A First Timer's Guide to the Walt Disney World Resort

So you’ve finally decided to take the leap and plan your first trip to the Walt Disney World Resort... exciting, right? But then comes the big question: where do you even start? Don’t worry, that’s totally normal. This beginner-friendly guide walks you through the basics — from planning and transportation to dining, rides, and everything in between. Whether it’s your very first visit or you haven’t been in years, here’s what you should know before heading off on your magical vacation.

Located near Orlando, Walt Disney World is massive. It includes four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom — plus two water parks, Disney Springs for shopping and dining, sports and recreation options, and more than 25 resort hotels. It’s basically a vacation destination all on its own.

And when we say big, we mean big. Walt Disney World spans over 27,000 acres — it’s practically its own city. That’s part of what makes it so exciting; there’s always something to do. But it also means you’ll need to plan a little more carefully, especially when it comes to getting around. If you’re used to the smaller, more walkable Disneyland Resort in California, the size difference can be surprising.

One of the first things to figure out is when you want to go. For most families, that depends on school breaks and work schedules — and if you’re on vacation, chances are lots of other families are too. Expect bigger crowds and higher ticket prices during spring break, summer, and the holiday season. Planning around those peak times can make a big difference in both your budget and your overall experience.

My Disney Experience App

With all of your planning, the My Disney Experience app is going to be your new best friend! The app allows you to manage tickets, view ride wait times, use Disney Genie to customize your itinerary, book dining and more. Before making any other plans, you'll want to CLICK HERE to download the MY DISNEY EXPERIENCE app, as this will also be your lifeline to:

• Make Reservations

• Mobile Food Ordering

• Lightning Lane Bookings

• Park Maps

• Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane (If you buy them)

  
  

Ticket Options

Through the My Disney Experience App, you'll want to make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. You don't want to lose crucial minutes sorting your tickets at the park entrance. Base tickets allow you to visit one theme park per day, while the Park Hopper option allows you to visit multiple parks in one day. Remember that a park pass reservation may be required for select non-dated tickets, such as the Disney Military Salute Ticket, which is offered to members of the U.S. military. Park hopping is available all day, so you can head to your next park as early as you would like!

AT THE  PARK

You can also use the My Disney Experience app to enter the theme parks. At any point before your visit, iPhone and Apple Watch users, as well as those with select Android devices can create a MagicMobile pass, allowing you to add your tickets to your digital wallet. Simply tap your phone to the turnstiles and you are good to go! To create this pass:

• Open the My Disney Experience app and click on the three-line icon at the bottom right-hand corner. Scroll down until you see "Set Up MagicMobile Entry."

• On the next page, click "Set Up Your Pass" and then, if applicable, select who you'd like to set up this pass for. Check all that apply.

• Customize your design and then "Add to Wallet." You can hold tickets in your wallet for anyone in your party.

You can also use a MagicBand+ wristband to “tap” in. If need be, head to Guest Relations and a cast member can help you get a physical card. All of these methods are interchangeable and act as your park ticket. You can also use them to enter Lightning Lanes, link photos, charge purchases to the room and more...you can even use them as your "room key."

WHERE TO STAY

When planning out your first time at Disney World, you'll want to think about where you would like to stay during your vacation and how you will get around the large resort. There are many "on-site" resort hotel options as well as other nearby options with the Disney Good Neighbor hotels. 

Resort Hotels

If planning a fully immersive Disney World vacation, you may consider staying at one of the many Walt Disney World resort hotels. With a variety of value, moderate and deluxe resorts, there is something for everyone! Bask in the charming luxury of a European-inspired hotel at Disney's Riveria Resort. Or, have the kids channel their inner adventurer at the Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.

Aside from the ambiance, there are lots of benefits to staying on-site at a Disney World Resort hotel, as well. You are fully immersed in the Disney atmosphere and have quicker access to the parks. You receive extra perks such as early entry or early bookings of individual Lightning Lane selections. Guests staying on property can book Lightning Lane Single Pass or Multi Pass up to seven days before their arrival. Guests off-site can book up to three days in advance.

While you're at your resort, check out the on-site activities, especially if you have little ones. You’ll find Movies Under the Stars, poolside games, campfires and more! There's nothing quite like the magic that comes from staying on Disney World property!

TRANSPORTATION

With such a large resort, there are also lots of complimentary transportation options. Depending on your location, you can travel by bus, boat, monorail or Skyliner. Allow for extra travel time, especially waiting for the next bus to arrive. Usually, they run every 20-25 minutes. You can also travel to all areas of the resort via car. However, keep in mind you will need to pay for parking at the theme parks. Check out our complete guide to Walt Disney World Transportation for more details!

There are so many fun things to do at Disney World! From attractions and shows to parades and characters, your first time at Disney World is sure to be packed with magical memories.

Each of the theme parks offers a wide variety of rides. There are thrilling new attractions featuring characters from more modern films, as well as original attractions adults will surely remember from their childhood. There are even fully immersive lands to enjoy, including Pandora: The World of Avatar and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. For those with young kids, check out our Height Requirements and Child Swap guide to know which attractions your kiddos can ride.

While most people think of the rides when they think of Disney, you won't want to miss the high-quality entertainment Disney World offers. There are lots of stage shows and parades that help bring the stories to life. End the night with nighttime spectaculars at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios. You'll also have plenty of chances to meet your favorite characters...check out our Disney Character Corner for tips and a full list of characters!

With so much to enjoy, there's no way to do everything in one trip. To help with your wishlist, we’ve made highlights of our top rides, food/drink and experiences you won’t want to miss at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

DISNEY GENIE

Disney Genie really is a friend unlike any other when visiting Disney World for the first time. Accessible on the My Disney Experience app, it offers guests customized itineraries to make the most of their magical day at the parks. Upon opening your app, look for "Start Here to Plan Your Day!" and click the button to get started. Check off what you'd like to experience that day and let Disney Genie's magic go to work for you. This free tool is great at letting you know what you should check out and when.

Lightning Lane 

And while we're talking about things that will make your day at the parks a breeze, look no further than Lighting Lane. This paid system has recently been upgraded to include Single Pass, Multi Pass and Premier Pass. Single Pass lets you skip the line or virtual queue and ride in-demand attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Muti Pass also lets you skip the line at most attractions in the park. However, you will have to book your arrival windows for each attraction throughout the day. Both of these systems cost money and the rate fluctuates according to the time of year and demand. Most recently, Disney World introduced the Premier Pass. This is the most expensive option but combines the best of both worlds of the Single Pass and Multi Pass. With it, you can bypass the lines and show anytime you want, no arrival window needed.

DINING AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

Saving the best for last, FOOD! There are tons of great dining options at Disney World. Table-service restaurants do require a reservation, which can be made 60 days in advance. If unable to get any ahead of time, you can always snag a last-minute reservation or join a walk-up list via the My Disney Experience app. Character dining is a great combination of a sit-down meal and meeting characters as they journey to each table. You can’t go wrong with Mickey waffles while snagging a photo with the mouse himself at Chef Mickey's!

There are plenty of great quick-service restaurant options, so you don’t have to worry about reservations. Though not required, Mobile Ordering is available for many quick-service locations via the My Disney Experience app. You can place your order and pay in the app, and then receive a notification to pick up your food once ready. Grabbing a Mickey pretzel from the Lunching Pad has never been easier!

Here are some of our top quick-service recommendations to get you started:

Magic Kingdom — Casey’s Corner (corn dog nuggets), The Friar’s Nook (mac and cheese hand pie), Aloha Isle (Dole Whips!)

EPCOT — global food kiosks during EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Hollywood Studios — Anything in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (especially the Ronto Wraps), Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land

Animal Kingdom — Satu’li Canteen in Pandora (build-your-own protein bowls), Harambe Market in Africa (salads, chicken and rice bowls)

PACKING

Not sure what to pack? We’ve got you covered! Don’t forget good walking shoes as you will definitely rack up your step count at Disney World. The average guest walks between 20,000 and 30,000 steps at Magic Kingdom alone! Depending on when you visit, you will most likely also need a poncho or umbrella to deal with the Florida rainy weather. Florida's rainy season is usually between May and October, so expect showers and storms this time of year the most. We also recommend bringing a portable charger, pain reliever, band-aids, extra socks and a reusable water bottle, but nothing glass. Check out our "What's In Your Disney Bag" blog for some more ideas.

Here are some additional tips for your first time at Disney World.

• There are photographers throughout the resort that can take your photo, including when meeting characters. Photos will link to your account but you would need to purchase a photo package to download them. If you plan on taking a lot of photos, we recommend purchasing Memory Maker for unlimited photo downloads. 

• Above all else, take a breath and have fun! You deserve to enjoy the magic too.

We hope this helped plan out a first-time trip to Disney World! Let us know if you have any questions or want to share even more tips for first-time planners.