What to book before a family holiday to Walt Disney World
As a number of my friends are in Walt Disney World holiday-booking mode, here’s a quick guide to what can be booked as part of your holiday after booking flights and hotel:
Up to 180 days before:
*Make advanced dining reservations
After booking a hotel and tickets, it is important to set up a My Disney Experience account and link it with your booking. When your booking is linked to your account, you can make Disney dining reservations 180 days before your arrival date for the duration of your stay (up to 10 days). We book practically all our breakfasts, lunches and dinners (see picture from Be Our Guest dinner below) at the 180-day mark, as well as any dining event we plan to attend, such as a dessert party like Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace.
*Book princess, pirate and mermaid makeovers
There are a number of experiences that can also be booked at the 180-day mark. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique–the princess and knight makeover salons in Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa–have from 2019 started taking online bookings, making this easy to manage at the 180-day mark too. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom opens at 8am and the experience takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour, which means it can be a good option for early-risers who want to be in the park before park opening (on days the park opens at 9am). As an alternative to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, it is now also possible to reserve slots online for mermaid and pirate makeover experiences at The Pirates League in Magic Kingdom and hair cuts at Harmony Barber Shop in Magic Kingdom.
*Book Star Wars experiences
Star Wars fans should note that it is now possible to book slots for the lightsaber making at Savi’s Workshop and droid construction at the Droid Depot (see photo below by Matt Stroshane) in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition, bookings are open for Oga’s Cantina in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Star Wars-themed bar and snacks venue offering a 45-minute experience per party.
*Book tours and events
If you consider going on a special Disney tour, such as a backstage tour, booking a private VIP tour, or attending an event, such as an Early Morning Magic event or Disney After Hour event, these can also be booked from the 180-day mark. At times, event dates may be released nearer the time of your trip date, and this could make it worth checking in now and then if there were to be something special you’re after. Families with young children might be particularly interested in Early Morning Magic in Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom or Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios.
*Book sports activities
A number of outdoors activities can be booked at the 180-day mark, including horse riding, carriage rides and archery.
Up to 90 days before:
*Make FastPass+ reservations if you’re staying in club-level and paying for the enhancement package
After booking a club-level room at a Walt Disney World resort offering club-level benefits, you currently have the option to pay for a Walt Disney World club-level enhancement package, which now costs an additional $50 per day per guest for a minimum of three days. This is a pilot programme that is subject to change, according to posts on Disney Parks Moms Panel, but the enhancement package now lets guests make up to six FastPass+ selections (to reduce your queue time for some rides or attractions) in multiple parks per day. This is instead of the three FastPass+ selections all ticketholders can make per day in one park a day. FastPass+ tiers do not apply to the club-level 90-day out bookings, but you cannot book the same ride more than once in the same day.
*Book golf tee times if you’re staying at a Walt Disney World resort
There are four golf courses in Walt Disney World, and tee times can be booked up to 90 days in advance for guests staying in a Walt Disney World resort – or 60 days in advance for guests staying off property. One option for keen golfers travelling with their family to Walt Disney World would be to play 9-holes at sunrise or sunset, and the sunrise package includes a breakfast sandwich and your choice of coffee, orange juice or water, and the sunset package includes a hot dog, beer or soft drink.
Up to 60 days before:
*Make FastPass+ reservations if you’re staying at a Walt Disney World resort
In your My Disney Experience account, FastPass+ selections (to reduce your queue time for some rides or attractions )can be made up to 60 days in advance if you’re staying in a Walt Disney World resort hotel. All ticketholders can pre-book up to three FastPass+ reservations per day in a single park. Remember to book park tickets before this date, as you need to have park tickets to make FastPass+ reservations. Read my tips on making FastPass+ selections.
*Book certain sports activities
Some activities can be booked nearer your arrival time, including private surf sessions. Disney offers surfing at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, and it is possible to book surf lessons, as well as private surf sessions that are bookable up to 60 days in advance. You can also look out for golf lessons and tennis lessons if you want to include sports activities as part of your Walt Disney World holiday.
*Book golf tee times if you’re staying off property
Up to 30 days before:
*Make FastPass+ reservations if you’re staying off property
FastPass+ selections to reduce your queue time for some rides or attractions can be made up to 30 days in advance if you’re staying off property. All ticket holders can pre-book up to three FastPass+ reservations per day in a single park. Remember to book park tickets before this date, as you need to have park tickets to make FastPass+ reservations.
Read my tips on making FastPass+ selection.
Any time during the holiday planning process:
*Book a stroller
Walt Disney World is huge, and our plans usually include a lot of walking, which can be too tiring for young children. To make it an enjoyable holiday for all, we rent a double stroller and whizz around the parks. There are strollers to rent in the parks, but these have to be returned to a stroller location before leaving the theme park, which is not ideal for families who need a stroller to get back to the hotel too. The other option is to rent a stroller from a third-party provider, delivering to resort hotels. We will now be booking through ScooterBug—the recently-announced Disney Featured Provider for resort guests (To use an international credit card, bookings can be made via the phone, but not online). When renting a stroller from ScooterBug we will not have to be present when it is delivered to the hotel and returned to the company, meaning we can have it waiting for us when we arrive and return it to the bell desk at check-out. When booking with other third-party providers (new policy from 2019), customers now have to arrange the time to meet the representative to manage the delivery and return of the stroller. If you’re bringing your own stroller, it is also worth noting that the Walt Disney World policies on stroller size also changed in 2019.
*Customise MagicBands
If you’re staying in a Walt Disney World resort hotel, you can choose a complimentary MagicBand wristband–your digital room key, park ticket and card–and customise it with your name or pay extra for a premium Magic Band any time after making your resort booking. Your last opportunity for customising your MagicBand is 6 days before your arrival, but if you forget you will simply receive complimentary grey MagicBands.
(*Tennis: There are tennis courts at a number of the Walt Disney World hotels, but tennis courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and you would only need to book lessons in advance.)
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