reservation the night of your arrival. Disney resorts and Disney Springs have lots of great restaurants, you can’t go wrong with whichever you choose!

Check out our 12 Things To Do On Your Disney Arrival Day for even more fun ideas!

Make Money by Declining Housekeeping

Did you know you can make money by saying “no” to housekeeping ? Crazy, right?! This is a great perk some people don’t know about, but we definitely want you to know before your first time at Disney! 

Service Your Way is part of Disney’s green initiative to cut back on electricity, laundry, and waste. They reward guests who opt out of housekeeping with a gift card! The gift card amount varies depending on how many nights you are staying. You get $10 per night minus one night. So if you are staying 5 nights, you will get a $40 gift card.

Now you can use this extra money for souvenirs and snacks! If you don’t plan on being in your room a lot and don’t make much of a mess, opting out of housekeeping is a great idea. You can feel good about helping Disney with their green initiative and you get money at the same time! It’s a win-win!

Resorts Charge for Parking But Theme Park Parking is Free for Resort Guests

There are pros and cons to staying at a Disney resort. One of the cons is that Disney resorts charge for parking per night. The cost varies depending on which category of resort you stay at. Value resort parking costs $15 per night. Moderate resort parking costs $20 per night. Deluxe resort parking is $25 per night. These nights can add up to a significant amount if you’re planning on staying for a while.

The pro for staying at a Disney resort in regards to parking is that parking at the theme parks is free. Guests staying off property have to pay $25 per day for standard parking and $45-50 per day for preferred parking. 

Overall, if you drive to Disney, you’re going to pay for parking whether or not you are staying at a Disney resort. Do be aware though that Disney offers free transportation from your resort to the parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks, so you don’t need to rely on a car to get around.

Prepare to Walk A LOT and Bring Comfy Shoes

Going to Disney is no joke. You will be walking around A LOT (seriously a lot)! It can get pretty exhausting, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. Know how much walking you can handle before you go to Disney. This way you can plan out your day to minimize the amount of walking you will have to do.

When we go to Magic Kingdom , we like to plan any reservations in the order we’ll be walking through the park. We’ll start in one land and work our way to the opposite side through all the other lands. This way we don’t miss out on anything while decreasing the amount of walking we will have to do. 

Another great way to be prepared for all that walking is to bring comfy shoes! We can’t stress enough how important it is to wear shoes you are comfortable walking around in at the parks. This will save your feet so much unnecessary pain or blisters! Make sure to break in any new shoes before you wear them during your first time at Disney. We have a list of the Best Shoes for Disney to help you find the perfect pair! 

It’s also important to give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place. Disney is huge, so it can take a while to get from your resort to a park or to another resort. If you have a reservation planned, make sure to schedule extra time for any mishaps. Sometimes a bus can be running late or there will be crowds. Don’t stress yourself out by waiting until the last minute to get somewhere!

Check the Weather Before Your Trip and Be Prepared for it to Change

Florida is super unpredictable when it comes to weather. It could be raining at one moment and then the sun could be shining in the next. It can be helpful to check the weather all the way up until you leave for your trip, but you should still be prepared for it to change. 

The summer months are the worst when it comes to rain in Florida . Even though Florida is in the south, it can still get a little chilly at night during the winter months. Depending on when you are vacationing to Disney, it’s important to have a few essentials for any unpredictable weather.

The most important item you will need in the summer months is a poncho or rain jacket! Always be carrying one in your bag for any unexpected rain. It literally comes out of nowhere in some instances. No one wants to walk around in the parks soaking wet! But we also know you don’t want to spend lots of money on Disney brand ponchos.

Prepare before your trip by purchasing cheap ponchos. These can easily be reused during your whole vacation and discarded at the end. They are definitely a life saver! 

During the winter months, it’s a great idea to bring a jacket. The day time outside will feel nice, but those nights can get cold. Having a light jacket on hand will ensure you’re never uncomfortable!

Don’t Miss Out On Freebies!

Before your first trip to Disney World, you’ll want to know about all of the freebies you can score! One of the best freebies, especially for your first Disney vacation, is a “First Visit” button. Ask any retail or resort cast member for a free button. They have different buttons for different occasions! You’re going to want that “First Visit” button for sure. When cast members see you wearing this button, they make sure to make your first Disney visit extra special! 

Another freebie most people don’t know about is that you can get free ice water. At any quick service location with a soda fountain, you can ask the cast members for a cup of water. No one at Disney wants you getting dehydrated! 

The Play Dinsey app is a free app that makes your Disney vacation even more immersive. The app tracks your location and gives you access to fun games themed to the ride or area you are located in. There is also trivia and you can earn achievements. The app turns into a data pad as soon as you enter Galaxy’s Edge ! Once here, you can complete missions, translate languages, hack into droids, and more! 

If apps aren’t your thing, trying going on a Hidden Mickey scavenger hunt! There are tons of hidden Mickeys all around the parks and resorts. You could spend a whole day just looking for them! 

Another fun free thing to do at Disney is to watch free movies ! Most Disney resorts have “Movie Under the Stars”, where you are able to watch a Disney movie outside on a big screen at night. Check with your resort to find out when and what movie will be playing while you are there! 

There are so many other awesome free things to do at Disney World, we made our own article for them! Check out our 17 Totally Free Things To Do At Disney World ! (Some things might be temporarily unavailable due to the current pandemic.)

Magic Bands Aren’t Required, But They Are Helpful

Back in 2020, Disney used to provide Magic Bands to every resort guest for free. Starting at the beginning of January 2021, Disney now charges $5 for the basic magic bands when you order them before your trip. If you wait to buy them in the parks, it costs $15 for the basic bands. They also have a lot of specialty designed bands for a higher price.

Magic Bands are insanely useful ! They are your park tickets , your room key, and your credit card (if you choose to link it)! These can make traveling around super convenient because everything is right on your wrist. 

Disney started charging for Magic Bands because they are planning on enabling a digital version of the bands on My Disney Experience. This would allow you to do everything from your phone instead. Fun fact: You can actually unlock your resort room with your My Disney Experience app! 

If the Magic Bands aren’t for you, that’s okay! Disney has other options. They also have the Key to the World card which can do the same things a Magic Band can, but in card form. You can get these for free at your front desk.  You can also just use a standard ticket to get into the parks and use your own credit card to purchase things. 

Deciding on which route you choose depends on what you’re comfortable with! Magic Bands are super useful because you don’t have to worry about carrying anything around. You can also reuse your Magic Bands for future vacations!

Make Sure to Have a Break and Don’t Worry About Doing Everything!

Contrary to what you might believe, Disney vacations can be exhausting! You’re getting up early every day to run around the parks from morning to night and trying to fit everything in! But please don’t push yourself too hard, especially during your first time at Disney! That’s the worst way to turn your dream vacation into a nightmare.

Make sure to schedule breaks either during the middle of the day or have a full break day in between your park days. This will ensure you and your family don’t get burnt out during your trip. Use these breaks to take a nap or relax at the pool. It will feel good to get off your feet for a little bit and not be constantly moving. You’ll thank us later! 

Also, don’t worry about doing absolutely everything at Disney World. Disney really has so much to offer, it would be impossible to fit it all into one trip. Instead, plan your must-do attractions and food ahead of time. Figure out what rides you have to do and the ones you could live with missing. This way you get to do everything you want to do, and then you might have some extra time for the other things! 

I have been going to Disney for years, and I still haven’t even done everything! Don’t sweat it and just enjoy your time at the most magical place on earth!

You Don’t Need to Go to the Parks to Have Fun

Some people think that Disney is only about the parks, but this is not true! There are so many wonderful things to experience away from Disney’s theme parks. 

Disney has water parks , resorts, mini golf, excursions, dining, shopping, and more! You could spend a whole day (or multiple) doing things outside of the parks.

There are lots of different resorts that Disney has to offer, and you can go visit them all! Even if you’re staying at a Value resort doesn’t mean you can’t go explore a Deluxe resort! Each resort has its own unique theming, shopping, and dining. You can even go see live animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! 

A lot of the resorts also have their own excursions or activities you can do! Fort Wilderness has horseback riding, you can rent a boat at the Grand Floridian , you can go fishing at the Yacht and Beach Club , etc. Each resort is unique in the kinds of activities they offer, but you don’t have to be staying at that specific resort to do them! 

Disney Springs is another great place to find fun things to do! You can go bowling at Splitsville, catch a movie at AMC Theaters, build a dinosaur at T-Rex Cafe, and much more. There are also a ton of fun shops, dining, and snacks to try! You don’t want to miss out on Disney Springs during your first time at Disney! 

The list goes on and on for what you can do for fun away from the parks! Use your break day to try some new adventures!

Some Splurges Are Worth It!

We know, we know, Disney is already expensive enough! But we are here to tell you that there are some splurgers at Disney World that are actually worth it! Like we had mentioned earlier, you can rent DVC points to stay at Deluxe Resorts, and this is a splurge that is worth it! 

Deluxe Resorts have nicer and bigger pools, immersive theming, more restaurant and lounge options, better rooms, and are just overall nicer. This isn’t to say that Value or Moderate Resorts aren’t nice! Deluxe Resorts are just a fun splurge that will let you enjoy the full Disney package! 

Another fun splurge is the Memory Maker . Memory Maker gives you access to all of the photos taken of you by the Photopass photographers at the parks. It even gives you access to your ride photos! Memory Maker costs $199 if you buy it at Disney or $169 if you buy it before your vacation. Memory Maker helps you capture all of your memories without you even having to pull out your camera! 

It’s some people’s dream to make their very own lightsaber, and now you can actually do that! At Savi’s Workshop in Galaxy’s Edge, you can build your very own lightsaber! It costs $200 per person, but it is well worth it. This is an experience you and your family won’t forget! 

If you’re looking for a cheaper splurge, buying a popcorn bucket is a great option! A regular popcorn at Disney costs $5 while a Disney popcorn bucket costs $12. Now you might think it’s crazy to spend an extra $7 on a bucket, but we’ll tell you why it’s worth it! Disney’s popcorn buckets are refillable for only $2 per refill! If you plan on eating a lot of popcorn during your vacation, buying a popcorn bucket will actually save you money ! 

Check out our 16 Best Splurges At Disney Worth The Spend for even more ideas! (Some things might be temporarily unavailable due to the current pandemic.)

A Guaranteed Way to See Characters is to Book Character Dining

Currently, the only way to see characters around the parks is during a character cavalcade parade or spotting a character just standing about at a safe distance. The only thing is there is no way to know when these small parades might be happening or when characters might be out. If you want to guarantee a way to see characters, we recommend booking a character dining reservation .

Here is a list of the current character dining locations that are open with modified character experiences and the characters you might see:

Garden Grill :

Toppolino’s Terrace Breakfast:

Hollywood and Vine Breakfast:

• Doc Mcstuffins
• Sofia the First
• Jake from the Neverland Pirates

Hollywood and Vine Lunch/Dinner:

Chef Mickey’s :

You won’t be able to get any autographs or hugs from your favorite characters, but you will be able to take socially distanced photos when they pass by your table!

Disney Offers Lots of Dietary and Vegan Options

You might be surprised to find out that Disney World isn’t all just hamburgers and chicken nuggets. They actually have some really tasty and unique options at both table service and quick service restaurants!

Just because you’re going to Disney doesn’t mean you need to forgo any of your special dietary needs. Disney is very accommodating to any allergies or dietary restrictions guests might have. If you have any dietary restrictions, just let the cast member or server know, and they will be able to help you modify your meal! 

If you have an allergy, ask the cast member for an allergy friendly menu! It will let you know what is and isn’t safe to eat. 

Disney even offers Halal meals at select restaurants. You have to make a request for a Halal meal 24 hours in advance or when you book your dining reservation. 

If you are vegan, you can still find delicious meals at Disney! Most restaurants have some sort of vegan option, but if they don’t for some reason, you can request to make them vegan! Disney wants everyone to be able to enjoy their food! 

Fun fact: Disney’s popcorn is actually vegan! Snack away! 

If you’re vegan or have dietary restrictions, check out our 20+ Best Places to Eat Vegan at Disney World for our favorites!

You Can Have Groceries Delivered to Your Resort

It might surprise you to know that you can actually get groceries delivered right to your resort ! That way you don’t have to try to fit a bunch of snacks and food in your luggage! 

There are lots of different ways you can get groceries delivered to your resort. You can use Instacart, Walmart Grocery Delivery, Garden Grocer, Amazon Prime Now, or whatever you prefer. This makes it super convenient for you to get all of the snacks/food you need without having to leave your resort.

Disney resorts have small convenience sections in the gift shops. Don’t waste all your money on those snacks though! They are overpriced, and you can get your food for much cheaper with a grocery delivery service.

You Are Able to Bring Your Own Food Into the Parks

After ordering all of those groceries, you don’t have to leave them at the resort! You can actually bring your own snacks and meals into the parks ! This is actually a really great way to save money during your first time at Disney. Especially if you have hungry kids that are constantly asking for snacks.

The only restrictions are:

• No glass, except for small baby food jars
• Loose ice must be in a sealed bag

Besides these restrictions, you can bring whatever food you’d like into the parks! I like to bring little ziploc bags full of snacks such as pretzels, goldfish, fruit snacks, and protein bars. This will help you avoid spending lots of money on Disney’s overpriced snacks. However, some are actually worth it! 

Tip: Gum is not sold anywhere on Disney property. Make sure to buy some before your vacation if you need it!

Prepare a Park Bag With All of the Necessities

It can be helpful to prepare what you will be bringing in your park bag before you get to Disney World! There are several things you might not have thought of to bring. It’ll be much cheaper to buy these items at home from places like Amazon or the Dollar Tree rather than when you get to Disney World. 

As mentioned above, you are able to bring snacks into the parks with you! Snacks are a great addition to any park bag to curb hunger while you wait for your next meal. 

An external battery charger and phone charging cord are another must for your bag. You’ll be using My Disney Experience a lot to keep up with your plans, so it’s important to have something to keep that phone charged!

Bringing your own water bottle is a great way to stay hydrated in the Florida heat. Cast Members do not want you passing out during your vacation! 

A poncho or umbrella is another great addition to your park bag. You will definitely need one of these if you are traveling to Disney in the summer! 

It’s also a great idea to bring some form of entertainment for long lines! Either download some fun apps on your phone or bring toys for your children to keep them occupied. 

There are lots of other things that might be necessary for you to bring to the parks. Read our What To Bring In Your Disney Park Bag for a full list of what we think you might need!

Utilize Rider Switch

If for your first time at Disney you are traveling with small children, you should know what rider switch is! If you’re bringing a child that doesn’t meet the height requirement of certain rides, don’t worry! Everyone in your family (minus the child that doesn’t meet the requirement) will still be able to ride.

Rider switch (also known as rider swap or child swap) is Disney’s service for rides with height requirements that will help you ride those rides without having to wait in line twice. You go up to the cast member of the attraction you want to ride and let them know you want to use rider switch. They will scan everyone’s magic bands to get you set up. 

Then, one part of the family can get in the normal line to ride the attraction while an adult stays with the child who can’t ride. After that part of the family is done riding, the adult waiting with the child can use the FastPass line to skip the regular line and bring two others to ride with them. This means that some people could ride the attraction twice! 

Now no one has to miss out on any attractions, and you don’t have to wait in the regular line two times for everyone to ride! Make sure to use rider switch if you have small children with you to save time. 

There are some rides at Disney that have no height requirements. This means anyone, even babies, can ride! It is possible to visit Disney with toddlers and still have fun !

Know Your Stroller Options

Another thing to consider when bringing children to Disney World is what kind of stroller to use. You can bring your own stroller or you can rent one, either from Disney or from a third party service. 

The only rules against strollers are that you can’t bring in wagons and the strollers cannot exceed 31” (79cm) wide x 52” (132cm) long. Keep these restrictions in mind if you are bringing your own stroller or renting any place else that isn’t Disney. 

If you bring your own stroller or rent from around Florida, you will be able to bring that stroller with you to resorts, Disney Springs, the parks, and pretty much anywhere you go. If you rent a stroller from the Disney parks, those strollers are not able to leave the parks! 

All in all, it really depends on what you need for your children. If you just need strollers in the parks, it might be easier to rent from Disney. If you need a stroller all the time, bring your own or rent from around Florida.

For more information on finding the right stroller, read our How To Choose the Best Disney Stroller Option For You !

We hope you have found these tips as useful as we did! Our goal here at Disney Trippers is for you to have the best Disney trip possible! What was your favorite tip? What was something new that you learned? Let us know and have fun at your first time at Disney!

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World this year

Editor's Note

If you want to know how to plan a trip to Disney World, you've come to the right place. This guide includes tips for choosing the right Disney World hotel for your budget, deciding which ticket type is right for you, determining which extras are worth splurging on and how to plan a trip that's fun and memorable without too much stress along the way.

With four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 on-site hotels, over 200 dining locations and more attractions, experiences, shows and shops than we can list here, the best way to build a magical Disney World vacation is with planning, preparation and realistic expectations.

Planning a trip to Disney World should be fun and build excitement for your upcoming trip, and this guide can help.

How to start planning your trip to Disney World

There are a few questions you will want to answer early in the process of planning your Disney World vacation.

• What is your budget? Your budget will determine most other factors of your vacation, including where you stay and how many days you visit. How much it will cost you to go to Disney World really can vary widely based on the choices you make.
• When will you go? You may be at the mercy of work or school schedules, but if you have the flexibility, you can plan your trip when crowds are smaller or the weather is better. The summer can be very hot and rainy, the week between Christmas and New Year's is one of the busiest and weekdays when most kids are in school are often the least busy days.
• Where will you stay? You will typically pay more to stay in one of Disney's on-site hotels, especially at the moderate and deluxe tiers, but you'll also get perks like early theme park entry. Before you choose, you'll want to consider your budget, whether you want a themed room like the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and if you want to be located near a certain Disney park. Pro tip: Renting Disney Vacation Club points can help you stay at a deluxe hotel for a moderate price.
• Which parks will you visit on which days? Depending on the length of your vacation, you may need to prioritize which parks you plan to visit. This will also influence whether you purchase one-park-per-day or Park Hopper tickets that allow you to visit multiple parks daily. If you have little kids, be sure your family will have the stamina for multiple parks per day before shelling out the extra cash to hop.
• Where will you dine? Popular Disney dining reservations are snatched up almost as soon as they become available. You'll want to plan ahead for any character dining or other table service restaurants, so you don't miss out.

It is important to book your hotel, dining and theme park tickets as early as possible for the best rates and availability. Disney also periodically releases special offers on hotels and vacation packages that you can often apply even if you have already made your reservations.

Related: Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?

We will dig deeper into each of these topics in this guide. Once you have a rough outline of your vacation based on the questions above, here are important dates to keep in mind so you can make your Disney dream a reality.

How soon can you book a Disney World hotel?

Disney releases hotel availability periodically, so there is no exact date that Disney hotel reservations become available. You can currently book Disney World hotel stays through Dec. 31, 2024.

Disney typically opens reservations for the following year around May or June, so you can expect to see 2025 availability around that time. If your plans change, you can cancel your room-only reservation up to five days in advance of arrival for a full refund. Ticket and hotel vacation packages must be canceled 30 days in advance to receive a full refund.

When can you purchase Disney World tickets?

Disney World tickets follow the same availability calendar as Disney hotel reservations. You can purchase tickets (or vacation packages including a hotel and tickets) through Dec. 31, 2024. Disney typically releases tickets for the following year around May or June, so you can expect to see 2025 availability around that time.

All tickets are date-based, and the price of one-day tickets also varies by park. You can purchase your tickets any time before you visit; the price won't change regardless of how long you wait. Theme park tickets are nonrefundable, but you may be able to change your ticket date if your plans change.

Until Jan. 9, 2024, you must have a Disney ticket and make a theme park reservation to enter a Disney park.

When do Disney World dining reservations become available?

You can begin making dining reservations 60 days prior to your visit. If you are staying in a Disney World hotel, you can make dining reservations 60 days before your check-in day for your entire stay (up to 10 days).

Reservations open on Disney's website or the My Disney Experience app between 5:45 a.m. and 6 a.m. EST or you can call 407-939-DINE beginning at 7 a.m. EST, but coveted reservations may already be snatched up by that time. You can cancel most Disney World dining reservations up to two hours before your reservation. Exceptions will be noted in the confirmation email you receive at the time of booking.

If you're not yet sure where to eat, here are our favorite restaurants at Disney World .

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

What are the 4 parks at Disney World?

Each of Disney World's four theme parks is uniquely themed and packed with fun. You can learn more about each park, including attractions, shows, parade times and interactive maps to help you find your way around in the My Disney Experience app.

Here's a bit more information about each and some tips for choosing the right ticket type to visit them all.

Magic Kingdom

Open since 1971, Magic Kingdom is Disney World's original theme park. This park is a world of fairy tales and fantasy, where you'll find five themed lands — Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square.

Magic Kingdom is home to some of Disney's most iconic attractions, including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan's Flight and the Haunted Mansion, but also exciting new rides like Tron: Lightcycle Run and the soon-to-open Tiana's Bayou Adventure .

Epcot opened in 1982 and has changed drastically in the four decades since. Epcot's core message, however, hasn't changed: sparking visitors' imaginations through science, technology, nature and the human experience. The park is sectioned into "neighborhoods" — World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery and World Showcase, where you can visit pavilions that celebrate the arts, culture and customs of 11 countries around the world.

There are a lot of new things to see at Epcot, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and the all-new fireworks spectacular Luminous – The Symphony of Us .

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios is a movie-themed park that has lands and attractions inspired by blockbuster films and beloved Disney characters. In Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge , you can pilot the Millennium Falcon and meet familiar (and furry) faces like Kylo Ren, Chewbacca and Rey.

In Toy Story Land, visitors shrink to the size of Woody, Buzz, Jessie (who you can meet here, by the way) and Andy's other toys. The land's Slinky Dog Dash coaster is a family-friendly ride that's perfect for a kid's first roller coaster.

Outside of the lands themed to specific films, much of the park evokes an old-Hollywood glamour that makes you feel like a bona fide movie star. In these areas, you'll find some of the park's most iconic shows and attractions are also some of its longest-running, like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drop ride, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular .

Disney's Animal Kingdom

More than 2,000 animals — from about 300 species — call Disney's Animal Kingdom "home," but this is not a zoo. However, you can visit many of these animals via walking trails, the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride and even a petting zoo.

In addition to the creatures and landscapes found on Earth, you can visit another planet at Pandora — The World of Avatar or go back in time at DinoLand U.S.A. The animals aren't the only things that are "wild" at Animal Kingdom — Expedition Everest is a thrilling coaster; Avatar Flight of Passage puts you on the back of a banshee as you fly over Pandora; and Dinosaur sends you careening through the Cretaceous Period in an off-road vehicle.

What type of Disney tickets should I buy?

Disney world base tickets.

You can purchase one-day or multi-day Disney World tickets. All tickets are date-based, and the price varies depending on the date of your visit. If you purchase a one-day ticket, the price will also vary based on which park you plan to visit, with Magic Kingdom being the most expensive.

Disney World Park Hopper tickets

A base ticket only gets you into one park per day. If you want to visit multiple parks on the same day, you will need to purchase the Park Hopper option with your ticket (you can also add it on in person after you arrive). You can save money by only visiting one park per day, but it does limit how much you can see and do during your vacation.

A Park Hopper Plus ticket includes two visits to either Disney's golf courses, miniature golf courses or water parks, but this is only worth it if you know you will use it all.

Disney World special event tickets

Some of Disney's after-hours events , like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party , require a separate ticket. The park is only open to guests with special event tickets during these events. If you plan on visiting for one of these parties, you may be able to forgo a general admission ticket that day and utilize your special event ticket, as you can usually get into the park a few hours before the party starts.

Disney World ticket add-ons

There are two major ticket add-ons that you should consider. Both can be worth it but will add to the cost of your vacation.

The first add-on you might want to strongly consider is Disney Genie+ . This skip-the-line service allows you to skip the standby line and enjoy shorter wait times for rides by utilizing Disney's Lightning Lanes.

Currently, you can only purchase it on the day of your visit beginning at 7 a.m. and the price ranges between $15 and $35 per person, per day. A handful of attractions at each park require a separate individual Lightning Lane purchase to skip the line, often for the newest rides, but many rides are available with Genie+. You don't need to purchase Genie+ to buy individual Lightning Lane selections and vice versa. The individual Lightning Lane attraction pricing varies by attraction but typically ranges between $7 and $25 per person per attraction for rides like Tron: Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Another popular add-on is Disney's Memory Maker . Memory Maker gives you unlimited downloads of pictures taken by PhotoPass photographers during your vacation and on-ride photos. You can purchase a one-day Memory Maker for short visits or a multi-day Memory Maker which covers your entire vacation. You can save $25 on a multi-day Memory Maker when you purchase at least three days prior to your visit, so it's best to purchase it when you buy your tickets.

How to get discounted Disney World tickets

Aside from Disney's own discounts, you can sometimes save money on Disney tickets by purchasing them from an authorized third-party reseller. There are a few reputable sources out there for Disney World tickets, but our go-to is Undercover Tourist . Depending on your ticket type, you can usually save between $5 and $100. One of the best ways to save money with Undercover Tourist is when Disney World raises ticket prices , which usually happens at least once per year. Undercover Tourist typically has a limited number of existing ticket stock available at the old prices while supplies last.

Related: We saved every receipt — here's how much it actually costs to go to Disney World

If you are a Florida resident or are an active or retired U.S. military member , there are generous discounted Disney World tickets available directly through Disney's website.

You can also use points to pay for your Disney tickets , and that's a strategy we strongly recommend to keep costs down. For example, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , you can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of having the card. You can use those 75k points as the same as $750 towards travel . And while ticket-only packages from Disney World typically don't code as a travel charge, buying them from Undercover Tourist — or as part of a larger hotel and ticket package directly from Disney — typically does code as a travel charge, so you could save $750 just like that.

Is booking a Disney vacation package a good idea?

If you are staying in one of Disney World's on-site hotels or a certified " Disney World Good Neighbor " hotel, you have the option to bundle your hotel stay and theme park tickets into a Disney vacation package. Normally, these packages are not discounted, but they can be a great value if Disney runs any special vacation package promotions .

Aside from discounts (and the fact that it all likely codes as a travel charge for point-redemption purposes), there's one major reason to book a vacation package: When you purchase your tickets and hotel together, you only have to pay a $200 deposit at the time of booking. Payment in full is due 30 days prior to arrival. If you purchase your tickets separately from your hotel stay, you will have to pay the full amount at the time of purchase.

This is another great example of why you should book through an authorized Disney travel planner who can compare prices for you and keep an eye out for discounts.

When is the best time to visit Disney World?

Do you want the lowest crowds or the best weather? Do you want to attend a Halloween party or see Magic Kingdom's 65-foot-tall Christmas tree ?

The best time to visit Disney World depends on your reason for visiting.

If you want moderate temperatures and less chance of rain, you may want to plan your visit between October and December. If you want shorter waits, your best bets are late January, early May or just after Thanksgiving before the crowds descend upon the parks for winter break. Of course, weekdays typically see lower crowds than weekends and school breaks.

Or, if you are planning a Disney World vacation on a budget, opt for midweek dates in August and September 2024, when prices start at $109 for a one-day ticket.

Read our full guide on the best times to visit Walt Disney World .

What's the best way to get to Disney World?

Getting to Orlando and getting to Disney World after arriving are two different topics, so let's look at each.

What is the closest airport?

The closest airport to Walt Disney World is Orlando International Airport (MCO). Most major airlines fly into MCO, and you can reach Disney World in about 25 to 30 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic. If you are flying Allegiant or Sun Country Airlines, you'll fly into Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). SFB is smaller than MCO and farther from Disney World. From SFB, it is about a 45-minute drive to Disney World.

What is the best way to get to Disney World from the airport?

Because of its size and proximity to Disney World, MCO has more and better options to help you get between the airport and Disney World.

From Orlando International Airport or Orlando Sanford International Airport, you can rent a car or use a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft. If you do rent a car from MCO, you can forgo paying tolls through the car rental company (which often comes with an additional fee) and pick up a Visitor Toll Pass to save on tolls during your trip.

Disney no longer charges a parking fee for overnight hotel guests, so if you rent a car, you can park at your hotel and drive to Disney's theme parks without additional fees. Keep in mind that you may not need a car if you don't plan on leaving Disney property after you arrive. Disney has a robust internal transportation system that operates between its on-site hotels and theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs.

You can also use Disney's official airport shuttle, Mears Connect , from MCO.

Mears Connect is a shuttle service that picks you up from MCO and will drop you off at official Disney World hotels and a handful of nearby hotels. Pricing starts at $16 one-way for adults and $13 one-way for children. Mears Connect offers shared shuttles, where you will stop at multiple Disney hotels on the way to your own. You can pay an additional fee for an "express shuttle" that takes you direct to your resort. The easiest way to reserve your ride is online through the Mears Connect website.

What is the best way to get around Disney World?

If you are staying on Walt Disney World property, you can utilize Disney's complimentary transportation for travel between your resort and Disney's theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. Disney offers transportation by bus, boat, Monorail and Disney Skyliner gondola system. Which transportation options you have access to will depend on which hotel you are staying in.

All Disney hotels offer regularly scheduled bus transportation around the resort. Transportation begins 45 minutes prior to the theme park opening and up to one hour after the theme park closing.

Guests of Disney's Magic Kingdom area resorts — Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — can use boat or Monorail transportation to travel to the Magic Kingdom. There is also a monorail line that will take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can transfer to a separate Monorail line that goes to Epcot. These hotels also offer a walking path to Magic Kingdom.

Guests of Disney's Riviera Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century Resort can use the Disney Skyliner gondolas to travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. All Disney World visitors can also use Disney Skyliner to travel between these two parks, regardless of where you are staying. It's a fun and scenic way to get around the resort.

Many Disney World hotels also offer ferry boat transportation to nearby parks. The BoardWalk area hotels, for example, offer boat transportation to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Fort Wilderness, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and others offer boat service to the Magic Kingdom. You can view a full list on Disney's website . You can also walk to Epcot or Hollywood Studios from any BoardWalk area hotel.

Whichever transportation option you choose, you can view the schedule, routes and stop locations in the My Disney Experience app or on video monitors at each stop location.

You can also utilize Disney's Minnie Van service for door-to-door (or door-to-front gate, as it were) service between your hotel and Disney's theme parks. You can book these private rides in red-and-white polka-dot vans directly through the Lyft app. Accessible rides and child safety seats are available.

Though not "official" Disney World hotels, Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotel guests have access to Disney's complimentary ferry boat service to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. A walking path is also available. These resorts also operate their own shuttles to Disney's theme parks, which pick up approximately every 20 to 25 minutes throughout the day.

Disney Springs hotels operate their own shuttle services, independent of Disney's transportation. If you are staying at one of these hotels, you can inquire about scheduling and pick-up times at the front desk.

What's the best place to stay on a Disney vacation?

There are more than two dozen Disney World hotels to choose from, so your main considerations will be your budget and what type of hotel experience you are after. Whether you want over-the-top Disney theming, an upscale cabin in the woods or a luxury villa with access to a club lounge, you can find it at Disney World.

Disney offers three hotel tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe.

Value Disney resorts are the most affordable, with prices ranging between $125 and $300 per night. Value resorts offer quick-service, cafeteria-style dining outlets and large pools but don't have full-service restaurants or pool amenities like waterslides and hot tubs.

On average, Moderate Disney resorts run between $250 and $400 and offer amenities you won't find at Value Disney resorts. Some have full-service restaurants, and the pools are better-themed and equipped with waterslides. Many of them are more centrally located near Disney's theme parks, as well.

Deluxe Disney resorts are the most expensive, ranging between $400 to $700 per night and up for a standard room, but they also have the best locations, amenities and dining. You can expect large, well-furnished guest rooms, pool complexes with hot tubs, waterslides and beach areas, multiple full-service restaurants, spas and more.

Regardless of which hotel you choose, Disney's on-site hotels offer perks to enhance your stay:

• A 30-minute jumpstart on your day with Disney's Early Theme Park Entry benefit
• The ability to purchase individual Lightning Lanes for eligible rides begins at 7 a.m. on the day of your visit (non-resort guests can't do this until the park opens)
• Complimentary hotel and theme park parking
• Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels on select nights (this benefit is also available to guests of Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels, as well as Shades of Green)

Best hotels at Disney World

The best Disney World hotel for you depends on what you are looking for in a hotel stay. If you don't plan on spending much time in your room, you can save a lot of money by staying in a Value resort. If you plan on spending part of your vacation enjoying hotel amenities like the pool and restaurants, you may want to choose a Moderate or Deluxe resort. Or, if you have a large family that won't be comfortable in a standard room, one of Disney's family suites might be your best bet.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Best Disney World resort if you are on a budget: Disney's Pop Century Resort may not be the most glamorous hotel at Disney, but the kitschy 1950s through 1990s theming and the starting price of around $200 per night will surely put a smile on your face. This resort has three pools, a playground and an arcade. Guest rooms are furnished with either one king bed or a queen bed and a space-saving table that folds out into a bed. It is also one of two Value resorts with Skyliner gondola access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Best Disney World resort for large families : Disney's Art of Animation Resort is in Disney's more affordable Value category and has family suites themed to popular Disney films like "Cars," "The Lion King" and "Finding Nemo" that sleep up to six guests. The pool here is the largest at any Disney World resort, and you can take the Disney Skyliner gondolas to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Standard rooms are also available.

Best Disney World resort for swimming : Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are sister properties near Epcot. The two resorts have rooms that average around $600 per night and share access to Stormalong Bay, the best pool at Disney World . Stormalong Bay is really more than a pool, it is a water park with sand-bottomed pools, a lazy river, an activities pool with a volleyball net and daily pool games and a shipwreck-themed waterslide.

Best Disney World resort for a luxury stay : If the sky is the limit for your Walt Disney World vacation budget, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge are some of the finest accommodations you can choose. With two bedrooms, a fireplace, a screened-in porch, a hot tub and lakeside views, these cabins are anything but rustic. The privacy offers you a chance to wind down after a long Disney day, but you are still close enough to take a boat ride to Magic Kingdom and enjoy the amenities and dining in the resort's main lobby.

If you are leaning toward a luxury Disney stay, you may be able to save money by renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare program. DVC members can rent out their points to non-members through sites like David's Vacation Club Rentals , helping you to save hundreds of dollars versus booking directly through Disney. The trade-off is that availability is limited and that the cancellation policies are much less flexible than if you make the reservation direct through Disney.

Read our full guide on the best hotels at Walt Disney World .

Best hotels near Disney World

Disney World also partners with a handful of off-site hotels where you can still take advantage of certain benefits like Early Theme Park Entry and complimentary transportation while also paying less than you would for an official Disney World hotel. These hotels also participate in major hotel points programs, so you can earn or redeem points for your stay.

The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels all participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program. While not technically Disney hotels, they are located on Disney property between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy elite member , these hotels offer benefits like complimentary upgrades, a welcome amenity and more.

Related: This affordable new Disney Springs hotel includes free hot food and 6 nightly drinks

Disney Springs has seven hotels from brands like Wyndham, Hilton, Holiday Inn and others. All of these are adjacent to the Disney Springs shopping and dining district, and some have room rates that start at close to $100 per night. These can be a great option if you want to save money and don't mind leaving the "Disney bubble" at the end of the day.

Read our full guide to Disney Springs hotels here .

What are the best restaurants at Disney World?

With more than 200 restaurants to choose from, you are going to have to decide which Disney World restaurants you most want to visit. Dining options run the gamut from the predictable burger and fries to an out-of-this-world restaurant in space.

Read our full guide to the best restaurants at Disney World .

Hardest Disney reservations to get (and how to get them)

Many of these restaurants are quick-service or snack stands that don't require advance reservations, but there are a few popular restaurants that book up almost as quickly as reservations become available. If you want to dine with Disney royalty at Cinderella's Royal Table, for example, you'll want to make your reservation as soon as you can. Remember, that is 60 days prior to your visit — if you are staying at a Disney World hotel, you can make reservations for your entire vacation 60 days prior to your check-in day.

Related: 'Be our guest' at these 5 best character dining meals at Walt Disney World

Other reservations that book up quickly include Storybook Dining at Artist Point , Space 220 at Epcot, California Grill, 'Ohana, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios and Topolino's Terrace, especially for the character breakfast. All of these have great food and atmosphere, making them popular for new and returning guests.

Best quick-service restaurants at Disney that don't require a reservation

Luckily, there are plenty of Disney restaurants with delicious food you can get your hands on without a reservation. Satuli Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom is consistently ranked as one of the best quick-service restaurants anywhere at Disney. The food is fresh, flavorful and surprisingly inexpensive. You can get a build-your-own bowl with beef, chicken or fish for less than $20.

Other must-try quick-service restaurants include Ronto Roasters at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (the Ronto Breakfast Wrap is the best handheld meal at Disney!), Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom for New England-inspired fare and Regal Eagle Smokehouse at Epcot for all things barbecue.

Using the Disney app to improve your dining experience

The My Disney Experience app is a must for your Disney World vacation for checking wait times, finding your way around and more. When it comes to dining, you can use it to find walk-up dining availability, score last-minute reservations, see what restaurants are nearby, and place mobile orders at select quick-service restaurants.

When you place a mobile order via the app, you choose what time you would like to pick up your order (with the option to modify if plans change). When you arrive at the restaurant, you can click "I'm here. Prepare my order," and you'll receive a notification on your phone when your food is ready.

Should you buy a Disney Dining Plan?

The cost of dining at Disney can add up quickly, and Disney offers two dining plan options that may help you save money. The Disney Dining Plan lets you prepay for a specified number of meals and snacks for your Disney World vacation. You receive a certain number of meal and snack credits for each night of your stay.

The Disney Dining Plan is both convenient and flexible. By prepaying for your meals and snacks, you won't have to pull out your wallet for every meal and snack, and you aren't required to use a set number of credits each day. You can redeem them anytime during your stay in the way that best works for you.

There are two options — the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. The first is a bit less expensive and allows for more flexibility. The second is best if you plan on more sit-down dining and character meals during your vacation.

Whether or not you can save money with a Disney Dining Plan depends on how you utilize the credits. It is possible to break even or come out ahead if you maximize the value of your credits and actually eat all of the food available on the plan. If you don't use all of your credits, you are essentially leaving money on the table, but our guide can help you out with the math.

Read our full guide to the Disney Dining Plan .

How to save time in line at Disney World

Most Walt Disney World attractions offer a standby line. The only exceptions are new attractions, which will often offer a virtual queue for a limited time after opening. When Disney World is busy, though, standby lines for popular attractions can climb as high as two hours. Luckily, Disney has a service called Disney Genie+ that helps you skip the standby line and get on more attractions with shorter waits.

With Disney Genie+, you can skip the standby line and utilize a much shorter "Lightning Lane" for most attractions. You can only purchase this add-on service on the day of your visit, beginning at midnight (though you will likely be safe waiting until you wake up in the morning except on Disney's busiest days).

The cost of Disney Genie+ varies per park and per day. The service starts at $15 per person per day and occasionally reaches a per-person price of $35 per day during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season or in April during spring break. You can purchase Genie+ for one of Disney World's four theme parks or a "multiple park" option valid at all four parks when you purchase through the My Disney Experience app.

Most attractions are included in the Disney Genie+ service, but one or two attractions at each park require a separate Lightning Lane purchase to skip the line. It's not necessary to purchase Genie+ to buy individual Lightning Lane selections and vice versa. The individual Lightning Lane attraction pricing varies by attraction but typically ranges between $7 and $25 per person, per attraction.

Read our full guide to Disney Genie+ .

If you are staying in one of Disney's on-site hotels or in select "Good Neighbor" hotels, as mentioned in the section above, you can also save time in line by utilizing Early Theme Park Entry and/or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. You can get into the parks 30 minutes early with the Early Entry benefit, but you actually want to arrive at the front gates 30-45 minutes before that time. This will give you time to get through security and to the roped-off area where they hold guests, making you one of the first in line to rush to your favorite ride when early entry starts.

Related: Your guide to visiting Disney World with a child on the autism spectrum

If you or someone in your party has a disability that makes it difficult for you to wait in a traditional standby queue, you can also save time by registering for Disney's Disability Access Service (DAS). You need to start the registration process before your visit, and full instructions are available on Disney's website .

How to plan a Disney World trip on a budget

While sensational stories about $2,500 meals at Disney make for good headlines, it is totally possible to visit Disney World on a budget .

Related: Yes, you can visit Disney World on a budget: Here's how I did it

Here are some of the most important things you can do to make your Disney vacation budget manageable:

• Stay at a Disney Value resort like Disney's All-Star Movies Resort or use Marriott points to stay at the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve. Here are the best cards to get those points.
• Utilize Disney's complimentary parking and transportation for on-site guests instead of renting a car.
• Purchase groceries for some meals and snacks, and only buy one or two meals in the parks each day.
• Don't visit the parks every day you are at Disney and stick to one park per day, avoiding park hopping. You can save on tickets by spending a day swimming or visiting Disney Springs.
• Don't forget to periodically check Disney's website for discounts. Even after you book, you may be able to apply a hotel or vacation package discount that can save you even more money.
• Be on the lookout for discounted Disney gift cards to help cover the cost of your trip and/or use points for the tickets.
• Visit during less busy times of the year. Ticket prices are cheapest in August and September, with one-day tickets starting at $109.

Disney World pretrip checklist

Now that you've determined your budget, purchased your tickets, booked your hotel and made a few dining reservations, your trip is nearly planned. There are some other details you'll need to consider to make your trip as magical as it should be. Here's our ultimate Disney World pre-trip checklist:

• Pack accordingly : Depending on when you visit, you could be dealing with heat, humidity, afternoon showers, chilly temperatures or a mix of all of the above. It's important to pack comfortable shoes and clothing no matter when you visit, but you may also want rain gear, sun protection or a warm jacket, depending on the weather. You can read our full Disney World packing guide here .
• Download the My Disney Experience app : This app is an invaluable tool that you will use daily during your visit. You can use it to check everything from wait times to walk-up dining availability. You can also use it to navigate the parks with turn-by-turn walking directions, purchase Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lanes and even open your hotel room door.
• Check the park hours before your visit : You can view the park hours on the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. Each park has separate opening and closing times, and parks occasionally close early for special events like Halloween and Christmas parties. When you view the park hours, you'll also be able to see times for any parades or fireworks shows happening each day of your visit and plan for early entry or extended theme park hours for eligible on-site hotel guests.
• Check the height requirements for attractions: If you are traveling to Disney World with young children, you can check the height requirements for attractions on Disney World's website or in the My Disney Experience app. There are also measuring stations at all attractions that have a minimum height requirement, but it's better to know ahead of time to avoid tears if your child isn't quite tall enough.
• Know where to find your favorite characters : Most Disney characters have designated meeting times and locations, which you can find in the My Disney Experience app. Booking a character meal can be a great way to meet multiple characters at once, but you can also meet many characters in the parks. Popular meet-and-greets also offer Genie+ Lightning Lane access, which can cut down on the time you spend waiting to meet Mickey, Moana or Cinderella.
• Decide if you want to purchase PhotoPass photos : You can save money on Disney Memory Maker by purchasing in advance before you visit. It's the easiest way to capture your vacation memories and an add-on we highly recommend. You can view and download your photos in the My Disney Experience app.
• Study up on Genie+: As helpful as Genie+ can be, there is a bit of a learning curve. Study up using our Genie+ guide and Disney's own overview before your visit. It's good to know which attractions participate in Genie+, how to reserve Lightning Lane access and how to make the most of the service.
• Plan for downtime: One of the biggest mistakes people make at Disney World is overscheduling their trip and leaving no time for rest and relaxation. If you are visiting for more than a few days, try and schedule a day away from the parks where you swim, explore the other resorts or just lounge around the hotel. It'll help rejuvenate you for the rest of your trip. For shorter trips, you may want to schedule a slow morning or return to your hotel early one day instead of being at the parks from opening to closing every day of your trip.

Read all of our best Disney World tips here .

Bottom line

There you have it — the ultimate guide to visiting Walt Disney World.

In addition to the planning and preparation you've now mastered, there are two very important things you must do during your Disney World vacation — don't overplan and have fun. It's much better to have a short list of "must-do" rides, restaurants and activities than to have a minute-by-minute itinerary that most certainly will not play out exactly how you planned.

Keeping a loose itinerary leaves room for magic moments like stumbling upon a favorite character, noticing a super-short line for a ride or deciding last-minute to watch a parade you happened upon. You can't do everything in one trip anyway, so do the things you can and save the rest for next time when you are a certified Disney pro.

FOR NO-COST-TO-YOU ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Related reading:

• The best Disney World hotels for your stay
• The 21 most underrated things at Disney World: What to see, do and eat that many guests miss
• Forgetting to do this 1 thing could ruin your Disney trip
• Disney's take on timeshares: Guide to Disney Vacation Club
• 8 Walt Disney World experiences that don't require a park ticket

I've been going to Disney World for 20+ years. If you're not hitting rides during the fireworks, you're doing it wrong.

• Disney World's fireworks are amazing, but after you've seen them, there's a better use of your time.
• Lines for rides are much shorter (or non-existent) during fireworks, so you can walk right on.
• Riding popular attractions during the fireworks shows also helps me save on Genie+ costs. 

The fireworks at Disney World are magical. Magic Kingdom and Epcot come alive with lights, project mapping technology, and beautiful music.

But I think if you've seen them once, you've seen them enough. Instead, I take advantage of the significantly shorter lines and hit some of my favorite rides — sometimes multiple times.

Most guests crowd around the castle during the fireworks

Some guests flock to the front of Cinderella Castle several hours before Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom . But crowds really start to descend upon the hub area and all down Main Street half an hour before the show starts — which can be a large source of anxiety for some.

Luckily, at that point, some of the best rides become ghost towns. I've been able to walk right on popular rides like Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad instead of waiting in line. On busier nights, there will still be lines, but they're much shorter than during the day.

Some rides with fun lights, like Big Thunder, are also extra fun to ride at night. And when the Tron coaster eventually switches to a traditional standby queue (right now, it's only virtual), I know I'll be heading there for nighttime rides during the fireworks.

The fireworks are a good time to hit the rides at Epcot, too

Epcot's fireworks don't draw the same level of crowds as Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom but the back half of the park can get especially crowded because the fireworks are over the World Showcase Lagoon .

That said, hit rides at the front of the park , like Soarin' and Test Track, during the fireworks show. The outdoor launch of Test Track is really cool to experience when it's dark, and if you time it right, you might be speeding around the track as the fireworks go off.

Epcot's popular ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind still uses a virtual queue, but I suspect it'll be good to ride it during the fireworks show once it switches to standby.

 I also save some money by hitting the popular rides at night

By hitting up rides during the fireworks show, I also find I don't need Genie+ , a paid service that allows you to skip or jump ahead in lines at certain attractions. It can cost $15 to $20 a person a day, and it requires you to regularly check your phone to see which rides are available.

Knowing I'll spend the fireworks show hopping on popular rides also means I can spend my day moving at a more leisurely pace — enjoying food , people-watching, and checking out some of the less crowded rides during the day.

Watch: 40 awesome things to do at Disney

• Main content

Best Time-Saving Strategies for Disney World

With higher crowds & wait times, you need superior strategy for saving time waiting at Walt Disney World. That’s the purpose of this post, breaking down the best & worst options–Genie+, Lightning Lanes, extra hours & rope drop–to beat long lines at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Animal Kingdom.

Our goal is to find the ideal approach to using standby lines and/or Lightning Lanes, as well as the best times of day at each park. Spoiler: there’s no one-size fits all answer for all people or  all parks. That’s the big thing we’ve learned while extensively visiting the parks extensively for the sake of research to test various strategies.

Even many longtime Walt Disney World fans are overwhelmed by the options, so we’re here to provide insight into reducing friction from your days in the parks. As the ole tantalizing teaser goes, “ …and the results will surprise you! ” But seriously, they will. What we accomplished (or didn’t) with some of these approaches actually caught us off-guard.

Before getting going, we want to stress the importance of this strategy for time frames when the 2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar is 7/10 or higher. When wait times are below that threshold, you can “get away” with sloppier strategy–crowd levels of up to 5/10 can be beaten with moderate planning and effort, following the general advice here but without being overzealous about it. Less than 4/10 and, frankly, you don’t need much strategy at all.

Once you get to 7/10 or higher crowd levels, savvy strategy becomes downright essential. You don’t necessarily need to purchase Genie+ or Lightning Lanes every single day for the reasons explained here (or, better yet, in When Should You Skip Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World? ), but you need to be prepared with a plan and follow it pretty closely.

During these busier dates, the tips & tricks here will enable you to accomplish a lot more than the average Walt Disney World visitor. If you’re visiting during the peak season, holidays, or during school breaks, this advice is arguably more valuable right now than anything else on this website. Not to set unrealistic expectations, but this strategy should save you several hours per day at Walt Disney World (and it should save you money, too!).

Next, let’s do a quick run-through of the various mainstream ways to save time at Walt Disney World. This isn’t comprehensive, leaving out the priciest options–like doing VIP tours for the duration of your trip or renting out the parks–for what should be obvious reasons. Even though it’s safe to assume George Clooney, Oprah, and Carrot Top are loyal readers of this blog, most of you probably aren’t that big of high rollers.

The first option is the controversial Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes (e.g. Paid FastPass), which offer one way to skip standby lines. Unfortunately, these come with a cost–not just a monetary one, but also with frustrations, back-tracking, getting up early, and the steep learning curve of mastering the new system. (Look no further than our ~4,500 word Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for how confusing it can be.)

The bad news is that with its recent move to per-park and date-based pricing, Genie+ now costs considerably more on busier days at the two most popular parks (Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Current per-person prices range from $16 to $37 after tax each day, with holiday weeks (e.g.Thanksgiving) at Magic Kingdom or multiple parks expected to be at the upper end of that range.

If you’re on a budget or more price-sensitive, this adds up–amounting to $400-$800 in added costs for an average family during a week-long trip. The silver lining is that Genie+ is not necessary at every park or every day. In fact, at 3 of the 4 parks, there’s superior strategy–precisely what we’ll be covering here! So you’ll only “need” to buy Genie+ one day of your trip. A couple other days are optional, but often recommended.

Sticking with the pay to play options of sorts, there’s Early Entry (EE) and Extended Evening Hours (ExEH), which replace Extra Magic Hours in the morning and at night. These have their own pros & cons, from being only available to on-site guests (or a subset thereof) to requiring people to get up early or stay late. If you’re unfamiliar with the ins and outs of each, learn more in our Guide to Early Entry at Walt Disney World and Guide to Extended Evening Hours at Walt Disney World .

Additionally, we have about a dozen or so “Extra Hours” Photo Reports , with more coming in early 2024 once more goes back to normal—reservations end, Park Hopping is all-day, Annual Pass good-to-go days are introduced, and Extended Evening Hours returns to its normal schedule. Beyond all of that, we’re anticipating more changes once Lightning Lane advance-booking starts.

The big thing to note for this holiday season is that Magic Kingdom is not  scheduled to host Extended Evening Hours, and instead, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will offer ExEH on a rotating basis. This might be disappointing, but given recent crowds at Magic Kingdom during Extended Evening Hours, it’s probably a  good  thing. The nights at DHS and DAK tend to be far less busy.

Next, there’s tried and true rope drop or regular park opening.

For those unfamiliar with this inside baseball-esque term, rope drop is simply when the lands and attractions officially open, which is synonymous with the published park opening time. (It’s literal–there’s a rope that is dropped, opening the lands to guests.) Since the front gates usually admit guests before park opening, Disney fans have demarcated the two times with this rad term. In practice, rope drop is pretty much anytime during the first hour of regular operations.

Finally, there’s the end of the evening, which is usually the last couple hours of regular operations. We don’t have a rad term for this one, but I feel like that’s a huge missed opportunity for a cryptic moniker. Just imagine how many of the uninitiated we could confuse by referring to this as “rope rise.” (Get it? Because they drop the rope at the beginning of the day, so it stands to reason that they pick it– you know, nevermind. )

If we did call the end of the night “rope rise,” no one would know what the heck we’re talking about, so fewer people would take advantage. In any case, wait times tend to be shorter towards later at night. When and by how much they fall varies by park, and is often not fully reflected in posted wait times.

Of course, there’s also the middle of the day, or anytime between around 10 am and 6 pm.

With few exceptions, this is the busiest time of day at Walt Disney World–when crowds peak as most guests have arrived, but few have left. The majority of guests visit the parks during these hours, making them the worst time to do anything popular. Conversely, it’s the best time to focus on unpopular, low-wait attractions like stage shows and other entertainment.

Got all of that? Good. Now let’s go park by park and discuss which approach is best right now. We’ve tested and retested every single strategy for all of the parks, and updated our conclusions as things have changed. Here’s the park by park rundown of which time-saving approaches are best…

Magic Kingdom

When it comes to beating the crowds at Magic Kingdom, let’s start with Early Entry. Unfortunately, we’ve found that on-site perk to be less successful here than at any other park. This is due to a mix of higher demand and only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland being open. We’ve done Early Entry at Magic Kingdom over a dozen times, and have always had less success there than at the other parks–with one big exception ( see below ).

Nevertheless, consult our Best Early Entry Morning at Magic Kingdom Plan and Genie+ Lightning Lane Comparison for the optimal approaches to both Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. That takes a step-by-step look at the first 2 hours of the day at Magic Kingdom, with Sarah starting in Fantasyland while I started in Tomorrowland. It shows precisely what we accomplished, alternative approaches, and a comparison to an average day using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.

Note that this does NOT include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and for very good reason (discussed in that post). If you don’t want to heed our words of warning on doing the SDMT Shuffle, refer instead to our Magic Kingdom Early Entry Strategy Starting at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train .

As noted above, there’s one big exception to this, and that’s on the rare mornings when Magic Kingdom officially opens at 8 am. This is because far fewer people can be up and out the door in time for Early Entry on those days, making the crowd smaller and it easy to accomplish more. See our Photo Report & Strategy: Magic Kingdom Early Entry at 7:30 am for a run-through of what you can expect to accomplish. If at all possible, we highly recommend doing Early Entry at Magic Kingdom on these 8 am official opening days.

If you’re not eligible for Early Entry, regular rope drop is actually still somewhat good because Frontierland and Adventureland are not open during Early Entry. This makes rope drop alone, or Early Entry plus  rope drop a great approach. If you’re only eligible for rope drop, doing Frontierland and Adventureland first and saving Fantasyland until later in the day can be a workable approach.

There are also enough worthwhile secondary attractions in Magic Kingdom that you can round out the rest of your day with relaxing, low wait shows and more. Many of our smartest and sexiest readers enjoy filling out the middle of their days by watching Country Bear Jamboree on repeat.

With all of that said, it’s Genie+ that works best at Magic Kingdom and it’s really no contest. In My Day Using Genie+ Lightning Lanes at Magic Kingdom I detailed just how much I was able to get done–pretty much everything.

Thanks to a high worthwhile attraction count available via Lightning Lanes, Magic Kingdom is the one park where we highly recommend buying Genie+. More importantly, I was able to accomplish all of that without getting up at 7 am, setting alarms, or diligently refreshing. It was a laid back and relaxed day using Lightning Lanes at Magic Kingdom.

This would not have been possible at the other parks, especially Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Unlike those, Magic Kingdom is the park where Genie+ is easiest to use and presents the fewest headaches. At Magic Kingdom, you can  book Lightning Lane ride reservations with a more leisurely approach and less criss-crossing the park. There’s also less competition with Genie+ at Magic Kingdom, and the lower-stakes nature leads to fewer frustrations than at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Next, there’s the end of the night. Like every other park, wait times at Magic Kingdom do fall off in the evening as guests grab spots for the Happily Ever After fireworks. You can enjoy shorter waits if you’re willing to skip those, or watch them from a last-minute location in Fantasyland.

The drop-off isn’t quite as pronounced as the other parks, but it’s still significant. That plus queueing up for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train one minute before park closing is a great approach if you don’t buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes.

For select guests one night per week, there’s Extended Evening Hours. We’ve done this a handful of times, so our sample size is still relatively limited, but our success rate is 100%. Low waits everywhere and blissfully uncrowded parks.

Even if you take advantage of one of the aforementioned approaches and “conquer” Magic Kingdom before this late night perk, do it anyway. It’s a delightful way to enjoy Magic Kingdom, offering a serene experience that’s a great way to decompress from the earlier chaos during peak season. (See Magic Kingdom Extended Evening Hours Photo Report .)

Finally, there’s TRON Lightcycle Run, the newest roller coaster at Magic Kingdom. This is presented as a footnote because it doesn’t really change the equation on strategy due to using a virtual queue and selling Individual Lightning Lane line-skipping access. We don’t really recommend the paid option for this short roller coaster, but it’s obviously an option if money is no issue for you.

For free access to TRON Lightcycle Run, our  TRON Lightcycle Run Virtual Queue Strategy Guide & FAQ has you covered, with ‘speed strategy’ to improve your odds of scoring a spot in the virtual queue (it can fill up in seconds , and not every guest visiting Magic Kingdom gets to ride TRON Lightcycle Run as a result). So long as you put the effort into that, buying Individual Lightning Lane access is not necessary.

Early Entry is the best way to beat the crowds at Epcot. That’s doubly true if you’re arriving via International Gateway, as you’ll be able to do Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure with a 10 minute wait or less. (See Early Entry at Epcot via World Showcase .)

From the Rat Ride, it’s entirely possible to do Frozen Ever After as a near walk-on, Test Track with minimal wait, Soarin’ Around the World with minimal wait…and everything else in the new neighborhoods with no waits. It’s a lot of walking, but that’s par for the course at Epcot, and you could modify this approach to minimize steps if you’re staying the full day.

Those arriving for regular rope drop will still enjoy success and time savings pretty much everywhere except Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and that’s easy enough to save for the end of the night. Off-site guests who aren’t eligible for Early Entry aren’t at too considerable of a disadvantage at Epcot.

Speaking of which, the front of the park empties out at Epcot in the evening hours, because guests eat and drink around the World Showcase, and secure spots for the fireworks. Hitting these rides the last two hours of the day can be a smooth move, especially since it’s not imperative that you get a front row view for the fireworks.

For those arriving after rope drop, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes are your default–but even requires waking up early if you expect to score Lightning Lanes for 3+ headliners. Epcot is our second least favorite park for the line-skipping service, and we don’t recommend it here unless you’re Park Hopping or cannot take advantage of the aforementioned strategies.

With both Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure now being included with the Genie+ service, that does move the needle. However, if you’re visiting on a busier day when Genie+ costs the most, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll score Lightning Lanes for all 3–while paying more for the service. On those days, I still strongly favor arriving early or staying late, especially since Genie+ at Epcot can force you to do a lot of backtracking.

Extended Evening Hours at Epcot are not quite as delightful at Epcot as Magic Kingdom. The lower ride count, more obvious top priorities, and walking distance between headliner attractions means wait times for the trio of headliners don’t fall as dramatically and it takes you more time to accomplish less. On top of that, if even one ride is down, it can throw a real monkey wrench into things.

With good strategy, you can still accomplish Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, and Test Track during this post-closing perk, but it does require determination (and luck). You can also do Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind so long as you score a spot in the virtual queue, but that usually comes at the expense of one of the other 3 rides with standby lines. Unless you get incredibly lucky, it’s almost impossible to do all 4 in one night.

Speaking of which, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind still doesn’t use a standby line. If you read the Magic Kingdom section above, it’s the same story with Cosmic Rewind as with TRON Lightcycle Run. You can consult our How to Ride Guardians of Galaxy Cosmic Rewind & Virtual Queue Strategy for tips & tricks to improve your odds of scoring a spot in the virtual queue, but it’s overkill if you already consulted the TRON guide.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has actually become  easier  to access since opening one year ago, and the 1 pm virtual queue is often open for hours. That’s not the case on peak season days, but if you’re visiting on an 8/10 or lower crowd level day, you  should be able to join its virtual queue at or after 2 pm.

Hollywood Studios

We’ve been saying for the last two-plus years that Hollywood Studios is the most frustrating park at Walt Disney World . Among other things, this is due to the top-heavy nature of its attraction lineup, and lack of secondary rides. There was a point during the phased reopening when this was particularly problematic, but it has gotten much better with the return of most stage shows and entertainment.

For much of the last two years, wait times at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have peaked earlier than any other park at Walt Disney World. In the last month, this has started to shift with the return of Fantasmic, and we’d expect that trend to continue. Even Animal Kingdom, which opens earlier and is commonly derided as a half-day park, doesn’t see its longest wait times of the day until afternoon.

Against this backdrop, the best option for beating the crowds at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Early Entry. In large part, this is because Early Entry encompasses all important, high-wait attractions at DHS and also because it usually ends up being much more than a 30 minute head-start.

That’s especially true if you prioritize Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, with the added upside of doing this first being that you’re less likely to encounter a breakdown while you’re in line for it. Check out our report on Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that covers our experience knocking out the “triple digit trio” at DHS before the park opened to regular guests.

The worst strategy for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is relying on traditional rope drop. This should be pretty intuitive for the two reasons identified above: wait times peak early and all headliners are open for Early Entry.

If you can’t enter DHS until regular park opening time, you’re going to get maybe 1-2 attractions done with below average waits. Your likelihood for frustrations–and thus leaving before the end of the night–will also be higher.

Instead, consider an afternoon arrival and staying until park closing. The good news is that there’s still a pronounced drop-off during dinner and Fantasmic. If there are two showings of that nighttime spectacular, you’re golden–take advantage of lower crowds during the first Fantasmic, and watch the second one at or after park closing.

The bad news is that, like everyone else, you’ll probably want to eat and see Fantasmic…and if it only has one showtime, this is tricky. This is definitely a big blow for our favorite way to do DHS, but it’s definitely not a net-negative. Fantasmic is great, so we’re very happy to have it back; also, DHS is now drawing crowds away from EPCOT and Animal Kingdom in the evening hours, making those comparatively less crowded.

Posted wait times are lower in the last two hours of the day at DHS, but that only tells part of the story. Actual wait times are often dramatically lower, particularly for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and other headliners.

The only caveat we’ll add here is that this approach with the unreliable Rise of the Resistance is risky–if you only have one shot at it and the ride goes down in the last two hours of the day, you might be out of luck. Read our Ride Guide for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , which offers an overview of the best & worst ways to do that, and plan accordingly.

Finally, there’s Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. We’ve covered experiences with this extensively, most recently in My Day Using Genie+ Lightning Lanes in Peak Crowds at Disney’s Hollywood Studios . In a nutshell, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes can save you a ton of time at DHS, but the system is aggravating for some of the same reasons identified above.

DHS has a top heavy lineup, and essentially, you need to be Genie+ power user to score the most-coveted ride reservations. Even then, bad luck or technical difficulties might sour the experience. We’ve heard from many readers who have only been able to book 1-2 Lightning Lane ride reservations with Genie+ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Think of Genie+ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as an option of last resort. If you can’t do Early Entry or don’t want to stay late for whatever reason, you should purchase Genie+ and probably an Individual Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It can be headache-inducing, but not any more so than standby lines, which are just brutal  at DHS. You really need to utilize savvy strategy to prevent Disney’s Hollywood Studios from being downright unpleasant.

Animal Kingdom

We go from the most frustrating park to the easiest one. Strategy for Animal Kingdom essentially amounts to “don’t go during the middle of the day and stand in long lines,” which seems to be what the vast majority of guests do for some odd reason.

Going early, staying late, or using Genie+ are all solid strategies. Almost equally so. We’d give the edge to Early Entry, which starts at 7:30 am on most dates. That is absurdly  early, and a huge barrier for most guests. If you’re able to arrive to Animal Kingdom by 7 am, this gives you a huge advantage.

Traditional rope drop also works, so long as you prioritize something other than Avatar Flight of Passage. Again, most people aren’t up and out the door this early in the morning on vacation, and that applies even to regular park opening time at Animal Kingdom. (With the peak season 8 am official opening, you might be able to hit Flight of Passage with minimal wait even at traditional rope drop.)

Personally, I’m a fan of doing Animal Kingdom later in the day (see Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Strategy ). Subjectively, this is nice because Animal Kingdom is the hottest park at Walt Disney World, and hitting it when the sun is lower knocks a good 10-20 degrees off the feels like temperatures. The atmosphere at sunset and night is also fantastic, and something few fans see.

Unfortunately, wait times aren’t plummeting towards the end of the day like they were about a year ago, which is likely due to more entertainment having returned. While most other rides will be walk-ons or close to it, you can still expect lengthy lines for the two Pandora – World of Avatar attractions.

At this point, Genie+ is the objectively better option at Animal Kingdom than staying late. Even though the lineup is limited, most eligible attractions have availability well into the afternoon. I’m disinclined to buy Genie+ at Animal Kingdom because arriving early or staying late works well and the eligible attraction roster is so limited, but it still offers time savings.

Personally, I only buy Genie+ at Animal Kingdom when Park Hopping. It’s our recommendation then because you can knock out the 2-3 attractions where Lightning Lanes are useful at Animal Kingdom and also use Genie+ to skip a few lines in one of the other parks, too. Outside of Genie+, Avatar Flight of Passage can be worth the cost of the Individual Lightning Lane, but we usually hit it early, late, or during the lunch lull instead.

Ultimately, there are a lot of ways to beat the crowds at Walt Disney World, and that applies even during the peak weeks of summer and beyond. Strategizing has definitely gotten more complicated in the last year, and we’ve heard from countless long time visitors who feel left behind or overwhelmed. The bad news is that there are more pay-to-play options and they’ll either cost extra or have less eligibility.

The good news is that there’s actually greater accessibility to saving time at Walt Disney World. If you read this ~4,000 word post the night before visiting Walt Disney World, you could take advantage of many of these tips. That simply was not possible at this time a few years ago, when pre-booking FastPass+ up to 60 days in advance closed the door for a lot of first-timers who, quite understandably, had no clue ride reservations were booked months in advance.

Now, tactics are uneven and inconsistent among the parks, but there’s pretty much something for everyone. Whether you want to pay extra, not pay extra, rise early, or stay late. As always, we highly recommend our  Walt Disney World Park Itineraries   for more granular, step-by-step advice for planning out your entire day.

About the only thing you can’t do is sleep in, visit the parks from 11 am until 4 pm, and leave early. This has  always  been the worst way to do Walt Disney World, and that remains true to this day. Yet, for reasons beyond me, that continues to be the “preferred” approach for so many guests. If you simply don’t do that, you’re automatically ahead of the pack!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our  Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews  page. For where to eat, read our  Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our  Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets  post. Our  What to Pack for Disney Trips  post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our  Walt Disney World Ride Guides  will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our  Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide  for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Thoughts on our suggested strategies for each of the Walt Disney World theme parks? Do you prefer rope drop, “rope rise,” Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, or Genie+ and Lightning Lanes? Or, do you favor a miss of approaches when touring the parks? How do you do things differently in each park? Any other feedback on arriving early or staying late at the Walt Disney World theme parks? Agree or disagree with our advice or approach? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Great article! I am going to DW next august (last 2 weeks) with my 2 teenagers and we are not fond of waking up at the crack of dawn. We don’t plan to park hop and if we plan on staying until closing at each park, at what time do you suggest we get to the parks? I plan on individual LL for Flight of passage and I have tickets for after hours party for HS. Would 4 pm be a good arrival time for all the parks or should I arrive earlier, like 2 pm?

Haha, we going during the same period :)! Family of 6, from Canada, 3rd time visiting!To

Thanks for the great information. We will be visiting DW July 6th-14th. My question is with Animal Kingdom and Avatar Land. We have seen pics of the land at night and would really like to experience this. I noticed the park closes really early and wanted to see if there are any tips to be able to experience this aside from maybe getting in line for flight of passage as close to closing time as possible. Thanks

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

The Fit Guy’s Guide to a Disney World Vacation

IT DIDN'T REALLY hit me until our last day at the Magic Kingdom. My two-year-old daughter was scaling the 116 steps of the Swiss Family Treehouse for the second time. I watched her legs—once the doughy consistency of a Mickey Mouse waffle , now corded like the ropes of the treetop walkway. My daughter is strong, I thought.

I would’ve realized this sooner, but visiting four Walt Disney World Resort parks in three days—plus hopping on shuttles, speed-walking to dinner reservations, and enjoying so much pool time—hadn’t given me much space to think.

After that second tree-house run, despite my daughter’s squeals of “Do again!” we met up with my wife and five-year-old son , fresh off Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I saw it in them, too. We were hot and sweaty and overstimulated, yes, but ready for more.

In 2022, nearly 50 million people visited one of the Disney theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, according to the Themed Entertainment Association . That’s more visitors than at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite combined .

Disney World is no longer just a vacation. It is a family rite of passage—which can lead to pressure to “get the most out of your trip,” something you’ll hear from friends, family, and Disney-fluencers. That often means stretching your dollar , avoiding the crowds, and securing breakfast with Cinderella.

When I began planning our trip, I had another concern: Could my family hang? We’re active, but the parks are huge, the lines are long, and Dole Whips beckon everywhere. So I contacted experts who are not only at the top of their fields but had also recently visited Disney World. They equipped us with a training plan, gear suggestions, and an overall strategy to help us maximize fun and minimize stress.

Do you need to train for Disney? Of course not.

But does attaining a baseline of fitness unlock a higher level of possibility? Consider what Jeff Galloway , the longtime official training consultant for runDisney marathons , told me: “The Disney experience can be absolutely wonderful for adults and kids... but with the right training, it can be even happier.”

And with my fit family’s Disney experience as an n=1, you can do as we did and not just “get the most out of” Disney but conquer it.

JUMP TO: 1. Training | 2. The Hotel | 3. Food & Drinks | 4. The Gear | 5. The Schedule | 6. The Comedown

I AMASSED 57,393 steps during our three park days. (My kids got way more.) I pushed a double stroller with and without 75 pounds worth of kids inside. I carried a diaper bag and sometimes a writhing child. Yet the pre-trip fitness prep plan Jeff Galloway of runDisney made for us worked . In 11 weeks, he has parents ramp up their daily step counts, while kids build mileage via walks. Here’s what the first two weeks entail.

• TUESDAY AND THURSDAY: 3,000 to 5,000 total steps for parents; quarter-mile walk for kids
• SATURDAY AND/OR SUNDAY: 7,000 total steps for whole family (stroller and backpacks for parents encouraged)

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY: 4,000 to 6,000 total steps for parents; half-mile walk for kids

• SATURDAY AND/OR SUNDAY: 10,000 total steps for whole family (stroller and backpacks for parents encouraged)

Want the rest of the plan? Click here .

The Mental Training

Gabriel R. Garza, M.D. , a child psychiatrist for Ascension health care in Austin, Texas, gave me the idea include mental preparation in our Disney training walks. “For small kids, in addition to talking about what you might see at the parks, you’ll want to orient them to what else they’ll experience around the trip,” he says.

So we talked about the airport, the airplane, the hotel, the pools , the lines, the heat, the not getting to do everything we want (because it’s just not humanely possibly) and coming home. It helped—and gave us a way to pass the time during our walks and hikes .

YOU DON'T NEED a hotel with a gym. What you really want is a room with a kitchen option so you can cook and eat there, says Charlie Weingroff, D.P.T., C.S.C.S. , a Florida-based physical therapist who has been to Disney World more than 50 times. Proximity to the parks is nice. Routes for a walk are, too. The hotels below have all the above. The rest, really, is about cost and just how much additional Disney! you can handle.

If you don’t have a rental car to pick up groceries , you can also Instacart them to your room. Here’s what worked best for us at the hotel, focusing on protein and fiber from real food to help us stay full and regular (an unsung vacation essential).

• BREAKFAST: Microwave ¼ cup quick-cooking oats with ½ cup water. Stir in 1 heaping spoonful of peanut butter and defrosted mixed berries. Top with cinnamon, if you want.
• LUNCH/DINNER: Between two slices of whole-wheat bread, pile pulled pieces of a rotisserie chicken, layer on a slice of Cheddar, sandwich-cut pickles , and mustard or mayo. Serve with tons of fruit on the side.

Strawberries, blueberries, cubed watermelon, more pickles, more rotisserie chicken pieces, string cheese, and electrolyte drink mixes stirred into water for hydration are all great options to keep the whole family full and hydrated.

Disney lets you bring in your own food, so load up. Figure 200 calories for kids (400 for adults) every hour you’ll be at the park. Two expert-backed solid options:

“Sliced apples and grapes are clutch, as they’re easy to pack, sweet, and a good source of fiber.” — Darrell M. Gray II, M.D ., gastroenterologist and cofounder, Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists

“My kids were fans of Uncrustables. Great? Nope. Better than many other options? For sure.” — Brian St. Pierre, R.D., director, Precision Nutrition, and MH nutrition advisor

For hydration, know this: “Even with a train-up, once at Disney, watch out for heat,” says Jedidiah Ballard, D.O., an ER doctor and MH emergency-medicine advisor. Bring big bottles; refill at the parks’ many fountains. A family water jug, stored beneath a stroller, is also smart for on-the-spot refills.

BEYOND THE SUNGLASSES , water bottles , and obligatory Goofy hat, you’re going to need a few key pieces of equipment.

EXPERTS LARGELY AGREE: If you jam-pack your itinerary, especially on day one, you’ll totally exhaust yourself. There’s a calmer, gentler, and ultimately better way.

• 6 A.M. Or whenever makes sense to wake up, eat breakfast, pack up, and get to a park before it opens.
• 9 A.M. Target must-experience rides* early, stopping frequently for snacks and water.
• 11 A.M. Lunch—early, yes, but you beat the rush, and it works with your start time.
• 1 P.M . Huddle to see if you want to do one or two more rides or head back for pool time/rest/unwinding.
• 4 P.M. Rehuddle to see if you can handle a second park. (The fitter you all are, the greater the chances!)

*Disney now offers individual Lightning Lane (for two rides daily, price varies) and Genie+ (one ride at a time, all day, $25 and up a person). My wife, who self-identifies as Type A, liked the control offered by both options. I’m more go-with-the-flow and prefer to meander throughout the park without staring at my phone. We did Genie+ for one day, as a compromise.

IT'S REAL. “Give your family a day or two to rest before jumping back into the normal schedule,”says Gabriel Garza, M.D., a child psychiatrist and assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin. To help, buy a board or card game at Disney to take back with you—and start planning your next visit.

A version of this article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Men's Health .

Try 200+ at home workout videos from Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Prevention, and more on All Out Studio free for 14 days!

Dozens of Guests Run off of Disney Ride After It Was Deemed Racist and Offensive

in Walt Disney World

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It’s the only attraction at Walt Disney World Resort that’s older than Magic Kingdom Park itself! However, recent reports suggest that the ride might be operating on borrowed time as guests repeatedly use emergency exits without permission.

The Carousel of Progress originated at the 1964 World’s Fair. It moved to Disneyland Park before finally making its way to Magic Kingdom Park’s Tomorrowland, where it temporarily featured a new theme song and storyline. Walt Disney Imagineers restored it to its original condition two decades ago, including the now iconic tune, “It’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.”

Fans have long begged for updates beyond the recent clothing makeover. The “futuristic” final scene now features outdated technology, like a car phone, and the Progress family dreams about mystical technology that is now mainstream. The attraction increasingly breaks down, leading some to believe that Walt Disney World Resort isn’t adequately caring for it.

However, none of these are the reasons for a recent call for Walt Disney World Resort to close the Carousel of Progress. Last year, Disney Parks fans publicly lamented the attraction’s reference to the first movie with sound. In Act Two, set in the 1920s, the father says:

“Jazz music is the cat’s meow, and there’s been ads in the paper for months for a movie starring Al Jolson—and he’s going to talk! And sing! Boy, I’ve gotta see that.”

“Back in 2020 I went on the Carousel Of Progress for the first time and was shocked to hear a reference to The Jazz Singer, a movie starring Al Jolson, a man famous for his blackface performances,”  u/Big_Pomelo_2786 wrote on Reddit. “While the film has significant historical value, as it was the first film to have audio that is recognizable, it is today only really known for its blackface. I am confused on how I feel about the line still being around, as while it is referencing a film resolved around blackface, hiding America’s history isn’t the correct way around it either.”

In another instance, a priest slammed the Carousel of Progress’s depiction of a white patriarchal family. From Rachel (@nerdypriest) on TikTok:

@nerdypriest Look, I just hace some feelings about our great big beautiful tomorrow @MayorLovecraft #disney #disneyadult #carouselofprogress #wdw #progress #progressive #marriedcouple ♬ Cena Engraçada e Inusitada de 3 Minutos – HarmonicoHCO

“I’m just saying that I want to write a dissertation not only on questioning the idea that progress is a linear idea and always inherently for the good, and also just the very sad idea of progress that while technology changes, the fundamental structure of the family and the patriarchal order is maintained throughout all of it,” she said. “It’s also the whiteness of the prototypical white American family. There’s a lot.”

This week, multiple reports revealed that dozens of Disney Park guests are running out of the Carousel of Progress–but not because the attraction upset them.

“On our most recent trip we were stuck in the Carousel of Progress…in the 1920s room for three full playthroughs,” u/quicksilver895 recalled. “I love the Carousel of Progress… Once… Three plays in the same room was worse than being stuck on Small World. It was on its fourth when everybody collectively stood up and walked out of the emergency exit.”

u/thedudedude had a similar experience:

“I was stuck on [Carousel] of Progress because a lot of people who were not native English speakers kept standing up and or exiting through the emergency exits in the back. Despite cast members repeatedly [instructing] people that the show doesn’t work unless everyone stays seated, it was no use. After about the 15th time seeing the turn of the century, they just gave up and evacuated the ride.”

u/mikochu , too:

“At the Carousel of Progress, the audience ‘disc’ stopped moving between scenes. After the 4-5th loop, everyone started to get up and exit. It was a surprisingly long walk back into the park. We were surprised cast members weren’t escorting us…it was almost like they didn’t know what was going on.”

“My family and I were stuck on the 2nd scene,” u/ds1224 replied. “Eventually some people were leaving and that was making things worse.”

Never leave your seat or exit an attraction unless instructed by a Disney cast member . Even rides that seem safe have hidden mechanisms that can seriously injure guests.

Is Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress outdated and politically incorrect? What would you change about the attraction? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments. 

Will Disneyland get an Avatar land? It’s likely. Here’s what else may be in store

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

With the city of Anaheim unanimously voting to pass DisneylandForward , the Disneyland Resort will be forever changed.

Twice in the last 69 years, Disneyland has been significantly transformed. Four years after the park opened in 1959, Disneyland added its monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and a submarine ride and expanded Autopia. It was a message that would begin to fulfill Walt Disney’s promise that Disneyland would never be completed.

Huge Disneyland expansion to add new rides, restaurants and hotels wins OK

Anaheim City Council approves a plan to amend zoning rules to allow Disneyland to build new rides, hotels and stores within its existing footprint.

April 17, 2024

More than that, however, it revealed that Disneyland would continue to look to the future. Disneyland in 1959 showed its guests possibilities — a transportation system in the monorail that could remake urban communities, a tease of the freeway system that would reshape travel and a glimpse at the sort of deep-sea excursions only a lucky few could witness. The Matterhorn, while inspired by the film “Third Man on the Mountain,” also was meant to be a transportive experience, to not only bring to Disneyland a new kind of thrill ride but give visitors a taste of international adventure.

Disneyland’s second reimagining came much later. In 2001 the Walt Disney Co. would open Disney California Adventure, the Grand Californian hotel and the Downtown Disney District. These additions would attempt to make Disneyland, the company’s original park, one that could, in theory, rival Florida’s Walt Disney World by becoming a resort that could demand multiday stays.

This expansion succeeded as well, but not overnight.

The original vision of Disney California Adventure proved to be lackluster, relying heavily on on-the-shelf rides and lacking emotion-driven experiences that take visitors out of their daily life. While the Grand Californian is a Craftsman-inspired triumph, Downtown Disney is in the midst of a transformation and is still attempting to outgrow its reputation as a home for chains and midtier eateries.

And now we’re entering a new era of possibilities, one that likely will look much different from the prior two. Modern Disney is centered on intellectual property — or IP, in corporate speak — rather than Walt-era idealism, and the most tantalizing prospects of DisneylandForward center on building around existing structures rather than erecting a new park.

With DisneylandForward, the company won the flexibility to redesign the resort. Zoning rules will be amended so that Disney can add new attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive. These will, if they come to fruition, likely be extensions of Disneyland or Disney California Adventure rather than a third park. Additionally, a new shopping, dining and entertainment district can be created to the southeast on what is currently the Toy Story parking lot at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.

Company brass and the DisneylandForward materials have offered teases of what could be built. Most of these have centered on recent expansions at Disney’s international parks, such as the World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland or Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort. There’s been little ideological talk about the future of Disneyland, as the focus has centered squarely on popular properties and franchises rather than the resort’s status as a cultural hub and gathering space.

But DisneylandForward came with a pledge. The Walt Disney Co. has promised to spend a minimum of $1.9 billion on Disneyland attractions, lodging, entertainment, shopping and dining in the next 10 years. That money can go quickly, with modern attractions costing sometimes in the high six figures, but the Walt Disney Co. also is in the midst of doubling down on its theme parks. Disney has guaranteed to spend $60 billion over the next 10 years in its experiences division, with at least half of that total dedicated to parks and resorts, according to a recent SEC filing .

It’s safe to say that the next 10 years will shape Disneyland for decades to come. While there’s much to be revealed, there are, perhaps, some safe bets. Here are a few educated guesses as to what to expect with an expanded Disneyland in the near term.

Get ready for Pandora

DisneylandForward materials reference everything from “Tangled” to “Peter Pan” to “Tron” as possible experiences that could come to Anaheim. One word, however, is missing, and it’s one that’s been regularly referenced by Disney brass in recent weeks: “Avatar.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned it at a recent shareholder meeting, even sharing the “Avatar” concept art, which was referred to as “inspirational artwork.” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, wrote in a blog post after the shareholder event that further news on Disneyland-related attractions such as the “Avatar” experience was tied to the approval of DisneylandForward.

“We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward — including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora,” D’Amaro wrote . And last night in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock again teased “Avatar” at the DisneylandForward hearing and vote. Finally, one of Disney’s most respected theme park creatives even posted the “Avatar” concept art on Instagram , expressing the hope of sharing more on the project in the future.

Travel & Experiences

Want to see Disneyland’s most advanced animatronics? Visit Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

With new droids at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and some of the most lifelike characters ever created at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney is looking to wow guests.

April 4, 2024

Consider a large-scale “Avatar”-inspired land all but a done deal, and the art shared for Disneyland isn’t an exact replica of Florida’s Pandora — The World of Avatar, which resides in that coast’s Animal Kingdom park. Now where to put it? Expect Pandora to be bound for Disney California Adventure. There’s been speculation that it could replace the area currently served by water ride Grizzly River Run or move into a largely vacant slot of Hollywood Land, but neither is ideal. The latter requires a rerouting of the monorail, and Grizzly River Run remains a popular attraction.

Here’s betting it’s positioned in one of the DCA expansion areas near the Pixar Place Hotel, as that would allow the company to give the James Cameron property a plethora of space, especially if Disney must hide a large show building behind an illusion of floating mountains.

Expect more hotel options

With Disneyland lacking the acreage of Florida’s Walt Disney World, hotel prices in Anaheim are at a premium. Rooms for the recently revamped Pixar Place Hotel — Anaheim’s “budget” option — can routinely top $500 per night. More hotel space is needed, and if Disneyland goes all-in on “Avatar,” expect lodging and more entertainment options to follow close behind. Disney has long touted development of the Toy Story Lot as prime space for hotel, dining and entertainment modeled after Florida’s Disney Springs district.

The DisneylandForward materials mention the land as “the perfect location to cater to locals, conventioneers, hotel and Disneyland Resort guests with restaurants, hotels, live music, shopping, ticketed shows and theme park experiences.” A new proposed parking structure to the north would solve the parking issue, and Disney has done extensive research on this already, as it was part of an earlier, pre-pandemic planned development known as the “Eastern Gateway.”

Walkways to and from the new parking structure would connect the current resort to the new entertainment area. And while fans may want Disney to rapidly fill the available space with theme park attractions, if the resort is planning to increase capacity it’s first going to need a spot for those guests to park. Additionally, Iger at a recent media event said the company likely would hold back some of its theme park funds so the organization could move on the popularity of new films or franchises.

“We actually have a fairly good idea in the near term of what’s being built, but we’re purposefully not going to allocate it all,” Iger said. “Because who knows? In five years we can end up with a giant hit movie — think ‘Frozen’ — that we may want to mine essentially as an attraction, or a hotel or restaurant in our parks. So you want to maintain some flexibility.”

What about ‘Frozen’s’ Arendelle? Or a ‘Coco’-themed experience?

Beyond “Avatar,” which seems a sure thing as it’s been mentioned by Iger on multiple occasions, any future aspects of DisneylandForward become pure speculation. But a couple of franchises may have higher priority than others.

Disney now has a “Frozen” attraction in Walt Disney World, a land in Hong Kong and experiences in the works for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea. Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park experiences, clearly has done the work on bringing “Frozen” to life in physical spaces, and it stands to reason that expansions to the original Disneyland Park, with its fairy-tale feel, would go more of a Fantasyland-inspired route.

What’s more, re-creating Arendelle in the expansion plots located near the Disneyland Hotel would give Disney the opportunity to construct a second castle, as any extensive changes to park centerpiece Sleeping Beauty Castle are prohibited due to structural limitations . The enduring popularity of “Frozen” seems relatively assured at this point, so bringing the franchise to Disneyland is far from a risk.

The unmissable addition to Disneyland’s Star Tours ride? Space whales

Star Tours has become one of Disneyland’s most versatile attractions, and its latest update nods to series such as ‘The Mandalorian,’ ‘Ahsoka’ and ‘Andor.’

April 9, 2024

But if the company opts to create something unique for Southern California rather than importing Hong Kong’s World of Frozen or Shanghai’s Zootopia, one franchise that seems to be routinely brought up by executives is “Coco.” When mentioning blue-sky concepts last year year at an investor event in Florida, D’Amaro teased “Coco” as a key film that has yet to be properly explored in the Disney parks.

Potrock again mentioned “Coco” in an op-ed in the Orange County Register touting the benefits of DisneylandForward, writing that the initiative could pave the way for “the chance to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in a ‘Coco’-themed experience.” Disney California Adventure, of course, is home to a Dia de Los Muertos celebration that does center a short “Coco” show, and the property seems especially ripe for Southern California and our heavily Latino communities. That makes it an opportunity to give Disneyland an unique land not found in other parks while also tapping into the region’s diverse fan base. Walt’s original park deserves no less as it looks ahead to closing out its first century.

More to Read

Why Disney is doubling down on theme parks with a $60-billion plan

April 24, 2024

Column: Disneyland just promised electric cars at Autopia. Gas will be gone by 2026

April 19, 2024

Disneyland’s $1.9-billion expansion project is latest mega investment in the Anaheim resort

Sign up for The Wild

We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

More From the Los Angeles Times

How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Laufey

April 26, 2024

World & Nation

Venice tests 5-euro entry fee for day-trippers as the city grapples with over-tourism

April 25, 2024

This must be Larchmont

What to know about California’s new state park, a scenic green space where two rivers meet

April 23, 2024

• All Resort Hotels
• Deluxe Villa
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
• Disney's Beach Club Villas
• Disney's BoardWalk Villas
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney's Riviera Resort
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort - A Disney Vacation Club Resort
• The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Deluxe Resorts
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney's Beach Club Resort
• Disney's BoardWalk Inn
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort
• Disney Resort Hotels
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
• The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney's All-Star Music Resort
• Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney's Art of Animation Resort
• Disney's Pop Century Resort
• The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
• Other Select Deluxe Hotels
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel

For Office Use Only - wdw en_US

• Interactive
• Floor Plans

The Most Magical Place On Earth

• Today's Park Hours

Park Hours for

Start planning: offers & more.

4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket from $99 Per Day, Plus Tax

Experience all 4 theme parks with this specially priced ticket (total price from $396, plus tax). One admission per theme park. One theme park per day.

Get Details

View All Offers 

Save Up to 30% When You Stay 5 Nights or Longer

Save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, most nights from July 8 to October 3, 2024. Other savings are available for shorter stays.

Can't Miss Experiences

Luminous The Symphony Of Us at EPCOT

TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise at Magic Kingdom Park

Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Make Your Way to the Magic

Plan Your Disney Vacation

Make a Theme Park Reservation

Dining to Delight Every Style, Taste & Budget

Save time waiting in line with Lightning Lane entry

Even More to Explore

Memory Maker Enjoy all the Disney PhotoPass memories captured during your vacation—for one price!

Download the My Disney Experience App

Shop the Stories You Love

Have Questions?

Connect with a planDisney panelist

Want a Vacation Recommendation?

Choose All Travel Styles That Apply

Step 1 of 4