2025 Walt Disney World Planning Guide

If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World in 2025, 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’s important for future park goers to be informed when it comes to purchasing tickets and lodging, handling 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 2025, so nothing sneaks up on you!

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 30 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

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 don’t 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 Lightning Lanes), 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!

Buy Park Tickets

It is wise to buy your park tickets as soon as possible.  Prices are regularly increased each year, so if you buy them early that price is locked in.

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. We have had success with both of these resellers, and often find cheaper deals than what you will find from Disney!

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

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

Start Creating Your Itinerary

You’ve taken care of your resort reservation and theme park tickets.  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’s helpful 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 Lightning Lanes, 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 that are linked 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’re 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! 

Keep in mind, Disney reservations are not just limited to dining. There are also experiences which require guest reservations, and the most popular ones will book quickly. If you are hoping to build a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop or get a princess makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, put these reservations high on your priority list!

Officially, these Enchanting Extras can be booked at 5:45am EST 60 days out. But, we have seen some open early at 12am (such as dessert parties and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique). With no official explanation from Disney, my advice is to keep both time frames on your radar if possible!

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!

30 Days Out

At 30 days out, Disney requires full payment of your trip.  It will feel great to have this step taken care of as the excitement of your trip sets in!

30 days out is also your last chance to modify or cancel your on property lodging 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
• 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 and many provide car seats for an additional charge

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

7 Days Out

Lightning Lane Planning

Effective July 24th, 2024, park guests may purchase and pre-book their Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass selections. Lightning Lanes allow guests to skip the line at popular attractions, much like the discontinued FastPass+ system.

Guests staying on property can make their selections up to 7 days in advance of their arrival for their entire stay (up to 14 days). Off property guests can make their selections up to 3 days in advance.

Guests who purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass are able to make 3 Lightning Lane selections in the park they are visiting. Once the first selection has been used, guests may make additional attraction selections in the My Disney Experience App.

Lightning Lane Planning

At 3 days out, guests staying off property can make their Lightning Lane selections.

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 $210, but by purchasing early (AT LEAST 3 DAYS!) you will be eligible for a $25 discount.  Many guests debate whether Memory Maker is worth the hefty 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 always use this service, and I absolutely love the photos we’ve captured over the years.

Check out our full guide to Memory Maker HERE!

7AM First Park Day

Another thing to keep in mind when planning your park day is what virtual queues are in place at Walt Disney World. Oftentimes, certain attractions are only available to ride by obtaining a spot in a virtual queue or by purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass.

Currently, guests can access virtual queues for the following attractions:

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)

Guests can join a virtual queue at 7am and 1pm the day of their visit. It’s best to shoot for that morning timeframe, as these queues fill up fast. If you don’t secure a spot, you can always try again at 1pm. However, guests must be inside the theme park where the virtual queue will be used to book at 1pm.

Guests who have obtained a spot in a virtual queue will be called to the attraction by boarding group. It’s only possible to hold one attraction virtual queue at a time. However, once the attraction is redeemed, guests may join another virtual queue if one is available.

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)

30 Days Out

• Full payment due to Disney
• Last chance to modify reservations without penalty fee
• Last chance to cancel reservations without penalty fee

11 or More Days Out

• Order MagicBands to be shipped to your house

6 or More Days Out

• Order MagicBands to be shipped to your resort

7 Days Out

• On property guests may purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Attraction selections can be made for entire length of stay (up to 14 days).

3 Days Out

• Off property guests may purchase and make their Lightning Lane selections
• Order Memory Maker for $25 discount

7am First Park Day

• Access virtual queues

I hope this planning guide helps you experience the BEST 2025 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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