Hi Lindsay! Thanks for stopping by planDisney! I'm happy to help you get started!
Planning for a Walt Disney World Resort trip can be a bit overwhelming when you first start the process, especially since there is so much that needs to be considered for your stay. Deciding on which Disney Resorts Hotel you want to stay at, which parks you want to visit, travel accommodations, and dining are all major parts of planning.
Your best option will be to contact an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to work alongside you to plan the perfect trip. These individuals are very knowledgeable and will be able to provide you with all the options that will fit your budget. They can even handle airfare and travel reservations, along with booking your Walt Disney World vacation package. They can assist with Advanced Dining Reservations when the time comes and any Enchanting Extras that you decide to add. The best part about using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is there is no extra cost to you! You'll pay the same amount for your trip as if you booked it yourself! To find one, simply perform a Google search and a host of them will populate. Look through the choices and decide which one will fit best.
If you decide to book your stay on your own, you'll first need to decide if you plan to stay in a Disney Resorts Hotel. There are three different categories of resorts to choose from that include value, moderate, and deluxe. Depending on your budget, a resort within one of these categories should work well. There is a range of benefits to staying onsite in one of these resorts, but none greater than
complimentary Disney Transportation during your stay. You'll be able to travel either by bus, boat, monorail, and the Disney Skyliner to get to the parks each day.
When you head to the website to start booking, you'll see the "
Build Your Vacation" toolbar toward the top of the homepage. Enter your anticipated travel dates and the number of Guests in your party to see what resorts are available and the different room types for each. Pricing will be listed to show the cost of the room. Once you decide on your resort, you can package together your park tickets with your stay. You can choose from 2-day tickets up to 10-day park tickets depending on how long your trip is. There will also be some add-ons you can choose from, such as adding the Park Hopper Option to your tickets. This allows you to visit multiple parks in one day.
Once you have everything selected, you'll be required to pay a deposit to book your reservation. The balance will be due 30 days prior to your arrival. If you plan to stay offsite and not in a
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, you can purchase your park tickets on the website. These tickets will be nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Once your package is booked or tickets are purchased, you'll need to make
theme park reservations for the days you plan to visit the parks. Park reservations are required for entry each day along with a valid park ticket.
Advanced Dining Reservations are available to start booking 60 days in advance of your stay. All dining locations can be found on the website. To manage these plans and make reservations, I suggest creating a My Disney Experience account. This account will be your best friend on this trip!
Lindsay, please stop back with any additional questions. This information will hopefully get you pointed in the right direction!
Happy planning!
Greg