Disney Must Do Tips for First Timers
How do you Organise a big trip like Disney? and a guide to the My Disney Experience Mobile App.
Disney is the most magical holiday there is and it can be daunting for first timers to get their head round. This is my guide to Disney must do tips for first timers. With so many different parks, hotels, rides and restaurants it can be a complete mine field to even book. Once booked you will want to make the most of your trip and not miss the really important stuff. How do you book restaurants? When can you book restaurants? How do I use my FastPass? Lets plan our disney vacation together.
Plan! Why the My Disney Experience app is your best friend.
There was a day where you could just turn up at Disney and walk in to a restaurant or buy some FastPasses and do as you please. You can still do this of course but you will not get the most out of your days at Disney and will waste far too much time queuing.
I could be compensated, if you click on a link in this post via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy and privacy policy for more details.
This is where the My Disney Experience Mobile App comes in. It is one of the best additions to Disney in years. It is extremely user friendly and you can book all of your activities and rearrange them too just by tapping the App. Everything can be done on the App from booking Restaurants, FastPasses, Checking park hours and viewing your Disney Photos You can download the App and add your Disney Hotel and Disney tickets to it so you can book away to your hearts content.
Which park which day? and what are the extra magic hours at Disney?
Before you book any FastPasses or restaurants you will want to know which park to do on which day. There are lots of calendars online telling you which days are less busy than others and what days the magic hours are in the park. Magic Hours are hours that a disney park is open to guests staying at one of the disney park resorts only. All guest staying at the disney resorts and participating hotels can gain access and beat the crowds. Find out what the magic hours are before you book so you know which park you will want to go to. On the days where the magic hours are early head over to your favourite rides where the queues are usually long and get on quick. Be sure to book FastPasses for after this time when the park is busier.
Booking restaurants and food at Disney with the Disney go app.
With the Disney Dining plans it means lots of the sit down and character dining restaurants get booked up quite quickly, but do not let this worry you. Now that Disney has the App it handles all of your bookings and you can do this up to 180 days before you arrive at Disney.
I do recommend if you want to go somewhere special that you should book it as soon as possible. Alternatively you can order food on the App! this is pure magic! find your restaurant in the App choose your food pay and pick up from the window at the restaurant. No waiting and hot food straight away.
How do I book and use a fastpass at Disney?
FastPasses reduce the amount of time you spend in line at Disney. Use the app to book your FastPasses for the rides. You can book 3 FastPasses per day up to 30 days before you travel ( 60 if staying in a Disney hotel).
Book your FastPasses wisely, book the most popular for first thing in the morning. Once you have redeemed your first 3 passes you can book more even if they are in a different park. Keep checking the app to book more for later in the day as some people change their FastPasses because they have got on a ride already with a shorter queue.
Disney PhotoPass all your Photos to view in an instant
The Disney Photo Pass is pure Magic! every time you have a photo taken in one of the parks the photographer will swipe you magic band or park ticket and your photo will appear in the App. You can have your photos taken all over the park with characters or with magic shots in your image.
Voila the photos can then be transferred to your phone in just one click! take advantage of this by having as many as you like. There is no limit!
Check wait times and Show times at Disney
The App displays all of the Disney show times for each park, Magic kingdom, Animal kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. You can also see the wait times for all of the rides. keep an eye on these to spot when your favourite ride has a bit less of a wait.
You can also use this feature at home to help you work out which fast passes to book. The App gives you a constantly updated view of the wait times even if you are not in the country!
I hope you enjoyed my Disney Must Do Tips for First Timers? Good luck with your next Disney Vacation. For more Disney Tips check out these posts.
D x
Some great tips Donna it’s 3 years since I last went so the My Disney experience app sounds like a great app to get the best out of your stay and love the photopass that’s so great! I’ve entered comp, so crossing everything!!😘💕xxx
This Would Be Amazing For Myself & My Daughter. Fantastic Giveaway Entered Them All. Thanks. xx
What a great list! I’ve been so many times to Disney but even now am still discovering things I didn’t know about at the parks!
Wow this would be my absolute dream we have never done any Disney and I was literally jigging with excitement reading this post – one day!!!!
Amazing prize, we are going to book for October this year as we have always done April/May but my daughter has exams this year so saving till the end of the year!
I remember when I went to Disneyland Paris, I had fastness for everything I could but wish I had the app so I could plan better. This giveaway is awesome
We loved the Disney Photo Pass, it was nice to have all of us in the pictures at the same time
Some great tips. I took my son for the weekend when he was 7 and I feel wemissed so much as we didn’t plan!
This is so amazing. I love Disney parks so much. Need to visit one soon.
Some great tips here! I would love to visit Disney, if I did I would defo use the app – sounds so helpful! Great pics!
wow this would be amazing for when i take the grandchildren
Love Disney Great Entertainment Been With Our Niece And Nephew Years Ago Would Give Anything To Go With Our Grandchildren Hoping One Day Soon