I would like to plan a WDW vacation for my two children and I in June. My son is 12 and my daughter is 9. I have never planned a huge vacation like this before and don't know where to begin, or how much it will cost. We will need airfare as well. HELP!”

Question

Answer 1

Start with the budget. Figure out how much you have to spend and let that shape your other choices. It's possible to have a great week at WDW and spend less than $2,000 (drive, go during the value season, stay off-site, pack meals, etc). It's also possible to have a (really) great week at WDW and spend $30,000+ (fly first class, go at Christmas, concierge suites, signature dining, VIP guides, etc.).

Once you have a budget in mind, you can start to make choices. To do this, you need to be informed. Get some guidebooks. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is a MUST, also the Birnbaum guide and the Passporter guide. Get familiar with the WDW website, allearsnet.com and disboards.com. Now you know your options.

Ask yourself questions:

- Will we spend much time at our hotel? If not maybe a less expensive hotel is a way to save.
- Do I mind cooking on my vacation? Maybe you want to budget more for restaurants.
- Will we visit more than one park each day? Allocate money to the park hopper ticket option.
- Are there shows we want to see? Allocate money for a night at Cirque du Soleil.
- Do I feel comfortable taking my kids out of school to take advantage of value rates?
- ... and so on.

Also, ask your children some of these questions; they are old enough to participate in the planning. Give them the guidebooks to look at. They'll have a better time if they have a say in what goes on during the vacation. Would your daughter swoon for a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover? Does your son want to go on a fishing cruise? Factor those things into your decision process.

Very few people have the means to take that 100% first class trip. We all make compromises and no one else's choices will be exactly the same as yours. Just start with a budget and make a ranked list of the most important items to you. (Value vs. deluxe, counter service vs. table service, etc.) Then go from there.

And we're happy to help :-)

I would like to plan a WDW vacation for my two children and I in June. My son is 12 and my daughter is 9. I have never planned a huge vacation like this before and don't know where to begin, or how much it will cost. We will need airfare as well. HELP!”

Meet the Panelist: Erin, New York

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