Hi there, Dorothy! Thanks so much for visiting planDisney with your question today. Like Belle, I am always up for an adventure in the great wide somewhere, and I'm excited to help
you explore all the wonders that
Walt Disney World Resort has to offer!
I am the chief organizer for our family's Disney vacations (which led me to becoming part of planDisney!), and I always tell people that my #1 tip is to have a plan for your visit. Walt Disney World is amazing, magical, immersive--and BIG, so you definitely want to do some advance planning to make sure your family can enjoy the attractions and experiences that are most important to you.
Your first step should be to think about the budget for your trip. There is a wide range of
accommodations available on-property, ranging from Value to Deluxe resorts, and even an awesome campground if your family prefers the great outdoors! Staying on-property gives you access to complimentary transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and
Disney Springs--we almost never rent a car when we visit since there are so many options to get where we want to go. You'll also be able to enjoy
Early Entry at the theme parks on certain days, when Guests staying at Disney Resort Hotels can enjoy a park for 30 minutes before the posted opening time!
Next up--what does your family want to do most? Thrill rides? Character Dining? Live shows? Walt Disney World has it all! The
Attractions & Entertainment page lets you filter everything happening at the resort by interest, accessibility, or age to come up with a customized list of experiences that will be perfect for your crew.
Now for perhaps my favorite part of any Disney vacation...FOOD! There are delicious
dining options around every corner, both at the resorts and in the theme parks. These range from iconic Mickey Mouse-shaped snacks to elegant fine dining experiences, and you could literally spend an entire vacation just trying new restaurants. A great way to sample a wide variety of dining spots is to add a
Disney dining plan, which has two different options to choose from based on whether you prefer Quick-Service dining, or want to plan on a sit-down meal during your day. My planDisney pal
Jenn is a dining wizard if you're looking for tips! It's a great idea to make dining reservations in advance--currently you can start booking 60 days prior to your check-in date.
Dorothy, I have thrown a lot of information at you! If you decide that you would rather enlist a professional for planning assistance, I highly recommend working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. These are travel agents who are Disney experts and can handle as much or as little of your planning as you like. As an added bonus, they're always up on the latest
special offers and will usually apply these automatically to your vacation package.
Whatever route you choose, our planDisney family is always here to help with any questions you may have to make your vacation as magical as can be! Please
reach out to me directly if you would like more information about anything I mentioned.
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan