Disney World vacations are pricier and more complicated than ever — but one expert knows the secrets to a perfect trip

Disney World may still be The Happiest Place — but now more than ever, those who go without planning ahead shouldn’t be alarmed when their dream vacation turns into a budget-busting boondoggle.

Long lines, rising prices and big crowds (58 million visitors a year, at last check!) have overwhelmed visitors without a strategy for years. Now, however, there’s even more you’ll need to anticipate — and figure out how to work around.

Supposing you haven’t been to the House of Mouse in a few years — have you heard about all the policy changes?

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From dynamic pricing to new systems for skipping lines, mandatory park reservations and the Disney app visitors are expected to use now, the new list of stuff to know is growing longer every year.

Fortunately, to the rescue comes Jaimie Michaels, editor of MagicGuides, which specializes in Disney travel planning. Ensuring families get the most from their trip is the site’s mission.

Michaels shared six of her top tips for those looking to have the best experience at one of the world’s most popular — and at times, most complex — attractions.

Plan well, however, the expert says, and all you’ll have to do when you show up is have the time of your life.

Here’s what to know, directly from the pro:

Start planning early to secure the best deals 

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Planning a Disney trip should ideally be done well in advance. Spending about a year preparing and saving is a good idea, and paying for your trip around six months before your desired travel date is recommended.

Disney releases special offers and discounts for tickets and rooms three to six months in advance. 

Visit during off-peak times: mid-January to mid-March and mid-September to mid-November

Avoiding peak times can save you a lot of hassle waiting in line during your trip. Additionally, visiting during less popular periods may allow you to find cheaper prices for hotels.

On average, holiday periods such as New Year’s, Halloween, Christmas, and the Fourth of July are always busy. Ideal times to visit are between mid-January and mid-March, and then from mid-September to mid-November (excluding the Halloween period).

These times are better to go as they have historically had fewer visitors due to children being in school and aren’t during holiday seasons.

Additionally, Tuesday to Thursday are generally less crowded days and weekends will prove busiest. 

New attractions and rides tend to draw big crowds, so be mindful of new openings too.

Strategize and plan to visit more popular rides first thing in the morning or late at night 

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Average wait times during peak periods can be up to 44 minutes, with some lines exceeding an hour. This is something to avoid where possible. During the day, the quietest times are early in the morning as soon as the park opens, or later at night if the park stays open past 9 p.m. 

For rides specifically, ‘rope dropping’ can be an effective way to experience attractions that usually have long wait times.

This involves arriving at the park early before rides open, and waiting to be among the first to board.

You’re essentially waiting for the rope around the queue line to ‘drop’ so you can be at the front of the line. It can also be beneficial to wait until the evening to ride more popular rides as these will have shorter queues closer to the park’s closing.

In the meantime, try and attend the rides and shows which are less busy during the day to maximize your time.

Hollywood Studios and Epcot typically remain open until 9 p.m., meaning that after 7 p.m., rides tend to be less crowded as families go for dinner and smaller children go to bed. 

Maximize time by using Lightning Lane passes

Guests can now purchase Lightning Lane passes ahead of their trip — up to 7 days in advance of check-in if staying at a Disney Resort Hotel for stays of less than 14 days.

With the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, visitors can pre-select up to three attractions per day to skip the queue (and try for even more selections once in the park).

Some rides are excluded from the Multi Pass, but you can use a Single Pass for attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy, Flight of Passage, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

The Single Pass, capped at two per day, allows you to skip the line for one ride. If you are an infrequent Disney visitor, it can be worth justifying the cost to make the best use of your time.  

Make dinner reservations as soon as possible to access the best spots 

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It is important to book your dining reservations as early as possible as popular locations fill up fast. You can make these reservations up to 60 days in advance.

Popular restaurants include the Space 220 Restaurant, Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table and ‘Ohana. These have a limited number of tables, and you must book ahead.

You can book reservations through the My Disney Experience app, there is a chance to try in-person walk-ups, though there is no guarantee you will get a spot at all if you resort to this.

It is better to reserve as soon as possible, well ahead of your trip. 

Use the My Disney Experience app like a pro

Another tip is to install the My Disney Experience app ahead of time. The app allows you to access the key services which helps you maximize your day.

The My Disney Experience app allows you to access a map of the parks so you can see dining options, restrooms, how long the queues are as well as where characters are.  

Additionally, you can also manage your trip through the app, including contactless payments, theme park entry, and PhotoPass. For dining, you can use the app to order food before you arrive at the pickup location.

Once you arrive at the food stall, you let the app know you are there and it sends the order through, allowing you to skip queues and pick up your items once they are ready.