33 Disney World Tips and Secrets Every Visitor Should Know, According to Experts

Disney isn't a cheap vacation (though it is possible to do on somewhat of a budget). But you don't have to pay everything up front. "You can book a Walt Disney World vacation package with just a $200 deposit. You can then make payments towards the remaining balance anytime as long as the package is paid in full 30 days prior to arrival," Siera Duiser, a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, tells us. "Future discounts can also be applied, so you don't have to worry about booking too early and missing out on any discounts or special offers."

You can still score great deals at Sam's Club as a part of their travel and entertainment service. Right now, you can score up to $80 off theme park tickets and up to 15% off water park tickets. You can also find deals for special events like Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.

Disney's ticket-booking system is not the most straightforward. You not only have to buy a ticket, but you also have to make a reservation for a specific date — these actions are separate, so make sure you do both! "Park reservations can fill up, particularly during popular travel times like spring break and holidays. You do not want to arrive at the parks only to be turned away because you do not have a park reservation," Lauren King, a travel advisor with Key to the World Travel and blogger at The Palmetto Mom, tells us.

Disney doesn't always do sales, but when it does, you better jump on them! Even if you've already booked your trip, Disney might retroactively apply the promotion for you. "When new promotions from Disney come out, like the recent Disney+ subscriber discount, it's a great opportunity to save hundreds of dollars on your Disney vacation," Jonathan de Araujo, owner of The Vacationeer Travel Agency, a Platinum level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner agency, tells us. "Even if you've already booked, you can call in and ask for the new promotion, and you can save a lot of money, or get a really nice room upgrade instead."

There's no shortage of accommodations near Walt Disney World, but for the most seamless experience, it's best to stay at a Disney hotel. "Not only are you in the 'Disney bubble,' but you can take advantage of Disney transportation, early morning magic hours, and much more," Kim Swanson, a travel agent with Magical Moments Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, tells us.

All Disney hotels are hooked up to Disney's extensive (and free!) bus, boat, and monorail system to shuttle you anywhere you need to go on the property, so you can forget about dealing with parking.

And the early access to the parks is a game-changer. "By making the most of this extra half an hour, we got on the following rides very quickly with most of them being a straight walk on: Avatar Flight of Passage and Navi River Journey at Animal Kingdom, Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Hollywood Studios, and Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom," Phil Dengler of TheVacationer.com tell us.

Planning a Disney trip can be a stressful experience for first-time visitors — or even returning ones. Not only is there the burden of planning your schedule for the day, but you also have to navigate rules about entry tickets and special reservations. "Disney is constantly changing, and I can't tell you how many people I've seen miss major changes like the current requirement for park reservations," travel agent Amanda Emmerling of Toddling Traveler tells us.

That's where Authorized Disney Vacation Planners come in — they can help you navigate all the difficulties of planning a Disney trip, as they're up-to-date on the policies. And they can even score you discounts.

"With so many changes happening rapidly in the travel industry these days, it's important to have someone working with you to help avoid some of the pitfalls," travel agent Chuck Lionberger of MEI-Travel and the blog DisneyDaddy tells us. "Many travel agents, like me and my colleagues at MEI-Travel, operate with no fees, so that means our services come at NO extra cost to the client. Seriously. If someone books directly with a supplier or books with me, they're paying the same price, but I can act on the client's behalf and save the client lots of time and, potentially, lots of money because I can access offers and rates that aren't available to the general public."

"This app brings convenience to your Disney World trip. Here, you can check the current wait times for attractions, see parade times, place mobile orders, and make reservations," Ashley P. from Disney Parks Moms Panel tells us. In other words, you'll be lost without it. Seriously.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

"Bring a portable phone charger as so much of the Disney logistics take place on the app: property maps, dining reservations, mobile ordering, mobile park passes, Genie +, etc.," Disney-certified travel advisor Kate Johnson tells us. If you forget to pack one, you can buy them at the park for $30 plus tax. Find all the kiosk locations here.

Reservations are a must at Disney restaurants, but you'll want to make them as soon as they're available. "Be sure to get your restaurant dining reservations at 6 a.m, 60 days before check-in, because the popular restaurants will fill up within minutes," says de Araujo.

But if you miss that window, don't worry — cancellations do happen. Try checking the morning of your desired dining day, or utilize the expertise of your travel advisor. "We use a custom-built app to find available dining reservations when people cancel them," says de Araujo.

Meeting characters requires serious patience. To guarantee that you'll leave Disney World with an autograph and photo with your favorite character, get a reservation at a restaurant with character dining. "If you have a little princess traveling with you, try a meal fit for royalty inside Cinderella Castle at Cinderella's Royal Table," Jessica B. from Disney Parks Moms Panel tells us. "A buffet breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Tusker House Restaurant is a great chance to meet the Fab Five all in once place."

Rope drop is a common term for Disney regulars. FYI: It's the moment that theme parks open for the day a.k.a. your golden hours. "The first two hours of any park day are when the attraction lines tend to be the lowest," Karyn Locke, the blogger behind Sand And Snow, tells us. "As a family, we've hit at least 10 rides in the first two hours!"

FastPass and FastPass+ were Disney's former line-cutting systems, but they've been phased out in favor of Genie+. "Those who remember Disney's free FastPass program might be surprised to learn the program has been replaced with paid options to avoid the worst of the lines. Most rides are included in a multi-ride offering called Genie+, which allows you to reserve multiple attraction return times throughout the day for a single $15 fee per person," Jaimie Michaels of MagicGuides tells us. "Some of the most popular rides are available separately for pay-per-ride access that costs around $7–15 per person. Of course, you can always wait in the regular standby line for no charge, but budgeting a bit extra for these paid options can help you save 1 to 2 hours or more of waiting per ride on busy days."

Just because you weren't able to snag a Genie+ line-cutting pass for Avatar Flight of Passage doesn't mean you should just give up on it altogether. If you go to Tusker House Restaurant for breakfast before the park opens, you can beeline to the ride before most guests have entered the park. "Even if the park isn't open to the public yet, you're allowed to line up and be among the very first guests to board an attraction," Anne Marie R. from Disney Parks Moms Panel shares. Same goes for all other Disney World parks.

"To save money, take snacks and water into the parks. Yes, you are allowed to do this," Mariah Street, a former travel agent and current YouTube creator (Mariah's Whole New World) with a focus on Disney, tells us. "That way, if you do choose to dine at restaurants while at Disney, you can save your money for those experiences and not waste them on snacks and whatnot here and there, which can — and will — add up quickly."

Even if you skip the snacks, make sure to bring water. "Water is one of the most overpriced items at the park. Even if you do not bring your own, you can ask for a cup of ice at any quick-service restaurant and get complimentary water," Sondra Barker of Cuisine and Travel tells us.

Here's what Disney says about its BYO food and drink policy: "Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverage items into the park for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control and do not have pungent odors."

While a money saver, the Disney Dining Plan can sometimes limit your food choices. If you're more of a snacking family, trade in an unused quick-service meal for snacks so you can sample your way through Epcot's World Showcase or get your popcorn fix. "Your resort's front desk can convert a quick-service credit into three separate snack credits," Anne Marie tells us. One thing to note: You have to use all three snack credits in one transaction, so plan wisely.

If you're visiting Walt Disney World for your birthday, anniversary, or any other big celebration, pop by guest services to get a free button that lets everyone know you're a special guest. "Not only is it a free souvenir, but Disney staff love to help you celebrate. Often free items are given out on birthdays, especially desserts during lunch and dinner. Sometimes they will even give the person celebrating a card signed by the characters and other small gifts," Lanie van der Horst of Make More Adventures tells us.

Depending on where you stay, half the battle is just getting to and from the parks. "One of the best ways to avoid the crowds at the buses and make the most of your time is to combine Hollywood Studios and Epcot into one day," Rochelle and Melanie of Polka Dots & Pixie Dust tells us. "These two parks are connected via the Disney Boardwalk and a short walkway." Added bonus: If you stay at one of the Disney Boardwalk Resorts, you're even closer to the action.

Disney offers a Park Hopper pass that allows you to visit multiple parks in one day. But many Disney travel experts advise against purchasing one for most travelers. "While the Park Hopper option sounds great in theory, I believe it is rarely worth the additional costs and planning," says Phil Dengler. "I recommend strategically planning your trips to the four parks to see everything possible in a single day. Otherwise, you will waste time moving from one park to the other, and that is especially difficult if you have young children."

There's something magical about watching the fireworks light up Cinderella's castle, but if you're short on patience — or elbow room — view the nightly display from an alternate location. "The bridge to Tomorrowland gives you a clear view of everything and Tinker Bell flies directly over your head," Anne Marie shares. "Otherwise, stand behind Cinderella Castle near Prince Charming Regal Carrousel or near the ferry dock at the Transportation and Ticket Center to get a picture-perfect view."

While the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are a must-see, there's one big perk of skipping the show: shorter lines for rides. "Ride your favorite rides during the fireworks. It feels like you have the entire park to yourself since almost anyone is in front of the castle for the fireworks," Cristy Stewart-Harfmann of HappyFamilyBlog tells us.