Planning a Walt Disney World vacation isn’t what most people would call easy. Most families already know there are plenty of details to figure out before their trip.
But around 60 days before you arrive, things start getting a lot more fun…or stressful, depending on how you look at it.
When families are preparing for a Walt Disney World vacation, this is when the trip really starts coming together.
So let’s walk through a few things you should be doing in the months leading up to your trip.
Set Up Your My Disney Experience App
Before you do anything, make sure your My Disney Experience account connected to your reservations.
You’ll want to confirm that:
- Your hotel reservation is linked
- Your tickets are connected
- Everyone in your travel party is listed correctly
- Anyone staying in another room is connected to you by on the Friends and Family list
- The app is installed and updated on your phone
The system needs to see your Walt Disney World Resort reservation before it allows you to book certain experiences. So, take a minute to check this now. It’ll save you a lot of frustration later.
Check Park Hours and Info
This is the easiest way to set your trip up for success. Check the Park Hours and Info section on the My Disney Experience app or on Disney’s website.
This is where Disney lists things park hours, Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, fireworks, parades, and showtimes. They also list attractions that will be closed during your trip.
The calendar usually shows information about 2 months in advance. So if your trip is coming up soon, you should already be able to see what’s happening while you’ll be there.
If there’s something you absolutely must see, you don’t want to find out after you’ve already made your plans.
Dining Reservations
One of the biggest things that opens at the 60-day mark is that 7:00 AM Eastern Time dining reservation window. Sorry West Coast
This step only applies if you’re planning to enjoy Table Service meals. If you’re sticking with Quick Service, you don’t need dining reservations.
If you’re planning to use the Disney Dining Plan, this is also a great time to think about where those meals fit into your plans. Even without a Disney Dining Plan, I usually recommend a mix of Table Service and Quick Service so your trip doesn’t feel like you’re running from one reservation to the next.
If you’re still deciding whether a Disney Dining Plan is worth getting, I go into much more detail HERE.
Special Experiences
Dining reservations aren’t the only things that open on that 60-day mark. Special experiences are also available to book.
For families traveling with younger kids, this might mean Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. For Star Wars fans, it could be building a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop or creating a droid at Droid Depot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
There are also a few unique extras around the parks and resorts, like fireworks dessert parties (with special viewing for the fireworks) and guided tours.
Not every family chooses to add these experiences. And that’s completely fine. But if there’s something you know someone in your group would love, decide ahead of time so you’re ready when reservations open.
Take Another Look at Your Park Plans
After your dining reservations and special experiences are booked, it’s a good time to take a look at your park plans.
Do your reservations match the park you’re planning to visit that day? Did you accidentally stack too many things in one day? Will you still have time to enjoy the rides you were most excited about?
If you’re planning to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, this is your chance to step back and make sure you’ll have room for those.
Remember, the goal isn’t to plan out every minute of your day. But having a general idea of where those rides are going to fit will make it much easier once your Lightning Lane window opens.
Order MagicBands and Pay off Your Trip
If you booked a Walt Disney World vacation package, this is also when your final payment is due. Packages must be paid in full 30 days before arrival.
This is one of the reasons I love packages so much. Even if you started planning your trip a year ago, you’ve been able to build out your entire vacation before paying it off. It also helps you lock in special promotions and gives you a clear number to work toward while you continue saving.
If you haven’t already, this is also a good time to order your MagicBands. You can either order them through My Disney Experience or on DisneyStore.com.
They can take a couple of weeks to arrive, so ordering them early helps make sure they get to you before your trip.
MagicBands aren’t a necessity. But many guests, myself included, find they make the trip a lot easier. If you’d like to learn more about how they work, you can read more HERE.
Lightning Lane Selections
This is where the time you spent preparing for your Walt Disney World vacation really pays off.
Now that everyone is connected in the app, one person can make Lightning Lanes for the whole group. Even if you’re not staying in the same room, you’ll still be able to ride together. The also applies for Dining.
For guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, Lightning Lane MultiPass and SinglePass open 7 days before check-in. Guests staying off-site can make their selections 3 days before each park day. If you’re not staying at a Disney resort, this means you have a lot of early mornings ahead of you.
Because of that earlier booking window, Disney Resort guests often have a better chance of securing the more popular attractions.
But since you have everything set up ahead of time, booking your Lightning Lanes should feel a lot easier when your window finally opens.
Preparing or Your Walt Disney World Vacation
Preparing for a Walt Disney World vacation can feel like a lot at first. But once pieces start falling into place, everything gets easier.
If you’re still second guessing your decisions, working with a certified travel advisor can make a big difference.
I help families think through these details ahead of time so their trips feel smoother, less stressful, and a lot more fun once they arrive.
When you finally walk down Main Street and see Cinderella Castle for the first time, you should be having fun, not wondering if you forgot something.
If you’d like help putting your own Walt Disney World vacation together, you can start here.
Got questions? Feeling a bit anxious? Not sure where to begin? We help families, just like yours.
Planning an entire vacation can be overwhelming. But, here’s the good news: we have the answers to the questions that have been stopping you from pulling the plug on your next vacation.
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