Planning a Last-Minute Trip to Walt Disney World: Things to Think About

Walt Disney World is typically seen as a vacation that must be planned months, if not years, in advance. There are some benefits to booking early, but advance planning isn’t always possible and sometimes you just have to get away NOW. If you are contemplating a last-minute Disney World visit (anything less than a month or two in advance), here are some things to think about.

What are the crowd levels going to be?

One of the first things you’ll want to do if you’re contemplating a last-minute trip is take a quick peek at our Crowd Calendar which shows how busy we predict that the parks will be.

For some people, seeing that they will have to contend with Level 9 or 10 crowds may be enough to deter them from proceeding any further with the idea of a quick hop to Orlando. Even if the crowd level is not a deterrent, at least you’ll know what to expect when you get there.

Another indicator of crowd levels is the pricing for a one-day Disney World theme park ticket. Rates currently range from about $109 to about $165 per one-day ticket, depending on expected crowds. The higher the price, the more likely you are to be contending with crowds.

Will I have the ability to enter the theme parks? Do I care?

Walt Disney World has mostly discontinued its pandemic-era practice of requiring Park Pass reservations for theme park entry. If you’re buying regular date-based tickets, there is no longer any need to worry about. (Yay!) However, if you are an annual pass holder, reservations are still required. (Boo!)

Some guests are perfectly happy to explore the Disney World resorts and Disney Springs, without ever stepping foot in a theme park, but if a key reason for the last-minute trip is exploring the parks, then check to confirm that you don’t need a reservation. If you do need a reservation, be sure to make one.

Where can I stay?

Just like the parks, the resorts fill up during busy times of the year. Your preferred hotel may not have availability at the last minute. For example, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day typically becomes fully booked several weeks in advance.

In addition to availability, price may also be a factor for a last-minute visitors. Again looking at the end of December, last-minute prices for this week are about double the prices during the slower seasons.

Off-site accommodations are always an option, but the same principles apply there as well.

Do I care where or when I eat?

Walt Disney World Table Service dining reservations currently open 60 days in advance. The most popular places often become fully booked at that two-month mark. Table Service seats available last minute are often quite late in the evening – after 9:00 p.m.

Quick Service dining is a worthy alternative for many people, with some folks preferring quick service over table service. If you prefer Table Service but you’re not worried about having particular food, or you don’t mind eating late, then you’re generally fine in a last-minute trip situation.

What are my transportation options?

If you live within driving distance of Disney World, then transportation to a last-minute Disney World trip is a non-issue. But if you’re flying to the Orlando area, you’ll obviously need to consider the availability and price of flights. Also note that Disney’s free Magical Express transportation from the Orlando airport to WDW was discontinued in 2021. There are a host of alternatives including taxis, ride shares, rental cars, limo services, and the Mears Connect service, some of which must be booked in advance and which may or may not be available last minute at a reasonable price.

Do you have a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass strategy in mind?

Beginning on July 24, 2024, Disney World will begin using a new skip-the-line system called Lightning Lane Multipass (LLMP) and Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP). Goodbye Genie+, we hardly knew ye.

As with Disney’s previous skip-the-line schemes, there is no requirement to participate. But if you do want to have faster line access (and are willing to pay for it), you’ll be in better shape now if you act in advance of your trip. Guests living in the U.S. and Canada can make reservations for their entire trip seven days before arriving at Disney World. During particularly busy times of year, you may be out of luck in gaining fast access to some attractions if you delay your booking. Stay tuned to the Touring Plans blog as we continue to evaluate LLMP and LLSP.

What’s your personality type?

Are you a Type-A laminated spreadsheet person or a fly by the seat of your pants person? You know who you are and can probably guess how you’ll feel if not everything is planned and perfect.

Are there medical concerns I should be thinking about?

Do I need special attention due to a food allergy? Do I need to rent a wheelchair or scooter due to a physical limitation? Will I need to arrange Disability Access Service (DAS)for anyone in my party. Sorting out those needs might need a longer planning window than throwing something together last minute.

Have you ever taken a last-minute trip to Walt Disney World? How did it work out?