Whether you are a seasoned Park-Hopping veteran or a brand new Mouseketeer fresh off the monorail, you're going to want to download the My Disney Experience app if you plan on tackling any Disney Park. This little device is more than just a magical GPS, but a potential lifesaver during your vacation.
There are a mini number of things the app can help you with, from the beginning of your vacation to your departure. Why are we talking up this magical program? Well, sit back, relax, and keep all hands and legs inside the car at all times as we look at just a few things you can do with My Disney Experience.
Plan Your Vacation
For starters, let's get a few housekeeping things out of the way by starting with the basics. You can essentially build an entire Disney vacation from the palm of your hand thanks to this app. Not only can you pick and choose your tickets, hotels, and other necessities, but you can cater to every single need you might have.
It's 2020, there's an app for everything including the Disney Parks. With the right know-how, planning your vacation can be as easy as a press of a button. You can buy your tickets, pick your plans, and even check into your hotel. As the saying goes, there's an app for that.
Make Reservations
If you don't want to waste time in line for reservations, hotels, or whatever, you can do it all from the comfort of the app. You can make a reservation for a restaurant, manage your Fastpass+, and essentially plan ahead for whatever the days might bring. Keep in mind, it's best to do this before you set foot in the park.
Certain venues like popular restaurants or shows might have an extensive waiting time. So it's always a good idea to plan ahead and reserve early. It's also worth noting that making reservations for evening engagements and entertainment is also wise, depending on how late you plan on staying.
Have a Park Map in Your Pocket
We know this one's painfully obvious, but it's one people seem to forget more than once. As long as you have the My Disney Experience app, you essentially have a map to every part in your pocket. The map will track your location and its proximity to whatever it is you're trying to find at any time of the day and at any park.
You can even narrow down your search to find anything you could possibly desire, whether that be a certain ride, a certain restaurant, or even a certain price range. Whatever you're looking for, you can find it with ease whenever you use this app.
Check Wait Times
Not only can you find rides and attractions within proximity, but you can also narrow down your search results by wait times. If Space Mountain has a long wait, look and see what you can do to kill time between now and then. You can also check whenever the wait times shift and beat the crowds.
This is essential for those visiting the parts for the thrill rides. Nobody wants to wait two hours to ride Big Thunder Mountain, but you can beat the crowds if you keep an eye on the time. It's all a matter of management.
Manage your Photos/Photopass
Like the song goes, taking pictures is making memories. And nobody handles your memories with better care than the Disney PhotoPass crew. Not only can you go through your Disney PhotoPass Gallery, but you can purchase pictures directly from the app. Some packages might be a little pricey, but some pictures are worth it.
Let's get real, not all of us are professional photographers and not all of us are going to take good pictures on our trip, no matter what kind of phone or camera we might own. With the apps PhotoPass feature, we have a sort of security feature whether we decide to purchase the photos or not. It might seem like a minor detail, but it helps in the long run.
Check Show Schedules
The Disney parks have loads of different stage shows For Your Entertainment, whether you favor the stage show at the castle with Mickey and friends, Fantasmic, or the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, you probably know from experience that early birds get the best seats. With this app, you can take some of the stress away.
Keeping an eye on the time will help you manage when to arrive for the show, and sometimes reservation options are even available Such as the Fantasmic Fastpass+. No matter what show you see however managing your time can easily put you at peace of mind.
Shop and Find Merch
Every hardcore Disney fan knows that the real Disney money is in the merchandise. Whether you're looking for a collectible pin, a specific t-shirt, or a stuffed animal version of your favorite Disney pal, sometimes shopping can be a bit of a pain. Fear not, the app has you covered in more ways than one.
Not only can you shop from the app for various pieces of Disney merch in and out of the parks, but you can also use it to find where they sell a specific item if a shop happens to be sold out. We can tell you from experience that this feature has saved us a ton in the past, so be sure to take advantage.
Look at Restaurant Menus
Slipping through Disney is bound to build up your appetite. Fortunately, the parks have more than enough eating establishments to satisfy even Winnie the Pooh's cravings. Whether you're looking for quick service or table service restaurants, with the Disney Experience app, you'll find what you're looking for and more.
Not only can you make reservations, but you can also see menus and locations for whatever eats and treats you desire. You can also see which restaurants will better fit your budget, whatever that might be. You don't have to break the bank, but you don't have to go hungry either.
Find Characters
This might seem like a minor tip but if you're anything like us, the character meet-and-greets are a key component in your trip. Especially if you're traveling with younger yeah. With the My Disney Experience app, you can see exactly which characters are out and where they are.
The Disney parks will no doubt have several famous faces of the big and small screen mingling with guests at any time of the day. The problem is some are easier to find than others. Fortunately, with the tap of a button, you can find just about any Disney character out and about. From Mickey to Mulan, you'll know when to meet them and where to find them.
Interact with Play Disney Parks
Along with the Play Disney Parks app, guests can interact and play games in different areas of the park while they're waiting for their attractions. Search compatible attractions include Toy Story Mania, Rafiki's Planet Watch, Peter Pan's Flight, and Space Mountain just to name a few.
Sometimes it's as simple as a set of mini-games, other times it interacts with the environment to bring the Disney magic to life. Either way, it's a nifty little feature created by Disney to further pull the guests into their famously immersive parks. With all that in mind, you can't say Disney hasn't gotten with the modern era.