7 TOP TIPS to Make Your Holiday Travel to Disney World Less Stressful

One of the BUSIEST travel seasons of the year is about to begin. Almost 1.75 million passengers are expected to make their way through Orlando International Airport during this travel period around Thanksgiving.

That could mean you need to do a little bit more to get prepared for your trip if you’re traveling during that time. Here are our top tips to make holiday travel smoother!

Be Patient

With so many people traveling at the same time, there will likely be long lines for everything — from checking in to security. Knowing this and mentally preparing for it could help you remember to pack the one thing you’ll need most of all — patience.

Do the things that’ll help reduce your stress — make sure you have your cup of coffee or tea in the morning, grab something to eat so you aren’t hangry, etc. — put yourself in the best position to be as patient as possible!

Get to the Airport EARLY

You want to get to the airport early enough that you have plenty of time to navigate through crowds, get checked in, get through security, and get to your gate. Allow even more time than you normally would.

Orlando International Airport recommends that guests arrive at least three hours in advance of their flights during this Thanksgiving travel period.

Continuously Check the Airport and Airline’s Websites and Apps

You’ll want to keep a close eye on what’s going on with flights on the day you travel. Travel delays and cancelations could happen, and you’ll want to have a heads-up if your travel will be affected. Keep an eye on the airport and airlines’ websites or apps.

If you’ll be going through Orlando International Airport, the airport’s app can help you check on security wait times, navigate your way around the airport, and more. It can be a great help as you travel through this spot.

? Download our app for security wait times, wayfinding and more: https://t.co/k9eISdyBlX
ℹ️ Call our information centers from 6am-10pm for immediate assistance at: 407-825-2352.
? Pack your patience
✈️ Happy travels! pic.twitter.com/o0vr3uGrZ2

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) November 18, 2022

 

Set up notifications with your airline, too, so that you know when problems arise. The airline’s app will likely notify you of any delays, cancelations, or gate changes, and may let you rebook on other flights (should a delay or cancelation occur) quickly and easily.

Pack Lightly

Okay, this one is HARD if you’re flying BACK from Disney World because you’re going to leave with way more stuff than you left home with. But keep in mind that the less luggage you have, the fewer things you have to potentially get lost or delayed.

If you can pack light, you may be able to save yourself some serious stress when it comes to going through security or picking up your things from bag check.

If you DO end up buying a lot of extra stuff in Disney World, consider having it shipped to your home instead. Also, be sure to have a luggage tag or some other way to identify your bags (and let others know who they belong to).

You may also want to consider purchasing a few Apple AirTags. These tracking devices can be set up and then packed into your bags.

Then, you’ll be able to search for the location of the AirTag and track where your bag is. It could come in handy if your bag does get lost at some point during your travels.

Click here to see more about AirTags

Know All The Rules and Regulations

BEFORE your trip, be sure to visit the TSA website and note all the current policies regarding liquids (the 3-1-1 rule), as well as what you can and can’t bring onto a plane with you.

What’s the 3-1-1 rule? According to the TSA, “Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols. Common travel items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion.”

Also make a note of anything that needs to be removed from your person or your bags at security, such as the shoes you’re wearing and laptops.

Be as prepared for security as possible. Have your form of identification ready to be presented and quickly put away. Make sure your laptop is in an easy spot so you can pull it out and put it in a separate bin. Bring shoes that are easy to remove and put back on so you can speed up your security process.

And if you’re traveling with pets, bring a leash — they will need to be removed from their carriers at security.

Consider Getting TSA PreCheck

If you want to spend less time in security lines and not have to deal with taking things out of your bags, consider getting TSA PreCheck. This will allow you to zoom through security lines. There is a cost involved, but many credit card programs will reimburse you if you sign up!

Right now, the cost has been reduced to $78 for PreCheck, so that could make it even more worth it.

Reserve A Time To Go Through Orlando International Airport Security

Did you know you can reserve a time slot to go through security at Orlando International Airport? This will get you an exclusive shorter line at the security checkpoints. The reserved time slots are only available during select periods of the day, so keep that in mind. You can sign up here.

Travel during the busy holiday season can be stressful, but these tips should make it a little less so. Remember it’s important to be flexible, too — there are a lot of things that could throw a wrench in your travel plans. If problems arise that affect your Disney World trip, you’ll also need to know Disney World’s cancellation policies — click here to learn more about those.

If you are traveling this holiday season, we hope your travels are as smooth as possible!

Click Here to see Holiday Travel Essentials You Should ALWAYS Pack

Will you be traveling to Disney World this holiday season? Let us know in the comments what your best tip is to make holiday travel a little less stress-free.

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