• On Jun 12, 2022
    Taylor from TX Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi, I’m trying to plan our family vacation of 8 people. 3 adults and 5 children. I been on the websites and trying to do as much research as I can but I’m still unsure of all the things I need to do and need to have to make sure everything is in order SOS

    Hey there, Taylor, and welcome to planDisney! It’s great to have you here planning out your next Walt Disney World Vacation. You can rest assured that you came to the right place to help get your vacation plan buttoned up and give you that peace of mind you’re seeking. 

    I like to think that Disney Vacations revolve around three big planning categories: Stay, Play, and Eat. There are definitely more out there, but these three will give you a great foundation to build upon!

    The first is your stay. As soon as you are ready, you should secure your accommodations. I always recommend a stay in a Disney Resorts Collection hotel! With complimentary transportation from the resorts, early entry to the Theme Parks, and more - staying on-site adds an extra bit of magic to your vacation from beginning to end! With a party of your size, you will probably need to book multiple hotel rooms, so be sure to consider that in your planning needs. Resorts range in price based on their category, but my resort hotel suggestion is usually Disney’s Pop Century Resort. It has some fantastic theming, the kids love it, and it offers two modes of transportation. I’m booked for Pop Century for my next vacation, and I can’t wait to lay out by the Hippy Dippy Pool in just a few short days!

    The next category is play. After you have a good idea of your hotel accommodations, it’s time to secure your Theme Park days. And no Theme Park day is possible without Theme Park Tickets. I like to suggest that Guests start out with 4-day one park per day tickets on their vacations. My family enjoys this approach because it gives us time to see each park in-depth and my kids have proven multiple times that they are not the park hopping type (LOL). After your tickets are purchased and linked to your My Disney Experience app, book your Theme Park reservations through the Disney Park Pass system. You need a park reservation for each day you plan to enter the Theme Parks. I suggest reviewing the park hours to determine which days you will visit each park to maximize your time in the parks. 

    The final category is eating - because Disney Dining is an attraction all on its own! No vacation, especially Disney Vacation, is complete without some good food. Your Disney dining reservation window opens 60 days before your arrival date and is the perfect way to map out your vacation days ahead of time. Dining is a great opportunity to reconnect as big group midday or cool down during an early dinner. Either way, I suggest taking advantage of Disney Dining on your visit because, in my opinion, it’s often overlooked and is a huge part of the full Disney Experience! My family enjoys Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and pretty much everywhere in Disney Springs! It’s really hard to go wrong. 

    Planning a Walt Disney World vacation for a large party may take a lot of cooperation, some extra patience, and a special dose of pixie dust, but it will all be worth it in the end! I hope this helps, Taylor! If you have any more questions, make sure to stop back and ask!

    You’ve got a friend in me,

    PG
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Meet the Panelist: Phillip, Alabama

Hi there! I’m Phillip from Alabama and you can consider me your skipper. I love helping families navigate the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney planning is like a trip through a jungle - there may be twists and turns but with a little patience and pixie dust I’m here to help you have the most magical time! Learn More About Phillip

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