7 Must-Know Disney World Tips and Tricks

Published on 1st April 2020

Every year, 157 million people around the world visit Walt Disney parks to build memories that’ll last a lifetime. Disney is truly the most magical place on Earth.

Walt Disney World in Orlando is the most visited of all their locations and features a total of six theme parks to choose from: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, and the Typhoon Lagoon Water Parks.

There’s something to do for every member of the family.

No matter how you visit Disney World, you’re going to have a great time. But, by planning you can simplify your experience, save a little cash and ensure you’re spending more time with your loved ones.

Below we have compiled a list of seven Disney World tips and tricks about MagicBands, Disney Dining Plans, FastPasses, park transportation, nightly fireworks shows and finding the Hidden Mickeys to help with planning your trip.

Pick Up a Convenient Disney MagicBand

Would you like to combine your credit card, room key, park ticket and FastPass into one convenient wristband? That's what Disney's MagicBand does.

MagicBands are included with the price of admission for Annual Passholders and guests staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, but if you’re a last-minute visitor you can also purchase one for a low price.

These customizable bands are a game-changer. Learn how to use a MagicBand at Disney World to make your experience simple and easy.

Consider a Disney Dining Plan For Your Stay

Most Disney Parks are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Meals are something you’ll want to plan for, especially if you’re spending all day in the park. Buying food ad hoc can get costly.

Walt Disney World offers guests the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) to simplify food choices and help guests potentially save money. DDP is a prepaid meal plan allowing families to budget ahead of time and operate on credits through their MagicBand.

The DDP can only be purchased by guests staying on property at Disney and doesn’t include gratuity, but it’s described online as fairly all-inclusive. This spring the DDP also started including alcohol in some of its plans!

FastPasses: Disney World Tips and Tricks for Rides

What’s a FastPass? This is Disney’s ride reservation program. Wait times for popular rides can be an hour or more, meaning your family will spend most of the day standing in long lines.

Disney Parks now offer the FastPass+ so guests can book what timeframe they would like to ride and only have to wait in a fast-tracked line for a few minutes. Order your FastPass+ in advance of your trip because the most popular rides “sell-out” quickly.”

Download the My Disney Experience app to purchase your FastPass+ up to 60 days before your trip. The Disney blog recommends signing in to the app at 7 a.m. sharp on your 60-day mark to make ride reservations.

Tips for Disney World Park Transportation

Pack your most comfortable sneakers because walking is the preferred method of transportation at Walt Disney World. Walking between parks takes 30 minutes on average but Disney has other ways to get from one place to another.

Bus transportation leaves the resort hotels every 20 minutes and guests can monitor wait times through the My Disney Experience app. The monorail also stops at all parks.

Some guests use ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft to travel between parks, while others call traditional taxis or rent a car during their stay. Disney also offers themed “Minnie Vans” that can take you from point-to-point.

Boats and water taxis remain Disney’s best-kept transportation secret and the Skyliner Gondolas opened at the end of 2019.

Where to Watch Disney’s Nightly Fireworks Shows

After an exciting day of attractions, nothing is better than relaxing with your family and watching one of Disney’s famous fireworks shows.

Both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot typically have fireworks every day after 9 p.m. and you can see them from the resorts and nearby parts of Orlando.

Epcot’s IllumiNations can be seen from the Boardwalk Resort. The ESPN Club on the boardwalk is by far the best place to see the fireworks display. To see the Magic Kingdom’s firework show, sit on the beach behind Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

Believe it or not, you can also find a great view of the fireworks from the Transportation Center, down by the Ferry Dock.

Finding the Hidden Mickeys

Did you know that there are little Hidden Mickeys across Disney World? Trying to find them all can be a fun scavenger hunt for your family.

A Hidden Mickey is a partial or complete impression of Mickey Mouse that blends into designs across Disney Parks. Imagineers started adding them in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a way to subvert the idea that only Mickey and Minnie belonged in the Magic Kingdom.

Finding a Hidden Mickey has exploded in popularity as competitive guests snap pictures and post their discoveries on social media. A Hidden Mickey scavenger hunt app is available for iPhones.

May guests even submit their Hidden Mickey pictures to be featured by the writers of the official guidebook.

Packing for Your Disney Trip

Remember you’re going on vacation to have fun and destress, so don’t let the idea of packing for your Disney trip get you anxious. Here is a useful checklist to help you pack:

Check the weather ahead of time and pack accordingly.
Pack your essential toiletries and extra sunscreen.
Bring comfortable shoes.
Don’t overpack so you have room to bring home souvenirs.
Bring a reusable water bottle.

Don’t worry if you forgot something. Disney resorts have gift shops with basic travel necessities or you could visit a convenience store in nearby Orlando.

Use a Travel Agency to Book Your Disney Vacation

By now you’ve read nearly all of our Disney World tips and tricks. Are you ready to book that dream vacation? Kalilei Vacations is a travel agency that can book your entire experience from start to finish. Their planning services are free and they’ll match any travel packages you find cheaper online.

Customers who book with Kalilei have peace of mind knowing that the Customer Service Department is available 24/7 to answer questions or assist with any issues.

Kalilei specializes in booking client vacations to Disney, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Mexico, the Bahamas and more, and they offer amazing travel incentives for businesses.

Visit them online now to browse vacation packages or learn more tips and tricks for traveling.