There is a lot that goes into getting ready for a Walt Disney World vacation. We have a lot of suggestions and tips at How to Disney to help you get ready. From trying to determine which amazing Walt Disney World Resort to stay at to creating a Park plan, we have suggestions to help you along the way.
One area you might not think about getting prepared for your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation is your phone. That’s right! Even your phone needs to be prepared for a successful trip to Walt Disney World.
With the increased importance of My Disney Experience, our phones have become an extremely important part of a Walt Disney World trip. Our phones can help us avoid long lines, get our food, and know when storms are heading in.
Take some time before you head to Walt Disney World to get your phone prepared with these suggestions.
My Disney Experience
As we mentioned before, the first and probably most important app that you will want to make sure you have on your phone is the My Disney Experience app.
This Disney planning app will be your key to the magic while at Disney World while you are in the Park and at the Disney Resort. This app allows you to check into your room, order food, see wait times and even know where the closest bathroom is located.
You will use this app constantly while on vacation, so make sure you download it before you get to Disney World. Take some time to browse the app to make sure you know how to find important aspects like mobile ordering or wait times.
There is so much information on the MDE app that you want to make sure you have it on your cell phone ready to go before you arrive at Disney.
We have a few posts on How to Disney that can help you navigate this app. Because it has so much to offer, we do recommend getting it downloaded prior to your trip. Take time to see where things are located within the app so you aren’t frustrated when you arrive.
Travel Apps
As you prepare to travel, don’t forget to download those important travel apps. Most airports now have their own apps which can be very helpful when it comes to navigated gates.
Having these apps will keep you up to speed on any changes or important information you might need regarding your travel plans. You can also now use your cell phone for your boarding pass, making it a lot harder to lose!
If you plan to use ride shares when in Walt Disney World, make sure that you have those apps downloaded and ready as well. This will save you time and hassle when it is time to use one.
Weather Apps
Another important app to make sure you have downloaded is a weather app. We suggest apps such as AccuWeather or Dark Sky, as they both do an outstanding job of giving minute-by-minute updates on when rain and storms are heading your way.
This can be extremely helpful while on your Disney trip, and you are trying to determine when to head to the parks, when to eat or when to catch a show. Having these apps lets you set up push notifications so you know about the rain before it happens.
This can be a huge game-changer when on your Disney vacation. Make sure you are prepared for the weather with our weather tips.
Medical Apps
We also recommend downloading any medical apps that you might want to use. If you have a company you prefer to use for virtual visits, have this information downloaded and an account made before leaving.
This will be extremely helpful if you have a medical need arise and need to make an appointment. Disney does a great job helping Guests with medical conditions, but make sure you are prepared, so you don’t have any major surprises during your Disney trip.
QR Codes
Make sure that your phone has a QR reader and that you know how to use it. Most phones now use the camera, but make sure you understand this feature. A lot of dining locations throughout Walt Disney World provide the menus using QR codes.
Knowing how to use this feature ahead of time will save you some stress when trying to get some food.
Make Room for Photos
This is something that many travelers don’t think about until they are in Walt Disney World and don’t have enough storage for all those pictures. Be aware that you will take a TON of photos and videos while on a Disney vacation, and you want to make sure you have room to keep them all.
Before heading down, consider clearing out some of your storage. Move those photos off your cell phone storage, so you have enough room to capture all the magical moments. We have suggestions of some great photo options HERE.
Practice Taking Photos
Some phones now have some amazing cameras. Look into your camera and learn about night mode and action modes to help you capture the best pictures possible. There is so much these cameras can do, so make sure that you are ready to capture those magical moments.
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom all have so many amazing visuals that you will want to capture while on your Disney vacation.
Get Entertainment Ready
Your cell phone can be a lifesaver while waiting in line at a theme Park. Download some entertainment like Heads Up or Disney’s Play Disney app, so you have something for little ones (and big ones) to do while waiting in line.
These are fun to do together and can keep everyone positive while waiting. Even if your family doesn’t typically allow electronic time, consider having these ready to go for backup.
Have a Charger
None of this will matter if your phone goes dead. The most important tip we have when it comes to cell phones in the Disney Parks is making sure they stay charged.
As you can tell, you rely on your cell phone a lot during your vacation to Walt Disney World and you don’t want to be stuck with a dead battery. Make sure you and everyone in your traveling party have a charger for their phone. This will make sure that you are prepared and ready to capture those magical moments.
Our cell phones have become extremely important to our Walt Disney World vacations. Making sure they are just as ready as we are for a vacation can really help make everything a lot smoother.
