5 Steps to a Stress Free Disney Vacation

Let’s talk about a Disney vacation, shall we?

Our trip to Disney World is approaching and I am in planning mode. So, I thought I would share with you, my 5 steps for planning a stress-free Disney World vacation.

Why planning a trip to Disney is important? Because planning a trip to Disney can be overwhelming. You don’t want to miss a thing. You want to take it all in (lots of Mickey ice cream bars too!), you want to jump on every ride and take all pictures possible, all at the same time. Not to mention, that you have to pack all the fun into a 3-day trip with kids onboard. I get it. Just thinking about it, stresses me out too!

5 tips for a stress free Disney vacation

The truth is, there’s only so much you can do. And if you don’t plan, you will miss everything altogether because of that stress.

1. Book a Room at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

Whenever possible, book a room at a Walt Disney World Resort. You’ll be glad you did.

There are 31 resorts to choose from. From campgrounds to deluxe villas, there are options for every taste and budget. Book well in advance to get the best possible rate.

Stress free Disney Resort vacation planning
Stress free Disney Resort vacation planning photo via Walt Disney World

Booking a room at a Disney World Resort is liberating! Not only you get the Disney treatment from the get-go, but the minute you walk in any of the resorts, you enter their magical world and you forget about the ‘outside world’. From airport shuttles, to free transportation to the parks, what’s not to love?. Take a bus, take a boat, take the monorail. The fun begins even before entering the parks!

Check out all the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort Hotel

2. Sign Up for a Disney World Online Account

Go ahead and add another online account to your long list. If you want stress free Disney, I recommend you sign up for a Disney World online account, for free.

5 Tips for a stress free Disney resort vacation planning

Having an account on the Disney World website allows you to plan and see, not only your resort reservations but all the perks that come with it. You can see your entire itinerary (more on that later), link your Disney passes and much more!

Sign up for a free Disney World account

3. Link Your Reservation

Whether you book your room directly on the Walt Disney World website or through a different hotel booking platform, make sure to link your reservation to your Disney account. Once you do that, you can even check in online!

5 Steps to a stress free Disney vacation
5 Steps to a stress free Disney vacation photo via Walt Disney World

Heads up! If you book through a different platform, the confirmation number might not match. Call Walt Disney World and they will give you the right confirmation number for your reservation to link to your account. Been there, done that!

Learn more about Online Check-In

4. Customize and Order Your Magic Bands

The best invention since sliced bread are the Magic Bands. Seriously! That is stress-free Disney in all its glory.

Link your reservation and unlock your bedroom door, link your park tickets, link your credit card, link your fast passes. Link everything and you can walk around Disney parks and its surroundings like a boss.

5 Tips for planning a stress free Disney Resort vacation

Once you link your reservation, go ahead and customize and order your magic bands!

You can choose your color, have your name (or nickname) printed in it AND they will ship it to your home for free!. If you don’t order them online, you will still have them waiting for you at the hotel’s front desk, although they would be color gray.

Check out the ‘magic’ of the Magic Bands

5. Make an Itinerary: Dining, Fastpass+ and More!

This is the best part of all. And here is where the stress-free Disney World vacation really starts!

Whether you use Disney World’s desktop site or their mobile app, you can plan your trip by the hour – literally!- and that means you are not wasting time trying to figure out what to do, where to eat, etc.

5 Steps for planning a stress free Disney World resort vacation
5 Steps for planning a stress free Disney World resort vacation photo via Walt Disney World

I suggest you download the app, sign in with your Disney account, link your ticket and get crackin’!

Plan out each day by making dining reservations, booking your Fastpass+ for some attractions (you can do this 30 days in advance, as long as you have a ticket), adding personal notes like: ‘Meet at the Monorail Station at 7:00 p.m.’ – and much more. All in the app!

You can add your family and friends to your plans, and as long as they have an account too, they can see the plans you’ve made, on their app (or desktop site) too. Everyone is on the same page!

Check out all the benefits of My Disney Experience app

Learn more about Fastpass+

My Advice To You

By following the 5 steps above, I can assure you a stress-free Disney vacation and experience. With a plan, not only you can choose in advance what to do (and even what to eat!) but you will probably find time to spare for other little things. All because you are not wasting time wandering and wondering.

My advice to you is, concentrate on what’s important to you and plan around your family needs. My family likes big brunch and then head out to the parks and skip lunch – just a snack, and there’s plenty to choose from 🙂 – Then, we return to our hotel, we rest, take showers and then head out to have dinner, go for a walk, etc.

If you are a big planner like me, you might want to check out my free daily to do list and planner!

Planning to go to Disney in the future? Pin the image below, read later!

5 tips for a stress free Disney vacation

What is your best advice when planning a trip to Disney?

Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post, and I will NOT receive any commission for sales made through the links provided. We paid for our Disney vacation package and tickets to the parks. All the information shared on this post is my personal opinion and advice to you when booking a Disney vacation. Some pictures and links provided, direct you to the Walt Disney World website only as a reference.