We never thought we would be one of “those people” that vacations at Disney World every year. As kids, Megan and I never actually went to Disney, so our first experience was with our two boys, Tristan and Charlie, back in 2022. They were 4 and 5 then, and as a family of 4, we had the best time at Disney.
But Disney is not something that is intuitive or easy to just “do”. There are processes you have to go through, tips and tricks you must know, and strategies that you can use to make sure you get the most magical time at the most magical place on earth.
If you are looking for an all-inclusive guide on all things Disney, this blog post is not it. A quick google search will get you just that. This post is all about how we do Disney and our experiences, recommendations, and reasonings for why we do what we do.
Key Takeaways
- Planning ahead is the key to success at Disney. Book restaurant reservations months in advance, make sure you have the Disney App installed and ready to go.
- Plan on buying Genie+ each day to get access to Lighting Lanes. Waiting in line is a waste of time if you can avoid it!
- Stay on property to get early access to parks, easy transportation options, and character dining!
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How We Book Our Vacation
This is probably one of the biggest tips we can give about our Disney trips. It’s something that is super convenient, comes with a wealth of knowledge to help you navigate Disney, and is TOTALLY FREE. What is it you ask? Well, here it is…use a travel planner!
For the past three years, we have used Laura at Leave it to Laura Family Travel. She specializes in Disney and Universal Studios vacations, and has been AMAZING to work with. She has booked our meal reservations the moment they open (2 months from your check-in date), she has re-checked park ticket prices on her own, which actually saved us around $600 this past year, and whenever we had a question or concern, she was very responsive and helpful. So if you need help planning your Disney Trip, check her out! Also, we are not affiliated with Laura and receive no compensation for recommending her…she is just awesome at what she does and we definitely recommend her services.
Why We Stay at Disney World Hotels
When it comes to experiencing the magic of Disney World, staying at a Disney World hotel is an absolute game-changer. Here’s why we always choose to stay on-site:
Convenience and Proximity
One of the biggest perks of staying at a Disney World hotel is the convenience. Disney World is vast, and being close to the action makes a huge difference. By staying at a Disney resort, we can easily hop back to our room for a midday break, swim, or nap without wasting precious time traveling. This proximity allows us to maximize our park time and enjoy the full Disney experience.
- PRO TIP: What's your priority in a hotel...disance to the parks? Budget? Food? For us it was all about the pools, and if you have young kids, the Stormalong Bay Pool is the best at Disney!
The Beach Club Resort
The first year we went to Disney, we stayed at the Beach Club Resort, which is classified as a premium hotel on the property. The Beach Club has a twin sister hotel (the buildings are actually connected) called The Yacht Club Resort (which is where we stayed the following year) and is situated right next to Epcot on the lake (across from the Boardwalk). We liked this hotel for the proximity to the parks and skyliner, but the main attraction for us is the pool! Stormalong Bay is by far the best pool for kids at Disney and features a sand-bottom pool and a pirate ship slide.
The Yacht Club Resort
This is the hotel we stayed in for our last two times at Disney. It has a nautical theme, the vibe is similar to a Polo Ralph Lauren store, and it shares the same pool as the Beach Club. We love grabbing breakfast in the cafe outside the lobby (the cinnamon rolls are the best!) and heading out to the parks in the morning.
Extra Magic Hours
As Disney hotel guests, we get to enjoy Extra Magic Hours, which means more time in the parks with fewer crowds. These extended hours, either in the morning or evening, give us the chance to experience our favorite rides and attractions with shorter wait times. It’s like having a little bit of extra Disney magic sprinkled into our vacation.
Immersive Experience
Disney World hotels are not just places to sleep—they’re an integral part of the Disney experience. Each hotel has its own unique theme, from the African savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to the tropical paradise at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Staying at these themed hotels adds an extra layer of immersion to your vacation, making us feel like we’re part of a different world even when we’re not in the parks.
While we love staying at the Yacht Club Resort, we do want to try others like the Polynesian Village Resort and the Grand Floridian. But at the ages our kids are at, it’s going to be hard to sway them away from the Stormalong Bay pool!
Transportation Perks
Disney’s transportation system is actually really great. With options like buses, monorails, boats, and the Skyliner gondolas, getting around Disney World is a breeze. We love the convenience of not having to worry about driving or parking. Plus, using Disney transportation means we can get dropped off right at the park entrances, saving us even more time and hassle.
We mainly use the bus service from The Yacht Club, but this past year we took the boat from the lake in front of our hotel to Hollywood Studios, which was really cool. Normally we take the Skyliner, but when there are storms, that can sometimes shutdown for safety, so the boat is a great option.
Exceptional Service
The service at Disney World hotels is top-notch. The cast members go above and beyond to make our stay magical, providing exceptional customer service and creating those little moments of magic that make Disney vacations so special. Whether it’s a surprise room decoration for a birthday or simply a friendly smile and greeting, the Disney hospitality adds an extra layer of joy to our stay.
How We Use Genie+ to Save Time and Ride More Rides
When it comes to making the most of our Disney World vacation, Genie+ is a game-changer. This nifty tool helps us save time, skip long lines, and pack more fun into our day. Here’s how we use Genie+ to maximize our park experience:
What is Genie+?
Genie+ is Disney’s paid service that allows us to reserve access to Lightning Lanes, which are essentially shorter lines for popular attractions. For a daily fee, we can make reservations for these Lightning Lanes one at a time throughout the day, helping us avoid the regular standby lines.
- PRO TIP: If you have a lightning lane reservation at a certain time, you don't have to wait unitl the exact minute it starts, you can enter the ride about 5 minutes before your time!
Maximizing Genie+: Tips and Tricks
1. Book Popular Rides First:
To get the most out of Genie+, we start by booking reservations for the most popular rides. These are the ones that tend to have the longest wait times, like Tron in Magic Kingdom or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios. By securing a spot in the Lightning Lane for these attractions early in the day, we avoid the long waits and can enjoy more of the park.
2. Stagger Your Reservations:
We plan our reservations strategically. Once we use our first Lightning Lane reservation, we immediately book the next one. This way, we keep a steady flow of reserved rides throughout the day. It’s all about keeping the momentum going and minimizing idle time.
- PRO TIP: Plan on buying Genie+ each day. The amount of time this will save you from waiting in line is DEFINITELY worth the price.
3. Make Early Reservations:
The earlier we start making our Genie+ reservations, the better. We wake up early to ensure we’re among the first to grab those coveted spots. This strategy gives us a head start and helps us secure reservations for the top attractions before they run out.
4. Keep an Eye on the Clock:
Genie+ allows us to book another reservation either after we’ve used our current one or after a certain time has passed (typically two hours). We set reminders on our phones to make sure we’re always on top of our next booking window, maximizing the number of reservations we can make in a day.
5. Utilize Park Hopper:
If you have a Park Hopper ticket, you can use Genie+ to make reservations in multiple parks. You can start the day in one park, make your Lightning Lane reservations there, and then hop to another park in the afternoon. This way, you can enjoy the best rides across multiple parks in a single day.
Stacking Lightning Lane Reservations
Stacking reservations is a technique we use to line up multiple Lightning Lane bookings for the latter part of the day. This is particularly useful if we plan to take a break in the afternoon. We start booking Lightning Lane reservations for late afternoon and evening times while we relax at the hotel or enjoy a leisurely lunch. By the time we return to the park, we have several reservations lined up and ready to go, allowing us to hit ride after ride with minimal wait.
Using the Free Genie Service
In addition to Genie+, Disney offers a free version of the Genie service within the My Disney Experience app. This tool can help you plan our day by suggesting attractions, dining options, and experiences based on your preferences. We use the free Genie service to customize our itinerary, get real-time updates on wait times, and find personalized recommendations that fit our interests. It’s like having a personal Disney guide right in our pocket!
Our Favorite Rides in Each Park
We have a few “go-to” rides in each park – yours may be different – but these are the ones we love riding and hope you will too!
Magic Kingdom:
- Must-Ride Attractions: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tron.
- Hidden Gems: Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, PeopleMover, Jungle Cruise.
Epcot:
- Must-Ride Attractions: Guardians of the Galaxy, Soarin’, Test Track, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
- Hidden Gems: Frozen, Spaceship Earth
Hollywood Studios:
- Must-Ride Attractions: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey’s Runaway Railway and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
- Hidden Gems: Toy Story Mania!, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Animal Kingdom
- Must-Ride Attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Hidden Gems: Dinosaur, Na’vi River Journey
Conclusion
While we have been here three years in a row, we do feel like there is SO MUCH MORE we could experience here, whether it’s different hotels, trying new restaurants, or trying new experiences inside the parks, there seems to never be enough time in the vacation for everything. And getting some solid rest and relaxation is key too.
