2023 Walt Disney World Planning Guide

If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World in 2023, this planning guide will help keep you organized so you don’t miss any important deadlines!

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be fun and exciting, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful if you don’t understand the latest policies and procedures.  It is important for future park goers to be informed when it comes to purchasing tickets and lodging, making park and dining reservations, and keeping track of important deadlines.

This handy planning guide will keep you up to date with the most recent changes at Walt Disney World in 2023, so nothing sneaks up on you!

For our most up-to-date Walt Disney World Planning Guide, click HERE!

360 Days Out

I like to start planning my vacation a year in advance.  This is mainly because I relish every minute of the planning process.  But this also gives me ample time to hammer out the important details.  Guests who do their research early on will be less stressed, save more money, and see everything they want to on their vacation.

A few perks to booking your Disney vacation early include:

• If you are planning a trip during peak capacity times (Christmas, New Year’s Eve, special events, etc.) the reservation deposit you pay will lock in your reservation.
• Any deals or discounts Disney releases will retroactively be applied to your resort reservation, so you won’t miss out by booking early.
• If you decide to switch to a resort/ticket package further down the road, Disney will adjust your reservation and any necessary deposits. 
• You will have the flexibility to cancel your reservation up to 45 days before your travel dates without any fees.  You will also receive a full refund of your deposit. 

Giving yourself less than 6 months to plan your vacation can cause added stress as options will be limited, but it is still possible to do!

Again, if you don’t have a year to plan – that’s ok!  But starting the planning process early will give you the best chance to research, prepare, and secure your most important reservations. 

When you are 360 days out, you will want to do your research so you can complete the following:

• Choose your travel dates – consider special events and crowd levels that may affect your stay
• Decide how you will get there (drive vs fly)
• Select your resort – decide if you want to stay on-property or at an offsite location such as a nearby hotel or Airbnb
• Buy theme park tickets and make theme park reservations

A great way to do some of this research is directly on the My Disney Experience App, so download it right away and create an account if you do not already have one.  This app will be so handy when you are planning your vacation and when you’re in the parks. 

My Disney Experience links you with everyone in your travel party and allows you to keep track of your park tickets, reservations (resort, dining, and Genie+), Memory Maker photos, theme park maps, park hours, attraction wait times, showtimes and more! 

When you are ready to start the booking process, there are several routes you can go:

• You can book a package directly through Disney on their website or over the phone at (407) 939-5277.
• You can plan and coordinate everything on your own.  However, I only recommend this if you have prior experience planning Walt Disney World vacations.
• You can utilize a travel agent.  An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner will be able to find you the best deals and discounts as they are released – and their service is free!

Check Theme Park Availability

Currently, Disney World requires all guests three and older to have valid theme park tickets as well as theme park reservations to enter the parks.  Guests may reserve one theme park per day.

Before purchasing your theme park tickets, be sure to check the Disney World Park Reservation System to see which parks are available on each of your travel dates.  If you notice several theme parks are not available during your proposed travel dates, you may want to consider changing them.

You can check theme park reservation availability HERE!

Buy Park Tickets

It is wise to buy your park tickets as soon as possible.  First, the prices are regularly increased.  If you buy them early, that price is locked in.  Second, you will need your park tickets purchased before you can make your theme park reservations.  These reservations can sell out early, so it’s best to lock them in as soon as you can. 

There are a few different ways you can purchase theme park tickets:

• Directly through Disney or as part of a Disney vacation package – this is typically the most expensive option
• Through a travel agent or Authorized Disney Vacation Planner – they will find you available discounts and deals
• From an authorized ticket reseller – a great way to save money, however, make sure they are a legit reseller, such as Undercover Tourist or Get Away Today.

Once your theme park tickets are purchased, you can link them to your My Disney Experience account with a code.

Make Theme Park Reservations

As soon as you have your theme park tickets purchased, you will want to make your theme park reservations for your travel party.  You can make your theme park reservations HERE! As I mentioned before, these reservations can sell out quickly, so it’s best to lock them in as soon as possible.

All guests aged three and older are required to have valid theme park tickets and park reservations to enter the parks.

Start Creating Your Itinerary

You’ve taken care of your resort reservation, theme park tickets, and park reservations.  Now is a great time to create a tentative itinerary for each of your park days!

Walt Disney World is MASSIVE, and it’s impossible to see and do everything.  That’s why it really helps to make a must-do list to organize your priorities.  Some things to consider are:

• What attractions and shows are important to you?  Which ones can you maybe skip?  Are there height requirements that will prevent members of your travel party from riding?
• Which characters are important to meet?  You will want to know which characters are available in Walt Disney World, at which park, and during what time of day.
• Are there any can’t-miss dining options you need to book?  It’s important to know these before Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) open as the most popular spots book up FAST!
•  Are there any special events or experiences you want to book?  After-hours events, tours, and dessert parties are just some of the potential add-ons you may consider.

You will more than likely tweak your itinerary several times as you get closer to your trip dates.  Park hours, extended evening hours, and special event dates will be released throughout the coming months and may affect your touring strategy.

Order Your MagicBands

MagicBands are wristbands that are connected to your My Disney Experience account.  They contain all resort and ticketing information, allowing guests to easily enter resort hotel rooms, make purchases, and enter the parks with a quick scan.

Walt Disney World has discontinued offering complimentary MagicBands to resort guests, but guests may still purchase them by adding them to their resort reservations or through shopDisney.com.  MagicBands are not required as part of your Walt Disney World vacation, but they offer convenience that many guests desire. 

MagicBands need to be ordered at least 11 days before your arrival for them to be shipped to your house.  If you miss that deadline, they can be ordered at least 6 days before your arrival for them to be shipped to your resort.

Set Up Disney’s MagicMobile Wallet

Disney’s new MagicMobile feature works a lot like MagicBand, except on your phone.  This free service allows guests to enter the theme parks, connect to Disney PhotoPass, access virtual queues, and make purchases by simply holding their phone near designated access points. 

You can set up a Disney MagicMobile pass in the My Disney Experience app.  Once you choose your style, you can add it to the digital wallet on your eligible smart device.  In the app, you can also create digital passes for other members of your party or link their passes to your device.

This new feature is a great tool for those looking to avoid the added expense of MagicBands, while also enjoying the same perks of convenience. 

60 Days Out

Book Your Advance Dining Reservations

At 60 days before your check-in, you can start booking your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs)!  Booking will be available at 6am EST online, and 7am EST by phone.  I highly recommend booking online to get a jump start, not to mention the website and app and very user friendly.  ADRs are important to book as soon as possible, as they secure your table at some of Disney’s most popular restaurants.

This works a little differently for on-property vs off-property guests.  For guests staying on-property, you can make ADRs for your entire stay (up to 10 days) 60 days from your arrival date.  For off-property guests, you can make your ADRs 60 days out from the specific date you are looking to make a reservation.  This can make it trickier for off-property guests to score some of those extremely popular ADRs, as on-property guests will be able to book later dates of their stay first.

Trip Planning Tip: If you are staying on-site and want to secure a popular ADR during your stay, you will have the best chance of booking towards the end of your stay as those dates are available to a limited number of on-site guests.

You will want to get up bright and early to book your ADRs if you are hoping to get into the most popular signature or character dining experiences.  These reservations go fast!  Get cozy with a cup of coffee, get your website/app pulled up and be ready to go right at 6am EST.  Some of the most popular experiences to book in advance include:

Be Our Guest Restaurant

‘Ohana

Victoria and Albert’s

Le Cellier

Topolino’s Terrace

Oga’s Cantina

California Grill

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Space 220

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

And, of course, anything new!  .

If you don’t score the ADRs you were hoping to, be sure to keep checking the website/app as people will modify and drop reservations quite a bit in the coming weeks as they finalize their travel plans.  This is especially true during the week leading up to your trip. Make sure to keep checking the app!

Check out our favorite Table Service Restaurants in each theme park HERE!

For Tips to Score the BEST Disney Dining Reservations, click HERE!

Complete Online Check-In

At 60 days out, on-property guests are also able to complete their online resort check-in through My Disney Experience.  During this process, you can add any special requests you may have for your stay.  By checking in before arrival, you can skip the front desk and get to the parks that much quicker! 

Your room number will appear on My Disney Experience the day of your arrival as well as a notification when your room is ready.  All you need is a MagicBand or MagicMobile to enter your room!

45 Days Out

At 45 days out, Disney requires full payment of your trip.  While not as exciting as reserving your theme parks and ADRs, it sure feels good to have this step taken care of!

45 days out is also your last chance to modify or cancel your reservations without a penalty fee.

Arrange Transportation

If flights have not yet been booked, now is the time!  If you are flying, you will also need to arrange transportation to Walt Disney World from the airport.

Disney World no longer offers the complimentary Magical Express transportation to and from the airport.  But there are several other options including:

• Mears Connect Shuttle – the original bus operators of Magical Express, but no longer complimentary through Disney
• Sunshine Flyer – bus service comparable to Mears Connect Shuttle, but with a fun train theme
• Rental Car – keep in mind any parking fees in place when choosing this option
• Taxi Service – typically the most expensive ride request option
• Ride-Sharing Service – such as Uber or Lyft, typically cheaper than taxi service

Depending on your transportation choice, you may need to bring a car seat when travelling with little ones.

3 Days Out

Order Memory Maker

At least 3 days before your trip, you will need to decide whether or not to purchase a Memory Maker Package.  Memory Maker refers to the collection of PhotoPass photos that are captured of your group at various locations throughout Walt Disney World as well as on attractions. 

Memory Maker is normally priced at $199, but by purchasing early (AT LEAST 3 DAYS!) you will be eligible for a $30 discount.  Many guests debate whether Memory Maker is worth the hefty $169 price tag.  In my opinion, if you take the time to find PhotoPass photographers and value getting shots of the whole family together – it’s worth it!  We used this service on our last two trips, and I was thrilled with the photos that were captured.

7am First Park Day

Guests planning to utilize the new paid Genie+ service are able to purchase it each day of their vacation as early as 12am.

To get the most out of this service, you will want to book your first attraction reservation as soon as the booking window opens at 7am.  Genie+ reservations can only be made on the same day as your park visit, so if you plan to use this service over several days plan to make your first reservation each morning of your stay. 

Much like the discontinued FastPass system, Genie+ allows guests to skip the line by utilizing a Lightning Lane.  You may book one reservation at a time beginning at 7am, so it’s best to secure the most popular attractions right away before they are all booked!

Some of the most popular Genie+ Passes that go quickly include:

Peter Pan’s Flight (Magic Kingdom)

Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)

Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)

Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios)

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios)

Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)

Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios)

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (EPCOT)

Frozen Ever After (EPCOT)

Test Track (EPCOT)

Navi River Journey (Animal Kingdom)

Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)

Keep in mind, there are a select few attractions that are not included with Genie+.  You may purchase Individual Lightning Lane passes for these rides at different price points.  These attractions include:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)

Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)

Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)

The nice thing about Genie+, is you can add this service at any point during your stay.  If you want to wait and feel out the crowds before committing to the purchase – go for it!  You may also choose to only use it on the busiest park days.  There is a lot of flexibility with the service if you choose to take advantage of it.

Important Date Recap

Well, we covered a decent amount today!  Here is a quick recap of those important travel dates to keep in mind:

60 Days Out

• Advance Dining Reservations
• Complete Online Check-In (On-Property Guests)

45 Days Out

• Full Payment Due to Disney
• Last Chance to Modify Reservations without penalty fee
• Last Chance to Cancel Reservations without penalty fee

Before 11 Days Out

• Order MagicBands to be shipped to your house

Before 6 Days Out

• Order MagicBands to be shipped to your resort

3 Days Out

• Order Memory Maker For $30 Discount

7am First Park Day

• Make High Priority Genie+ Attraction Reservation

I hope this planning guide helps you experience the BEST 2023 Walt Disney World Vacation.  Let me know if you have any questions or comments below.  Happy planning!

Looking for more trip planning articles and guides for Walt Disney World? Check out our favorite money saving hack HERE and our Top 10 Ways to Stay Cool in the Parks HERE!

Don’t forget to check out our packing guide HERE while planning your Walt Disney World vacation!

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