Orlando Planning Checklist
What to book, in what order, for a first Orlando trip
The short answer
For a first Orlando trip, book in this order: dates and suite, then transport, park tickets, Disney dining reservations, park reservation rules, groceries, a shuttle plan, packing and arrival day. WorldQuest Orlando Resort, 2.4 miles from Walt Disney World, sells park tickets at its Concierge Desk and runs a complimentary shuttle to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
The order that works
What goes first on an Orlando planning checklist for a first trip?
Book the things that sell out or reward early commitment first, and leave the things you can do the week before until the week before.
Most first-timers start with park tickets and finish with the hotel. It works better the other way round. Once your dates and suite are fixed, everything else (tickets, dining, transport, groceries) falls into place around them. Here is the order we suggest, with the resort-specific detail you need at each step.
- Pick your dates and book the suite. Book direct at WorldQuest and the resort fee is already in your rate. Two offers reward deciding early: Plan Ahead & Save More (code ADV) takes 20% off stays of three nights or more when you reserve at least six months ahead, and Stay Longer & Save (code LOSPRO) takes 20% off four to six nights and 30% off seven or more. A two-bedroom suite sleeps four; a three-bedroom suite sleeps six to eight.
- Decide how you will get here. Fly into Orlando and rent a car or use rideshare, or drive in. The resort does not run an airport shuttle, so plan on one of those. Self-parking at the resort is complimentary, so keeping a rental car on site costs nothing extra.
- Buy park tickets or a package. WorldQuest is a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, so park tickets can be combined with your accommodation in a single booking. Packages for Walt Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND are on the Tripster links further down this page. If you would rather buy on arrival, the Concierge Desk sells theme park tickets daily from 7:00am to 12:00pm, or call or text (407) 858-8569 between 7:00am and 9:00pm.
- Make Disney dining reservations. Walt Disney World restaurant reservations are strongly recommended, especially for character meals and sit-down dinners. Disney takes them on (407) 939-3463. Decide which two or three meals matter most to your family and book those; leave the rest flexible.
- Learn the park reservation and ride-booking rules. Disney changes how park entry, ride reservations and paid add-ons work from time to time. Check Disney’s official site for the current park reservation and ticket rules when you buy, and again the week before you travel.
- Plan your groceries. Every suite has a full kitchen with pots, pans, crockery, glassware and cutlery. Publix and Walmart are about two miles away, or order from Orlando Grocery Express and arrange the delivery to arrive with you. Our First Grocery Run List covers what to buy and what the suite already has.
- Make a shuttle plan. The complimentary shuttle to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is included in the resort fee, subject to availability; reserve at the Concierge desk at least 30 minutes ahead. Plan to drive to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney World parking is $35.00 per day standard and $50.00 to $60.00 preferred as of August 2026, subject to change, and one pass is valid all day at all four theme parks. Details are on the Disney Shuttle page.
- Pack with the suite in mind. Every suite has an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer, a washer and dryer, a coffee maker and a full kitchen, so you can leave a lot at home. The Family Packing and Pacing Guide has lists by age group.
- Plan arrival day. Check-in is from 4:00pm. Bring a valid credit card and government-issued photo ID; the minimum check-in age is 21. If you land late, the Corner Pantry in the lobby is open 24 hours for snacks, cold drinks, frozen meals and breakfast items.
Planning timeline
When should each piece be done?
Use this as a countdown. The timings are guidance, not rules. If your trip is two months away, compress the first three rows into one weekend.
| When | Do this | Resort detail |
|---|---|---|
| Six months out | Fix your dates, book the suite, book flights or plan the drive, and rough out how many park days you want against rest days. | Reserve at least six months ahead with code ADV to save 20% on three or more nights. Direct rates include the resort fee. |
| Three months out | Buy park tickets or a package, make Disney dining reservations, reserve a rental car, read the current park reservation rules on Disney’s site. | Park packages are on the resort’s Tripster links; tickets are also sold at the Concierge Desk after you arrive. |
| One month out | Draft a day-by-day plan with a rest day in the middle, decide which days are shuttle days and which are driving days, start the packing list. | Some suites have a sleeper sofa. Call the front desk before arrival if you need one noted on the reservation. |
| One week out | Place the grocery delivery order, re-check Disney’s site for ride-booking changes, install the park apps, confirm dining reservations, save every confirmation to your phone. | Grocery delivery can be arranged to arrive with you. Packages are accepted at no charge when the name matches the reservation. |
| Arrival day | Check in, stop at the Concierge desk to reserve tomorrow’s shuttle and buy any tickets you still need, unpack the groceries, early night. | Check-in from 4:00pm. Photo ID and credit card required; minimum check-in age 21. Corner Pantry open 24 hours. |
Booking with less notice?
If your trip is less than six months away the ADV rate will not apply, but another direct offer may. Compare your dates on the availability page, or call the reservations team at (407) 387-3800 and ask which offer fits your stay.
Park by park
Which parks suit a first trip, and in what order?
You do not have to visit every park on a first trip. Pick the ones that fit your group’s ages and energy and leave the rest for next time. These notes are general guidance; check each park’s official site for current hours, reservations and height requirements.
Walt Disney World, drive day
Magic Kingdom with young children
The park most first-timers picture. The resort shuttle does not go there, so drive, arrive for opening, do the gentle rides first and leave before the afternoon slump.
Walt Disney World, shuttle day
EPCOT with kids
Bigger than it looks and easy to underestimate with small legs. Take the complimentary shuttle, start with the front-of-park attractions, and treat the World Showcase as a stroll with snacks rather than a checklist.
Walt Disney World, shuttle day
Hollywood Studios expectations
A more compact park with a handful of very popular rides, so it rewards an early start and a clear idea of which headline attractions matter to your family. Read the current ride-booking rules on Disney’s site before you go.
Walt Disney World, drive day
Animal Kingdom planning
Animals are most active early, so this is another park to reach at opening. Expect a lot of walking; shade and water matter. Many families make it a half day and come back to the pool.
Universal Orlando, 10.4 miles
Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure
Two parks side by side. Universal Studios leans toward screen-based rides and shows; Islands of Adventure has more thrill rides and more height limits. Tweens and teens often rate Universal days highest. A paid shuttle runs at $5.00 per person, per trip; ask the Concierge.
Day trips
SeaWorld and LEGOLAND
SeaWorld Orlando is 6.7 miles from the resort, a calmer day with shows and a mix of gentle and thrill rides. LEGOLAND Florida is further out and built for younger children, so treat it as a full day. Both are available as packages.
No ticket needed
Disney Springs
Disney’s shopping and dining district does not require a park ticket, which makes it a good arrival-night or rest-day evening. Check Disney’s site for current parking and hours.
Tickets and add-ons
How do park tickets, packages and park reservations work?
In general terms, and without prices because they change: a theme park ticket is priced per day, and multi-day tickets cost less per day than single days. Add-ons let you visit more than one park in a day or add water parks. Paid ride-reservation systems are separate from the ticket. The parks set all of this and change it, so check Disney’s official site for the current park reservation and ticket rules.
Three ways to buy
- As a package with your suite. As a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, the resort can combine park tickets with your accommodation in a single booking. Use the Walt Disney World package, Universal package, SeaWorld package or LEGOLAND package, or build your own.
- At the Concierge Desk after you arrive. Theme park tickets are sold daily from 7:00am to 12:00pm. Call or text (407) 858-8569 between 7:00am and 9:00pm with questions before you travel.
- Direct from the parks. Buy online from Disney, Universal, SeaWorld or LEGOLAND and link the tickets to their apps before you arrive.
Park reservations and ride booking
Whichever way you buy, do two things once the tickets are in hand: link them to the park’s app, and read the current rules on park reservations and ride booking. Some booking windows open a set number of days before your visit and some open on the morning itself, so put reminders in your phone.
Arrival day
What do you need on the day you arrive?
- Government-issued photo ID. Driver’s license or passport for the guest checking in, who must be 21 or over.
- A valid credit card. Required at check-in.
- Booking confirmation. On your phone is fine.
- Park tickets or package confirmation. Or plan to buy at the Concierge Desk between 7:00am and 12:00pm the next morning.
- Grocery delivery details. If you arranged delivery to arrive with you, the name on the order must match the reservation.
- Sleeper sofa request. Some suites have one; call the front desk before arrival so it is noted.
- Tomorrow’s shuttle. Reserve at the Concierge desk on the way to the suite.
- A first-night dinner plan. There is no restaurant on site. The Tiki Bar serves food 11am to 7pm, the Corner Pantry is open 24 hours, and Logan’s Roadhouse is 3.1 miles away.
Check-in starts at 4:00pm. Early check-in is sometimes possible for a fee, arranged and paid in advance through the Front Desk, and is not guaranteed. Full terms are on the Resort Policies page.
Keep a copy
Want the Orlando Planning Checklist emailed to you?
Give us your name, email and travel month and we will send the checklist so you can tick it off as you go, plus rate news for the month you are traveling if you tick the box. The resort’s own team replies, not an agency.
Questions guests ask
First-trip planning questions
How far ahead should I book a first Orlando trip?
As early as your dates are firm. Reserving at least six months ahead with code ADV saves 20% on stays of three nights or more, and it gives you time to line up park tickets, dining reservations and a rental car without rushing. Shorter notice still works; the countdown table above shows what to compress.
Do I need a rental car for a first trip?
Not necessarily, but it helps. The complimentary shuttle covers EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a paid shuttle runs to Universal. Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, SeaWorld, grocery stores and restaurants need a car or a rideshare. Self-parking at the resort is complimentary, so a rental adds no parking cost on site.
Can I buy park tickets when I arrive?
Yes. The Concierge Desk sells theme park tickets daily from 7:00am to 12:00pm, and the Concierge can be reached by call or text on (407) 858-8569 between 7:00am and 9:00pm. Buying before you travel gives you more time to link tickets to the park apps and make any reservations the parks require.
Do I really need Disney dining reservations?
Walt Disney World restaurant reservations are strongly recommended, and the resort has no restaurant of its own, so a little planning goes a long way. Book the meals that matter, such as a character breakfast or a sit-down dinner, through Disney on (407) 939-3463, and keep the rest of your meals flexible or in the suite.
How many park days should a first trip include?
Fewer than you think. A common pattern is two park days, a rest day, then two more, with pool afternoons in between. Children under school age rarely manage more than one full park day in a row. A suite with a full kitchen and a heated pool makes rest days easy rather than wasted.
Can the resort make my park reservations for me?
No. Park reservations and ride booking sit inside each park’s own app and account, so you make them yourself. The Concierge desk can explain the basics and sell tickets, but the rules belong to the parks and change, so always check Disney’s official site for the current park reservation and ticket rules.
WorldQuest Orlando Resort
Step one is the suite. Ready to look at dates?
Book direct and the resort fee, the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios shuttle and the welcome starter kit are already in your rate.
Get the Orlando Planning Checklist Call (407) 387-3800
8849 WorldQuest Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821 · wqreservations@worldquestorlando.com