Hello Eve,
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question. Fall is a great time to visit
Walt Disney World (of course, every time of year is a great time to visit). The weather is usually still quite warm, crowds are a little lower, the parks are decorated for the season, and the
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is in full swing.
As soon as you book your vacation you'll be able to make your
theme park reservations. You don't have to wait until you've paid for your vacation in full. In fact, payment in full isn't due until 30 days prior to your arrival, so you'll also be able to make all of your
dining reservations prior to that date as well. Guests staying at a
Walt Disney World Resort Hotel can book dining for their entire vacation beginning 60 days prior to check-in. This is also when you'll be able to book any special experiences like
Savi's Workshop where guests can design a custom lightsaber.
I'm not sure what type of tickets you are planning to purchase, but if you are planning to add the
Park Hopper Option to your tickets, you'll only need to book the FIRST park you plan to visit each day. Once you've entered that park you'll be able to hop to any other park at 2:00 PM (or whenever park hopping begins) without an additional reservation.
Hope this helps. Enjoy planning your magical vacation!
Diane