8 Pro Tips For Walt Disney World Resorts

Staying at a Walt Disney World resort is one of the best parts of a Disney World vacation. Each resort is unique and allows you to feel like you’re surrounded by Disney magic throughout your entire stay. If you haven’t stayed at a Disney resort before, it’s difficult to know about all the amazing things they offer and how they can help make your stay that much more special. Here are 8 pro tips for Walt Disney World resorts to help you when planning your next Disney vacation.

8. Wake Up Call

The best way to greet each day at a Disney World resort is to wake up to a call from a Disney character. You can arrange for a character wake up call by using the wake up call button on the phone in your resort or calling the front desk. You can’t pick which character calls, but typically it is Mickey or Stitch. Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, this is great way to start off your magical day at Disney.

7. Check in Online

You can speed up your resort check in process a bit by doing the online check-in up to 60 days prior to your arrival. When you do arrive at your resort you can head to the Online Check-In Service counter and they will have your welcome folder and your MagicBand (if you don’t have it yet) ready and waiting for you. You will need photo I.D to complete this check-in at your resort, so make sure you have that handy. Often, the Online Check-In line is a little shorter too!

6. Use the Concierge

The concierge at your resort is there to help you make your stay as enjoyable as possible. The concierge can do so much for you, like exchange currency, make reservations for you, answer any questions you might have about transportation, show times, child care, they can help you purchase tickets to parks or water parks and so much more. You can also ask your concierge for park maps and celebration buttons. When in doubt, ask the concierge!

5. Eat Breakfast Early

If you’re going to eat breakfast at your resort before heading out to the parks for the day, try to do so earlier rather than later in the morning. After about 8am the food court and quick service locations tend to get very busy and noisy. If you want to start your day off a little quieter, consider getting breakfast first thing, and then heading back to your room to continue getting ready for the day. Another option is to get there early, avoid line-ups for breakfast and bring breakfast back to your room to enjoy.

4. Resort Hotel Delivery

You can have the items you purchase at the parks sent to your resort where you can pick them at the store located in your hotel. Tell the cast member at the time of purchase that you would like to have your items sent to your hotel and they will make all the arrangements for you. This allows you make buy all the Disney souvenirs your heart desires without having to carry them around with you all day.

3. Use the Transportation

If you have a car with you at Disney, leave it in the parking lot at the resort. The transportation system at Disney is fantastic and will take you wherever you need to go. Buses run often from hotels to the parks, and Disney Springs, and they drop you off steps from the front gates. Using Disney transportation takes the stress out of trying to find your way around, parking and it will save you time. There are also other modes of transportation to get around, depending on your resort. Some Moderate hotels offer a boat service as well as Skyliner service. The Monorail, boats, and Skyliner is available at some of the Deluxe hotels. The transportation at Disney is a free service that is available to all guests of Disney, but it will especially be helpful if you are a resort guest, and taking advantage of the different types of transportation will also enhance your Disney experience.

2. Dine at Your Resort

If you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, there are multiple options for dining. Dining at a restaurant or lounge at your resort may give you a nice break from the parks, and it will give you the chance to experience more of what your resort has to offer. Before you get frustrated trying to get a reservation for the table service restaurants in the park, check out the dining locations at your resort. You may even find you like those options better!

1. Visit Other Resorts

The resorts at Disney have so much to offer, and you don’t have to be a registered guest at a particular resort to explore it. There are some fantastic activities available, amazing restaurants, character experiences such as breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at ‘Ohana, and Cinderella’s Happily Ever After dinner buffet at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. You can also go on a horse drawn carriage ride at Port Orleans Riverside, rent a bike or go fishing. You can also just wander around the resort grounds and take in the amazing surroundings and theming. Visit the lounges, or take in some dinner entertainment. Resort hopping is also the best way to start planning your next vacation and which resort you’ll stay at!