5 Things You Need To Do Before Arriving At Your Disney Resort

Irene Vane
Oct 23
3 min read

Updated: Oct 25

Heading to Disney? Here is a step-by-step checklist of 5 things you should do before arriving at your resort. Be sure to save this so you can be prepared and organized for a great vacation!

Castle with blue spires under a cloudy sky, surrounded by lush gardens and ornate fences. People in the distance enjoy the sunny day.

Create a My Disney Experience Account.

Create a My Disney Experience account and download the mobile app. Through this account you will:

Link your resort reservation
Connect with family and friends traveling with you
View attractions, height requirements and wait times
Purchase Lightning Lane passes
View restaurants and menus
Make dining reservations and complete online ordering
See bus times
Get maps and walking directions
Complete online check in

Get comfortable with this app prior to your trip. Make a list of your "must do" attractions. Check out restaurants and begin to think about which ones are the best fit for your travel party.

Mark important dates on your calendar.

If you are a resort guest, 60 days prior to your check-in date you can begin booking dining reservations.
7 days prior to your stay, you can book Lightning Lanes passes.
If booking a resort package, the final payment will be due 30 days prior to check-in.

Colorful "Toy Story Mania!" entrance sign with checkered pattern. Text reads "Lightning Lane: 8:58" and "Stand-by Entrance Wait Time: 30 Minutes."

Review the Disney park calendar

Review the Disney park calendar. Make note of the opening and closing times of each park, extended evening hours, parades, and night show times. This will help you determine which park you would like to be at each day.

Check the weather for your stay.

Are you visiting during a hot or rainy season? Make sure you have everything you need to make the most of your stay. Below is a table that shows what you can expect during each month. As you get closer to your stay, be sure to check the weather app as well.

Month	Avg High / Low (°F)	Rain	Crowds	Notes
January	71 / 49	Low	Low	Cool mornings, mild days
February	74 / 52	Low	Moderate	Warming up, great for outdoor days
March	78 / 56	Moderate	High (Spring Break)	More crowded, comfortable temps
April	83 / 60	Low	High	Warm, less rain, busy
May	88 / 66	Moderate	Moderate	Hotter, humid starts
June	90 / 72	High	High	Rainy afternoons, start of summer heat
July	92 / 74	High	High	Hottest month, humid, storms likely
August	92 / 74	High	Moderate	Similar to July, fewer crowds late in month
September	89 / 73	High	Low	Still hot, hurricane season
October	84 / 66	Moderate	Moderate-High	Pleasant weather, Halloween events
November	78 / 58	Low	Moderate-High	Cooler, start of holiday crowds
December	73 / 52	Low	High (Christmas)	Cool, festive, crowded later in month

Prepare to travel the parks.

Disney World requires a lot of walking. You'll want to make sure you have comfortable walking shoes. If anyone in your party has mobility issues, consider renting a scooter. ScooterBug will drop off a scooter right at your resort. Don't underestimate the need for a stroller, even for older kids. ScooterBug also rents strollers. Alternatively, strollers can be rented at each park, either daily or for the length of your stay through Disney.

Work with a Disney Vacation Planner.

Most Disney Vacation Planners do not charge any extra for their services and can help you with all of the steps to prepare for your vacation, as well as provide personalized recommendations. Many will even book your dining reservations for you if you like. Another benefit of working with a Disney vacation planner is having someone who can price monitor your trip. Disney often releases new offers, and if a new offer becomes available that can lower the cost of your trip, most will apply the offer for you automatically, saving you money. If you have booked your trip within the past 30 days, you may be able to transfer the booking to a Disney Vacation Planner.

Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and I would love to help you plan a vacation that meets your needs and budget! My planning services are free, and I price monitor, saving you time and money! Request a no-obligation quote here.

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