It is time to relive feeling like a kid all over again and plan your first trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Filled with internal theme rides and attractions adapted from movies like Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story, and Mission to Mars and Disney characters, there are days and days’ worth of activity for fun-lovers of all age brackets.
Just to keep this amusement park in perspective of how much bigger it is than the other ones that you have experienced, Disney World is the size of San Francisco. Therefore, if you enter Disney World assuming you will get to do everything that it has to offer in one trip, the odds are stacked against you (unless you don’t have to leave anytime soon).
Before you step foot in this massive oasis of outdoor magic to stimulate all five of your senses, consider these ten things when you are planning your trip to Disney World.
Get Ready to Walk and Wait
As a first-time visitor to Disney World, make sure that you realize that there is a considerable amount of walking that you will be doing. For a full day at the theme park, you are looking at approximately 20,000 steps, which means wear comfortable shoes and take frequent rest breaks.
When you aren’t walking, you will most likely be waiting to get on rides, standing in line for food and souvenirs at the gift shops.
Have a Plan for the Park
As someone who is going to Disney World for the first time ever, or you haven’t been there in decades and barely remember the details, research all the important attractions and the rides that you and your family want to partake in to create your own plan to make it possible to getting everything checked off your checklist.
This way, you can also have an idea of what kind of food there is, where eateries are located within the park, and where you should begin and end your day to make the best use of your time.
Be Prepared to Pay
Overall, the prices at Walt Disney World are most likely higher than what you are used to when it comes to purchasing food and snacks back home.
Be sure to factor in all of these added costs when you are budgeting your trip. Don’t forget about packing toiletries, medicine, or sundries because if you buy them at a Disney gift shop, you’ll be paying premium prices, for sure.
Factor in Extra Travel Time
Even for a fast group of people, you should still schedule 45 minutes to travel to, from, or in-between the parks inside Walt Disney World. Add extra time with children, elderly family members, or a large number of people traveling with you.
Disney Experience App
Download the My Disney Experience app, also called the Disney World app, to have the ability to view ride wait times, Mobile Order your food, and have a look at park maps.
Phone Charger and Battery Pack
Along with the wise choice to use luggage storage in Disney World to keep your hands free and your feet from getting even more tired from the added weight, you should carry a phone charger and a battery pack on you during your days in the amusement park.
By using the My Disney Experience app for many aspects of your vacation at Walt Disney World, be sure that your phone remains well charged. Having a portable battery pack and charging cord will definitely come in handy.
Banned Items
Make sure that you are aware of the items that are banned from being brought to Walt Disney World. Obviously, weapons of any kind aren’t allowed to be carried. There are no noisemakers or glass containers allowed unless they are jars of baby food.
Strollers and coolers need to be able to fit within the designated size guidelines. Folding chairs and selfie sticks are absolutely also not allowed and will be taken away from you if you attempt to bring them inside.
No Smoking
All of the Disney World theme parks are smoke-free, and if you wish to smoke or vape, you will have to completely leave the park and go to a designated area outside of the gates. If you don’t follow these rules, you may be asked to vacate the premises.
Stay Hydrated
Getting dehydrated and staying hydrated is a major issue at Disney World, especially during the incredibly hot summer months. Remember, this is Orlando, Florida, so heat is a common occurrence.
While running around from attraction to attraction, it is really easy to get distracted and forget about drinking water. There are free cups of ice water at Disney’s Quick Service restaurants and bottle refill stations all around the resort, so bring your own water, or you will have to pay a hefty amount for water bottles all day long.