There’s an app for that.

You’re going to Disney!

Now what?

You download the My Disney Experience app, of course! I really love this app. So much so that sometimes when I miss Disney, I’ll stalk wait times. But, that’s not the only useful feature of it.

This app comes in handy even before your vacation begins. You can study up on everything from your resort layout, reserve advanced dining, to booking special Disney extras like Handbuilt Lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop in Hollywood Studios. There are even festival guides and helpful how tos.

Once its time for my vacation to begin, I use the My Disney Experience app, or MDE, to complete my check in at my resort. This allows me to bypass the front desk in the lobby and head straight to my room using the app as my digital room key. No need to dig out a key card since my phone is probably already in my hand. I can drop off my bags, freshen up, then I’m off exploring my resort or grabing a bite to eat.

MDE is more than a key fob. It offers a wealth of knowledge that comes in handy at both your resort and around the parks. It’s imperative to know opening times at the parks but, more importantly, you need to know the transportation schedule! Both of these can be found on the app. In addition to park and bus schedules, MDE will also show you the schedules for amazing shows, festive parades and the nightly fireworks. There is even a handy dandy map feature. Check it out to navigate your way to one of a kind character interactions, view your favorite attraction‘a wait times or, if you have the littles with you, map out the nearest restroom. It even shows you dining options because eventually, hungry will strike. When it does you can check dining availability or even order food from counter service locations.

MDE is also how you purchase, select and keep track of your Genie+ selections. Want to ride the newest attraction at EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? You’re going to need the app to jump into the virtual queue and obtain a boarding pass or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane as both of these options are also handled through the app.

The app also offers MagicMobile as an alternative to purchasing MagicBands. This links your park tickets to your phone so that it’s all you need to enter the park. This works wonderful! Just like the resort room access feature, it prevents you from digging around for your Key to World Card. If you purchased Genie+ from the app, it will also link to your phone so that you can tap into your Lightning Lane and keep your day moving. It also becomes a tap point for the PhotoPass Photographers so you can capture your magical memories if you purchased Memory Maker (big fan of Memory Maker over here). But wait there’s more! You can also link your credit card to MagicMobile so you can charge food and merchandise to you resort room.

The MDE app has what I call tabs at the bottom. It may not be the Disney technical term, but I digress. Here is a very simple overview of what you can find there:

Home:

Park Hours and Happenings
Upcoming Plans / Tip Board
Genie+ / Individual Lightning Lane
Virtual Queue
Tickets to Special Events

Map:

Attraction Wait Times
Character Meet & Greets and Sightings
Dining Options
Entertainment
Restrooms
Events and Tours
PhotPass
Guest Services
Shops
Resort Hotels
Transportation

+Additions:

Make Dining Reservations
Mobile Ordering at Select Dining Locations
Merchandise Mobile Checkout
Shop Memory Maker
Buy Tickets and Passes
Make or Modify Park Reservations

Search

Searches….

Additional Information (Hamburger Icon)

Basically all of the above information but more or less displayed on once screen with a few additional items:
Photos and Disney PhotoPass Lenses
Disney MagicMobile
ShopDisney
Play Disney Parks
Magicbands and More
Chat With Us
Transportation

Plus some general information:

My Profile
Health Care Services
Accessibility
Property Rules
Cast Compliments
Link to Account
Car Locator

I am a planner. I assume you are too otherwise, why would you be here? Make your planning easier. Download the app, even if you don’t have a trip plan… yet!

Want to start planning your vacation, reach out so we can stalk wait times together!

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