Maybe you’ve noticed we are huge Disney fans… maybe not. Either way, you’re here!
We’ve visited every Disney park around the globe with kids (many multiple times) and think of it as one of our favorite places. It’s not always the happiest place on earth, though.
Let me share our tips and tricks for a successful Disney family vacation if you are considering your first Disney trip.
*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support.*
No matter which park you visit worldwide, there are some good things to know. You can find loads of articles specific to the park you want to visit, like this one which I did on Disneyland Paris.
This applies to both weather and crowds. Knowing the best time to visit will make a big difference in your (first-time) experience!
Did you know there are crowd calendars for many Disney parks worldwide? Here’s one for Disneyland Paris and one for Disney World. (You can also check on Google and type in “crowd calendar Disneyland ____.”)
Typically the best times for low crowds are January, May, and late August to September.
The weather should also be checked for the time you want to visit. We went to Orlando in October and sweated through all our clothes. It was different when we went to Paris in November and had to wear several layers of clothes to even last through an afternoon of freezing temps.
I think booking a package with Disney brings extra magic. It also brings a lot more cost! However, having done the budget and the expensive route, I would rather go less on Disney visits and make them more magical by staying on the property.
What benefits do you get from staying in a Disney property, especially with kids?
I’m the first to acknowledge that this may not be in your budget. And that’s OK! We’ve done plenty of Disney visits while staying in a more affordable hotel. After all, if you just are going to sleep there, it doesn’t matter that much.
It comes down to the number of days and what else you want from your vacation. If you are going for two days and will hit the parks all open hours, your hotel matters less. A nice hotel would be good if you return for an afternoon nap/break time/pool time. If you are staying 5-6 days and want to get a vacation on your Disney vacation, a nicer hotel can go a long way!
If you are choosing to stay somewhere else, here are my tips:
You might also want to consider Airbnb. Check out our article on the differences between Airbnb and Hotels.
Check out these amazing off-property options!
Here are some of the great deals for hotels near Disneyland, California:
If you’re going to Disney Florida with kids, I check these hotels:
Staying off-property is way cheaper than booking accommodation at Disney property. An overnight stay in a very good hotel nearby (for 2 adults & 2 kids) will cost you around $120-$230, while Disney hotel will charge you around $600-$700 per night.
One of your main goals before your vacation: build excitement!
A lot of the Disney magic comes in anticipation of going. Make a paper chain and tear off a ring each day. Buy some t-shirts on Etsy or your t-shirts! Whatever sounds fun, start the magic at home.
We built our excitement as a family by listening to Disney songs on Spotify while driving and watching Disney movies before we went.
A Disney visit will tax your body more than you probably expect. Note that you’ll likely walk somewhere between 10,000-20,000 steps per day in Disney Parks!
As most Disney parks experience warm weather year-round, here is a general list of the things you should bring for your first trip:
Note that in the USA, you can purchase on Amazon and deliver it to your Disney hotel, typically on the same day! This can include Disney knock-off souvenirs like hats, mouse ears, shirts, etc.
You’ll want room in your suitcase to bring souvenirs home, so don’t overpack!
You can leave certain prohibited items at home:
Bringing your snacks and water bottles to Disney parks is not only allowed but a good idea. All the walking makes everyone hungry, and snacks and drinks for a family of four can run you $50!
Making your dining reservations well before your visit needs to be high on your planning list. Many popular Disney restaurants, like Beauty and the Beast, book out the day they open. Typically 60 days before your visit, you need to hop on and get some reservations for your dining.
You will have to pick times, which can be hard to pick when you haven’t been before. You’ll be tired, so a late afternoon meal with the kids might be better than a later time so you can rest earlier.
Learning how to even ride a Disney park ride can intimidate the best of us. Factor in the many “gamification” items Disney does with their rides, and it’s a learning curve!
In the USA, Lightning Lane and Genie+ are programs you can pay extra for shorter ride wait times. Other Disney Parks may have FastPass, a free version of this.
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Go experience the park first. Your first visit can be equal parts overwhelming and amazing!
If you are an early riser, get to the park about an hour before it opens. Lines start to form even before this. Get in with the first crowd and get to the most popular ride.
If that’s not appealing, wait it out a bit. Enjoy other parts of the park or your hotel and go in the afternoon and evening. Lines are typically the longest in the morning and die as the day wears on, and people tire out or go to dinner.
Know that you will go through a security check to get onto Disney properties. This includes a bag check.
While Disney is magical for families, it is, first and foremost, a for-profit business. Never forget this! You will shell out serious cash in the park AFTER you practically took out a loan to get there.
With kids, I recommend giving them their cash (maybe the money they earned in advance for the trip) or a strict budget to spend (one item less than $30, for example). Put the pressure on them to manage their budget and stick to your guns. They may buy in the first gift shop and whine for the next 15 you have to pass through. It’s a good life lesson… don’t buy anymore!!
Disney parks do give you bang for your buck… You cannot do everything without multiple days in each resort park. You will leave many things untouched between rides, parades, character greetings, random entertainment options, and eating.
That’s OK! You’ll likely go back.
Just set a goal of maybe one “must-have” for each family member, and you’ll leave satisfied.
As I mentioned above, you are walking A LOT at Disney. While this helps combat the delicious Disney snacks you’ll want to try, your body might not be too happy after the first day. You might have blisters, sore muscles, or chafing (hello, inner things- ouch!). A product like this can help!
No matter which park you are visiting, the app can be very useful. You can watch wait times in the park, book dining, and more.
Download this to your phone before you get to the park and connect to the park Wifi.
In the US, at least, your first visit warrants a special pin! You can also get pins for birthdays, anniversaries, and more.
When you check the hotel you are staying in, mention it at the desk. Or you can go to customer service in the park and ask there.
You will be OK visiting all the Disney Parks as an English speaker, but you will also hear other languages outside the US. For example, the ride instructions or audio in the ride will be in a different language.
If you have littles that can’t ride a certain ride, don’t despair! Disney honors the Parent Rider Switch. Like everyone else, you must wait in line and tell the attendant you’ll be doing the rider switch.
Essentially, one parent will ride with the older kids, and then you switch with the other parents. Sometimes the older kids can go twice, which is fun for them!
One shocking part of Disney is how long it can take for one ride. It’s a 1-2 hour experience for five minutes of an actual ride. This might seem a little nuts.. and it kind of is!
I remember on our first trip to Disney, realizing that we were only doing around two rides a day with our very young children. Two rides!
Why do we spend so much time waiting in line and paying for expensive food? It’s hard to put into words, honestly! It’s similar to how we sometimes kill ourselves getting ready for Christmas, wrapping gifts, prepping, and losing sleep for the 1 hour of opening gifts.
Or think about Thanksgiving… we slave away hours and hours for a meal that is done in an hour or less. Why? Because the memories of that day, the gathering of the people you love, are magical.
Disney just makes magical memories with your family. Those five minutes of the ride are really, really good. Disney does an amazing job on its attractions. Also, the waiting in line part can be great too! There are things to see as you wind around in line.
I know, I know… a Disney vacation might be about the time with the kids.
We have FIVE KIDS, which means a lot of different height restrictions, ages, etc. It feels unfair, at times, to make everyone skip a ride because the “little kids” can’t do it. Rideshare is possible but limits your time overall.
We hired a babysitter in Anaheim just for our Disney vacation from Care.com. I have shared before about hiring a babysitter on vacation and how to do it. It was amazing!
We could take only the older kids out for afternoons, give the little kids a day of rest, and even go on dates at Disney without the kids for the evening! It was like three vacations in one. This is more common than you might think in California and Florida. Especially in California, which tends to stay open later, you can extend your fun with a babysitter helping.
What did you think of our tips for your first Disney trip? If you are a Disney veteran, what did we miss? Leave in the comments below and have a fabulous trip to Disney!!
Xoxo,
Leslie
✈️ Book a budget-friendly flight to Disneyland on Booking.com, Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, or Expedia
Find a nice hotel for your Disney vacation from Booking.com, Expedia, or Vrbo, (we also love Tripadvisor and Hotels.com)
Discover other exciting activities nearby from GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, or Viator
Rent a Car on Expedia Rental Cars
✅ Get insured while traveling with World Nomads
Capture your best Disneyland memories as we do with a GroPro, Sony camera, or our favorite drones: DJI FPV, Air, and Mini
Check out your travel necessities from a comprehensive list of all the 7Wayfinders Travel Must-Haves. Click Here!
Our Review Of All Disney Parks Around the World
Weekend Trip To Disneyland Paris With Kids
Visiting Disney World During COVID: Finding Your Magic in a Pandemic
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