So you’re thinking about a visit to Walt Disney World. It’s so exciting, but it’s also a little nerve-racking. On top of trying to navigate where you want to stay, how you’ll get around Orlando, and what parks you want to visit (no, the Hogwarts Castle isn’t in one of Walt Disney World’s four parks), you also now seem to have to understand a new language spoken by those who love to visit The Most Magical Place On Earth (I mean, what the heck even is a Lefou’s Brew?).
Everywhere you look you see more and more articles filled with fairly obvious terms like Park Hoppers and Lightning Lanes, but for each of those there are three more confusing ones like Rope-Dropping, Magic Hours, and Genie+. But you’re not alone! Here at Disney Know How have spent way too much time, energy, and money on our Disney trips and we’re here to help you navigate this whole new world of experiences so you can use our knowledge to maximize your Disney travels!
How do I get the most out of my first trip to Walt Disney World (A Disney Travel FAQ)
When people find out that my family takes frequent trips to Disney Resorts, I’m often asked the following questions: I’m planning my first trip to Disney, how do we start? What should we do? What should we expect? It’s going to be super expensive, right? My response is always the same, but means something incredibly unique depending on who I’m talking to. Typically, the my answer is: “Well, it depends on what you want out of that trip.” So let’s take a few minutes to think about that through some Frequently Asked Questions and begin to nail down how you can get the most out of your own Disney Experiences, no matter your budget.
- Isn’t Disney Travel Expensive?
- Where should I stay when I go to Walt Disney World?
- How Many Parks Are There?
- What’s A Park Hopper?
- What is Genie+?
- What’s a Memory Maker?
- Can You Plan My Trip?
**A majority of our Disney Resort visits have been to Walt Disney World, so much of what you will see here comes from those experiences, but you’ll find general Disney Know How all across this site.
Isn’t a trip to Walt Disney World expensive? How do I get the most out of my travel budget?
While the words may be slightly different, a version of this question is by far the one we most often hear. Even though we hear it a lot, the answer is still a little bit vague: It certainly can be expensive, but there are great options for everyone. Now don’t get me wrong, there are A LOT of perks that you have the option to pay for, but this blog exists because you really can have a great trip on a very limited budget. It just takes a little time, effort, and Disney Know How to make that magic happen.
The trick to traversing the Walt Disney World is knowing what you want from your trip. Do you want to live in extravagance like a Disney Princess and eat 3 meals-a-day at sit-down restaurants surrounded by your favorite Disney characters? Or do you prefer snacking all day as you walk between attractions expecting to use your hotel room just to sleep and shower? (Although, I’d recommend doing those in reverse order after your 10+ miles of daily walking in the Florida sun) Do you need to redecorate your entire house with new Disney souvenirs from this trip or are free souvenirs and photos on your phone all the memories you need?
Just like anything else in life, you have options. A family of four could drop $10,000 for a July 4th holiday week at a Deluxe Villa Resort Hotel with park hoppers, memory makers, and more, or that same family could take a week in September, visiting one park a day for a total of $3,500 while still getting the benefits of staying on property. I have recommendations on how to maximize those spent dollars, all of which you can find here, but ultimately you can do what you want.
Where should I stay when I go to Walt Disney World?
How long should we stay at Disney?
However long you want! Disney properties are called Disney Resorts for a reason. Yes, the main attractions for most Disney Resort guests are the theme parks, but there are so many things to do outside of those parks when you visit a Disney Resort. Walt Disney World alone has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, but you can also explore Disney Springs, the Boardwalk, and eat more food than you could imagine.
With all that being said, I highly recommend a minimum of 4 days at Walt Disney World for your first trip, but in reality it all depends on your goals for the trip. Do you want to experience every attraction at every park? Do you want to explore all of Disney’s 25 Resort Hotels? Do you want to try all the Disney Parks food you saw on TikTok when planning your trip?
How many parks are there?
Across the globe, there are 6 Disney Resorts with 12 theme parks. Additionally, operates a fleet of 6 Disney Cruise Line Ships, Adventures by Disney, Disney Vacation Club, and even a Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i called, Aulani. But let’s not get carried away while you’re planning your first trip. Maybe you’ll visit those other locations in the future.
As Disney’s largest Resort, Walt Disney World alone has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. The parks are Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT. Yes, whether you take an entire day for each park or you decide to use a Park Hopper, you should definitely plan to visit them all.
Do I need a Theme Park Reservation?
No. As of January 9, 2024, the COVID-19 holdover system of Walt Disney World theme park reservations will no longer be active.
Between the resort’s reopening in 2020 and 2024, valid Theme Park Reservations were required for entry into WDW parks along with theme park tickets.
What is a Park Hopper? Is it worth it?
The Park Hopper Ticket Add-On allows you to visit multiple parks on each valid park day. Sound simple? It really is!
**With the January 9th, 2024 end of the Theme Park Reservation system that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, Park Hoppers are no longer limited to 2PM after entry into a park with a valid Theme Park Reservation.
What is Genie+? Should I buy it?
The Disney Genie+ add-on allows users to use Lightning Lanes to bypass the standby queue for most park attractions and entertainment experiences. While that sounds exciting, you can only have a set number of reservations at any given time and some attractions, typically the most in-demand ones at any specific park, are not included and have their own Individual Lightning Lane pricing. There are a lot of tips across the internet for how to use it well, but here’s a few to start. Also, the add-on is an extension of the complimentary Disney Genie service that helps you to plan your park days, so even if you don’t make the purchase, you can still use this base service for free.
Should you get the add-on? The answer to this question is a little less clear. We’ve had pretty positive experiences with it, but I honestly don’t buy it that often. Generally speaking, I’d say on moderate to high traffic days, or on a single day trip like this one, it can be useful if you’re willing to put in the effort to maximize the benefits. However, I encourage people to plan trips around slower park times, and during those seasons it’s not nearly as valuable. Though, the best part about Genie+ is that you don’t have to make this decision until each park day, so it’s worth a try for a day to see how you like it. If it makes a difference for you then go for it, but I’d prefer to use that cash on a few Spring Rolls instead.
What is a Memory Maker and should I pay for Photo Pass?
Memory Makers are Disney Cast Members that operate as professional photographers spread all throughout Disney resorts. If you have a Photo Pass linked to your trip, you can approach any of these Cast Members, at any point, with any number of people and get professional photos from your trip! Additionally, they can throw in a little Disney Magic and add some Disney characters to your party.
You’ll definitely make a ton of memories on your own during a trip to a Disney Resort, but if you want to fill your house with professional photos from all across the Resort, invest in Photo Pass for your trip! Not only do you get access to Memory Makers for your whole vacation, but you also get all those goofy photos of your party screaming on the Tower Terror. In my opinion, the ease of getting everyone in a photo without having to direct all the traffic yourself is incredibly valuable for most people who visit Disney Resorts, especially if you have a large party to share the cost! I personally, don’t get one every time I visit a park, but if there are specific trips or family group trips that I want to document, and for those, the cost of a Photo Pass is definitely worth it!
Disney is for kids. Why do you even want to go?
A lot of experiences at Disney Resorts are themed for children, but not everything is centered around them. Whether you want to ride thrill rides that make you feel like you’re flying over Pandora, sample food and beverages from around the World at EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival, or relax in your Resort Hotel for weeks, Disney Resorts have something for everyone. We will always be advocates of anyone who chooses to enjoy their lives however they see fit.
What's your favorite thing at Walt Disney World?
There are so many exciting experiences at Walt Disney World, but the Happily Ever After show is the most important thing during our trips to Walt Disney World. It’s so important, that we took a day trip down when the original run of the show was closing.
Can you plan my trip for me?
There are a lot of Disney travel agents to be found online, but that’s not really the purpose of this site. Here at Disney Know How, we prefer to coach others on how to maximize their own Disney experiences.
We do offer a premium service that includes one-on-one consulting via video calls if you’d like to check that out, though.
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Do you have a different answer to the questions about? Are we missing a question you think is most important when discussing a trip to Walt Disney World? Or, would you just like to share something unexpected from your first Disney Vacation?
Either way, comment below so we can expand all the Disney Know How!