- Mar 13, 2024
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For most people, walking into a Disney World hotel marks the start of a vacation — and we definitely agree with that!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The vibes are high, and the magic is in the air before you ever set foot in the parks, so what could be better than that?! We love staying in Disney World hotels for the convenience, the theming, and the feeling of never having to leave the Disney bubble. If you’re heading to the Most Magical Place on Earth soon, make sure you do these three things as soon as you get to your Disney World hotel!
When you get to your Disney World hotel, you may be tempted to use the Mobile Check-in feature in the My Disney Experience app. While that can be convenient in some cases, you’re almost always better off checking in at the Front Desk in person. When you check in on the app, the system will randomly assign you a room in the category you booked — but the Front Desk is different.
Front Desk at Art of Animation
Front Desk Cast Members will often find you the absolute BEST room in the category you booked, instead of assigning you a random one. This might be a room that’s closest to the elevators, transportation, dining, or the pool. You can also request specific rooms when checking in at the Front Desk, which is not something you can do online. If you have any special requests, like a crib, extra towels, or a roll-away bed, this is also when you can request those, too.
All-Star Movies Front Desk
Not only that, but if you’re celebrating something special, Front Desk Cast Members often have celebration buttons and will be more than happy to give you these FREE souvenirs for your trip, depending on what you’re celebrating! In most cases, speaking to an actual human instead of letting the system assign you a room will likely be your best bet.
Some Disney World resorts are HUGE and spread out. If it’s your first time staying at a particular hotel, it’s probably a good idea to map out your route to park transportation once you get there — so you know how long it will take you when you’re heading to the parks. Whether you’re planning on taking a bus, a boat, the Skyliner, or the Monorail, figuring out where your room is located in relation to transportation can save you time — and a bit of sanity — when it comes down to rope drop time.
Skyliner at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Luckily, each Disney World hotel is mapped out in the My Disney Experience app, which means it should be relatively easy for you to find the best route. It will even tell you how far a walk it is from your location! This is also a great tip for finding dining at your hotel — you don’t want to be wandering around all hangry!
Speaking of hangry, if you’ve had a long travel day, we think grabbing a bite to eat — and maybe even a drink from the pool bar or hotel lounge is another great thing to do when you first arrive. Being hungry on your first day is NO fun, and with so many fantastic restaurants around the Disney World hotels, you might even find a new favorite place to eat — especially if it’s your first time staying there.
You had us at Nachos
This can help prevent meltdowns (for both kiddos AND adults) and is usually a relatively relaxing activity for your first day at Disney World before hitting the parks.
We’ll be on the lookout for more Disney World hotel updates you need to know about. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more.
What do you do first when you get to your Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments below!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The vibes are high, and the magic is in the air before you ever set foot in the parks, so what could be better than that?! We love staying in Disney World hotels for the convenience, the theming, and the feeling of never having to leave the Disney bubble. If you’re heading to the Most Magical Place on Earth soon, make sure you do these three things as soon as you get to your Disney World hotel!
Check in at the front desk
When you get to your Disney World hotel, you may be tempted to use the Mobile Check-in feature in the My Disney Experience app. While that can be convenient in some cases, you’re almost always better off checking in at the Front Desk in person. When you check in on the app, the system will randomly assign you a room in the category you booked — but the Front Desk is different.
Front Desk at Art of Animation
Front Desk Cast Members will often find you the absolute BEST room in the category you booked, instead of assigning you a random one. This might be a room that’s closest to the elevators, transportation, dining, or the pool. You can also request specific rooms when checking in at the Front Desk, which is not something you can do online. If you have any special requests, like a crib, extra towels, or a roll-away bed, this is also when you can request those, too.
All-Star Movies Front Desk
Not only that, but if you’re celebrating something special, Front Desk Cast Members often have celebration buttons and will be more than happy to give you these FREE souvenirs for your trip, depending on what you’re celebrating! In most cases, speaking to an actual human instead of letting the system assign you a room will likely be your best bet.
Clock the transportation
Some Disney World resorts are HUGE and spread out. If it’s your first time staying at a particular hotel, it’s probably a good idea to map out your route to park transportation once you get there — so you know how long it will take you when you’re heading to the parks. Whether you’re planning on taking a bus, a boat, the Skyliner, or the Monorail, figuring out where your room is located in relation to transportation can save you time — and a bit of sanity — when it comes down to rope drop time.
Skyliner at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Luckily, each Disney World hotel is mapped out in the My Disney Experience app, which means it should be relatively easy for you to find the best route. It will even tell you how far a walk it is from your location! This is also a great tip for finding dining at your hotel — you don’t want to be wandering around all hangry!
Grab a bite to eat
Speaking of hangry, if you’ve had a long travel day, we think grabbing a bite to eat — and maybe even a drink from the pool bar or hotel lounge is another great thing to do when you first arrive. Being hungry on your first day is NO fun, and with so many fantastic restaurants around the Disney World hotels, you might even find a new favorite place to eat — especially if it’s your first time staying there.
You had us at Nachos
This can help prevent meltdowns (for both kiddos AND adults) and is usually a relatively relaxing activity for your first day at Disney World before hitting the parks.
We’ll be on the lookout for more Disney World hotel updates you need to know about. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more.
Check out more Disney World hotel news at the links below!
- Why Fans Are AVOIDING Disney Springs During These Two Weeks in 2026
- 6 Game-Changing Updates Announced for Disney World Hotels This Summer
- Why Disney World Could Be Empty in 2026
- NEWS: A Popular Disney World Bar Has Suddenly CLOSED
- CONFIRMED: 6 Disney World Hotel Perks Are Coming BACK in 2027
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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
YOU CAN, TOO.
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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
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What do you do first when you get to your Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments below!
