Disney World Tips for Getting Ready for Your Trip – Go Informed Podcast Episode 017
Episode 17: Disney World Tips to Help You Get Ready for Your Trip
In this episode, I share lots of tips for how to get ready for your visit to Walt Disney World. You’ll hear advice for planning your trip, what to buy before you get there, and how to prepare for your time in the parks.
These are the show notes for episode 17. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.
Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.
This is day 9 of the Go Informed podcast series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation.
Top Disney World Tips To Help You Get Ready for Your Trip
Tip #1: Do Your Research
Listening to these 10 episodes is a good start!
Get a good guidebook. Here’s my Disney World recommended reading list.
Pinterest is an excellent place to search for, and discover, online information about your trip to Disney World. Here’s a link to my Disney World board on Pinterest.
And here is Go Informed podcast episode 22 where I discuss my favorite Disney World podcasts.
YouTube is also a good place to get Disney World information, including ride videos. If you’re not sure if your kids will be OK on some of the rides, watch the video with your kids ahead of time and find out what you can expect.
Tip #2: Make a Plan
Start thinking about what you want to do and see. What experiences are important to you? What kind of schedule do you want to be on?
Be careful not to overschedule.
Check out a crowd calendar. TouringPlans.com has an amazing crowd prediction system.
Get help if you need it. A travel agent can handle all the details of your planning, at no extra cost to you, and may even save you money.
Tip #3: Buy Your Park Ticket in Advance
Learn all about Disney World park ticket options in this post.
You need to have a park ticket before you make your FastPass+ reservations.
Decide whether you need a single-park ticket or a Park Hopper ticket.
Tip #4: Make Your Dining and FastPass+ Reservations as Far in Advance as Possible
Episode 12 is all about dining & FastPass+ reservations.
Episode 27 shows you how to use a breakfast reservation to get into an empty Disney World park.
Tip #5: Start Training for Your Trip
You are going to spend a lot of time on your feet at Disney World, and will walk around 10-12 miles every day! Start walking, and be sure to include your travel companions in this training too.
Get yourself some shoes that you could run a marathon in. And make sure you have comfortable socks and clothing too.
Decide if you need to rent a stroller or a scooter.
Tip #6: Count Down to Your Trip
You can use a countdown app or make a calendar or a paper chain.
Add some of your trip excitement into the holidays with a Disney World themed Christmas stocking or Easter basket.
Tip #7: Get Your Whole Crew Informed About Disney World
Share information with your traveling companions to help them get excited and on the same page about what to expect.
Share some of these 10 episodes with your buddies. You can share from your favorite podcast app, or send links to any of the episodes from here:
Disney World Commonly Used Words and Phrases
Disney World Dining and FastPass+ Reservations
Disney World Magic Kingdom Tour
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Tour
Disney World Tips For Getting Ready For Your Trip
Tips for Your First Day in the Disney World Parks
Get a guidebook for the members of your travel group. A few books I recommend to help get visitors excited and educated about Disney World:
Birnbaum’s Official Guide to Walt Disney World
Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World for Kids
Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids
And be sure to include your kids in the planning for your trip as much as possible.
Tip #8: Decide if You Want to Purchase the Memory Maker Photo Package
Buy Memory Maker in advance so it’s all good to go. Here’s Disney’s Memory Maker information.
Tip #9: Watch the Weather Forecast and Prepare for the Weather
Know what the weather typically looks like for the time of year you’re visiting. Orlando weather can be volatile so be sure to keep an eye on the forecast as your trip dates approach.
Here is my post about dealing with the summer weather at Disney World.
Episode 24 is my Orlando Summer Gear Guide. Be sure to give it a listen if you’ll be traveling between about May-October.
Episode 28 is my Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips.
Tip #10: Purchase Some Supplies Before You Get to Disney World
If you’ll be visiting Orlando in any of the summer months, you will need to have a poncho. Disney World has ponchos for sale, but you can buy a much nicer poncho for less money when you shop ahead. Here is an Amazon link to the poncho we use.
A personal fan is really nice to have along on a hot Florida day.
Check out my Orlando Summer Gear Guide for more advice about supplies to help you cope with the summer heat and rain.
Wet Ones antibacterial wipes are a convenient way to help keep germs at bay at Disney World.
Think about getting a backpack for each member of your group. A backpack is a handy way to carry supplies for the day and to keep your souvenirs secure on the roller coasters. We use a simple drawstring backpack like this – it’s lightweight, folds up small in our luggage, and holds our mouse ears and jackets perfectly.
Anything you buy for your trip can be given as a gift. Click here for my top gift suggestions for Disney World travelers.
Tip #11: Watch the Movies
Movie night is a fun way to get ready for your trip. Some of the most common movie references you’ll find in the Disney World parks are:
Tip #12: Check-in Before You Go
If you stay in a Disney-run hotel, you can check-in several weeks before your trip, allowing you to skip the hotel’s front desk completely. Disney texts you your room number and you use your Magic Band as the key. Here’s Disney’s info about online check-in.
Tip #13: Download Apps
Get your phone ready for your Disney World trip by downloading the apps you’ll need.
Uber Here’s a discount promo code for your first ride with Uber: 5YJ9X
Tip #14: Check the Park Schedules
Park schedules can change, even the day before. Keep an eye on the park opening and closing times.
Tip #15: Set Realistic Expections
Talk with your fellow travelers to make sure you’re on the same page about what you’ll be doing on your Disney World trip. And stay flexible – not everything will go according to plan, no matter how prepared you are.
Tip #16: Don’t Arrive Exhausted
Do your best to arrive rested. And give yourself and your kids a break if you start your trip tired.
Tip #17: Charge Your Phone
You will need a full battery in the parks.
Tip #18: Don’t Forget Your Magic Band or Park Ticket
We wear our Magic Bands on the plane so we know we haven’t left them behind.
Comment Below
Do you have any more tips to add? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes
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Tomorrow’s episode, Day 10 of 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation, is all about what to expect on your first day in the Disney World parks. Click here to listen now.
Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World
55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World
Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip
The guidebook I recommend: Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
My Walt Disney World board on Pinterest
The Go Informed Podcast
Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.
Find all episodes of the Go Informed podcast here.
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