My four-page Walt Disney World Cheat Sheet–an example page is to the right–includes a number of this site’s famous charts and graphs. It’s updated to reflect FastPass+.
In total, the cheat sheet provides the key stuff you need for planning your 2014 first family visit to Walt Disney World.
Click here to open it as a PDF–it’s 1.47 MB, so might take a bit.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
Hi Dave. You’re information is AMAZING!! I’ll be traveling to WDW to celebrate my son’s 5th birthday from 05/16/14-05/21/14. We don’t arrive until 7pm so I don’t want to use theme park ticket since we only have passes for 5 days. I was planning on a late dinner at Downtown Disney but not so sure with all the construction that is going on. Also, I tried ADR for some of the restaurants and they’re all booked for the times that I want. What are the chances of calling 24 hrs before to see if we can get a reservation in case of last minute cancellations or must everything be done through My Disney Experience? This will be my son and husband’s first time and I just feel so stressed planning everything when I should be looking foward to this vacation. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Reply
Hi Pang and thanks!!
First, if the ADRs you aren’t getting are for DTD, try calling the restaurants directly. Some restaurant there release only some of their inventory to Disney for ADRs. For ADRs elsewhere, I;d keep trying. People cancel trips and dining all the time–including, as you note, the day before…
Second, it might be easiest all around if you take your arrival night off, or use it to go to a fireworks show–e.g. at MK (open til 11 the 16th, with the evening parade at 9 and 11, and fireworks at 10) or Epcot (open til 11 for WDW hotel guests, 9 for everyone else, and fireworks at 9) Adding a 6th day to your ticket only costs $10.65/person, and will allow you an evening off later on your visit when you will really need it…
Reply
Dave – I just found your site. Great information. Well we are flying in from Colorado the week of Easter. It is what it is at this point. I just found that it is one of the busiest times of the year. I can’t change it now, and that’s what we have going on for our vacation. We are staying off property close to Downtown Disney. I have found a lot of useful information about planning way ahead and going during different times of the year – but what kind of survival tips, crowd tips, fast pass tips do you have for the parks going during the busy times? Just trying to find the best way to survive. I have a lot of reservations for dinner confirmed and activities. We are going with another family and both kids are 3 years old. Should be fun, but crowds won’t be fun. Also, we won’t be the earliest of risers as the two hour time difference makes it a little tricky with young ones. Although trust me – he should have no problem rocking the 10pm or even later fireworks. Any survival advice you have – I would appreciate it. I went last year at the end of April with my 2/12 year old and we did just fine, but — it wasn’t Easter. And crowds seemed “average”. A little nervous about going at this time now.
Reply
Frank, I don’t have any great answers for you. Being off-site, and not getting there before open, blows the two best ways to beat the crowds that week (morning extra magic hours and booking FastPass+ ahead of time.)
However, some off-site guests are being picked for FastPass+ pre-booking. To be eligible, you need to create a My Disney Experience account, link up your tickets, and link up at least one dining reservation–ideally for the first day of your visit. Do all this and you may get an email inviting you to book FastPass+ ahead of time, beginning the date of your first dining reservation…
Reply
Hi Dave- I just found your site and love it! Thanks so much for all of the information. Can you comment on if you think free dining will be offered in September? We have always went in sept due to the low crowds and have been lucky to get the free dining.
Also, totally unrelated subject. Do you have any insight on how to become a Disney travel agent and which ones are the best companies to work for? This trip in sept will be our fourth trip to disneyworld and it looks like a lot of the travel sites require a minimum of five visits. Thanks so much for your help. You rock!
Reply
Laura, first thank!!, second on the travel agents front I have no idea sorry! My guess is that there will be free dining in the first half of September.
Reply
Hi! My husband and I are looking to book Oct 17-22 which I believe is a good time to go. Would like to stay at AoA do you have any info on the bus situation? Tips for quick travel or if anyone has complaints about the bus schedule/service to and from the park. We are bringing our 18 month old daughter and just looking for any tips about that age group. Also years past the free dining has been offered.. any idea if you think this deal will come up for the fall?? Thanks!
Reply
Hi Shannon, AofA and Pop Century have the best bus service among the value resorts. All my stuff is for kids 8 and up, so I don’t really have much to say about an 18-month old–sorry! Free dining has been offered these dates as a tool for recovering after the recession. I am on the record as predicting that we won’t see it in October 2014–but of course hope I am wrong!
Reply
Hello! I just want to say that I love your website, it is such a huge help for a micro manager like me ;P. My question is this: We are florida residents planning on buying the Weekday Annual Pass and are planning on going to WDW the week of October 5 -10 2014. My plan was to arrive at the resort ( Art of Animation) and hit the parks on the weekdays. We will be traveling with our 2 daughters 7 and 6. The 7 year old is turning 8 years old on October 7, so we will be celebrating that in Disney. Do you recommend us going to Magic Kingdom on Monday or is that too busy for those dates. I would love any recommendations you have. We are planning on buying the Disney Dining Plan but I guess its too early for the promotions to be announced. Is that a good week for us to go and what days should we hit each park?
Thanks so much!
EH
Reply
Hi Ercilia and thanks!! That is a good week, but I won;t be able to give you any specific advice until Disney’s October calendar comes out, which it will later this month. So check back in a couple of weeks, OK?
Reply
Hi Dave-
Your site has been so helpful in planning our first trip to Disney! Our trip is booked for October 22-27 which I think is one of the top 10 weeks to go in 2014. My children will be 2.5 and 4.5 at the time and we were planning on doing the MK for 2 days, Epcot for 1 and AK for 1. Is that too ambitious? if so, what park would you leave out? Also, what days do you recommend visiting what park?
Just read on your site about the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Any idea when dates would come out for this event? Trying to decide whether it would be worth it.
Thank you!
Reply
Hi Taryn and thanks!!
At those ages there’s little at Epcot. I’d spend 2 days at MK, a half day at AK, and reserve your 4th day for off/return to one of these two/or a half day at HS.
I’ll have a good forecast for the October party dates when the October calendar comes out, which it will in a couple of weeks. See also this for my current forecast: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/02/11/halloween-2014-at-walt-disney-world/
The actual dates may not be out til this summer…
Reply
Hello!
My boyfriend and I (no kids) are going from April 28 – May 3rd. He is a Disney expert, but we are both new to the new pass system and we are also hoping to use the dining plan this time around.
We are staying at Fort Wilderness. How do we go about booking the dining plan? Also, he wants to go to Kona and Artist Point. I know if we get the dining plan, those two restaurants will take up two nights. Is it worth it otherwise for two adults?
And how far in advance do we need to book pass rides?
Any help is appreciated.
Reply
Hi Scotta and Eric! You book the dining plan when you book at Fort Wilderness.
But I can’t advise it–since Artist Point is a two credit meal, you will likely save by paying cash for your meals instead of dining plan credits.
You can book your FastPass+ starting 60 days before arrival. I’ve had good luck booking FP+ even the night before, but it can’t possibly hurt to do it earlier. You tickets need to be linked to your FW reservation to so so. For mor eon FP+, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/08/20/what-you-need-to-know-now-about-fastpass/
Reply
Hi, Dave! Love your site and all the info here. Planning our very first trip-myself, husband, and almost 4yo son-april 28-may 6. Decided after much research no DDP, not worth it for us, even tho planning many character meals. Right now my planning questions revolve around how to plan for and what to FP for each park? Not
overlyconcerned with
ding everything, more excited for characters, seeing the parks, parades, fireworks,etc.
Reply
Marisa, all my stuff is for much older kids. See this: http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/
Reply
Hey Dave! So I’m a bit confused= our anniversary trip will be March 30-April4 2014. Will this be a decent time to have booked? This time we won’t have children or grandchildren to run around with and wondering what would be a not-to-miss experience or two? We do have the 5hr tour booked about learning about Disney “behind the scene”. Thank you for any suggestions and thank you for the site!
Reply
Hi Ess–it’s not a horrible time, but not a good time either…not sure what you mean about “not to miss”…there’s so much…the Richard petty driving experience? the hot air balloon in Downtown Disney?
Reply
hello, my 13yr old son and myself want to go May 10th week. I will take him out of school for about one week. THis is a good wk to go? right? and where should we stay? We went once in 2008 and stayed outside of the park. I want a middle of the road hotel in the park. And meal plans?? let me know what u think.
Reply
Hi Sara! Yes it’s a good week–see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/10/15/may-2014-at-walt-disney-world/ For where to stay, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/ The dining plan is unlikely to save you money, so I’d skip it…
Reply
HI Dave!
I am planning a trip 2/28-3/10 with my 3 1/2 and 6 1/2 year old. We have 5 day base passes, we are planning to do one day at each of the parks and 2 days at MK. My question is which days are best at which parks? I was thinking
Sun Mar 2-AK
Tues Mar 4-MK
Thursday Mar 6th-Epcot
Fri Mar 7th-MK
Sun Mar 9th-HS
Does this sound like good days of the weeks at those parks? so many sites disagree on which days will be better during this week. Thanks so much for your help!
Reply
Hi Robyn!! Two things:
–I think you have picked great days to visit the parks on your list.
–But I’m not keen on the parks on your list–at the ages of your kids, I’d spend more time at MK, and none at Epcot. If you are staying at a Disney hotel, you can do Thursday at MK instead of Epcot–just arrive early for the extra magic hours…If you aren’t, then do your third MK day on Weds as well, and take Thursday off…
Reply
Hi Dave, can you help me decide which week to go in the fall. We want to go when crowds are low and temps are comfortable (70ish). The 4 dates I’ve narrowed down are Oct 25-Nov 1, Nov 15-22, Nov 29-Dec 6, and Dec 13-20. My concern with arriving Nov 29th is the Thanksgiving crowds, and the week of the 6th will be Pop Warner, so I’m leaning towards arriving Oct 25th or Dec 13th. My kids will be 12 and 8, and it’s our first trip to Disney as a family. We will most likely stay at Pop Century due to budget (I wish I could stay at Wilderness or Polynesian, sigh). I’ve seen your suggestion re AoA but I’m afraid my children might find it ‘babyish’. My husband is also 6’3, would one of the other Value hotels be better suited for him than Pop? Ultimately, we are hoping to book at a time that free dining was offered in the past so that we can upgrade. Any advice will be much appreciated, thank you!!!
Reply
Hi Kelly!
First all the value resort standard rooms have full-size beds, so your husband will stick out off the bed wherever you stay, if a standard value room. The master bed at the value resort family suites is a queen, as are both beds at three of the 5 moderates–but those may be outside your price range. Got you on Art of Animation. Moreover, the standard rooms there are rarely discounted. So I think Pop Century is the best choice, and that you’ll see a room rate discount there for most of your date options.
The week of December 13 sees much higher hotel prices than any of your other options. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/07/11/walt-disney-world-2014-price-seasons/
I hope I’m wrong, but do doubt we’ll see free dining any of your dates.
I wouldn’t worry about either Nov 29th–as the rest of the week will be so good–or too much about Pop Warner. But given all your thoughts, it’s really hard not to focus on November 15…low crowds, low prices, most of the Xmas program, no Pop Warner, no Thanksgiving crowds until the 22nd…
For more, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/10/15/2014-weeks-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-order/
Reply
Hi there. We are starting very early to plan a trip to Disney World in December 2014. Likely leaving on Friday the fifth and staying four nights. When is typically the best time to Book the Disney resort hotels for this time in December. Three months ahead, Six months ahead? I see some specials For the spring right now but none that go into December at this point.
Reply
Jeff, the specials don’t matter–if one comes out, you can try to get it, and if successful, cancel your existing reservation. Your dates are popular with seasoned travelers, so the Disney hotels tend to book up early those dates. So I’d book as soon as possible.
Reply
If staying on the Disney property stay at pop century it is there lower budget but well worth the money
Reply
Trying to plan a visit for late Jul this year. When so you think the “deals” for summer vacations will be released?
Reply
Todd, Disney recently has been releasing new deals shortly after the current set expires. What’s out now expires 3/31, so I’d expect some time in early April.
Reply
We are planning to visit Walt Disney World the first week of December arriving on the 3rd and I was hoping the holiday D-Lights tour would be available that evening. Do you know what evenings it ran in the past? I am just trying to see if I can get an idea of how often this tour was offered last year. Any help you can give me will be appreciated. Thanks for your time and PS I love the site!
Reply
Sorry, Elizabeth, I don’t track that! I’ve seen on the web M-T-W the first three weeks after Thanksgiving, but don’t know how true that will be for the future…or even was for 2013!
Reply
Wow-I have spent the past hour or more exploring your site. All I can say is AMAZING! You are certainly a wealth of information and I am so glad to have found your site. On recommendation of 2 friends, we will be taking our first trip to Disney 11/26-12/7 with the first and last days being our travel days. Our kids will be almost 7, 4, and 1. I’ve talked to a number of friends who have been and they are overwhelming me. I honestly didn’t know planning would be so involved and I’m nervous that I’ve gotten a late start! We will not be staying on property thanks to a time share trade in, which is why we will be taking our young kids. We are taking grandparents to assist with the little ones so the older one can experience a little more. Anyway, my question for you is a recommendation of which days we should visit which parks during our visit and should we build in break days for the kids or return daily to our timeshare for a rest period? Also, any tips for Thanksgiving Day or the Very Merry Christmas Parade? Thanks so much!
Reply
Hi First-Timer, and thanks!!
I won’t have specific recommendations for those dates (with one exception which I’ll get to in a second) until Disney releases its calendar for then, which it will do in late May. So come back then and check!
The exception is Thanksgiving Day. Without fail, the best park on major holidays is the Animal Kingdom!
Reply
New to your site. We are taking our first trip next month 2/22-3/1. We have a little boy that will turn 7 while we are there, Infact both he & I are celebrating our birthdays while there. I have looked at the calendar & hours over & over & still not sure where to go on which days. We are staying off site since it was so much cheaper. Any tips on where to go on which days and what we should do for our birthdays, or atleast my sons bday. I am excited & nervous about the trip all at the same time. I have trouble walking long periods or standing long and hope crowds & wait time will be low.
Reply
Hi Jill! First on the birthdays, see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/02/01/is-walt-disney-world-free-on-your-birthday/
2/22: avoid HS
2/23: avoid MK
2/24 avoid all but Epcot
2/25 avoid Epcot
2/26 avoid AK
2/27 avoid MK
2/28 avoid Epcot
3/1: avoid HS
Reply
Just found your site – Yeah! We’re 68 and plan to go to Polynesian June 4-12.
Any suggestions? June 11th is our anniversary – maybe we should go on that boat for fireworks
Reply
Mary, I’m not so keen on the boat,as the fireworks are so much better from in the park. How about a celebratory dinner at Victoria and Alberts? See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/05/23/review-victoria-and-alberts-at-walt-disney-world/
Reply
We are going to be in Orlando for a conference at the Conference Center near Sea World on April 10th, 11th, and 12th. We like the idea of fitting a “Disney” experience in while we are there. Our children will be 2.5 and 1. We really like to end our trip with a Magic Kingdom visit, and not end on a “boring” conference:)
QUESTION 1 – Which day(s) from April 9th-15th would you recommend for Magic Kingdom?
QUESTION 2 – With a 1 and 2 year old, we don’t want to wear them out, but would you recommend a 2nd park or best to stick with MK?
Reply
Jeff, frankly with kids that age it doesn’t much matter, as there’s very little that they will “get.”. MK alone will be fine, but AK and HS are also worth a morning visit.
Your dates the 11th will be best at MK…on the 12th, the Easter crowds start piling in…
Reply