Set your alarm for 5:55 a.m...

...six months before the trip. Advanced planning is especially crucial for meals. “You can make dining reservations 180 days in advance,” says Erin Shaw Street, a Southern Living Associate Editor and lifelong Disney visitor. “The hottest tickets, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, fill up instantly during peak times.” How do you score a seat? Go online. While the phones open at 7 a.m. EST (407/939-3463), the Web site accepts reservations starting at 6 a.m. (disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining)