Hi! My name is Kendall, I go to Disney World every week, and I know way too many things about it. I’m here to answer all of your dying questions that you’re too embarrassed to ask, because trust me, I have wondered the same thing.

If you’re going to Disney World for the first time, it can feel like there’s a lot of assumed knowledge surrounding the parks. Let me see if I can answer some of these questions for you!

Do I have to pay for Disney transportation?

Nope! You can take the Skyliner, monorail, buses, and boats all for free, even if you aren’t staying on Disney property. The only transportation you have to pay for through Disney is Minnie Vans, which is Disney’s partnership with Lyft. Besides that, it doesn’t cost any money, and you don’t even have to show your park ticket.

How thrilling are the thrill rides?

In general, not crazy! At Disney World, the only roller coaster that goes upside down is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (and it’s about to be rethemed to the Muppets, by the way). There are a few rides that have drops like Tower of Terror and Rise of the Resistance, but most roller coasters are on the tamer side. Cosmic Rewind might trigger your motion sickness since it’s very spinny, but with most other roller coasters, you can get a full look at them before you hop on.

Where are the bathrooms?

Disney is pretty good about labeling the bathrooms around the parks, so if you’re walking about, you should see signs. If not, you can pull out the My Disney Experience app, which will show you the closest bathroom or bathrooms near your destination.

Where do I park for Magic Kingdom?

The only park you can’t park at is Magic Kingdom, and that can get a little confusing! For Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT, you can follow the signs for parking, but for Magic Kingdom, you’ll have to park at the Transportation & Ticket Center or TTC. There will be signs directing you to the Magic Kingdom parking lot (it’s just actually the TTC). At the TTC, you can hop on the monorail or ferryboat to Magic Kingdom, and you can also take the monorail to EPCOT.

Can I bring in my own food or drinks?

Yes! My backpack is always stuffed with snacks along with a full bottle of water. Drinks don’t need to be sealed, but you cannot bring any alcohol into the parks (and you’ll have to finish any drinks before leaving the parks). Feel free to bring formula, your favorite snacks, and even a cooler. Make sure your cooler is within the size requirement, and it requires ice packs, not loose or dry ice, and is subject to search.

Do I need a MagicBand?

Nope! MagicBands are those fun bracelets you might see people wearing around the parks. You can use them to scan into the parks, at attractions if you’re using Lightning Lanes, and even to make purchases or get into their hotel rooms. While these can make life a little easier (and they’re pretty cute), if you have a physical card with your ticket, which you’ll get when you scan in for the first time, or your phone, it’s an add-on and not a necessity.

Can I go to any park I want to with my ticket?

Well, it will depend on your ticket. If you buy a single-day ticket, you can use it at any one of the parks (but read up on the terms and conditions of your ticket to make sure you have access to all four). If you add on something called a Park Hopper, this lets you go from one park to the next all day. For example, if you started at Magic Kingdom and wanted to go to EPCOT, you can use the same ticket to scan in. Single-day tickets only let you go to that one park a day, but you can go in and out of that park as much as you want if you want to take breaks at the hotel room.

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What times are the shows?

Another one you’ll want to check out on the My Disney Experience app. All the different showtimes are listed, and you can even search for the entertainment you want to see. You’ll want to check those times before heading in because sometimes they randomly change, but for the most part, they stay the same every day.

Can I get in line for any ride I want?

If you reach the height requirement, you can hop into any line. At this current moment, there are no virtual queues, and if you want to ride an attraction, you can enter the standby line. If there is a virtual queue, which is a way of waiting outside the physical line and then returning when your time is called, you can find that information on the homescreen of the My Disney Experience app.

Is that Chip or Dale?

Hey, I get it. It’s easy to mix them up! Dale is going to be the one with the red nose, and Chip is the one with the brown nose. To remember this, think of a chocolate chip since it’s brown like Chip’s nose!

How are we feeling now? More comfortable? If you have any other questions, no matter how silly they might seem, drop them in the comments. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for everything you need to know for your next Disney World vacation.

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