9 Things You Have to Book in Advance for Disney World Vacations
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023
For some trips you can just grab your suitcase and go, but if you want to get the most out of your Walt Disney World vacation, you're better off planning ahead. Read on for some of the things that tend to fill up before you arrive at the park.
A trip to Disney
Going to Disney is always an adventure. However, sometimes planning in advance allows you to have the most fun. Before you go, make sure you know what to book in advance so you can skip the lines and make the most of your trip. This is the truth behind 12 Disney Park rumors.
FastPass+
FastPass+ lets you and your family reserve access to rides and attractions—including It’s a Small World, Space Mountain, the Tomorrowland Speedway, and more—30 days in advance of your Disney World vacations. Best of all, if you stay at one of the resorts in the park, you can make plans 60 days in advance with no extra charge. Three FastPass+ reservations per day are included in the price of your ticket. Then, when you’re at the park, you’ll have fewer lines to wait in and get to go on more rides.
Character meet and greets
At Walt Disney World, you can pick your character and make a plan to meet them by rides or buildings that are related to the character’s story, perfect for photo ops. Think Belle in Epcot’s France, Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay, and Ariel in her grotto. These can be booked via FastPass+. Find out more insider secrets for the best Disney World vacations.
Character meals
Take the star-struck moment one step further and dine with a character at restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table in Fantasyland or Chef Mickey’s buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Both of these events cost $35 to $60 per person and can be booked 180 days out from your trip.
Holiday events
Disney World hosts a variety of special events, from Halloween and Christmas parties to a Star Wars-themed party. With everything from costumes to fireworks, you won’t want to miss these holiday parties, which start at $90 per person. These are generally available for booking as soon as they’re announced.
Backstage tours
Disney World offers impressive behind-the-scenes tours of the parks. Lasting seven hours (and costing $275 per person), these full-day events include Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour, Disney’s Family Magic Tour, and more. On these special tours, you can visit the costuming area to meet with real designers, enter secret underground service tunnels, and learn about how Walt Disney brought the park to life. Most tours can be booked 90 days in advance of any Disney World vacations.
Imagineer dinners
Sure, there are lots of fun places to eat in the park. But true Disney lovers can dine with an Imagineer at the Mediterranean, wood-paneled Citricos restaurant in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. You’ll find yourself in a small group, eating a four-course dinner and asking questions about the work. All dining options can be booked 180 days in advance for the length of Disney World vacations. Check out this list of our favorite new places to eat at the park.
Dessert with a spectacular view
Hate standing in a crowd looking up at the sky? Sign up for one of the park’s fireworks dessert parties—held at Tomorrowland Terrace—and you can watch the show from the comfort of your own seats. For $79 per adult and $47 per child, you’ll get a buffet of sweets and sweet non-alcoholic beverages (cocoa, cider, lemonade, coffee, and tea) and a chance to see the show light up the sky over Cinderella’s Castle.
Dinner shows
At Disney’s Polynesian Resort, you’ll find the Spirit of Aloha dinner show. The luau-style event costs $66 to $78 for adults and $39 to $46 for kids, depending on seating. You’ll see hula and fire-knife performers and see traditional South Pacific dancers, from Tahiti to Samoa and Tonga. These are the discontinued Disney rides we wish would come back.
The princess treatment
In the Magic Kingdom, you’ll find the unforgettable Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Here, kids ages 3–12 can get a full princess makeover, complete with hair and make-up applied by a Fairy Godmother-in-Training. The hair package starts at $74.95 per child; the knight package (designed for boys) starts at $20. Makeovers can be booked up to 180 days in advance. Next, don’t miss these secrets Disney employees won’t tell you.
