A couple of weeks ago, I got a text from my cousin. She is planning a trip to Walt Disney World! Yay!!!!! She’s been there a couple of times, but she knows that I’ve been there dozens of times (I’ve actually lost count of how many). My husband and I were annual passholders when we lived in Florida, and I obsess over planning my vacations. So, she reached out for advice and I was more than happy to help. (I love helping other people plan trips as much as I love planning my own.)
A trip to Walt Disney World takes months of planning, so where should she (or you) start? Here are my top five tips for getting started:
This is the book I buy every year, but there are tons of Walt Disney World
books, see which one you like best!
1. BUY THE BOOK
The first thing I told my cousin, is to buy a book at Walt Disney World. The one I always buy is Birnbaum’s “Walt Disney World: The Official Guide”. A new, updated one comes out every year, and it has everything you need to know- from the parks, to dining, to resorts, to anything else you can imagine. But there are a bunch of other books out there as well, so get one- and please, don’t forget to read it!
2. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
As you’re going through your book, think about a budget. This is so important! Your budget will help determine a lot about the trip including- how long you’re going to stay, where you’re going to stay, what type of tickets you’re going to get and if you’ll buy a dining plan, and which one you should buy. (Another tip, make your plans based on a realistic budget. Don’t book something you can’t afford, hoping for a deal to be released down the road. During less crowded times Walt Disney World often offers some deals, you but you can’t count on it, and you shouldn’t plan your trip based on it. If a good deal does come out later, you can always call and get it- or upgrade to something more expensive that now meets your budget!)
3. WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT
Once you have your budget set, you need to decide when to go and how long to stay. Of course there are certain times of the year, when it’s more expensive and more crowded. Pretty much any time kids are out of school- including the summer and holidays- will be crowded and more costly. Also, if possible, schedule your trip at least 6 months in advance. If you book closer to your actual vacation, the most popular restaurants, tours and other reservations will be sold out!
4. WHERE IN THE WORLD???
Okay, so you have your budget, and you know when you’re going. Now, you can decide where to stay- on property or off property. We always stay on Disney property, and I highly recommend it. It’s much more convenient, you can use Disney transportation to and from the parks, and you get a bit of an advantage when booking dining and fastpass+ reservations. There are all styles and prices of accommodations- from campsites to deluxe club level resorts to suites for the entire family. While the prices of tickets never change, the prices of rooms do- depending on the season.
Disney still sends tickets for some special events,
but your room key, park tickets, and meal plans will be linked to your Magic Band!
5. THAT’S THE TICKET
Finally, what type of "Magic your way" tickets will you need? Do you want to go to one park a day or do you want to hop from park to park? Will you be visiting the water parks too? We always get a park hopper, but skip the water park option. We like to visit multiple parks in a day, especially toward the end of the trip when everyone wants to go on their favorite rides one more time. We usually travel in the off season when it’s not scorching hot, so we haven’t been to the water parks in years. What about food? Forget everything you think you know about theme park food. You can find everything from fast food to meals with your favorite Disney characters to fine dining experiences. Should you add a dining plan to your ticket? There are several options available. The most popular plan allows you to get 1 counter service meal (fast food restaurant), 1 table service meal (sit down restaurant), and 1 snack per night you’re staying. You also get a travel mug that you can refill at your hotel with unlimited coffee, tea, soda, or juice for the length of your stay. For us, food is always a huge part of our vacation so we definitely add this on! (Also, I cannot think of a better place to eat gluten free than Walt Disney World. The chefs go above and beyond to accommodate all dietary restrictions.)
BOOK EM, DANNO!
Okay, so you have your budget, you know when you’re going, where you’re staying and what type of ticket you want. Now you’re ready to book your trip! You can do it online or call. I like to call 407-W-DISNEY. I usually have a few options of resorts I am interested in. I ask the vacation planner to check them all out for me, see what’s available, and how much it will cost.
THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART
Now what?? You’re done, right? WRONG! There’s so much more to think about. Stay tuned for future blog posts on what to do as your trip approaches!
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