guided tours at disney world

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Guided Tours at the Walt Disney World Resort

Maximize your time at the Disney Parks with a guided tour. Let Crazy Imagination Travel secure a privately-guided VIP Tour or a group-guided tour and experience popular attractions with less wait.

Private VIP Tours This tour can be fully customized by you. Inclusions and highlights include

• Private pick up at your Disney Resort Hotel
• Flexible Start Time (selected by you)
• Visit one or all four theme parks
• Enjoy rides and attractions efficiently
• VIP Seating for parades, select stage shows and nighttime fireworks
• Services and shared insight of a Disney VIP Tour Guide

Additional Information Prices starts at $450* to $900* per hour (varies by season) with a minimum of seven hours. This tour can accommodate up to 10 guests total (including infants).

Group Tours Choose from a variety of predesigned tours to help you experience the best and most exciting attractions at the parks. Ask your Crazy Imagination Travel Advisor for recommendations, pricing and available dates for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

• Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour - Minimum Age: 16 | Price*: $114pp Explore the history of Magic Kingdom park during this in-depth 5 hour guided tour.
• EPCOT Seas Adventures Aqua Tour* - Minimum Age: 8 | Price*: $199pp Tour the facility that maintains the habitat and snorkel with thousands of sea creatures, including sea turtles, angelfish, and more in Epcot's massive aquarium during this 2-hour guided experience. Participants do not need to be SCUBA-certified to participate.
• Wild Africa Trek * - Minimum Age: 8 | Price*: $199 3 Hour, Privately-guided expedition full of close encounters with exotic African wildlife. Participants must be in good health to participate. Guests must be at least 8 years old, 48 inches tall, and between 45 and 300 lbs with the harness gear on to participate.
• EPCOT Seas Adventures DiveQuest * - Minimum Age: 10 | Price*: $219pp 2-Hour adventure including a backstage view of Epcot's massive aquarium and approximately 40 minutes dive time. Participants must be SCUBA-certified and show proof of certification.
• Behind the Seeds * -  Minimum Age: N/A | Price*: $35pp 1 Hour tour of the greenhouses and fish farm in Epcot's Land Pavilion.
• Caring for Giants * - Minimum Age: 4 | Price*: $35pp Get a closer look at the majestic African elephants at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park. A 1 hour guided experience with a knowledgeable animal guide.
• Savor the Savanna * -  Minimum Age: 8 | Price*: $174pp Enjoy the savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park with a private safari, African-inspired tapas, beverages and more.
• Up Close with Rhinos - Minimum Age: 4 | Price*: $45pp A 1 Hour guided adventure with the rhinos' keepers. Learn fascinating facts about the white rhinoceros' behavior and biology.
• Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Minimum Age: 8 | Price*: $89pp An after-dark safari tour of Disney's African savannas and wildlife.

*Park Admission is not included with tours and must be purchased separately. Pricing dates and times are subject to change and are not guaranteed.

*Please Note: Some options may be temporarily paused. Please ask your Crazy Imagination Travel Advisor for updated information.

Updated August 18, 2023

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Crazy Imagination Travel Advisors are experts at the art of vacationing Disney and beyond. No two families are alike and no two vacations are alike. Each vacation is carefully planned and customized to our guest. From the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to world-wide adventures in Australia, our Travel Advisors are ready to help guests plan their dream vacation. Go ahead. Put our service to the test!

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Disney VIP Tours

Multiple Locations

Age Interest

Maximize your fun at the parks by taking one of our fun-filled and efficient guided tours.

Our World is Your Kingdom

• Book a private VIP Tour and customize the perfect itinerary for your group with enough time to explore the attractions and sights.
• Enjoy some of your favorite attractions efficiently.
• Learn from our Disney VIP Tour Guides who have been hand-picked and expertly trained to plan the perfect itinerary for you and your family.

Know Before You Go

• All VIP Tours require valid theme park admission, which is not included in the price of the tour.
• Disney Park Pass reservation is also required for park entry.
• Disney Private VIP Tours at the Walt Disney World Resort are very popular and may be limited in availability. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Learn when advance reservations can be made.
• All Private VIP Tours must be booked for a minimum duration of 7 continuous hours, and your party may include up to 10 Guests, including infants.
• Entertainment offerings are subject to availability and may be restricted by capacity constraints at the time of booking.
• You will incur a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate per tour if you do not provide at least 48-hour notice when cancelling any Private VIP Tour.
• No cameras, video equipment or cellphones may be used while in backstage areas.
• Guests 17 years and under must be accompanied by a paying participating parent or guardian.
• Pricing and information are subject to change without notice.
• For additional information about the reopening of Walt Disney World, including important information regarding face coverings and temperature screenings, please view important details .

Private VIP Tours

Set off on an adventure that includes door-to-door service, customized itineraries and a knowledgeable guide.

50th Anniversary Tour

Journey throughout Walt Disney World Resort and indulge in unparalleled magical experiences.

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Backstage Tours and Experiences • Walt Disney World

Want to experience a different side of the Walt Disney World Resort? A variety of unique Backstage Tours and Experiences are available. Reservations are required for most tours. Unless noted otherwise, tours can be reserved 60 days in advance with a credit card. Full payment is due at the time of booking . Cancellation must occur 48 hours in advance so you avoid forfeiting the entire price of your tour. Park admission is also required for most, but not all tours. A photo ID will usually be required when checking in. Many tours have a small number of guests touring each day, so book early to get the date you desire. Photographs are prohibited in backstage areas. Use the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app for reservations, unless otherwise noted.

Magic Kingdom Tours   Epcot Tours   Animal Kingdom Tours Disney Springs   Multi-Park Tours   Resort Tours

Magic Kingdom Backstage Tours and Experiences

Disney’s keys to the kingdom tour.

Highlights the fascinating history of Walt Disney World Resort and also provides backstage access to secret areas of Magic Kingdom theme park. Includes stops at backstage facilities and a variety of favorite attractions, plus a trip below Magic Kingdom theme park into the service tunnels known as the Utilidors. Guests will be provided with Disney-issued listening devices.

Days & Times: 4 tours daily at 8:00 am, 8:30 am, 9:00 am and 9:30 am

Duration: 4.5 – 5 hours

Price Range: $129-$149 per person, plus tax; includes lunch at Pecos Bill.

Park Admission: Required but not included

Restrictions: Ages 16 and up. Photo ID required. Also, cameras, video equipment and cell phones may not be used throughout the duration of this tour. Photography is prohibited during the tour–even in the park.

Starting Location: Report to Town Square Theater 15 minutes prior. Walking tour is primarily outdoors.

Discounts: Disney Visa (15%), DVC (15%), Annual Pass (15%)

To Reserve: Use the My Disney Experience app or Walt Disney World website. Same-day bookings are on a walk-up basis only, based on availability.

EPCOT Backstage Tours and Experiences

Epcot dive quest.

Description: A unique scuba diving experience inside the 5.7-million-gallon saltwater tank at the Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion in EPCOT theme park. Scuba-certified Guests can swim with over 2,000 sea creatures, including sea turtles, angelfish, dolphins, eagle rays, and sharks. All diving equipment is provided. Please bring a swimsuit and, if you wish, bring your own dive mask, particularly if you have a prescription mask.

Days & Times: Daily at 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Duration: 3 hours, of which 40 minutes are underwater

Price Range: $229-$249 per person, plus tax

Park Admission: Not Required (or included)

Restrictions: All Guests must be SCUBA-certified and 10 years of age or older to participate. However, guests 10 to 16 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). You will need to provide proof of certification, such as a C-card or verification from a certifying agency.

Starting Location: Report to EPCOT Guest Relations window outside of the park main entrance 15 minutes prior

To Reserve: Use the My Disney Experience app or Walt Disney World website.

Dolphins in Depth

Guests can learn about and get up close with a school of dolphins at The Seas with Nemo & Friend s Pavilion. First, talk to the expert trainers and researchers who work with dolphins every day. The tour concludes with a very special opportunity for an up-close interaction with a dolphin which is also perfect for pictures. Although not required, please bring a bathing suit if you wish to enter the water. You do not need to swim or be scuba certified to enjoy this program. This experience is limited to 8 participants a day.

Days & Times: Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 am

Duration: 2 hours

Price Range: $209 per person, plus tax

Restrictions: Guests must be 48″ tall, however guests under the age of 18 years must have a parent or guardian along with them on the tour.

Starting Location: Report to EPCOT Guest Relations window outside of the park main entrance at 9:30 am

Behind the Seeds at EPCOT

See the future of agriculture in greenhouses and labs, release ladybugs and also learn the advanced and often experimental techniques used to grow hydroponic crops with little or no soil. You can preview this tour on the Living with the Land attraction. If you like what you see as your boat cruises through the greenhouse, you will love this tour. Due to the backstage locations visited on this tour, videotaping is allowed. Read a first-hand report about this tour on our blog . See a special souvenir you can take home from this tour!

Days & Times: Daily from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, departing every 60 minutes.

Duration: 1 hour

Price Range: $39-$45 per Guest (ages 3+), plus tax

Restrictions: Ages 3 and up however children must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

Starting Location: Report to the tour desk on the lower level of the Land pavilion (near Soarin’) prior to your tour. Walking tour is indoors.

Animal Kingdom Park Backstage Tours and Experiences

Wild africa trek.

Wild Africa Trek is an immersive experience offering a unique opportunity to enjoy unexplored areas of the Harambe Reserve while experiencing with intriguing African wildlife. Trained guides lead expeditions in the Safi River valley, using harnesses to cross precarious rope bridges. Embark on an exclusive safari, including a stop at a private safari camp while traveling along the edge of an African savannah. Guests use a wireless headset to hear the guide at all times. Cameras and video cameras are permitted when securely fastened to the vest, but backpacks are not allowed. A portion of the Tour price is also donated to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.

Days & Times: Daily at select times during the morning and early afternoon. 12 spaces are available for each tour. Approximate times are 8:45 am, 10:15 am, 11:45 am, and 12:30 pm.

Duration: 3 hours

Price Range: $219-$229 per person, plus tax; includes African-inspired snacks and photographs

Restrictions:

Ages 8 and up (however under 18 must be accompanied by an adult); Weight restrictions between 45 lbs – 300 lbs apply with harness gear on; Minimum Height 48″/122 cm. Guests will be required to step on scale prior to harness issue. Also, certain body shapes may prevent the safety harness from fitting properly. Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots required due to the rugged terrain on the tour.

Everyone on the tour must wear the provided safety equipment. The Wild Africa Trek is an outdoor adventure that requires physical endurance, surefootedness, and comfort with heights. Guests must be in good health and free from conditions aggravated by this adventure, such as high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, and motion sickness. Waivers must be completed at check-in for all participants.

Guests seeking a less strenuous or wheelchair-accessible trek should contact Wild Africa Trek operations at (407) 938-1373 for alternative programs. The guide will accompany you for the first 90 minutes on the Pangani Trail, providing information, showing photos, and highlighting special events. Guests on the restricted tour then join the regular tour on the safari truck and continue with the remainder of the tour. The price is the same for either version of the tour.

Starting Location: Check in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from Kilimanjaro Safaris entrance approximately 15 minutes prior to tour start.

Discounts: Disney Visa (15%), DVC (15%), Annual Pass (15%) (all discounts might not be available for all tours)

Caring for Giants Tour

Get a closer look at the majestic African elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom—and learn what it takes to care for them.

During this tour, you’ll meet with dedicated animal specialists who provide for the care and wellness of the African elephant herd. They’ll give you a glimpse into their day-to-day responsibilities as they provide fascinating facts about the elephants. In addition, African cultural representatives will share stories of Disney’s conservation efforts dedicated to the preservation of wild populations. During the tour, Guests will be able to observe the elephants from approximately 80 to 100 feet away. You’ll have the opportunity to be closer to the elephants than you would during other in-park experiences.

This is primarily an outdoor tour. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Days & Times: Daily from 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm

Duration:  approximately 1 hour

Price Range: $39 per person plus tax

Park Admission:  Required but not included

Restrictions: Ages 4 and up. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).

Starting Location:  Check in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from Kilimanjaro Safaris entrance approximately 15 minutes prior to tour start.

Up Close with Rhinos Tour

Get ready for your close-up with the white rhinoceros. In this guided adventure, the rhinos’ keepers will take you backstage to meet these massive creatures as few people ever do. As your guides introduce you to the park’s white rhinos, they’ll offer fascinating insights into the species’ behavior and biology and discuss the challenges that threaten populations in the wild.

Days & Times: Daily at 11:00 a.m.

Price Range: $49 per person plus tax

Savor the Savanna

Excite all your senses with a private tour and experience, starting with a secluded overlook of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, including a sampling of African-inspired cuisine and drink.

Days & Times: Daily at 3:15 pm and 4:30 pm

Duration: approximately 2 hour

Price Range: $189-$199 per person plus tax

Restrictions: Ages 8 and up. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).

Disney Springs Tours

Drawn to life page to stage signature experience.

Enjoy even more magic at Drawn to Life with the Page to Stage Signature Experience. Go behind the scenes of this one-of-a-kind collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney Animation. You’ll watch the performance from your premium seat location with a non-alcoholic beverage and a snack of your choice. Afterwards, your host will take you on a guided backstage tour for an up close and personal look at show props, stagecraft, costumes, and more. This experience includes the chance to meet a Drawn to Life performer and capture a photo, and you’ll take home a unique souvenir keepsake. Tickets are subject to taxes and fees. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Subject to availability.

Days & Times: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday – Available only on late performances

Price Range: $258 per person plus tax

Park Admission: No park admission is needed. The price includes a ticket to Drawn to Life.

Starting Location: Check in with your host upon arrival.

Discounts: None at this time.

To Reserve: Visit the Cirque du Soleil ticket page .

Multi-Park Backstage Tours and Experiences

Vip guided tour services.

VIP Tour Services offers personalized tours for up to 10 guests looking for the perfect Walt Disney World Resort vacation. During a VIP tour, from the moment you arrive your personal VIP guide is there to take care of everything—from creating your ideal itinerary to getting you the best seats in the house for live shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars. During your time with your guide, your focus is only on enjoying the experience.

Days & Times: Any time of day, 7 hours prior to park closing.

Duration: Minimum of 7 hours or more

Price Range: $450 to $900 per hour, plus tax (depending upon the time of year and whether the guest is staying at a Disney resort or non-Disney resort hotel). Private transportation is available during the tour at an additional cost. Hefty cancellation fees apply (equivalent to 2 hours at the booked rate).

Location: Available for Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot

To Reserve: Call (407) 560-4033 up to 60 days in advance. Must be reserved at least 72 hours in advance.

Resort Backstage Tours and Experiences

Wilderness back trail (segway) adventure.

See the stunning surroundings of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort along backwooded trails on a Segway X2 Personal Transporter. Various terrains are encountered such as sand and wood chip paths as well as various wildlife. Training is provided before the tour and helmets are provided. Mid-tour there is also a stop at the Tri-Circle D Ranch. Also, guests should bring cameras. Class size is limited to 10 guests, so book early to ensure availability.

Days & Times: Tues – Sat at 8:30 am. No Disney transportation is provided for the 8:30 am tour.

Price Range: $90-$99 per person, plus tax; includes bottled water.

Park Admission: Not Required

Restrictions: Ages 16 and up. Photo ID required. Weight must be between 100-250 pounds. The signature of parent/guardian also required for ages 16 and 17. Expectant mothers and also those with special needs should forego this tour or check regarding additional restrictions. Helmets provided and required. Flip-flops, sandals, or rocker/exercise-type shoes (e.g., Skechers Shape-Ups) will not be permitted as these are not compatible with the Segway.

Starting Location: Report to Meadows Bike Barn in Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground 15 minutes prior. The tour is both indoors & outdoors.

Discounts: DVC (15%), Disney Visa, Annual Passholders (15%)

Starlight Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Description: During your safari, join an Animal Programs cast member on an hour-long safari of the Sunset Savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas. Through the use of night vision goggles, guests will see the animals while enjoying the resort in a whole new way.

Days & Times: Daily at 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm

Price Range: $75.65-$89 per person.

Park Admission: Not applicable

Restrictions: Ages 8 and up.

Starting Location: Kidani Village

** Walt Disney World Backstage Tours and Experiences are subject to change. **

Privacy Overview

Disney World VIP Tour Guides (cost, tips, + a review)

By: Author Heather Thomas

Published: August 5, 2021 Updated: October 17, 2023

If you ever thought that Disney VIP Tours were only for celebrities and lottery winners, you’re not alone.

At one time we kind of thought that, too.

But an interview awhile back on the WDW Prep to Go podcast opened up our eyes to how this amazing private tour service might just fit into the travel budgets for lots of Walt Disney World guests.

So, in the name of research, we spent a day with 2 fantastic Disney VIP Guides checking out how it works.

(And before you ask, the experience was purchased with cold hard cash; nothing was comped. We went into the experience the same way any family visiting Disney World might.)

Here’s what we learned.

In this article

All the details

First of all, the price (at first glance) is not cheap, so don’t freak out when you see it:

The cost for reserving a Disney VIP Tour Guide runs between $425 and $850 per hour (busier times of the year will cost more), with a minimum duration of 7 hours.

You’ll need 1 guide for every 10 guests in your group, and infants DO count towards the 10.

So, on the “low” end, you are looking at a total of around $3000 for up to 10 people.

And that does not include your park ticket.

Everybody in your group will need a valid theme park ticket, and if you are planning on multiple parks during the day, you’ll need to have the Park Hopper option, too.

So, yes, that is expensive and may seem out of reach, but don’t say “no way” just yet.

We have some scenarios that make the cost seem a lot more affordable. More on that below.

How to book

Using a travel agent.

Whether you already have a travel agent OR you just want help with booking a VIP Tour, using a travel agent is a fantastic option.

They are experts in the park and if you’ve booked your trip through them, they’ll be able to help you weave the VIP experience into the rest of your trip.

Remember, these tours aren’t cheap. It would be silly to accidentally double up on something or waste time on a non-VIP day doing something you could have easily done with the guide.

Let your travel agent help you coordinate all of that!

Interested in connecting with a travel agent for help booking a VIP Tour? Get a quote now.  

On your own

You can also book guides up to 180 days in advance by calling (407) 560-4033.

In some instances, you can even book them same day, although we don’t recommend that since that would leave you very little time to plan out how you’ll spend your day.

Disney mentions on their website that space is limited; however, in reality, they have a vast network of guides and backup guides and are able to accommodate nearly all requests. They aren’t in the business of turning away guests requesting this experience.

What happens after you book?

If you booked through a travel agent, they’ll work with Disney and you to put together a plan for your time with the guide.

If you’ve booked on your own, you’ll receive an email confirmation shortly after booking that will list out all the details of your booking, including the cancellation policy which is a liberal 48 hours in advance with no penalty. If you cancel within 48 hours, you pay the equivalent of 2 hours/guide.

From that point, you’ll be asked to email Signature Services (which is the name of the department in charge of things like these tours) the list of the people that will be attending and a list of attractions you’d like to see.

That plan isn’t set in stone, however. You’ll be able to tweak it as you go, but it helps them get a feel for how their day will look.

What does a day with a guide from Disney’s VIP Services look like?

Try to imagine the most magical day ever at Disney World and that is pretty much what your time with a VIP Guide looks like.

You are in total control of the day, and as long as your request doesn’t break any rules or go beyond the scope of their job, your VIP Guide will try to make it happen. Like magic.

If an attraction has a Lightning Lane, you’ll have access to all of those with your VIP guide.

Want to ride Slinky Dog Dash multiple times? You can do that.

And Rise of the Resistance (which is notoriously difficult) is no problem either because your VIP Tour Guide can get you on without having to worry about snagging a Boarding Group .

Feel like stopping for a snack or a break in some AC? You’re with an expert that knows all the best places.

Want to watch fireworks without having to fight the crowds? Yep. That’s an option, too.

Officially, this is how Disney describes the services offered:

• Pre-arrival planning
• A flexible start time, picked by you
• Visits to multiple theme parks in one or more days, if desired
• The ability to enjoy some of your favorite attractions efficiently, even repeatedly
• VIP viewing areas for parades, select stage shows and nighttime spectaculars
• Shared insight from your highly knowledgeable VIP Tour Guide throughout your tour

See what we mean? An entire list of magic.

Two ways to make Disney VIP Tours “affordable”

Stay fewer days and use the money saved to book a vip guide.

For many years, suggesting guests consider adding a VIP Tour to a trip frankly wasn’t something that was on our radar.

But then we heard something that changed our entire perspective.

In a trip report interview on the WDW Prep to Go podcast , a guest was traveling to Disney World with her parents. For that trip, her parents set the budget and told her to plan the trip however she saw fit as long as she stayed within the allotted dollar amount.

Knowing that they wouldn’t be able to do a long trip, she instead opted to shorten the trip and use the money saved on hotel rooms, food, and park tickets to pay for a private Disney VIP Tour Guide for 2 days.

Not only did she stay within the budget , they still saw and did everything they wanted to because of their VIP Guide.

Mind blown.

The lesson learned here is that a VIP Tour becomes way more affordable when you realize that having a guide for a day (or more) means you’ll be able to get the same amount of stuff done in a less amount of time.

Split the cost across 2 (or more) families

When you book a VIP Guide with Disney, you get to choose the people that will be in your group, and as long as you stay within the 10 person/guide ratio, you’re free to put together your group however you’d like.

So, if you’re traveling with multiple families or couples, you can easily split the cost.

Even just splitting with one other family can be a huge savings and make a day with one of Disney’s VIP Tour Guides much more affordable than you might have thought.

(Click chart to view it larger.)

Who should consider booking a Disney VIP Tour?

While we think that anybody that can should give it a try (because it is just an overall amazing experience), we definitely think that there are a few times when it really might make sense:

Families short on time

If your time at Disney World is limited but you still want to see and do as much as you can, this is a fantastic option for that.

With a VIP Tour, you could easily hit most of the headliners in all 4 parks in 1 day, or split out your fun over 2 or 3 days instead of 7 or 8 days.

People staying offsite

Remember how we said up above that splitting the cost makes it more affordable?

Since lots of families share villas or houses they’ve rented offsite, that is the perfect opportunity to share the cost of a VIP Tour Guide at Disney World, too.

Plus, staying offsite is a great way to save some money on your trip, which would then free up some of your budget for extras, like a VIP Tour Guide!

Groups traveling together

Between conferences and sporting events and trade shows, there are lots of times groups of people travel to the Orlando area when (gasp!) Disney isn’t always the main focus.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a lot of Disney fun, and since you can split the cost with others in your group, it can make it quite affordable to add on a day of magic.

Families considering lots of “extras”

If you are considering adding a bunch of extras to your trip to give you a better view or go on more rides (things like After Hours Boo Bash or Disney Very Merriest ) you may find that it makes more sense to instead work with VIP Services and a VIP Guide.

Not only can your VIP Guide assist you with gaining access to the attractions, they also have access to VIP viewing locations for all the nighttime shows.

Tips from the experts

After spending 7+ hours with Disney VIP Guides, we were able to put together a list of their top tips and suggestions for people booking Disney VIP Tours.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. Wear matching shirts

If you were ever going to wear matching shirts, Disney World is the place to do it. On our last experience with a VIP tour, our group of 11 had matching shirts, and we were told multiple times by both our guides and the Cast Members working the attraction entrances how much easier it made it for them to do their jobs.

2. Make sure kids know height requirements

Even though you’ll be with a VIP Guide, you’ll still have to follow all the height requirement rules. So if you know you have little ones that aren’t going to be tall enough to ride certain attractions, don’t wait until you get there to let them know, and definitely don’t leave it to the VIP Guides to do the dirty work. It can be hard for them to build any sort of relationship with the kids if they are seen as the bad guy.

3. Follow the rules

Despite what you might think, unless your name is Beyoncé, you’ll still be standing in the Lightning Lanes. Only when safety is a concern are celebrity guests ushered in and out through back ways. Don’t ask your guide to break the rules or to let you skip the Lightning Lane because that’s not something they can do.

4. Don’t try to sneak extra people into your group

The rule is 10 people per guide, so if you have 11, you’ll need to get an additional guide. Don’t try to sneak an extra person into your group or think that 1 more person won’t matter. The VIP Guides have rules that they must follow, and if you try to have more than allowed, you’ll be asked to narrow it down to 10 or pay for an additional guide.

5. Start your time with your guide at the first attraction of the day

It may seem like a good idea to have your VIP Tour Guide pick you up from your resort (after all, driving you around is part of their job), BUT the clock starts ticking as soon as you meet up with them. Instead of wasting time driving to your first attraction, opt to meet them there.

6. Eat quicker meals

Lunch at any Quick Service location that has Mobile Order is a fantastic way to minimize the time you spend eating, so you can maximize the time you spend riding.

7. Think about tipping

Though the rules on this are a bit fuzzy and tour guides will tell you they don’t need to be tipped , you should spend some time thinking about what you want to do, especially since any tips will need to be in cash and it could be a lot of money.

In the end, we ended up tipping about 10%, but have heard reports of people tipping much more and less than that. Be sure to plan ahead so you’re not scrambling to figure it out when you’re there.

Our day going VIP

Hands down our day spent with 2 fantastic VIP Guides was one of the most fun days I’ve ever had at Disney World.

But it didn’t start out that way.

Note: Our adventure with a VIP Tour Guide was in the before-times (aka pre-pandemic).

Off to a rocky start at Epcot

Originally our plan was to have a lovely breakfast at Garden Grill and then meet up with the guides at the podium just outside the restaurant.

But, because we were a group that know how to party be on time, we were early to breakfast and then done way ahead of schedule.

With an hour to kill, we decided to head downstairs from Garden Grill to take a whirl on the not-so-much-a-thriller known as Living with the Land.

Only today, “Living with the Land” was a lot more like “Shipwrecked with the Squash” or “Marooned with the Melons.”

Don’t get me wrong, the first few minutes of our voyage were amazing. In fact, all was going great until just past the farmhouse.

That’s where our boat came to a screeching halt, right by the part where they loudly say “Here at Epcot, we’re learning to reduce the need for pesticides by using natural predators like ladybugs and wasps to control pests.”

Over and over and over we listened to that spiel as we slowly crept forward.

As we waited (and regretted those 2nd and 3rd refills of water we had at breakfast), we stressed out as our hour buffer before meeting our guides slowly dwindled away.

Once we knew there was no way we were going to get off that boat and back upstairs by noon, Shannon picked up her phone and called Signature Services and told them the problem.

And as expected, they were amazing!

Not only did they contact our guides for us, they also changed the meeting place to the exit of Living with the Land which was a huge relief. The guides also reset our tour starting time since the delays weren’t our fault.

Not long after (and right when we had just started a rousing game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who was going to swim to safety to secure emergency supplies like Diet Coke and chocolate), help appeared and the Cast Members working at Living with the Land pushed our boat to the safety of the Aquaculture room.

There we were able to climb out and wind our way out through the greenhouses to our new meeting place where our our 2 guides, Carson and Lyssa, were waiting.

After a few short introductions (and a much needed restroom break), we were off!

Let the attractions begin!

Our goal for the day was to knock out most of the main headliners in all 4 parks.

Ambitious? Maybe. But if ever there was a time to try it, today with our VIP Guides was the day.

To start our journey, we started our day at everybody’s favorite glider-based Disney attraction: Soarin’.

As was the procedure at all of the attractions, one of our guides would always lead the way to let the person working the FastPass+ line (now called Lightning Lane) know how many people were coming through with them. This is where the matching shirts came in so handy!

It was so easy for them to say “11 people coming through – they all have on shirts that look like this!” and then they’d point at our cute shirts.

At Soarin’, we were quickly through the line and we were even able to request the top row middle, which are the best seats in the house.

The entire time we were in line our guides were chatting us up and we were peppering them tons of questions.

Have I mentioned yet just how lovely our guides were? They were not just regular Disney-friendly, they were top-tier Disney-friendly.

Our guides waited for us at the exit and then, since our next stop was Test Track, instead of walking out the “regular” exit, they took us out the back door of Soarin’ where they had 2 vans waiting for us – and they drove us over to Test Track!

Of course, since we were backstage, we couldn’t take any photos, but just know if you’re into Disney stuff like that, it was very, very cool. And, not having to walk over there saved so many steps on what was going to be an extra-long day.

Lesson learned: Having the vans gave us a safe spot to stash stuff – like our bags – if we didn’t need them. That was a nice perk when you’re just hopping out for a couple rides!

After a trip around the backside of the World Showcase, our guides parked near Test Track. We made our way from backstage out to the front of the attraction and before we knew it, we were in the preview room making our cars and then out racing around the track.

After we were done there, we headed over to Frozen Ever After where we had the perfect number for our own boat which made for an adorable photo. There may also be video of the whole boat singing, but we’ll keep that for ourselves.

With the Epcot headliners done, we headed back to our carriages white vans so we could continue on to our next stop, which was Hollywood Studios.

Meeting some *REAL LIFE* winners at Hollywood Studios

We were all really looking forward to Hollywood Studios because we were meeting up with a lovely family that had won a WDW Prep contest that gave them the chance to tour with us (and our VIP Tour Guides) in the new Toy Story Land.

Considering that at this point it was the middle of the afternoon, having the guides there to get us into the FastPass+ lines instead of having to use the long standby lines was a huge blessing because I’m 99% sure that Andy must live on the sun as hot as his “backyard” is.

Seriously. Toy Story Land is brutally hot in the middle of the day.

Before we could make our way to the sun Toy Story Land, we had to get parked.

Our VIP Guides expertly navigated to a lot that was kind of back by Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Upon our arrival, we were met by other VIP Guides with iced down water and snacks – something we all desperately needed.

Then, since we were entering a new park, we were required to have our MagicBands scanned, but instead of having to go all the way to the front of the park, they used an iPad and scanned them right there in the parking lot.

Lesson learned: Being able to bypass the front gates is one of the perks (and time savers) of entering the parks with a VIP Guide. We only had to go through security and the turnstiles once (on our first park) and then every park after that, somebody either met us to scan our MagicBands or our guides took our MagicBands and scanned them for us while we were busy having fun on an attraction.

One of our guides needed to step away for a few minutes. While she was gone, another lovely guide stepped in to help our crew. All of that was totally seamless and very well choreographed.

After meeting up with the winners, we headed into Toy Story Land where we Rode Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania, and then Slinky Dog Dash one more time.

After we were “Toy Story Land”ed out we took a group photo with the lovely winners and then said our goodbyes. fyi – after telling 1 of our guides we wanted a group pic, this photo was choreographed between our guides and a PhotoPass photographer.

At that point we were a little bit ahead of schedule so we decided to give Tower of Terror a ride on our way back to the vans.

After finishing up at Tower of Terror we were ready for our next destination:  Pandora!

By now we were getting hungry and we were all ready to sit down for a bit which fit perfectly into our original plan of an early dinner at Satu’li Canteen.

So, to maximize our time, we all took out our phones and did Mobile Order on the ride over so that we wouldn’t have long to wait for our food once we arrived.

Dinner & Animal Kingdom

The parking here put us right behind Pandora. Like, RIGHT behind one of the walls there so it took just a minute to walk from the vans into the park.

There were no lines at Satu’li Canteen, but the seating there is always kind of a hassle, but have no fear –

Our lovely guides snagged us 2 tables in the air conditioning, which meant by the time our mobile orders were done we had a place to sit.

Our guides grabbed their dinner, too, and then we all relaxed and enjoyed the air conditioning for a bit.

After eating, we decided we should do Na’vi River Journey first (to give our stomachs a bit longer to rest) and with our stomachs full, we all headed that way.

Of course, we couldn’t leave Pandora without a stop by Flight of Passage, so that was next.

Lesson learned: one thing we didn’t really account for was how much harder it is on your stomach to do thrill rides back-to-back. Even things that didn’t usually bother us were a little iffy after riding so many attractions. If you’re prone to motion sickness when riding attractions, you might want to take that into consideration when mapping out your day!

After Flight of Passage we said “Eywa ngahu” (which Google tells me is Na’Vi for goodbye) to Pandora and we were off to our next stop: Magic Kingdom.

Ending the night with a BANG!

As we pulled up to Magic Kingdom, our guide reminded us to grab our stuff, which was a harsh reminder that we wouldn’t be coming back to our royal carriages  the handy vans again.

Our first stop here was Big Thunder Mountain which was followed up by Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and then Space Mountain and, because we had some time left before Happily Ever After, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

By the time we were done with Buzz, it was 15 minutes until the fireworks were set to star which made me very nervous that there wouldn’t be any space left, but our guides assured us there would be.

And, of course, they were right.

They led us to a roped off area in the middle of the Hub, at the perfect distance from the castle.

The spot was partially full of other families and groups and their VIP Guides, and even though the crowds outside the ropes were shoulder to shoulder, we had plenty of room.

Knowing that our time with our guides was up, we all hugged and thanked them before the fireworks started.

At that point in the day, we were all close to (or over) 20,000 steps and exhausted, so a few tears of gratitude for our VIP Guides might have been shed and of course, Happily Ever After always brings us to tears so we were a puddle of sappiness by the time it was all over.

And just like that, the fireworks ended and our time with our VIP guides was done.

I’m not going to lie, it only took a few hours to get very used to having somebody lead the way, so to suddenly be left without that was a little disorienting.

But, we sucked it up and slowly made our way with the rest of the crowds towards the front of the park – exhausted, but still grinning ear to ear.

Do you have any questions about booking a VIP Tour? Let us know in the comments .

Wednesday 7th of June 2023

How much was your tip

Scott Bonar

Sunday 5th of December 2021

What is a good guideline for tipping the tour guides?

Shannon Albert

Friday 24th of December 2021

About 10% is a good guide. Have had to make a quick ATM stop to make that happen since it's a lot of cash to have on hand.

Wednesday 6th of October 2021

Hi!! We are doing a vip tour on Friday - thanks for this article, it was helpful to know more of what to expect.

So, how exactly does the “waiting in line” part work? Do you actually wait in the fast pass/lighting/whatever we want to call it lines or do you just go on up to the front and hop on? My husband was under the impression you walked right onto the rides….just wondering how that really works!!

Thursday 5th of September 2019

Love all your advice, Shannon! Quick update on VIP Tour Pricing: between Christmas and New Years is $750 per hour (still 7 hour minimum).

Thursday 30th of May 2019

Awesome tips! How many attractions should I prioritize for 2 adults, a 5 and a 7 year old girl with 7 hours across Animal Kingdom, Hollywood and Magic Kingdom? I have 17 listed... Thank you!

Disney Private VIP Tours

Are disney world’s vip tour services worth the cost .

Back in 1965, Walt Disney started something called the Disneyland Resort Ambassador Program. The idea was to personalize Disneyland’s in-park experience and make a trip to the park as memorable as possible.

This Disneyland program served as a forerunner to Disney VIP Tour Services, a division of Disney which offers exclusive in-park experiences at Walt Disney World Resort. Each of these Disney VIP Tours has its own dedicated tour guide to give you a personalized experience.

Yes, Disney Tours are pricey. But they do give you expedited services onto the most popular rides, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what makes Disney World so magical, and special treatment that you can get anywhere else in the park.

With that said, let’s first discuss the benefits of Disney Private VIP Tours and why they are considered the crème de la crème of Disney World experiences. Then we’ll examine the cost of Private VIP Tours cost and ways you can make VIP Tours more affordable. We include a breakdown of the 4 other VIP Tours that Disney currently offers in order to help you decide if one of these tours may be a better fit for your family vacation.

And finally, once you decide that Disney VIP Tours are something you wish to participate in, then it’s time to contact The Vacationeer ( https://vacationeer.com/private-vip-tours ) to make your arrangements.

So let’s get started!

What are Disney World’s Private VIP Tours?

As part of the VIP Tour Services  program, Disney offers Private VIP Tours as a way to fully maximize your Disney World experience.

Think of them as the ultimate Disney choose-your-own-adventure: you customize your own multi-park itinerary and then embark on your personalized dream adventure with practically no wait times at all.

You will receive an array of special perks including expedited door-to-door transportation to the parks, expedited entry onto most attractions of your choosing, and a knowledgeable Disney tour guide to accompany you at every step.

Here are some of the benefits:

• Pre-arrival planning and customization
• Explore the theme parks with your own personal Disney VIP Tour Guide
• Expedited access onto your desired attractions for everyone in the group
• Ability to visit multiple theme parks per day
• VIP treatment including private vehicle transportation to and from your hotel
• Special reserved viewing areas for parades, select stage shows, and nighttime spectaculars
• Flexible start and end times (7-hour minimum)

Disney’s Private VIP Tours – Cost, Reservations, Services

Cost of Disney Private VIP Tours

Disney VIP Tour Services offers several tours that are priced on a per-person basis. These include The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour , Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour , Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tours ), and the Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour . We will discuss these tours later.

Disney’s Private VIP Tours , on the other hand, are not priced on a per-person basis. Instead, the cost of Private VIP Tours is based on an hourly rate for a group of up to 10 people.

Private VIP Tours Details

Here are some details of Disney World Private VIP Tours:

• Depending on the season, tours will cost is between $450 and $900 per hour, per group ( not per person) — subject to change
• A maximum allowance of 10 guests per Private VIP Tour
• A minimum of 7 continuous hours is required per day
• Valid admission is required for each theme park (not included as part of tour cost)
• VIP Tour Services allows you to book up to 180 in advance (recommended)

While Disney’s Private VIP Tour s are the ultimate way to spoil yourself at Disney World, they’re also an easy way to spend cash.

Cost-Effective: Share a Private Disney VIP Tour w/ Friends and Family

As we mentioned, Disney allows your group to include up to 10 guests . This is an important detail because the 10 guest allowance opens up a lot of possibilities. By sharing Disney VIP Tours with other interested couples and families, you could effectively reduce a $3000 or $5250 overall expense down to as low as $300-$525 per person.

Sounding good! But how do you go about forming a group of up to 10 people?

For safety concerns, Disney doesn’t allow Disney travel agencies   (or any other organization) to match you up with random people to form a group of 10. In this day-in-age, these types of policies make sense because you never know who you will be matched up with!

That said, you can still form your own group – comprised of friends and family members – to reduce the cost per person.  So ask your friends, your aunt, your nephew, your favorite neighbor, or your co-workers. Who knows – they may just love the idea of taking a Private Disney VIP Tour with you…and saving money in the process!

Even if you don’t come up with a full 10 people, you will still save a significant amount of money if you just add a few more friends and family members to your Private VIP Tour.

Other Disney VIP Tours

Private VIP Tours aren’t the only Disney VIP Tour Services option. Here is a summary of the other 4 other VIP experiences that Disney World offers:

1. The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour

The Ultimate Day of Trill VIP Tour is a 7-hour experience that gives you expedited access to Disney’s top attractions.

This tour has a good mix of fun, fantasy, and fast-paced thrill rides. Guests start their day at Magic Kingdom Park where they benefit from special access (ie, you don’t wait in the normal line) on select rides such as:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain
• Haunted Mansion

Then you will take a break to enjoy your lunch at a quick-service restaurant (included in the cost!) before embarking on a few exciting Epcot attractions like Soarin’.

During the afternoon, guests are whisked over to Hollywood Studios to experience some of  the best Hollywood Studios rides such as:

• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania!
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

2. Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour

The Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour lets guests experience the Magic Kingdom’s most beloved classic attractions. The small-group tour is lead by a Disney VIP Tour Guide to make sure your experience is hassle-free, relaxing, and fun!

During the tour, you will receive special access to Magic Kingdom’s iconic attractions, which may include:

• “it’s a small world”
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

This tour is great for kids of all ages because there are no height restrictions for any of the attractions on this tour.

3. Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour

Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour is a wild, 4-hour guided group tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom park at nighttime. Guests receive expedited access so that exploring the lands and riding attractions is a breeze.

The Animal Kingdom rides   on this tour include the following attractions:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Avatar Flight of Passage (44” height requirement)
• Na’vi River Journey
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (44” height requirement)
• DINOSAUR (40” height requirement)

As well as the following show:

• Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular (select nights)

Guests will also receive signature snacks and a specialty beverage (alcoholic (21+) or non-alcoholic).

4. Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour

Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour is a brand new experience where guests have the opportunity to go inside the kitchens of several Magic Kingdom restaurants and sample several of Disney’s most iconic menu items.

During this 3-hour tour, guests will interact directly with Disney’s chefs and learn of the rich food history of the park. Guests head backstage to experience what goes into the production of Disney’s busy restaurant scene.  Guests will sample an amazing assortment of sweet and savory food items along the way as their VIP Guides make sure your experience is as enjoyable and informative as possible.

Cost of other Disney VIP Tours

Cost of other Disney VIP Tours 

Here is a breakdown of the cost of Disney’s 4 other VIP Tours:

The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour

• $349 per person (plus tax)
• Valid admission for each theme park is required (not included as part of the tour cost)
• The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour is currently offered on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
• Tour begins at 8:30 AM and lasts around 7 hours
• There are blackout dates, especially during holidays and other busy periods

Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour

• $249 per person (plus tax)
• Lunch is included in this price!
• Valid admission ticket to Magic Kingdom is required (not included as part of the tour cost)
• Tour begins at 10:00 AM and lasts around 4 hours

Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour

• Valid admission ticket to Animal Kingdom is required (not included as part of the tour cost)
• Tour begins 4 hours before that evening’s first Rivers of Light performance and lasts around 4 hours
• The tour operates 7 days per week, except on blackout dates

Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour

• $99 per person (plus tax)
• This tour is currently offered on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, except during blackout periods
• There are blackout dates, especially during holidays and other busy periods.

Contact The Vacationeer to Book your Disney VIP Tour

The Vacationeer is our preferred Disney Travel Agency and we recommend contacting them today if you are interested in Disney’s Private VIP Tours or one of the other VIP Tours currently offered at the resort. Here is what to do next:

✔️ Fill out the contact form HERE to request more information

✔️ A Disney travel planner will contact you with a price quote

✔️ Do you have any questions? Concerns? Your Vacationeer is there to assist you with your Disney World VIP tour

✔️ When you book, The Vacationeer will handle all of the leg-work of your VIP Tour and make all of your Disney World trip reservations (tickets, hotel reservations, dining reservations, Disney Genie+ , Lightning Lane Passes , and more)

✔️ As part of booking through The Vacationeer, there are absolutely no fees for this service and you get the lowest price

We hope our Disney VIP Tours page is helpful.

Are you ready to book your Disney VIP Tour? Please contact the Disney Travel Agents at The Vacationeer .  They will explain how you can participate in these unique experiences!

For more useful Disney World information, please review some additional pages on  MagicGuides  like our   Disney Dining Plan Calculator ,  Disney World Map , Disney World for Adults , Why Use a Disney Travel Agent , Disney World Payment Plan , Free Disney World Photos , and Disney World Weather articles.

Thank you for reading our page, and we hope you have a magical Walt Disney World vacation!

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Special Events & Tours

Holiday magic, seasonal events and guided tours.

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Amorette's Patisserie Cake Decorating Experience

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Colors of Coronado Painting Experience

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Walt Disney World Tours: How to Pick the Best Tour for Your Group

Planning a tour can be a great addition to your Disney World vacation. There are tours offered in every park: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, as well as at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney Springs. There are Walt Disney World tours that feature history, food, gardens, trains, animals, sea life, park history, and thrill rides. Disney World offers over 25 tour options, so there is really something for everyone! Here are some tips on how to pick the best tour for your group.

For all the tours included in this article, with the exception of those in Disney Springs , guests can call for reservations at (407) 939-8687 or (407) WDW-TOUR.

Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!

Discount Walt Disney World Tickets

Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller,  Get Away Today, offers the best Walt Disney World discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.

And at no additional charge, you get FREE concierge Walt Disney World services! These services include having Get Away Today's Walt Disney World expert Brooklyn take care of all your dining reservations, FastPass+ reservations, and more! This really takes all the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Rather than waking up at odd hours of the night to book all your reservations, why not let their travel agents take care of it for you- for free!

Find discount Walt Disney World tickets here!

Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without needing to wait in any ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time.

You can read my review on my personal experiences booking through Get Away Today and how much you can save here!

Magic Kingdom

Disney's family magic tour.

Kids of all ages will enjoy Disney's Family Magic Tour . Disney fans will embark on a guided scavenger hunt and collect clues on this memorable quest. Be sure to bring your camera! This tour is best suited for guests ages 4 to 10 and their families.

The tour costs $39 per adult , and valid park admission is required. This tour is not open on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Guests 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). This scavenger hunt does involve a lot of outdoor walking for approximately 2 hours, so please dress accordingly. Click HERE for more information on Disney's Family Magic Tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour

Guests will want to bring their appetite on the Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour . This tour allows guests to step behind the counter of the food and beverage experience at Magic Kingdom park.  Food lovers will enjoy this 3-hour experience that includes VIP tastings of iconic Disney menu items. Disney fans will hear stories from Disney chefs, enjoy access to backstage kitchens, and watch what goes into the production of serving Disney World’s guests.

The cost is $99 per person , plus tax. Valid admission is required for each park and not included in the price of this experience. This experience is currently offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Click HERE for more information on the Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour

Thrill seekers will love this 7-hour tour! The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour starts in Magic Kingdom at 8:30 AM, includes lunch and expedited access to attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad , Splash Mountain , Space Mountain , Haunted Mansion , and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train . The tour also visits Epcot where tour participants will ride Soarin’ Around the World. The tour then heads to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where adventure lovers will ride Slinky Dog Dash , Toy Story Mania! , Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith , The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror , and Star Tours – The Adventures Continues .

The cost of the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour is $349 per person plus tax. Valid admission is required for each park and not included in the price of this tour. This tour is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Guests with small children should note that due to the group dynamic, attractions will not be able to accommodate rider switch services during this tour. Click HERE for more information on the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour

Love the nostalgic attractions? Then the Ultimate Disney Classics VIP is for you! This small-group tour takes guests to the beloved classic attractions, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant , Haunted Mansion , “it’s a small world” , Jungle Cruise , Mad Tea Party , Peter Pan’s Flight , The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh , and Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid . There are no height restrictions, so this tour is great for kids of all ages.

The cost is $249 per person plus tax. Valid admission to Magic Kingdom park is also required and is not included in the price of this tour. This tour is offered on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, lasts four hours, and begins at 10 AM. Click HERE for more information on the Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour

Disney fans can discover how key events in Walt Disney's life inspired the creation of Magic Kingdom in this 3-hour walking tour. The Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour allow guests to step back in time as a knowledgeable tour guide shares little-known facts about Walt’s upbringing in Marceline, Missouri.  The tour begins at the Town Square Theater within Main Street U.S.A. Guests will also learn insider information about several classic attractions.

The Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour costs $49 per adult , and valid park admission is required. Guests as young as 12 years of age may attend, however, this tour is probably more suited for adults. The tour involves walking and standing, so comfortable shoes are recommended. This tour is not open on Monday and Tuesday. Click HERE to learn more information about the Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour and other Walt Disney World tours..

Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour offers a more in-depth look at the Magic Kingdom. This 5-hour walking tour allows Disney fans to explore secret locations, such as the famed underground “Utilidor” tunnels, that allow people and supplies to travel beneath the park unseen.  Guests will also learn the inside scoop on the park and several beloved attractions. The tour begins at Town Square Theater on Main Street U.S.A. and includes a delicious lunch and exclusive keepsake.  This is an outdoor walking tour, so guests should dress accordingly.

The cost is $99 per adult , and valid park admission is required. Reservations are recommended. Same-day bookings are on a walk-up basis only, based on availability. Click HERE to learn more information on the Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour and other Walt Disney World tours..

Backstage Magic Tour

The Backstage Magic Tour offers Disney fans an even more in-depth tour of the park. This 7-hour tour is called a One-of-a-Kind VIP Experience as it tours both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Disney fans will navigate the “utilidor” tunnels, go behind-the-scenes of the American Adventure Audio-Animatronics stage show, and observe costuming professionals. Guests will also learn about the artisan shops and textile services. The tour includes a delicious family-style barbecue lunch at Whispering Canyon Café as well as a special commemorative gift! Starting June 1, 2019, the Backstage Magic tour will include activities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park in place of lunch at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the visit to Textile Services.

The Backstage Magic tour costs $275 per adult , and valid park admission is required. Guests must be at least 12 years of age to participate in this tour. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian who is registered for the tour. Bottled water and transportation will also be provided during the tour. For safety reasons, closed-toe and closed-heel shoes (such as sneakers) are required for this experience. No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage but are permitted in other areas. Click HERE to learn more information on the Backstage Magic tour and other Walt Disney World tours..

Disney's The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour

Railroad enthusiasts will enjoy the Disney's The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour . Guests will learn about steam trains and their role at Magic Kingdom park in this 3-hour tour. This behind-the-scenes look includes access to the roundhouse, where the steam engines are stored and serviced.  Disney fans will observe Disney engineers in their daily routine and learn about Walt Disney’s passion for steam trains.

The price is $54 per adult and tours begin promptly at 7:30 AM. Valid park admission is required. Guests must be 10 years of age or older. This tour is not open on Friday and Saturday. This is an outdoor tour that does involve walking and standing.

Guests should note that since the tour begins prior to regular park hours, standard Walt Disney World transportation may not be available. Tour guests may have to arrange alternate transportation to arrive at the location on time. Please check with your Resort Concierge for transportation options. For more information about the Disney's The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour and other Walt Disney World tours, please click HERE .

Private VIP Tours

For those that have a bigger budget and want to customize their tour, Disney World offers Private VIP Tours. Groups with up to 10 guests can explore the parks with your own VIP Guide who designs the tour around the group’s wishes. The tours include pick up in a private vehicle, a flexible start time, visits to multiple theme parks, and VIP viewing areas for parades, select stage shows and nighttime spectaculars. Pricing ranges between $425 and $625 per hour, depending on the season. Valid admission is required for each park and not included in the price of this tour. Guests should note that all Private VIP Tours have a minimum duration of 7 continuous hours. Please call (407) 560-4033 to book or click HERE for more information on Private VIP Tours and other Walt Disney World tours. .

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Star wars guided tour.

Star Wars fans will feel the power of the force with the Star Wars Guided Tour . This all-access tour includes VIP access to Star Wars: Path of the Jedi , Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away , and March of the First Order .  Youngsters ages 4 through 12 can participate in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple . Tour participants will also ride Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and have the opportunity to meet characters, such as Chewbacca.  The tour also includes reserved viewing of the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular nighttime fireworks event as well as a commemorative souvenir.

The price for this tour is $99 per person —tax included. Please note though that admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required and is not included in the price of the tour. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult. Click HERE for more information on the Star Wars Guided Tour and other Walt Disney World tours..

World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered

The World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered is a fascinating 4.5-hour walking tour where guests can experience the architecture, culture and people of 11 countries. Guests will be immersed in 4,000 years of history, culture and food from Mexico, Norway, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and other countries. The tour includes a snack.

Guests must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid photo I.D. The tour costs $79 per person . Closed-toed shoes must be worn. For more information on the World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered tour and other Walt Disney World tours, please click HERE .

Gardens of the World – Spring Edition

Garden enthusiasts will enjoy this seasonal look at Epcot’s elaborate landscaping operation. The Gardens of the World tour features Disney Horticulture experts providing fascinating information on Epcot’s landscaping as well as gardening tips and tricks!

This tour costs $85 per person and is 3 hours. Epcot admission is required and is not included in the price of the tour. Guests must be at least 12 years of age to participate in this tour. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian who is registered for the tour. The tour begins at 9 AM and bottled water will be provided. Click HERE for more information on the Gardens of the World tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Royal Tea Garden Tour

The Royal Tea Garden Tour is a seasonal event offered during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The tour begins at 9:30 AM in the United Kingdom Pavilion before the pavilion opens to the public. Guests will spend approximately 45 minutes exploring the garden and learn about the artistry of growing and blending tea. The ends with a stop at the the Tea Caddy , where guests are served scones and tea!

The price of this tour is $20.00 per person , plus tax. Valid admission to Epcot is also required and is not included in the price of this tour. Advance reservations are recommended. Click HERE for more information on the Royal Tea Garden Tour.

English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings of London

This tour is another seasonal offering that is part of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival . Tea lovers will learn about the artistry behind the growing and blending of herbs. The English Tea Garden tour lasts approximately 20 minutes. Advance registration is recommended, as each tour is limited to only 20 Guests.

Tours are held Monday through Thursday at 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Be sure to bring your camera! For more information about the English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings of London, please click HERE .

Behind the Seeds

Guests of all ages can enjoy Behind the Seeds tour in the Land Pavilion. Tour participants will walk through four greenhouses and a fish farm. This one-hour tour allows Disney fans see amazing plants, insects and fish. The cost is $25 per person. Valid park admission is required. Click HERE for more information on the Behind the Seeds tour.

The unDISCOVERed Future World

The unDISCOVERed Future World features a fascinating, 4-hour walking tour of Epcot. Guests will learn about Walt Disney’s vision of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). Disney fans will stroll through the pavilions of Future World and learn how Epcot was brought to life. Guess will visit VIP lounges at locations, such as The Seas with Nemo & Friends , Spaceship Earth , or Mission: SPACE , and walk beneath the outdoor portion of Test Track® Presented by Chevrolet . All tour participants will also receive a complimentary commemorative pin!

The cost is $69 per adult , and valid park admission is required. Guests must be at least 16 years of age with a valid photo ID.  This is an outdoor walking tour, so guests should dress accordingly. This tour is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Click HERE for more information on the unDISCOVERed Future World.

Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour

Water lovers will enjoy the Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour . Guests can visit the Caribbean Coral Reef , which is a 5.7-million-gallon, man-made saltwater ocean. This 2.5-hour experience includes approximately 30 minutes of actual snorkeling time at The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion. Guests can swim with sea turtles, angelfish, eagle rays and sharks in the massive aquarium and tour the amazing facility. Guests will also bring home a special Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour souvenir!

The cost is $145 per adult . Guests must be 8 years of age or older. Guests under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). Snorkeling equipment is provided. No jewelry of any kind other than a watch is allowed in the aquarium. Guests should note that no cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage. Be sure to bring a swimsuit! Click HERE for more information on the Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour.

Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth

The Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth tour is a 3-hour dolphin encounter limited to a group of no more than 8 guests per day. Guests will meet the dolphins of The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion and learn about these fascinating creatures from their expert trainers and researchers. Tour participants will tour backstage areas and learn how the dolphins are trained, observe a training and research session, and interact with the dolphins in waist-deep water for approximately 30 minutes. This amazing tour wraps up with a once-in-a-lifetime photo op and a souvenir. Be sure to bring a swim suit! Shorty wetsuits are provided.

This tour costs $199 per adult . Guests must be 13 years of age or older. All participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). For safety reasons, guests must be able to fully understand English. No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage.  Please note that no jewelry of any kind is permitted in the aquarium. Click HERE for more information on the Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in the Depth.

Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest

This tour offers a scuba experience with guaranteed calm seas and unlimited visibility. Guests must be SCUBA-certified to participate. Guests swim with over 6,000 sea creatures in the Caribbean Coral Reef , a 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium. Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest lasts 3 hours, and you’ll spend approximately 40 minutes on your actual dive.  Family and friends with Epcot admission can watch through the pavilion’s 56 giant windows.  Tour participants will also tour the enormous backstage infrastructure that filters and maintains this incredible man-made ocean.

The Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest costs $179 per adult . All Guests must be SCUBA-certified and 10 years of age or older to participate. All diving equipment is provided. No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage. Please note that no jewelry of any kind other than a watch is allowed in the aquarium. Click HERE for more information on this tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Ultimate nights of adventure vip tour.

Adventure seekers will love this 4-hour guided group adventure. The Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour starts at the Tree of Life on the Discovery Island Trail and includes expedited FastPass+ access to several attractions.  Tour participants will ride Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (44” height requirement), Kilimanjaro Safaris , Avatar Flight of Passage (44” height requirement), Na’vi River Journey , DINOSAUR (40” height requirement), and Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular.

The cost of this tour is $249 per person . In addition, valid admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is required and is not included the price of the tour. The tour operates 7 days a week, except on certain block out dates. The starting time is 4 hours before that evening’s first Rivers of Light performance. Click HERE for more information on this tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Caring for Giants

The Caring for Giants tour allows animal lovers to get closer look at the majestic African elephants and learn what it takes to care for them. In this this 60-minute experience guests will meet with dedicated animal specialists and observe the elephants from approximately 80 to 100 feet away.

The tour costs $30 per person and is great for ages four an up. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older). For more information on the Caring for Giants and other Walt Disney World tours please click HERE .

Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience

This enchanted evening tour includes a private safari into Harambe Wildlife Reserve, African-inspired tapas, beverages and more. Guest will also receive a commemorative keepsake to can take home. Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience is available for $169 per Guest (tax not included).

Please note that this tour includes a rugged ride in a safari vehicle over an open savanna with wildlife. Guests should be good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, and motion sickness. Expectant mothers should not participate. Also, guests must be at least 8 years of age to participate in this experience. Click HERE for more information on this tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Up Close with Rhinos

The white rhinoceros is Earth’s second-largest land animal. Guests can get a close-up view of these gentle giants in the Up Close with Rhinos tour. Guests will talk with the rhinos’ keepers in this 60-minute guided adventure. Guests must be 4 years of age or older to participate. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).

The tour costs $40 per person and begins at 11 AM. Park admission is required for participation and is not included in the tour price. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.  Click HERE for more information on the Up Close with Rhinos tour and other Walt Disney World tours.

Wild Africa Trek

The Wild Africa Trek is a privately guided VIP expedition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. This 3-hour tour takes guests through the Safi River Valley where they will view giraffes, powerful rhinos, hippos and crocodiles. Tour participants will walk along a grassland path, cross a rope bridge, and ride in a safari vehicle over an open savanna.  Guests should bring their appetite as they will sample first-class, African-inspired snacks.

The tour costs $189 to $249 per person . This tour requires a separate admission ticket to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Participants must be 8 years of age or older and at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older). Guests should note that participants must be between 45 and 300 lbs. with the harness gear on. Disney World also requires that guests have physical stamina, comfort with heights, and the surefootedness to negotiate small hills, foliage and unsteady rope bridges on this tour. Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots are required. Guests will also receive a photo code to use to access and download images taken during their Wild Africa Trek experience. For more information on the Wild Africa Trek and other Walt Disney World tours, please click HERE .

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sense of africa at disney's animal kingdom lodge.

The Sense of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. This 3-and-a-half-hour backstage tour features animal encounters, breakfast and more. The tour begins with breakfast at 7 AM at Boma – Flavors of Africa , after which guests board a private safari vehicle where informative Cast Members of the Animal Care staff lead them to up-close encounters with some of the savanna’s amazing animals.

Sense of Africa takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This tour costs $249 per person . Guests must be at least 10 years of age to experience Sense of Africa. In addition, all Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult 18 years of age or older. Please note that guests should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, and motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not participate. Click HERE for more information on the Sense of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and other Walt Disney World tours.

Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

This tour offers animal enthusiasts a nighttime drive through an African game reserve where they can view over 30 species of African wildlife. Tour participants are provided with a night vision device to site zebras, giraffes, gazelles, wildebeest and antelopes, among others!

This tour costs $74 per person and lasts approximately one hour. This tour is limited to guests 8 years of age or older. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult who is 18 years of age or older. Please note that guests should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, and motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not participate. Click HERE for more information on the Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and other Walt Disney World tours.

Disney Springs

Vintage amphicar & italian water taxi tours.

Boar and water lovers will enjoy the Vintage Amphicar & Italian Water Taxi Tours . Guests will board a vintage amphibious car or an Italian water taxi and cruise the beautiful Lake Buena Vista. There are three different tours offered: Amphicar Tours, Venezia Champagne Cruises, and Venezia Wine-Tasting Cruises. These Walt Disney World tours are nice because they don't require park admission and are conveniently located in Disney Springs.

The scenic Vintage Amphicar is a 20-minute tour in a stylish 1960s Amphicar that accommodates fans of any height and age. When your tour is over, your Amphicar will drive right out of the water! The cost for the Amphicar Tour is $125 per car . Each car can accommodate up to 3 to 4 people. Amphicar Tours reservations can only be made in-person at the dock podium or inside The BOATHOUSE® BOATIQUE.

Guests who take the Venezia Champagne Cruise will board a beautiful, 40-foot Italian water taxi. Guests will enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne toast on this romantic cruise. The cost for the 30-minute Venezia Champagne Cruise is $75 per adult and $50 for guests 13 years of age and under (tax not included). The 1-hour Cruise costs $115 per adult and $75 for guests 13 years of age and under (tax not included).

The Venezia Wine-Tasting Cruises transports guests on a scenic cruise across Lake Buena Vista and down a river way near Disney Springs. This cruise is also on a 40-foot Italian water taxi and includes award-winning wines and delicious appetizers. Guests will also take home a souvenir wine glass, courtesy of The BOATHOUSE . Each Venezia Wine-Tasting Cruise is available on weekends for $125 per individual Guest and $225 per couple (tax not included). Reservations are required and can be made by calling (407) 939-2628. Click HERE for more information on the Vintage Amphicar & Italian Water Taxi Tours.

Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation!

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You can discover more about planning your trip to Disneyland from these links:

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Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Monique Smalling

Monique and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento, California with their two daughters, Sydney (14) and Reagan (13). Sydney's first trip to Disneyland was at one year old, and the family has been hooked ever since. The family has been annual pass holders for several years and visit the Happiest Place on Earth every couple of months. Each visit includes 3 to 4 days in the parks before heading to the beach. Monique and her daughters consider themselves huge Disney fans, and love sharing their knowledge and tips on the parks.

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Special Experiences and Tours at Disney World

As if there weren't enough to do at Disney World (with four giant theme parks, two water parks, the Downtown Disney entertainment zone, and more), guests at the theme parks can ramp things up a notch by signing up -- and paying extra-- for premium experiences. These include special tours and separate-ticket parties... Activities vary, but share certain advantages:

• The high quality, creativity, and extra touches expected from Disney
• Access to areas not available to regular guests
• The chance to enjoy popular attractions without the usual crowds
• The chance to make holiday memories (for example at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party)
• Novelty appeal that especially draws visitors who've visited the theme parks multiple times

Below are a few suggestions for premium experiences. (Note that these special tours and activities may change over time-- check the Disney World website for the latest offerings.)

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Wild Africa Trek & More

The Walt Disney Company

The Wild Africa Trek is a premium choice among the several special tours and experiences offered at Disney's Animal Kingdom , and while this 3-hour tour comes with a substantial price tag, reviews often comment that it's well worth the price.

Highlights include crossing a long rope bridge in a beautiful part of Animal Kingdom only accessible to tour guests; viewing hippos from a special perch; a tour through the Kilimanjaro Safaris area with knowledgeable guides and spontaneous stops for animal-viewing; and a relaxing African-inspired meal at a viewing pavilion.

Easier on the budget and also three hours long are the Backstage Safari, which shows guests some of the unique ways in which theme park staff take care of the many animal inhabitants in the Animal Kingdom, and Wild by Design, a tour for ages 14 and up that tells how Disney's Imagineers transformed the existing Florida wetlands into this beautiful park with its African and Asian habitats.

Magic Kingdom: Parties for Halloween and the Holiday Season

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party are both separate-ticket events held on multiple nights in September/October and November/December, respectively. These special evenings are a great way to enjoy the Magic Kingdom with a party atmosphere and special, themed events -- plus the added appeal of riding the most popular attractions with no ​lineups or crowds.

Tours in the Magic Kingdom and Other Parks

Walt Disney World Resort

The Magic Kingdom also offers a number of special tours: Disney's Family Magic Tour, for instance, takes guests on a 2-hour guided quest to save the Magic Kingdom theme park from a Disney villain; Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour showcases the history of Disney World, with backstage access.

Kids age 3 and up might sign up for The Pirates League and become Buccaneers, or kids might simply get a haircut to remember at the Harmony Barbershop. There's also a Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage that has a sail on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Epcot too has special tours, some of them underwater in the 5.7-million-gallon saltwater tank inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. Scuba-certified guests (age 10 and up) can do a dive; other guests age 8 and up can do a Seas Aqua Tour (see photo) and swim or go snorkeling with an air supply.

Guests 16 and up can do a Segway tour of the World Showcase area of Epcot. And for nostalgia fans: the UnDISCOVERed Future World tour ( ages 16 and up) shows Walt's desire to improve the world which was the basis of the Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) theme park.

Multiple Park Tours

Walt Disney World

Backstage Magic is a costlier 7-hour tour for ages 16 and up that takes guests behind the scenes to see how Disney magic gets made in Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. A Yuletide Fantasy, for ages 16 and up, looks at how Disneyland transforms for the holiday season in each of the theme parks.

VIP Tour Guide Services

All the parks offer the opportunity for guests to arrange a personalized custom tour (which will also bypasses lines). Expect to pay top dollar for the VIP treatment, though!

*Prices change. Always check destination ​websites for updates!

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A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World this year

Editor's Note

If you want to know how to plan a trip to Disney World, you've come to the right place. This guide includes tips for choosing the right Disney World hotel for your budget, deciding which ticket type is right for you, determining which extras are worth splurging on and how to plan a trip that's fun and memorable without too much stress along the way.

With four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 on-site hotels, over 200 dining locations and more attractions, experiences, shows and shops than we can list here, the best way to build a magical Disney World vacation is with planning, preparation and realistic expectations.

Planning a trip to Disney World should be fun and build excitement for your upcoming trip, and this guide can help.

How to start planning your trip to Disney World

There are a few questions you will want to answer early in the process of planning your Disney World vacation.

• What is your budget? Your budget will determine most other factors of your vacation, including where you stay and how many days you visit. How much it will cost you to go to Disney World really can vary widely based on the choices you make.
• When will you go? You may be at the mercy of work or school schedules, but if you have the flexibility, you can plan your trip when crowds are smaller or the weather is better. The summer can be very hot and rainy, the week between Christmas and New Year's is one of the busiest and weekdays when most kids are in school are often the least busy days.
• Where will you stay? You will typically pay more to stay in one of Disney's on-site hotels, especially at the moderate and deluxe tiers, but you'll also get perks like early theme park entry. Before you choose, you'll want to consider your budget, whether you want a themed room like the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and if you want to be located near a certain Disney park. Pro tip: Renting Disney Vacation Club points can help you stay at a deluxe hotel for a moderate price.
• Which parks will you visit on which days? Depending on the length of your vacation, you may need to prioritize which parks you plan to visit. This will also influence whether you purchase one-park-per-day or Park Hopper tickets that allow you to visit multiple parks daily. If you have little kids, be sure your family will have the stamina for multiple parks per day before shelling out the extra cash to hop.
• Where will you dine? Popular Disney dining reservations are snatched up almost as soon as they become available. You'll want to plan ahead for any character dining or other table service restaurants, so you don't miss out.

It is important to book your hotel, dining and theme park tickets as early as possible for the best rates and availability. Disney also periodically releases special offers on hotels and vacation packages that you can often apply even if you have already made your reservations.

Related: Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?

We will dig deeper into each of these topics in this guide. Once you have a rough outline of your vacation based on the questions above, here are important dates to keep in mind so you can make your Disney dream a reality.

How soon can you book a Disney World hotel?

Disney releases hotel availability periodically, so there is no exact date that Disney hotel reservations become available. You can currently book Disney World hotel stays through Dec. 31, 2024.

Disney typically opens reservations for the following year around May or June, so you can expect to see 2025 availability around that time. If your plans change, you can cancel your room-only reservation up to five days in advance of arrival for a full refund. Ticket and hotel vacation packages must be canceled 30 days in advance to receive a full refund.

When can you purchase Disney World tickets?

Disney World tickets follow the same availability calendar as Disney hotel reservations. You can purchase tickets (or vacation packages including a hotel and tickets) through Dec. 31, 2024. Disney typically releases tickets for the following year around May or June, so you can expect to see 2025 availability around that time.

All tickets are date-based, and the price of one-day tickets also varies by park. You can purchase your tickets any time before you visit; the price won't change regardless of how long you wait. Theme park tickets are nonrefundable, but you may be able to change your ticket date if your plans change.

Until Jan. 9, 2024, you must have a Disney ticket and make a theme park reservation to enter a Disney park.

When do Disney World dining reservations become available?

You can begin making dining reservations 60 days prior to your visit. If you are staying in a Disney World hotel, you can make dining reservations 60 days before your check-in day for your entire stay (up to 10 days).

Reservations open on Disney's website or the My Disney Experience app between 5:45 a.m. and 6 a.m. EST or you can call 407-939-DINE beginning at 7 a.m. EST, but coveted reservations may already be snatched up by that time. You can cancel most Disney World dining reservations up to two hours before your reservation. Exceptions will be noted in the confirmation email you receive at the time of booking.

If you're not yet sure where to eat, here are our favorite restaurants at Disney World .

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

What are the 4 parks at Disney World?

Each of Disney World's four theme parks is uniquely themed and packed with fun. You can learn more about each park, including attractions, shows, parade times and interactive maps to help you find your way around in the My Disney Experience app.

Here's a bit more information about each and some tips for choosing the right ticket type to visit them all.

Magic Kingdom

Open since 1971, Magic Kingdom is Disney World's original theme park. This park is a world of fairy tales and fantasy, where you'll find five themed lands — Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square.

Magic Kingdom is home to some of Disney's most iconic attractions, including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan's Flight and the Haunted Mansion, but also exciting new rides like Tron: Lightcycle Run and the soon-to-open Tiana's Bayou Adventure .

Epcot opened in 1982 and has changed drastically in the four decades since. Epcot's core message, however, hasn't changed: sparking visitors' imaginations through science, technology, nature and the human experience. The park is sectioned into "neighborhoods" — World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery and World Showcase, where you can visit pavilions that celebrate the arts, culture and customs of 11 countries around the world.

There are a lot of new things to see at Epcot, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and the all-new fireworks spectacular Luminous – The Symphony of Us .

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios is a movie-themed park that has lands and attractions inspired by blockbuster films and beloved Disney characters. In Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge , you can pilot the Millennium Falcon and meet familiar (and furry) faces like Kylo Ren, Chewbacca and Rey.

In Toy Story Land, visitors shrink to the size of Woody, Buzz, Jessie (who you can meet here, by the way) and Andy's other toys. The land's Slinky Dog Dash coaster is a family-friendly ride that's perfect for a kid's first roller coaster.

Outside of the lands themed to specific films, much of the park evokes an old-Hollywood glamour that makes you feel like a bona fide movie star. In these areas, you'll find some of the park's most iconic shows and attractions are also some of its longest-running, like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drop ride, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular .

Disney's Animal Kingdom

More than 2,000 animals — from about 300 species — call Disney's Animal Kingdom "home," but this is not a zoo. However, you can visit many of these animals via walking trails, the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride and even a petting zoo.

In addition to the creatures and landscapes found on Earth, you can visit another planet at Pandora — The World of Avatar or go back in time at DinoLand U.S.A. The animals aren't the only things that are "wild" at Animal Kingdom — Expedition Everest is a thrilling coaster; Avatar Flight of Passage puts you on the back of a banshee as you fly over Pandora; and Dinosaur sends you careening through the Cretaceous Period in an off-road vehicle.

What type of Disney tickets should I buy?

Disney world base tickets.

You can purchase one-day or multi-day Disney World tickets. All tickets are date-based, and the price varies depending on the date of your visit. If you purchase a one-day ticket, the price will also vary based on which park you plan to visit, with Magic Kingdom being the most expensive.

Disney World Park Hopper tickets

A base ticket only gets you into one park per day. If you want to visit multiple parks on the same day, you will need to purchase the Park Hopper option with your ticket (you can also add it on in person after you arrive). You can save money by only visiting one park per day, but it does limit how much you can see and do during your vacation.

A Park Hopper Plus ticket includes two visits to either Disney's golf courses, miniature golf courses or water parks, but this is only worth it if you know you will use it all.

Disney World special event tickets

Some of Disney's after-hours events , like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party , require a separate ticket. The park is only open to guests with special event tickets during these events. If you plan on visiting for one of these parties, you may be able to forgo a general admission ticket that day and utilize your special event ticket, as you can usually get into the park a few hours before the party starts.

Disney World ticket add-ons

There are two major ticket add-ons that you should consider. Both can be worth it but will add to the cost of your vacation.

The first add-on you might want to strongly consider is Disney Genie+ . This skip-the-line service allows you to skip the standby line and enjoy shorter wait times for rides by utilizing Disney's Lightning Lanes.

Currently, you can only purchase it on the day of your visit beginning at 7 a.m. and the price ranges between $15 and $35 per person, per day. A handful of attractions at each park require a separate individual Lightning Lane purchase to skip the line, often for the newest rides, but many rides are available with Genie+. You don't need to purchase Genie+ to buy individual Lightning Lane selections and vice versa. The individual Lightning Lane attraction pricing varies by attraction but typically ranges between $7 and $25 per person per attraction for rides like Tron: Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Another popular add-on is Disney's Memory Maker . Memory Maker gives you unlimited downloads of pictures taken by PhotoPass photographers during your vacation and on-ride photos. You can purchase a one-day Memory Maker for short visits or a multi-day Memory Maker which covers your entire vacation. You can save $25 on a multi-day Memory Maker when you purchase at least three days prior to your visit, so it's best to purchase it when you buy your tickets.

How to get discounted Disney World tickets

Aside from Disney's own discounts, you can sometimes save money on Disney tickets by purchasing them from an authorized third-party reseller. There are a few reputable sources out there for Disney World tickets, but our go-to is Undercover Tourist . Depending on your ticket type, you can usually save between $5 and $100. One of the best ways to save money with Undercover Tourist is when Disney World raises ticket prices , which usually happens at least once per year. Undercover Tourist typically has a limited number of existing ticket stock available at the old prices while supplies last.

Related: We saved every receipt — here's how much it actually costs to go to Disney World

If you are a Florida resident or are an active or retired U.S. military member , there are generous discounted Disney World tickets available directly through Disney's website.

You can also use points to pay for your Disney tickets , and that's a strategy we strongly recommend to keep costs down. For example, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , you can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of having the card. You can use those 75k points as the same as $750 towards travel . And while ticket-only packages from Disney World typically don't code as a travel charge, buying them from Undercover Tourist — or as part of a larger hotel and ticket package directly from Disney — typically does code as a travel charge, so you could save $750 just like that.

Is booking a Disney vacation package a good idea?

If you are staying in one of Disney World's on-site hotels or a certified " Disney World Good Neighbor " hotel, you have the option to bundle your hotel stay and theme park tickets into a Disney vacation package. Normally, these packages are not discounted, but they can be a great value if Disney runs any special vacation package promotions .

Aside from discounts (and the fact that it all likely codes as a travel charge for point-redemption purposes), there's one major reason to book a vacation package: When you purchase your tickets and hotel together, you only have to pay a $200 deposit at the time of booking. Payment in full is due 30 days prior to arrival. If you purchase your tickets separately from your hotel stay, you will have to pay the full amount at the time of purchase.

This is another great example of why you should book through an authorized Disney travel planner who can compare prices for you and keep an eye out for discounts.

When is the best time to visit Disney World?

Do you want the lowest crowds or the best weather? Do you want to attend a Halloween party or see Magic Kingdom's 65-foot-tall Christmas tree ?

The best time to visit Disney World depends on your reason for visiting.

If you want moderate temperatures and less chance of rain, you may want to plan your visit between October and December. If you want shorter waits, your best bets are late January, early May or just after Thanksgiving before the crowds descend upon the parks for winter break. Of course, weekdays typically see lower crowds than weekends and school breaks.

Or, if you are planning a Disney World vacation on a budget, opt for midweek dates in August and September 2024, when prices start at $109 for a one-day ticket.

Read our full guide on the best times to visit Walt Disney World .

What's the best way to get to Disney World?

Getting to Orlando and getting to Disney World after arriving are two different topics, so let's look at each.

What is the closest airport?

The closest airport to Walt Disney World is Orlando International Airport (MCO). Most major airlines fly into MCO, and you can reach Disney World in about 25 to 30 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic. If you are flying Allegiant or Sun Country Airlines, you'll fly into Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). SFB is smaller than MCO and farther from Disney World. From SFB, it is about a 45-minute drive to Disney World.

What is the best way to get to Disney World from the airport?

Because of its size and proximity to Disney World, MCO has more and better options to help you get between the airport and Disney World.

From Orlando International Airport or Orlando Sanford International Airport, you can rent a car or use a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft. If you do rent a car from MCO, you can forgo paying tolls through the car rental company (which often comes with an additional fee) and pick up a Visitor Toll Pass to save on tolls during your trip.

Disney no longer charges a parking fee for overnight hotel guests, so if you rent a car, you can park at your hotel and drive to Disney's theme parks without additional fees. Keep in mind that you may not need a car if you don't plan on leaving Disney property after you arrive. Disney has a robust internal transportation system that operates between its on-site hotels and theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs.

You can also use Disney's official airport shuttle, Mears Connect , from MCO.

Mears Connect is a shuttle service that picks you up from MCO and will drop you off at official Disney World hotels and a handful of nearby hotels. Pricing starts at $16 one-way for adults and $13 one-way for children. Mears Connect offers shared shuttles, where you will stop at multiple Disney hotels on the way to your own. You can pay an additional fee for an "express shuttle" that takes you direct to your resort. The easiest way to reserve your ride is online through the Mears Connect website.

What is the best way to get around Disney World?

If you are staying on Walt Disney World property, you can utilize Disney's complimentary transportation for travel between your resort and Disney's theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. Disney offers transportation by bus, boat, Monorail and Disney Skyliner gondola system. Which transportation options you have access to will depend on which hotel you are staying in.

All Disney hotels offer regularly scheduled bus transportation around the resort. Transportation begins 45 minutes prior to the theme park opening and up to one hour after the theme park closing.

Guests of Disney's Magic Kingdom area resorts — Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — can use boat or Monorail transportation to travel to the Magic Kingdom. There is also a monorail line that will take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can transfer to a separate Monorail line that goes to Epcot. These hotels also offer a walking path to Magic Kingdom.

Guests of Disney's Riviera Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century Resort can use the Disney Skyliner gondolas to travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. All Disney World visitors can also use Disney Skyliner to travel between these two parks, regardless of where you are staying. It's a fun and scenic way to get around the resort.

Many Disney World hotels also offer ferry boat transportation to nearby parks. The BoardWalk area hotels, for example, offer boat transportation to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Fort Wilderness, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and others offer boat service to the Magic Kingdom. You can view a full list on Disney's website . You can also walk to Epcot or Hollywood Studios from any BoardWalk area hotel.

Whichever transportation option you choose, you can view the schedule, routes and stop locations in the My Disney Experience app or on video monitors at each stop location.

You can also utilize Disney's Minnie Van service for door-to-door (or door-to-front gate, as it were) service between your hotel and Disney's theme parks. You can book these private rides in red-and-white polka-dot vans directly through the Lyft app. Accessible rides and child safety seats are available.

Though not "official" Disney World hotels, Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotel guests have access to Disney's complimentary ferry boat service to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. A walking path is also available. These resorts also operate their own shuttles to Disney's theme parks, which pick up approximately every 20 to 25 minutes throughout the day.

Disney Springs hotels operate their own shuttle services, independent of Disney's transportation. If you are staying at one of these hotels, you can inquire about scheduling and pick-up times at the front desk.

What's the best place to stay on a Disney vacation?

There are more than two dozen Disney World hotels to choose from, so your main considerations will be your budget and what type of hotel experience you are after. Whether you want over-the-top Disney theming, an upscale cabin in the woods or a luxury villa with access to a club lounge, you can find it at Disney World.

Disney offers three hotel tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe.

Value Disney resorts are the most affordable, with prices ranging between $125 and $300 per night. Value resorts offer quick-service, cafeteria-style dining outlets and large pools but don't have full-service restaurants or pool amenities like waterslides and hot tubs.

On average, Moderate Disney resorts run between $250 and $400 and offer amenities you won't find at Value Disney resorts. Some have full-service restaurants, and the pools are better-themed and equipped with waterslides. Many of them are more centrally located near Disney's theme parks, as well.

Deluxe Disney resorts are the most expensive, ranging between $400 to $700 per night and up for a standard room, but they also have the best locations, amenities and dining. You can expect large, well-furnished guest rooms, pool complexes with hot tubs, waterslides and beach areas, multiple full-service restaurants, spas and more.

Regardless of which hotel you choose, Disney's on-site hotels offer perks to enhance your stay:

• A 30-minute jumpstart on your day with Disney's Early Theme Park Entry benefit
• The ability to purchase individual Lightning Lanes for eligible rides begins at 7 a.m. on the day of your visit (non-resort guests can't do this until the park opens)
• Complimentary hotel and theme park parking
• Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels on select nights (this benefit is also available to guests of Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels, as well as Shades of Green)

Best hotels at Disney World

The best Disney World hotel for you depends on what you are looking for in a hotel stay. If you don't plan on spending much time in your room, you can save a lot of money by staying in a Value resort. If you plan on spending part of your vacation enjoying hotel amenities like the pool and restaurants, you may want to choose a Moderate or Deluxe resort. Or, if you have a large family that won't be comfortable in a standard room, one of Disney's family suites might be your best bet.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Best Disney World resort if you are on a budget: Disney's Pop Century Resort may not be the most glamorous hotel at Disney, but the kitschy 1950s through 1990s theming and the starting price of around $200 per night will surely put a smile on your face. This resort has three pools, a playground and an arcade. Guest rooms are furnished with either one king bed or a queen bed and a space-saving table that folds out into a bed. It is also one of two Value resorts with Skyliner gondola access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Best Disney World resort for large families : Disney's Art of Animation Resort is in Disney's more affordable Value category and has family suites themed to popular Disney films like "Cars," "The Lion King" and "Finding Nemo" that sleep up to six guests. The pool here is the largest at any Disney World resort, and you can take the Disney Skyliner gondolas to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Standard rooms are also available.

Best Disney World resort for swimming : Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are sister properties near Epcot. The two resorts have rooms that average around $600 per night and share access to Stormalong Bay, the best pool at Disney World . Stormalong Bay is really more than a pool, it is a water park with sand-bottomed pools, a lazy river, an activities pool with a volleyball net and daily pool games and a shipwreck-themed waterslide.

Best Disney World resort for a luxury stay : If the sky is the limit for your Walt Disney World vacation budget, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge are some of the finest accommodations you can choose. With two bedrooms, a fireplace, a screened-in porch, a hot tub and lakeside views, these cabins are anything but rustic. The privacy offers you a chance to wind down after a long Disney day, but you are still close enough to take a boat ride to Magic Kingdom and enjoy the amenities and dining in the resort's main lobby.

If you are leaning toward a luxury Disney stay, you may be able to save money by renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare program. DVC members can rent out their points to non-members through sites like David's Vacation Club Rentals , helping you to save hundreds of dollars versus booking directly through Disney. The trade-off is that availability is limited and that the cancellation policies are much less flexible than if you make the reservation direct through Disney.

Read our full guide on the best hotels at Walt Disney World .

Best hotels near Disney World

Disney World also partners with a handful of off-site hotels where you can still take advantage of certain benefits like Early Theme Park Entry and complimentary transportation while also paying less than you would for an official Disney World hotel. These hotels also participate in major hotel points programs, so you can earn or redeem points for your stay.

The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels all participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program. While not technically Disney hotels, they are located on Disney property between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy elite member , these hotels offer benefits like complimentary upgrades, a welcome amenity and more.

Related: This affordable new Disney Springs hotel includes free hot food and 6 nightly drinks

Disney Springs has seven hotels from brands like Wyndham, Hilton, Holiday Inn and others. All of these are adjacent to the Disney Springs shopping and dining district, and some have room rates that start at close to $100 per night. These can be a great option if you want to save money and don't mind leaving the "Disney bubble" at the end of the day.

Read our full guide to Disney Springs hotels here .

What are the best restaurants at Disney World?

With more than 200 restaurants to choose from, you are going to have to decide which Disney World restaurants you most want to visit. Dining options run the gamut from the predictable burger and fries to an out-of-this-world restaurant in space.

Read our full guide to the best restaurants at Disney World .

Hardest Disney reservations to get (and how to get them)

Many of these restaurants are quick-service or snack stands that don't require advance reservations, but there are a few popular restaurants that book up almost as quickly as reservations become available. If you want to dine with Disney royalty at Cinderella's Royal Table, for example, you'll want to make your reservation as soon as you can. Remember, that is 60 days prior to your visit — if you are staying at a Disney World hotel, you can make reservations for your entire vacation 60 days prior to your check-in day.

Related: 'Be our guest' at these 5 best character dining meals at Walt Disney World

Other reservations that book up quickly include Storybook Dining at Artist Point , Space 220 at Epcot, California Grill, 'Ohana, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios and Topolino's Terrace, especially for the character breakfast. All of these have great food and atmosphere, making them popular for new and returning guests.

Best quick-service restaurants at Disney that don't require a reservation

Luckily, there are plenty of Disney restaurants with delicious food you can get your hands on without a reservation. Satuli Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom is consistently ranked as one of the best quick-service restaurants anywhere at Disney. The food is fresh, flavorful and surprisingly inexpensive. You can get a build-your-own bowl with beef, chicken or fish for less than $20.

Other must-try quick-service restaurants include Ronto Roasters at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (the Ronto Breakfast Wrap is the best handheld meal at Disney!), Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom for New England-inspired fare and Regal Eagle Smokehouse at Epcot for all things barbecue.

Using the Disney app to improve your dining experience

The My Disney Experience app is a must for your Disney World vacation for checking wait times, finding your way around and more. When it comes to dining, you can use it to find walk-up dining availability, score last-minute reservations, see what restaurants are nearby, and place mobile orders at select quick-service restaurants.

When you place a mobile order via the app, you choose what time you would like to pick up your order (with the option to modify if plans change). When you arrive at the restaurant, you can click "I'm here. Prepare my order," and you'll receive a notification on your phone when your food is ready.

Should you buy a Disney Dining Plan?

The cost of dining at Disney can add up quickly, and Disney offers two dining plan options that may help you save money. The Disney Dining Plan lets you prepay for a specified number of meals and snacks for your Disney World vacation. You receive a certain number of meal and snack credits for each night of your stay.

The Disney Dining Plan is both convenient and flexible. By prepaying for your meals and snacks, you won't have to pull out your wallet for every meal and snack, and you aren't required to use a set number of credits each day. You can redeem them anytime during your stay in the way that best works for you.

There are two options — the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. The first is a bit less expensive and allows for more flexibility. The second is best if you plan on more sit-down dining and character meals during your vacation.

Whether or not you can save money with a Disney Dining Plan depends on how you utilize the credits. It is possible to break even or come out ahead if you maximize the value of your credits and actually eat all of the food available on the plan. If you don't use all of your credits, you are essentially leaving money on the table, but our guide can help you out with the math.

Read our full guide to the Disney Dining Plan .

How to save time in line at Disney World

Most Walt Disney World attractions offer a standby line. The only exceptions are new attractions, which will often offer a virtual queue for a limited time after opening. When Disney World is busy, though, standby lines for popular attractions can climb as high as two hours. Luckily, Disney has a service called Disney Genie+ that helps you skip the standby line and get on more attractions with shorter waits.

With Disney Genie+, you can skip the standby line and utilize a much shorter "Lightning Lane" for most attractions. You can only purchase this add-on service on the day of your visit, beginning at midnight (though you will likely be safe waiting until you wake up in the morning except on Disney's busiest days).

The cost of Disney Genie+ varies per park and per day. The service starts at $15 per person per day and occasionally reaches a per-person price of $35 per day during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season or in April during spring break. You can purchase Genie+ for one of Disney World's four theme parks or a "multiple park" option valid at all four parks when you purchase through the My Disney Experience app.

Most attractions are included in the Disney Genie+ service, but one or two attractions at each park require a separate Lightning Lane purchase to skip the line. It's not necessary to purchase Genie+ to buy individual Lightning Lane selections and vice versa. The individual Lightning Lane attraction pricing varies by attraction but typically ranges between $7 and $25 per person, per attraction.

Read our full guide to Disney Genie+ .

If you are staying in one of Disney's on-site hotels or in select "Good Neighbor" hotels, as mentioned in the section above, you can also save time in line by utilizing Early Theme Park Entry and/or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. You can get into the parks 30 minutes early with the Early Entry benefit, but you actually want to arrive at the front gates 30-45 minutes before that time. This will give you time to get through security and to the roped-off area where they hold guests, making you one of the first in line to rush to your favorite ride when early entry starts.

Related: Your guide to visiting Disney World with a child on the autism spectrum

If you or someone in your party has a disability that makes it difficult for you to wait in a traditional standby queue, you can also save time by registering for Disney's Disability Access Service (DAS). You need to start the registration process before your visit, and full instructions are available on Disney's website .

How to plan a Disney World trip on a budget

While sensational stories about $2,500 meals at Disney make for good headlines, it is totally possible to visit Disney World on a budget .

Related: Yes, you can visit Disney World on a budget: Here's how I did it

Here are some of the most important things you can do to make your Disney vacation budget manageable:

• Stay at a Disney Value resort like Disney's All-Star Movies Resort or use Marriott points to stay at the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve. Here are the best cards to get those points.
• Utilize Disney's complimentary parking and transportation for on-site guests instead of renting a car.
• Purchase groceries for some meals and snacks, and only buy one or two meals in the parks each day.
• Don't visit the parks every day you are at Disney and stick to one park per day, avoiding park hopping. You can save on tickets by spending a day swimming or visiting Disney Springs.
• Don't forget to periodically check Disney's website for discounts. Even after you book, you may be able to apply a hotel or vacation package discount that can save you even more money.
• Be on the lookout for discounted Disney gift cards to help cover the cost of your trip and/or use points for the tickets.
• Visit during less busy times of the year. Ticket prices are cheapest in August and September, with one-day tickets starting at $109.

Disney World pretrip checklist

Now that you've determined your budget, purchased your tickets, booked your hotel and made a few dining reservations, your trip is nearly planned. There are some other details you'll need to consider to make your trip as magical as it should be. Here's our ultimate Disney World pre-trip checklist:

• Pack accordingly : Depending on when you visit, you could be dealing with heat, humidity, afternoon showers, chilly temperatures or a mix of all of the above. It's important to pack comfortable shoes and clothing no matter when you visit, but you may also want rain gear, sun protection or a warm jacket, depending on the weather. You can read our full Disney World packing guide here .
• Download the My Disney Experience app : This app is an invaluable tool that you will use daily during your visit. You can use it to check everything from wait times to walk-up dining availability. You can also use it to navigate the parks with turn-by-turn walking directions, purchase Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lanes and even open your hotel room door.
• Check the park hours before your visit : You can view the park hours on the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. Each park has separate opening and closing times, and parks occasionally close early for special events like Halloween and Christmas parties. When you view the park hours, you'll also be able to see times for any parades or fireworks shows happening each day of your visit and plan for early entry or extended theme park hours for eligible on-site hotel guests.
• Check the height requirements for attractions: If you are traveling to Disney World with young children, you can check the height requirements for attractions on Disney World's website or in the My Disney Experience app. There are also measuring stations at all attractions that have a minimum height requirement, but it's better to know ahead of time to avoid tears if your child isn't quite tall enough.
• Know where to find your favorite characters : Most Disney characters have designated meeting times and locations, which you can find in the My Disney Experience app. Booking a character meal can be a great way to meet multiple characters at once, but you can also meet many characters in the parks. Popular meet-and-greets also offer Genie+ Lightning Lane access, which can cut down on the time you spend waiting to meet Mickey, Moana or Cinderella.
• Decide if you want to purchase PhotoPass photos : You can save money on Disney Memory Maker by purchasing in advance before you visit. It's the easiest way to capture your vacation memories and an add-on we highly recommend. You can view and download your photos in the My Disney Experience app.
• Study up on Genie+: As helpful as Genie+ can be, there is a bit of a learning curve. Study up using our Genie+ guide and Disney's own overview before your visit. It's good to know which attractions participate in Genie+, how to reserve Lightning Lane access and how to make the most of the service.
• Plan for downtime: One of the biggest mistakes people make at Disney World is overscheduling their trip and leaving no time for rest and relaxation. If you are visiting for more than a few days, try and schedule a day away from the parks where you swim, explore the other resorts or just lounge around the hotel. It'll help rejuvenate you for the rest of your trip. For shorter trips, you may want to schedule a slow morning or return to your hotel early one day instead of being at the parks from opening to closing every day of your trip.

Read all of our best Disney World tips here .

Bottom line

There you have it — the ultimate guide to visiting Walt Disney World.

In addition to the planning and preparation you've now mastered, there are two very important things you must do during your Disney World vacation — don't overplan and have fun. It's much better to have a short list of "must-do" rides, restaurants and activities than to have a minute-by-minute itinerary that most certainly will not play out exactly how you planned.

Keeping a loose itinerary leaves room for magic moments like stumbling upon a favorite character, noticing a super-short line for a ride or deciding last-minute to watch a parade you happened upon. You can't do everything in one trip anyway, so do the things you can and save the rest for next time when you are a certified Disney pro.

FOR NO-COST-TO-YOU ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Related reading:

• The best Disney World hotels for your stay
• The 21 most underrated things at Disney World: What to see, do and eat that many guests miss
• Forgetting to do this 1 thing could ruin your Disney trip
• Disney's take on timeshares: Guide to Disney Vacation Club
• 8 Walt Disney World experiences that don't require a park ticket

2024 Disney World Planning Guide

Our Walt Disney World vacation planning guide offers tips & tricks for 2024 on how to avoid crowds, save money & time, with info on Genie+ & Lightning Lanes, best rides, restaurant reviews, and itineraries for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios. (Updated February 1, 2024. )

The latest update comes as Walt Disney World is in the midst of more changes to restore normalcy, making the guest experience closer to what it was like in ~2019. With this, theme park reservations have mostly been eliminated, return of the Disney Dining Plan , and resumption of unlimited all-day Park Hopping . Next up is pre-arrival Lightning Lane ride reservations , a system that should closely resemble FastPass+ (but paid).

Beyond the rolling back of temporary changes implemented during the phased reopening and pent-up demand period, a ton is happening and changing at Walt Disney World. There are new attractions, nighttime spectaculars, and other additions on the horizon. We visit the parks regularly, reporting on everything as it happens–if you want to receive updates when discounts are released, new things are announced, etc., sign up to receive our FREE Walt Disney World Email Newsletter .

There are a few important things you need to know if you’re visiting Walt Disney World soon. First, the big new ride is TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom. This attraction is very popular and can be difficult to experience due to not having a standby line. Improve your chances for success in scoring virtual queue spots by reading our TRON Lightcycle Run Virtual Queue Strategy Guide & FAQ .

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, which was the previous big addition, also does not have a standby line. At least, for now. Walt Disney World has been setting up overflow queue and seems poised to ditch the virtual queue for that once the off-season rolls around.

Second, there’s the paid Genie+ service that offers Lightning Lane line skipping service (free FastPass+ was retired a few years ago). This can be purchased in the My Disney Experience app for variable, date-based prices that now differ for each park (Magic Kingdom and Park Hopping are most expensive, costing up to $39 per person, per day plus tax).

Genie can be confusing, but we’ve used and tested Genie+ and Lightning Lanes a ton . Everything you NEED to know, including ride priorities, where it’s NOT necessary to buy Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, and much more is covered in our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World .

If you’re looking for ways to avoid waiting in long lines  without spending extra on Lightning Lanes, see our Best Time-Saving Strategies for Walt Disney World , which covers the best & worst ways to do that in each park–and is accurate for the entirety of 2024. That’s the result of extensive testing, and the optimal methods for outsmarting the crowds aren’t always intuitive. For 3 of the 4 parks, you’re better off using a ‘free’ strategy rather than paying extra for Genie+ and Lightning Lanes!

Winter is also typically ‘refurbishment season’ at Walt Disney World. For a look at what’ll be temporarily unavailable during your trip, see the 2024 Walt Disney World Refurbishment & Closure Calendar , which we update regularly with return and downtime dates. There are some big closures right now, including Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

The other big closure is Splash Mountain, which permanently closed about a year ago. The good news is that this is also for 2024’s big new attraction: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure . That’s currently scheduled to open sometime this year–the timeline could move forward to Summer 2024…or be delayed until early 2025!

Then there’s the colossal EPCOT overhaul, which is now mostly finished now that new Luminous: The Symphony of Us nighttime spectacular and World Celebration Gardens have debuted. The only thing left is the CommuniCore Hall event space, which will likely debut before Summer 2024.

There’s a lot more on the horizon than just those things–here’s everything exciting being built: What’s New & Coming to Walt Disney World in 2024 & Beyond .

With those updates out of the way, let’s tell you about ourselves and why this guide is useful to your trip planning. We are obviously big Disney fans, but with this guide, we share our objective and unbiased tips. This covers the good and the bad, and the hard realities of planning Walt Disney World trip. We don’t sugarcoat everything or feel the need to put a positive spin on things. A lot about Disney is great, but that’s plenty that’s overpriced and not-so-great. If blunt, honest advice is not for you, there are many other sites that are all-positive.

With hundreds of trips dating back to the 1980s when we were kids, we’ve learned a lot about all things Disney. That now comes full circle as we start taking our daughter to Walt Disney World! We visit every month to see what has changed, taste-test new menu items, analyze crowds, offer recommendations for things you should do on vacation, share updates on construction, and much more.

This guide distills the key things we know about Walt Disney World into something easy to absorb and less overwhelming. Think of this planning guide as WDW101, with everything organized into the most important aspects of planning. The reality is that Walt Disney World is one of the most complicated vacation destinations on earth, and having a smooth and good trip requires doing your homework. With that said, we promise that taking the time to learn about Walt Disney World will be worth it, so let’s get started…

1A. Best Times to Visit for Avoiding Crowds

“When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World?”  This is often the first question readers ask, and it’s not an easy one to answer because it’s subjective. What makes an experience the “best” differs from person to person. With that said, in helping first-timers plan over the course of the last decade-plus, there are usually three distinct components to this:  crowds, cost & fun.

The first two variables are the overriding factors and, thankfully, those are objective. If you’re primarily concerned with avoiding long lines and high wait times, consult our 2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars . That takes into account Orlando area school schedules, conventions, youth sporting events, park hours, special events, and more to provide you with specific dates that are the least and most crowded.

While that’s all about crowds (and can be overwhelming), we also have something more holistic: our list of the  10 Best and 10 Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024 & 2025 . As the title suggests, that identifies the ‘red flag’ dates to avoid, as well as the ideal times to visit. It’s really more than just 10 weeks, as a number of the good and bad windows are far longer than a single week.

For example, pretty much the entirety of August and September are great from a crowds perspective, but we zero in on a single week that’s the best-balanced (from our perspective) as it combines low crowds, seasonal events, weather, and other factors. Same idea for a number of other dates throughout the year.

Rather than our objective crowd calendars, those are our subjective picks for when to visit. In addition to wait times, those rankings take other things into account: seasonal offerings like Christmas & Halloween, weather, new attractions, and more. If you find the crowd calendars intimidating, go with the Best & Worst Months post instead.

The good news is that, as a general rule, lower prices and crowds coincide with one another. Meaning that if you book your trip around the cheapest dates, you’re more likely to also have lower crowds. Prices are higher and discounts are weaker when crowds are higher, meaning you get hit with a double-whammy if visiting during these times of the year. (Spoiler: the highest prices and crowds both occur when school is out of session.)

1B. Best Times to Visit for Saving Money

The second component is cost. This one is especially significant now, as prices are up across the board. If you’re a first time visitor or it’s been a few years since your last trip, you might be in store for sticker shock. We take a look at this topic in How Much Does a Walt Disney World Vacation Cost? with sample pricing for multiple ‘trip tiers,’ from budget to luxury.

However, it’s not as straightforward as that. Some people don’t realize it, but prices vary significantly based upon when you’re visiting. If you visit for New Year’s Eve, you could end up spending close to double what it costs to visit a few months earlier, in September. Cutting to the chase, here are the Cheapest Times to Go to Walt Disney World .

The good news is that there’s considerable overlap between the cheapest times to visit and the least-crowded times. Visiting during the least-expensive and least-crowded times is entirely possible, and those goals align pretty well. Conversely, the most expensive times are usually also the most expensive.

Intuitively, this should make sense. When demand is highest, prices are highest. Like most other businesses, Walt Disney World charges what the market will bear, raising prices when able and discounting in order to incentivize visits when attendance and hotel occupancy are lower.

To that point, the other good news is that deals are starting to return to Walt Disney World after a couple years of very strong pent-up demand! See All Current Walt Disney World Discounts   for a full rundown of special offers through Spring 2024. There are a TON of discounts available right now, some of which offer up to 40% off hotels!

If you want to save even more money and do WDW as cheaply as possible, we have the 14 Best Tips to Save Money at Walt Disney World in 2024 . Those tips cover a lot of excellent ideas, such as buying discount Disney gift cards or having Groceries Delivered to Your Walt Disney World Hotel Room .

Those are just a handful of ways to save a ton of money on a trip to WDW! It also covers several options for the biggest expense of your trip–lodging. Among other things, you can stay at Walt Disney World’s best resorts for a fraction of full price by renting DVC points .

The idea behind all of these money-saving tips is not cutting corners and compromising on the quality of your vacation. To the contrary, we aim to “cut the fat” from your budget and recommend ways to save while also improving efficiency. Taking grocery delivery as an example–we do not recommend cooking dinner in your room or packing picnic lunches. Instead, we advice ordering nutritious breakfasts (the weakest meal at Walt Disney World restaurants) to have quickly have in your room or on-the-go each morning to save money and time .

1C. Best Times to Visit for Having Fun

Now we’re getting into the much more subjective area of determining when to visit. What makes a time of year more or less fun? Will you enjoy the parks more or less during certain timeframes? That’s really difficult to say. As a general matter, our mantra is this: “A rainy day at Walt Disney World is better than a sunny day at home.”

This is to say that you can have a great Walt Disney World vacation no matter what time of year you visit. The smile and laughter of your child hugging Mickey Mouse for the first time; the delicious taste of a Dole Whip or Citrus Swirl; the sight and sound of fireworks exploding over Cinderella Castle at the end of a long and satisfying day at Magic Kingdom. Absolutely none of that is seasonal. Those joys are possible 365 days of the year at Walt Disney World, and your trip will be made up of moments big and small exactly like those that happen daily.

However, it’s also fair to say that a sunny day is better than a rainy day at Walt Disney World. Most people probably are more comfortable during mild and temperate days than oppressive heat and humidity. Seasonal events can likewise add a lot to the baseline experience, taking a trip from “memorably magical” to “magnificently magical” on our  highly scientific scale of magicalness.

Hopefully you get the point here–that every day at Walt Disney World has the potential to be great, but also, that greatness has its own sliding scale, with weather, seasonal enhancements, and more cranking things up to the next level of magicalness.

The holiday season is our favorite time at Walt Disney World. It’s not even a close call. If we could only visit Walt Disney World one month of the year for the rest of our lives, we’d pick November or December. (Super-specifically, we’d pick the week after Thanksgiving that straddles the two months– that’s our favorite week to go! ) If you’re thinking of a holiday vacation, we’d implore you to start by reading our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World .

Every park, resort, and Disney Springs gets into the spirit of the season. The last few holiday seasons have been scaled back, first as the parks reopened and then for the 50th Anniversary. With that now over, things are almost 100% normal for Christmas, minus the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights.

Last Christmas, there were two hard ticket events: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) at Magic Kingdom and the brand-new Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. MVMCP will definitely be back for Christmas 2024, but it remains to be seen whether Jollywood Nights–which received a mixed reception in its inaugural year–comes back for a second season.

There are other seasonal events throughout the year, starting with the EPCOT Festival of the Arts in January and February. Following that is the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival from March through late May. Notably, Flower & Garden Festival has been shortened by over a month for 2024. Our expectation is that Food & Wine Festival also starts later and EPCOT debuts a new summer festival–but that’s just a guess!

It’s also possible that Magic Kingdom will once again do a special event in Summer 2024. In fact, we’d expect this to occur, with new entertainment debuting and smaller scale additions. Walt Disney World’s big new attraction (Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) won’t be ready in time for Memorial Day, so they’ll need something else to market in the first half of 2024.

Even if a summer-time event doesn’t happen, Pride is celebrated in June, and there are other smaller-scale events spread across the calendar. After Hours parties will once again occur in Summer 2024, too.

The special events kick into high gear in August, which will kick off the 5-month long ‘party season’ at Magic Kingdom. That starts with Halloween time in Magic Kingdom, from August through the 1st of November. Our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide offers info & tips for Magic Kingdom’s fan-favorite Halloween-themed event.

While it has nothing to do with Halloween, another staple of fall is EPCOT’s annual culinary event. Read our Guide to the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival to prepare for that park’s colossal culinary celebration. This just scratches the surface. You can see everything that happens throughout the year in our Calendar of Seasonal Events at Walt Disney World .

2. How Long to Visit

How long you should stay at Walt Disney World depends largely upon the type of trip it is. If you’re not much of a Disney fan but are taking your kids on a “once in a lifetime” rite of passage trip, we recommend a Walt Disney World vacation of at least 6 or 7 days. The exact length will still vary a bit depending upon how much vacation time you have and if you plan on visiting non-Disney theme parks or destinations.

In addition to visiting Disney’s theme parks, you’ll also probably want to build a day into your itinerary for relaxation, and this is good to plug into the middle of your trip so you don’t get worn out by the theme parks. The other consideration for planning trips to Walt Disney World might be how much time to spend doing other things.

You might want to do Orlando-area theme parks like Universal, SeaWorld, or Busch Gardens. We recommend at least a couple of days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Use our Universal Orlando Resort Trip Planning Guide for strategy. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is absolutely mind-blowing, even if you’re not a fan of the books. The new Jurassic World VelociCoaster is the best roller coaster in all of Orlando–and that’s just one of several excellent recent additions.

We also have a post titled Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando that covers a lot of the pros and cons of visiting Universal. If you want to broaden your horizons and do something beyond Central Florida’s world-class theme parks, check out our 50 Things to Do in Orlando, Florida (Outside Disney’s Parks) . That covers beaches, manatee-watching, outlet malls, and much more.

3. Booking Vacation Packages

Vacations booked via DisneyWorld.com cover some combination of hotel, park tickets, and dining. Sometimes these packages offer excellent savings off rack rates, sometimes they’re merely full price elements of the trip bundled together. If you’re looking further into the future, 2024 Walt Disney World Vacation Packages are now available! (For those already wanting to plan 2025 WDW vacations, you’ll need to wait until late June or early July 2024, unfortunately.)

If you’re already overwhelmed, you might want to consider using a travel agent. If you go this route, look for one who primarily or exclusively does Disney-related bookings. As you can probably gather already, planning a Walt Disney World vacation is incredibly complex. If a travel agent doesn’t specialize in Disney, they probably won’t know the many nuances of Walt Disney World vacations. (For this reason, we don’t recommend AAA or Costco, even though some of their agents have Disney knowledge.)

Most travel agents specializing in Disney are “no fee” agencies, meaning that it costs you no more to book through them than it does to book through Disney (they get commission from Disney). If you are unsure of which package might be best for you–or need personalized help with any aspect of your trip–we recommend contacting a no fee “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” ( here’s why we recommend one ) to get a quote and to help you plan. Request a quote from our recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner here .

4. Park Tickets

If you opt to book things yourself and without a vacation package, we recommend buying your tickets from an authorized third party ticket seller to save money. Read our Tips for Buying Discount Walt Disney World Tickets post for everything you need to know about choosing the right tickets and saving money on them.

Normally, prices increase in February and/or October. They increased twice two years ago, with the second occurring later than usual in December. Last year, the only admission costs that increased were on Annual Passes, which raises a question about whether tickets will increase again in December, or if Walt Disney World is waiting until February 2024. Either way, it’s not a bad idea to buy now to lock-in current prices no matter when you’re visiting between now and December 31, 2024.

If all you want to know is where to safely buy the cheapest, legitimate Walt Disney World multi-day tickets from an authorized reseller click here to buy via Get Away Today , our recommended & Disney-authorized ticket seller.

Disney’s mantra is “the longer you play, the less you pay per day.” It’s corny but true. Single-day Walt Disney World tickets are expensive , but multi-day tickets are much cheaper per day. The cost of additional days on a ticket substantially decreases with each day you add after 3 days. In other words, longer trips are not proportionately more expensive than shorter ones.

This is just one of the many tips we cover in our post about saving money on Walt Disney World park tickets . Whatever you do, don’t wait to buy your tickets at the front gates of the parks or on eBay…they won’t work!

5. Where to Stay

One of the very best posts on this blog is our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page . We have stayed at every Disney hotel, plus many off-site ones. That page offers links to each of our hotel reviews, room photos, thoughts on the amenities, pros & cons, and more.

When deciding whether to pay the premium prices that Disney-owned hotels charge, one important consideration for many will be on-site perks. Unfortunately, there aren’t many anymore–basically just some extended hours (see our Guide to Early Entry at Walt Disney World ), location, theme, and more convenient transportation. Since reopening, many benefits have been eliminated–either permanently or temporarily. Read about this in Is Walt Disney World’s On-Site Advantage Disappearing or Reappearing ?

When pricing out Walt Disney World hotels, you’re bound to have some sticker shock. Prices have gone up considerably in the last few years, and discounts are not nearly as abundant as they once were. If your budget is tight but you still want on-site luxury, consider getting a quote from Disney Vacation Club point rental company ( click here to book with the cheapest point DVC rental company ).

For more info about renting points, you might want to read our Guide to Renting Disney Vacation Club Points article. This is a great way to save money on nicer accommodations than you otherwise might be able to afford.

If you’re going to stay on-site at Walt Disney World, the three main tiers are Value, Moderate, and Deluxe, which are exactly what their names sound like they are. There’s also a Deluxe Villa tier, which is basically Disney-speak for “timeshare room.” Looking for the best hotel in each tier? Check out the following posts ranking the various Disney hotels:

• Value Resort Hotel Rankings
• Moderate Resort Hotel Rankings
• Deluxe Resort Hotel Rankings
• Deluxe Villa (Disney Vacation Club) Resort Rankings

Debating whether to stay off-site to save money or on-site at Walt Disney World for convenience and to be immersed in the magic? We have an Off-Site vs. On-Site Walt Disney World Hotels article that goes into great depth about the pros and cons of both options.

If you’re also visiting other theme parks in Central Florida, one alternative is to stay off-site. Our Universal Orlando Hotel Rankings & Reviews covers the pros & cons of those resorts, many of which we love for their locations, theme, on-site perks, and value for money. Additionally, refer to Universal Orlando v. Walt Disney World Resorts for a comparison between Disney’s and Universal’s hotels to see what each does better.

6. What to Pack

It might sound hard to believe, but packing for Walt Disney World offers ways to save money and improve your experience. There are some wrinkles to Walt Disney World that make packing a bit different, and by bringing certain “clever” (we think) items in your luggage, you will improve your experience. We go over the best stuff in our Walt Disney World Unique Packing List .

Two of our favorite examples from that list are Frogg Toggs Chilly Pads and this Compact External Charger . Seriously, you’ll wonder how you ever travelled without these (and many other) items on our list!

One of the most important things to pack for Walt Disney World is comfortable shoes. This can trip people up, as you probably walk  far, far less at home than you will at Walt Disney World. Suffice to say, what’s best for logging tens of thousands of steps could differ from your day-to-day footwear. See our picks for the Best Shoes to Wear at Walt Disney World for guidance–and be sure to plan ahead, breaking in your shoes before your trip!

Comfort is also key when planning your clothes for Walt Disney World–and weather can make that challenging. If you’re going in the colder months, check out our Packing for Disney in Winter post. For summer months, read Tips for Beating the Summer Heat at Disney .

7. Itineraries & Attraction Advice

Having an itinerary is a big deal, even for some frequent Walt Disney World guests. Some visitors create binders, spreadsheets, and schedule every step of their day. People get serious and obsessive about this. We are not those people. Planning is important, but going to those lengths is unnecessarily stressful and creates unrealistic and rigid plans. The best laid plans often go awry, and when that inevitably happens, it can be disappointing if you’ve over-planned.

With that said, we also recommend first-time visitors do not “wing it” for your daily itinerary . You don’t need to plan every movement so that there’s no spontaneity in your trip, just make sure you have at least a loose plan of what you’re going to do. As with most things in life, balance and moderation are key.

We have the following flexible step by step plans for each park that cover our perfect days using standby-only:

• 1-Day Magic Kingdom Park Itinerary
• 2-Day Magic Kingdom Park Itinerary
• 1-Day Epcot Itinerary Park Itinerary
• 1-Day Animal Kingdom Park Itinerary
• 1-Day Hollywood Studios Park Itinerary

For step-by-step single day itinerary using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, see these itineraries:

• 1-Day at Magic Kingdom with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
• 1-Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
• 1-Day at Epcot with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
• 1-Day at Animal Kingdom with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes

Additionally, we have itineraries for Universal Orlando offering the same type of step by step advice:

• 1-Day Universal Studios Florida Itinerary
• 1-Day Islands of Adventure Itinerary
• 1-Day Universal Park Hopping Itinerary ( both Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida )

If you’d prefer to create your own itinerary, we recommend reading our Disney Parks Ride Guides and getting a rough idea of which attractions you want to do:

• Magic Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide
• Epcot Park & Attraction Guide
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park & Attraction Guide
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide

We also have guides for the Walt Disney World water parks and Disney Springs:

• Blizzard Beach Water Park Guide
• Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Guide
• Disney Springs Shopping & Entertainment District Guide

With that said, we’d strongly recommend using our pre-made Walt Disney World Park Itineraries . Those step by step guides are maximized for efficiency, and will save far more time than ones you put together yourself, or just winging it. These are good, flexible itineraries that offers attractions, dining, and other things to enjoy without going crazy with mapping out every bathroom stop of your day.

Those with small children should also know that some Walt Disney World rides have height restrictions, requiring kids be a certain number of inches tall (usually 38 to 44″) in order to experience. Measuring sticks are outside attractions with a requirement, and kids who do not meet the minimum height are not allowed to enter the line. There are no age requirements for any attractions. See  Height Requirements at Walt Disney World for a comprehensive list, updated with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Attractions that have height requirements also offer Rider Switch (also known as child swap, baby switch, rider swap, or parent swap). This is Walt Disney World’s system that allows parents with small children to take turns experiencing thrill rides and other attractions with height requirements via Lightning Lanes. See our  Guide to Rider Switch at Walt Disney World   for everything you need to know about this service. If eligible, it can save you a ton of time.

8. Where to Eat

A lot of the posts on this blog detail dining at Walt Disney World, which is a surprisingly complex (and fun!) topic. The most important thing for first-timers to know is that the tired stereotype that Disney dining is all burgers, hot dogs, and other fast food is not even remotely true. Disney has a lot of wonderful dining options that can be an experience in themselves.

To figure out where to eat, consult our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. That page has reviews of 75+ restaurants at Walt Disney World, plus other resources like our Magic Kingdom Counter Service Restaurant Rankings , and lots of other specific topics. Another great post with random quick-tips is our 101 Walt Disney World Dining Tips post.

Good dining experiences can make a trip, so if you only read more on one topic in this guide, make it dining. We know a number of people who have had their opinions of Walt Disney World changed for the better simply because they “discovered” the right places to eat.

If you’re starting the planning process far in advance, you might want to subscribe to our free newsletter for updates . We also provide subscribers with news from the parks, and have given a heads up on Free Dining and ticket price increases before they have been officially announced. This makes the newsletter especially handy for scoring discounts and being in the know as to what’s going on before your trip.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re trying to do “Disney on a Dime,” one of the easiest ways to save money is to not eat at Walt Disney World restaurants. Dining at Disney is expensive, and unlike park tickets, it’s not mandatory . You can save a lot of money by eating off-site, or better yet, getting groceries and preparing your own meals. We have a comprehensive Tips for Buying Groceries at Walt Disney World post that covers grocery delivery, local stores, and much more.

Even if you don’t want to make your own meals, grocery delivery is great for getting fruit and other small grab and go snacks, both of which are really over-priced at Walt Disney World. It’s also excellent for beer–for less than the cost of a single beer in the parks, you can have a 6-pack delivered to your hotel room!

9. Transportation

Walt Disney World transportation can be hit or miss, and can take a lot of time. For the most efficient transit options, read our Time-Saving Walt Disney World Transportation Tips post. This covers shortcuts, when to use buses v. monorail v. boats v. your feet, and more!

One of the other big considerations is whether you want to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel that offers a unique form of transportation, such as the monorails to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, or the boats, walking paths, or Skyliner to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. These can be a huge time-saver.

Disney’s Magical Express has now ended, and following a merger of two competitors, it’s indirect replacement is essentially Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine. This does cost money, but otherwise it’s roughly analogous to Disney’s Magical Express–it’s even operated by the same vendor that ran Disney’s Magical Express (same buses and everything, just no Disney branding!). For a broad overview of alternatives, see our Airport Transportation Guide to Walt Disney World .

An alternative to a rental car is Lyft (or the Minnie Van service powered by Lyft) or Uber. For the basics on using these ride-sharing services, read our Tips for Using Lyft or Uber at Walt Disney World post. This post also shares the easiest way to get to Universal Orlando Resort (in case you want to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, too)

10. What Else to Do

Your imagination is really the limit here. Most first-time visitors only know about the theme parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks. That’s just the surface of what Walt Disney World has to offer. There are tours, golf, fishing, nightlife, shopping, fireworks cruises, babysitting, spas, and much more. An exhaustive list would ultimately be longer than the rest of this already long blog post!

Most of our favorite things are couples or adult-oriented, which you can read about on our Walt Disney World for Adults page . Honeymooners (aka “Disneymooners”) should read our Walt Disney World Honeymoon Tips article. Here are some other posts that cover “other stuff” at Walt Disney World, and other ways to improve your vacation, that don’t really fit the categories above:

• Free Things to Do at Walt Disney World
• Best Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Spots
• Best Harmonious at Epcot Fireworks Viewing Spots
• Tips for Celebrating at Walt Disney World
• First-Timer Tips for Walt Disney World

If all of this is really overwhelming, we (again) recommend contacting an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and letting them do the work for you. This is Disney’s term for their affiliated travel agents, and the huge upside to them is that they don’t charge for their services–Disney pays them directly at no cost to you! Click here to get a vacation quote from our recommended no fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner .

Remember, what’s in this post is just a starting point. To recap, you’ll also want to read our When to Visit Walt Disney World post for the best time of year to plan your trip. If saving money is important, read Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post to buy the cheapest tickets from legitimate sources. To figure out where to stay, our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page is a great resource. Want to know where to eat or if the Disney Dining Plan is right for you? Our Walt Disney World Dining Resources will help!

These are just a few of many posts mentioned in this article that will provide the foundation for your planning…but these 4 other posts are probably the most important of the bunch! If you enjoyed this Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide, please help us out by sharing it with your friends via social media. We put a lot of ongoing work into this, and hope it’s as helpful as possible to as many trip planners as possible. Thank you so much for your support–we really appreciate it!

Your Thoughts

Are you visiting Walt Disney World in 2024? If you are a Walt Disney World veteran, what tips would you add to this? If you’re a first-timer, is there anything else you’d like to know? Are you excited to experience the parks for Disney’s 100th Anniversary, or will you wait until Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens or more on-site perks are restored? We love hearing from readers, whether it be questions from newbies or tips from seasoned Disney pros with tips of their own to add!

Written by Tom Bricker

I will l spend my first full day at Disney World on a Sunday should I go to the magic kingdom, Epcot or Hollywood studios first to avoid crowds? Going the first week of March.

Every traveler must read this crucial information before visiting Disney for tourism. I love the way you write for travelers this is easy to understand and the information itself is quality content.

Hey Tom! Will you do an article on how to navigate busy times of year like spring break? We have historically been off season travelers to avoid crowds but older kids in school prevent us from being able to do so and I am a bit anxious about what to expect during spring break and how to best manage the crowds!

Hi Tom, my wife and I are planning a trip to Disney World after Thanksgiving to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We have never been to Disney World and want to make the most of our time (and money). We are really good at Genie+(Disneyland) and are willing to arrive for rope drop and stay until the parks close.

Which of the following 2 options would you recommend? 1. A 4-Day Park Hopper and do MK on a MVMCP day and park hop to HS. On another day, do a half day at HS and park hop to MK to enjoy the evening with fireworks and the “Frozen” Castle Experience 2. A 3-Day Base Ticket and 1-Party Night Ticket (Jollywood Nights or MVMCP)

Hi Tom. Myself and my family spent 2 weeks in Orlando middle of August, including 5 days at WDW and we would like to thank you very much for all the advice you give. I read all of your blogs and the advice/information was so valuable to help us to get the best out of our holiday (we are from UK so we can’t visit as often as we would like!). Using Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours and very quick fingers on the Virtual Queues, we were able to do everything we wanted to do and much more!! The only thing that went wrong was when after doing Early Entry at MK we took the monorail back to our hotel (Yacht Club) via Epcot forgetting that we would technically be park-hopping so are restricted by the 14:00 rule. We arrived to EPCOT just after 13:00 so had to wait a bit. It was only a minor issue but thought I would mention as reminder to anyone else. We also learnt through this incident that although Park Hopping is officially allowed from 14:00, you can tap through from 13:45. Again, might be useful for others… We are already starting to plan our next trip and I continue to read your blogs every day! Thanks again and hope everything goes well with the baby!

Hi Tom! Do you have any articles or good tips for room requests (timing, method, hotel cast member insight, etc)? I would really appreciate it! I am a bit of a Disney veteran, but the art of the room request has eluded me (for example, old online articles suggest faxing things – that can’t possibly still be applicable, right??) – and if I ever post any questions on Facebook groups, the comment section eventually spirals into negativity and chaos. Thanks!

Hi! Thank you for everything you do, it is such a huge help when planning a Disney world trip when I’m used to just going to Disneyland. Do you have any tips on booking flights? Such as when is the best time to book, how far in advance and recommendations on which website to book through?

This information is crucial for every traveler. It is common to encounter health issues during our journeys, which is why this comprehensive guidance blog is essential for everyone. I greatly appreciate your kind words about the post, and I’m glad that the information shared in the article has proven helpful to you. bali tours

Hi Tom! Any tips for doing the Parks in the rain? We’ve been waiting months and see there maybe showers when we’re there next week. Thanks

Tom, My family and I planned for a 2-day Epcot experience in June. I am using your itineraries for the other parks and I thought I’d ask if you have a 2-day for Epcot?

Just amazing help for us in planning our vacation – thanks, Tom!

This is in dire need of updating. Rock n Roller Coaster is down, Toyland is open and fabulous, we did Lightning Lane at Rise of the Resistance. And more.

Have you heard anything about package service returning? It seems advantageous for Disney. I wouldn’t buy a large collectible if I have to carry it around all day. Having it sent to my hotel would’ve been nice.

I have not heard anything about that specifically, but I have recently been hearing about very big, very comprehensive announcement plans to coincide with 2024 Walt Disney World vacation packages. Normally, that news would be released in June or July, but I suspect it might be coming earlier this year.

Again, no clue if resort package delivery is among the changes (it was not one of the things mentioned to me), but it very well could be given the potential scope and scale of the news.

Hey Tom! What do you know about Typhoon Lagoons re-opening for 2023? I was thinking about adding the water park option to my annual pass renewal but wasn’t sure it would be worth it if both aren’t open. Thanks!

I’m grateful you recommended we consider opting for a week-long Walt Disney World vacation if we want the kids to enjoy the experience and all the attractions available without wearing them out. I’m planning to take my kids to Disneyworld this spring, so I was wondering how I should plan the trip. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind while I look for a Disney VIP tour to book in advance soon.

Hello Tom, I tried to use the code DTB5 at get away today and it says code is invalid?? Do you have another code that can be used? Also I love Sarah’s Mickey Mouse purse, where did she buy it I have to get one!! Thanks Lori

The Get Away Today website tells me that the DTB5 discount code is invalid, so this article may need further updating (that or there is an error on their side – just thought you should know).

This article is awesome. It was wonderful and I really like it. Thanks for sharing this post.

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7 Easy Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Walt Disney World

Planning a Disney date together takes research. This is especially true now that there are new tools for avoiding long lines at Walt Disney World. This guide covers the easiest ways to avoid long lines at Walt Disney World, with some insider tips too.

FYI: Most of these time-saving steps involve spending extra money. However, there are three keys to avoiding long lines that do not involve spending extra money:

• Learn about and use Disney's Genie app – it's free
• Get to the parks well before they open
• Stay in the park as late as possible
• Bonus tip – use Disney's mobile ordering for snacks and meals

Don't forget to make time for romance at these Most Romantic Spots at Disney World . You'll also want to plan your dining in advance, here's What to Do If You Can't Get a Disney Dining Reservation .

Now, let's dive into each step. If nothing else, be sure to read the section below so you can learn about Disney's Genie service and Lightning Lane.

Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Disney

1. learn about genie and lightning lane.

Let's start with the basics. There are four terms that you need to know:

• Genie : Disney's new feature in the MyDisneyExperience mobile app that personalizes tips and information based on your interests. It is free to use.
• Genie+ : An add-on that allows you access to Lightning Lane at certain attractions. This is paid per person, per day.
• Lightning Lane : The physical lane at which guests can bypass the regular standby line.
• Individual Lightning Lane : The ability to purchase Lightning Lane access to a participating attraction. These attractions are separate from the Genie+ access and do not require purchase into Genie+.

With me so far? Genie+ replaces Disney's former FastPass system. It is an upcharge per person, per day. You can start booking Genie+ Lightning Lane times right at 7am each day that you have made a park pass reservation.

You can only book one Genie+ attraction time slot at a time. Another time slot is available after 120 minutes, or once you've used your current Genie+ attraction time slot, whichever comes first.

Alternatively,  Individual Lightning Lane  is purchased per attraction. This service is limited to the most popular, big-time attractions. Each Disney World theme park currently has two attractions that are part of the Individual Lightning Lane program. The price is per person and you can choose from a variety of time slots.

Once you've used your individual Lightning Lane you cannot book the same attraction on the same day. Head to Disney's official webpage dedicated to Genie+ and Lightning Lane to learn more.

When can I book Genie+ attractions and Individual Lightning Lane?

You can book Disney Genie+ attractions at 7 a.m. 

Individual Lightning Lane attractions (which are an additional cost) can be booked at park opening. Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel can book Individual Lightning Lane attractions at 7:00am, while everyone else is after park opening.

• Genie+ = 7:00am
• Individual Lightning Lane = 7:00am if staying at a Disney hotel, parking opening if not

How do I redeem Genie+ to access Lightning Lane?

Once you’ve experienced the attraction you selected in Genie+ (or the arrival window has passed), you can use the app to check your My Day itinerary or Tip Board to see when you’re eligible to make another selection. You can make selections up to regular park closing.

Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane entrance once per day. You cannot use Genie+ Lightning Lane for the same attraction again on the same day.

2. Get A Disney World Hotel Room

If the idea of using Genie+ sounds good to you and your honey, then consider making your time more magical by booking a Disney World hotel room . Guests of Disney World hotels get three big perks to help them avoid long lines:

• Early booking windows for Individual Lightning Lane attractions start at 7am, while everyone else has to wait until the park opens
• Access to a select Disney World theme park 30 minutes early before park opening, every day
• Guests of Disney Deluxe hotels, and Deluxe Villas (Disney Vacation Club), have exclusive access to extended evening hours on select evenings

Getting into the park just thirty minutes early may not seem that big at first. But, think about it. If you don't have this early entry access you're now going to be behind those that do have early access, and it also means there will be people in line at most attractions before the park officially opens.

This early entry is a great time for resort guests to ride the top-tier attractions that are part of the Individual Lightning Lane upgrade option, without paying the money to bypass the standby line.

For example, at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Individual Lightning Lane attractions are Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Both of these attractions are open during Early Entry. So if you're a resort guest, head to these two attractions as soon as you're let in for Early Entry rather than spending the money on Individual Lightning Lane.

Another huge advantage of staying at a Disney-owned hotel is the extended evening hours. But this is only offered to the top tier of Disney hotels.

Disney Deluxe hotels, and Deluxe Villas (Disney Vacation Club), have exclusive access to extended evening hours on select evenings. Currently, this is only offered at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT (which are the two most popular parks). We've seen lots of guests be able to ride four and five attractions in under an hour during these extended evening hours.

3. Get A Park Pass Reservation

Before you can plan a Disney day together, it's a good idea to secure your spot. To visit a Disney theme park, a reservation is not longer required for all tickets – but certain date-specific tickets do require a park pass reservation. Certain peak days and weekends can book up, so make your Disney Park Pass Reservation as soon as you know you're ready to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Look for Bonus Days

If you want to save time at Walt Disney World, it's best to visit when it isn't busy. A good rule of thumb is if school is in session then Walt Disney World will be quieter.

If you are a Walt Disney World annual passholder you can look for “bonus days.” Booking a Park Pass Reservation during one of these “bonus days” will not count against your given allotment of how many reservations you can hold at one time. These days are also a good indicator that the park will not be that busy.

4. Go Early

Disney favors the early riser. If you want to avoid long lines there's no simpler way than to wake up early and get to the park before it opens. Whether you have access to early entry or not, being at the park entrance before it opens will save you lots of time.

Usually, you can get in 2-3 rides during the first hour of park operation.

5. Ride During Non-Peak Times

If you're just not an early riser, then the next best thing is to ride during non-peak times. These special windows of time are rare, but helpful. Parade time, lunchtime, and fireworks time generally mean shorter lines.

6. Stay Late

This is where being local comes in handy. Or, if you're staying at Disney hotel, it is easy to take a break in the middle of the day so you have more energy to stay late at night.

Many people are not aware that the rides do not shut down at the park's closing time.

As long as you make it into the line before closing, even just one minute before closing, you can ride the ride. This is one of my favorite ways to avoid long lines at Disney. You'll often find wait times are dramatically lower during the last hour of operations (the exception being when there is a special event).

Make the most of that last hour, all the way to the last minute.

7. Splurge on a VIP Tour Guide

If you and your honey are celebrating a special occasion, or maybe you have family or friends in town, there's a splurge at Disney that is totally worth it.

Booking a VIP Tour Guide is the ultimate luxury way to avoid long lines that will save you hours and make your visit as hassle-free as possible.

A Disney VIP Tour Guide can cost a lot of money, and pricing does change based on the season. All Private VIP Tours must be booked for a minimum duration of 7 continuous hours. So the price tag can be quite high. But it is the ultimate Disney service, giving you personalized itineraries as an expert Disney tour guide assists you throughout your time in the park.

Recap: Tips for Using Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane

Let's wrap up with some reminders and tips about the Genie app, the Genie+ upgrade, and Lightning Lane.

• Genie is a free feature from Disney which uses big data to offer personalized planning and tips to save you time
• Go into the app before you head to Walt Disney World and get familiar with it ahead of time
• Make sure anyone going with you is linked to your account
• You can Mobile Order quick-service food in the app, the earlier in the day you do this the more timeslots are available for food pick-up
• Genie+ is an upgrade in the app so you can book Lightning Lane access to select attractions
• You can book one Genie+ Lightning Lane per 120 minutes, starting at park opening, or once you've used your current attraction, whichever comes first
• Individual Lightning Lane is for the most popular rides at Disney World and is separate from the Genie+ upgrade

Tips for Saving Time at Disney World – that have nothing to do with rides

There are other ways to save time besides the rides.

• Use mobile ordering for your food in advance while waiting in line for a ride
• If there are multiple lines, the lines all the way to the left or all the way to the right are usually shorter
• Shop mid-day versus the end of the day when it gets really busy at the front of the park
• If there is a long line at a merchandise shop, briefly look around, usually there are multiple register stations in each shop
• Don't get to a show too early, 10 minutes is usually enough aside from peak holidays
• The restrooms just outside each park's entrance are often less busy
• Familiarize yourself with the layout of each park ( Disney World maps )

8 Travel Companies That Make Seeing The World a Breeze

T here’s something fun about pulling out that luggage to pack the night before a trip, or dusting off that passport to check off another country on a bucket list. Traveling is a great way to unwind and see the world through a new perspective. Sometimes, however, the logistics of getting from here to there is overwhelming. From navigating visas for international destinations to simply managing hotel reservations, flights and ground transfers, it can be a bit much for some people to handle. 

If this sounds familiar, then a tour or travel company is a great solution. These organizations manage all of the booking and logistical details on behalf of their customers. Essentially, travelers only need to show up and bring the necessary documents — often with must-haves like visas or paperwork already managed by the company. 

Whether traveling domestically or abroad, here are 8 popular travel companies to consider. 

Best Travel Companies for International Trips

When traveling abroad, one of the best ways to check off multiple “must-see” spots in one trip is with a tour package. Whether within one country or with pit stops through multiple countries, this can be a great way to see a multitude of places within one itinerary and price. 

Most international tour operators manage tours across several continents and may even offer packages for the US. The biggest concern will be finding a tour operator that offers accommodations to fit the traveler’s style as well as determining group size and if a local guide is provided. 

Perillo Tours

Perillo Tours is probably best known for its advertisements boasting about immersive trips through Italy. However, the company offers a range of options that include Spain, Greece, and Hawaii. Along with pre-set itineraries across Italy, travelers can also request a custom itinerary that’s designed to specifically cater to the needs of the group. 

The company started operating tours in 1945, making them one of the oldest options in Europe. Meanwhile, larger group functions like companies, churches or even clubs can also request custom bookings with Perillo Tours . 

G Adventures

G Adventures is a Toronto-based travel company that offers a variety of trips for both international and US domestic excursions. The organization launched in 1990, making it a fairly established operator. For travelers that don’t want to get stuck in massive group trips, G Adventures is a solid choice . 

The service promises to keep the groups small, with no more than 12 individuals. Key guarantees include local guides, flexibility for solo time , the option to be a single add-on to a tour, and the promise of immersive lodgings that allow participants to “live like a local.” With a wide array of itineraries that are as varied as Antarctica, Japan, and across the US, this is a great go-to for anyone that doesn’t want the hassle of creating their own itinerary. 

Kensington Tours

If money is no object, opting for a private tour will always be preferable to group travel. Kensington Tours boasts access to tours in over 100 countries across the world, and private guided tours if budgets allow. Along with international destinations, the organization also breaks US itineraries further into categories such as the lower 48, the US National Parks with the West, and Alaska. 

Likewise, Kensington Tours also has premium options like a villa experience and voyages which includes river cruises. Key features of a tour with this operator include personalized journeys, local guides, and 24/7 support. 

National Geographic Expeditions

It only makes sense that an organization that’s made a name for itself on immersive historically and geographically accurate media would also be a solid choice for a tour operator. National Geographic Expeditions is the travel arm of the same company that has a magazine and channel with documentaries dedicated to everything from wildlife to history. 

While this is probably a better pick for couples, solo travelers or non familial groups, there are specific upsides to traveling with National Geographic. Not only will guests have access to global tours, but they’ll be joined by scientists, photographers, and historians. Plus, participants can see experts working on NatGeo projects and research. Note that National Geographic’s tours are very popular and the site is currently booking for 2025. 

Best Travel Companies for Domestic Trips

Prefer to stay local for the next trip? Here are 4 travel companies that make domestic travel easier. However, note that in the US, tour operators are often regional given the size of the country. This means that many may only provide tour services for specific parts of the country or even a single city. 

So, when looking for a tour operator, it’s always a good idea to start a search with a visit to the local tourism board’s website for the intended destination(s) to see if there are any approved local operators serving that location. 

Southwest Adventure Tours

Active travelers that want to explore the national parks through the American Southwest will love Southwest Adventure Tours . The organization exclusively focuses on tours throughout the Golden Circle region which is the four corners where Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico meet. This includes Mighty 5 national parks like Zion, and Bryce Canyon. 

Choose from 12 available tour packages with lengths ranging from five to 12 days. Everything from accommodations to national park entrance fees are included in the tour packages. 

Adventures by Disney

Who doesn’t love the mouse and his house? Beyond the parks and cruise ships, Disney actually operates a tour company called Adventures by Disney . Yes, people can absolutely book domestic trips which can include park admission or cruise ship itineraries. But this tour operator also manages international tours. 

What sets Adventures by Disney apart from other operators? How about having Mickey himself driving the tour bus and other costumed characters from shows and movies popping up along the way? Additionally, a tour managed by this company can even include private access to coveted places like the Sistine Chapel. And of course, the white glove service that is renowned by Disney’s hotels, cruises, and parks is also available on its tours. 

Insight Vacations

The US is a big place and that means there’s a lot to explore. It’s unlikely anyone can truly see the country in just one trip, but Insight Vacations offers a wide range of tour options covering popular cities as well as national parks. Likewise, there are even seasonal options such as fall foliage tours for the New England region. 

Note that the operator also offers tours to international destinations. Key features that make Insight Vacations a nice option is that the operator offers “business class” tours. These packages prioritize small groups, only book four and five-star hotels, include top-rated dining, and offer an expert travel director along with insider access. 

Get Your Guide

This final entry is better suited for independent travelers who might need just a bit of help to build out a day or two of their entire itinerary. Get Your Guide is ideal for booking a day trip while already in town. Along with getting great deals, the process is easy and a traveler can book tickets for excursions or local tours with their mobile phone while on the go, or a laptop in their hotel. 

Get Your Guide covers activities around the world, but is great for the US since travelers can filter by city and find activities for same-day entry that are affordable and available. If hanging with a multi-day group tour is unappealing, then this is a smart alternative. 

Which Travel Company is Right for You?

Some people prefer to be hands-off with travel planning and let someone else manage all of the logistics. If this sounds familiar, then most of the tour groups listed above are going to be incredibly appealing. Meanwhile, more independent travelers that simply need to round out an existing itinerary will appreciate the flexibility of a service like Get Your Guide. 

Whichever one a person chooses, always be sure to understand what’s included in the tour fees, that the operator is authorized and accredited to work in the jurisdiction, and what refund or cancellation policies are in place for the “what ifs” of travel. 

Walt Disney World Resort

Ultimate Guide to Baby Care Centers at Walt Disney World Resort 

by Lisa Mendillo , Sr. Manager, Digital Integration

There is nothing quite as wonderful as experiencing the magic of Walt Disney World Resort through even the tiniest of eyes.  

However, when those tiny eyes begin to cry and those little mouths quiver for food, where do you go to keep your little one happy, all while staying in the magic? Three words … Baby Care Centers ! 

Located within each of the four theme parks, the Baby Care Centers give families a dedicated space to take care of all of their baby’s and toddler’s needs in a welcoming, calming environment that really feels like home.  

Once through the doors of the Baby Care Centers, guests will find spacious changing areas, comfortable seating, private nursing rooms (complete with rocking chairs and easy to access outlets), restrooms and TVs continually running Disney classic movies. That’s right, if there is a big brother or sister in tow, even they will enjoy a little down time here. 

In addition to all the essential facilities for diaper changes and feedings, these well thought out Baby Care Centers also offer amenities such as water filter stations, sinks, bottle warmers and microwaves. And let’s not forget the highchairs! 

Did you forget a bib? Perhaps you ran out of diapers? The Baby Care Centers have select essentials available for purchase. And did you know that these facilities are also the only location in the four theme parks where children’s medicines may be purchased? 

The list of services all these centers have to offer goes on and on, but let’s take a moment and allow planDisney panelists Brent and Jennifer S . to show us all they have to offer as they tour all four Baby Care Centers at Disney World. 

Wow, the Baby Care Centers really are so much more than a place to change a diaper! They are also a wonderful place for families to take a break and recharge.  

Whether it’s for a nursing baby or a restless toddler, these facilities give everyone in the party a place to regroup, reset and get ready to delve back into the magic of their Disney vacation! 

Traveling with little ones on your next Walt Disney World vacation and have more planning questions? Look no further than planDisney.com where you can ask your question and receive a personalized answer. You can also follow us on Instagram at  @planDisneyPanel . And be sure to check out more tweens and teens tips on the Walt Disney World website . 

Panelists receive compensation for their participation on planDisney.  

Destinations: Walt Disney World Resort

Topics: planDisney

If at possible could we make the Baby Care Center bigger In Hollywood Studios it’s so small and with how many families that go to Disney this one is about an 1/8 of the other 3 Baby Care Centers.

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‘Student becoming the master’: Disney+ Darth Vader actor Dmitrious Bistrevsky, of Spokane, visits hometown for Lilac City Comicon

Spokane native Dmitrious Bistrevsky, who played Darth Vader in the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series on Disney+, is in Spokane this week making several appearances, including at the Lilac City Comicon on Saturday and Sunday at the Spokane Convention Center.

Darth Dmitrious, as he calls himself, stumbled into the role accidentally. He has a unique background in gymnastics, helped found the Paper Cutout Crew breakdancing group in Spokane, attended circus school, worked with Cirque du Soleil and did stunt work before transitioning into becoming a suit actor. Becoming a suit actor requires being able to communicate emotion using only subtle movements and also requires being in makeup, prosthetics or a suit for hours on hours on end. It creates a sensation of claustrophobia that not everyone can deal with, Bistrevsky said.

“Sometimes you’re glued into a suit for 12, 15, 16 hours a day,” he said. “I played a lot of werewolves, a lot of monsters. I started to get known in L.A. as someone who could wear a suit and someone who could move.”

After becoming aware of a top-secret role involving a character in space who fights with a sword, Bistrevsky was convinced it was for the role of Darth Vader. After multiple auditions, he found out he was right.

“I started training sword right when I heard about it,” he said.

He got the role and spent nearly six months preparing. An old injury had given him a slight limp and he worked with a movement coach to perfect Vader’s walk, a mixture of power and aggression as well as the grace and elegance of a master.

Bistrevsky wore the suit for the limited series “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Another actor voiced the role and his voice was digitally altered to sound like James Earl Jones, the original voice of Vader. Though they worked in separate rooms, Bistrevsky said they were able to work together seamlessly and began to anticipate what the other would do.

“We worked independently on set,” he said. “I would hear him on an earpiece and he could see me on a monitor. It was a really good experience.”

The suit, however, was physically difficult to wear. Back spasms were an issue, as was visibility and mobility. Bistrevsky jokes that he had to use the force to move around when his mask fogged over and he couldn’t see.

“I couldn’t lift my arms over my head or out to the side,” he said. “Literally, the costume was a prison.”

When he hung up the suit, Bistrevsky was convinced he would never play the role again. To psych himself up for the role, he would meditate. But instead of soothing, calming thoughts, he would focus on small incidents or annoyances and work himself into a rage.

“When I played the character, I went to a very dark place,” he said. “I was very method. When I finished the role, I couldn’t stop doing it.”

He took some time off from suit work and worked on getting psychologically healthy again. He’s since learned not to go so deep into a character.

“It took me a year to recover,” he said. “I had a whole master class on my own psychology. I learned a lot about myself.”

Bistrevsky’s journey to suit acting had many detours. He grew up mostly in the Hillyard area, catching crawdads in the Spokane River. After earning his associate degree, he had a carpet cleaning company that held contracts at local movie theaters and other businesses. He accidentally got into teaching gymnastics even though he had no training in it. He taught preschoolers simple movements during the day and trained himself at night.

After leaving Spokane, he went to circus school and learned hand-balancing, among other skills. He attended the training program for Cirque du Soleil until injuries led to his transition to suit acting.

In addition to getting his coveted Papa Joe burger from Zips, Bistrevsky plans to host two community events while he’s in town. On June 5, he’ll teach handstand classes at Spokane Gymnastics Pines, 11712 E. Montgomery Drive, one for beginners from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and another for intermediate and advanced students from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The registration fee is $49. Spokane Gymnastics Pines can be reached at (509) 290-5270.

During the workshops, Bistrevsky will teach a handstand method that he invented.

“This, to me, is the full-circle moment of the student becoming the master,” he said.

On June 3, he will visit Monkey Biz, at 2928 N. Nevada St., from 6 to 9 p.m. to host a game night. Admission is nonperishable food items for a charity food drive. The comic, collectibles and game shop can be reached at (509) 242-3500.

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• Disney's Beach Club Resort
• Disney's Beach Club Villas
• Disney's BoardWalk Inn
• Disney's BoardWalk Villas
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney's Pop Century Resort
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
• Disney's Riviera Resort
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort
• The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
• The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
• The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

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