The Do’s, Don’ts, and Definitelys of Disney Travel

These NoMi Disney gurus can take your Disney trip from overwhelming to out of this (small) world

By Anna Faller | Jan. 13, 2024

We all love a Disney vacation—it’s the most magical place on earth, after all! Planning one, though, can take months of research (not to mention a scary amount of money), especially if you’re new to the process or let some time pass since your last visit.

How do you navigate Disney’s ins and outs like an expert, even if you aren’t one?

Northern Express sat down with a pair of travel agents and Disney experts—Chloe Leach of Mickey Travels and Tammy Sofonia of The Travel Authority—for the inside scoop on budget bookings, travel hacks, and top-tier attractions.

Don your mouse ears, Disney Explorers: It’s go time!

Where to Start

The first step toward planning a Disney vacation should be enlisting a certified travel agent. “It’s really a no-brainer,” Leach explains, as Disney structures certified travel services into all of its vacation packages. In layman’s terms: There’s no extra cost to book your trip through a seasoned pro.

In fact, reserving via consultant (versus trying to do it on your own) will likely lower your overall bill, as Disney planners are trained to sniff out the best promotions and purchasing rates. “There is so much to learn and know about Disney. Why not use someone who has that experience? It’s what we’re here for,” Sofonia adds.

A little background on our experts: Both Sofonia and Leach fell in love with Disney during respective trips to the parks as kids. Together, they have more than 30 years of travel planning experience and have collectively visited global Disney locations dozens of times.

“I love that it’s such a happy place,” says Leach. “And you’re never too old for magic.”

Next, it’s time to get digital. Gone are the days of waltzing into a Walt Disney World theme park without reservations. Instead, there’s the Disney Genie system, a tool through the My Disney Experience (MDE) app, through which guests can monitor wait times, order food, and even book theme park plans.

It’s also nearly impossible to arrange a Disney trip without it. “Everything is done through the app,” says Leach, adding that reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to book well in advance.

When to Go

When deciding on your trip timing, especially if you’re a Disney newbie, Sofonia recommends aiming for a window of five days and four nights. That way, there’s enough time to get a taste of what each park has to offer (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios). “You won’t see everything in that time, but it’s a good start to find out if you love it and whether you’d like to come back,” she notes.

As for the best time to buy your tickets? That all depends on your personal checklist. The short answer is: whenever you want. Disney World, though, sees a staggering annual attendance of 58 million tourists, making it the busiest vacation resort in the world.

To avoid getting stuck in endless lines, Sofonia recommends planning a trip for a time when most kids are in school. “That’s when crowds are the least,” she explains. Late November and early December (pre-holiday fun), for instance, are a safe bet; as are February, April, and early May.

Those hoping for free reign of the parks should also avoid major holidays (think: Christmas, New Years, and Fourth of July), which pull in droves of out-of-state tourists. To ensure a manageable date, Leach also suggests consulting crowd calendars—that’s an online tool gauging park attendance—before you finalize your tickets.

Who to Take

Then there’s the question of gauging whether your kids are old enough to go.

The answer here is pretty subjective. For starters, there is no childhood age that’s “too young” for Disney. All of Walt Disney World’s theme parks have attractions tailored to tiny explorers, and children under the age of three also receive free park admittance—an obvious plus for budget travel.

Kids younger than three or four years old, though, likely won’t remember much. Babies and toddlers that have to be carried also come with bulky equipment (diaper bags, strollers, and the like) requiring transportation and storage that could mean shelling out extra cash. On top of that, countless theme park rides—even including some of the tamer options, like the chairlift at Blizzard Beach and Hollywood Studios’ Spinning Alien Saucers—impose strict height requirements that many little adventurers have yet to meet.

As for prime-time Disney age? The pair agree that ages five through 10 years old are golden. “They can remember it, they know what’s going on; but they’re not old enough to [lose the magic],” says Leach.

Where to Stay

To accommodate a range of budgets, Disney resorts come in one of three tiers: value, moderate, and deluxe, which also includes several private villas. On campus, there are a whopping 25 resorts and hotels to choose from—that’s about 30,000 rooms—all in easy range of the parks and with free transportation included. (Pro tip: Guests of Walt Disney World Resorts get a half-hour jump on public park entry!).

Value resorts, which include locations like Pop Century and Disney’s All-Star line, are a great choice for first-time visitors, families with children, or guests with busy itineraries. These are the most inexpensive option, with nightly rates as low as $150, and generally feature closer quarters, fewer services, and primarily quick-service restaurants.

Moving into moderate and deluxe tiers, guests can expect more space overall, bigger beds, and luxe touches like intricate theming. Some even come with concierge service. The facilities, though, are the real game-changer. Transportation options, for instance, might include Disney’s signature monorail or the newly-installed aerial Skyliner, whereas value resorts might just offer buses. There’s also a wider dining selection, as well as a host of on-site activities, like decked-out pool and spa services, family games, and even outdoor movies. If roughing it is more your style, you can also reserve an RV hangar at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort!

These stays have a higher price tag though, with off-season rates for campsites and suites ranging from about $300-$600 per night, while villas often exceed $1,000.

“They’ll all have what you need for your vacation. Book the space that’s best for your family,” says Sofonia.

Where to Eat and What to Do

Once in the parks, evening fireworks—especially Magic Kingdom’s display, which incorporates complex pyrotechnics—should be at the top of your bucket list, as well as a stage performance or two (notable options include Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! and the laser-studded Fantasmic! musical), all of which come with the price of park tickets.

If you’re traveling with an adrenaline junkie, roller coasters like EPCOT’s new Guardians of the Galaxy and Tron both meet the need for speed. Or you can soak in the nostalgia with simulations, like Peter Pan’s Flight (that’s Leach’s favorite) or the wildly-immersive Avatar Flight of Passage.

When you’re hungry, head over to Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom for a casual bite (their baked macaroni and cheese with pulled pork is a must!), or indulge in a high-end dinner with Tiffins’ African-inspired fare. Dining experiences, like ‘Ohana Table Service in Disney’s Polynesian Village, can also be a lower-stakes way to rub elbows with your favorite characters. “You still get that one-on-one interaction, but it’s less than the cost of a ticketed event,” Leach explains.

As for adult-friendly activities, EPCOT’s World Showcase is a prime destination, where you can eat your way through 11 countries or reserve a custom VIP tour (though these can cost upwards of $400). The cherry on top is a BoardWalk sunset, which is both free and totally priceless.

Insider Tips and Tricks

To really do Disney like a pro, though, it doesn’t hurt to have a few hacks up your sleeve.

For starters, make sure you’re well-rested! “Every time I travel to Disney, I do as much as I can in the parks in the morning. Then, I go back to my room and take a long nap in the afternoon,” says Leach. Not only does this get you out of the sun at the hottest part of the day, but it also means you’re snoozing away the longest wait times for each attraction. “It’s a really nice way to manage a park day, especially if you have kids!” she adds.

Sofonia also swears by the convenience of bringing a rental car to Disney, which not only eliminates offsite transport costs but also provides a fast getaway for cranky kids. (Bonus: Disney offers free theme park and resort parking!)

The key to an unforgettable Disney vacation, though, is to go with the flow. “Overplanning and stressing about perfection is a quick way to ruin the magic,” Leach notes. Instead, she encourages Disney visitors to approach each day with high expectations while knowing that some things won’t go to plan.

“Trust the process, do your planning, and wait to be amazed,” she adds. “That’s what Disney specializes in, and they do it!”