Before we dive into things we have learned over the course of our recent trips, and in wedding planning, the biggest piece of advice we can give is to reach out to Lyndsey at Attraction Tickets (attractiontickets_lyndsey on Instagram); whether for Disney, Universal or beyond- she's a fount of knowledge (and will be able to secure you a great price!)

Practical Tips

- Stay Hydrated: there are increasing numbers of water fountains/bottle-fill stations around the parks

- Sunscreen (obviously!)

- Comfortable Shoes: you will likely walk a LOT (think 25k+ steps!)

- Weather: generally warm days and cooler evenings, so bring layers!

The biggest tip we can share after our recent trips is:

Pick a few key experiences for each day, and otherwise just enjoy the atmosphere; it’s all part of the magic.

If you’re planning to visit Walt Disney World during your stay, we’ve put together a few tips to help you make the most of your time.

It can feel a little overwhelming at first, but with a bit of planning, it’s incredibly easy to have a magical experience.

Park Tickets

If you are planning to visit 3 or fewer parks, over 3 or fewer days, you can book these with Lyndsey at Attraction Tickets from November 2026. You will need to know which parks you want to visit, and on which dates.

If you plan to visit more than 3 parks, over any more than 3 days, the best option is to purchase a 14-Day Magic Ticket (only available to guests from the UK).

These tickets have a number of benefits:

- Access to all Disney theme parks & water parks

- Visit multiple parks per day

- Memory Maker (PhotoPass) included, worth $210!

- Mini-golf, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and more

- You can visit on any 14 Days across an 18 Day window that starts on your first visit

Park reservations are no longer always required (subject to change)

Lightning Lanes

Gone are the days of the FastPass (RIP), and Lightning Lanes have replaced Genie+. In essence, this is a paid system to skip queues for popular rides.

There are two types of Lightning Lane:

1. Multi Pass (formerly Genie+)

* Access to multiple rides throughout the day

* Book up to three rides at a time via the app

* Can be booked up to 7 days in advance of your trip (for the total length of your trip) if staying onsite

* Can be booked up to 3 days in advance if staying offsite

* Costs vary by park and by day (generally between $15-and $40 per person)

2. Single Pass (Individual rides)

* Pay for specific high-demand rides (eg, Rise of the Resistance, Tron, Flight of Passage, Cosmic Rewind...)

* Prices vary, but typically cost between $13 and $25 per person, per ride

The system can seem overwhelming, but it is possible to build a strategy that will work for you and your party, depending what your priorities are. There are a multitude of resources online too, such as DFB and WDW Prep School, and we are more than happy to help, of course!

My Disney Experience App

We 100% recommend downloading the app ahead of your trip as it allows you to:

- Check wait times and show times

- Book Lightning Lanes

- Mobile order food

- View maps and transport

- Check into, and enter, your Resort room

Dining at Disney

As you can see from our photos, this is one of our favourite things to do at Disney! Some of our tips regarding Dining at Disney are:

- Identify some places you would like to visit (ask us for our recommendations!); the Disney Food Blog is GREAT for this!

- Find out which sit-down restaurants and lounges require an Advanced Dining Reservation and book these 60 days out from your trip through the My Disney Experience app (you can book 60 days, plus up to 10 days of your trip, if staying onsite)

- For lounges and restaurants that have a walk-up waitlist, make a vague plan of how and when you can join these

Types of Dining at Disney:

- Lounges (bar service, some great options here- some require ADRs)

- Quick-service (fast, no booking required)

- Table-service (sit-down, ADRs often required)

- Character Dining (ADRs strongly recommended)

Even if you don’t plan everything in advance, there are always plenty of great options available throughout the parks. Often more reservations are released as you get closer to your trip, so keep checking on the app!

Timing Your Day

- Arrive Early (use Early Entry if you are staying onsite!) as this is the best time for shorter queues, and temperatures are cooler!

- Stay Late as evenings tend to be more relaxed (the parks take on a whole new kind of magic at night, not to mention fireworks, parades and shows!)

A good general strategy could be:

- Morning: rides

- Afternoon: go-slow, take in the atmosphere (try ALL of the food!), watch the shows

- Evening: soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the fireworks

If you’re planning to visit Universal Orlando during your stay, it’s a fantastic addition to your trip, particularly for thrill rides and immersive experiences like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal is generally a little easier to navigate than Walt Disney World, but a few tips can still help you make the most of your time.

Universal Orlando Resort includes:

- Universal Studios Florida film-based attractions and shows

- Islands of Adventure more thrill rides and adventure lands

- Epic Universe a brand new theme park with multiple, immersive worlds

Volcano Bay (a fantastic water park) will, sadly, be closed until 24 March 2027.

Tickets

If you are planning to visit more than one Universal Park, or visit on more than one day, best value can be found in purchasing a 14 Day, All Parks ticket (again, Lyndsey is your go-to for this!)

An All Parks ticket is also needed should you wish to take the Hogwarts Express from London to Hogsmeade!

As with Disney, Express Passes are definitely worth considering to skip what can be very long queues (especially at Epic Universe!) These are priced from £123-£429 pp, depending on the number of parks/days (which you select in advance).

Food & Dining

- Generally more casual than Disney

- Lots of themed dining options

- CityWalk (next to the parks) is great for restaurants and evening drinks

Timing Your Day

- Arrive Early: Popular rides fill up quickly

- Ride Strategy: biggest rides (Hagrids, VelociCoaster) first

- Evenings: slightly quieter, great atmosphere (no shows, fireworks or parades)

Epic Universe is stunning at night!

(Free) Lockers are required for some rides.

Invited children are very much welcome at our ceremony and full reception!

If you’re travelling with children, Walt Disney World and the surrounding area are incredibly family-friendly, with plenty of facilities and services available to make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Obviously we have not done this, but we have tried our best to gain as much intel as possible. There are lots of resources online that will help, but we've included some things to consider here:

Childcare Options

In-room babysitting services are available through trusted local providers (such as Kid's Night Out), and in-park nanny services through providers such as Storybook Nannies.

Baby Care Centres

Each Disney park has a Baby Care Centre, offering quiet spaces for feeding, changing, and taking a break from the parks.

Equipment Hire

You can rent single and double strollers at all Disney Parks and Disney Springs ($13-$15 for a single; $27-$31 for a double).

OR

There are some vendors you can rent from which will deliver to your hotel/resort:

- Kingdom Strollers

- Orlando Stroller Rentals

Both rent cots/beds and other equipment.

We did see a number of families using foldable wagons, which we didn't see in 2023!

Dining with Children

- High chairs are widely available

- Children’s menus almost everywhere

Rider Switch

Both Universal and Disney Parks offer Child-Swap: one adult rides, the other waits with the child, then swap without queuing again.

Ride Height Requirements (Briefly)

Many rides at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando have minimum height requirements for safety reasons. These can vary between attractions, so we’ve included a helpful guide to some of the most popular rides below:

Walt Disney World

* No Height Requirement

It’s a Small World

Peter Pan’s Flight

Pirates of the Caribbean

Frozen Ever After

* 97 cm (38”)

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

* 102 cm (40”)

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Soarin’ Around the World

Test Track

Star Tours

* 112 cm (44”)

Space Mountain

* 122 cm (48”)

Expedition Everest

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

* 137 cm (54”)

TRON Lightcycle Run

Universal Orlando Resort

* No Height Requirement

Hogwarts Express

Caro-Seuss-el

One Fish, Two Fish

* 92 cm (36”)

Pteranodon Flyers (child must be under a certain height as well)

* 102 cm (40”)

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

The Simpsons Ride

* 107 cm (42”)

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

* 122 cm (48”)

Escape from Gringotts

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

* 137 cm (54”)

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

VelociCoaster

We completely understand that travelling with children requires a little extra planning, and we hope this information helps make things as easy and enjoyable as possible- if there's any other info we can provide, please let us know!