United States Florida The Grandparent's Planning Guide to Walt Disney World By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher Suzanne Rowan Kelleher Instagram LinkedIn Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a nationally recognized family travel expert and an award-winning travel writer and editor. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/26/19 Planning a trip to Disney World with your grandkids? A recent Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts survey revealed that one in five grandparents have been on a Disney vacation with grandchildren. The same survey showed that 54 percent of grandparents in the US wish that they could spend more time with their grandkids. At twice the size of Manhattan, Disney World can be an overwhelming place unless you take advantage of advice from others who've been there. Follow these tips to make the most of your time, energy, and money, and for more information, visit Disney World's Grand Adventure web site. 01 of 21 Set Up a Savings Strategy Walt Disney Parks Planning for a future trip that's still a year or more away? Consider the Disney vacation account, which lets you budget and schedule automatic contributions into a designated savings fund. 02 of 21 Go When Crowds Are Thinner Walt Disney Parks Hate standing in long lines? If you want to spend more time enjoying Disney World's rides and attractions, it can be worthwhile to time your trip for when the parks are at their least crowded. Not surprisingly, that will mean avoiding holiday periods, school breaks and summer vacation. 03 of 21 Visit When Hotel Prices Are at Their Lowest Walt Disney Parks On a budget? Timing is perhaps the single most important factor to consider. The best time to visit Disney World is when crowds, prices, and temperatures are all bearable. If your grandkids are still in preschool, you should definitely visit when big kids are in school. 04 of 21 Score a Great Deal Walt Disney Parks Looking to score a great deal on a Disney vacation? Your getaway will be even more magical if you land an affordable price. Here’s a selection of special offers that are currently available at Disney World and other Disney vacations. Continue to 5 of 21 below. 05 of 21 Meet Your Favorite Disney Characters Walt Disney Parks For many kids, meeting a beloved character is a highlight of any Disney World trip. If your grandchild has a favorite character, don't leave it up to chance. Disney's MyMagic+ planning system makes it easy to get organized and schedule character experiences (as well as dining, rides, and other attractions) even before you leave home. 06 of 21 Come With a Strategy for Dealing With Crowds Walt Disney Parks Nobody sets out with the goal to visit Disney World when it's super crowded, but sometimes crowds are simply impossible to avoid. Here's how to minimize the wait time for rides and attractions any time of year, and especially when crowds are massive. 07 of 21 Do Something You Never Knew You Could Do at Disney World Walt Disney Parks So you already knew you could ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and meet Anna and Elsa from "Frozen." But did you know that there's much more to Disney World than rides and characters? These fun and unique experiences are guaranteed to make your visit even more memorable. 08 of 21 Got More Than Four People? Stay Here Kent Phillips/Walt Disney Parks For larger families of five or more people, the typical standard room just isn't big enough yet ponying up for two rooms is pricey and inconvenient. Luckily, you have plenty of options at Disney World. Here's a range of solutions for families of five or more, and for every budget. Continue to 9 of 21 below. 09 of 21 Stop Worrying About the 'Perfect' Age Walt Disney Parks Folks often stress about when to introduce kids to Disney World, but the perfect age is whenever you can make it happen. Whether your grandchild is 2 or 12, the first Disney World vacation can be magical. 10 of 21 Have a Game Plan for Toddlers Garth Vaughan/Walt Disney World Since theme park admission is free for kids under age 3, many families try to come at least once before a child's third birthday. Visiting Disney World with a toddler? Here are tips for squeezing the most out of your trip. 11 of 21 Put on Your Tiara Walt Disney Parks If your grandchild is obsessed with Disney princesses, the chance to meet one in person will likely be a high priority of any trip to Disney World. Here's where to dine like—and with—a princess. 12 of 21 Consider a Good-Value Hotel Walt Disney Parks Want to cut costs? Consider choosing one of the hotels in Disney's value category or staying at Disney's campground. No matter which property you choose, you'll get the same resort benefits as you would at the pricier hotels at Disney World, but at a fraction of the cost. Continue to 13 of 21 below. 13 of 21 Or Pick a Hotel With an Awesome Pool Walt Disney Parks Did you hear the one about the kid whose favorite thing about Disney World was the hotel swimming pool? The old cliché holds a lot of truth; children just love to play in the water and the highly themed pools at Disney World Resorts are nothing short of tremendous. 14 of 21 Consider Splurging for Dessert With a View Walt Disney Parks Disney World's fireworks spectaculars are jaw-droppingly fantastic, but after a long day in the parks, the last thing you may want to deal with is crowds. Looking for a really special, low-stress experience to cap off your day? Consider attending one of the ticketed dessert parties held during the fireworks spectaculars. 15 of 21 Have a Game Plan for Tweens and Teens Walt Disney Parks One of the best things about Disney World vacations is that your experience will evolve as a kid grows up, so no two trips are quite the same. Here's the side of Disney World any teen is guaranteed to love. 16 of 21 Get to Know Disney's Official App and FastPass+ Mark Ashman/Walt Disney Parks Want to lock in ride times and dining experiences? There's an app for that. Disney has rolled out an innovative new planning tool called My Disney Experience, which has essentially replaced the old paper ticketing system by combining a powerful smartphone app with MagicBand bracelets. The app lets you program your attractions and dining experiences with FastPass+. Here's a quick primer to get you started. Continue to 17 of 21 below. 17 of 21 Stay Cool Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney Parks On a sweltering day in Disney World, nothing can kill the fun like overheated kids. Letting them get doused with cold water can be just the ticket. Luckily, you'll find plenty of splashy attractions that offer a refreshing spritz or spray of H20. Alternatively, head to one of our favorite Disney World ice cream shops. 18 of 21 Power Shop for Souvenirs With Your Smartphone Walt Disney Parks Disney has launched a new shopping app that solves this and other problems for souvenir hunters. The Shop Disney Parks app provides access to merchandise available all over Disney World. you can search for a specific item or scan the barcode of an item with your phone. The app lets you deliver your purchases to the front of theme parks, to your Disney resort hotel, or directly to your home. 19 of 21 Have a Rainy-Day Game Plan Walt Disney Parks Heading to Disney World in the summertime? Better pack your rain poncho. While it can and does rain throughout the year in Orlando, summer is the wettest season, with the average rainfall at its highest June through August. Check out some favorite rainy-day activities to keep you busy until the clouds part. 20 of 21 Get Excited About What's Coming Soon Walt Disney Parks At twice the size of Manhattan, Walt Disney World encompasses four theme parks, 24 resorts, two waterparks, five golf courses, as well as dining and entertainment galore. Best of all, there's always something new to look forward to. Find out about upcoming hotels, events, and attractions. Continue to 21 of 21 below. 21 of 21 Snag Free Dining Walt Disney Parks Like the idea of an all-inclusive Disney World vacation? During certain times of the year, you can save big with a package that includes the Disney Dining Plan. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email