We go to Disney World a lot (literally every day).
From Disney’s price increases to constant construction and new additions, Disney World is always changing and growing! That’s why we’re constantly in the parks thinking about new tips for your next Disney trip.
The AllEars team is in Walt Disney World every single day. That’s no exaggeration — rain or shine, on holidays, and during peak seasons, we are always there so we can bring you the news and updates! That being said, we feel like we’ve learned a thing or two in our time.
From getting that hard-won dining reservation to fighting your way through crowds, there are some things you just have to learn the hard way. One of the things we’ve learned the hard way? Using Genie+.
1. Do Your Research About Genie+ BEFORE Your Trip
Genie+ debuted in October 2021 and it has been a bit of an uphill battle ever since. From changing rules to raising prices, Genie+ has been a struggle for guests. While we now feel pretty confident in how to use it, guests coming to Disney for the first time since it debuted might not know everything they need to.
That’s why our most important tip is to learn Disney Genie before you start heading to Walt Disney World. While it might not seem fun to have a bit of “homework”, it will make your trip all the better! Luckily for you, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
Check out our post on how to only use Genie+ when you need it here
2. Bring Your Own Weather Gear
Is discussing the weather and Disney world a new tip? Not necessarily, but this year we have seen the weather seriously impact Disney World. Back in 2022, the Disney World theme parks closed not once but twice due to hurricanes which is pretty rare for Disney.
Because of the unexpected weather changes in Florida, it’s an important tip to bring your own weather gear. We recommend bringing your own umbrellas and ponchos to the parks but we can’t emphasize that more. Disney ponchos aren’t necessarily the best and they are on the pricier side for ponchos so save yourself the trouble (and the cash) and buy before you head to the parks.
You can check out what we keep in our park bags here!
3. Decide If Your Trip Is “Once In A Life Time” Or Not
Going to Disney World can be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. While going to Disney for most people is a “one and done” thing, a lot of people come back to the parks year after year. With Disney’s crowds and the increase of things to do at each park, it might be hard to do everything in one trip.
That’s why we think it’s important to decide if you’ll return to Disney World again. If you already know that you’ll be returning before you even leave for your first trip, it’s easier to prioritize things because you know you’ll get another chance to do what you missed. If you know you won’t be returning, it’s a good indicator that you’ll need to try to do more in one trip than others might want to.
Check out the 10 big things we’ve learned from going to Disney every day here
4. Always Check Disney’s Refurbishment Calendar
We’ve said it a few times already but we’re in Disney World every day but even sometimes we get caught off guard! Disney constantly has updates and constructions going on around the property and if you’re not paying attention, you might be surprised by it.
From different ride closures and new restaurants, Disney’s work might impact what you can and can’t do on your trip. That’s why you always need to check the refurbishment calendar before heading down to Orlando. Luckily, we also keep a constant update on work in Disney World too.
Check out the big construction changes that are happening right now!Â
5. Constantly Keep Up With Disney News (From AllEars.Net)
Disney is constantly changing, even if sometimes we don’t want it to. From price increases to construction, it’s easy to miss some big Disney news since it’s all happening at once.
That’s why Disney news sites are so important for your trip. A website like this one will help you not only plan your trip while you’re planning it but we also keep you updated if things change that can impact your trip even after you arrive. (We’re looking at you, Hurricane Ian!)
Check out the news about the most recent price increases here
6. Plan Where You Want To Start Your Day
There used to be a time, not too long ago, when you could go to Disney World and decide what you wanted to do after you got there. Now with busy crowds and early morning entry times, you almost always need to decide what your first move is before you get into the park.
That’s why rope dropping is so important after you decide where you want to start your day. Rope dropping can save you some serious time during your park day because it helps you get through the biggest lines as quickly as possible. From Rise of the Resistance to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, some times getting to the ride as soon as the park opens will be your best option for your park day.
Check out how to rope drop like a pro here
7. Make Sure You’re Staying Hyrdated
Is this a new tip? No. Is it so important that we will keep mentioning it? Yes! Staying hydrated is so important in Disney World because it can make or break your park day. Not having enough water can really slow you down and make you feel bad in the heat and humidity of Orlando.
Luckily for you, Disney has free water spots throughout all four parks. You can also grab free water from almost every Quick Service location in the parks as well. That’s why there’s never an excuse to skip out on staying hydrated.
Check out where you can find free water here
8. A Plan For One Park Might Not Work For The Others
One thing we’ve learned from going to Disney every day is that not all plans are created equal. Your plan for Magic Kingdom definitely won’t work on your Animal Kingdom day. Thanks to different crowd sizes and priorities, you’ll more than likely need to have a different plan for each day.
When you make your plans, make sure you’re double-checking when the parks open and close. You’ll also need to double-check park reservation availability. Just because one park has availability, doesn’t mean the others do.
Check out what guests really think of the park reservation system here
Overall, going to Walt Disney World requires quite a bit of planning and your next trip will be no different. In fact, it might take even more planning than usual. Thankfully, AllEars will be here with our best tips to help!
We’ll always make sure to give you the best planning tips when it comes to your next vacation to Walt Disney World. Make sure you keep following AllEars for the latest Disney news and updates.
Check out what we learned by going to Disney every day here
What are your best Disney World planning tips? Tell us in the comments!
It makes me sad, the amount of planning you now have to do. I’m not sure it even feels like a holiday any more. Certainly not relaxing. I have such lovely memories of our times there, when we only had to decide which fast passes we would go for and where we wanted to eat. ‘Getting rides done’ surely sucks the joy out of it?