Are you heading to Disney World soon? How exciting! A trip to Disney is so much fun, but does require some extra planning and preparation. Making sure you’ve done it all before your trip is the key to having the most fun and stress free time.
From what to pack, reservations, and park strategies, there is so much to prepare ahead of time. If you’ve been to Disney World in the past, you might be able to skip out on a few of these steps, but if it’s your first trip, then this is for you! If you are visiting with kids, then it’s even more important to prepare before you arrive to help keep those stressful situations to a minimum.
17 Things You MUST Do 1 Month out from a Disney Trip
1. Make Your Schedule
Now, you don’t need to plan out your days hour by hour, but you should have a good idea of what you’re doing each day. Decide which park or parks you’re doing, which rides are a priority for you, where and when you want to eat, and what shows you want to see. This way, you can get to the parks each morning knowing what you’re doing and won’t waste time coming up with a plan for the day.
2. Order Your Magic Bands
If you’re ordering Magic Bands prior to your trip as part of your Disney hotel reservation, you need to order them no later than 11 days prior to the start of your trip. I recommend ordering them at least a month before to ensure they arrive in time, you can charge them, and they are appropriately linked to your My Disney Experience App.
3. Finish Buying/ Organizing Gift Cards
Some like to purchase gift cards in advance to help them budget their extra spending money or because they find deals at stores like Target and Costco to save a couple bucks. You may just have some gift cards as gifts, too. Whatever the case may be, if you have gift cards, it’s good to organize them in advance and know how much is on each card. Also, you may want to designate what you will be spending your gift cards on, like souvenirs or food.
4. Complete Online Check-in
If you’re staying on Disney property, then you can complete your hotel check-in online prior to your arrival. You can also request certain room types and locations at certain Resorts. If you’re needing a pack n’ play or portable crib, you can call your resort ahead of time to check if they will have one available. Please note that not all resorts can ensure one will be available at the time of your stay, but I have never had a problem getting one.
5. Make Your Packing List
Disney isn’t really the type of trip you want to pack for the night before, especially if you have kids. Now, of course, there are always delivery services and hotel shops on property to get essentials you may need, but it is a good idea to make a packing list and pack early.
6. Online Shipping and Amazon Orders
Along with packing early, purchase everything you need for your trip about a month in advance. This way you have time to ensure you have everything you will need and you aren’t scrambling at the last minute!
7. Make a Genie + Strategy
Determine which rides are a priority for you and your family. If you have never been to Disney before, or not since Genie + has been around, then research how it works and which rides you should prioritize booking Lightning Lanes for.
8. Create Your Final Disney Budget
When you first booked your trip, I’m sure you already had a budget, but it’s good to finalize it and decide how much you are willing to spend while you are actually in Disney. If you aren’t using a Disney Dining Plan, then you will want to budget in your food. Also, keep in mind how much you are willing to spend on souvenirs, travel days, grocery delivery, etc.
9. Adjust Dining Reservations
People drop Disney dining reservations everyday, so if you were unable to get one of your top restaurant choices, now is a good time to look to see if a reservation has opened up. Keep looking throughout your trip too because reservations always pop up, even for the most popular places.
10. Book Airport Transportation to Disney
If you are flying in to Orlando, consider how you are going to get from MCO to Disney World. You can rent a car, use MEARS Connect, Lyft, Uber, or other ride share services. Research which is best for your family and book about a month out.
11. Plan Your Outfits
This may be a bit silly for some, but planning your outfits for Disney can be an important part of many peoples trips. Whether you want to match as a family, Disney bound, or just want to be as comfortable and cool as possible, now is the time to think about what you will be wearing!
12. Check for Closures and Renovation
Disney is usually good about giving guests an advance notice about scheduled renovations and closures, but it is good to check to see if any of the rides will be down, pools will be closed, or if your hotel is undergoing renovations. You can adjust your plans as needed if you find something will be unavailable during your stay.
13. General Disney Research
If there is still a part of Disney World vacationing that is a bit confusing for you, now is the time to finish familiarizing yourself with it. This way you can fully enjoy your trip.
14. Purchase Memory Maker
If you want to purchase Memory Maker and you haven’t already, do it now. It is cheaper to buy prior to your trip than when your trip begins. If you buy it in advance it costs $185 vs $210.
15. Update My Disney Experience and your Magic Bands
Make sure your My Disney Experience App and Magic Bands (new or old) are up to date. You can also pick out which settings you want for your Magic Band plus if you are using one.
16. Check Park Hours
Park hours change throughout the year. Parks are often open longer during the summer and other peak seasons. Also, be sure to look out for special events, like Holiday specific parties. These will often cause the parks to close earlier to the general public. If you do not have a ticket for these parties, then you will need to leave the parks before it starts. Also note that if you are staying at select Disney World Resort Hotels, you are eligible for extra time in the parks certain nights.
17. Break in Your Shoes for Disney
It’s no secret that you will be doing A LOT of walking in Disney World. It’s not the time to be breaking in new footwear. If you are getting new shoes for your trip, then make sure you are breaking them in at least a month before. I suggest bringing a couple of shoe options as well as a variety of bandaids in case you get blisters.
