It's no secret that a Walt Disney World trip requires a great deal of research, planning, and booking various elements before you even pack a suitcase. So I've put together this handy Walt Disney World Countdown Checklist.
It highlights everything you need to book as you reach various milestones. As well as helping you stay organised in the run up to your trip, and will ensure you've secured your reservations in preparation for having fun in the parks.
12 -18 months before
1. Research
Arguably, one of the most important parts of your countdown. Research will help you decide when to visit, and where to stay. Whether this is onsite at a Disney Resort, offsite, or a combination of the two.
If staying onsite, you'll also need to consider which resort will suit your travelling party. As well as checking out any deals Disney historically offer throughout the year, and which of these you'd like to take advantage of. Including, free Disney dining, complimentary nights stays etc.
Travel options and Disney ticket deals are other areas to research. Therefore, I recommend beginning this process as early as possible to ensure you secure the ideal package to suit you.
For more information on the various options to consider, plus links to some of the most useful planning websites, check out my Booking & Planning pages:
2. Reserve your Hotel/Package
If you choose to stay at a Disney Resort, you can reserve your package via the Walt Disney World website for a deposit of just £200. This secures the price and any offers which are running at the time of booking. Again, I recommend doing this as soon as you've decided which accommodation and offers suit you best.
Alternatively, travel agents can do this on your behalf. With the added bonus of many companies also having the ability to secure flights.
3. Book your Hire Car
Over the past few years, we've noticed hire car prices hike quite significantly, even more so as the trip draws closer. Therefore, I would also suggest researching prices and reserving a car as early as possible.
If you're unsure whether this will ultimately result in the best deal, you can choose to pay on collection. This gives you the option to cancel the booking if you find a lower price in the meantime.
4. Take out a Travel Insurance policy
Once you begin paying for various parts of your holiday, it makes sense to cover yourself by taking out a travel insurance policy.
This can be done through your travel agent, or alternatively, you may find better deals from independent insurance companies.
Anyone travelling from outside the US will need to ensure the policy covers USA travel, as this can sometimes cost more than a standard policy.
6 - 12 months to go
1. Create a MyDisneyExperience account
If you haven't already done so in order to book your holiday, you'll need to create a MyDisneyExperience account.
This is done via the Walt Disney World website, and will enable you to link your tickets, as well as make dining reservations when the time comes.
2. Continually check prices of/book flights
The optimum time to book flights is a bit of a lottery, with prices continually fluctuating. Holiday companies with their own airline are able to offer flights in advance of the usual 11 months prior, when many other airlines release their seats. However, this often means inflated prices from the holiday companies during this time.
Some airlines offer seats at sale prices during certain dates. Whereas others will only discount theirs as the flight date nears. Alternatively, the cheapest seats are released at 11 months, with prices increasing from then on.
Therefore, I suggest intermittently checking flight prices, particularly as more airlines begin releasing seats, and book when you feel its the optimum time for you.
3 - 6 months prior to arrival
1. Begin buying Disney merchandise and other holiday produce
Keep an eye out for offers and sales on various items you'll use while at Disney World. These make ideal gifts for any special occasions which fall within this time.
New Disney themed pyjamas, t-shirts and swim towels are always well received in our house for Christmas and birthdays.
Glo-sticks, notebooks, pens and Disney pins make great stocking fillers.
2. Check all travel documents are valid
Give yourself plenty of time for renewal by ensuring all Passports, driving licenses and other forms of ID will be valid during your travel dates.
3. Buy Park Tickets
If your package doesn't include park tickets, you'll need to buy these before you can make Advanced Park Reservations. Then they'll need linking to your MyDisneyExperience account.
There are a number of websites offering a variety of ticket packages. So, again, there's some more research to be done here.
Although we have always booked ours as part of a package - either through a Travel Agent or directly with Disney, we have ordered Universal Tickets from the Florida Tix website. Other popular sites include Attractions Tickets Direct and Undercover Tourist.
75 days to go
1. Choose your park days & make Advanced Park Reservations
Pre-Covid times, Walt Disney World released park hours 180 days in advance. That has now been reduced to just 75 days.
Another change is the requirement for guests to make Advanced Park Reservations at the park they wish to visit on any particular day.
Guests with a hopper ticket, are permitted to change to a different park after 2pm. However, you'll need to devise some sort of itinerary for your trip, which includes choosing the parks you wish to visit on each day, and any table service restaurants you'd like to dine at.
Then, as soon as Advanced Dining Reservations open up 60 days before your trip, you're ready to start booking.
Although it's not necessary to make Advanced Park Reservations this far in advance, you might as well secure some, then alter them nearer the time if your plans change. During busy times, Advanced Park Reservations have been known to book up completely, so its better to secure these as soon as possible.
For guidance on how to choose the least crowded parks, including using crowd calendars, taking in to account Extended Evening Hours and Special events, check out these pages dedicated to the task by clicking on the image:
60 days to go
1. Book Advanced Dining Reservations
If you wish to eat at particular Table Service Restaurants during your time at Walt Disney World, securing an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) is highly recommended.
By not doing so, you risk being turned away in favour of those who hold a reservation, and such practice is becoming increasingly common at a number of restaurants.
Although Dining Reservations open up for everyone 60 days in advance, one benefit to staying on-site is that Disney Resort Guests can secure up to 10 days worth at this point. Whereas, those staying off-site are required to make their reservations on a day-by-day basis. This means some of the most popular restaurants are booked up by Disney Resort Guests at the 60 day mark.
For more guidance on Advanced Dining Reservations, plus how to increase your chances of securing a table at the most popular restaurants, see my ADR pages:
2. Book special packages
Reservations for special events such as tours, firework and parade viewing packages, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeovers, and many others, tend to also open up at the 60 day mark. We've sometimes known there to be slight delay. For example, when booking the Fantasmic! Dining Package, therefore, you may need to keep checking back for a few days if you discover they are not released at 60 days.
3. Check in at your Disney Resort
On-site Guests can now check-in online at their Disney Resort, via the MyDisneyExperience account.
This significantly speeds up the process when you arrive at your resort as you'll already have provided a whole host of information required. And in some cases you'll be able to by-pass the front desk completely.
30 days before the start of your trip
1. Book Memory Maker
Memory Maker is Disney's Photograph package. This includes unlimited digital photos taken by designated Cast Members around the parks and various dining locations, plus all ride photos (where applicable) and even some special effect magic shots.
As it's $30 cheaper to purchase in advance ($169 compared to $199), I recommend doing so if you're planning to use the service. However, don't leave it too late as any photos taken within 3 days of purchase will not be included.
2. Check and keep checking park hours
Disney World will sometimes change park hours slightly according to expected crowd levels. So it's worth checking these at regular intervals from this point.
If you've secured a pre-rope drop advanced dining reservation in the hope of getting ahead of the rope drop crowd, you'll want to ensure it remains so. Disney suddenly deciding to open the park an hour earlier, might mean your reservation creates more of a hindrance than a help.
Within the final 4 weeks
1. Pre-Register with your Hire Car Company
A real time saver when collecting your hire car is to pre-register your details prior to arrival at the airport. This means you can go straight to the parking garage to pick up your car, rather then queuing at the desk.
2. Apply for an ESTA
Anyone crossing a border to enter the US must apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), and pay the current $14 fee.
This is done by visiting the ESTA section of the US Department of Homeland Security website.
You'll need some information including:
- Passport number
- Travel dates
- Address of where you'll be staying on your first night in the US
Most applications are accepted or rejected immediately. Although sometimes you may need to wait a couple of days for your application to be processed, so don't leave it until the last minute.
3. Check, check and check again
During this time, and also during your actual trip, keep checking for any adjustments in park hours and modify your plans accordingly.
It's also worth searching for any Dining Reservations which may not have been available at 60 days. Many guests will cancel or switch their reservations as their own plans change, so you may be able to pick up a previously unavailable booking.
During your trip
1. Relax and have fun!
You've done all the hard work, now it's time to enjoy yourself and have a magical time!
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