(I wish I could take the credit for that awesome title, alas, I found it right on the Walt Disney World website. Which means even they know it’s super, and are totally owning it. You go, Disney.)
Here’s the thing. My mother taught me to always measure twice, cut once. Which I’m sure was her fancy way of saying Why don’t you try planning a little, Lena. But come on, mom, where’s the fun in that? It’s much cooler to leap in with both feet.
Except, then I became a mother, and I realized what she was trying to tell me all along – life’s a lot easier when you plan ahead. And this notion can be applied to almost anything, whether it’s planning dinner for the week, planning the car pool rotation, or planning your family vacation.
Especially when planning your family vacation.
You may have heard that a Walt Disney World family getaway requires planning skills akin to Martha Stewart circa 1990. And yes, while it’s important to make the most of your time together – especially when you’re visiting somewhere as magical as Disney Parks – the feedback I’ve received time and time again is that it can be *slightly* overwhelming.
The resort. The theme parks. The meal plan. The extras.
So, where do you begin? With MyMagic+.
MyMagic+ gives you unprecedented control of your vacation and makes it easier than ever to enjoy time with the people who you care about the most. Listen up folks, because I’m about to change the way you think about planning a Walt Disney World vacay. Consider this your magical tutorial.
First, go on and book your trip! Figure out your travel dates, the resort hotel you’d like to stay at (check out my review of the Art of Animation if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option) and buy your park tickets. You know, the standard stuff that makes up a Disney vacay. Then, take your Walt Disney World vacation to an all-new level, making it uniquely yours.
Step 1: Create a My Disney Experience account. I consider this command central; the place where you’ll view day-by-day plans, review your hotel reservations, make your FastPass+ selections and dining reservations, and write reminder notes.
Once you’ve created your account, you’ll want to connect to everyone in your travel group by adding them to your Family & Friends list. Then, link your tickets and reservations to your account. Et voila! You now have a virtual planner at your disposal to organize everything Disney. (You can also have the magic at your fingertips with the free mobile app.)
Step 2: Personalize your MagicBands. MagicBands are secure all-in-one devices that allow you to effortlessly access the plans and vacation choices that you’ve made with My Disney Experience. During your Walt Disney World vacation, simply touch your MagicBand to a sensor called a touch point, and you’ll be able to:
Unlock the door of your Disney Resort hotel room.
Enter theme and water parks (with valid admission).
Check in at FastPass+ entrances.
Connect Disney PhotoPass images to your account.
Charge food and merchandise purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room.
Huzzah! They’re pretty much the circle of awesome. And the icing on the cake? You can personalize your MagicBand to make it unique to you – I ordered a pink one, of course!
Step 3: Reserve your FastPass+ Experiences. That’s right – you can now reserve FastPass admission to rides from the comfort of your home, and it’s absolutely free! It’s like the biggest win ever. Everyone knows that there are must-do attractions for every family when visiting Walt Disney World, and now you can feel confident knowing that some of your favourite attractions and entertainment are all set.
If your plans change, you can update your FastPass+ selections on the go! And when you get to the attraction, simply check in at the FastPass+ entrance within your scheduled time frame, touch your MagicBand to the touch point, and you’re in!
So, meet you at Toy Story Midway Mania?
(Tip: FastPass+ service includes select character greetings, shows, parades and fireworks. You can choose your FastPass+ experiences up to 30 days in advance of each day of your theme park visit. If you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can make your FastPass+ selections up to 60 days prior to check-in for the entire length of your stay.)
Step 4: View your itinerary. My Disney Experience makes it easy to stay on top of your vacation – even before you leave home – with a handy daily organizer that displays everything from your FastPass+ selections to your character dining reservations. Like I said, virtual planner. It’s extremely handy, even as a mobile app, and serves as a visual reminder for those items you need to check off your list to make your Walt Disney World vacation the best ever.
Did I mention that MyMagic+ is absolutely FREE when you book your Walt Disney World vacation? Its true! MagicBands are provided free to Walt Disney World Resort hotels guests and Annual Passholders. (Although, if you’re looking for a little extra magic, the basic MagicBand can be upgraded to a customized band, such as a Princess band, for a small additional fee.)
So, you know I’m visiting the most magical place on earth in exactly two weeks, right? Well then, you should know that I absolutely took advantage of MyMagic+! From linking our resort hotel (the majestic Contemporary Resort) to creating the most epic FastPass+ schedule ever (must-do attraction followed by must-do attraction!) I am ready to visit Walt Disney World in the way my mom intended.
Except, instead of measuring twice and cutting once, I plan on doing Star Tours twice and having a Dole Whip once.
Oh, who am I kidding. I’m having a Dole Whip twice.
What a simple app to set up…love it!
Thanks for all the tips Lena…
I can’t wait to plan our next Disney trip, it has been too long since we were last there. Hopefully we will be able to make it back for a visit soon :)
OMG! We’re heading to Disney in March. We’ve been before but I did not know you could reserve FastPasses! How did I not know this? Thanks!
Thanks for the helpful tips! Have a wonderful time at the most magical place on earth.
I haven’t been to Disneyland since the 70’s yup time to go with the Grand kids. It will be some much more easier now with Magic Bands.
I cannot wait to take my kids one day :)
Helpful App I didn’t know about Thank you
Awesome were going in march cant wait thanks for the tips
oh wow love it. I have not been in a long time but plan to take the boys when they’re older :) Thanks for the tips
I am so excited to try the bands ! We are trying to save to go this year !
That sounds like a great idea! I am huge planner when it comes to vacations and activities. If we ever went to Disney, I would definitely use this service to help plan.
What a great idea, I have just emailed my daughter a link to your blog as she is going to Disney with her family in a few weeks!
I think this service is great, if I ever get to go to Disney, I would use it.
It sounds so simple! Once the kids are old enough to really enjoy going there, I plan to take them. I’ve never been so it’ll be a first for all of us. :)
I can’t wait to take a trip like this! Thx for the website! :D
love the idea of how to work to get the most out of a visit.
Really wonderful tips! Thanks!
I think this is great.
Wow you did an awesome write up here, such an awesome app. sure makes things a whole lot easier!!
Sounds like a wonderful app. I would love to have a family vacation there with the grandchildren. It is on my bucket list. Have not been there since my kids were young.
This sounds amazing. I wonder when they are going to have this at Disneyland? I live on the west coast so Disneyland is my go-to resort. We’re going next October!
My husband and I cannot wait to take our daughters there when they gets a little bit older. My parents always wanted to take us but it never happened so it will mean that much more to go there with my kids :) such an awesome service
This sounds like a great app. Hopefully, we will get to Disney someday.
I have to make notes on these tip for when we and if we go !!
great idea for the bracelets
Wow, this is such great information. I hope one day I can take my kids to disney and I will for sure use this site
What a great app, if I ever get the chance to visit Disneyland again I would certainly use it!
All I can say is that Disney keeps coming up with new inventions, like the awesome bracelets, for all generations to come. They really are inspiring!! The APP is priceless!! Thank you for the post :)
Thank you for all the amazing tips.
Thank you for the great tips! Cant wait to go to disney :D
It seems easy enough to use, thanks for sharing.
I’ve been to Disney twice, once as a kid and once as an adult, and let me tell you I enjoyed them both equally, as an adult it brought back out my inner child.
MyMagic+ sounds like a great new feature! I would love to go to Disney this year to see how they do it up for Christmas, but we will have to see how the budget plays out!
This sounds like a neat feature. I want to take my kids there some day. Thanks for the tips.
I would love to go to Disney again . One trip is not enough to see and do everything.
As a first time mommy to be I am super excited about this giftpack! Baby is kicking also.. he must be excited too
This is terrific! Thanks so much. Easy and great.
What an awesome feature. This app will be well received by all who know about it. Wish I had known about it some 20 years ago.
went to disney in fl with my mom in the 80’s. was nice, now they have so many different themes, and so much more, but gotten so expensive…disney is one of the few places that have no or very rarely have discounts…according to clark howard. would love to go again…
Thanks for the great ideas!
Wow! There is so much value there, I can’t believe it’s all no charge. What a bonus, having all your plans in one neat place, everyone attending can see, and those bracelets. WOW! Very, very nice.
I can’t believe that all that is happening. When we went I had to organize everything. How wonderful.
The Magic Bands sound amazing I havent been to Disney in almost 10 years!
Thanks so much for all of the very helpful tips!
Well, it looks like you have done all the hard work and made many people’s vacation all that much easier.
Definitely valuable information for anyone planning a trip .. and best of all, it is free! thanks!
This all would be soo much fun!!
the service is amazing!
Thank you for sharing your tips and the steps.
That’s fantastic! great idea
Helpful App I didn’t know about BUT it will be very useful
Great tips
Such amazing information and the app sounds just amazing YES your mom was right its easier to plan I had to ALSO start to do that when I had kids and to this day I still have to with a special needs son it makes life so much easier..Thank you for all the information
I love the fact you can personalize your bracelets and organize your budget and add your whole party can be added so everyone is on the same page!
great tips i want to plan a trip there next year
Great tips. Thanks for sharing!
I swear you know all the ins and outs of travelling to Disneyworld!
Great information and the magic bands may get you through fast but it seems like cheating and it’s another way for Disney to make even more money
Thanks for all the tips one day we hope to take the grandkids !
My niece enjoyed your tips she going next week with the boys !