If you’re staying at a Disney resort, Disney World offers free bus transportation. However if you’re out late, Disney’s free transportation has a cutoff time after the parks close. If you're not staying at a Disney resort check whether your hotel offers shuttle transportation to the parks. Most do, and it can save you both time and money. Resorts on the monorail line are especially convenient and make park hopping so much easier, particularly on busy days.

Disney uses dynamic pricing for park tickets, which means the price can change a lot depending on when you visit. April is one of the busiest times of year thanks to spring break, especially the weeks leading up to Easter and the week right after. June and July are extremely crowded and priced accordingly, with Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekend being especially busy. Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary celebration, which was a year long celebration, ends on August 9th so that day could be a big celebration. September is often one of the least crowded and most affordable months, with Animal Kingdom usually having the lowest ticket prices. Thanksgiving week, Christmas, and New Year’s are also extremely crowded and priced accordingly.

A few fun and helpful things to know before you go. Walt Disney World in Florida employs around 80,000 people, making it the largest single site employer in the US. Disney also hosts races throughout the year with really fun medals, but they sell out fast, usually within a couple of hours, and the races start very early, like 5am early.

There are also a few park rules worth knowing ahead of time. No selfie sticks, drones, or spreading ashes (Whoopi Goldberg wrote in her book that she did this). Animal Kingdom does not allow balloons or plastic straws. Flash photography isn’t allowed on dark rides, flip flops aren’t allowed on Soarin’, and wide strollers or wagons are not permitted. Adults can’t wear costumes unless it’s during a Halloween event. Smoking and vaping are only allowed outside the parks.

As a general courtesy and safety tip, remove hats, sunglasses, and Mickey ears on rides, and during shows so you don’t block kids sitting behind you. And one last random but true detail, chewing gum isn’t sold in any Disney park or at the Orlando airport.

Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort

Amazon Fresh is one of the easiest ways to stock your room with snacks and drinks. Orders are delivered directly to Bell Services at Disney resorts. Cast Members store cold and frozen items until you’re ready to pick them up. You don’t need to be present for delivery unless you order alcohol.

Delivery is $9.95 under $50, $6.95 over $50, and free on orders over $100. You can order fresh produce, breakfast foods, bottled water, snacks, and party trays. Choose same day delivery or schedule up to three days in advance. So you could schedule your delivery for the day you fly in so groceries are waiting at check in. It' cheaper to eat breakfast in your room than the resort. The Starbucks line at the park can be 30 minutes long so get your coffee at your hotel.  I recommend to bring a foldable kettle so you can boil hot water and a portable coffee press and you'll save money and time.

Minnie Vans 

You book through the Lyft app, Disney's version of rideshare.  They offer direct, point-to-point service,  dropping guests closer to park entrances (especially at Magic Kingdom) than standard buses. Two child seats are already installed in each van and they can accommodate wheelchairs. But it costs twice as more as a regular lyft.

General Tips

Disney Travel Insurance 

Is not worth it because it only covers the Disney portion of your trip, not flights. It's more expensive than travel insurance you can get elsewhere. The coverage isn't great for medical or trip interruption. 

Park Hopper Tickets

This adds a lot of money to your tickets so it's not worth it. Disney+ Perks subscribers can get a 3-Day, 3-Park ticket for Walt Disney World starting at $109/day (totaling $325+) for use Jan-May 2026, valid at Animal Kingdom, Epcot, & Hollywood Studios (not Magic Kingdom).

Mobile App

Make sure you download the mobile app for Disney World. Use the mobile app to skip the line to order food in the parks. It saves time, shows you what’s nearby, displays photos, and lets you tap "I’m here" so your food is ready when you arrive. You can even order while waiting in line for an attraction. 

Lightning Lane Tips

Lightning Lane is Disney’s paid skip the line system. The price depends on how busy the park is, but it’s typically around $24 and gets you three rides. It’s worth it if you’re visiting during a busy time, have a shorter trip, or want to ride popular attractions more than once. It’s usually not necessary for Animal Kingdom or Epcot, and you shouldn’t waste it on rides that already have short wait times. Animal Kingdom can be worth it for a Single Pass, but not the Multi Pass. Unless Flight of Passage is a must do for you, the Multi Pass just isn’t worth it. A Single Pass makes way more sense there.

Book your selections at 7am on the first day you’re eligible. Even being five minutes late can mean missing out. If a ride looks sold out, try refreshing the app at the 15 and 45 minute marks of the hour. Do not wait until the day of to book. Lightning Lane works best when you already have a rough plan and know which rides are priorities, not when you’re trying to figure things out in real time. Below each park, I’ve listed typical wait times by park to help with planning.

You can modify both the time and the ride itself on the day of, as long as there’s availability. Just open the My Disney Experience app, find your Lightning Lane reservation, and tap modify. From there, you can adjust the time or switch to a completely different attraction if your plans change.

After Hours Events

Are worth it because you have low level crowds, more freedom to hop on rides, no sun exposure hence not sweating. Not available on Oct-Dec. After Hours at Magic Kingdom runs from 10 PM to 1 AM each night, but you can enter the park as early as 7 PM. The other parks are 9:30pm-12:30am but there are only a dozen dates in the year that this happens. Tickets are $155-175. 

Disney Parks Breakdown

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom has the most rides and is the most kid focused park. It’s also the most crowded, largely thanks to everyone wanting that Cinderella Castle photo. Lightning Lane is usually cheapest here, which helps offset the crowds a bit. Don’t miss Happily Ever After fireworks or the new Disney Starlight nighttime parade. When it comes to treats, Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai is non negotiable.

Magic Kingdom really shines during after hours events. These tickets usually let you enter around 7pm once the park has closed to day guests, with bottled drinks and popcorn included. The parks feel nearly empty and you can get so much done. After hours tickets typically run around $175 and often sell out, so they’re something to plan for in advance.

Epcot

EPCOT is the most adult friendly Disney park and a favorite if food is high on your priority list. It hosts festivals throughout the year, including the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival from March 4 through June 1, 2026. The festival features more than 60 Disney themed character topiaries, dozens of gardens, outdoor food kitchens, a butterfly garden, concerts, and yes, lots of bees.

Highlights include the rides Soarin’, Guardians of the Galaxy Rewind coaster, and wandering through the World Showcase. Drinking Around the World is popular, with favorites like margaritas in Mexico, ice wine in Germany, and sangria in Morocco. EPCOT is basically one giant outdoor kitchen. During festivals there are around 28 food booths, drinks in every country, and more than 70,000 blossoms during Flower and Garden alone. Drinking Around the World has evolved a lot over the years, and mocktails are everywhere now, which I love. 

If you’re looking for specific foods to eat, I always make a food bucketlist when I travel, here are a few standouts worth building into your day. Connections Eatery in World Celebration has a solid black bean burger and a mango coconut shake. Mexico’s La Cantina has great chips and guacamole that you can take next door into Hacienda de San Angel. Canada offers unique maple popcorn. Germany is home to Karamell-Küche, which is their rotating caramel cookie sandwich, past flavors have included snickerdoodle, gingerbread, and carrot cake.

Japan’s Shiki-Sai is a standout with edamame, vegan rolls, eggplant with miso sauce, and vegetable udon (make sure broth is vegan). Morocco’s Spice Road takes no reservations but serves pomegranate chili cauliflower and hummus fries. Sunshine Seasons in The Land pavilion is perfect for grab and go with a Mediterranean veggie wrap, a hummus box, and a cookies and cream mousse cup (must try).

Typical wait times:

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — 90 minutes

Test Track —  81 minutes

Soarin’ — 39 minutes

Hollywood Studios

This park is very ride focused and home to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (I will write a whole post about this alone) and Toy Story Land. Rise of the Resistance is one of Disney’s biggest and best rides, and this is not a park you want to wing. Plan your day ahead of time. The nighttime projection show on the Chinese Theater is also worth staying for.

Hollywood Studios is where Star Wars fans really settle in. Galaxy’s Edge is immersive in the best way. Smugglers Run lets you actually fly the Millennium Falcon which is life size. You’ll also be able to build a lightsaber, build a droid, buy kyber crystals, hug R2-D2, take a stormtrooper selfie, and even play bounty hunter with your wristband. Oga’s Cantina is a fun stop for a drink, including blue wine from another planet. Docking Bay 7 is very vegetarian friendly, with standout items like falafel and black spire mousse.

Toy Story Land has excellent vegan totchos. Backlot Express serves a teriyaki tofu bowl on the kids menu that’s surprisingly filling. Rosie’s All American Cafe has a plant based lobster roll made with hearts of palm. For breakfast, Ronto Roasters has the Triple Suns wrap, and the colorful popcorn from Kat Saka’s Kettle is worth grabbing.

 Typical wait times:

Slinky Dog Dash — 83 minutes

Rise of the Resistance — 83 minutes

Tower of Terror — 61 minutes

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 45 minutes

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is often overlooked but incredibly immersive. Pandora The World of Avatar is the highlight, especially Flight of Passage and the glowing scenery at night. The park is usually busiest in the morning for safaris. Lightning Lane isn’t necessary unless you want to take the Navi River Journey. The park closes at 6pm while the others stay open until 9 or 10pm.  But you might find that half a day is enough here. 

Food is a highlight here, too. Nomad Lounge is a favorite for plant based options, including the Korean barbecue mushroom bao buns. In Pandora, Satu’li Canteen for fast casual food I recommend the chili spiced fried tofu bowl with sweet potato hash and green onion sauce as a flavorful meal. Free ice water is always available throughout the park.

Animal Kingdom feels alive in a way the other parks don’t. Live entertainment pops up throughout the day and genuinely adds to the atmosphere. Definitely recommend slowing down in this park and just taking it all in.

Typical wait times:

Avatar Flight of Passage — 93 minutes

Na’vi River Journey —  48 minutes

Kilimanjaro Safaris — 39 minutes

Universal Studios

Just a quick note: Disney is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Universal is part of Comcast/NBCUniversal. Universal Parks are right next door, so I’m including a brief overview here.

Universal Studios leans more toward adults and teens, with movie based rides, immersive lands, and a high energy atmosphere. The park feels like a working movie studio mixed with a theme park, with attractions built around popular films and TV shows. Rides often combine motion simulation, physical sets, and special effects for fast paced, cinematic experiences. Some of the biggest draws are based on Harry Potter, Transformers, The Simpsons, and classic Universal monsters. Harry Potter is split across three parks, so you’ll need a park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Epic Universe opened in 2025, adding Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon, and a Paris-inspired Ministry of Magic area. You can even get professional monster makeup! Just know you can’t drink alcohol while wearing it, and reservations are required.

Water Parks 

In 2026 guests staying at Disney resorts get free admission to a water park on their check-in day between May 26 and September 8. Blizzard Beach has a winter theme, a long lazy river, and some thrill slides. Typhoon Lagoon will be temporarily closed starting February 15, 2026.

Outside Disney, Universal’s Volcano Bay is often ranked the best water park, with multiple rivers, a wave pool, and a relaxed beach vibe. Aquatica offers the most slides and rapid lazy rivers. Island H2O Live is smaller and less recommended.

Discovery Cove is an all inclusive day experience with food, drinks, animal encounters, and optional dolphin experiences. It’s calm, beautiful, and feels like a true escape from the theme park energy.

What to Bring

At the water parks water shoes or flip flops are essential. The concrete gets hot and rough fast. Also pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a waterproof phone pouch, a wet bag for swimsuits, towel clips, and comfortable walking shoes.  Bring a portable charger so you don't get stranded in Disney with a dead phone.

Use the My Disney Experience app to find water refill stations and PhotoPass locations.  Bring two bags, one a belt bag that you keep on your body at all times and a tote bag for souvenirs which you can keep in the locker with your water bottle whenever you need to refresh for $7.  Bring a reusable water bottle as there are refillable water stations throughout the park. Water is very expensive at the park and you need to stay hydrated when it's hot. Bring an easy to reapply face sunscreen and a hand held fan for when you're standing in a long line.

Food and Dining Tips

Disney allows you to bring food into the parks, so bring your own breakfast. Make dining reservations early for popular restaurants. Eating an early dinner around 4 pm can save time and avoid crowds. Some resort restaurants are better than others. Tambu Lounge at the Polynesian has iconic sesame noodles without the full dinner commitment. Sebastian’s Bistro is affordable, calm, and great for plant based options. Space 2020 is an immersive restaurant but the fixed price dinner is too expensive and the menu is limited. Space 220 Lounge at Epcot offers you the same experience without the fixed price menu.

Butter popcorn is vegan everywhere except Kernel Kitchen. Dole Whip is vegan, but Disney soft serve is not. Try the pineapple strawberry swirl dole whip. Giant pretzels are better than the Mickey shaped ones, find them at Baseline Tap House, Pongu Pongu, and Summer House. Don't get churros from the churro cart as they are stale and not good, get it instead from Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom which has a rotating list of dipping sauces.

Disney Swag

What to buy: key chains, mugs and tote bags. Magic Kingdom offers custom silhouettes for a great price. In the Japan Pavilion in Epcot, you can do the "Pick a Pearl" experience with Akoya oysters.  There's also tea blending in the UK pavilion, customized Christmas ornaments, or you can build lightsabers, droids, and even custom Avatar figures. There are Mickey Ears which you can buy cheaper on Amazon but they are one size fits all. Sorry but my head can't fit a child's size headband. Yes it stretches but it won't feel comfortable.