Disney World Tips and Tricks to Plan Memorable Park Days 

So you have the hotel reservations, airfare booked, and park tickets purchased… now how do you plan your actual days while in the park? 

I ended up with analysis paralysis to decide which park to go to on which days, which restaurants to make reservations at, the best times to make reservations, etc.  With so much to see and do, it's essential to have a well-crafted plan to ensure that you make the most of your time and create lasting memories. Here's a list of Disney World Tips  I used to plan out our days at Disney World. 

1. Research and Prioritize Which Rides You Want to Experience

   Research and prioritize before you begin planning, research the park's attractions, shows, and dining options. Make a list of your must-do experiences and prioritize them based on your family's interests and preferences. Here is a list of all of the attractions at Disney World. My kids and I went through the whole list (not in one sitting),  and I made a list of the rides and attractions they did and did not want to do. To learn more about each ride, we watched YouTube videos on every ride. While it took a while, it's less time than waiting in lines for a ride that they are not that interested in going on.  (it took a while).  This will help you create a focused itinerary and ensure that you don't miss out on your top picks.

2. Pick Which Dining Reservations You Want

   We did the same process to decide which character dining we wanted reservations for. We watched Youtube reviews of each character's dining and made a list of the ones we wanted to try. This way, once our 60-day window came, I knew which reservations to make. 

3. Disney World Crowd Calendar

   So now I know which reservations we wanted, but I was unsure of which order we should do the parks in. We have 7 park days including the water park, and we knew we wanted 2 days at Magic Kingdom and 2 days at Epcot. However, I had no idea which order would be best. In came the Touring Plans crowd calendar.  Touring Plans Disney World crowd calendar is available for a small fee, you can have access to a day-by-day crowd calendar. The calendar made it so much easier to pick which days to do which parks. We found which days would be the least crowded for each park. Now, I know these are estimates and may not be 100%, but at least I was using a reasonable estimate as to which order we would enjoy the parks in.  So our order will be Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Water Park Epcot. It was important for me to figure this out before the 60-day window, so I knew which dining reservations to make for which days. 

4. What To Do If You Cannot Snag that Reservation

   Make Dining Reservations Early Popular restaurants can fill up quickly, so make your dining reservations as early as possible. Many parks allow you to book reservations up to 60 or 180 days in advance. Consider a mix of quick-service and table-service options to suit your family's needs and budget. My son loves animals and very much wanted to do the Startlight Safari, but it sold out every day of our trip very quickly. In came mouse dining alerts. About a week after my 60-day window, I got an alert of an opening on our arrival day and jumped on the opportunity. Mousedining alerts really came to the rescue on that.

   Mouse dining alerts also work well on hard-to-get dining reservations. 

   Be Flexible and Adaptable While having a plan is important, be prepared to make adjustments based on factors like weather, crowd levels, or your family's energy levels. Build in breaks for rest, snacks, and spontaneous moments of joy. Remember, the goal is to create happy memories, not to stick rigidly to a schedule.

   Capture the Memories Don't forget to document your magical moments! Take plenty of photos and videos, but also be present and enjoy the experience. Consider purchasing PhotoPass or investing in a waterproof phone case to capture memories on splash-filled rides.

   By following these tips and taking the time to plan strategically, you'll be well on your way to mastering the magic and creating truly unforgettable park days. My biggest Disney World tip would be to remember, that the key to a successful Disney World vacation is a mix of preparation, flexibility, and a willingness to embrace the wonder and excitement around you.

   Check out our other Disney World posts at: "Packing for the Magic: Items for Your Disney World Adventure."

   "A Guide to Planning Your Disney World Using Reward Points".

   "Disney Magic on a Budget: Guide to Discount Disney Tickets"