DIY DREAM
THE ULTIMATE DIY DISNEY VACATION PLANNING COURSE
Chapter 5:
THE FINISHING TOUCHES
1
1 month before leaving
2
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4
1 week before leaving
tRAVEL DAY
FAQs
don
't forget
download your DIY DREAM PLANNER
1 month before
We are officially down to the final countdown! Congrats on making is this far in your planning process. Let's do a pulse check.... are you ok? Anxious? Excited? Take a deep breath and continue on through this chapter to see what else needs to be done before you leave in 1 month!
you screenshot all your reservation times
This step is totally optional, but may give you some peace of mind just in case technology glitches (and it probably will)! Open your MDE app and take a screen shot of each of your dining and Enchanting Extras reservations, with the confirmation number and the number of guests in view.
CONFIRM ALL THE DETAILS
MAKE SURE THAT...
you know the park hours & event times
The MDE app should show you all of the projected park hours and event times for your travel dates at this point. Take note if there is anything outside of the norm (like MK opening at 8 am instead of 9 am one random day) and make any necessary adjustments to your park plans.
CONFIRM ALL THE DETAILS
MAKE SURE THAT...
BOOK YOUR TRANSPORTATION
stroller rental
If you are planning on renting a stroller, you will need to arrange a reservation around this time. You can view more info on stroller rentals here.
BOOK YOUR TRANSPORTATION
airport
transportation
If you are flying into MCO, you have a few options to arrange airport transportation
- A ride share, like Uber, Lyft, or Minnie Vans
- A shuttle bus from MEARS Transportation
- A private transfer service, like Away We Go Transportation
if you haven't already!
If you are thinking about adding Memory Maker and you didn't add it to your package when booking, now is the time to add it! You will get a pretty good discount if you add it before you arrive. If you wait til you get there, you'll have to pay full price (and that's no fun)!
Pre-arrival price: $185
Post-arrival price: $210
You can learn more about Memory Maker here.
Pre-arrival price: $185
Post-arrival price: $210
You can learn more about Memory Maker here.
ADD MEMORY MAKER
and explore other alterntaives
ORDER MAGIC BANDS
ALL ABOUT MAGIC BANDS
Magic Bands and Magic Band+ are the wristbands with Mickey Ears that you see everyone wearing at Disney World. They are lightweight, waterproof, and have some pretty neat features. Here's some of the perks:
For a very long time Magic Bands were complimentary if you were staying on-site. I now have good news and bad news for ya...
👎 The bad news: Magic Bands are no longer free for on-site guests 😫
👍 The good news: On-site guests get a discount if you order your bands up to 11 days before your vacation.
To get the discounted rate, all you have to do is click on Magic Bands and Cards from your MDE app, and follow the instructions to placing the order.
Are Magic Bands Necessary??
Here's my personal (and probably unpopular) opinion...No, they are totally unnecessary!
Are they nice to have? Sure. Are they going to make your trip any better? Probably not.
- Tap for entry into the parks, Lightning Lanes, and your Disney World Resort Hotel
- Add a card on file, and use your Magic Band as a form of payment
- Interact with character statues and night time spectacular across all 4 parks (Magic Band+ only)
For a very long time Magic Bands were complimentary if you were staying on-site. I now have good news and bad news for ya...
👎 The bad news: Magic Bands are no longer free for on-site guests 😫
👍 The good news: On-site guests get a discount if you order your bands up to 11 days before your vacation.
To get the discounted rate, all you have to do is click on Magic Bands and Cards from your MDE app, and follow the instructions to placing the order.
Are Magic Bands Necessary??
Here's my personal (and probably unpopular) opinion...No, they are totally unnecessary!
Are they nice to have? Sure. Are they going to make your trip any better? Probably not.
other options
and explore other alterntaives
ORDER MAGIC BANDS
MAGIC MOBILE
My favorite Magic Band alternative is Magic Mobile! This option allows you to do pretty much all of the same scanning capabilities of a Magic Band, on your Apple or Android phone.
The best part-- if you have an Apple Watch, you can add Magic Mobile to it and make it function just like a Magic Band!
You can learn more about how to set up Magic Mobile here.
The best part-- if you have an Apple Watch, you can add Magic Mobile to it and make it function just like a Magic Band!
You can learn more about how to set up Magic Mobile here.
other options
and explore other alterntaives
ORDER MAGIC BANDS
KEY TO THE WORD TICKET
The last option is getting a free Key to the World ticket at one of the ticket centers. This is a physical ticket card that will allow you to use the same scanning capabilities of the Magic Band. Some guests choose to get a lanyard card holder off of Amazon (like this one) to wear their card so it doesn't get lost. This is a great option for littles who don't have access to Magic Mobile!
all about magic bands
and other disability programs
REGISTER FOR DAS
If you qualify for any of the disability programs at Disney World, you will need to register or make the relevant reservations for your accommodations around this point. Here's a little refresher from Chapter 4 if you need it before tackling your registration/reservations.
for your resort hotel room
MAKE REQUESTS
While you can't ask for upgrades for things you didn't pay for, there are a few things you can call ahead and request for your hotel room:
- Pack'n'Play or crib
- Microwave
- Being close to the elevator
- Being on a specific floor
- Having a more quiet room
- Being closer to the transportation
- Being closer to the pool
Note: These are just requests, so there is no guarantee that Disney will be able to accommodate them.
1 week before
Can you believe that there is still more to do 1 week before you leave?! This last week is crucial to ensuring everything is planned and runs smoothly during your trip!
READ MORE
BOOK YOUR LIGHTNING LANES
Review the Lightning Lanes Guide and finalize your pre-booked LL selections on the DIY DREAM planner so you can book as soon as your booking window becomes available!
Staying on property: 7 days before check-in
Staying off property: 3 days before your first park day
Staying off property: 3 days before your first park day
READ MORE
ORDER GROCERIES
If you plan on having a grocery delivery, you may want to go ahead and make the order and schedule a delivery. You don't want to lose out on delivery time frames!
See more about grocery delivery here.
See more about grocery delivery here.
READ MORE
FINALIZE YOUR PARK PLANS
Now that you have:
- Booked your lightning lanes
- Checked the weather
- Made all of your park priorities
...it's time to craft your park days! If you are a big planner (I see you!) you can input everything into the hourly breakdown section of each park day page in the DIY DREAM planner spreadsheet. If planning that in-depth is not your thing, everything else should have pre-filled from the Dashboard page onto each daily park day (with the exception of weather).
TODAY'S THE DAY!
We have finally reached your travel day! Hopefully this is also the day you check-in to your hotel too! There's just a few more things you need to do before you arrive at Disney World:
READ MORE
If any member of your party is a FL resident and purchased anything with a FL resident discount, you will need to verify your FL residency. You can do this a couple of different places:
- At the hotel lobby during check in
- At the Ticket Center in Disney Springs
- At the Ticket Center at any of the parks
FLORIDA RESIDENTS
READ MORE
You can easily check into your Disney World hotel (and select Good Neighbor hotels) on the MDE app. This saves time when you arrive, and Disney will text you your room number when it’s ready — no front desk visit needed. You can also request early check-in or specific room preferences.
ONLINE CHECK IN
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN I LEAVE THE PARK FOR A BREAK AND COME BACK LATER?
Yes, you can always leave and come back after a break, as long as you are returning to the same park (if you have base tickets).
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE A MID-AFTERNOON BREAK AND LEAVE THE PARK?
Midday (12–3 PM) is hottest and busiest, so it’s the perfect time to head back to the hotel for naps, pool time, or AC. Return around 4–5 PM for dinner, evening shows, and shorter wait times.
What if it rains? Should we still go to the park?
YES! Rain clears out crowds. Bring ponchos and enjoy shorter lines. Focus on indoor rides and character meets. Lightning may pause outdoor rides, but they reopen quickly.
Do I need to print anything or is it all digital now?
Pretty much everything is now digital. It is always recommended to screen shot EVERYTHING just in case the app glitches.
What if I forget something? Can I get it there?
Absolutely. Disney gift shops and resort stores carry basics (sunscreen, medicine, diapers, etc.). Target and Walgreens are also close to property if you need a quick ride-share trip. Don't forget most grocery stores deliver to resorts too!
WHAT SHOULD I DO THE NIGHT BEFORE I LEAVE?
- Lay out your first-day outfit and park bag
- Charge your phone + power bank
- Set multiple alarms
- Have breakfast or snacks ready to grab in the morning
- Get to bed early
YOU'RE FINISHED!
congratulations!
Can you believe that you planned this entire Disney World vacation all on your own?! Now go throw on some Mickey Ears and give yourself a high hive for all the hard work you have put into this thing!
I am so honored that you chose the DIY DREAM to make all your Disney World vacation dreams come true.
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DIY DREAM
THE ULTIMATE DIY DISNEY VACATION PLANNING COURSE
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