10 Helpful Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World

By Kate Cohen
June 11, 2025

When you’re planning a day at Walt Disney World, you want to make sure you make the most of your time – and your budget.

With over 50 years of Orlando history, Rosen Inns knows a thing or two about visiting Walt Disney World, and we’re here to help.

A young boy and girl hold hands with Minnie Mouse and walk through the streets of Magic Kingdom.

Here are our 10 helpful tips for visiting Walt Disney World Resort.

1. Use the My Disney Experience App

A man, woman, boy, and girl pose with Woody from Toy Story with their arms outstretched, smiling.

The My Disney Experience App is your personal pocket guide to your day at Disney World.

You can plan your itinerary from home in the weeks leading up to your trip, as well as use it throughout the parks once you arrive.

The Disney MagicMobile Service feature in the app allows you to turn your phone into the ultimate Disney device.

For example, you can use it to enter theme parks, access Disney PhotoPass images through your account, and redeem your virtual queue and Lightning Lane selections.

Use the My Disney Experience App to book dining reservations ahead of time, ensuring you enjoy your favorite theme park restaurants and lounges.

The app also has attraction wait times, show times, in-park navigation, and virtual queues so you can have your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the parks.

2. Take Advantage of Mobile Ordering

A man, woman, and two girls in Minnie ears sit at a table beneath a striped umbrella enjoying drinks, fries, and other food.

Another perk of the My Disney Experience App is mobile ordering, which helps you avoid long lines when it comes to getting food.

At select locations throughout the park, you can order food and beverages, make dining reservations, and even check into restaurants as your reservation approaches.

Browse menus, join table-service waitlists, and make sure you get the chance to try all your favorite Disney theme park snacks, all through the My Disney Experience App.

Trust us, your hangry party will thank you.

3. Make a List of Your Priorities

The silhouettes of two children in Mickey ears against a bright blue aquarium wall with fish and sting rays.

There are so many things to do at the Walt Disney World parks that it’s nearly impossible to do everything in one day.

Before you arrive at your designated theme park, decide what it is you’d like to do most during your visit.

Is it making sure you get to ride Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom? Catching a performance of Finding Nemo at Animal Kingdom?

Or maybe your must-do is securing character dining dinner reservations at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT?

Knowing what’s most important for you to do can help you prioritize the rest of your itinerary.

It may not be worth waiting in line for a ride you don’t particularly care about when you have other attractions you’re looking forward to.

Regardless, knowing your priorities ahead of time is a great way to make the most of your time at the theme parks.

4. Book Advance Dining Reservations

Two women holding Champagne flutes walk in front of two men with food in an outdoor setting.

There are plenty of unique restaurants and dining experiences throughout the Disney theme parks.

Some of them, like character dining experiences, are in high demand.

Generally, you can make theme park dining reservations 60 days in advance of your visit.

However, if there’s a specific time you have in mind, you may want to plan on setting yourself a reminder; some reservations book fast.

Take the guesswork and worry out of your dining experience by making sure you plan for your meals ahead of time.

5. Explore Lightning Lane Options

A man and woman smile and scream on a log flume ride surrounded by mossy rocks.

It’s no secret that waiting in line is one of the most aggravating parts of visiting any theme park.

Walt Disney World allows you to take the stress out of conquering your favorite attractions with Lightning Lane passes.

Lightning Lane single passes are available when you want to jump the line for one ride, as well as Multi Passes for up to three expedited experiences.

A Multi Pass also comes with perks like digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos from your day, as well as a bonus Lightning Lane selection (subject to availability).

Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes up to three days in advance of their park visit.

Attractions are divided into tiers, so be sure to check ahead to make sure you’re spending money wisely depending on which rides you want to prioritize.

Some rides (usually a park’s most popular rides) like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle/Run in Magic Kingdom are only available with Lightning Lane Single Passes.

Lightning Lane prices vary by date, theme park, and even attraction, but in general cost between $10 and $25 for a Single Pass and $15 and $39 for a Multi Pass, per person.

If your budget can accommodate a splurge, check out the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which has no tiers, return times, or ride limits.

Premier Passes range from $129 to $449 per person, depending on the park and day.

6. Treat Yourself to a Show

Performers in colorful costumes carry elaborate puppets of characters from Finding Nemo on a stage with an underwater backdrop.

One of the best ways to find balance in your day at the theme parks is taking in a show.

Disney parks are full of colorful entertainment, including performances that allow you to rest your feet and, often, enjoy a little air conditioning.

The best part is that every show is included in your theme park admission and doesn’t require additional tickets.

Here are a few of our favorite stage shows (with seating) to enjoy in each park:

Magic Kingdom

Country Bear Musical Jamboree *
Mickey’s PhilharMagic *
Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor *
Enchanted Tales with Belle (partially seated) *

EPCOT

Turtle Talk with Crush *
The American Adventure *
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along *
Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 *
Impressions de France *
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival *

Hollywood Studios

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration *
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Fantasmic
The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure *
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After *

Animal Kingdom

Festival of the Lion King *
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue...and Beyond! *

* = Indoors and air conditioned

7. Stay Hydrated and Bring Snacks

Seven girls in Minnie ears eat Mickey ice cream bars on a bench in front of a landscaped garden.

Staying hydrated at the theme parks is important any time of year, but especially in the steamy summer heat.

A day full of walking, standing in line, and exposure to the sun always comes with a risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and sunburn.

Luckily, these are all preventable with the right preparations.

Staying hydrated is key to making the most of your day at the theme parks.

Walt Disney World allows you to bring your own water bottles into the park, as long as they aren’t glass. You can refill your water at water fountains throughout the park.

Make sure you are also eating throughout the day. It’s easy to get distracted while you’re cruising from attraction to attraction. Having a simple snack on hand can help.

At Disney, you’re allowed to bring your own snacks (again, as long as they aren’t in glass containers). Granola bars, trail mix, pretzels, fruit snacks, and pouches are great grab-and-go options.

8. Make a Packing List

A boy with a Buzz Lightyear backpack stands with his hands on his hips facing a large statue of Buzz Lightyear.

Waiting to pack for a day at the theme parks is a sure-fire way to forget important items.

Make a packing list ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need for a successful day of adventuring.

Some items to include on your list are:

Water bottles
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Snacks
First aid supplies
Poncho
Hand sanitizer
Chargers
Battery pack
Loose clothing

These items will help ensure you are prepared for anything during your trip to the theme parks.

9. Pack Patience

A man and woman walk with Rey and Chewbacca in front of the Millenium Falcon and a rocky outcropping.

Something else of note to pack is patience.

There is a reason millions of people flock to Walt Disney World each year, traveling from all over the world.

The theme parks are often crowded, packed with people who are savoring every moment of their special vacation.

When you can anticipate long lines and other crowd-induced annoyances, you’ll have an easier time practicing patience and forgiveness.

Walt Disney World employees, affectionately known as Cast Members, are a group of hard-working individuals who love making magic for theme park guests.

Treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve, and you never know when a little extra pixie dust may float your way.

10. Stay at a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel

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Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

Let the magic follow you back to your hotel room when you stay at a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel, like Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista.

This unique designation reassures guests that your stay with us is Disney-approved, with perks like complimentary shuttle service to Disney theme parks and family-friendly amenities.

Additionally, our other three Rosen Inn properties – Rosen Inn International, Rosen Inn closest to Universal, and Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando – are all an easy drive from Disney parks.

Let us host you for your next Walt Disney World trip and you’re sure to be welcomed with warm hospitality, theme park knowledge, and lots of family-friendly fun.