Hiya April! Welcome to planDisney! You have come to the perfect place to get help planning your very first Walt Disney World Resort trip! I still remember my first visit, stepping foot in the Magic Kingdom and having the chance to walk down Main Street, U.S.A. to get a glimpse of Cinderella Castle. For every time you see it on TV or in the movies, it pales in comparison to experiencing it in person.
April, the fast and easy way to book your stay and also get an estimate of the trip is to visit the
Walt Disney World website and use the "Build Your Vacation" toolbar at the top of the page. Just enter your anticipated travel dates and the size of your party, then select "View Rates". Several Disney Resorts Hotels will populate that have availability for those dates. Disney Resorts Hotels are separated into three categories; Deluxe, Moderate, and Value Resorts. While each distinction has different amenities and room types, they are all magical in their own way. My first stay was at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort and we absolutely loved the theming and recreation options. We spent time walking around the resort and taking in the larger-than-life Disney movie characters that we were able to find. I also just recently returned from a stay at Disney Polynesian Village Resort, and this was a dream visit. This is one of the original Deluxe Resorts and sits just a short monorail ride to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom.
Once you decide on your resort, the next option is to choose how many days you wish to visit the parks. There are four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort, which include the Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. If you want to visit them all, you'll need to choose at least a 4-day park ticket, since you are allowed to visit one park per day. You can also add the Park Hopper Option to your tickets which allows you to visit multiple theme parks in a day. At this point in the online process, you can decide to add Memory Maker to your stay. Disney has PhotoPass Photographers staged throughout the parks and resorts, so any pictures taken with these Cast Members or on attractions will be available to download if this service is purchased.
At this point, you'll see a subtotal for the amount your resort accommodations and park tickets will cost. You'll be required to pay an initial deposit and then the balance of your stay will be due 30 days before your arrival date. For dining, I suggest checking out the menus of restaurants you plan to eat at during your visit. You'll get a great idea of the cost for each meal which will help you budget for your stay.
There are a few more things to consider when planning your visit. Advanced Dining Reservations are highly suggested for many of the table service restaurants. You can start booking these 60 days in advance of your visit. There are also quick-service dining locations if you prefer to just order at the counter. Theme park reservations are required in addition to your park ticket. You'll need to make a reservation for the first park you visit each day. Your best friend on this trip will be the My Disney Experience App that you can download to your mobile device. You'll need to create a My Disney Experience account to link all of your reservations and park tickets.
You can always
call the Walt Disney World Resort and speak to a Cast Member for help. They can book your entire stay over the phone and help guide you on some decisions. You can also perform a Google search for an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. These individuals can book your entire stay, including travel accommodations. The best part about using their services is there is no extra cost to you!
Happy planning!
Greg