Disney Touring 101 - Walt Disney World and Disneyland advice that is actually accurate
There is no way to put all the advice you need for Disney into one page. This is especially true given how many different variables are at play. However, this page of simple tips may help you get started in your planning. Needless to say, full-fledged planning using Optimal Magic will mean you do much more, and wait in far fewer lines than just spending a couple of hours reading free tips online.
That being said, these tips are a great "start" to planning a Disney trip. While they won't keep you out of all the lines and make the perfect trip, they will help.
That being said, these tips are a great "start" to planning a Disney trip. While they won't keep you out of all the lines and make the perfect trip, they will help.
What types of visitors do you get at Walt Disney World and Disneyland?
Before we get into the actual tips, let's look at why it's important. Take a look at the pyramid to the right - it represents the types of visitors who go to the Disney parks. Let's talk through each of them, from the bottom-up:
The Clueless Masses - these are the folks who arrive at the park at noon, and then try to figure out what to do. They wait an hour for Peter Pan or two hours for Toy Story Midway Mania. Or they are people who simply accept crowds as a part of Disney, but it doesn't bother them.
The "Know It Alls" - These folks may have been to Disney a few times. Or they've read some guidebooks or heard tips from friends. They claim to know "lots of secrets" for Disney. The truth of the matter is they aren't even close to touring optimally - they may skip a line or two, but still end up in long lines or skip attractions with long waits.
Hard Core Researchers - These folks spend 40 (or more) hours researching their trips. They're pretty good at avoiding most lines, but at the expense of hours and hours of planning (and often driving their families crazy).
Optimal Magic Customers - Optimal Magic customers are at the very top of the pyramid. They don't wait in any long lines, they're seeing everything they want to see, and they're not spending stressful hours planning!
If you follow all the tips in the article, you'll move to the "Know It Alls" category - unlike many of them, you won't receive bad advice in this article - everything I mention is accurate. But you're still going to be waiting in some lines or missing some top attractions unless you use this as a kickoff point for far more research, or you let Optimal Magic do the work for you.
The Clueless Masses - these are the folks who arrive at the park at noon, and then try to figure out what to do. They wait an hour for Peter Pan or two hours for Toy Story Midway Mania. Or they are people who simply accept crowds as a part of Disney, but it doesn't bother them.
The "Know It Alls" - These folks may have been to Disney a few times. Or they've read some guidebooks or heard tips from friends. They claim to know "lots of secrets" for Disney. The truth of the matter is they aren't even close to touring optimally - they may skip a line or two, but still end up in long lines or skip attractions with long waits.
Hard Core Researchers - These folks spend 40 (or more) hours researching their trips. They're pretty good at avoiding most lines, but at the expense of hours and hours of planning (and often driving their families crazy).
Optimal Magic Customers - Optimal Magic customers are at the very top of the pyramid. They don't wait in any long lines, they're seeing everything they want to see, and they're not spending stressful hours planning!
If you follow all the tips in the article, you'll move to the "Know It Alls" category - unlike many of them, you won't receive bad advice in this article - everything I mention is accurate. But you're still going to be waiting in some lines or missing some top attractions unless you use this as a kickoff point for far more research, or you let Optimal Magic do the work for you.
When to Visit Disney World and Disneyland
For Optimal Magic customers, I don't really worry too much about when they visit - we can put together plans that will work well for any day. However, if you're planning on your own, you won't be touring optimally, so it's important to take this into consideration:
For Walt Disney World:
Busiest times are, unsurprisingly, when kids are out of school. If you want the lines to be generally shorter, go when the kids are in school. While this used to be a surefire tip, it's less so now (Disney schedules many events to fill the parks during the school year). However, it's still true that when the kids are in school, Disney World is less crowded.
If you must go when kids are out of school, please still avoid the week between Christmas and New Year's - that week is crazy. Any other time is better than that week!
For Disneyland:
Once again, when kids are in school, Disneyland is less crowded. Also, Disneyland gets more local visitors rather than out-of-towners. This means, unsurprisingly, that weekends are considerably busier than weekdays.
For Walt Disney World:
Busiest times are, unsurprisingly, when kids are out of school. If you want the lines to be generally shorter, go when the kids are in school. While this used to be a surefire tip, it's less so now (Disney schedules many events to fill the parks during the school year). However, it's still true that when the kids are in school, Disney World is less crowded.
If you must go when kids are out of school, please still avoid the week between Christmas and New Year's - that week is crazy. Any other time is better than that week!
For Disneyland:
Once again, when kids are in school, Disneyland is less crowded. Also, Disneyland gets more local visitors rather than out-of-towners. This means, unsurprisingly, that weekends are considerably busier than weekdays.
Where to Stay
For Walt Disney World:
I've stayed at hotels on and off Disney property, and have stayed in deluxe, moderate, and value resorts at Disney World. So I have a good sense of what works best for each situation:
If budget is not a consideration, in my opinion you simply must stay at a Walt Disney World hotel. It makes the trip a fully immersive (and more fun) experience. And the easier transport to most of the parks makes life easier too. Plus, if you're not planning on leaving the Disney resort, you can use Disney's Magical Express for free transport from the airport. (Though there are advantages to having a rental car, too). In addition, you get extra hours at the park that are exclusive to guests staying at Disney World (though I avoid using these in many situations, as they can lead to bigger lines overall).
But which hotel? It depends on the group and the budget. There are way too many considerations for the scope of this article, but here are some ideas:
For Disneyland
The three Disneyland-operated hotels are very nice (especially the Grand Californian). However, they really are no more convenient than several other nearby hotels. That being said, there is one enormous advantage - early entry into the parks. Each day, you are able to enter one (or sometimes both) of the two Disneyland parks an hour before other guests.
This is by no means a deal-killer for other hotels - you can avoid the Early Entry park each day, and you can also sometimes get Early Entry by other methods - for example, you can get early entry one day at Disneyland Park if you purchase a three-day ticket. And annual passholders can get early entry as well in certain situations. But it's something to consider.
I've stayed at hotels on and off Disney property, and have stayed in deluxe, moderate, and value resorts at Disney World. So I have a good sense of what works best for each situation:
If budget is not a consideration, in my opinion you simply must stay at a Walt Disney World hotel. It makes the trip a fully immersive (and more fun) experience. And the easier transport to most of the parks makes life easier too. Plus, if you're not planning on leaving the Disney resort, you can use Disney's Magical Express for free transport from the airport. (Though there are advantages to having a rental car, too). In addition, you get extra hours at the park that are exclusive to guests staying at Disney World (though I avoid using these in many situations, as they can lead to bigger lines overall).
But which hotel? It depends on the group and the budget. There are way too many considerations for the scope of this article, but here are some ideas:
- If it's a first vist, you have young kids, and don't mind spending the money. Stay at one of the monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, or Grand Floridian). They provide easy and fun access to the Magic Kingdom by monorail (and fun monorail access to Epcot too). It's easier to take a break from the parks you're most likely to spend the most time at.
- If you have three or more young kids and don't mind spending the money: Stay in a one-bedroom or two-bedroom villa at the Bay Lake Towers. It is walking distance to the Magic Kingdom (or you can take the monorail). You can also reach Epcot by monorail. The pool complex is fantastic. And you have a full kitchen - with young kids, having the full kitchen means much easier meals and snacks. The Grand Floridian also has extremely convenient (and expensive) villas near the Magic Kingdom.
- If you have three young kids but want slightly cheaper than the Bay Lake Towers - consider the Fort Wilderness Cabins. You have your own "cabin" (don't worry, it's not a real cabin, it's more like a little house) with bathroom, kitchen, dining area and bedroom. You're in the woods, which is a nice getaway. It's a nice boat ride to the Magic Kingdom (I'm all about "fun" transport to the theme parks). Note that Fort Wilderness is huge and parking is not allowed in most locations (you can park your car at your cabin). They have an internal bus system, but it adds waiting and delays. Disney does offer golf cart rentals for Fort Wilderness, which I would recommend if you stay there.
- If you have older kids or no kids - The Epcot-area resorts (The Beach and Yacht Clubs, the Boardwalk, and the Swan and Dolphin) are a great location - lots of stuff going on at the Boardwalk, lots of dining options walking distance, and a nice walk or boat ride to Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios. In addition, if you have lots of Starwood points (from traveling or an Amex Starwood card), the Swan and Dolphin are run by Starwood, and you can use your points for free rooms there (I've done this many times).
- If you have animal lovers - consider the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Amazing hotel with views of savannas from many rooms, which is simply awesome. They also have 1 and 2-bedroom villas which are good for larger groups or those who want a full kitchen. Note, however, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is in a very inconvenient spot far from most theme parks.
For Disneyland
The three Disneyland-operated hotels are very nice (especially the Grand Californian). However, they really are no more convenient than several other nearby hotels. That being said, there is one enormous advantage - early entry into the parks. Each day, you are able to enter one (or sometimes both) of the two Disneyland parks an hour before other guests.
This is by no means a deal-killer for other hotels - you can avoid the Early Entry park each day, and you can also sometimes get Early Entry by other methods - for example, you can get early entry one day at Disneyland Park if you purchase a three-day ticket. And annual passholders can get early entry as well in certain situations. But it's something to consider.
Dining at Walt Disney World
Dining at Walt Disney World can be a bit more of a challenge than elsewhere. There are four main restaurant choices - quick-service places (essentially fast food), buffets (which usually have Disney characters), sit-down restaurants, and dinner shows. Let's tackle them one-by-one:
Quick Service
Sit-Down Restaurants
Dinner Shows
Quick Service
- Try eating lunch early (before 11:30) or late (after 2:00) for more manageable crowds. I prefer early because we're hungry from getting to the park early.
- If you're looking for more than burgers and fries, it is available. My favorite is Sunshine Seasons at Epcot in The Land, which has a wide variety of healthier (and tastier choices). And most locations have options beyond burgers.
- Try to avoid eating lunch in Fantasyland - most of the restaurants are mobbed there, especially the new "Be Our Guest" restaurant (though it is pretty cool).
- These are very expensive for average-quality buffets. However, you get exclusive time to meet various Disney characters (it varies by buffet).
- Some of these are very popular and you need to make reservations months in advance (up to 180 days before your visit).
- Disney really pushes the character breakfast meals. I hate them. While I love breakfast buffets, the timing is all wrong for Disney touring. If you are eating breakfast from 9:00-10:00am, you are missing the best time of the day to be in the park (see the next section). If you must go to a character breakfast, schedule a late time and call it a brunch. (For example, 11:15 at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort is a good choice after an early morning at the Magic Kingdom.)
Sit-Down Restaurants
- You can make reservations for dining up to 180 days out. If you're a Disney guest, you can make reservations for your entire trip once you hit 180 days out from your arrival date.
- You need to make super-early reservations for a handful of low-capacity or super-popular places. Honestly, for most of them, I don't see the point. Unless you simply must have an overpriced meal in Cinderella's castle, there are some terrific restaurants where you can make a reservation much closer to arrival date.
- I have eaten at more of the sit-down restaurants at Disney World than I care to admit - I'm always happy to help you find the perfect restaurants for your situation!
Dinner Shows
- There are a handful of dinner shows at Walt Disney World - the Hoop De Doo Revue (an old-timey western hoedown), Spirit of Aloha (a Hawaiian-style luau), and Mickey's Backyard BBQ (which is exactly what it sounds like - a barbecue with Mickey Mouse). These tend to be more expensive and are a nice change of pace. I particularly like the Hoop De Doo Revue, which has been at Disney for years, and is incredibly corny, old-timey, and a lot of fun if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.
- Reservations for the Hoop De Doo Revue in particular can go pretty quickly. Schedule as soon as you know which day you'll want to go.
Basic tips for touring the parks
This is the part you're most interested in, right? All right, here you go - tips to get the most out of the parks. Just a reminder - this is only the very tip of the iceberg. A full, customized plan for you will make a much bigger difference than these simple tips.
- Use Disney's (free) Fastpass+ system. It's an entirely free system where you can reserve three ride times per day, skipping the main line. See Disney's site for details. If you purchase your tickets in advance, you can book three Fastpass+ reservation times in advance for each day - 30 days in advance for non-Disney hotel guests, and 60 days in advance for Disney guests! Choose three attractions with generally longer lines, and generally (though not always), it's best to choose reservation times in the busier times of day (early afternoon, for example).
- Arrive before park opening. This is the most important tip, and it's the one you probably won't do (or will do one time and then stop). But it's the advice that allows all the other tips to work well. So do it, and you'll have a much better time touring. Wouldn't you rather wait a few minutes for the park to open than wait six hours in lines? I have a few tips to make the arrival process easier and less stressful at some of the parks, but I'm hesitant to share with everyone on the internet - if everyone knew them, they wouldn't work any more!
- Crowds tend to flow in a (semi)-predictable pattern at the Disney parks. You want to always either stay one step ahead of them, or figure the best way to avoid them.
- Head to the "longest line" attractions first. These vary from park to park. They are not always the "biggest" rides, by the way! But if you can quickly get to Toy Story Mania right at park opening, you'll have a short wait. If you get there 30 minutes later, you're waiting an hour (or more)!
- The middle of the day (from about noon to 5pm) is the busiest part of the day by far. (And in the summer it's the hottest too). Don't try to ride the big attractions at that point unless using Fastpass+ times procured before - visit the no-wait attractions, or take a break back at the hotel.
- Certain attractions' Fastpass+ tickets go quicker than others. Learn which ones these are, and reserve those Fastpass+ times well in advance. (An Optimal Magic plan will figure out the exact times you should get your Fastpasses and lay it out so it's very simple to figure out!!)
Concluding thoughts and what's next?
As I mentioned, this is quite literally the very tip of the iceberg - it's basically the stuff I explain to new customers before we start going over any actual planning for them.
So what's next? You have three options:
Thanks for reading, and good luck with Disney planning!
So what's next? You have three options:
- Use this brief guide and advice from so-called "experts" and "know-it-alls" and hope for the best. You'll hopefully avoid some lines, but be stuck in some others (or miss some top attractions). You'll have some big crowds to deal with and not always know the best next move. Not great, but it's better than nothing.
- Plunge into heavy-duty research. Take this guide as a starting point, and spend 40 hours fully researching each day of your trip - figure out the best park to visit each day, and a plan of attack to avoid the lines and do as much as you can as best you can. If you want to go this route, send me an email - I'm happy to direct you to the best places to research on your own, free of charge.
- Purchase an Optimal Magic Disney planning package. Let me do all the work, and rest assured that you will be able to avoid all the long lines, and do everything you want to do with no wait. You just need to get excited for your upcoming vacation!
Thanks for reading, and good luck with Disney planning!