The Best Practices for Planning a Trip to Disney

4. Don't Get Scammed

If you booked your vacation as a package through Disney, your tickets are already included in the price of your vacation. If you are purchasing your tickets separately, beware of scammers. Only buy tickets online from Disney’s website, at the gates once you get to the parks or from a seller that is listed as an authorized Disney ticket seller. Lots of Disney World ticket scams are out there, and if you’re not careful, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars for tickets that are used or fake. Never, ever purchase tickets on eBay or Craigslist because there’s no way to know what you’re getting until you’re at the parks, and if you’ve been scammed, that’s a terrible time to find out!

5. Read up and research

If you’ve never been to Walt Disney World, it’s a good idea to read about all there is to do, see and experience while you’re there. And even if you’ve been many times, it’s a good idea to re-familiarize yourself with shows, attractions, rides and nighttime experiences, as Disney is always growing and evolving to guarantee Guests the best experience possible. Visit the Disney World Official Site for information on everything from resort hotels and restaurants to attractions, rides and more. You can also purchase the current year’s edition of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World and Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World for Kids. And checkout DisneyFanatic and HowToDisney for the latest about all that’s new at the parks.

6. Buy your park bag

If you’re going to Disney World, you need a park bag. This is true whether you’re traveling alone or in a large group. It’s so helpful to have essentials right at your fingertips. A park bag is great for carrying things with you like sunscreen, ponchos, pairs of dry socks (in case yours get wet from rain or water rides), lip balm, credit and gift cards, portable chargers, Disney trading pins and more. Backpacks work best because they can be worn instead of being carried.