Going to Walt Disney World for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. There’s so much to see and do that it’s hard to prioritize. But take it from me, there are a few things that you absolutely have to do to get the full experience on your first Disney World trip.
Stay in a Disney Resort
When I go to Walt Disney World I want to be completely immersed in the experience, and that’s why I won’t even consider staying off-property. There are plenty of people out there who enjoy it, but for me, it’s all about the whole experience. Disney property 100% of the time. Now, to be totally transparent, I’ve only ever stayed in the deluxe resorts, (I’ve been very lucky!) and they are incredible. The theming is amazing, the pools are to die for, and the service can’t be beat. Everyone’s budget will be different, so do what works for you, but if you can swing it, I highly recommend staying at a Disney Resort hotel for your first trip.
Magic Kingdom Fireworks
My favourite part of any trip to Walt Disney World is the evening fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom. It. Is. Amazing. Sure there are crowds, and if you go when I tend to it’s very hot. But to me, it’s the most magical part of the whole trip. The show is incredible, and I have to admit, I cry. It’s a little embarrassing but it’s so beautiful and gives me such a sense of nostalgia that I just can’t help myself. The other nighttime shows are great too, but nothing compares to the Magic Kingdom. Nothing.
Eat a Mickey Treat
There’s a lot, and I mean a lot, of Mickey-shaped food. Make sure you try at least one. The easiest? Mickey waffles, hands down. You can get them at pretty much every breakfast spot and they are delicious. Even my step daughter who doesn’t normally like waffles couldn’t get enough. They’re that good. I’m also a fan of Mickey-shaped rice krispie treats. I enjoyed this one from the balcony overlooking the Savannah at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Yum.
Spot Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys are everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. On the ground, in the walls, and everywhere in between. Some are obvious, but some are really hard to spot. On your first visit see how many you can find. Keep a Disney notebook and you can even see how many you can find versus your family members. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition!
Visit Each Park
This one might be a bit controversial because Disney World is HUGE and visiting each park means you’ll be busy. But the thing is, you don’t have to do everything at every park. Personally, I think it’s important to pick a few things to do at each park and not overdo it. That way you can get the lay of the land and really understand everything Disney World has to offer. Recently a colleague of mine went for five days and she only did the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. She totally missed out! Of course, having said that, if you only have two or three days, visiting every park will be too much, so don’t exhaust yourself. But if you have the time, do your best to see a bit of each park. You won’t regret it!
Make Fastpass Reservations
There’s a lot going on with Disney right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I don’t know what the Fastpass system will look like in the future, but if it remains the same as before, it’s an absolute must. Ride wait times can be long, and while the queues are often entertaining, making Fastpass reservations for top attractions (like my absolute favourite, the Tower of Terror!) will save you a ton of time. Honestly, they saved my family’s last trip. We went at the end of August so it was busy and hot and no one wanted to wait in line longer than necessary. Thanks to the Fastpass reservations we made I don’t think we ever waited more than 15 minutes. The system is a little bit complicated for first-timers, so check out this Guide to Fastpass+ at Disney World from Disney Tourist Blog.
Make Restaurant Reservations
This was a mistake we made on a trip about 10 years ago. Never again! I remember wandering around Epcot starving, and we couldn’t get into any restaurant. We were newbies back then and I never make the same mistake twice. Now I’m careful to make at least one restaurant reservation per day. The quick service meals are pretty good throughout the resort, and the My Disney Experience App makes it easy to order in advance, but I love being able to sit down at a table service restaurant and relax at some point during the day. And it’s tough to do that on the spur of the moment. The restaurants do fill up, so make your reservations as early as you can (180 days if you’re staying at a Disney resort hotel). You can always cancel if you change your mind.
Ride the Monorail
If you’re not staying at the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian resorts, you may not see a reason to do this, but it’s really a right of passage for every Disney World visitor. It’s a fun break from the crowds and gives you the chance to see three of Disney’s top resorts from up high – and in the case of the Contemporary, the chance to go right through it! And if you’re in the mood to resort-hop, you can get out and wander around the resorts. You can stop for a meal, check out the amenities, and while you can’t use the pool if you’re not staying there, it’s a chance to see if it’s somewhere you might want to stay next time. So take the few minutes and treat yourself to a monorail ride. You’ll be glad you did!
Splurge on a Character Meal
The first time I took my step kids to Walt Disney World they were 10 and 12 years old, and I thought they might be a bit old to appreciate a character meal. While I knew they’d have fun, I didn’t think it was worth the inflated price. But then I wanted to get us into the Magic Kingdom early on our last day, so I booked an early breakfast at the Crystal Palace, not realizing at first that it was a character meal. But it was totally meant to be. They had so much fun with all the Winnie the Pooh characters! I’ve never seen such big smiles on their faces. Especially when they each got a hug from Tigger. It was so silly and fun. Worth every penny. If you have kids, do it. And remember that character breakfasts are normally cheaper than character dinners, so do your research and book accordingly.
Schedule a Rest Day
This is so important! A trip to Disney World can be exhausting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing, but there’s a lot of walking, a lot of people, and if you’re there with kids, there will likely be a few meltdowns. So give yourself a break. Spend a day enjoying your resort pool, wander around Disney Springs or the Boardwalk, do a little resort hopping. On our last trip, we took a day off in the middle of the week and spent the morning having a leisurely breakfast, then a long swim in the hotel pool, and then spent late afternoon and had dinner at Disney Springs. The kids said it was their favourite day. For our trip next year we’re going to stay at the Beach Club. I can’t wait to relax by that pool!
No matter what you have planned, your first trip to Disney is bound to be a success, because hey, it’s Disney World! Just make sure that you try to relax and stop to smell the roses. It’s very easy to over-plan and exhaust yourself. Remember to take it easy and have fun!
Photos courtesy of Pixabay, Flickr & The Covet Files
