To all who come to this happy place,
Welcome!
—Walt Disney
Please review this important information as you prepare to experience the Magic of Disney!
Important Phone Numbers
Add the following numbers to your phone contacts in case you need special assistance on your trip:
- My Disney Experience Tech Support 800.848.6413 option 3
- Memory Maker/Photopass Tech Support 407.560.4300
- Disney Dining/Bibbidi Bobbidi/Pirate’s League 407.939.3463
- Guest Services 407.939.7838
Online Check In
During Check In, you will set a four digit PIN code linking your credit card to your Magic Band for room charging and Dining Plan privileges. Please remember your PIN!
Resort Check In on Arrival Day
Check–in time is generally between 3pm-4pm *some hotels have check–in after 4 pm, and check–out time is usually between 11am – 12pm. If you arrive prior to check-in, you can store your bags and start enjoying the resort and parks. You will receive a text from Disney when your room is ready, along with the room number. It is very important to have your mobile number entered in your My Disney Experience account so that they can communicate with you! You have to complete online check-in, or make a stop by the front desk, to activate your Magic Bands to get in the parks, use dining plan credits and charge items to the room. If you have checked in and do not receive a text about your room by 4-5pm, please call Guest Services at 407.939.7838 to inquire about the status.
Parking
If you are driving to your Disney Resort, there is a parking fee that will be added to your bill at the end of your stay. Parking fees are $15 per night at Value Resorts, $20 per night at Moderate Resorts and $25 per night at Deluxe Resorts. Resort Guests receive complimentary parking at the parks.
My Disney Experience
This app provides another way for you to make the most of a Walt Disney World vacation and features Park hours, attraction wait times, dining information (including menus!), Park maps and more. You can track your Resort room charges through the app after you check in. If the app is not responding well, you can log in to your account through the website. We recommend taking a screenshot of your reservations just in case you have issues seeing them in the app.
Dining
If you need to cancel or change a dining reservation, you can do so through your My Disney Experience account or by calling (407) WDW-DINE/(407) 939-3463 until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the day before your reservation. If you need to cancel a reservation the day of, we recommend that you speak with a Castmember at Guest Services in the parks or with Concierge at your resort. You can also try to modify your Dining Reservation in your My Disney Experience account to a future date, then you will be able to cancel it, after it is moved out of the 24 hour window, without penalty. 18% gratuity will be added to all parties of 6 or more.
Fastpasses
The unspoken rule about Fastpasses is that you can arrive 5 minutes early or 15 minutes late, and your Fastpass will still be accepted. If you have a Fastpass reservation for an attraction that has shut down unexpectedly, Disney will send you an email with alternate options. Check your email periodically while there! After you have used your initial set of Fastpasses, you can make another Fastpass selection. As soon as you scan your Magic Band to redeem your third reserved Fastpass, you can begin booking another Fastpass using your My Disney Experience app. After you redeem the additional Fastpass, you can book another, and so on.
Disney Transportation
Getting where you want to go is easy aboard one of Disney’s convenient buses, which service all of Walt Disney World Resort—including Disney theme and water parks, all Disney Resort hotels and the Disney Springs area. Simply wait at one of the convenient and well-marked pickup points throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Your ride will then arrive—usually within minutes—ready to transport you to a variety of destinations.
Keep in mind that certain destinations are not direct; you may be required to take a connecting mode of transportation to reach your destination. Complimentary transportation is available from one hour prior to Park opening until one hour after closing. In addition, complimentary transportation is also available for Guests traveling to the Disney Springs area from their Resort hotel—running daily until 1:00 AM; between 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM, only outbound service from the Disney Springs area to Resort hotels will be offered. Minnie Vans are a personal ride service that can be accessed through the Lyft app. You can open the Lyft app from anywhere within Walt Disney World Resort to access Minnie Van service.
Entering the Parks
You will go through security screening when you arrive at the parks. Guests with a bag will need to go through the bag check line. If you are staying at a Monorail resort, the security screening will take place at the resort before you board the Monorail. As you enter the ticket turnstiles, you will see a Mickey orb and a finger scanner. You will touch your Magic Band to the orb and place your pointer finger on the scanner. Remember which finger you use!! Your fingerprint will be forever linked to your Magic Band. When the light flashes green, you are good to go. If you have any trouble, a Disney Castmember will be there to help.
Rise and Shine!
We recommend getting to the parks well before park opening so you can be among the first guests in to enjoy the park. Go in with a plan to visit your favorite attractions first. You can set a wake up call every night and put it on speaker phone when you answer. You never know what Disney character will be calling to tell you it’s time to get up and have some fun!
Updated Park Hours
Please monitor the park hours through your My Disney Experience app. The TV in your room has a dedicated channel that provides up to date park hours and the weather.
Souvenirs
Any item purchased can be delivered to your resort by the next day. Also, any item may be returned to any other shop, including your resort gift shop, if you have buyer’s remorse later. If you see something you like in a shop, you may not necessarily find it in another park so you may want to go ahead and get it.
Hidden Mickeys are everywhere at Disney! See if you can find the iconic Mickey silhouette at your resort and in the parks. 
Refillable Mugs
Your resort food court is perfect for quick meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner! This is also where you will pick up the Resort Refillable mug that comes with the Dining Plan. You will be able to use them at the beverage stations, including the pool, at your resort. The mugs do not qualify for free refills outside of the resort.
Safety
A child who becomes separated from his or her parents while in the park will be escorted by a Cast Member to the Baby Care Center. Share with children how to locate a cast member with their iconic name tags as soon as they feel lost or scared. Cast Members can scan a lost child’s Magic Band and retrieve your phone number and information. One good tip is to also take a picture of your children at the beginning of the day so you know exactly what they are wearing.
Stay Hydrated
Complimentary cups of ice water are available at all quick service locations.
Medical Needs
Asprin, Pepto-Bismol and other over-the-counter medications are available in most retail shops in the parks. Remedies are typically kept behind the counter and you may have to ask for them. There is a first aid station at every theme park if you need assistance. If you forget your prescription at home or have a medication called in from your doctor, the nearest drug stores are Walgreen’s in Lake Buena Vista (407-238-0600) and Turner’s Drug (407-828-8125). For a small fee, Turner’s will deliver your medication.
Check Out
You can track the charges you have made to your room through your My Disney Experience app. On the morning of your departure day, you should find a white envelope on your door with a printout of your incidental charges to the room. If it is not there, you may receive it by email. Check with the front desk if you do not have one of these. Please make sure the charges are correct, too, as discrepancies are easy to resolve while you are still on property.
Resort Airline Check-In
On your departure day, this complimentary service lets you check in for your return flight, collect your boarding pass and even check your bags to your home airport at the Airline Check-In desk in front of your resort hotel. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll simply make your way to security. Walt Disney World Resort Guests must present a valid government-issued I.D. for domestic travel or a valid passport for international travel. In addition, Guests must check in no later than 3 hours prior to their scheduled flight departure. (Flight delays do not extend this check-in time.) A parent or guardian may check in for all family members traveling together on a domestic flight. All Guests must be present at check-in for international flights. This service is offered from 5:00 am- 12:00 pm each day.
Disney Magic
Do you want to experience a different kind of Disney Magic on your next vacation? If your vacation dreams take you beyond the Walt Disney World parks, please contact me for more information about Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Aulani, Disney’s Resort and Spa in Hawaii. Let’s turn those dreams into a dream vacation!
