15 Things YOU MUST Do 1 Month Before Your Disney Trip

With only one month before Disney looming in front of you, you may ask: what should I do to prepare? Check dining reservations, check closures, check in on transportation and Genie+– the list is simple, honestly. But it will help ensure your trip goes smoothly.

Disney is fun, no questions about it. But when planning a first Disney trip, or even any trip at all, there are some things to consider before stepping foot in the parks. This way you make the most of your time and have a magical experience!

At a very empty park, few guests walk toward the castle in Magic Kingdom, obviously prepared one month before Disney.

15 Things YOU MUST DO 1 Month Before Your Disney Trip

1. Check for Dining Reservation Cancelations

Great news! You can make reservations 60 days out. Because this is such a long time out, cancelations happen more often than you think. So, if you are trying or looking for tricky reservations at places that fill up quickly, be constantly checking for any cancellations!

Places like Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s or even Victoria & Alberts book out fast. Whether they book out comes of high demand/populatiry, or limited availability, you don’t want the chance to snag a spot when someone else’s falls through!

The ceiling is painted with clouds and chandeliers hang over balconies and tables at the Be Our Guest Restaurant.

2. Check Closures and Renovations

This is a rule that should also apply to 10 days before Disney, or 2 weeks until Disney, or even 7 days until Disney. Always check closures! You never know what rides or activities will be down during your visit.

Avoid disappointment. Don’t be shocked when you stumble upon TRON and it is down for renovations. These aren’t day-of-closures or things that will have the ride up and running again. Always checking one month before Disney for prolonged closures will aid you in the long run!

The Test Track sing is empty at the standby and lightning lane entrance, as it was closed: knowing closures is vital one month before Disney.

3. Study How to Get Virtual Queue

From time to time, rides use virtual queues for attractions and experiences. For this, you request to enjoy that attraction later in your day at the park. This means you can enjoy other experiences while you “wait in line.”

Standby queues are not available at this time. And guests must use the My Disney Experience App to enter the attraction! So, study this app! Of all the things to know before Disney, this app will be your best friend– and this is applicable beyond the virtual queues. But for now, study and be prepared for the queues of TRON, Cosmic Rewind, and more.

4. Start Thinking About Your Packing List

Preparation is key! And while it may be difficult to think of what you are going to wear a month out before the parks, planning may help. Being prepared for a random thunderstorm will help curb the cost of ponchos if bought in the park.

Wearing appropriate shoes will help avoid feet and back pain. When you’re looking at packing, also consider what you are doing in the park, or after the parks. Dinner at Disney Springs? Do you need to dress up? Don’t rush the day before and pack. Be prepared for anything that comes your way! Packing 30 days before Disney should be easy.

The crowds at Magic Kingdom increase during the holiday season, as seen by the amount of people on Main Street and the wreaths hanging off the building. They carry bags and knowing what to pack one month before Disney could be helpful.

5. Order Memory Maker

Disney PhotoPass Service will capture all your magical moments. Don’t feel the need to ask a stranger if they “can take a picture of you.” Don’t feel left out of the photos! With Memory Maker, you have access of all your photos.

Memory Maker allows you to download and share all your photos AND videos. It is linked to your My Disney Experience profile, and it has photos at over 100 locations– including meet-and-greets. If you have kids doing Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique too, this applies! And if you order in advance to your trip: DISCOUNTS!

Four friends hold their hands together in a Memory Maker photo at Magic Kingdom so think sits in the palm of their hands.

6. Online Check-In

Of this wonderful Disney planning checklist, you may know a few of these tips. But what about early, online check-in?! Most places allow you to check in 60 days before arrival!

That’s a long time. Many resorts will let you check in early, using things like the Direct-to-Room service or the My Disney Experience App. This way, you avoid long lines and waiting!

A girl in a black swimsuit sits on the sandbar at one of the Disney property resorts, enjoying early check in: one month before Disney you should check in to make your life easier!

7. Get Your Last-Minute Amazon Orders

Again. I want to circle back to packing. You don’t want to get to Disney and realize you were underprepared. You don’t want to buy sunscreen in Orlando or near the parks in general– you’ll pay a pretty penny for that tourist tax!

Thus, make sure you get your last-minute amazon orders in one month before Disney. This way you know what you have! If you don’t end up needing it, you don’t need it. But it is better to be prepared than not.

Guests sit at wooden, circular tables with bags with their bags, obviously prepared for their trips!

8. Update My Disney Experience

Apps are a pain sometimes, I get it. Just recently I had do delete and app and then download it, and then update it JUST to get it to load a video. Don’t get stuck like this at Disney!

9. Research Genie+

FastPasses have changed. Again. So, you gotta do your research! Within your pre-vacation checklist for Disney, make sure you research Genie+. Genie+ allows you to get to your favorite rides faster upon purchase.

Disney Genie+ lets you use the “lightning lane” entrances on select attractions and experiences. Guests can usually enter 2-3 rides a day using these entrances if their list attraction is booked early in the day! It is, on average, $25 a ticket, a day. And you need the My Disney Experience App to utilize it.

Genie+ is the new "fast pass" for guests, and you have to pay for it to use lightning lanes, as seen on this entrance of Runaway Railroad.

10. Check Park Hours

Preparing for Disney is easy when one of the only things you have to do is cross check park hours for the dates you’ll be attending the park! Is there a special event going on? Will the park close early for Mickey’s Not So Scary, or another ticketed event?

What about during the Christmas season, and the Christmas Party? Always make sure to check when the parks close. But, just as important, check for early entry or extra magic hours at night too!

At Mickey's Christmas Party, decorations dawn Mainstreet and the park closes early for this separate ticked event, so make sure to check park hours before booking or arriving!

11. Leave the Week Before Disney Flexible

I try to never put off letting go of stress until vacation. In fact, I always recommend taking a few days– whether it be the weekend before or the week before– to relax.

Being flexible the week before Disney ensures that you are running around last minute and packing, booking hotels, booking reservations and more. The added stress of changing things a week before you go may ruin the magic of the trip itself. Breathe, relax and rest– you’ll need that time after fun packed days!

A woman in a yellow sun dress leans against a wall in Animal Kingdom, enjoying the fact that she rested one month before Disney so she could enjoy her trip.

12. Refill Necessary Prescription(s)

I’ve been in the worst situation ever: stuck in Disney (well, not stuck), but at Disney, with no access to my mother’s insulin because we did not refill it before the trip!

13. Slowly Start Walking More

Disney World resort covers over 27,520 aces. That is over 43 square miles. Thus, in preparing for your visit, slowly start adding more steps into your day. Walking at Disney is A LOT– especially if you park hop.

Many people are not prepared for this. Work and build your stamina by walking a bit around your neighborhood in advance for the trip. And, bring comfortable shoes and pants. Painful feet, legs, lower back and the rubbing of the things is fun for no one!

A group of four people walk toward Tomorrowland with backpacks and hats on, obviously glad they prepared the treks by walking more one month before Disney.

14. Select Your Magic Bands

Once you make resort reservations, you will see the option to select your MagicBand in the My Disney Experience App (in the account section). The selection available changes– so if you see a band you love, check it out quickly! This is one of those things to do within one month of a Disney trip you don’t want to forget about.

The ability to pre-order a band at discount is a privilege when staying at a resort on-site. And make sure to submit your oder 11 or more days before your rip so it has time to get to you! Tracking links are provided! But if they won’t get to you in time, send them to the resort: they will hold them at the front desk.

Two people hold up their wrists for a photo of their Magicbands, which are black in color and feature the mickey ears.

15. Review Disney Transportation

Make sure you know it all: how will you get from the resort to the parks? How much does parking cost? How many stops are on the monorail? Ensuring that you are prepared on the technicalities of travel will aid in a smooth process of getting too and from the parks.

Always make sure to heck your hotel and verify the type of transportation options they offer. Some have quite a few– like the busses– while others only have Uber. When looking at what to prepare within 30 days of Disney, make research on transportation a top contender.

monorail going through Disney's Contemporary Resort

And there you have it, folks! 15 things YOU MUST do one month before Disney. Be prepared. Know what you are in for. I assure you, it will make your trip all the more magical and stress free.