10 Tips To Booking Walt Disney World Like A Pro

Hi Lovelies.  This is our third trip to Walt Disney World and I am so excited.  This time we are doing Disney World and the Disney Cruise.  It’s a dream come true for our little girls. Ok, who am I kidding and me.  After the last two trips I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the best way to book Disney World.  So, today I am sharing 10 tips to booking Walt Disney World like a Pro.

1. Book Your Trip In Advance

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There are so many little tricks to planning your vacation, but booking early is key.  If you want to eat at all of the popular restaurants you need to have your travel plans set 120 days out.  This is when they open the reservations to everyone.

2. Purchase Your Tickets From Disney

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Be sure that you buy your tickets from Disney 30 days in advance.  This will allow you to sync them on your Disney World account and select all of your fast passes for your trip.

3. Make Your Meal Reservations 120 Days Out

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Like I mentioned above you are allowed to book your dining reservations 120 days out.  Be sure that you are ready on that mark.  A lot of reservations will already be snatched up making it hard for you to really get what you want.  We are always flexible and don’t mind eating lunch at 2pm or dinner at 4pm.  If you are flexible and miss that 120 day mark check back regularly.  People are constantly changing and cancelling reservations.  So there is always an opportunity to pick up something later.

4. Book Your Fast Passes 30 Days Out

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You get 3 advanced booking fast passes with your Walt Disney World tickets.  Be sure to jump on at that 30 day mark and book all of your favorite rides.  If you are staying on property you can even get the benefit of 60 days out for your fast pass bookings.

5. It’s Ok To Stay Off Property

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We have stayed on property and off.  Honestly, I loved our off property location.  Don’t get me wrong I love Disney and yes the accessibility between the resorts and parks is awesome.  The great thing about staying off property, you get a little Disney break.  Just don’t forget you have the expense of a rental car and parking for every day you attend.  We own a timeshare so staying off property is way more affordable for us.  We have stayed at Marriott Grand Vista and at Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations. 

6. Check out DisBoards

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Another trip to booking Disney World like a pro is DisBoards.  This is a chat board for all things Disney.  You can research restaurants, rides, find reservations and so much more.  Our first trip to Disney World was spent on DisBoards.

7. Very Merry Christmas Party

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Obviously, this is only during the holiday season, but the Very Merry Christmas Party is so much fun!  We attended the Party on our first trip when the girls were very little and I would love to go back.

8. Check for Specials On Tickets

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  This would have not been a normal recommendation from me, but we got lucky on our most recent trip.  I had been checking ticket prices and had an idea of what they would be.  When I finally went to buy them there was a special where we got entrance to all 6 parks for just a little over what I was going to pay for 4.  So, when you go to buy your tickets look around a bit on the Disney World Website.

9.  Save Money

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  By the time you book your hotel, your rental car, pay for your tickets Disney World can cost a pretty penny.  Save money by investing in a Brita filtered water bottle, carry snacks and treats with you.  Things like uncrustables, fresh fruit and veggies, trail mix etc. These items will all carry well and you can just do a quick shopping trip when you arrive.

10. Mickey Mail

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  Save money by giving your children a small gift every day.  Each of our trips the girls received Mickey Mail.  This was a small letter from Mickey and a cute little gift.  I did all of my shopping for Mickey Mail at Dollar Tree.  The girls received nail polish, hair goodies, coloring books, notebooks and so much more.  Each day when they woke up there was a small gift from Mickey Mouse.  It made the trip extra special and they loved finding the new gifts.