Your 2025-2026 Disney World Trip
- Nov 9, 2025
- 7 min read
Your 2025-2026 Disney Vacation
Current Information to know about Disney World
Or you could stand on line in the traditional way, for free. Use the Disney app to see the wait times.
Your Disney World Trip
Top 10 Facts To Know Before You Go
Here are some things you should know before your plan your trip:
1. Make sure you have the My Disney Experience App. You will use this app for almost everything for your entire trip. You can:
• Make all sorts of reservations: lodging, park reservations, dining, Lightning Lane, etc.
• Scan into the parks, by linking your ticket and tapping your phone
• See wait times for attractions
• Get your photos from PhotoPass
• Shop in the store and pay in the app
• Open your Disney Resort room
• Order food at quick serve places
• See park hours
• Know which attractions are temporarily closed or under refurbishment. Remember, the weather can be a reason why an attraction is temporarily closed
• Try to get on a virtual queue for an attraction
• See your schedule for the day. Once you make a reservation, it shows up under My Plans
• Play Disney Parks while you're on line for an attraction
• Change your payment method on your account
• You can even chat with a representative
• Link Magic Bands and tickets to your account
• Enter your parking space
Not bad for an app.
2. Don't rely 100% on the mobile app.
You may need to log into the browser website with a laptop or desktop computer to purchase a ticket or link a family or friend to your experience. You will need to link people if you want to make reservations for people in your party. Your overall account username and password will get you into most Disney sites: Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club.
3. Staying on Property
If the only thing you are going to do is go to Disney attractions, staying on Disney property, which seems more expensive at first, is the best option. Why? Read on...
• You technically do not need any transportation when you are on property. There are buses, monorails, ferries and skyliners to get you where you need to go. You can always take a car service to Universal :) If you are off property and you do not have a car, you will have to rent one, pay for gas, pay for parking (or a resort fee) and pay for tolls to take it to and from the airport.
• If you do bring a car (your own or rented), you currently do not have to pay to park at the resort. You currently do not have to pay for parking at the theme parks if you are an annual passholder. If you have theme tickets and you are staying at the resort, check about parking at the theme parks or take the Disney Transportation. If you do pay for parking, it's for the whole day even if you park hop. But if you have your own car and you are off property, you most likely will have to pay for parking (unless you are a vacation owner [timeshare] or you are using a vacation rental). Even so, we go back to the other tip: paying for gas, tolls, parking at the parks, etc.
• You can use the Disney dining plan. You can pay for meals in advance, which may be a good thing if you have been to Disney many times before and you know how you usually take your meals. Also, if you are on the Disney Dining Plan, you will have paid for them in advance. The plan includes some meals, beverages and snacks. The app, the signs and the menus are very clear about what is included and what is not included.
• It is more convenient to get to the parks as soon as they open and to stay as late as you want without worrying about driving back to the hotel. Once again, take the buses, which start running about 45 minutes to an hour before the parks open, including the early bonus hours that vary. Check the app. Some resorts have the bonus hours and it may not be the same theme park every day.
• Currently, there are no hidden fees, such as resort fees or a charge to take a shuttle to the resorts. Disney is very clear about what they charge: the invoice has everything spelled out and identified, down to the last tax penny.
• The same health and safety precautions that are at the parks are in place at the resort. Currently, masks are not mandatory but feel free to wear yours if you want. Also, the same standards for cleanliness and security is throughout the resort. Hotel franchises are owned by individuals. If you stay off property, it may be a brand that you normally trust, but the owner of the one near Disney may not be up to those standards. It has happened to us more than once. We voiced our complaints to the customer service email of the main office, but honestly, it is difficult for them to monitor all of the hotels they franchise. Also, a hotel owner can change franchises if they want. What was once a Choice hotel can become a Hilton. And they can move within the levels: a moderate or high end hotel can change and become the lowest franchise level. Not good.
• Your account will be charged with the credit card on your account. Unless there is an issue, checking in and out is totally on the app. You can link your account to your hotel keycard or your Magic Band and use it to charge items to your room account. Once again, there will be no surprises and you can look at the app and monitor your account.
• If needed: You can book a park reservation for every day that you stay on property or for the length of your ticket. Currently, people who are staying at a Disney hotel with theme park tickets are guaranteed entry. But annual passholders, whether you are staying on property or not, should always check about availability to go, especially for Magic Kingdom or any of the parks during very heavily crowded days. When in doubt, make a reservation. See below.
4. Park reservations:
You may not need a reservation to enter a park. Check the app for the current informatin regarding park-hopping and what time you can go to the second park. If you are a passholder, check about the possible need for a park reservation.
5. Attractions and Entertainment:
Some lines for attractions are extremely long, but they may get shorter later in the day. Use the app to see wait times to get a feel for the day. If the weather is nice, enjoy your resort and get to the park later. Go to the shows and parades. Waiting for a Magic Kingdom parade will take some time. Someone can watch the space while othere go get a snack. And Disney's Hollywood Studios has two great shows that are a good way to kill some time: Indiana Jones Stunt Show and Beauty and the Beast. But if you do wait on the line (queue) for an attraction, charge up your phone and use the Play Disney app to pass the time. We load books onto our phones, other listen to music. Tips: see the Magic Kingdom Parade from Frontierland instead of Main Street. It may be less crowded. Bring a portable charger for your phone. Bring headphones.
6. Epcot:
Remember that the Epcot festivals are popular. It may be cooler in the evenings but it may also be more crowded. The Epcot rides sometimes have shorter wait times in the middle of the day because people are at the other parks. When in doubt, try to book Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy, Test Track and Frozen Forever. However, keep an eye on the app for Soarin' and Spaceship Earth. The line may move faster than you think. Never even think about paying for Living With the Land, Gran Fiesta Tour, Journey into Imagination with Figment or The Seas with Nemo. It's worth it to check the app and then head over there when the wait time is tolerable.
7. Park Hopping:
You are not limited to one second park. You can try to get to them all. Be our guest (pun intended). But save Disney's Animal Kingdom for another day. You can actually get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot easily: they share a monorail. And once you're in Epcot, head to the International gateway between the France and UK Pavilions and go to Hollywood Studios, either by walking, taking the boat or the skyliner.
8. Health Procotols:
Health protocols have been suspended for now, but feel free to wear a face mask when and wherever you want. Some people wear them on enclosed transportation or indoors.
Protocols can change. The My Disney Experience App will send you a notification. Always check the Disney website or app before you go out.
9. Security:
Getting through security is easier. Take out your umbrella, metal eyeglass case, metal compact mirror, second phone, camera batteries or anything else that might set off the scanner, hold it straight out and walk right through the metal detector. They will only look into your bag if the beeper goes off. You will learn quickly which items might be the culprit.
10. Dining:
Order your quick serve food on the app. You might still need a reservation for fine dining, but almost everything else is on the app (except the carts and the Epcot festival kiosks). You can pre-schedule the time and then click, "I'm here, prepare my food" when you're ready. The NYC Traveler Tip for Your Trip: check for a walk up time for fine dining on the app for last minute tables that might be available.
Always check the app or website for the latest information and have fun on your Disney World Trip.
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
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