Ways to Add Magic to Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Magic is in the air at Walt Disney World, this is a known fact. But, there are ways to add magic to your Walt Disney World vacation. Whether it is your first trip or your fortieth trip to Walt Disney World, there is always some magic to be had! You can add magic to your Walt Disney World vacation in practical ways, and in ways that are a splurge! Let’s dive into ways to add magic to your Walt Disney World vacation!

Walt Disney World can be overwhelming. Arriving at your themed Walt Disney World resort, making your way down Main Street to see Cinderella, and grabbing those virtual queues for some popular attractions can be overwhelming! The excitement, logistics, and being prepared for a perfect day in the Walt Disney World theme parks can take away some of the magic! But, there are ways to add magic to your Disney vacation without feeling overwhelmed!

Stay at an onsite Walt Disney World Resort.

There are some great off site options, yes. And they are “close” and convenient. But, there is nothing like the theming and magic of an onsite Walt Disney World resort. Where else can you stay immersed in the islands of Hawaii? Or fall asleep in a resort room with twinkling headboards? Not only is the theming magical, but so are the ease and logistics of getting to and from the theme parks. Booking a stay at an onsite Walt Dsiney Wrold resort adds tons of magic right away to your Walt Disney World vacation.

Whether your budget allows for a theme park view at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, a fun themed suite at Disney’s Art of Animation, or a basic room a Disney’s Pop Century Resort, there are tons of options. All of the Walt Disney World resorts offer amenities and access to the theme parks to fit your family’s needs and budget. Sometimes, staying at a Value Resort offers you the option to splurge on something amazing in the theme parks! Or, maybe you want to stay Club Level at a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort and take advantage of the close proximity to the theme parks. No matter your budget or expectations for your Disney resort, there is a magical place to stay on Disney property.

Pack an epic theme park bag for your day in the parks.

The most popular bag to use in the theme parks is a backpack. But, you can become a pack mule quickly as a parent. So, pack your bag with care! You want essentials, but you do not want to overpack. My favorite items to include in my theme park bag are:

• Travel size bottle of sunscreen
• Dry snacks-no fruit snacks or anything that can get gross in the heat
• A portable phone charger AND a charging cord
• A small wallet with my ID and a credit card
• Hand sanitizer and / or wipes
• Band aids
• Reusable water bottle

I like to organize these items in smaller Ziplocs if possible, to keep it organized. Plus, the Ziplocs come in handy if we have wet clothes or need to separate something in our bag.

Know how to use and update your My Disney Experience App.

My Disney Experience is a key tool to a great, magical day in the theme parks. My favorite features of My Dsiney Experience are:

• Checking wait times for attractions
• Mobile ordering quick service meals and snacks
• Checking my Disney MemoryMaker photos
• Knowing where to find my favorite characters

While it is really important to know how to utilize Disney Genie+ and that is also a huge part of My Disney Experience, there are so many more functions to it than that. Download the app, and play around with it in the weeks leading to your trip so you can find tings easily.

Splurge on an exclusive Walt Disney World event during your trip.

Tickets to After Hours, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, or other “hard ticket” events are a great way to splurge on your Disney trip. They do add cost to your vacation. However, I am a big advocate of hard ticket events at Disney. If I am there during a hard ticket event that does not occur year round, I am going to go! Visiting Walt Disney World during the holidays or when they offer After Hours parties is unique, and may not be a yearly event for your family. so taking advantage of those can add extra magic to your Walt Disney World vacation.

Booking a fireworks dessert party, a dinner show, or a backstage tour can also add magic to your Walt Disney World vacation. Some of these-especially some of the backstage tours-can be budget friendly and FUN for your family. They create memories that last forever.

Create a fun countdown for your trip.

Counting down to your Walt Disney World vacation makes it even more magical! You can get so crafty with a fun Disney vacation countdown. Or, there are lots of digital ways to countdown on your phone or device. To countdown to your trip, watch a new Disney movie each weekend. Or, have a fun Disney themed dinner based on your favorite attraction. Another fun way is to read a fun Disney fact each day leading up to your trip! So many fun ways to countdown to your Disney vacation!

These are some of my favorite ways to add magic to your Walt Disney World vacation. What can you add to the list?

More Helpful Walt Disney World Planning Posts:

Best Disney Vacation Countdown Ideas

Disney’s Deluxe Resorts

Best Snacks Under $8 at Walt Disney World

Using Disney’s MemoryMaker