So You’ve Never Been to Walt Disney World

A first timer’s quick guide.

In its heyday (think pre-pandemic), Disney Parks globally welcomed more than 155 million visitors in a year. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (“WDW”) alone, as the planet’s most visited theme park, welcomed nearly 21 million guests in 2019! While that is a significant number of people, there are still tons of people that have never been to any Disney park.

Whether you are contemplating your very first trip, or your first trip since you were small, there is a ton of information out there and it can be a bit overwhelming. And if it wasn’t difficult enough, Disney changes things often, so even the information that is out there can become stale quickly. But have no fear! Leisure Mouse has your back with this quick and dirty guide to WDW! This post isn’t meant to be the “end all, be all” of first-timer info, but as an overview of WDW and basic lay of the lands, it is a great place to start.

What is WDW, really?

Most people know what WDW is, at least from a pop culture point of reference. However, when you say “Walt Disney World”, you are actually referring to the Disney theme parks and resort facilities located in the Disney controlled municipalities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, Florida. That includes 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a number of golf courses, an outdoor shopping center and more than 25 resort hotels. The main draw, of course, are the 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, with much of the other destinations and amenities in the area there to serve the guests that flock to central Florida to visit one (or all) of these parks. For that reason, when most folks refer to “Walt Disney World”, they are more or less talking about the theme parks.

All of that for a bunch of theme parks?

In short…yes! From the second Walt Disney first imagined the concept, the once swampy land we know as WDW was destined for big things. Walt had intended “The Florida Project”, as it was called internally during planning, to be a playground for innovation in urban development and escapism. While not all of Walt’s grand plans were ultimately realized, the result is a quite impressive entertainment destination covering 39 square miles and offering nearly everything a kid (or kid at heart) could desire.

What can you do at WDW?

Really, almost anything. The theme parks offer rides, attractions, shows, food, life-size characters and an array of special events, road races and festivals throughout the year. However, the theme parks are just part of the experience. The resorts that surround the parks, which include both nightly rentals and vacation ownership (similar to a timeshare), are also themed and house all the creature comforts one would expect from a vacation resort: spas, movie nights, special activities, highly acclaimed restaurants, lavish pool decks and stocked gift shops. Some resorts even include things you wouldn’t expect… like animals you would normally only see at the zoo wandering around outside your room!

What can you expect at the theme parks?

Walt Disney wanted park guests to feel like they had left the real world behind, and these parks do a great job of taking you somewhere else. Each theme park at WDW is unique and has its own personality, or theme. The theming indoctrinates the guest into whatever environment is on display in an immersive way, through music, sound, smells and illusions. Cast members (the name for an employee of Disney), lighting and the park’s design each do their part to block out the outside word and focus the guests on having a good time. This is so masterfully done that most guests don’t even realize it’s happening.

Each park has 4 main categories of things to do: rides, attractions (non-ride), shows and food.

Rides: Rides in WDW are tame by some standards but next level by others. For instance, you won’t find a ton of true rollercoaster-style “thrill rides” (though there are one or two at each park), but you will find rides that push the envelope with regard to innovation (think animatronics you would swear were real people or trackless ride systems). Guests access each ride through a standard “stand-by line” (a regular line) or via “Lightning Lane” (aka, a “skip the regular line” line). The Lightning Lane requires an additional purchase for access. Check out this blog post for more on that.

Attractions: Attractions are those crowd pleasers that do not require that the guest get into a vehicle or augmented reality experience. This can mean short videos, mini-shows or curated pathways through sections of the park. Each park has a few and, since these generally don’t have “lines”, they are easy to do as the guest comes across them rather than planning them into the day. (Note: Disney calls both rides and attractions “attractions”. We separate them because one usually involves a line, while the other does not.)

Shows: There are a variety of performances throughout the parks. Shows can be abbreviated/reworked versions of Disney movies (like the Frozen sing-along), individual performers, Broadway style tours, parades/cavalcades, character meet-n-greets or even fireworks. Schedules are usually available ahead of time, which makes planning easier.

Food: From walk up counters to sit down venues, budget friendly or high-brow, each park has an assortment of themed dining to accompany the ambiance of the theme park itself. Most locations allow for walk-up reservations, but as with many things related to WDW, it is often better to plan in advance to guaranty a spot at specific restaurants. In the past, Disney had optional Dining Plans available, which included various types of dining. However, Dining Plans are currently suspended, so not an option for now. Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance.

(Want to know more about a specific park? Take a look at our other “So You’ve Never” series focused on individual parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom. - Coming Soon.)

Where do you start with planning?

Planning a trip to WDW is somewhat like planning a trip to new city in a different country. This is because many of the things you’d expect to work the same way totally do. However, other things are just different enough that they can take you by surprise if you don’t prepare for them. While you don’t need a passport or visa to go to WDW, there are MANY different factors that CAN go into planning. To keep it simple, stick to the following:

1.     What do you want to do?

 Everyone goes to WDW for different reasons, so it is important to understand what you are looking to do with this trip. Are you going “for the kids” or is this a solo/couple trip? Are you looking for the largest number of experiences? The lowest cost? Traveling for certain celebrations, festivals or during certain holidays require different factors of planning. Once you know what you want to do, you can focus your planning and research.

2.     Where will you stay?

Many times the answer to this question will be directly related to the previous question. However, the depth and breadth of theming and experiences for a particular resort can be enough of a draw to warrant its own vacation.

The first question should be: “On” or “Off” property, meaning at one of the Disney resorts or partner resorts (on property), or somewhere near-by that is not a Disney resort (off property). “On property” has its benefits, including access to the parks earlier/later, free transportation, and an uninterrupted Disney experience. “Off property” also has its benefits, mostly related to budget. What is most important to you?

 If you choose to stay “On property”, the next question will be what category resort you prefer. The categories are “value”, “moderate”, “deluxe” or “other”. These category designations generally refer to price, but also can relate to theming and ambiance. The “value” resorts have a 3 star feel to them (though upgraded by a dose of Disney magic), while the “deluxe” resorts fall more in the 4.5 star range. “Deluxe” resorts usually also have monumental lobby’s and more ornate décor. For the most part, regardless of where you stay “on property”, you receive the same benefits. However, Disney has started offering some perks to only “deluxe” resort guests. So, that may be the sign of further stratification to come.

If you choose “off property”, it generally means no additional perks at the parks, though some nearby hotels do have limited benefits through Disney’s “Good Neighbor” relationships. Individual resorts may include transportation, but most mean you are on our own to get to the park and get home.

3.     What are your “musts”?

There is a LOT to do at WDW. Even if you went every day for a month, it is unlikely that you could do all of the things available. It is important to pick a few “must do” attractions or events and prioritize those. It is advisable to come up with this list prior to arriving at WDW, because on site, it can be easy to get swept up in the energy and rush of excitement and try to do too much. Sure, there are quasi-professional Disney parks guests that have every move researched and tested in order to maximize their ability to do the most things and, while there is nothing wrong with being that park guest, it can also be a great way to run yourself ragged on what is supposed to be your vacation. So, if you like to ride rides, do that. If you like to eat food, do that. Whatever you do, prioritize the “fun” part, and the experience will be one of a lifetime.

4.     How much time do you have to plan?

As we have mentioned a few times, there is a LOT at WDW, which means there is a lot to do with regard to planning. If you like to be an active participant in the planning process, then you are going to have a blast. If planning, or the time it takes to plan, is something you aren’t able to do, let someone else do it for you. There are a multitude of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners, or experts at planning Disney vacations, that can do the work for you. Disney gives them a cut to book your vacation…and it doesn’t cost you an extra dime. So, if you have the time, start diving into the research and enjoy the puzzle that is Disney planning. If you don’t have the time, or desire, find a Disney travel agent (or reach out to us for a few recommendations).

Where is the magic?

Before we go there, it is important to understand what you are getting into, here. WDW is crowded. It is full of screaming children and adults who act like children. You will likely get up too early and stay up too late. You’ll spend more money than you wanted, and then you’ll spend even more. If that isn’t enough, the properties are massive, and you will walk and walk until you cannot take another step and you’ll go home more tired than when you arrived. We mention this because, it is the reality of a WDW vacation, but also because, in spite of all of these subjectively negative realities, you may find yourself surprisingly ok with it all.

Why? Magic is everywhere you look. Whether you go with your family, your partner or by yourself, WDW was literally created to make everyone in your party smile. The details around every turn, the music piping through the speakers, the smells wafting on the breeze…they all create a magical experience that is just waiting to be explored. So do your best to relax, take a deep breath and go along for the ride.

Want more information? Check out our other “So You’ve Never” blogs or drop your questions in the comments.