Hey there, Niesha! Welcome to planDisney. We're happy you're here!
If you couldn't already tell, planDisney panelists LOVE to plan vacations to all Disney destinations! Walt Disney World Resort holds a special place in my heart, personally, and is where my family feels happiest to vacation together. While I'm not aware of software that can help plan a vacation for your family, I would love to try to make the process as easy as possible!
First, I'd recommend that you create a
My Disney Experience account. This is the "hub" that houses all of your reservations and plans, allowing you to easily locate them. I'd also suggest that your other Guests create My Disney Experience accounts, too! Please know that Guests must be at least 13 years old to make their own My Disney Experience account, so if you have people in your travel party who are younger than that, just hold tight – I'll let you know how to manage their plans in a future step! Then, have your Guests connect with you through your
Family & Friends List. This will make planning together much easier!
- Pick your dates! You can enter a set of desired dates right into the Walt Disney World Resort website. If your dates are at all flexible, I'd suggest avoiding holidays and events where the parks will typically be on the busier side. You can even do an online search for Walt Disney World Resort crowd calendars to help you make this decision! However, if you decide that visiting during a holiday (or a busier time of year) is what works best for you and your travel party, no worries! We'd be happy to help you with some tips and tricks to have a magical time, no matter the crowds.
- Select your Disney Resorts Collection hotel! With so many resort hotel benefits available to you, this is a great way to make sure you don't miss a minute of the magic. I've stayed everywhere from Disney's Pop Century Resort to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and have loved them all! Bonus tip – shifting your dates by a day or two can sometimes open up different availability for Disney Resorts Collection hotels. Let us know if you'd like advice in selecting a resort!
- Pick your tickets! Decide how many days you'd like to visit the parks and if you want to include any upgrades (such as the Park Hopper Option).
- Then, check out! Here, you'll select the Guests who will be staying in your room with you. If you're connected through your Family & Friends List already, this will be a breeze! If you have a child under 13, this is where you'll enter their information for them, allowing you to manage their plans. When booking a vacation package (which includes a stay at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and tickets), you'll be asked to pay a deposit with your remaining balance due 30 days prior to your arrival. This deposit is also refundable until 30 days before your trip.
So, first things first! Dates, Disney Resorts Collection hotel, and tickets. Once you and the Guests in your travel party have those pieces booked, please visit us again! We'd love to help you make your
advance dining reservations, pick out any
Enchanting Extras, or even navigate the
My Disney Experience app (which feels a little like holding a magic wand in your hand!). We're here for every question you have – just ask!
You've got a friend in me,
Michelle