3 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Walt Disney World Trip
Essential Tips for First Timers
Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was my backyard!
As a kid we went at least once a year, as a teen it became the place we ditched class for (sorry, mom), and as an adult it’s a getaway mixed with nostalgia and the freedom to play like a kid again.
I've been to the Disneyland Resort hundreds of times and know it intimately.
I know how to go with the flow and when to go where no one else is headed. I know how long it takes to get from Space Mountain to Big Thunder Mountain and that if you stay at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa you're never more than 15 minutes away from your room.
Going to Disney World for the first time back in 2014 blew me away! It’s a completely different animal.
Ready to avoid overwhelm and maximize the magic on your Disney World Vacation?
Here are the top 3 things I wish I knew before my first trip:
Walt Disney World is Massive: Plan for Size and Time
Walt Disney World is huge compared to Disneyland!
At over 40 square miles, it's roughly the size of San Francisco.
While the number of rides and experiences is similar to Disneyland, everything is more spread out. Not only that, more people visit Walt Disney World per year than Disneyland. Which means everything takes longer, like the walk from Space Mountain to Big Thunder Mountain.
The fireworks are massive, too! A must-do on your Disney World vacation.
And with the Magic Kingdom being the most visited theme park in the world year after year, at times the lines for not only attractions, but also food and snacks can be longer.
Most surprising of all? Walking from your hotel room to the lobby or resort transportation is so much further than we ever anticipated.
Walt Disney World is a place where you need a longer vacation because things more time to experience than at Disneyland.
Transportation is Part of the Fun: Embrace the Journey
With over 25 Walt Disney World resorts spread out over those 40+ square miles, you might be a few minutes away from one of the theme parks and sometimes several miles with a 20-minute drive to get you where you’re going.
There’s good news for first-time visitors! Disney provides transportation from each of their resorts to the theme parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks.
Depending on where you stay, you’ll have free access to buses, water ferries, the Monorail and Skyliner.
Walt Disney World Skyliner
Traveling around Disney World is an immersive part of the fun and a unique experience unlike anywhere else on the planet.
Important Planning Tip: transportation does NOT go between resorts, so if you plan on visiting another resort, reach out to me for the best tips on how to get there with ease.
Expert Planning is a Game-Changer: Save Time and Stress
Streamline your Disney Vacation planning with free help…
Back in 2014 I had no idea that there was such a thing as Expert Travel Advisors specializing in Disney vacations.
It took me 9 months and countless hours to wade through the Disney World website, blogs, videos, clickbait, and rumors to find what was truly helpful.
Fast forward to 2021 when Disneyland was re-open post-Covid and I was using all that practice to help friends navigate the changes the parks had gone through.
It was so exciting to watch them head off on their trips and have unforgettable vacations just by using the Disney planning tips I gave them.
I realized that a HUGE part of Disney magic for me was knowing other people were going to have not just a good time, but a GREAT time and I decided to make it official – I’m now an Expert Travel Advisor, too.
Ready to share the power of the Force, Magic, & Joy with you!
Best of all?
When you book your Disney World vacation with an Expert Travel Advisor like me, the services are included for free.
They come with your Disney World Vacation! All you have to do is reach out and book your trip with me and all of that time-suck, stress and hassle is cleared away.
✅ Get your own personal go to for your questions.
✅ Get help to making changes to your reservation if needed.
✅ Get help understand theme park technology.
✅ Get support, suggestions and guidance on when and how to make dining and Enchanting Extras reservations
Choosing me as your Expert Travel Advisor specializing in Disney vacations will make your next – or first - trip phenomenal!
What’s your biggest question about visiting Walt Disney World? Let me help in the comments below!
Cathy Weiss is a huge Disney fan and Elite Agent specializing in trips to Disneyland, Disney World, and Aulani - a Disney resort in Hawaii. She has the expert answers you need for a truly magical vacation.
Planning and booking your Disney trip with her is EASY…so you have the BEST time!
Whether you’re booking your first Disney vacation or 100th, having Cathy on your side as your personal go-to - especially as new informaiton and exciting announcements come out all the time - means you’ll have an unforgettable experience! Get started today.