Hi Kimberley! Welcome to planDisney!
Thanks for stopping by with your question and concerns. I assure you that with the proper planning, your trip will be magical and amazing in every possible way! I know there is a ton to consider, including what days to visit certain parks and when to schedule dining experiences so they don't conflict with any special park experiences you don't want to miss. Once you can map out each day, you'll feel much better about your plans.
Typically Walt Disney World will continually
release park hours about 2 months in advance. This will usually include times for the parades, fireworks, and other shows happening at each park. This should coincide with when you can start booking
Advanced Dining Reservations, which starts 60 days in advance of your arrival date.
There are ways to start planning before you officially know the exact times. You can get a good idea about the approximate park hours in the weeks leading up to your stay. As these dates are announced, your travel dates shouldn't be much of a change from these. You can start penciling in important experiences and activities that you want to check out. Then, once you make your dining reservations, you can start filling in the spots a bit more clearly. I would start by prioritizing the most important things that your family wants to experience, that way you'll make sure to fit those in.
Kimberley, while having a plan in place is imperative, I can't stress enough the need to be flexible on your trip as well. There will be times when you need to veer off of your path and pivot to a new idea. This may be due to the weather, an attraction being down, or somebody in your group needing a break. Whatever the case is, it usually makes for a better trip if you are able to work around these changes. With all the research and planning you did in advance, making changes should be seamless.
I hope this information helps you during your upcoming holiday!
Stop back and see us again at planDisney!
Happy planning!
Greg