Planning a trip to Disney World in 2024? We’ve got you covered! Navigating the magical world of Disney can be overwhelming but fear not. This guide is here to make your experience as smooth as possible. From must-see attractions to savvy tips, consider this your crew’s go-to manual for a fantastic Disney World adventure.

1. MagicBands Are not a Must: Disney’s MagicBands are great and they can add a lot of convenience to your trip but with the progress in being able to use your phone or Apple watch, these aren’t as much of a must have any more. Magic Bands will serve as your park ticket, hotel key, and even link to your photos however, you can also do those things with your phone. When MagicBands become key is when you are taking a party with lots of kids or people who may not easily be able to use a phone for these things. In that case, MagicBands add a ton of convenience to your trip and will help keep your group moving more efficiently. Click here for more information on MagicBands.
2. Study Genie Plus before you go: Disney’s Genie Plus service is a service that allows you to book times for rides and essentially skip the line. This service is something that you purchase per person, per day. Prices vary based on the day and the park you want to visit and typically range from $15 -$38. You are able to book Lightning Lanes (reservations) starting at 7 a.m. and then continue to book throughout the day. This is done through the My Disney Experience app. There are lots of guidelines and steps to know for this service. Studying up ahead of time will definitely save you some frustration on your trip. For a full guide on how to use Genie Plus click here. Curious to see if it can really save you time? Check out this article.
3. Stay Hydrated: Florida can be hot, so make sure your crew stays hydrated. Bring refillable water bottles and take advantage of free water stations around the park. Disney quick service dining locations will give you cups of ice water for free and you can use those to refill your bottle and save having to pay $5-6 per water bottle.
4. Download the My Disney Experience App: This app is your virtual guide to Disney World. Check wait times, find characters, and even order food right from your phone. There is so much wonderful information in this app! Download it before your trip and take some time to explore what’s available. You can find more information on everything the MDE app offers in this article.
5. Arrive Early for Popular Rides: Beat the crowds by arriving early and heading straight to popular rides. If your crew is one that will be up for park opening (rope drop), put those most popular attractions at the top of your list. Staying at a Disney resort? Some resorts come with extra time in the parks. Take advantage of that time to catch lower wait times for the must do rides. Your crew will thank you for avoiding the midday rush.
6. Explore All Four Parks: Disney World consists of four amazing parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Each park offers a plethora of unique experiences. Doing some learning ahead of your trip about what’s available in each park will help you not miss out on the unique experiences they all offer.
7. Character Meet-and-Greets: If your crew loves characters, plan to meet them early in the day or during mealtimes to avoid long lines. You can also use Lightning Lanes to shorten your waits for some characters. Looking for someone specific? Open that My Disney Experience app and filter the map for characters. This will show you which characters are available to meet in that park, where they are located and what time they’ll be greeting guests.
8. Dress Comfortably: Comfort is key when exploring the parks. Wear comfortable shoes, lightweight clothing, and don’t forget the sunscreen. Make sure to try out your shoes before your trip. Also, taking several pair of comfy shoes will allow you to rotate your shoes so that they don’t rub in the same places every day.
9. Try Unique Snacks: Disney is known for its delicious snacks. There are SO many to choose from! Don’t be afraid to try new things. Disney really prides themselves on their unique food offerings. Some of my top favs are the Cheshire cattail in Magic Kingdom, the strawberry tart from Les Halles in France (Epcot), the Nom Nom cookie in Hollywood Studios and the special Dole Whips you can get at Tamu Tamu in Animal Kingdom. For the coffee lovers out there, make sure to grab a Joffrey’s cold brew. It’s the best!
10. Take a Break: Disney World can be overwhelming. You will want to take breaks to rest, recharge, and enjoy the atmosphere. This can be done in lots of ways. Some families like to return to their resort mid-day for naps. For my crew, we sleep in, use Lightning Lanes so we don’t have to stand in line so much and then make sure we sit down for a good meal or snack when we need a break.
11. Stay for the Nighttime Shows: Don’t miss the magical nighttime shows at each park. Disney is known for their fireworks and these shows truly are amazing. Every Park except Animal Kingdom has a stunning nighttime show you won’t want to miss. They’re a perfect way to end your day on a high note.
12. Photopass for Memories: Capture every magical moment with Disney’s Photopass service. Professional photographers are stationed around the parks to take unforgettable photos of your crew. This is a service that you can purchase if you want Disney’s professional pictures, or you can ask the Photopass cast members to take a picture with your phone. Head’s up: this service is less expensive if you purchase it in advance. For a full review of Memory Maker check out this article.
13. Know Rider Swap Option: If you have little ones who can’t ride certain attractions, take advantage of the Rider Swap option to ensure everyone gets to experience the fun. This way one person in your party can stay with your little one and then when the rest of the group is done riding that person can ride without having to wait in line.
14. Mobile Ordering for Food: Save time by using the mobile ordering feature on the My Disney Experience app for quick-service meals. As I said above, the MDE app offers so many services and one that will save you a ton of time is Mobile Order. With this, you can pick where you want to eat, review the menu and order. You can select what time you want your food to be ready and then just tell the app when you’re close and the cast members will make your food.
15. Be Weather-Prepared: Florida weather can be unpredictable. Pack ponchos, sunscreen, and be prepared for sudden rain showers. If you’re going in the summer, be prepared for the extreme heat by packing things like cooling towels and misting fans. If you’ll be traveling in the cooler months, be aware that it can actually get cold in Florida. Make sure to pay attention to the forecast before you go and layer up appropriately.
16. Catch a Parade: Disney parades are must-see. You can find parade and cavalcade (mini parade) times in the My Disney Experience app. If you don’t want to fight the crowd to see the Magic Kingdom parade, try watching it from Frontierland instead of Main St. This area will be less crowded, and you’ll see the parade before all of the crowds on Main St which means you might be able to make it to a popular ride before the lines jump back up.
17. Use Disney Transportation: Take advantage of Disney’s transportation system to easily move between parks and resorts. Disney offers multiple methods of free transportation. They offer bus service between every resort and park. In addition to the buses, certain resorts will offer monorail service, boat transportation or access to the Disney Skyliner.
18. Explore Beyond the Rides: Disney offers more than just rides. Explore unique experiences like character dining, shows, and behind-the-scenes tours. These experiences are a great way for members of your crew who might not enjoy rides to still enjoy the parks.
19. Know Rider Height Requirements: Before queuing up for a ride, check the height requirements to ensure everyone in your crew can enjoy it. Little ones can be devastated if they have their heart set on a ride only to find out that they aren’t big enough to go on it.
20. Secure a Spot for Fireworks: For the best view of the fireworks, find a good spot early. Main Street in Magic Kingdom is the best place to watch if you want to enjoy the fireworks and the accompanying projections. If you don’t want to spend time sitting waiting for fireworks, that’s ok too. You’ll still be able to enjoy them from all around the park.
21. Check Showtimes: Plan your day around showtimes for attractions like Festival of the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, and more. These Disney shows are like mini-Broadway musicals right there in the park. The sets and costuming are so impressive. They are also a great way to get off of your feet for a little while and many of the shows are air conditioned.
22. Budget for Souvenirs: Set a budget for souvenirs before you hit the shops. Disney has multitudes of adorable souvenirs to choose from, and it’s easy to get carried away. A great way to stick to your souvenir budget is to give each family member a Disney gift card with their allotment on it and then when that’s gone, they’re done.
23. Stay for Extra Magic Hours: If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, take advantage of Extra Magic Hours to enjoy the parks with fewer crowds. These are great times to hop on the most popular attractions without having to wait as long.
24. Know Park Hopper Options: Disney offers an upgraded ticket called a park hopper that allows you to visit more than one park in a day. This ticket gives you the utmost flexibility in how you visit the parks. This can be a great option if you want to visit all four parks but don’t have enough days in your vacation to dedicate one day to each park.
25. Have Fun and Be Flexible: Most importantly, have fun and be flexible. Things might not always go as planned, but sometimes our best memories come from when we let go and just enjoy the moment.

Bonus tip: Know how to use Virtual Queues: Currently there are 2 rides at Disney that are using a virtual que system for you to reserve your place in line. These attractions are Tron in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy in Epcot. Virtual ques open for Disney resort guests at 7 am and open to off property guests when the park opens. These are booked through the MDE app. You will want to find the ride you are hoping to reserve in the app before the time you can book. Once you’ve found the ride there you should see a button for the virtual que. Be prepared to click on this at the exact time that it opens. They go very quickly and frequently are completely gone very early in the day.

Armed with these 25 must-know tips, your crew is ready for an unforgettable Disney World adventure in 2024. Embrace the magic, capture the moments, and remember – the key to a successful Disney trip is not just in the plans, but in the flexibility to go with the flow and create lasting memories together.

Ready to start booking that magical vacation? Click here to get your dream Disney vacation planning started.