Believe it or not, you can (and should!) practice a few things before heading to Disney World. And no, I don’t mean wearing Mickey ears around the house—though we fully support that decision.
Mastering a few key skills ahead of time will save you from fumbling with apps, menus, and maps while the clock’s ticking on your park day. Plus, the more you prep, the less stressful your trip will be.
Here’s what you can test-run from your couch to make your Disney days smoother:
GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE MY DISNEY EXPERIENCE APP
Think of the My Disney Experience app as your Disney command center. If you don’t know how to use it, you’re in for some frustrating moments in the parks. Download it, log in, and start exploring.
Practice these key functions:
- Mobile ordering food (we’ll get to that next!)
- Booking Lightning Lanes (you can at least navigate the options)
- Checking wait times
- Linking tickets and reservations
- Using interactive park maps
- Managing dining reservations
- Opening your resort hotel door (yes, it’s a thing!)
The more familiar you are, the less time you’ll waste staring at your phone instead of soaking up the magic.
TEST OUT MOBILE ORDERING (WITHOUT PAYING!)
Mobile ordering is one of the best time-savers at Disney, but if you’ve never used it, you might fumble through it in the parks. Luckily, you can practice at home without actually buying anything.
How to practice:
- Open My Disney Experience and tap the “+” at the bottom.
- Select “Order Food.”
- Pick a restaurant and choose an arrival time.
- Add items to your cart—but don’t check out!
Important: When ordering for real, you’ll need to tap “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” when you arrive.
Pro Tip: Some spots (looking at you, Woody’s Lunch Box) sell out of mobile order time slots early. Order ahead of time—even hours in advance—so you’re not stuck waiting.
CHECK WAIT TIMES IN REAL-TIME
You don’t have to be in the parks to see how long people are actually waiting for rides—you can track wait times from your couch!
Why practice?
- Get a feel for what rides tend to have longer waits.
- See how times fluctuate throughout the day to plan your park touring strategy.
- Use it to decide whether a Lightning Lane is actually worth it.
How to check wait times:
- Open My Disney Experience.
- Tap the map pin icon at the bottom.
- Change the filter to show Wait Times instead of dining or shops.
- Click “Show List” in the bottom-right corner of the map to see all wait times in an easy-to-read format.
Bonus: If you’re a night owl, check wait times late in the evening—you’ll see which rides have shorter lines at the end of the day.
STUDY PARK MAPS (SO YOU’RE NOT WANDERING AIMLESSLY)
Disney World is HUGE. Like, “You just walked three miles and still haven’t reached Space Mountain” huge.
Instead of figuring it all out on the fly, study the maps before you go.
Where to find maps:
- My Disney Experience app (interactive maps included!)
- Google Maps (yes, you can street-view parts of the parks!)
- Disney’s official website (each park has a PDF guide)
Pro Tip: You can also study your resort map at home, too. This is an especially smart idea for the resorts that have multiple transportation options (like Skyliner or boats) so you’ll know exactly where you need to go.
LEARN HOW TO USE THE WALK-UP WAITLIST FOR DINING
Didn’t score a dining reservation? No worries! Some Disney restaurants allow you to join a waitlist through the My Disney Experience app.
How to practice:
- Open the app and tap the “+” at the bottom.
- Select “Check Dining Availability.”
- Choose your party size and today’s date.
- Select “Now” to see which restaurants have a Walk-Up List open.
Pro Tip: You usually have to be physically close to the restaurant to join, so check early (because spots go fast) and be ready to head over if a spot opens up!
BONUS: OTHER THINGS TO PRACTICE AT HOME
- Packing Your Park Bag – Do a test run to see what fits, what you actually need, and how heavy it is after walking around the house with it.
- Breaking in Your Shoes – If you’re planning to wear new shoes, walk in them at home first. You do not want to realize they’re uncomfortable at mile seven of your Magic Kingdom day.
- Using a Stroller (If You Need One) – If you’re bringing a stroller to Disney World, practice folding/unfolding it fast. Disney’s transportation (buses, trams, boats) requires you to collapse it quickly.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A Disney trip is so much more fun when you’re not trying to figure things out on the fly. The more you prep, the more you can focus on the good stuff—like eating Dole Whips and debating whether it’s worth rope-droppingSeven Dwarfs Mine Train.
So, grab your phone, test out these features, and set yourself up for a stress-free (and magical) vacation!