My Disney Experience -- The Online Planning Tool for Your Walt Disney World Vacation | the disney food blog (2024)

My Disney Experience is an online vacation planning tool for Walt Disney World Resort guests. My Disney Experience made its debut in early 2013,offering guests the opportunity to plan and experience their Walt Disney World vacation in an entirely new way!

From the very start of your vacation planning to the final day of your trip, My Disney Experience offers several features to help you make the most of your Walt Disney World vacation.Here we are exploring everything My Disney Experience has to offer, beginning with how you can set up your own free My Disney Experience account. BUT FIRST…

If you would like to jump to a specific topic, simply click any of the links below:

• My Disney Experience — Getting Started and Registering for an Account
• My Disney Experience — Before Your Trip
  • Reserve Dining
  • View Your Plans
• My Disney Experience — At Your Resort Hotel
  • Online Check-In
  • Digital Room Key
  • Virtual Chat with Guest Services
  • Bus Transportation Schedule
  • Check Out
• My Disney Experience — In the Parks and Around the Resort
  • Disney Genie
  • Navigating the Theme Parks
  • Guest Services
  • Virtual Assistant
  • Joining Virtual Queues for In-Demand Rides
  • Cast Member Compliments
  • Setting Up a MagicBand+
  • Using Disney MagicMobile
  • Disney PhotoPass Service
  • Special Event Information
  • Parking Lot Car Locator
• My Disney Experience — Dining Features
  • Mobile Order — Quick Service Restaurants
  • Mobile Order — Table Service To-Go
  • Mobile Dine Check-In
  • Check Walk-up Dining Availability
  • Track Disney Dining Plan Credits
• Disney MagicMobile Service
• Mobile Checkout at Merchandise Locations
• Need Assistance?

My Disney Experience — Getting Started

Register for an Account

All you need to get started with My Disney Experience is a Disney account, which you can register for on the Walt Disney World website.

It’s also highly recommended that you install the corresponding My Disney Experience app on your smart device (free for iOS and Android), which will offer you additional features that will be especially helpful during your trip.

From here you can:

1. Set up your Profile with the requested information.

2. so you can make and share plans with your traveling group. Essentially, linking ensures that your entire group has access to the same dining reservations, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane selections, and more. (You can search for someone by their name, phone number, and email address — as long as they have chosen to make themselves searchable. Just click “Allow” when asked if you’d like to allow others to find you.)

3. Link your Reservations and Park Tickets. (Note that if tickets are included in your Vacation Package, you do not need to link them separately.)

4. Make and manage your plans!

And, if you enjoy vacation planning as much as we do, THIS is where the real fun starts…

My Disney Experience — Before Your Trip

Reserve Dining

You can also use My Disney Experience to make and modify dining reservations for participating Table Service restaurants throughout Walt Disney World prior to your trip.

On My Disney Experience, the process starts by selecting Check Dining Availability. The window to make Advance Dining Reservations opens up 60-days ahead of when you wish to dine, and you can learn more about the process by clicking here.

View Your Plans

You can view any plans you’ve made in advance of your trip under “Future Plans” online or in the app.

These include any Advance Dining Reservations, booked Tours or experiences, and the like!

Click HERE to see everything you can do on My Disney Experience BEFORE your trip!

Countdown Clock

And, just for fun… A vacation countdown clock is accessible to all Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort guestswith ahotel reservation. To find it, firstnavigate to the home screenof your My Disney Experience app.

When you click on your reservation, the clock should appear at the top of your screen!

My Disney Experience — At Your Resort Hotel

Once you arrive in Walt Disney World, you can utilize My Disney Experience in many additional ways.

Online Check-In

If you’re staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can use My Disney Experience to check in to your Disney Resort up to 60 days ahead of your trip and bypass the front desk upon arrival with the Online Check-In feature.

You will be notified via text when your room is ready! And once it is, you can use the next feature.

Digital Key

The Digital Key feature allows guests to unlock their Resort room with their smart device! By enabling Bluetooth, you can view your Disney Resort hotel reservation in My Disney Experience, and can select “Unlock Door.”

Upon giving the appropriate permissions, simply hold your mobile device against the door lock to enter.

Note that you may also opt to use your MagicBand or MagicBand+ to unlock your room.

Virtual Chat

As a resort guest, you should see a new option pop up on the menu screen of your My Disney Experience app once you are at your Resort.

Just click on the button that says “Chat with Us” if you have a question, concern, or request and you’ll be able to chat with a cast member.

Bus Transportation Schedule

If you’re relying on Disney transportation, My Disney Experience allows Resort guests to see real-time estimates for when the next buses will depart from their Disney hotel, as well as when they will arrive at their destination!

The estimates include bus times for all four theme parks, both Disney water parks, and Disney Springs. The “See Bus Times” feature will become available for viewing on your device when you are staying at a Disney World Resort hotel under an active reservation.

Check Out

Guests may always opt for the automatic check out, which takes place on the scheduled check-out date at 11AM. However, guests may now opt to use a check out service through the My Disney Experience app instead. Through this mobile check out service, you’ll be able to check out through the app after you’ve left your room.

To use this feature, you’ll need to have a credit card on file or have a zero-dollar balance. You can first ensure that you meet those criteria by opening the My Disney Experience app, going to your reservation details, and selecting “view charges.”

Once you’ve done that, and you’ve confirmed that you qualify for this feature, you can view and approve the charges. Then you’llhit “check out now” in the “Mobile Resort Checkout module” to start the checkout process.

My Disney Experience — In the Theme Parks and Around the Resort

The My Disney Experience app offers LOTS of additional features to help you make the most of your visit to any of the four Walt Disney World theme parks: EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.

Disney Genie

OnOctober 19, 2021,a new service made its debut within the My Disney Experience app.Disney Genieprovideson-the-go planning toolsandcustomized itinerariesto help guests maximize their time in the parks!

Thestandard Disney Genie— which includes features likedining tips, recommendations for when to head to your next attractions, andenhancements to the Disability Access Service— isa complimentary service.

There are alsooptional add-ons available for a fee.TWO different options are available, and they allow guests tobypass the standby lines for attractionsand instead enter theLightning Lane. TheDisney Genie+ base-price option—starting at $15*per person, per day— allows guests to select the next available time to arrive at an attraction and enter that attraction’s Lightning Lane at over 50 attractions across the four Disney World theme parks.(*Prices vary by date, and Lightning Lane access issubject to availability.)

And another paid option is available forDIFFERENT —andmore in-demand — attractions.Disney’s Individual Attraction Selectionservice(pay-per-ride)is how guests can pay a fee to utilize theLightning Lane for an individual attraction.

There is a LOT to learn about this new service, so you canfind ALL the info you need HERE.

CLICK HERE to learn everything you NEED to know about Disney Genie!

Navigating the Theme Parks

Outside of Disney Genie, you can navigate your way around the park with a park mapand can also use the app to find locations such as Guest Services, restrooms, restaurants, merchandise locations, and even PhotoPass photo spots (including Character Greeting locations that have a PhotoPass photographer present).

And to help make the most of your time, you can view park hours, attraction Wait Times, entertainment options and show times, attraction refurbishment schedules, and more. You can even find information and wait times for Character Meet and Greets.

Say you’d like to meet Jack Sparrow, for instance… when you see him appear on the list, simply click to find the times he’ll be making appearances!

You can even view menus for individual restaurants and snack kiosks to help you choose where you might like to dine!

Guest Services

When you filter to Guest Services under “Select Categories” in the expansion menu, you may be surprised by the wealth of information you can access right at your fingertips!

Guest Servies features include — but are not limited to — the following:

• ATMs
• Car Care Center and Car Rentals
• Coin Press Machines
• Designated Smoking areas
• Information for Service Animals
• Services for Guests with Disabilities
• Lost and Found Locations
• Mobile Charging Stations
• Stroller, ECV, and Wheelchair Rentals
• Disney Transportation options
• Picture Spots
• Restrooms
• … and MORE!

And as part of Disney’s partnership with AdventHealth, there is a section on the app called Guest Care Health Services. You can find it by typing “Advent” in the app’s Search Tool as seen below.

Should guests find themselves in need of non-emergency medical assistance during their trip and are not sure where to turn, this is a great place to start! Below are just a few examples of what kind of services you can get quick answers to:

You can see the range of virtual care services here!

Chatting with a Virtual Assistant

What are today’spark hours? How do yourent a wheelchair? What are the details about other rentals in Disney World? You’ve got questions, Disney has answers. But sometimesgetting on the phone with Disney or chatting with a Cast Member through the My Disney Experience app can take a LONG time. So…what do you do?

Disney World offers a “virtual assistant” feature within the Disney app chat function (under “Chat With Us”).

While the virtual assistant function can’t answer all of your questions, it can be helpful to get some basic (and sometimes critical) information sooner than a Cast Member may be available via chat. So, the next time you have a basic question, head to the chat and see if the virtual assistant can help. If not, you can tap the “Get a Cast Member” to speak with someone,call Disney directly, or speak with Cast Members in the parks.

Click HERE to learn to navigate the Virtual Assistant feature!

Joining Virtual Queues for Attractions

Disney parks often utilize a Virtual Queue as a line management tool for new attractions during their opening months. A Virtual Queue, for instance, is in place for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which opened in EPCOT on May 27, 2022. (A Standby line is NOT currently available for this attraction.)

The key to joining the virtual queue lies in your My Disney Experience app.

You can learn about the entire process for joining the virtual queue here.

Click HERE to learn the ins-and-outs of joining a Virtual Queue!

Get Directions

Wondering how to get from here to there around Disney World? You can find directions on the My Disney Experience App. Just search for your destination (using the search feature, which is the little magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen) and click “Get Directions.”

Enter your starting point, and directions will pop up!

You will be notified of all the ways you can utilize free Disney World Transportation to get to your desired destination.

Cast Member Compliments

Has a Disney World Cast Member helped you or added some extra magic to your vacation? You’ll find a section on the My Disney Experience app forsharing Cast Member appreciation.

To leave a mobile Cast Compliment,open the app and search “Cast Compliment.”From there, you can enter the reason for your compliment, the location, name, hometown, and date of your interaction so that they can be recognized for their amazing work!

By the way, the names and hometowns (or college) of Cast Members can be seen on the Cast Member nametags.

But if you didn’t happen to see the Cast Member’s name, you can still leave a compliment by describing the location where they assisted you and created a little extra magic!

Setting Up a MagicBand+

MagicBandsare the wearable technology(a band worn on the wrist containing a Radio-Frequency Identification orRFID chip)that connects — or “unlocks” — all the experiences booked throughMy Disney Experienceonce guests arrive at Walt Disney World.

MagicBand+ is a NEW type of INTERACTIVE MagicBand. Guests who purchase a MagicBand+ will use the My Disney Experience app to set up their new MagicBand+. Follow the instructions on the app to (1) link your MagicBand+ toyour Disney account, (2) assign it to a guest, and (3) pair it to your phone.

The My Disney Experience App also informs if your band is charged and if the software is up to date.

Click HERE for a Step-By-Step Guide for setting up a MagicBand+ with My Disney Experience!

Disney MagicMobile Service

If you prefer not to purchase a MagicBand, no worries! Disney MagicMobile (available through the My Disney Experience app) allows guests to access those same features of a MagicBand directly from their smart device.

You canenter theme parks (with yourvalid admission),connectPhotoPassphotos, andaccess Virtual Queues for in-demand attractionswith your pass. And you can evencharge to your Disney hotelwith MagicMobile, just like you would with a MagicBand!

YourMagicMobile passcan be created and managed through yourMy Disney Experience app, and you can find the complete steps HERE.

Click HERE to learn how to set up and use Disney MagicMobile!

Disney PhotoPass Service

Disney Photopass photographers are available throughout the Resort to take pictures of your traveling group together! They are situated at spots including iconic locations in the park (such as Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle and Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life), select restaurants, and Character Greeting locations.

Select attractions like Haunted Mansion, DINOSAUR, and more even offer on-ride attraction photos.

Photographers will scan your MagicBand or theme park ticket before or after taking your picture, and your photos will automatically be linked to your My Disney Experience account where you can view and purchase images for individual download.

Disney also offers Memory Maker, which allows unlimited downloads of all of your PhotoPass pictures and videos for one price — either $199.00, or $169.00 for advance purchase.

Video Memories

Guests can now create videos using PhotoPass photos and more to revisit their magical vacation at home with the Video Memories feature! In order to create yours, open the My Disney Experience app (to the home page) and scroll down until you see Video Memories.

First, you select a Disney Template to create a theme for your video memory. Second, you can choose either Quick Video Memory or Advanced. With Quick Video Memory, you will select your photos and videos and Disney will combine them for you. If you choose Advanced, you can select and edit the photos and videos yourself(they needn’t be official Disney PhotoPass images — you can choose your own from your camera roll) and add music, text, and more! Finally, you can preview and download the video memory to share.

Check out Video Memories HERE!

Special Events

Disney is greatly expanding the offerings available on My Disney Experience, and it is not unusual to see new items pop up on the home screen of the app, specifically regarding current Special Events in the parks. For example, guests visiting Walt Disney World during the have access to a digital Festival Guide in the app.

And that’s just one example! Remember, additional features may be available depending on the time of year of your visit, so be sure to check.

Transportation Options and Car Locator

Disney has introduced a “Transportation” portion in the My Disney Experience app.To get to it, hit the 3 horizontal lines on the bottom right of the app and scroll near the bottom. You’ll find it under the MagicBands and More section.

Once you tap on that icon, you’ll get to look at information about the Disney Skyliner, Minnie Vans, parking, Disney buses, and more. Each tab displays more information about the different transportation options, pricing details, and more, which could all be helpful as you navigate around the Most Magical Place on Earth.

If you drive to Disney World, you are gonna LOVE this new feature: the Car Locator presented by State Farm!

The feature is presented byState Farm and uses location technology to find and save your parking details. It is available atall four Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs,theDisney World water parks,and theESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Simply open the My Disney Experience app and tap thecar locator card on the home screen (or you can use the feature menu with this symbol “☰” for access). In order for the feature to work best, you will need to enable location services, bluetooth, andnotificationson your phone.

Then, just follow the prompts and enter your parking info.

(If you choose to enable location permissions on your device, the car locator feature will help fill in the details for you.) Ready to leave? Return to the car locator function to see your parking info again!

My Disney Experience — Dining Features

Mobile Order — Counter Service

Mobile Order is a feature available within the My Disney Experience app which allows guests to pre-order and pre-pay for their food at participating Counter Service restaurants around Disney World.

Upon arrival to the restaurant,guests using Mobile Order can bypass the ordering queue and go straight to a designated Pick Up Counter or Waiting Area to get their food.

See a step-by-step guide to using Mobile Order for Counter Service restaurants here!

Mobile Order Table Service To Go

Mobile Order Table Service To Go functions similarly to the Mobile Order Counter Service feature mentioned above; however, select Table Service restaurants at Disney World Resort hotels offer a Mobile Order “To Go” service, too!

While the ordering process is quite similar, there are a few differences to keep in mind. (For instance, at Counter Service locations, you dine in the restaurant after getting your meal, whereas the Table Service option is for meals taken To Go to eat elsewhere in the hotel.) You can find out more about this feature here.

Check out Mobile Order Table Service To Go by clicking here!

Mobile Dine Check-In

A large number of Table Service locations offer Mobile Dine Check-In, which allows guests to check in for their Advance Dining Reservation and bypass the check-in host counter using the My Disney Experience app.

You can see the full list of participating restaurants — and also see how the process works — by visiting our Guide to Mobile Dine Check-In here.

Find out more about Mobile Dine Check-In here!

Check Walk-up Dining Availability

If you are hoping to dine at a Table Service restaurant, but do not have an Advance Dining Reservation, select restaurants offer the Mobile Dine Walk-up Waitlist feature.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can see if a restaurant that you’re interested in has available seating to accept walk-up guests, you can learn more here!

Learn about the Mobile Dine Walk-up Waitlist here!

Track Disney Dining Plan Credits

Guests participating on the Disney Dining Plan may use the My Disney Experience app to track the balance for their remaining Table Service, Quick Service, and Snack credits.

To access this feature, guests may click on their Disney Resort hotel reservation under “Resort Hotel” in the app.. Here you will see “Check Dining Plan” to discover your credit usage and how many you have remaining!

For example, you can see that this guest has redeemed 1 snack credit of 2 issued, and therefore has 1 snack credit left to use. Ditto goes for Table Service meals!

Not familiar with the Disney Dining Plan? Click HERE!

Disney MagicMobile

Guests are now able to access MagicBand featureson their phone with the newDisney MagicMobileservice!

AMagicMobile pass can be created and managed through the My Disney Experience app.

Check out all of the features of Disney MagicMobile AND find a step-by-step guide to setting up the MagicMobile Service here!

Click here to learn more about Disney MagicMobile!

Mobile Checkout at Merchandise Locations

Mobile Checkout is a time-saving feature available at select major merchandise shops throughout Disney World.

This option allows guests to grab a designated shopping bag, scan their chosen merchandise items, and even pay for their items, contact-free.

This feature is available at the following retail locations around the Resort:

• Emporium in Magic Kingdom
• Creations Shop in EPCOT
• Treasures of Xandar in EPCOT
• Mickey’s of Hollywood in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Discovery Trading Company in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Island Mercantile in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• World of Disney in Disney Springs
• Super Hero Headquarters at Disney Springs

Learn how to use Mobile Checkout here!

Features for Disney World Annual Passholders

Disney World Annual Passholders have access to special features on the My Disney Experience app. The Passholder Buzz section ensures that Passholders can easily learn about any Disney World Passholder discounts and limited-time happenings such as the popular Annual Passholder Magnet releases!

Additionally, on “Good-to-Go” days, Annual Passholders do NOT need aPark Pass Reservation to go into the Disney World theme parks. My Disney Experience makes it easier for Passholders to find and remember when those days are scheduled!

You’ll find that message on “Good-to-Go” days on thehome screen of the appif you just scroll down a little bit from the top. It’s great to have this reminder so that Passholders know when they do and don’t need a Park Pass.

Need Some Help?

If you encounter problems with My Disney Experience, Disney has a dedicated phone line where you can find help: (407) 939-4357.

Want to see My Disney Experience in action? You can check out our DFB YouTube Video to find out even more about My Disney Experience!