Top 5 Things You Must Do on Your First Disney Vacation
I’ve been planning A LOT of vacations lately for guests who will be visiting Walt Disney World for the first time! These are among my most favorite clients to plan for because everything is new for them and I get to experience that through their eyes, but also because I get to show off some of my family’s top things to do. I thought it might be helpful to get these tips on paper. So, here goes! I present the 5 best tips for thse taking their first Disney vacation!
1. You MUST stay on property
A few blog posts back, I wrote about all of the benefits that guests staying on property have, so I’m not going to go into too much detail about this except to say that (ESPECIALLY if this is your first Disney vacation) you want to make sure that you maximize the time spent at the theme parks and Disney Springs.
If you have to travel from an off-site resort, this takes away time that you could be spending in the parks. Disney does a superb job of theming all of their resorts and truly making it so that your vacation begins the minute you step onto the property. Staying off-site, you lose some of this priceless magic.
2. Plan to stay at least 5 DAYS on property
This means that, when you add travel time to and from Disney, your vacation should be about 7 days long. Walt Disney World is comprised of 4 theme parks. A seven day vacation ensures that you have one full day for each park plus a day of rest in the middle. This is key, especially if it’s your first Disney vacation!
You will be doing a lot of walking on this vacation. Having one day in the middle to regroup, relax by the pool, explore the resort or do some shopping at Disney Springs will be critical.
3. Splurge and add the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package
This is not your ordinary theme park and this is not your ordinary theme park food. Yes- you can absolutely eat chicken nuggets and cheese fries every day for every meal. But, you can also dine in signature gourmet restaurants, eat your way around the world, dine with princesses, and be entertained while you eat.
Having the Disney Dining Plan already budgeted into your vacation package allows you to try all of what Disney has to offer without worrying about incurring extra costs while you vacation because it’s already paid for!
4. Work with a Disney Travel Agent
Not all travel agents are alike, though all travel agents will be able to get you the same price for your vacation. Disney gives the designation of Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to some travel agencies based on their qualifications.
An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner will secure your dining and FastPass reservations for you, monitor your package for discounts, create a detailed itinerary for your trip, and be available to you as your one point of contact throughout the entire process.
This is key for all travelers, but especially if it’s your first Disney vacation. Get the most out of your travel planner by discussing your goals, your likes and dislikes and learning from their personal experience as Disney planners and vacationers.
Pro Tip: MickeyTravels is one of the few travel agencies in the world that Disney has designated with Platinum earmarked status! And they’ve done it 4 years in a row!
5. SLOW DOWN
I like to remind my clients that this is their FIRST Disney vacation, but likely not their last. You will not see everything. It’s impossible. That’s one of the things I like so much about a Disney vacation- no matter how many times I go, there’s always something new to see, do and eat!
So remember to slow down and be in the moment. Stop to watch a parade (they’re wonderful) and a fireworks show (some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen). Take a minute to watch an improv skit on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood Studios or listen to a barbershop quartet at the Magic Kingdom. Find a nice spot in the shade to sit while you enjoy your afternoon snack. You won’t regret it!
Thinking of planning your first Disney vacation?
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog! Are you thinking of taking a Disney vacation? Whether it will be your first Disney vacation or your hundreth, please, contact me and I’ll handle everything for you and make your Disney vacation MAGICAL!
Jennifer Price
MickeyTravels, LLC
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner – PLATINUM LEVEL
1-888-898-3079
jprice@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com
https://facebook.com/MickeyTravelsJenniferPrice/