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Prepare Your Phone for Disney World

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Credit: Disney

It might seem strange to suggest that you need to prepare your cell phone for a trip to Walt Disney World, but it is true. Phones have become extremely important to a successful Walt Disney World vacation, and we want to make sure yours is ready to go before your Disney trip and experience in the Park. It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone or an android. These tips will help you prepare for a successful trip to Disney.

Download Apps

One of the first things that you need to do to get your cell phone ready for your Disney vacation is to download some specific apps that will help your vacation go smoother.

  1.  My Disney Experience

The first app you will want to make sure you have downloaded onto your cell phone before your Disney vacation is the My Disney Experience app. This Disney’s planning app will be your key to the magic while at Disney World while you are in the Park and at the Disney Resort. This app allows you to check into your room, order food, see wait times and even know where the closest bathroom is located. You will use this app constantly while on vacation, so make sure you download it before you get to Disney World. Take some time to browse the app to make sure you know how to find important aspects like mobile ordering or wait times. There is so much information on the MDE app that you want to make sure you have it on your cell phone ready to go before you arrive at Disney.

2.  Weather App

Another important app to make sure you have downloaded is a weather app. We suggest apps such as AccuWeather or Dark Sky, as they both do an outstanding job of giving minute by minute updates on when rain and storms are heading your way. This can be extremely helpful while on your Disney trip, and you are trying to determine when to head to the parks, when to eat or when to catch a show. Having these apps lets you set up push notifications so you know about the rain before it happens. This can be a huge game-changer when on your Disney vacation. Make sure you are prepared for the weather with our weather tips.

3.  Travel Apps

Don’t forget to download those travel apps such as the app for the airport you are traveling from, the MCO app for Orlando, and the app for the airline you are flying with. Having these apps will keep you up to speed on any changes or important information you might need regarding your travel plans. You can also now use your cell phone for your boarding pass, making it a lot harder to lose!

4.  Medical Apps

We also recommend downloading any medical apps that you might want to use. If you have a company you prefer to use for virtual visits, have this information downloaded and an account made before leaving. This will be extremely helpful if you have a medical need arise and need to make an appointment. Disney does a great job helping Guests with medical conditions, but make sure you are prepared, so you don’t have any major surprises during your Disney trip.

Clear Out Your Storage

This is something that many travelers don’t think about until they are in Walt Disney World and don’t have enough storage for all those pictures. Be aware that you will take a TON of photos and videos while on a Disney vacation, and you want to make sure you have room to keep them all. Before heading down, consider clearing out some of your storage. Move those photos off your cell phone storage, so you have enough room to capture all the magical moments. Make sure you check out these articles on top photo spots and top selfies to take in Disney.

QR Codes

Something that you will need to do with your cell phone is to scan QR codes. These are being used throughout the Park and Disney Resorts. Mostly you will find QR codes used instead of menus at sit-down locations in the theme Park and Disney hotel, but we see them outside quick-service locations as well. Make sure you know if your cell phone uses the camera like an iPhone does or if you need to use a specific QR code application. Knowing how to use this ahead of time will save you some stress.

Mobile Wallet

Your mobile wallet is another application on your cell phone that you will want to set up and be ready to use. Disney is moving towards contactless payment, and mobile wallets are a great way to do this. Although you can pay with your MagicBand if you choose to have one, you can also set up your Apple Pay on your iPhone or your Google Pay on an android. Again this isn’t required, but it will help you have a smoother experience while shopping in the theme Park.

Learn Your Camera

Cell phones now have amazing cameras, but most of us don’t know all the different ways we can use them. Look into your camera and learn about night mode and action modes to help you capture the best pictures possible. There is so much these cameras can do, so make sure that you are ready to capture those magical moments. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom all have so many amazing visuals that you will want to capture while on your Disney vacation. Don’t miss out by having a dead phone.

Get Entertainment Ready

Your cell phone can be a lifesaver while waiting in line at a theme Park. Download some entertainment like Heads Up or Disney’s Play Disney app, so you have something for little ones (and big ones) to do while waiting in line. These are fun to do together and can keep everyone positive while waiting. Even if your family doesn’t typically allow electronic time, consider having these ready to go for backup.

credit: amazon

credit: amazon

Charger

The final step you need to take to make sure your cell phone is ready to go for your Walt Disney World vacation is that you have a portable charger. As you can tell, you rely on your cell phone a lot during your vacation to Walt Disney World and you don’t want to be stuck with a dead battery. Make sure you and everyone in your traveling party have a charger for their phone. This will make sure that you are prepared and ready to capture those magical moments. See what else we would suggest having with you in the Park with our Park bag blog.

Cell phones are extremely important to a Walt Disney World vacation. From using the My Disney Experience app for wait times and ordering food to have it ready to capture those magical moments, your phone is important for your Disney vacation. Make sure you are prepared by having these steps ready before heading down on a Disney vacation. Doing so will make you feel so much more prepared. What other apps do you use while traveling? Make sure to check out additional tips here!

About Jennifer Retzlaff

My name is Jennifer Retzlaff and I became a lifelong Disney fan during my first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of my life. I live in Iowa with my husband and two kids who are growing up too quickly for my liking. I started introducing my love for Disney early to my family with a Disney honeymoon and then trips when our youngest of 18 months. Since then, our family has been to Walt Disney World over five times and we continue to plan and dream for the next trip. I love the magic that Disney brings to people through the theme parks, cruises, adventures and movies they create. As a teacher, I try to bring that magic into my classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” I recently reached a dream of mine as I joined Magic Vacation Planner as a personal travel advisor. With this team, I can now help others plan magical vacations. As a passionate writer, I also have my own blog at magicalvacationsbyjen which is also where you can follow me on instagram for trip reviews along with tips and tricks for your next magical vacation.