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If you're a Disney fan and a bride-to-be, a Disney parks bachelorette party is the perfect way to celebrate before your big day.
From when to start planning to what to do outside of the parks, read on for everything you need to know about planning a Disney World or Disneyland honeymoon.
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| Photo by Zoriana Stakhniv on Unsplash |
If you're a Disney fan and a bride-to-be, a Disney parks bachelorette party is the perfect way to celebrate before your big day. Gather up your gal pals and let's head to the parks!
Here's everything you need to know to plan the bachelorette party of your dreams, or planning one for your favorite bride-to-be, at Walt Disney World or Disneyland:
HOW EARLY SHOULD WE START PLANNING?
When it comes to Disney, you really can't start planning early enough. For the best possible hotel availability, pricing, and planning, start planning your trip at least six months in advance (and honestly, even earlier if you can).
By giving yourselves the time to plan and research, you can head into bachelorette-party weekend prepared for everything Disney World and Disneyland have to offer.
WHEN SHOULD WE VISIT?
There are so many things to consider when it comes to the "When" of bachelorette planning. Do you want to visit during the holidays? Is there a specific EPCOT festival you hope to attend? Do you have a specific budget in mind? Each of these questions (and plenty of others) mean you should be thinking far in advance to be able to decide what time of year is right.
For lower crowds and hotel costs, January and February are great options. Pay attention to dates for RunDisney races, holidays, sporting events, and more, and avoid those weekends if you're looking to escape the crowds. And if you want to see Disney during Halloween or Christmas, September-early January are the months to go.
At Disney World, I always recommend staying on property. There are over 25 resort hotels to suit any budget, from value resorts to deluxe villas. Staying on property will give you easy, free access to the parks and other attractions. I've found staying off property can be slightly cheaper depending on the hotel, but you'll likely need to pay for transportation and other costs like resort fees and parking. Be sure to include those costs in your calculations to see if it's worth it.
There are also additional perks to on-property hotels, like Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe resorts, daily resort activities, immersive experiences, and more.
For budget-friendly options at Disney World, the All-Star hotels, Pop Century, and Art of Animation offer great value while keeping you close to the action. For a more upscale, adult feel, look into hotels like Coronado Springs Resort, Riviera Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Yacht Club Resort, Port Orleans: French Quarter, or the Swan Reserve.
At Disneyland, your options are a bit more limited for on-property hotels, as there are only three official resort hotels: the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and the Grand Californian. While these each offer perks like Early Entry, special entrances right to the parks (total game-changers!), and more, they also come with much steeper price tags than off-property hotels.
If these are out of your budget, there are plenty of non-Disneyland Resort hotels nearby. Rather than rely on rideshares/busses to take you to and from the parks, I recommend staying at a hotel within walking distance of the parks like the Hyatt House, the Candy Cane Inn (one of the few hotels that offers free transportation to the park), or the Fairfield Inn and Suites.
When coordinating so many schedules for a bachelorette party, you likely have just a few days at Disney. So which park(s) should you prioritize?
First, if you're deciding between Disneyland and Disney World, consider how long your trip will be. Disneyland is a great option for a long weekend, while Disney World is great for extended trips.
This also seems obvious, but if you're not planning to foot the bill, also keep costs and time off for the whole party in mind. Traveling far or spending multiple days at the parks may not be an option for everyone, so be sure to think about which resort is best for your entire group.
Whether you head to Disneyland or Disney World, also know that you can't get everything done on your trip—and that's OK! I recommend getting a park-hopper ticket and purchasing Genie+ so you can go freely between parks and maximize your time.
At Disney World, EPCOT is a great option for bachelorette parties. As the park geared more toward adults with seemingly unlimited options for food and drinks, you and your besties can travel the world together around the World Showcase. And if you opt for park-hopper tickets, you can also head to Magic Kingdom for photos in front of the castle, Animal Kingdom for a quick safari ride, and Hollywood Studios for a trip to Galaxy's Edge in the same day.
Disneyland Resort makes it a bit easier to park hop, as the parks are just steps away from each other. Start your day in Disneyland with a morning of fun rides and low wait times, then hop on over to California Adventure for brunch, afternoon drinks, and thrill rides. After watching World of Color, you can head back over to Disneyland for the rest of the night.
If you're anything like me, you might also want to consider planning your park days based on what restaurants you'll be heading to. Which brings me to...
These are my personal favorites for a girl's trip:
At Disney World, I love Three Bridges at Coronado Springs Resort, San'aa (even for the bread service alone!) at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom, and Terralina, Paddlefish, and Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs. For great themed meals, check out Be Our Guest and Cinderella's Royal Table at Magic Kingdom, as well as Space 220 and San Angel Inn at EPCOT.
At Disneyland, if you're all about brunch, snag a reservation at Lamplight Lounge before 1 p.m. Friday-Sunday. With an expansive and fun cocktail menu (ask about the secret menu too!) and plenty of tasty food options, you and your girls can fuel up bachelorette-party-style for a day of fun. The Blue Bayou is great for a more upscale lunch or dinner, while Bengal Barbecue is a great quick-service option in Disneyland.
Don't forget to also head over to Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel for a fun, tropical-themed adventure. After dark, also check out The Fifth, located atop the Grand Legacy at the Park, which has great views of California Adventure and the Disneyland fireworks from above.
You can make Disney dining reservations starting at 6 a.m. park time 60 days before your visit. For some of these restaurants, you'll want to book as soon as they open up, as reservations book fast, so make sure to set your calendar and alarm.
WHAT CAN WE DO OUTSIDE THE PARKS?
A Disney trip isn't just about the parks!
At Disneyland, head to Downtown Disney for a fun afternoon, or head over to Anaheim GardenWalk for tons of restaurants, shopping, movies, and more. You can also venture out into the greater Anaheim area to check out local bars and restaurants.
At Disney World, you can spend an entire day (or more) resort hopping, trying new restaurants and bars, participating in resort activities like crafts, and shopping in Disney Springs. Take a ride on the Skyliner, graduate from Sangria University at Three Bridges, visit the Disney horses at Tri-Circle-D Ranch, play a round of mini golf, take a boat ride—the options are endless!
THE MAGIC IS IN THE MEMORIES
Having your bachelorette party at a Disney park is an unforgettable experience. With some planning and creativity, you can make it a celebration you'll never forget. So gather your besties and get ready for a Disney adventure you'll cherish for a lifetime!