When you grow up in Florida, going to Disney is like a rite of passage, but when do you decide the first trip? Do you take your child while they are still free (that’s before the age of 3) or do you wait until they can better remember it? Maybe 5 or 6? Well, with the unintentional help of a very good friend of mine, it was decided that Zoe’s first trip would be for her 4th birthday.

My very lovely friend Thea of Adventures with Thea (check out her blog for food and fun!), decided to celebrate her last year in her 20’s at the happiest place on earth, and we were invited. That left us in a very difficult predicament as parents. My husband and I found ourselves looking at each other with guilt and asking, “How can we go to Disney for the first time in years after becoming parents when our daughter has never been?” After much thought, we came to the conclusion- we would buy year passes and this would become ‘The Year of Disney’.

We decided to go all out. Zoe’s 4th year birthday celebration was in full swing and we were going to celebrate in style which would double as a long overdue family vacation. With only a month to plan in advance, a total of 4 days to dedicate to this vacation, and the decision to splurge by staying on-site at Disney- this is what I have to say about the new Disney planning experience.

Choose Your Annual Pass Plan Wisely
There are multiple annual pass options that range from After 4PM Disney Annual Passes to Disney Platinum that comes with all the bells and whistles. Of course, the higher up the list, the more you spend, you get fewer black out dates, and more access to theme and water parks. Luckily, all packages (besides the water parks) give you 20% off most select dining and merchandise.

We chose the Gold package because it was the only one that didn’t have a black out date for the days we had to go. Plus, we didn’t feel we needed Platinum which included admission for ESPN sports and the golf courses. Something we wouldn’t be using.

There’s an app for that!- My Disney Experience App
With there being an app for everything these days, of course Disney would have one to make your Disney experience better! The Disney Experience App is a dream for all you type-A personalities out there. This app gives you one place to organize everything related to your vacation from hotel and meal reservations, confirmations numbers, quick access to phone numbers and addresses, and allows you to select Fast Passes! With your annual pass purchase, you even get 30 days advanced planning (60 days prior to check-in if staying on-site) to pick FastPasses (3 per person, per day).

This app also gives you a map of the park with updated ride times and access to your Photopass (more on that later)! I found the map more helpful than the paper maps since I always misplaced it but my phone was always on hand.
This app in awesome, but works best when attached with your Magic Band- Disney’s all-in-one device that connects you with all your vacation choices made with My Disney Experience.

Magic Bands
Magic Bands are the thing of the future. Sick of distributing hotel cards to the most responsibleperson? Magic Bands got you. Don’t want to carry your credit card? Magic Bands. Your hands are full and you’re trying to maneuver a stroller and multiple people through the Disney check in gate and the last thing you want to do is pull out a card from your purse? Magic Bands ❤ These bands can contain all your information which puts everything on your wrist ready to swip at your convenience. This can be very convenient and very dangerous- specifically when your credit card it just a swipe away, but thankfully still needs a 4 digit code to use.

Want to get fancy? Personalize your Magic Band when you set up you’re My Disney Experience account! You can select a color (8 colors available) and enter a name to be printed on the inside of your band (no extra charge). If that’s not enough, Disney now sells custom bands with designs that range from classic Disney characters to Marvel Super Heroes, Star Wars characters, and more (for extra $20+).

My Favorite Perk
It’s not something I imagined caring for, but my favorite perk of my annual pass is the Disney PhotoPass (Included with Disney Gold and Platinum Passes). For 365 days after buying your pass, you have access to all photos taken of you by professional photographers throughout all the parks. How does it work? Spot a Disney photographer, they take your pictures, scan your Magic Band, and BAM it’s sent to your Disney Experience Account where you can download them at your discretion for up to a year. As a mom, who takes pictures of EVERYONE ELSE, it’s really nice to have my picture taken with my family. Also, you don’t have to overwhelm you phone’s memory or lug around a fancy camera like a second child in a giant theme park. When visiting the princesses, it’s especially nice that you can focus on your child’s experience while the photographer snags the magical moments for you.

Some photographers also offer easy photo filter at no extra charge. As of right now, I don’t think there is a way to know what filters are available and where, but if a photographer gives you a simple instruction (“Hold out your hand!” or “Look scared!”), it’s a good bet you’re about to get a photo with a Disney star!