Disney World for First Timers

If you’re looking for a Disney World for first timers guide, you found the right one. I remember planning our first trip to Disney and being so overwhelmed by everything I was in shock. All the Disney terminology can feel like learning a whole new language.  Between rope drop, early entry, Lightning Lane, PhotoPass, and trying to map out your park days…it’s a lot! This was honestly one of my hardest trips to plan (and I had multiple people who visit Disney every year helping me) because there is such a learning curve to it all. 

The good news: Disney with toddlers and little kids is less about maximizing ride count and more about soaking in the magic. You do not need to sprint from ride to ride to have an amazing trip. So, let’s jump into the basics.

Early Entry is one of the biggest perks if you’re staying on property. This is another term you’ll hear a lot (on property vs. off property), and it just means you are staying at a Disney resort hotel rather than Joe Schmo Hotel down the street. Early entry is exactly what it sounds like, you get to enter the park early at 30 minutes before the official park opening. But the exact timing of that will depend on what time that park opens which varies from day to day and park to park. Be sure to look at the app for the park hours for that day.

That extra 30 minutes is huge because wait times are usually at their lowest. We used Early Entry every park day and were able to knock out some of our highest-priority rides before crowds built up. If you’re staying on property, absolutely take advantage of it.

Do I really need to download the app? Oh to be young and naive. Yes, you absolutely need the My Disney Experience app before your trip. It’s your digital survival guide for Disney World. Everything runs through it. On there, you’ll:
+ unlock your hotel room
+ book Lightning Lanes
+ check ride wait times
+ mobile order food
+ make dining reservations
+ view park maps and find transportation
+ access your PhotoPass pictures

And, seriously so much more! Basically, if Disney has a feature, it’s probably in the app.

For all my first timers who have just begun researching Disney World, you’ve probably seen people obsessing over something called rope drop and thought, “What do ropes have to do with this?” Rope dropping just means being in line for a ride right when it opens for the day.

The goal of rope dropping is simple: get on popular rides with the shortest wait times possible before the crowds build up. Rope dropping is one of the best strategies for first-timers because you can usually knock out at least one big attraction while everyone else is still arriving. If you’re already doing Early Entry, you’ll be there for Rope Drop. Disney used to literally hold guests behind ropes before opening certain areas of the park, which is where the term came from.

As first timers to Disney World planning, one of the most frustrating things was figuring out transportation because there are so many options depending on where you stay and choosing the right one plays a huge role in your park strategy. Disney transportation is incredibly convenient and incredibly FREE. The biggest thing to know is that how you get around Disney often depends on where you’re staying and which park you’re heading to, so you definitely need to understand what your options are ahead of time. Here are your transportation options at Disney World:

• Monorail: Disney’s most iconic transportation option to Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but it only connects with select Disney resorts. If you’re staying at a Monorail resort like the Contemporary, Grand Floridian or Polynesian, this is one of the biggest perks. It’s fast, easy and stroller-friendly.
• Skyliner: This is Disney’s gondola transportation system. Again, it only connects specific resorts like Beach Club, Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, and Pop Century to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
• Buses: Every Disney resort has bus service to all four parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks. They’re reliable, but they can take longer and often involve waiting, especially at peak times like park opening and close. If buses are your main transportation option, always build in extra time.
• Boats: Again, these are going to be available only at specific resorts around Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. 
• MinnieVans: this is the splurge option because it’s the only one that isn’t free, but it 100% makes sense when you want a fast, reliable way to get to where you’re going. For example, if you have an early reservation to make, I recommend a MinnieVan. It’s essentially Uber for Disney World.

If you’re traveling with little kids, I highly recommend getting Lightning Lane. It’s so worth it. It’s Disney’s updated version of the old FastPass/Genie+ system, and while the name has changed over the years, the purpose is the same: it lets you skip the standby line.

That said, Lightning Lane is not something you want to figure out as you go. There is 100% a strategy behind it. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can begin booking Lightning Lanes 7 days before your check-in date starting at 7:00 AM Eastern. If you’re staying off-property, booking opens 3 days before each park day, also at 7:00 AM Eastern. And yes, people are absolutely online right at 7:00 AM refreshing and booking. The most popular rides go so quickly, especially during busy travel weeks and can even sell out.

Go into your booking morning already knowing exactly which rides you want for each park, which ones tend to sell out fastest and what order you’re going to book them in. Always start with the hardest to book ride first. Have everything scoped out ahead of time and assign one person to handle all bookings. Make sure they’re logged in, everyone’s park tickets are linked to their account and they’re ready to move quickly. 

The other big thing first-timers often miss is that Lightning Lane booking doesn’t stop once your day starts. As soon as you scan into a Lightning Lane ride at the park, you can immediately book your next one. Don’t wait until after the ride is over. Book your next selection right away. The families who get the most value out of Lightning Lane are constantly booking their ride as soon as they’re eligible.

I’m very pro PhotoPass. It’s essentially a photo package you purchase before your trip, and it automatically links to your Disney app. Disney photographers are stationed all over the parks and capture family photos you probably wouldn’t get otherwise. As a mom, I’m usually trying to take pictures of my kids while also trying to stay present and not have my phone out the entire trip. Plus, we rarely get a photo with all of us in it that aren’t selfies, so PhotoPass made everything feel so much less stressful.

It’s one of those things that feels optional before your trip but becomes so worth it when you get home and realize you have beautiful photos with everyone actually in them. The ride photos and character photos are perfect, too.

If your kids love Disney characters (and aren’t afraid of them!), character meals are one of the easiest ways to create magical moments without standing in long meet-and-greet lines. They also give everyone a chance to sit down, relax and take a break from the parks. That said, don’t feel pressured to spend the money if you know your kids won’t enjoy it or might be scared of the characters. Character dining can be expensive, so it’s only worth it if your family will actually enjoy the experience.

Here are a few classic favorites for character meals:
+ Chef Mickey’s
+ Crystal Palace
+ Cape May Café
+ Ohana
+ Topolino’s Terrace
+ Cinderella’s Royal Table

One of the biggest questions first-time Disney World planners have is: Do I need to visit all four Disney parks? The short answer is, not necessarily. Each park has a completely different vibe and the best one for your family will depend on your interests, ages and priorities. However, if you have time to visit all four then I say do it! Here’s a quick breakdown of the four main Disney World parks:

• Magic Kingdom: This is the classic Disney park most people picture when they think of Disney World and the one your toddlers will love the most. It’s home to Cinderella Castle, iconic rides like Dumbo, the Tea Cups and tons of Disney characters. If you’re traveling with younger kids or visiting for the first time, this is the must-do park.
• EPCOT: This park gets the reputation for being skewed more towards adults as you can “drink around the world.” The World Showcase is very popular for foodies, but it also has popular rides like Remy’s and Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Hollywood Studios: If your family loves Toy Story or Star Wars, you’re not missing this park. There’s Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy Edge. Each with their own immersive experience and rides.
• Animal Kingdom: Animal Kingdom combines Disney magic with nature and wildlife. You’ll find beautiful scenery and safari animals,. It’s generally a slower-paced park, but still has major attractions like Avatar.
  

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Planning a first timers Disney World trip is exhausting and overwhelming, but it’s so worth it. My biggest tip? Don’t try to do it all or squeeze everything in. This is the biggest mindset shift. Soak in the experience and take time to enjoy it! If you’re looking for where to stay or a full itinerary to doing Disney with toddlers, I have both for you to check out!

Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links, which means when you purchase something using these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only link these companies because I have used them or truly recommend them based on their quality and the experience I had.

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