Walt disney world tips
Research meal prices ahead of time.
If you know you’re on a budget, it’s best to always check out the restaurant menu prices before you go. This way you can plan accordingly based on your budget. Because worst case, if a meal is too expensive, just go off-property.
Brace yourself for food costs.
Disney is expensive. All I can say is that you must brace yourself for sticker shock. $5 pretzels and $11 turkey legs are the norm. So brace yourself and budget to the best of your ability. Or better, since you’re on vacation, splurge a little. You deserve it!
Download the My Disney Experience app.
This app allows you to make dining reservations, secure fast passes, check ride wait times and so much more, all from the palm of your hands. If you don’t have it yet, download it for free asap!
Don’t worry about dress code.
You’re at the parks all day, Disney gets it. That’s why it’s usually 99% fine to eat in the same clothes you’ve been wearing all day. So yes, shorts are totally fine, especially during the month of July. The only exceptions are for fine dining restaurants which enforce a stricter dress code.
Dropped your ice cream or pretzel on the nasty ground? Ask and get a free replacement.
Ah, the magic of Disney. They got you covered. Just tell a cast member and they’ll hook you up.
Running an hour late for your dining reservation, make sure you have a good excuse.
Let’s say you’re a hour late for your reservation at ‘Ohana. When checking in, tell the hostess about the reason why you’re late (no details left out) and they may seat you. This totally depends on you and the hostess. So all I can say is smile and be as honest as possible. But honestly, if you’re can’t make your reservation you should try to get there at least within 15-20 minutes of your reservation time.
Cancel your dining reservations 24 hours in advance before your meal.
Nowadays in order to reserve a table at any disney restaurant you have to leave your credit card on file. Back in the olden days you could reserve as many places as you want and not show up with penalty. Now you’ll be charged $10 per person for any missed reservations. It happened to me and it sucked. So with that being said, only reserve a restaurant that you really know you’ll want to eat at.
Understand that the countries in the World Showcase enforce the U.S. drinking age of 21.
I’m going to be honest, I was pretty hesitant adding this to the list. But believe it or not, some people actually think that you can drink at 16 (or 14 and 18) if you’re in Germany, because that’s how it is in the real Germany . Trust me, a guy behind me in the line at Sommerfest asked the cashier that. It was pretty awkward.
Always bring your i.d. especially if you want to drink alcohol.
Yes I know, it’s common sense but trust me, they’ll typically ask for your ID no matter how old you look. I’m not the youngest looking dude, but I still get carded.
Plan a magical picnic at your resort.
You probably paid a lot of money for your nice Disney hotel room but haven’t really been able to enjoy all the amenities it has to offer, especially if you’re on a time crunch. That’s why I recommend that if you have some spare time, that you plan a picnic at your resort with your party. Some resorts have great spots for picnics like the beaches Disney’s Beach Club, Polynesian, Wilderness, and Fort Wilderness Lodges. You can easily grab some sandwiches or hot dogs and set up camp for a nice relaxed day.