Hello Angela,
There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow that's just a dream away, Angela, and in my view it's never too soon to start planning for that beautiful tomorrow. In your case, that beautiful tomorrow will be all about your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. That sounds exciting!
I think the best way to start the process of planning your trip is to do just what you're doing now -- coming to see us here at planDisney and asking questions to help you plan.
It's helpful to know that the booking window for Walt Disney World Resort hotel accommodations currently opens 499 days in advance. You can book your reservation in advance by calling Disney Resort Hotel Reservations at (407) 939-1936.
There's lots of magical planning you can do now to get ready before you book your reservations. I suggest you start by getting familiar with the
Disney Resorts Collection. There are so many magical choices -- from
Resort hotel rooms featuring your favorite Disney characters to
Deluxe Villas that offer all the comforts of home.
I also suggest getting familiar with the overall layout of the Walt Disney World Resort. You can
check out the online interactive map to see where all the Resort hotels are located in relation to the theme parks.
Angela, you also ask about payment plans. For room-only reservations that you book, the current process is that you would make a deposit when you book the reservation, and your final payment would be due on the day you arrive. For vacation packages that include Resort hotel accommodations and theme park tickets, you currently would make a $200 deposit when you book, and your payment in full would be due 30 days before your arrival. This would give you the flexibility to follow a payment plan of your own by
making payments at your convenience through your
My Disney Experience account.
Another payment plan idea that is very popular with Guests is to purchase
Disney Gift Cards that can be used for your Resort stay and your theme park tickets, as well as shopping and dining at the Walt Disney World Resort. You can often purchase the gift cards at a discount at some stores that offer member savings.
One other tip I'll share is to
follow the Disney Parks blog to stay in the know about all the exciting news for the Walt Disney World Resort.
Angela, I know your travel plans might feel far off in the future, but I hope you start enjoying all the magic today as you make your plans. Your great, big, beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away!
Jerry