July was crazy busy: Disney World, soccer camp and then two weeks in Greece, so I am just now settling back in and catching up here!
This year, we did Disney for July 4th weekend. When we first started planning, I definitely thought we were crazy for going over a holiday weekend and in July, when Florida is HOT. But Chris’s cousin and her family were here visiting from Cyprus and a trip to Disney World was on their to-do list, so our family was happy to oblige! If you don’t know, we are big Disney people, like HUGE Disney fans!
Spending 4th of July weekend at Disney World was really amazing ✨with some of the best fireworks displays we have ever seen, but a trip like this (and with 8 people in our party) also required some smart planning. I’m sharing everything I have learned over the years — including helpful Disney World tips, what we’d do differently, and how to make the most of a busy weekend in the most magical place on earth.
Whether you’re planning your first Disney trip or are a seasoned Disney-goer, these tips will help you navigate Disney World like a pro!
What We Loved:
- The fireworks at Magic Kingdom on July 3 and on the 4th were like nothing we had ever seen
- A high-energy dance party with a live DJ right in front of the castle was so much fun.
- Red, white, and blue-themed treats and merch everywhere (though the Americana Mickey ears I wanted were sold out everywhere)
- The snacks—all of the snacks!
🛠️ Planning Tips for Disney World
1. Download the My Disney Experience App — It’s Essential!
Download and set up the MyDisneyExperience app well before your trip. It was a lifesaver for:
- Mobile food ordering (avoids long lines at quick-service spots)
- Checking wait times for rides in real-time
- Lightning Lane Multi and Single Pass bookings (these are must-haves during peak days-see bullet 2 below)
- Park maps & dining reservations
👉 Tip: Link your entire family’s tickets and MagicBands in the app for smoother coordination and make sure you have access to book for each of them.
2. Buy the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass for each of your park days
Even if you’ve been to Disney before, don’t skip this step — purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass for your trip. Yes, there is an additional cost, but the ability to secure ride times and plan your day, up to 7 days before you arrive (if you’re staying on property), really makes it worth it–now you can plan your dining reservations or even time to head back to the resort for a dip in the pool. You can also purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass for the newest and most popular rides at each park, which aren’t included in the Multi Pass. The prices do vary by dates (peak/non-peak) and parks, but being able to plan your trip before you arrive is so helpful!
How does the Lightning Lane Multi Pass work? Let me explain:
Your park ticket guarantees you entry into the parks, and well, that’s about it. You can make a list of the attractions you want to ride, and then look at the wait times on the My Disney Experience app, get in line and….wait. Or, you can purchase the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, a week before you arrive, and start planning your day for maximum enjoyment. The Multi Pass allows you to secure ride times (a 1 hour window) for up to 3 rides. Then once you arrive at the park and everyone in your party scans into the first ride, you can log on to the My Disney Experience app and reserve your next ride time. Each time your redeem a ride, you can log back onto the app and book another. Note*: you can only ride each ride 1 time with the multi pass.
Then why do I need the Lightning Lane Single Pass too?
At each park, there are one or two top-tier rides that are not included in the multi-pass. These are typically newer or the more popular rides. The single pass lets your secure a ride time for those for an additional fee (per person). I’ve listed the Single Pass rides at each park for you below. These are some of my family’s favorite rides, and YES you can just get in line and wait, but those lines could be up to 3 hours…time value of money, people!
Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & Tron Lightcycle/Run
Epcot: Guardians of the Galaxy/Cosmic Rewind
Hollywood Studios: Star Wars Rise of the Resistance
Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage
Pro tip: Book ride times as early in the day as possible so you can then book additional rides over the course of the day.
3. Book Dining Early
Your dining reservation window opens up 60 days before you arrive—make note of that date because it’s the best chance you’ll have at securing reservations at some of the most desired restaurants. We scored dinner at Ohana at the Polynesian which is always a highlight of our trip!
You can book dining reservations right through the My Disney Experience app. Don’t get a reservation you want? Keep checking the app, especially as your arrival window approaches because people’s plans change. You can also try your luck the day of by stopping at the restaurant and putting your name on the standby list. You can even add your name to the list through the app if you’re in close enough proximity to the restaurant!
In addition to Ohana, some of our other favorite dining spots are: Yak & Yeti (Animal Kingdom), Be Our Guest (a must-do for any Beauty & the Beast fan)and Skipper’s Canteen (both in Magic Kingdom). When our girls were little, they loved Hollywood & Vine(Hollywood Studios) for the Disney Jr character breakfast. And when it comes to EPCOT, eat (and drink) your way around the World Pavilion, I promise you will not be disappointed!
4. Get to the Parks Early/Stay Late (Extra Magic Hours and/or Rope Drop = Game Changer)
Crowds are no joke at Disney World. I wish I could say that’s only during the holidays or weekends, but there is rarely a true downtime. If you’re staying on property (i.e. at a Disney World Resorts Hotel), you can often get extra magic hours–that could be early admission to the parks before the locals or those staying off property, or extended hours where the parks stay open an hour later for their hotel guests.
You can also rope drop which means you arrive before park opening each day and once those gates open, you make a quick dash for the most popular rides to avoid the lines. Yes you wait in line, but that early in the morning, the lines aren’t bad at all.
5. Pack Smart for the Florida Weather
It’s HOT in July and August, but in December and January you need layers because you will likely experience the entire gamut of weather. Below are some of my Disney must-have travel/trip essentials:
- Cooling towels (Amazon has great options!)
- Refillable water bottles (free ice water is available at quick-service counters)
- Sunscreen and portable fans
6. Watch the Fireworks from a Strategic Spot
Both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT have gorgeous fireworks displays each night— and they’re truly next-level. But good viewing spots fill up fast.
Where we watched:
- Magic Kingdom: In front of the castle, near the Partners statue. You will need to get here early(like 90 minutes before showtime) because these areas fill up fast and are closed off by staff,
- EPCOT: Along the World Showcase, there are lots of great spots but we love the bridge in Italy or between the U.S. Pavilion and Japan
👉 Bring a blanket or towel and some patience.
🎢 Favorite Rides & Experiences from the Trip
We all have a fave at every park! I think we are unanimously in agreement that the Tron Lightcycle in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy in EPCOT are our family favorites. Aside from those, our faves include:
- Mine: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train— a fun but not-too-crazy rollercoaster
- Chris: Space Mountain (though not right AFTER lunch)
- Natasha: Avatar: Flight of Passage – there is something truly magical about this 4D experience that you can only understand once you’re on the back of a banshee!
- Nadia: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: she loved the newly opened attraction and never misses the chance to get SOAKED on a ride!
🛍️ Disney World Snacks We Love(d)
There are certain treats we have to have, every time we are back at the most magical place on Earth. Natasha is my foodie and always knows where to get the good stuff!
- Spring Rolls from the cart near Adventureland in Magic Kingdom–flavors are seasonal & vary but the cheeseburger is a MUST HAVE
- Sleepy Hollow Waffles (the verdict is still out on these—for years these were a breakfast staple but they were recently changed and just aren’t as good anymore, sorry Disney)
- The Popcorn Bucket!! It’s refillable ($2/refill) at all 4 parks for your stay. It’s great to ward off any hangry mood swings by your teens/tweens, trust me!
- Wookie Cookie: This Star Wars themed oatmeal creme pie is SO GOOD! Available at the Back Lot in Hollywood Studios.
- If you’re staying on site, I also recommend having Instacart deliver a case of water bottles and some light snacks that you can carry into the parks with you.
💡 Final Tips for a Successful Disney World Trip
- Pack patience and flexibility — crowds will be there, but attitude is everything. Rides might be temporarily shut down–just be flexible and have fun!
- Use the LL Muti-Pass and Single Pass if your budget allows. We avoided lots of lines and got to ride almost everything..
- Stay on property if possible — we are DVC Members(more on that in another post) and stayed at Disney’s Saratoga Springs this time around. Yes, we had to use the (free) buses to/from all the parks, but it was a quick walk to Disney Springs for dinner and shopping on our first day/travel day.
- Wear comfortable shoes/sneakers. Yes, you will walk like 20,000 steps, and yes your feet will thank you the next day!
- If you’re traveling with littles (8 and under), rent a stroller! Kingdom Strollers and Apple Scooter are two of our favorites. Our girls have long since outgrown the stroller phase, but man did I love having one to carry all our stuff!
🎇 Is Disney World Worth It?
Absolutely! I will say this over and over again. While it’s not the time for a slow-paced, spontaneous trip, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with magic, fun, and memories. With a solid plan and a little prep, you can make it an epic family tradition like we do.
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If you’ve been to Disney World — or are planning your trip — I’d love to hear your tips and am happy to answer your questions in the comments below!