Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
It seems like each year a Walt Disney World vacation becomes more and more complicated. Not only do you have to determine which amazing Disney resort to stay at, what park tickets to get, and what rides and attractions everyone wants to see and do, but now there are a whole host of words and phrases that you have to know in order to navigate your Disney vacation successfully. Don’t worry though- we have what these keywords are so you will head into your Disney World vacation like a pro.
My Disney Experience (MDE)
Let’s start with the phrase that will become your best friend while on your Disney vacation. My Disney Experience is the free Disney planning app. This app is a lifeline while on a Disney trip. It is through this app that Guests are able to make dining reservations, mobile order, see their photopass pictures, and now book their Genie+ rides. The app provides important information such as park hours for the Disney park, wait times, bus times and so much that is a phrase that you will know and love quickly when planning a trip to Disney.
Park Pass and Park Tickets
Two phrases that are getting confused and would be a big mistake if you did is park pass and park tickets. When you book your Disney World vacation package, this includes your park ticket. This is your paid admission into one of the four Disney theme parks. You can choose from a single theme park admission or a park hopper option that would allow you to move between parks after 2 pm. After you have paid for your park ticket, you then need to go into your My Disney Experience account and book your park passes. These are reservations at a specific theme park for each day of your Disney trip. You need BOTH a park ticket (paid admission) as well as park pass (park reservation) in order to get into the theme park.
Genie, Genie+ and Lightning Lane
The newest words and phrases that we have all had to learn this month are Genie, Genie+ and Lightning Lane. Genie is a new free planning service that will be available to all Guests in the My Disney Experience app. Genie will provide touring suggestions, food options and a variety of touring tips to help Guests have a wonderful experience in the theme park and at the Walt Disney World Resort. Genie+ is a paid aspect that Guests can choose to add on to their park tickets. Genie+ costs $15 per person per day. What this feature does is allows Guests to skip the regular stand-by lines by booking rides and experiences. When Guests book a ride through the Genie+ they will then use the Lightning Lane to have quick access to the ride. If you need more information on this new feature, we have additional information here.
Boarding Group
Beyond Genie+ and Lightning Lane, there is currently one ride in Disney World that is using a boarding group. Guests that wish to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and have a park pass reservation at EPCOT can log onto My Disney Experience at 7 am or 1pm to try to obtain a boarding group. If they receive one, they are waiting in a virtual queue allowing them to experience the rest of EPCOT instead of standing in line. We are interested to see if this option continues with the implementation of the new Genie+ and individual ride options moving forward.
Credit: Disney
MagicBands
MagicBands are a fun accessory that Guests can choose to wear throughout Disney property. These bands allow Guests to enter the park, open their resort door, pay for items, and scan for Genie+ access. Although they aren’t required by Disney, the fun designs featuring different Disney icons and characters make them fun to wear during a Disney vacation and add a little magic.
Now into all the words and phrases that go along with eating in Disney World. Who knew that eating could be so complicated.
Quick Service, Counter Service, Table Service
Disney World has two main dining options for Guests in the theme parks and resorts. Quick-service (often referred to as counter service) is referring to any stand kiosk or dining location that gives you food right away. These don’t need a dining reservation and typically Guests can get their food quickly. Table service locations are those that Guests typically need a dining reservation for ahead of time. These locations are higher priced experiences with a server and they take longer. At a table service location you are waited on throughout the dining experience.
Advanced Dining Reservations
In order to eat at most table service locations, Guests need to make advanced dining reservations (ADR). These can be made up to 60 days ahead of checking in- thus the advanced part of the name. These are just like those reservations you make at your local fine dining options at home except you are planning way ahead. You can do these through the app.
Mobile Check-in
Once Guests have made their advanced dining reservations and the time has come for them to enjoy their restaurant of choice, Disney is asking that they use mobile check-in. This is a new feature that Disney has put into place following covid to help limit contact between Guests and cast members. Guests can now check in to their dining reservations through the app or by scanning a QR code at the host stand. This is a fantastic way to get checked in easily and then be notified via text when a table is ready.
Mobile Walk Up
If Guests aren’t able to get their favorite dining option for 60 days, they still have the opportunity to use the mobile walk up feature. In the My Disney Experience app, there is now a walk up feature that allows Guests to add their names to a waitlist for different restaurants. This is a great feature that allows those that forgot to make reservations or want to sit down for a while to experience one of Disney’s dining locations. The waitlist doesn’t guarantee a spot but puts Guests into a list for the chance.
Mobile Ordering
Also located in the My Disney Experience app is mobile ordering. Disney Guests who wish to eat at a quick service location such as Casey’s Corner or Flame Tree Barbecue will need to use the mobile ordering aspect of My Disney Experience. This feature is easy to use and allows Guests to easily place a food order on their smartphones from anywhere in the park. It is a great way to pass time in line as you prepare for lunch or dinner. The app allows you to customize your orders as well. Make sure if you are there during heavier crowds to book your mobile order early. There are limited pick up windows (time slots) so you will want to snag yours early.
Disney World is constantly changing and with it are a lot of the words and phrases. Although it can seem overwhelming, we hope breaking down some of these words and phrases that are commonly used throughout Disney will help you feel like a pro on your Walt Disney World vacation.
