Disney World Trip Planning Guide 2024

Planning a trip to Disney World can make people either super excited or incredibly overwhelmed. The notes below are meant to simply break down the Disney World basics to help make it all digestible.

The Practical Takeaways

Believe it or not, Disney is not just fun for your kids – it can be really enjoyable for adults too. The rides are only part of the experience and excitement. There is the magic of the themed hotels, the creativity of the landscapes throughout the parks, and some of the best food I’ve had is in Disney World – no, seriously!
With advanced planning and familiarity with the My Disney Experience app, a trip to Disney World can be relatively stress free.

Where to Start

Often the first question I get from friends is “how do I start planning this and when?” We have planned trips both nine months in advance and three months in advance – there is no magic number, except it should be more than 60 days if you want dining reservations (more on that later). If you aren’t set on dates, you can consult a Disney Crowd Calendar to help. Here are some tips on how to start:

Step 1: First, I would choose the parks you want to go to. There is Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. You may also decide to add on Universal Studios if you’re a Harry Potter fan (more on that in this post). I’ve described the rides and experiences for each of these parks below. You don’t have to do all of them and picking the parks should be based around your family’s interests, ages, and budget. We typically limit ourselves to 2-3 per trip and add in a pool day.

Step 2: Decide if you are staying in a hotel within the Disney World Property, i.e. a “Disney World Resort.” Staying off site can be cheaper, but staying within Disney World gives you all the perks of transportation and early/late access to parks on select days. Also, the theming of the hotels is all part of the Disney Magic. There are three types of Disney Resort Hotels: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. I’ve detailed our experience in one of each below. The price, location, and dining options are the three main considerations when choosing.

Step 3: Determine where you want to eat and make your dining reservations exactly 60 days in advance of your arrival. There are some dining experiences, such as character meals, that will fill up immediately. You can always cancel dining reservations later if your plans change. We like to have one dining reservation per day. Dining reservations may be in the parks, resorts, or in Disney Springs, but can all be made through the My Disney Experience app.

Tools and Terminology: Technology has changed the way you visit Disney World. Click here to better understand the tools available to guide your trip.

Download the My Disney Experience App and familiarize yourself with it to prepare. In addition to having maps and ride wait times, the app will serve as your key to your hotel room, your passes, and your day-by-day itinerary.
Disney recently (June 2024) replaced its Genie+ system with Lightening Lane Multi-Pass. Individual Lightning Lanes are now being called Lightning Lane Single Passes. As with the previous iteration of Genie+, these tools allow you to pay to skip lines. I have not yet used this new feature, but from what I understand, guests will be able to reserve ride times and shows ahead of your park day instead of having to wait for the morning of your park visit.
Because I have not personally used these features yet, the post below still refers to my experience using Genie+, though my references to Genie+ should be somewhat interchangeable with Lightening Lane Multi-Pass and references to Individual Lightening Lanes are interchangeable with Lightning Lane Single Passes.

Disney World Resort Accommodations

We have not stayed near Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, but the three resorts we have stayed in give a good overview of the Value, Moderate, and Deluxe options. Click for details on these experiences:

Disney Yacht Club: This is a Disney “Deluxe” hotel and is in a fantastic location on the boardwalk, in walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The rooms are spacious with balconies, some of which you can watch the fireworks from at night. There are multiple dining options. It also serves as a conference center, which can make the lobby feel less family friendly during certain times of year. A big draw is the pool, which is generally touted as the best Disney Resort pool.
Caribbean Beach Resort: This “Moderate” Disney Resort Hotel is a great option. It’s an easy and convenient Skyliner away from Epcot and Hollywood Studios (especially if you stay in the Jamaica section of the resort). Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom can be reached by bus. The pools are great and there is a good mix of dining options. We also loved the beach area where we could watch the fireworks and outdoor movies at night.
Pop Century: This is a fun “value” hotel, with great theming, and recently renovated rooms. There are two downsides to staying here: 1) the dining option is a cafeteria style restaurant with the major food groups of chicken fingers, hot dogs, and pizza; and 2) it is far from the parks. When we stayed here the Skyliner had not yet been connected. With the Skyliner connection, it is now much easier to access Epcot and Hollywood Studios, but it’s still a distance.

Theme Parks

Epcot
I’m starting with Epcot because it’s the most magical part of Disney to me, both with and without kids. If you are planning your day and using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, you’ll want to plan around timing ride selections in the World Celebration and in the World Showcase areas. Epcot is huge and walking back and forth between those two areas more than once would be exhausting.

Click for World Celebration Highlights:

Guardians of the Galaxy is insane. It’s a party on a roller coaster. I would go back to Epcot just to ride this again and have no hesitation in paying for the Lightning Lane.
Soarin’ takes you for a ride around the world on an IMAX screen. It’s a favorite for our whole family. We’d go multiple times if we could and always get a Genie+ time slot for it.
Test Track speeds up to 60 MPH. It used to be my son’s favorite, but after Guardians of the Galaxy opened, we were suddenly less impressed with Test Track.
Living on the Land: I have a nostalgia for this ride and enjoy the relaxing nature lessons.
Others: The other older rides (MissionSpace, Figment, Spaceship Earth) feel dated and I’m inclined to skip them. Also, Nemo is fun for a certain age group, but we’ve outgrown it. We enjoyed the new Moana Journey of Water space and would recommend walking through it.

Click for World Showcase Highlights:

We love Canada – the waterfall is a favorite place to take a break. I also enjoy the Canada film, narrated by Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara.

Exploring the nooks and crannies in England is fun and you can find Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland there.
France has the Ratatouille ride, which is unique because of all the sensory elements, like the smell of bread as the ride goes through the bakery scenes. Also, friends of ours love the crepes and champagne at Le Creperie de Paris outside the ride.
In Japan, the Mitsukoshi Department Store is the only location outside Japan and is full of interesting merchandise. I have heard from fellow Disney fans that Teppan Edo is a family favorite.
For young kids, the train set in Germany can be mesmerizing and it’s where Snow White makes timed appearances.
In China you can meet Mulan and, like, Canada, there is a 360 degree movie.

Norway has a dining experience at Akshaus with Anna, Elsa, Belle, etc. The food is expensive and not great, but if your goal is to fulfill a wish of seeing princesses, this is a way to do it all at once. The Frozen ride is also here, if you’re able to snag a Genie+ time slot.
The Gran Fiesta ride in Mexico is one of my favorites. It may be for nostalgia, but it never seems to get old and you can generally walk right on. Also, there are multiple opportunities for Margaritas, including the San Angel Inn restaurant.

Epcot is full of an overwhelming amount of amazing restaurants…and I haven’t eaten in any of them. Every time we have been to Epcot there is a food festival going on and I just eat and drink my way around the world at various kiosks – and it’s all so good.

View from the new Moana Journey of Water

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom features jungle treks, street performances, live shows, and, of course, rides. The restaurants are also a big draw.

Click for our highlights:

Maharajah Jungle trek: This self-guided trail in the Asia section of the park takes you past tigers, butterflies, birds, and buffaloes. The landscape is beautiful and it’s hard to believe you are in Orlando as you walk through.
Kilimanjaro Safari: This is the showcase of Animal Kingdom. An open air vehicle takes you on an 18 minute ride through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, passing giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, and other African animals. I’d recommend purchasing Genie+ to secure a time for this experience. The animals tend to be more active in the morning, so that may be a consideration when selecting your time. Note, however, the animals roam free through the 110 acres, so if a gazelle decides to sit in the middle of the road you could be waiting in line for a while, even with Genie+ (speaking from experience).
Lion King Show: The show is a 20 minute version of the Broadway performance in a roundhouse theater. We loved it.
Street Performances: There are performances occurring at just about every hour in the different sections of the Park. Animal Kingdom is huge, so we appreciated the opportunity to rest from walking and watch the great entertainment.

Navi River Journey: The Pandora area of the park is very cool to walk through. Navi River is a ride through a bioluminescent rainforest in which you feel transformed into the Avatar movies. We had Genie+ for this ride, otherwise the wait would have been over 110 minutes. It is not worth that wait without genie+. Note: our kids were not tall enough to ride Flight of Passage when we visited, but from what I’ve heard, if you’re over 48”, that is one you don’t want to miss in the Pandora area of the park.
Yak and Yeti: This South Asian restaurant takes you to a village in Nepal. Reservations are needed and it’s worth snagging one. We have not eaten at Tusker House, which has a character meal, or Tiffins, known as one of the best (and most expensive) restaurants in Disney World.

If you don’t plan on going to Animal Kingdom during your trip to Disney World, you should consider at least visiting the Animal Kingdom Lodge and making a reservation for lunch or dinner at Sanaa, from which you have views of the Savanna. This saves you spending on another day of park tickets while still getting to see the animals. Animal Kingdom Lodge is accessible by taking the bus from any resort to Animal Kingdom and then following the path to the left of the Park Entrance, towards the lodge.

Hollywood Studios

If you’re a Star Wars or Toy Story fan, Hollywood Studios should be at the top of your list. The rest of the park is fun too, though if you’re not into Star Wars you may want to prioritize other parks instead. We visited when our kids were Star Wars obsessed at ages 5 and 8. They were past the age of being interested in the Disney Junior shows and too young for Tower of Terror, so I can’t speak to those attractions.

Click for our highlights:

Star Wars: walking through this part of the park is an experience. The landscape and design transports you to a galaxy far, far, away. The two rides that cannot be missed are Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon. They are unlike any ride and worth paying extra for Individual Lighting Lanes and Genie+.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway: This is a relatively new 3D dark ride that we all enjoyed.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular: This is a fun stunt filled show, though in full disclosure though, my son got scared of the fire stunts and we had to leave (it may not be for everyone).
Toy Story: Slinky Dog is one of the hardest genie+ rides to get. It’s fun and my kids laughed and screamed the whole time. We also went on Alien Swirling Saucers twice and loved it. The whole Toy Story area is designed to have you feel like you’re a toy in Andy’s play world.
Muppet 3D Vision: My husband and I enjoyed this because we grew up with the muppets. If you’re ready to sit after walking a lot or you’re between genie+ time selections you can typically walk in without a wait.
Sci-fi Diner: The first thing you notice when you walk into the Sci-Fi diner is that it may be the quietest restaurant in all of Disney World – which was exactly what we needed after a busy day. The restaurant is set-up to look like an outdoor drive-in movie theater at night and all the tables are designed as 1950’s cars facing a big screen with old movies and cartoons playing. You can order burgers and shakes and relax. Reservations are needed and fill up quickly – for a good reason.

Magic Kingdom

This is not something that a Disney World fan should say, but Magic Kingdom is my least favorite park. Our kids were ages 7 and 10 the last time we went and we felt we’d outgrown it.

That being said, click here are some of the takeaways from the most recent trip and when we visited when they were 2 and 5 years old.

Jungle Cruise: Adults on our trip enjoy this and find the guides hilarious. I’m not sure the kids understood the jokes enough to appreciate it.
Enchanted Tiki House: I think the Tiki House is delightful – I’ve had to drag my family there, but they do leave with a smile. After the show you can grab a Pineapple Dole Whip nearby.
Peter Pan: This ride takes you flying over London. I think we expected more with all the hype and lines. I’m glad we had a fastpass when we went (during the days of fastpass). I have the same feeling about Winnie the Pooh.
The Classics: When visiting Magic Kingdom, there is an obligation to ride It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice’s Tea Cups, and Dumbo. They all hold up – maybe it’s the nostalgia. Note: If the line is too long for Dumbo, Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride is basically the same thing but you can walk right on.
The Coasters: Big Thunder Mountain is our favorite coaster and Space Mountain was just as fun as I remembered it. I regret spending money on Lightning Lanes for Seven Dwarfs – It’s fun, but not worth paying extra for given how similar it is to Big Thunder Mountain.
The Parade: When our daughter was five she loved the parade. We staked out a great spot, got a bit sunburned, and she waved to the characters. For our recent trip we found that this was a good time to go on rides because lines were shorter during the parade.
Other considerations in Tomorrowland: The People Mover, Astro Orbiter, and Speedway are all fun and near each other. We attempted to go on Tron and gave up. I have no doubt it’s awesome, but we just couldn’t handle standing in line for over an hour, after our virtual queue time was called.
Food: The only restaurant we’ve eaten in is Skipper Canteen, which is a great choice for lunch or dinner. Cinderella’s Royal Table is the draw for princess dining, but as I mentioned above, we got our fill of princesses at Akshaus in Epcot and skipped that experience here.

Things to do aside from Theme Parks

We like to build in one park-free day each trip. Aside from hanging out by the pool there is a ton to do that doesn’t require a ticket. Here are a few ideas for when you’re done at the pool:

Resort Hop: Each resort lobby is unique and fun to check out.

Click for examples of the ones we have visited.

We had a great time taking the boat to Wilderness Lodge and having lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe. We looked for Hidden Mickeys and watched the geyser.
The Polynesian Village Resort is fun to visit and you can make a reservation to dine at Kona Cafe or Ohana (If you go to Ohana, be prepared…the food just keeps coming and you will have leftovers). After dinner, we timed our boat ride back from the Polynesian during the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Display, giving us a fantastic view.
Our favorite resort to visit is Animal Kingdom Lodge because of the incredible restaurant, Sanaa. Sanaa has windows overlooking the Savanna and its animals. The food is terrific – be sure to get the bread plate!

The Boardwalk: The Disney Boardwalk is designed to replicate what you’d find along American beaches. There are carnival games, Surrey bikes for rent, stores, and a sandy area to play. We had a great brunch at Trattoria Al Forno. You can also walk to a mini golf course behind the Dolphin Hotel. The boardwalk is easily accessible by Skyliner.

Disney Springs: Disney Springs is essentially a giant outdoor mall. There is an impressive Lego store and lots of restaurants. If you go to Disney Springs, I recommend making a reservation at Raglan Road where kids can participate in an Irish Dance show. There is bus transportation from every Disney Resort to Disney Springs. Personally, I don’t feel the need to go back here though.

What to Bring

Scrapbooks: Often when we travel I bring a scrapbooks, some glue sticks, and crayons. At night, the kids write about the day and glue in anything they’ve picked up (maps, ticket stubs, etc.). If visiting Epcot, you can collect postcards at the Kidcot locations in each country, which is a fun way to “explore the world.” You can also bring the scrapbooks to the parks to have characters sign them.

Disney Gift Cards: For holidays preceding Disney trips, our kids have received Disney gift cards. It’s helpful in putting a limit on what they can get in all the souvenir shops.
Mickey shirts and ears: Chances are you and your kids will all want to wear Mickey gear when you get to the parks and see everyone else in them. I recommend saving some money and buying them in advance to bring with you, without the Disney World markup.
Ponchos: I keep these in my suitcase whenever we travel, just in case.
Solar Power Charger: Constantly using the My Disney Experience app throughout the day will suck up your phone battery very quickly.

A Few Extra Tips

Dining at Disney World can add up, especially when you factor in snacks. To avoid going to restaurants for every meal and snack, we order some groceries in advance from Garden Grocer. Any Disney World Resort on property will deliver the groceries to your room and you don’t need to worry about being there at the delivery time.
We have been to Disney World with and without the need for a stroller. It is definitely much easier and less stressful to do if your kids are old enough to walk distances on their own. If needed though, you can rent a stroller from many places in advance, such as Baby Wheels Orlando. Also, if your kids are young enough to be in a stroller, familiarize yourself with how Disney Rider Switch works.
If all of this seems overwhelming to you, call a Disney Travel Agent. It will be no extra cost to you and they will arrange your hotel, park tickets, and dining. They will also help you plan out your days and remove the stress.
You can also try a smaller theme park, like Dutch Wonderland and the Cartoon Network Hotel, before venturing into the World of Disney.
For Harry Potter Fans, you can understand how to add a day at Universal Studios through my post here.

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