Theme-Park Apps to Make Vacation Easier

Family travel to a theme park can be stressful, especially if you have never been before. There are a lot of moving parts to a day at a theme park: where to start, ride times, meals, crowds and much more.

Disney Parks

The Disney Parks app is a lifesaver before and during a trip to Disney World or Disneyland. You can plan your whole trip on the app, including scheduling dining reservations, planning your day in each park and more. Once in the park, schedule your Genie and Lighting pass schedules, see wait times in each park, order your food online from quick-service restaurants, as well as see a map of the parks indicating where restaurants, rides and bathrooms are located.

If you are interested in seeing any of the shows the parks offer, you can also find show times on the app to help you plan your day accordingly. All the parks in Walt Disney World are available on the same app.

If you are going to Disneyland, you will have to download the app specific for Disneyland, but you will use the same login and password for both Disney apps. The Disneyland app offers all the same functions as the Walt Disney World app.

Universal Studios

When a theme park is as big as Universal Studios Orlando, you need an app to help navigate your way through it. To start off, you can buy your park tickets right on the app. Whether buying single- or multiple-day tickets, the app will help you find the right package and price. If you want to add Express Lane packages, you can do that right on the app, as well. If there is something special going on, like a Cinco de Mayo celebration or Halloween Horror Nights, the app will also let you know!

Once your vacation begins and you prepare to enter the parks, the app will hold your tickets. All you need to do is show the barcode to the cast member. Next, use the wait time and map function to figure out the best place to start. Throughout the day, make sure to use the app to check out showtimes, park hours, ride information and to even order food!

The app function is the same for both Universal Studios Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, but, like the Disney Parks app, it is a different app for each park.