How to Prepare for Your Next Disney Trip
Planning a Disney vacation is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can also feel a little overwhelming if you don’t know where to start!
Family at Art of Animation
Between dining reservations, Lightning Lanes, packing, and even picking out the perfect park outfits, there’s a lot that goes into preparing for your trip before you even step foot in the parks.
Photo: Disney
The good news? With a little planning ahead of time, your Disney vacation can feel smooth, stress-free, and truly magical from start to finish.
In this guide, I’m breaking down everything you need to do to prepare for your next Disney trip, so all that’s left for you to do is soak in the magic!
Photo: Disney
What to Do Right After You Book
First things first…hopefully you booked your trip with a MickeyTravels agent, because that means you’ve already got someone helping you every step of the way!
Once your trip is booked, your next move is to link your reservation to your My Disney Experience account.
Link your reservation on My Disney Experience
This is where everything starts to come together.
Inside the app, you’ll see your countdown officially begin (which honestly makes it all feel real!) and you’ll be able to explore details about your resort, including amenities, transportation, and dining options.
Resort Countdown on the app
Take some time to click around and get familiar with where you’re staying; it makes a big difference once you arrive.
While you’re there, it’s also helpful to start checking out park hours (when available).
Check the app for up to date park hours
This can give you a head start on deciding which parks you might want to visit each day, especially if you’re hoping to prioritize certain rides, shows, or dining reservations.
Don’t Skip Dining Reservation
Disney Dining
Photo: Disney
One of the biggest ways to elevate your Disney trip (and avoid unnecessary stress) is by making dining reservations ahead of time (60 days prior to check-in to be exact!)
Disney makes it incredibly easy to do right in the My Disney Experience app.
Dining Reservation Screen – Disney App
When your booking window opens, you can browse restaurants, check availability, and secure your spots all in one place.
It’s simple, but it does take a little planning ahead of time.
Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations
Photo: Disney
Think about the kind of experiences you want:
- Do you want a character breakfast at a resort to start your day before heading into the parks?
Topolinos Character Breakfast
Photo: Disney
- A midday lounge break to escape the heat and grab a quick bite?
Island Provisions at Beak and Barrel
- Or an elegant, immersive dinner to end your night (hello, themed dining)?
San Angel Inn – EPCOT
Having these reservations locked in not only guarantees you a spot at some of Disney’s most popular restaurants, but it also helps structure your day in the best way possible.
Instead of scrambling to find food or waiting in long lines, you already know where you’re going and when.
Tiana at 1900 Park Fare
Photo: Disney
Bottom line: Do NOT skip dining reservations.
They save you time, reduce stress, and honestly make your trip feel that much more magical.
Dining at Disney World
Photo: Disney
Planning Your Attire
This might sound small, but planning your outfits ahead of time makes a huge difference, and it’s honestly one of the most fun parts of getting ready for your trip!
Matching Family Shirts
Start by thinking about your overall vibe:
- Do you want to wear matching family shirts for those classic castle photos?
- Are you going for park-specific outfits (princess vibes in Magic Kingdom, Star Wars in Hollywood Studios)?
- Or keeping it simple but still Disney-inspired?
Matching Shirts for Saint Patrick’s Day
Now is the time to start ordering anything you need so you’re not scrambling the week before your trip.
And let’s talk accessories because they really complete the look:
- Will you be carrying a Loungefly backpack? (I highly recommend! They’re cute and functional)
Lotso Loungefly
- Think about comfortable, broken-in shoes that still match your outfits
- Start picking out your Mickey ears or headbands
Princess Tiana Ears – Emporium
Planning this ahead of time not only saves you stress, but it also makes your photos look so much more put together, and let’s be honest, those Disney photo moments matter!
101 Dalmatians Matching Loungefly and Shirt
Mastering Lightning Lanes Before You Go
If there’s one thing that can completely transform your Disney park day, it’s understanding Lightning Lanes before you arrive.
Lightning Lane
Photo: Disney
Guests staying at a Disney resort have a huge advantage!
You can start booking your Lightning Lanes 7 days prior to check-in, which gives you first access to some of the most popular rides.
Lightning Lane Pamphlet
Before your booking window opens, take some time to decide what works best for your family:
- Do you want to maximize rides and skip as many lines as possible?
- Are there a few “must-do” attractions you don’t want to miss?
Lightning Lane at Remys
- Will you want a mix of thrill rides and more relaxed experiences?
You’ll also want to figure out which type of Lightning Lane makes the most sense for your trip, whether that’s focusing on multiple rides throughout the day or prioritizing individual, high-demand attractions.
Lightning Lane Purchase screen – App
Having a plan going in is key.
The guests who get the most out of Lightning Lanes are the ones who know what they want before their booking window opens, not the ones trying to figure it out that morning.
Lightning Lane at Winnie the Pooh
This is one of the biggest time-savers in the parks, and one of the main ways any Disney lover can maximize every single day of their trip!
Lightning Lane
Final Thoughts: Set Yourself Up for the Magic
Preparing for a Disney trip might take a little extra effort, but that planning is what turns a good trip into a truly magical one.
From dining reservations to outfits to Lightning Lanes, taking the time to plan ahead allows you to spend less time stressing in the parks and more time enjoying every moment.
Disney World
Photo: Disney
And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone.
Working with a MickeyTravels agent means you have someone guiding you through all of it; from booking your trip to securing dining reservations and building a Lightning Lane strategy that fits your family.
Photo: Disney
Whether you want hands-on help or just someone behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly, we’ve got you covered.
Disney vacations require planning, but with the right support, they can feel effortless.
Photo: Disney
Stay Magical, friends and enjoy your Disney vacation!
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