Disney World Guide for Families

Walt Disney World!…The happiest place on earth…Where you can feel like a kid again and just have fun! 

We’ve been to Disneyland California, and Disneyland Paris, but nothing compares to a visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando!

We’ve been to Disney World a few times, but so many things have changed since the pandemic.

We recently visited during Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration and it was so amazing to see the shows, character meet and greets, and parades back on!

On the blog, I will share our Disney World Guide for families, which includes some tips to make the most of your visit to the happiest place on earth!

Face coverings are now optional for fully vaccinated guests, but are still recommended for those unvaccinated, although most people weren’t wearing masks!

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Disney World Guide for families

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Best time to visit Disney World Florida

Disney World is amazing no matter when you visit, but remember Florida is hot and muggy year-round and even hotter during the summer! Plus summertime in Florida brings in even more crowds due to the kid’s summer vacation.

If you want to avoid the crowds August-September would probably be your best bet since schools usually start around that time.

Remember it’s hot and muggy in Florida during the summertime, plan for a lot of indoor breaks and skip the outdoor rides till the early evening.

Here are some ideas to beat the heat:

• Take a train ride, it’s the best way to beat the heat and have some downtime.
• Wear loose dri-fit type clothing
• Watch an indoor show, a great place for some AC and some relaxation. Some of our fave indoor shows to cool down are: The Hall of Presidents, The Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, Frozen Sing-a-long, and more!
• We usually head back to our hotel and take a dip in the pool, and then head back to the parks later on in the day. 
• Take a break at the cafes, they have lots of seating and AC.
• Do the indoor rides during day, and save the outdoor rides for when it’s cooler in the evenings!
• Spend some time at the baby care centers at the parks. It’s a great place to unwind with the little ones. 

In Orlando, you can always count on rain, with hot and muggy temps, no matter which season you visit. One of the most important things to pack is a raincoat, ponchos, or umbrellas, and wear waterproof shoes!

*NOTE: Before purchasing tickets, look at the calendar for Theme park availability for the days you plan to visit. For 2022, You MUST reserve your Theme Park visit for each day!

Get your Disney Magic Bands

One thing that made the whole Disney experience even more magical is the Disney Magic Bands!

The Disney Magic bands literally took care of everything, from opening the doors to your room, entering the parks, and paying for your purchases.

When staying at a Disney Resort you can purchase your Disney Magic Bands ahead of time for a discounted price.

Magic Bands start at $10 and must be purchased at least two weeks before your trip to ensure they arrive before you leave.

You can also purchase Disney magic bands if you’re staying off-property, or just visiting for the day.

They sell them online and at the gift shops at Disney World. Don’t forget to link a credit card to your magic band to make purchasing easier at the parks.

Disney MagicMobile

You can skip the Magic Bands and use Disney MagicMobile on your smart device or Apple Watch instead.

This allows you to enter the parks, use lightning lane entrances, and connect to your Disney PhotoPass with your mobile phone, or other smart devices.

You can even charge food and merchandise to the payment card you have on file at your Disney Resort.

Just link the Disney MagicMobile Pass through the My Disney Experience app and add it to your digital wallet, then you can use your smart device near an access point, just like using a MagicBand.

How to get to Disney World

When planning your Disney World trip just know that those free airport transfers are gone.

Now there are a few options that you now have to pay for when scheduling an airport transfer from the airport to your Disney Resort. Here are a few options:

• Mears Connect: You have the choice of the Standard service which is a shared service with limited stops and costs $16 adults $13.50 child one way rates / $32 adults-$27 child round trip rates.
• Express service goes straight to your resort and costs $250.00 rountrip up to 4 passengers / $55 for additional passenger.
• RESERVE TRANSPORT HERE: You board the Mears Connect in Terminal B, on level 1, ground transportation level, at Orlando International Airport at the same place where the original Disney shuttles used to pick up

• UBER/LYFT: You can also just hire an Uber or Lyft service from the airport to your hotel, and pricing varies by distance and time of day. This is a great option if you want a private car ride which might cost less than the Express service with Mears Connect.

Where to stay in Orlando

Whenever we plan a Walt Disney World vacation, we always choose to stay at a Disney resort.

It makes planning your Disney trip so much easier, plus you have one less thing to worry about with all the different free transportation options to get to the parks.

Whatever your budget, there’s a Disney Resort for you and there are so many affordable options!

Some of our favorite budget hotels at Disney World are:

• Pop Century Resort
• Disney All-Star Music Resort
• Disney All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney Art of Animation

We tend to choose the budget-friendly options because we figure we’re never in our rooms when we visit anyway!

Just because they are budget hotels doesn’t mean they are lacking in comfort and amenities too. We love the pools at the Pop Century Hotels, and the food there is pretty good too!

If you book way in advance you can get better rates for the more moderate and luxury Disney Resorts!

Make sure to check out the Disney World deals online. For 2022, Disney World is offering Disney plus subscribers up to a 25% discount on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights from July 8 through September 30, 2022.

If you are active-duty personnel including National Guard & Reservist, DOD Civilian employees, Retired military, or a Veteran, you can choose to stay at the Shades of Green located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

This hotel is amazing and even offers shuttles to Disney World Parks, and also has an ITR ticketing office on-site to purchase all your Orlando Theme park tickets. Just remember to book in advance as rooms here get sold out pretty quickly!

Book your Walt Disney World hotel here:

Booking.com

Walt Disney World Tickets

• for 2022, before purchasing your Disney World tickets, make sure the theme parks and days you want to visit are available. You must make Theme Park reservations ahead of time online here before they’re sold out for the day.

• When planning your Disney World vacation make sure to be on the lookout for Disney World ticket deals. Costco, Sams Club, and AAA offer some amazing Disney World vacation deals.

• You can also purchase discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist. They offer a variety of discounted ticket options on their website and it’s usually cheaper than Disneyworld’s website. Visit the website here to compare ticket options. 

• Don’t forget to visit the Disney World website for ticket deals as well. Standard one day theme park tickets start at $109 per person. The longer you stay, the less you pay per ticket. You can choose how many days you plan to visit and to which park.

• If you are an active duty or retired military family, you can purchase discounted Disney World tickets at your Base ITR office, or at the Shades of Green Resort at Disney World. For 2022, Disney World is offering the Walt Disney World Military Salute Tickets. A 4 day park hopper pass costs $365 per person.

Download the My Disney Experience App

One thing worth having to make your Disney World experience more magical is the My Disney Experience app.

Make the most of your time at Disney World when you download the My Disney Experience app.

You can find park maps to Disney World theme parks, park hours, ride wait times, and the tip board for your My Genie Experience.

This is also where you can purchase Genie+ for the day, and make Lightning Lane purchases for rides as well.

*Make sure to put your phone on battery saving mode, and bring a portable power bank since you’ll be using your phone most of the day!

You can also make dining reservations and mobile food orders with the My Disney Experience app.

It’s one of the most important tools to have when planning a Disney World family vacation.

Another one of the perks of the app is having all your Disney World photos in one place.

Disney PhotoPass is a free service where you can have your family photos taken by Disney photographers in certain areas of the park, which include some Magic Shots and props as well.

The photographer will scan your Magic Band and you can see your photos on the My Disney Experience App!

You can choose to purchase individual photos or purchase Memory Maker and download them all! Photos from rides are also included in the Disney Photo Pass, and Memory Maker as well.

• One day Memory Maker Pass for photos and videos costs $69
• Memory Maker Advance Purchase costs $169 for all photos and videos taken at Disney World
• Memory Maker costs $199 for all photos and videos not purchased in advance
• If you are and active military or a retired veteran, you can purchase a discounted Memory Maker Pass for $98 at the ticket offices or guest relations at the parks only!

The My Disney Experience app is a must when visiting the parks, and purchasing Genie+ for the day is essential if you want to make the most of your time at the parks, especially if you only have a few days!

Disney Genie Service

When planning your 2022 Disney World vacation, the one thing to make the most of your Disney World trip is the new Disney Genie Service which is free for everyone.

What the Disney Genie service does is help guests have a more enjoyable experience by helping you optimize your time at the parks.

You start out by choosing what attractions, shows, and dining options you want for the day, and the Disney Genie Service will help you plan an itinerary, which you can find under the MY DAY and TIP BOARD in the My Disney Experience app.

Disney Genie+

Disney World has also rolled out the new Disney Genie+ service, which is an add-on that costs an extra $15 per person/per day, sort of similar to Fast Pass.

You can purchase Disney Genie+ as a ticket add-on when purchasing tickets online, or purchase them starting at midnight on the day you plan to visit on the My Disney Experience App.

(Note: You do not have to purchase Genie+ at midnight, you can purchase it at any time right before the park opens, or before 7 am if you’re a Disney Resort guest)

This new service lets you use the new Disney Genie+ lightning lane entrance at select attractions and experiences at Disney World theme parks, plus your purchase of Genie+ comes with a few free extras:

• Interactive Disney Photo Pass Lenses: Take Photos and videos with magical effects with a special collection of lenses for your mobile device.
• Audio Tales: Discover the parks with fun facts and behind-the-scenes insights that you can listen to at the parks. 

You can reserve one attraction or experience at a time starting at 7 am if you’re a Disney Resort guest and at park opening for everyone else on the day of your visit.

You can make new Genie+ lightning lane reservations every 2 hours after your first initial reservation, or after checking in from your last attraction or experience.

The app will let you know if it’s too soon to make a new reservation, and will give you the time when you can make a new one!

Plus you can‘t make Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations for the same ride more than once on the same day.

You can’t re-ride the same ride. If you want to ride the same ride, you would have to go on the standby line the next time!

Genie+ Individual Lightning Lanes

Be aware that the more popular rides at each theme park are not available with the Disney Genie+ service. That’s where the individual Lightning Lane entrance comes in.

You can purchase individual Lighting Lane access to some of the more popular rides with prices starting at $7 per attraction/ per person, and can go up to $15.

You can schedule Lightning Lane attractions starting at 7am, and you can book up to 2 different attractions at one time, depending on availability. Here are some of the rides that offer individual Lightning Lanes:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Remy’s Rataouille Adventures
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Avatar Flight of Passage

Must Have Essentials on our Disney World Guide for Families

We have visited Disney World every season, and the weather in Orlando is always hot and muggy. In our Disney World Guide for families, we share some of our must have Disney World essentials.

A few things to have to beat the heat are:

• Spray fan (we usually fill it up with ice and water to cool off during the summer)
• Refillable Insulated water bottle (water and ice are free at the park)
• Cooling towels (we use the cold water fountains to keep cool with the towels)
• Hats & sunglasses

Some things we keep handy in our backpacks are:

• Hand wipes
• Hand sanitizers
• Portable phone charger
• First aid kit
• Sunblock
• Extra clothes, and a wet-dry bag for those wet clothes!
• Snacks-Check out this post on some travel snack ideas.

• Make sure to also pack an umbrella or rain poncho, and wear waterproof shoes if you can because it usually rains in Orlando no matter what season you visit.

• Most importantly, dress comfortably! You will be at the parks all day in the hot sun, walking for hours. 

Rent a Stroller

A stroller is a must when visiting any Disney park, plus it’s the perfect way to shield your child from the hot sun. You can easily rent one at Disney World for the whole length of your stay, or bring your own!

Disney World stroller rental prices:

• Single stroller rentals costs $15 daily / $13 for a multi-day
• Double strollers costs $31 daily / $27 multi-day

You can also rent strollers from Kingdom Strollers that are delivered straight to your Orlando theme park resort, hotel, or vacation home free of charge. You choose the time of delivery and pick up. Reserve with Kingdom Stroller here

• $55 for 1-3 nights
• $75 for 4-7 nights
• $95 for 8-10 nights

*Read about our Must-Have Disney essentials on the blog here. The Disney-inspired merchandise I list are some things we always have on a visit to a Disney Park.

The Parks at Disney World Florida

At Disney World, there are four main parks to visit. Keep in mind that you MUST make park reservations at each theme park you plan to visit. So before purchasing tickets make sure the parks are available for those days.

We have done the Disney park hopper passes before, but I feel like you can save money and do the one park per day option.

Of course, if the Disney Park Hopper options seem more affordable, then that’s your best option.

You can also purchase a one-day ticket to a specific park if you’re short on time, or only plan to visit a specific park for the day.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is one of the most popular theme parks at Disney World and is usually the first park people visit, which means it’s usually the first park to be sold out and the most crowded.

Some of the rides and attractions that are the most popular and worth purchasing the Genie+ service for are the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan takes flight, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain. Lines for these rides always have a long wait so be prepared!

Be aware that you may get wet with some rides like Splash Mountain, so dress accordingly.

We enjoyed Magic Kingdom and spent a lot of time at this park. There are many rides for the little ones but check online for height requirements for the rides at the park.

If you’re planning to dine in a sit-down restaurant at Magic Kingdom, or any of the other parks at Disney World, be sure to make reservations way in advance in the My Disney Experience App.

You can make reservations up to 60 days in advance, and they do sell out quickly.

Otherwise, we love the quick service restaurants at Magic Kingdom where you can do a mobile order on the app. Some of our favorites are:

• Hotdogs at Casey’s Corner on Main Street
• Burgers at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland
• Pizza at Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantaslyland
• Nachos at Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn and Cafe 
• Lobster Rolls, and fried shrimp at Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square
• Chicken waffle sandwich & Fruit Wafffles at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is one of our favorite theme parks at Disney World. This is where you can see and visit rare animals, go on a Safari ride, visit the Conservation Station, explore magical shows like the Lion King, Disney Kite Tails and more!

This is also where you can find Pandora and explore the world of Avatar. One of the rides worth reserving lightning lane passes for is the Avatar Flight of Passage, which always has super long lines!

Other popular rides at Animal Kingdom include the Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Na’vi River journey, and Kali River Rapids. Be aware you may get soaked with the river rapids ride so bring extra clothes!

Don’t miss the Tree of Life awakenings show that starts in the evening and goes every 10 minutes which is absolutely magical and is a must-see!

Also don’t miss riding the Wildlife Express Train for a short ride to Rafiki’s Planet Watch which is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of animals.

There is also a fun Animation Experience at Conservation Station where you can learn to sketch some of the beloved Disney characters with a Disney Animator. This 25 minute class was so fun and we learned how to draw Dumbo!

Some of our favorite places to eat at Animal Kingdom are:

• The Chicken Rice Bowls and Salad at Harambe Market in Africa
• The BBQ at Flame Tree Barbecue at Discovery Island
• Pizza at Pizzafari at Discovery Island
• Giant Pretzel at the Pongu Pongu at the World of Avatar
• The Bowls at Satul’li Canteen at the World of Avatar
• Sit down restaurant at Yak and Yet in Asia

*Make sure to pick up a Wilderness Explorers book for the kiddos! The kids can become wilderness explorers by completing challenges and earning adventure badges as they work their way around the park at Animal Kingdom. Our little one had a blast learning and collecting the many badges. So much fun for kids!

Epcot at Disney World

Epcot is one of our favorite parks at Disney World. One of the best things to do at Epcot is a visit to the World showcase.

You can feel like you’ve seen the world without ever really leaving. Sample the culinary delights from each world showcase, and immerse yourself in the culture. It felt so authentic and each world showcase was so amazing!

We happened to visit during the International Flower and Garden show and it was so beautiful!

The whole park was covered in beautiful and colorful flowers, topiaries, and an amazing butterfly garden, which our little one loved so much.

In the Fall, you can visit the International Food and Wine Festival and sample more culinary delights from each country.

Where to eat

We enjoyed the food at the Japan showcase. At Katsura grill you can savor some authentic Japanese cuisine like, Chicken katsu curry, Ramen, sushi, and chicken teriyaki and they were all pretty tasty.

Go around the world and sample some of the country’s famous cuisine. In Germany, you can have a yummy pretzel, beer, and bratwurst.

In France, have a croissant or some French cuisine at one of the restaurants. It was so much fun sampling the food, felt like we were really in different countries!

Click here for more dining options at EPCOT.

Hollywood Studios

If you’re a movie fan, then Hollywood Studios is for you! At Hollywood Studios you will find lots of show attractions and rides.

Star Wars is the main attraction at Hollywood Studios, and you can now visit Star Wars Galaxy’s edge. It’s one of the top attractions at Disney World right now so prepare for crowds.

Make sure to take advantage of the Early Magic Hours, or get here early and reserve lightning lane passes to some of the more popular rides like Star Wars: The Rise of the Resistance.

Some of the more popular rides at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge are:

• Star Wars: The Rise of Resistance, which you can purchase lightning lane passes for
• Star Tours-The Adventures Continue 3D space flght
• Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run interactive smuggling mission

Hollywood Studios is also home to Toy Story Land as well, which includes:

• Slinky Dog Dash coaster
• Toy Story Mania
• Alien Swirling Saucers

Some of our favorite places to eat at Hollywood Studios are:

• Burgers at the Backlot Express at Echo Lake
• Pizza at PizzeRizzo at the Grand Avenue
• Shrimp Salad Rolls at Dockside Diner at Echo Lake
• Burgers, chicken tenders, chicken salad at the ABC Commissary at Commissary Lane

Disney Springs

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Disney Springs is the perfect place to get away from the parks. There are many fun shops and restaurants here with lots of fun free activities for the kids.

The Lego store is lots of fun for the kids where they can spend the day building Lego sculptures.

You can also get free chocolate samples at the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Shop, a free Volcano Show at the Rainforest Cafe, and there are usually free live shows at the Waterview Park Stage as well.

It’s also a great place to pick up some Disney souvenirs at one of the largest Disney stores at the World of Disney, especially if you forget to pick some up at the parks.

It’s easy to get to Disney Springs from your Disney Resort with the free shuttles, boat rides, and free parking as well.

Some of our favorite Disney Springs Restaurants:

• Polite Pig: $$-Our favorite counter serve spot for smoked meats, bbq and more!
• Maris & Enzo’s Ristorante: $$$-Italian food known for housemade pastas with a 1930’s themed airline terminal
• Raglan Road Irish Pub: $$-Modern Irish pub-fare with live music. Great Brunch spot!
• Morimoto Asia: $$$-Upscale Pan-Asian cuisine, sushi and more. We loved the Sapporo Spicy Miso Ramen!
• House of Blues Orlando: $$-Southern dishes, we loved the BBQ Ribs & the Shrimp Po’Boy.
• Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar: $$-Eclectic Bar Bites & Cocktails in a 1940’s aviation decor.

Disney World Tips for Families

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• Plan your Disney World trip far in advance to get better pricing on Disney resorts and tickets. Click here for info on Vacation packages.
• If it’s a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary and so on, pick up a button at guest services or at your hotels front lobby if staying at a Disney resort.
• If you have a REDCard at Target, purchase Disney gift cards with a 5% discount. The gift cards can be used to purchase Disney park tickets, Resort stays, meals, and souvenirs.
• If you’re willing to skip the parades and fireworks, this is the best time to get on rides without the long waits.
• To beat the meal time crowds, plan your meals at less popular times. Also take advantage of Mobile order on the My Disney experience app and skip the lines when ordering your food.
• To have a prime spot for viewing the Disney Enchantment show at Magic Kingdom be sure to arrive by the castle early.
• To avoid the crowds at closing we usually just wait out the crowds and hit the gift shops and go shopping, its not fun being pushed and shoved just to exit.
• If you want to avoid crowded shuttle busses and long waits for them, download the Lyft app and use the Minnie van service or a taxi. Although the Minnie van service can get quite pricey, minimum is $25, it was a convenient way to avoid the hassle of long waits and crowded busses. Plus you save lots of time than can be spent at the parks or at your hotel pool!

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