Hi there, Birdie, and welcome to planDisney! I couldn't be happier that you're here with this great question about your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort vacation! It sounds like you're ready to get started with planning your visit.
Birdie, I should tell you that while my Panelist pals and I are here and happy to help our fellow Guests, we are not Travel Agents and are not able to directly book travel plans for other Guests. We have lots of friends who are Travel Agents and you're welcome to work with a Travel Agent to help you book your vacation. You're also welcome to reach out to a helpful Cast Member with any questions you have as you make your reservations. When it comes to advice and recommendations, you have a friend in me!
Birdie, I recommend starting with booking a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel to call "home" during your vacation. Depending on your budget and preferences, you'll choose from four categories: value, moderate, deluxe, and deluxe villa resorts. Each offers complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort, unique theming, incredible onsite dining options, and the ability to enter Disney Theme Parks 30 minutes before the posted opening time.
Once you've chosen where you'd like to stay, you can think about where you'd like to play. There are four Disney Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom is home to Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, and classic attractions like "it's a small world" and Peter Pan's Flight. EPCOT is where you'll find the World Showcase as well as attractions and areas that celebrate different areas of the world. At Animal Kingdom, you'll be able to experience entertaining shows, amazing dining options, and animal encounters of all kinds. Hollywood Studios is where you'll be transported to places inspired by Toy Story, Star Wars, and more. With three days, you'll want to decide whether to omit one park or to visit more than one park per day.
If you decide to visit more than one park per day, you'll want to purchase a
park ticket with a park hopper option. A park hopper ticket will allow you to visit more than one park per day. Be sure to check out the special offers for
Florida Residents! As your vacation draws near, you can check out the attractions available at each park and decide whether you'd like to purchase Lightning Lane passes - this is a way to bypass the standby queue and wait in a typically shorter line for many attractions.
Did you know that you can make Advance Dining Reservations 60 days before you check in? I recommend choosing one table service restaurant per day and making dining reservations to ensure you have a dedicated time and place to enjoy a delicious meal. When you're on the go, you might choose a quick service restaurant. To save time waiting for food, place your order ahead of your arrival with the Mobile Food & Beverage Order feature of the My Disney Experience Mobile App.
Speaking of the app, be sure to familiarize yourself with it before your vacation. My favorite feature is the map, which tells you everything from wait times to Character locations to nearby restaurants and restrooms. It's like having magic at your fingertips!
Birdie, planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation can feel overwhelming because there is so much information to learn. I promise that if you take the time to do a bit of research, lean on experts like all of us here at planDisney, and pack your patience and sense of humor, you'll have a blast! Please stop by planDisney with any other questions you have as you continue to plan your vacation!
See you real soon!
Jennifer