"I’m a major Disney fan. I love the movies, the theme parks, and the Disney outfits. I even went to an info session about becoming a Disney Cast Member in college (although, I didn’t follow through). I’ve been lucky enough to visit Disney World as a kid, as a teen, as an adult, and as a mom. But planning a trip to Disney now requires much more thought and advanced organization than our trips to the parks as kids.
To help parents ready to plan their child’s first Disney trip, we put together this list of hacks for planning a family vacation to Disney World. We talked to some other seasoned Disney experts, sourced the Disney Parks website, and gleaned tips from the many, many Disney Park blogs, Disney TikToks, and more to answer some of the common questions families may have about planning a trip to Disney World.
What’s the best age to take my child to Disney World?
This question pops up in online mom groups all the time, and there’s no right answer. Since I’m a Disney fan, I say any age has its perks, but if you want a real answer, here it goes. If you have more than one child and are deciding when to take your family to Disney World for the first time, I think the best age is when your oldest is 5 or 6. Why? They will have memories of the trip, are tall enough to ride most of the rides, and the Disney characters and attractions seems extra magical. Additionally, you won’t feel as bad if you pull them out of school to avoid peak travel times (and cost).
If you’re planning a Disney trip with your baby or toddler, it’s true they may not remember much from the trip, but they will be in the pictures, their tickets are free (if they’re under 3), and they will be part of your memories of the trip. Plus, toddlers have a magical quality us older folks sometimes forget—being present. Their squeals of delight when they spot their favorite character or sail into the sky on Dumbo the Flying Elephant may not make it into their core memory bank, but you’ll know they’re having fun in the moment.
Other age considerations for Disney World trip planning:
- Disney park tickets for children under 3 are free.
- Many rides don’t have a height limit, but if your child is over 40 inches, they can go on most rides. My 4-year-old just made the cut.
- Even if your child meets the height requirement, you’ll want to consider the fear factor of certain rides and know that many attractions are in the dark.
- Disney offers Rider Switch, so if you or your partner are excited to see an attraction that may not be a fit for your kids, you can swap kids and each ride solo.
- Each park has a Baby Care Center with rocking chairs for nursing and extra essentials for purchase (at normal prices) in case you’re dealing with an unexpected blow-out or running out of wipes. Indoor rides, shows, and restaurants can double as air-conditioned nursing spots. And each park offers plenty of shaded benches.
- You can find childcare at Disney with a theme park nanny who can watch your child at your hotel or help at the parks if you want some kid-free time on your Disney vacation.
When is the best time of the year to visit Disney World?
The best time is hard to pinpoint, but the best time to not go to Disney World? During a school break—especially for your first trip. Holiday breaks and spring breaks are considered “peak times” when your trip will be more expensive and the parks will be more crowded. Disney often offers hotel and ticket discount packages during off-peak times, which can save you money as well. Check out the Disney World crowd calendar for other less-crowded times to visit.
How far in advance should I plan my Disney trip?
You’ll want to book your Disney trip a minimum of 60 days in advance. Hotel reservations book up, so the more time you can give yourself, the better. Plus, all guests staying in a Disney hotel can book their dining reservations before guests staying off-property: 60 days before the trip. And Disney resort guests can book their Lightning Lanes 7 days in advance vs. 3 days in advance if staying off-property.
If you have a restaurant you want to visit or an attraction on your must-do list, set your alarm for the morning so you can first book selections at 7 a.m. Eastern Time. For example, character meals fill up quickly and can be a great way to meet some of your children’s favorite Disney characters without waiting in line at the parks.
Should I stay at a Disney Resort hotel?
Staying in a hotel on Walt Disney World property has a lot of perks. Not only are you closer to the attractions—meaning you can maximize your time at Disney or head back to the hotel for naptime—but Disney hotels are an extension of the storytelling and detail from the parks.
Disney offers hotels at varying price points and many accommodations offer condo-like rooms with kitchens, which can be convenient for families with younger kids.
Additional benefits of staying on-site vs. off-property at Disney include;
- In 2025, Disney Resort hotel guests can enjoy water park admission on check-in day—included with your stay—so consider getting an early flight and jump right into the fun!
- In 2025, you’ll get early access to the parks 30 minutes before guests not staying on Disney property.
- Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels or Disney Deluxe Villas can enjoy extended evening hours—experiencing select attractions, shops and dining after regular park hours—in select theme parks on select nights.
- Early access to Lightening Lane reservations for attractions 7 days before your visit.
- Ability to purchase the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass.
- Ability to add Magic Bands.
- Convenient rides on the Disney transportation system—bus, boat, monorail, and Disney Skyliner—so you don’t need to rent a car if you don’t want to.
- Free parking at the parks if you choose to drive.
Of course, you can still have a magical vacation staying off the Disney property. And if you only plan to visit the park one or two days, it may make more financial sense to stay in a nearby resort or rental house. But if you’re going for the full “Disney experience,” and it’s within your budget, I think the extra cost of a Disney hotel is worth it.
What type of Disney park pass should I purchase?
Theme Park Reservations
Disney parks have capacity restrictions, so to ensure you’re able to visit the park you want to on a given day, you’ll want to check the Disney Parks availability calendar here before purchasing tickets. You’ll also need to make a reservation for the park you’ll be visiting.
Park Hopper vs. Single Day Disney Tickets
Additionally, when considering theme park tickets, the price per day goes down the more days you plan to visit. And although more expensive, the Park Hopper ticket option offers more flexibility if you want to visit more than one park in a day. For example, one park could be inexplicably more crowded or the ride at the top of your list could be unexpectedly shut down, and the Park Hopper allows you to switch parks and maximize your day.
If you’re opting for one park, and one park only, The Magic Kingdom has the most attractions for young children so a single-day ticket might be best.
Should I buy Disney Magic Bands?
All your ticket information is saved in your My Disney Experience app, but Disney Magic Bands are wearable devices offered to guests staying at a Disney resort hotel. They are not only convenient, but they also link your park tickets, Lightning Lane selections, Advanced Dining Reservations, photos, and work as your hotel key. They can also be used to contact you if your child gets separated from you at the park (Disney Cast Members can scan your child’s band and call the phone number associated with your reservation.)
If you’re planning to visit Disney more than once, you can also reactivate an old band, so you don’t need to purchase one for each visit.
How do you skip the long lines? What to know about Lightning Lanes
Traveling at an “off-peak” time will minimize your Disney wait times, but there are plenty of other ways to make sure your visit isn’t just spent in lines.
If you’re really into Disney park strategy, you can go pretty deep into tips on Disney TikTok, Disney Facebook Groups, and Disney travel blogs to maximize your days. There are even 3rd party apps that claim to get you booked for your favorite rides or find open reservations (but do your research, they’re not run by Disney).
Yes, it’s a lot to manage, but going in with a plan—and a backup plan—will help ensure a fun day at the park(s). Here’s more info on avoiding long lines at Disney World.
Download the Disney MyExperience App
Disney’s app houses everything you need for planning and navigating your days. Be sure to download it to link your park passes, connect all members of your party, check wait times, manage dining reservations and Lightning Lane Passes (more on that below), and more.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass vs. Lightning Lane Single Pass vs. Lightning Lane Premier Pass
For a bit of Disney park history, guests were previously able to make Fast Pass and Fast Pass+ reservations in advance for their favorite attractions—at no charge. The pandemic saw the end of Fast Passes and the beginning, Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes—the latter two being paid options. Then in 2024, Genie+ was replaced by Lightning Lane Multi Pass—a paid option to skip standby lines on a select number of attractions which can be purchased in advance of your trip.
Feeling confused and a little frustrated at the extra charges? Even as a frequent Disney World visitor, the changing policies and increasing costs are starting to get to me. But the Disney magic still calls, here’s what to know when considering Lightning Lane Passes.
Lightning Lane Multi-Pass
With Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you can pay an extra cost per person to skip the standby line for about 50 experiences throughout the parks (see the list of attractions here). The attractions are tiered based on popularity, and the cost varies by day and park, but you can estimate spending an extra $32-39/day per person.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
For the top 1-2 attractions at each park, guests can also purchase an individual Lightning Lane Single Pass. Again, the cost varies based on park and time of year. For example, during peak Spring Break in 2024, my family paid $12/each for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, but paid almost $30/each to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios. If you don’t want to spend the extra on these attractions, they are good candidates for “rope drop” (more on that below!)
Lightning Lane Premier Pass
The priciest option is the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass which allows one-time entry to each Lightning Lane experience in a theme park—to enjoy at your leisure that day. Disney is currently piloting this program and it is only available for Disney resort hotel guests.
How expensive is this option? It varies by park and time of year, but you’re looking at an incremental cost of anywhere between $129-400 per guest. Magic Kingdom is the most expensive, followed by Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and then Animal Kingdom. For families with many top-tier attractions on their list, this option could make sense if it’s within their budget.
What is “Rope Drop”?
If you’re able to arrive at the park right when it opens (AKA “rope drop”), you can usually squeeze in a popular attraction before the park fills up and the lines get longer. For guests staying at a Disney resort hotel, this means 30 minutes before guests who are not staying on property. For example, on my family’s most recent Disney trip, we didn’t want to pay for the Lightning Lane for Avatar: Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (the cost would have added over $100 to our day), so we pulled into the parking lot at 6:55 a.m and were riding my daughter’s number one attraction by 7:40 a.m.—well before many guests were even allowed access to the park.
Should I buy the Disney Dining Plan?
Another change that came to Disney World in 2024 is the return of the Disney Dining Plan. Walt Disney World Resort guests can choose from two dining packages based on their preferences. The Disney Dining Plan acts as a pre-paid meal packaging, where you can purchase “credits” that can be used at Table-Service or Quick-Service dining at Disney World. Keep in mind that some popular experiences like character and fine dining require multiple meal credits. You know your family best, so determining if the Disney Dining Plan is worth it will depend on your family’s plans and preferences.
Should I bring a stroller to Disney World?
You will be walking a lot, so a stroller is nice to have. Disney is very accessible, with stroller parking for every ride and a stroller can double as a nap spot. Many Disney families I know rent strollers for their kids up until they’re 6 or 7 years old. That way, they don’t end up carrying a heavy, sleeping kiddo home after the fireworks.
If you don’t want to bring your own stroller or purchase a travel stroller, services will deliver a high-quality stroller right to your hotel—which is less expensive than renting inside the theme park and you won’t have to wait in another line. Opt for a stroller that reclines and has plenty of shade.
Should I use a Disney Vacation planner?
If this all feels like a lot, it is! From the endless options to the ever-evolving technology, some parents may want to call in the experts. A Disney Vacation planner can help streamline the process. Otherwise, calling Disney directly or chatting through their website will connect you to a Cast Member happy to help you plan.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy is a Disney adult and a mom of two. She is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpful—and often humorous—stories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, she’s sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sites—including hundreds of stories on The Everymom.