Disney Around The World

19 Essential Tips for Your First Disney Trip: Everything You Need To Know As A Beginner!

*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 make a purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support. You can read my full disclaimer here.*

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 do think of it as one of our favorite places. It’s not always the happiest place on earth, though.

In case you are considering your first Disney trip, let me share our tips and tricks for a successful Disney family vacation.

Tips For Your First Disney Visit

No matter which park you visit around the world, there are some good things to know before you go. You can find loads of articles specific to the park you want to visit, like this one which I did on Disneyland Paris.

2. Consider Staying On Property For Your First Disney Visit

I think booking a package with Disney brings extra magic.  It also brings a lot more cost!  However, having done the budget route and the expensive one, I would rather go less on Disney visits and make them more magical by staying on property.

What benefits do you get from staying in a Disney property, especially with kids?

1. Faster access to the park.  Some of the Disney hotels are actually INSIDE the park, like the Disneyland Hotel in Paris or the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta in DisneySea in Tokyo.  This means you walk out and are getting into the park in minutes.  No security lines!
2. Extra hours.  Often, if you are staying in the park, you are getting extra “magic hours”.  You can get into the parks 1-2 hours before anyone else. Welcome early birds!
3. Disney Quality.  Disney has great attention to detail.  Their properties are clean, welcoming, and built for families. Disney Hotels also offer fairytale-themed beds, which are very exciting for little girls!
4. Magic Bands at Disney World.  Disney World is the only resort that does magic bands, but they are pretty magical!  They can be used to get into your room, buy things at stores, check-in at customer service, check into rides, etc.  
5. Discounts.  Typically if you book your stay with Disney with your tickets, you are getting a discount. You can watch Disney websites for seasonal deals, package discounts, etc.

Now, I’m the first to acknowledge that this may not be in your budget. And that’s totally 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 out of your vacation.  If you are going for two days and will hit the parks all open hours, your hotel matters less.  If you are going back for an afternoon nap/break time/pool time, a nice hotel would be good. 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!

3. Save Money And Stay Off-Property

If you are choosing to stay somewhere else, here are my tips:

• Often, Disney will be in the name of the property, and they will put in the description of their proximity to the Disney park, so search Disneyland (where you at) in Booking.com search bar.
• Here’s an example of a nice hotel near Disneyland, California.
• Hotels off-property will often offer their own shuttle to Disney.  Be sure to find out how often it runs, its hours, if you have to reserve a time, etc.
• Can you walk?  We were able to get a darling house in California within walking distance.  It did add more steps to our day, but it was so nice not to have to park and take a bus into the park.
• Do some research on Uber or similar ride-share services in the area.  Can you Uber to the park instead of a hotel shuttle or walking? The cost savings difference in hotels should more than cover your Uber rides.

You might also want to consider Airbnb. Check out our article on the differences between Airbnb and Hotel.

Check out these amazing off-property options!

Here are some of the great deals for hotels near Disneyland, California. I would recommend these two that were rated 9+ for a stay with kids.:

• Clementine Hotel and Suites is just an 18-minute walk to Disneyland. It has a kitchenette, spacious rooms thus perfect for long stays, an excellent breakfast buffet, and free parking.
• Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim is just a 14-minute walk from Disneyland. It has a pool that is surrounded by tropical palm trees. You can relax beside the pool with a cocktail, then watch the nightly Disneyland fireworks.

If you’re going to Disney Florida with kids, here are some places to choose from, but I would recommend these two:

• Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs™ Area is located inside the Walt Disney World Resort and within walking distance to Disney Springs.
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Marriott Village is 1.6 km from Walt Disney World and Disney Springs. It features an outdoor pool with a children’s play area and hot tub. It also has a fitness center and food court on site.

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.

4. Build Excitement Before Your First Disney Trip

One of your main goals before your vacation: build excitement! 

A lot of the Disney magic comes in the anticipation of going. Make a paper chain and tear off a ring each day.  Buy some t-shirts on Etsy or your own 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 go as well.

5. Pack The Right Things for Your First Disney Trip

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:

• Really good walking shoes and multiple pairs of walking shoes. No new sneakers that will give you blisters.  No flip-flops.  Everyone needs serious walking shoes, ideally at least two pairs, for Disney, or they need to be in a stroller.
• Insulated water bottle full of ice. You can refill at water stations around the park.
• An outfit for each day.  Disney treats will be enjoyed on shirts (and probably on shorts too).
• Swimsuit – Disney properties have great pools!  Some Disney parks also have a water park.
• Don’t forget your Sunscreen! It is essential.
• Bug spray was important in Tokyo in summer.  Otherwise, I haven’t had any bug bites at a Disney park.
• Tylenol for sore muscles.
• Any character clothing or Disney items.
• Stroller, if needed.  Anyone under 9-years-old will likely need a stroller for Disney. They are available for rent and typically around $25 USD.
• Baby/toddler carrier.  While Disney is stroller friendly, it’s still easier not to have one. If your kiddo wants to nap in the carrier, do it!

Note that in the USA, you can Amazon to your Disney hotel, typically same day! This can include Disney knock-off souvenirs like hats, mouse ears, shirts, and more.

6. Leave Certain Things At Home For Your First Disney Visit

You’ll want some room in your suitcase to bring souvenirs back home so don’t overpack!

You can leave certain prohibited items at home:

• Tripods 
• Selfie-sticks
• Wagons. We loved our @wagonwayfinder, but it was not allowed into several Disney Parks
• Weapons
• Self-defense devices (like pepper spray)
• Marijuana, including marijuana enriched items) or any illegal substance
• Any toys that resemble weapons
• Fireworks or fog machines
• Glass containers (except baby food jars)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Horns, whistles, megaphones
• Drones
• Scooters and skates
• Suitcases
• Folding chairs
• Balloons

7. Plan Your Food For Your Day At Disney In Advance

Bringing your own 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 of the 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.

8. Getting Onto The Disney Rides with Kids

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, which is 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!

9. Either Go to The Disney Park Early or Sleep In

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.

10. Prepare For Security To Get Into Disney

Know that you will go through a security check to get onto Disney properties. This includes a bag check.

11. Be Prepared To Lighten Your Wallet

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, and that is AFTER you practically took out a loan to get there.

With kids, I recommend either giving them their own cash to spend (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!!

12. Know That You Can Not Do It All

Disney parks do give you bang for your buck… you literally cannot do everything without multiple days in each park of each resort. Between rides, parades, character greetings, random entertainment options, and eating, you will leave many things untouched.

That’s OK! You’ll likely go back.

Just set a goal of maybe one “must-have” for each member of your party, and you’ll leave satisfied.

13. You Might Hurt Physically After Your Disney Day

Like 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!

14. Download the Disney App For The Park

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.

18. Don’t Expect To Ride Many Rides

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 money waiting in line all day 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 actually 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 really great too! There are things to see as you wind around in line.

19. Consider Hiring A Babysitter At Disney

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 totally 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.