The Ultimate Checklist for a Stress-free Disney World Vacation with Kids

I continually found myself overwhelmed, feeling like I didn’t have the time to sift through all the information and opinions and strategies… and that my vacation would be much less than magical because I wasn’t a Disney World insider.

So, what did I do? I became a Disney World insider!

And I want to help you become one too. That’s why I’m bringing you the Ultimate Checklist for a Stress-free Disney World Vacation. Let’s get into it!

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1. Choose the Best Travel Dates

• If you are not dealing with school breaks, make sure to plan your Disney World vacation during a quieter time of year to avoid crowds (January, February, September*).
  • *We recently traveled at the end of September and enjoyed low crowds, but also had to deal with Hurricane Ian.
• If you are dealing with school breaks, don’t fret! You can still plan your days to avoid the largest crowds.
  • Choose which day you will go to which park based on crowds, not preference
    • Don’t forget to make your Disney Park Reservation for each day!
  • Use your early entry wisely!
• Tip: Utilize a crowd calculator: I love Touring Guide’s crowd calculator and rely on it heavily. ($17.95/year at publication)

2. Stay at a Disney World Resort

• If it’s in your budget, it is absolutely worth it to stay at a Disney World Resort. Not only will you get early entry into the parks (a huge perk with kids!), you’ll also get free transportation and exceptional customer service and assistance.
  • We love the Animal Kingdom Lodge!
  • If you want to be right in the action you can walk to the parks from these resorts:
    • Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower (10 minute walk to Magic Kingdom)
    • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (20 minute walk to Magic Kingdom)
    • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (25 minute walk to Magic Kingdom)
    • Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas (5 minute walk to Epcot)
    • Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas (10 minute walk to Epcot)
    • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (10 minute walk to Epcot)
    • Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort (10 minute walk to Epcot)
  • See Section 5 if you prefer a resort with other forms of Disney transportation!

3. Plan Ahead for Dining & Attractions

• DINING:
  • Ding at Disney World really brings the extra magic to your vacation and should not be overlooked!
  • If you stay at a Disney World Resort, you can make dining reservations 60-days in advance of the first day of your stay at 6am Eastern Time.
    • If you are not staying at a Disney Property, you can make dining reservations 60-days in advance of the day you require them at 6am Eastern Time
  • (Psst! There are better ways to get dining reservations and I break them all down in the Essential Disney World Planning Guide) .
  • Prioritize character dining – with staff shortages and phased reopening, there aren’t many options for character dining and they go FAST.
• ATTRACTIONS:
  • You may want a brief overview prior to making your park reservations in order to determine which parks you want to attend
    • (Psst! The Parks-at-a-Glance section of the Disney World Resource Guide is perfect for this – FREE for a limited time!)
  • Otherwise you will need to know your top priority attractions by 7am Eastern Time, when you can make your first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection (the most popular ones sell out in minutes).
    • (Psst! You guessed it – I break down all the best strategies for Genie+ in the Essential Disney World Planning Guide)

4. Utilize Disney Transportation

• It’s free, it’s convenient, and it’s easy!
  • If your prefer to travel by gondola, The Skyliner*, will connect you to Epcot & Hollywood Studios from these resorts:
    • Disney’s Riviera Resort
    • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
    • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
    • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
    • *From January 22, 2023 through January 29, 2023, the Disney Skyliner will be closed for refurbishment. Complimentary bus and FriendShip boat service will be available.
  • If monorail is more your style, you can get to Magic Kingdom from these resorts:
    • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
    • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
    • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
  • If you prefer a more leisurely route, there is also a water taxi.
  • Bus is your other (less whimsical but no less efficient!) transportation option from the rest of the resorts.

5. Pack Like a Pro

• Check out my favorite travel products for kids – you won’t want to miss them.
• You absolutely do not want to forget:
  • Stroller for kids
  • Water bottles
  • Sunblock
  • Comfortable shoes (and clothes!)
  • Portable phone charger (phone batteries die extremely fast at Disney!)
  • Your magic bands (they are your ticket, your wallet, your lifeline!)
• For a more complete packing list, download the Disney World Resource Guide (free for a limited time!)

6. Save Some Money

• Use your Target Red Card to get 5% off Disney Gift Cards and use them for everything
  • Hint: Ask everyone for Disney gift cards for birthdays & holidays. Your child will likely appreciate a dream vacation more than another toy, anyway!
• Utilize grocery delivery or grocery pickup. By packing your own snacks for the parks or eating one non-Disney meal per day, you can save a shocking amount
  • There are lots of options, but we like Target and Garden Grocer
• Keep in mind that a less expensive Disney World vacation doesn’t mean an inexpensive Disney World vacation! Weigh the pros and cons and consider the following cost saving tips as well:
  • No Park Hopper. Downside: you may not get to every park during your trip, or if you happen to finish a park early (hello, Animal Kingdom), you may end up feeling trapped
  • No Genie+. Downside: you may have long waits at lots of attractions
  • Stay offsite. Downside: longer commutes to the parks, no Disney transportation, less Disney magic
  • Eat offsite. Downside: less convenient than eating in the parks (more commute time), less Disney magic
  • No Souvenirs. (Ok let’s be reasonable – limited souvenirs) Downside: fewer keepsakes

7. Be Prepared to Play the Game

• Planning a Disney World vacation can feel like playing a game, and those who play it best get the best benefits – fewer lines, better dining reservations, more character meet and greets, etc.
• Without wading through pages and piles of Disney World content, I am bringing you the must have information. So buckle up and get ready to become a great player.
  • Provide your family the most magical, stress free Disney vacation with the Essential Disney World Planning Guide.

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So there you have it! The ultimate checklist for planning a magical Disney World vacation. And if you want even more help making your Disney dreams come true, be sure to download the Disney World Resource Guide (free for a limited time!). It’s packed with tons of tips and tricks for having the best possible trip. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your dream vacation today!

Claim Your FREE Disney World Resource Guide