Hi Gabriella! Welcome to planDisney!
Starting to plan for a Walt Disney World vacation can seem like a tall order, but you have come to the perfect place to get answers to all of your questions! There are a few things to consider when planning your stay, including if you plan on staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel in addition to visiting the theme parks while you are there. If this is the case, then you can book a vacation package directly through the Walt Disney World website that includes both your accommodations and park tickets. You'll be required to put down a deposit for the trip and then the final balance is due 30 days prior to your arrival. Throughout this period, you can make incremental payments using your
My Disney Experience account to pay down this amount.
Depending on your budget, you will have a variety of hotel options available to you. Disney Resorts Hotels are broken up into three different categories ranging in pricing. Value Resorts will get you the best bang for your buck while still providing all of the Disney touches. Moderate Hotels will typically have onsite table service restaurants in addition to quick service meals. Deluxe Resorts are mostly located in ideal areas and host additional amenities. Choosing any of these hotel options also gives you access to the various modes of
Disney Transportation to get you to and from the parks. Depending on where you stay, you can take a bus, boat, monorail, or the Disney Skyliner.
In addition to these resort options, Walt Disney World has a variety of
other hotel options that you can book directly through the website and include in your vacation package. These hotels will be in and around Walt Disney World and usually come with a lower price tag. You will miss out on a few aspects, such as Disney transportation and a few of the onsite perks. But if these hotels fit into your budget easier, then there are some fantastic choices to choose from.
Choosing your
ticket package is the other deciding factor to complete your vacation package. The cost of tickets ranges from how many days you want to visit the parks and what time of year you plan on visiting. You can also choose to add the
Park Hopper Option to your tickets to be able to visit multiple parks on the same day. This will allow you the flexibility to have different experiences all in one day.
If planning your trip gets a bit overwhelming or you prefer someone to walk you through the process, I suggest reaching out to an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to help plan your stay. These individuals can book your entire stay, including airfare, airport transportation, resort reservations, and ticket packages. The best way to find one is to perform a Google search for Authorized Planners. The best part about using a Vacation Planner is there is no extra cost to you. You will pay the same amount for your vacation as if you booked it yourself!
Gabriella, I hope this information helps you plan your dream getaway! Have a magical time planning your stay!
See ya real soon!
Greg