Hey Chris,
Welcome back to planDisney! I see that you’re deep in your planning era as you scope out your future visit to Walt Disney World. I know planning a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth can seem overwhelming. There’s a lot to know. As someone who has both planned my own visits and used an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, I want you to know that you’re fully capable of doing this yourself. Here’s a
step-by-step guide to get you started.
To sum it up, you will want to
choose a resort, decide on how many
theme park days you’ll need (always plan for a resort day!), determine whether your crew will need
park hopper tickets or not, and consider
Dining Plans,
Lightning Lane passes and
Enchanting Extras as add-ons for your trip. Before you do all of that, visit the
Special Offers page to see if there are any great deals being offered that you can take advantage of. Check out the
3-Step Planning Guide for Families - it’s a great resource for the planning stage you’re in now.
Chris, if you’re like Moana and feel like the island isn’t giving you what you need, it’s perfectly ok to reach out to an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. These travel professionals can help you plan your vacation from start to finish. While there’s no official list of authorized planners, a simple internet search should help you find one. Be sure to look for the official “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” logo as well as their Ear-Marked status (either diamond, platinum, gold, silver or bronze). Most authorized planners will have this information displayed proudly on their homepage.
Whether you choose to book your vacation yourself or use a travel professional, be sure to take some time to get familiar with the
My Disney Experience app. This app will essentially be your key to all things Disney World during your visit. You'll be able to use it to mobile order meals and snacks where available, book Lightning Lanes, check attraction wait times, view the entertainment schedule and more. It's like having Disney World in your pocket (I even use it at home to check attraction wait times when I'm feeling like I need a little magic.) I hope this information is helpful. Come back and see us here at planDisney if you have more planning questions. We’ll see ya real soon!
Sakinah