Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation can feel a little overwhelming. With four amazing theme parks, countless attractions, restaurants, shows and experiences, there is a lot to discover.
The good news? You don't need to plan every minute of your vacation to have an unforgettable time.
Here are 10 things we recommend knowing before you head to Walt Disney World.
1. Download the My Disney Experience App
Think of the My Disney Experience app as your digital Disney guide.
Before and during your visit, you can use it to check attraction wait times, view park maps and schedules, manage Lightning Lane selections, make dining reservations and order food. Walt Disney World
Our tip: Download the app before leaving home and make sure everyone in your party is connected to the same Disney account/group.
Your phone will become one of your most useful tools in the parks, so remember to start each day with a fully charged battery!
2. You Don't Need to Do Everything in One Day
This sounds obvious, but it is probably one of the most important tips.
Walt Disney World is huge.
Trying to see every attraction, show and character in one day can turn a magical day into an exhausting one.
Instead, choose a few must-do attractions for each park and leave some room for spontaneous discoveries.
And remember: you're staying in Florida long enough to come back another day!
3. Consider Lightning Lane Multi Pass
If there are attractions you really don't want to spend a long time waiting for, look into Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
With Multi Pass, you can initially choose up to three eligible experiences and arrival windows. After using your first selection, you may be able to choose another experience, subject to availability.
There is also Lightning Lane Single Pass for some of the most in-demand attractions.
Prices and availability vary depending on the date and attraction, so check the My Disney Experience app before your visit. Walt Disney World
Our tip: Look on the Disney website to see what Lightning Pass works best for you.
4. Get There Early
One of our favorite Disney tips:
Arrive early.
The first part of the day can be a great opportunity to experience popular attractions before queues become longer.
It also gives you time to enter the park, get your bearings and start the day without rushing.
And there is something special about walking into a Disney park in the morning when everything is just getting started.
Early start + comfortable shoes = happy Disney day!
5. Plan Your Meals — But Don't Overplan
There are so many great places to eat at Walt Disney World that choosing where to eat can become an attraction in itself!
For table-service restaurants, Disney currently allows dining reservations up to 60 days in advance.
For popular restaurants and character dining, booking ahead is definitely worth considering.
For quick-service meals, you can use Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering through the My Disney Experience app. Disney currently offers mobile ordering at more than 60 locations across Walt Disney World.
Our tip: Don't wait until everyone is hungry before deciding where to eat. Check the app earlier in the day and order ahead when possible.
6. Take a Break — Seriously!
This is one of the biggest advantages of staying in a vacation home rather than a hotel room.
Florida can be hot, humid and tiring, especially after several hours of walking.
You don't have to stay in the park from opening until closing.
Why not head back to Highgate Dream, cool down in the pool, relax for a few hours and return to the parks later?
A mid-day break can make a huge difference — especially for children.
Sometimes the best Disney strategy is simply:
Park → Pool → Dinner → Park again. 🌴
7. Comfortable Shoes Are More Important Than You Think
You are going to walk.
A lot.
Even if you don't realize it, a Disney day can involve many miles of walking.
Wear shoes that you already know are comfortable. Disney is not the place to test out your brand-new shoes!
And bring a second pair if you have room in your luggage.
Your feet will thank you.
8. Florida Weather Can Change Quickly
Florida sunshine can be spectacular — but Florida weather can also be unpredictable.
A beautiful morning can turn into a short afternoon rain shower and then return to sunshine.
Always check the weather forecast before leaving for the parks and consider taking a lightweight rain jacket or poncho.
And don't forget sun protection:
- ☀️ Sunscreen
- 🧢 Hat
- 💧 Water
- 🕶️ Sunglasses
You can have a fantastic day at Disney without spending half of it looking for shade!
9. Don't Forget the Little Moments
Some of the best Disney memories aren't necessarily the biggest attractions.
It might be seeing your child's face when they meet their favorite character.
The music playing as you walk down Main Street.
Watching the fireworks together.
Finding a hidden Mickey.
Having an ice cream in the Florida sunshine.
Or simply walking through the park together with nowhere else you need to be.
Don't spend the entire day looking at your phone and rushing from one attraction to the next.
Stop occasionally.
Look around.
Take a picture.
Enjoy the moment.
Those are often the memories you take home with you.
10. Stay for the Fireworks — End the Day with a Little Magic ✨
If there is one thing we would strongly recommend, it is this:
Don't leave Magic Kingdom before the fireworks.
After a long day of rides, exploring and discovering the park, there is something truly magical about standing in front of Cinderella Castle as the lights go down, the music begins and the night sky comes alive.
Find a spot where you can see the castle and the sky above it, take a breath and simply enjoy the moment. Yes, it can be busy, and yes, getting out of the park afterwards can take some patience — but for us, it is absolutely worth it.
There is something about watching the fireworks at the end of the day that makes you stop and realize how many memories you have just made.
And for us, there is one moment at the very end that makes it even more special.
After the final fireworks, the closing words of the show remind you that the magic doesn't really end when you leave the park. The final message is:
“And so, our journey comes to an end. But yours continues on. Grab ahold of your dreams and make them come true. For you are the key to unlocking your own magic. Now go. Let your dreams guide you. Reach out and find your Happily Ever After.”
We have heard those words ourselves, standing there with our family, and they have always stayed with us.
Because perhaps that is what Disney does so well. It reminds us to dream, to believe and to make memories with the people we love.
So when the fireworks are over and you slowly make your way back through Main Street, take one last look at Cinderella Castle.
The Disney day may be over...
but your story continues. ✨
One Last Tip From Us ❤️
Don't feel like you have to see and do everything.
Some of our favorite Disney memories aren't necessarily the biggest attractions. They are the little moments — a child's face when they see the castle for the first time, an unexpected character encounter, an ice cream in the sunshine, laughing together on a ride, or simply watching the fireworks with the people you love.
Let yourself slow down and enjoy those moments.
And when you eventually walk out of Magic Kingdom after the fireworks, tired but happy, remember: The magic doesn't end at the park gates.
Take it home with you.
And perhaps, when you return to Highgate Dream, take a moment by the pool, look back on the day and start dreaming about your next adventure.
Welcome Home — and may you find your own Happily Ever After. ✨❤️