Hello Debbie! You brought your question to the perfect place! Helping Guests with their vacation planning is what we love doing at planDisney! I’m happy to share a few important details regarding your Walt Disney World Resort vacation planning checklist!
The first thing that I recommend is making your
Disney Park Pass reservations. To enter a Disney Park, Guests need valid admission and a Disney Park Pass reservation for the park they wish to visit. I just checked the
Disney Parks availability calendar (which I also linked in this answer for you). As of the posting of this answer, all four Disney Parks are currently available on and around your December 30, 2023 arrival date. However, that is a very popular time to visit the parks. I strongly recommend that you make your Disney Park Pass reservations soon. You can begin making your Disney Park Pass reservations today! On a related note, Disney Park Pass reservation policies change beginning on January 9, 2024, so please be sure to make your reservations as they are still required during your time period.
Next, start thinking about Disney Dining experiences! Making reservations for a special restaurant (or two…or three) is always at the top of my planning list! Guests can begin making their Disney Dining reservations 60 days prior to their vacation arrival date! In your case, Debbie, that would be a Tuesday, October 31, 2023 (yes, Halloween)! That should be easy to remember! Guests can begin making their reservations around 5:45/6:00 AM! Grab your favorite early morning beverage and start making your Disney Dining reservations on either the Walt Disney World Resort website or using your My Disney Experience app!
Sixty days is also the magic number for planning any magical “extras” that you might be considering during your vacation. For example, you might want to book a special tour such as
Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour or a Polar Patio at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, or a
Capture Your Moment photo session!
If you booked a Walt Disney World Resort vacation package (room reservation and theme park tickets) your final payment will be due 30 days prior to your arrival date. As a PRO TIP for you, please know that you are welcome to make vacation payments, at any time, in any amount, using your online My Disney Experience account! Some Guests appreciate the option to pay over time, rather than all at once.
Debbie, these dates should be enough to get you started! I’ve always linked a special video along with this answer to your question. The video includes yours truly, along with my fellow planDisney panelist, Elaine, providing some tips for first-time visitors! Hopefully you find it helpful!
Happy Planning!
Jonathan