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Travel InformationYour guide to booking a Walt Disney World Resort holiday
Everything you need to know for booking the perfect trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Step 1 – Decide where you want to stay
Thinking about a holiday to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with our step-by-step booking guide. First up, you’ll need to choose your hotel. You can stay on-site in a Disney Resorts Collection hotel or opt for a hotel a little further out. There are villa options available, too.
Disney Resorts Collection
Don't just play in the magic, stay in the magic at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel. With over 25 Disney Resort hotels to choose from, there's something for every taste and budget. Here are some of benefits of picking one…
More time in the Theme Parks
Make a base at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and enjoy 30-minute early entry into any Disney Theme Park every day of your stay. Plus, if you stay at a Disney Deluxe or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotel, you’ll enjoy extended evening hours on selected nights and Theme Parks too, which means you can tick off attractions, shopping and dining after regular hours.
Complimentary Resort transport
Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel means you can take advantage of a free bus service to and from the Disney Parks, plus the Disney Springs area. Other ways of getting around include the monorail, ferry and boat services, and the Disney Skyliner gondolas, which are all free to use.
Immersive resorts and rooms
Each Disney Resort hotel blends storytelling, comfort, and convenience – and you’ve got more than 25 to choose from. Like Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which has Little Mermaid, Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo-themed rooms. Or, stay at the colourful Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, which celebrates beloved films with larger-than-life decor.
Accommodation for everyone
Feel right at home in accommodations that go beyond the traditional hotel room. There are rooms that accommodate everything from intimate getaways for two, to extended family gatherings for 12. There are also options with family suites, separate bedrooms, kitchenettes and living areas.
Free parking
Stay at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and you’ll have free standard parking at your Disney Resort hotel, as well as at all the Disney Parks. Just show your Disney band or resort ID at the parking booths when you arrive.
Greater Orlando’s suburbs, hotels and villas
Outside of the Disney Resort, there are three big-name neighbourhoods in Orlando that make an ideal base for visiting Walt Disney World Resort. You can pick from hotels that offer free transport to the Parks, or one of our villas, which are also a good option if you’re looking to book car hire.
Kissimmee
You get the best of both worlds when you stay in Kissimmee – it’s close enough to Walt Disney World Resort for when you want a slice of the action, but far away enough for when you fancy some time out. And downtown Kissimmee has some old-school USA charm, where classic American diners and family-owned antique shops line the sidewalk.
Driving distance from Walt Disney World Resort: approximately 25 minutes.
International Drive
Stays along International Drive, or I-Drive, are all about entertainment and eating out – this 11-mile stretch serves up more than 600 shops, endless eateries and more minigolf courses than you can shake a putter at. The I-RIDE Trolley stops up and down the street, making it easy to explore.
Driving distance from Walt Disney World Resort: approximately 15 minutes.
Lake Buena Vista
Lake Buena Vista is home to some of Florida’s best-rated golf courses, and its dining scene gets top marks from foodies. Plus, Disney Springs is right on your doorstep, giving you easy access to live shows, a roster of restaurants and the world’s largest Disney Store.
Driving distance from Walt Disney World Resort: approximately 10 minutes.
Step 2 - When do you want to go?
There are a few things to think about when you’re deciding on the right time to visit Walt Disney World Resort, from seasonal events to the weather.
Florida weather
Long hot summers and mild winters make Florida a year-round hit. Temperatures range from the mid-20s to the mid-30s. For cooler weather, aim for late October to early April, when the mercury hovers around the 20°C mark. Temperatures are at their highest in the summer – think high 30s.
Special Events & Festivals
Dates to add to your diary include the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival in the spring, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival in the autumn, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party* from August to October, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party* in November and December.
*Separate ticketed event
The school holidays
Travelling with school-age children means you’ll be most likely to visit Walt Disney World Resort in the UK holidays. August can actually be one of the quieter times to visit because the USA school holidays are different to ours, although it’s worth noting it can be very warm.
Step 4 – Don’t forget your Disney Park Tickets
Disney Magic Tickets
After you’ve chosen your hotel and travel dates, start thinking about Disney Park tickets. These are something you need to add on in the booking process – they don’t just get added automatically. We recommend adding on a 7-Day or a 14-Day Disney Magic Ticket per person. They’re better value than at-the-gate tickets, and they come with a whole host of incredible benefits, like access to all the Disney Parks.
Step 5 – After you’ve booked
Don’t let the excitement stop once you’ve booked your holiday – there are plenty of things you can do to keep the momentum going.
Set up a My Disney Experience account
Don’t forget to create a My Disney Experience account to help you plan your holiday. It gives you access to a whole host of useful tools that make planning a breeze, from linking your Tickets to making dining reservations.
Download the My Disney Experience app
My Disney Experience^ is the official Walt Disney World Resort app. It has helpful features like entertainment reservation services and attraction wait-time information. You can also download tickets to your mobile and use it as a digital hotel room key.
Make dining reservations
You can make dining reservations starting 60 days ahead of your arrival at select dining locations. If you’ve got a valid Disney Resorts Collection hotel booking, you can make dining reservations for the entire length of your stay 60 days in advance of your arrival for up to a 10-night stay.
Recommendations from our TUI Disney Experts…
You can enjoy Character Dining experiences throughout the Resort. Why not try Breakfast à la Art at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, or meet Snow White, Dopey and Grumpy at the Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Build your perfect itinerary
Schedule in some downtime between Park days. Like a leisurely afternoon by the pool or visiting Disney Springs. Resting can rejuvenate everyone for the next round of Disney magic.
The best time to visit Disney Springs is from Monday to Thursday – aim to get there early, because it’s quieter first thing. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are busier with the locals.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (whichever is open) open at 10am – and Disney Resort hotel guests can use the resort transportation to get to them.
Plan a visit to Disney’s BoardWalk, which is just a short walk from EPCOT. Stroll the promenade, soak up scenic views of Crescent Lake, and rent a bike to explore.
Jetlagged on arrival? No problem. Make the most of those early hours in the first few days by getting to the Theme Parks early. Or, stay up late and watch the famous fireworks.
On arrival, check out the activities board in your Disney Resort hotel for anything happening during your stay, like Movies Under the Stars, poolside games, and campfire activities.
What are your Disney must-dos? Pinpoint those special activities and put them at the top of your agenda, whether that’s nibbling a Mickey Mouse pretzel or meeting your favourite Character.
Stay in the know with the My Disney Experience app^, which is great for live updates on attraction wait-times, dining reservations and online check-in at your hotel.
Make sure to carve out time to see at least one firework show – Walt Disney World Resort is famous for them, especially Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom Park.
More planning hints & tips
From TUI Disney Expert videos to our foodie guide, there’s no end of extra info to help you plan your trip.
Disney special offers
Find all our special offers for Walt Disney World Resort in one handy place.
Find the best Disney deal for you.
Foodie guide to Walt Disney World Resort
From quick bites to upscale dining, check out our top things to eat at Walt Disney World Resort.
Get the lowdown on delicious dishes.
FAQs
When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World Resort?
Late January to early March and mid-October to early December are good times to visit Walt Disney World Resort. These months offer mild weather and seasonal events, and you’ll avoid Florida’s highest temperatures.
What’s the best age to go to Walt Disney World Resort?
We don’t think there is a best age – Walt Disney World Resort has got something for everybody, whether that’s Character meet and greets for children or thrill rides for grown-ups.
How many days do I need to visit Walt Disney World Resort?
We recommend 14 days for your holiday. This gives you time to visit all four Parks, as well as enjoying Water Park fun and Disney Springs – and grab some downtime between adventures.
What are the best attractions at Walt Disney World Resort?
Popular attractions include TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. New attractions for 2025 include Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, a nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom Park featuring beloved Characters like Moana and Cinderella. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After brings iconic villains to life in a wickedly fun live show, while The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure debuts with immersive effects and bold storytelling. Plus, Test Track at EPCOT gets a thrilling reimagining, celebrating the evolution of mobility with futuristic flair.
^Products and services are featured and fulfilled within the My Disney Experience app which can be downloaded upon arrival in the U.S. and is intended for use in the U.S. only. Currently, the app is only available in English. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere.
*Tickets will include admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, whichever is open. Disney Water Parks are subject to rehabilitation, seasonal, capacity and weather closures.