Mom and daughter on Expedition Everest; Animal Kingdom
  • On Jul 7, 2012
    Kate from BC Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    we are wanting to come see Disneyworld but have never been and am a bit overwhelmed at where to even start. we are a family of 5 with 3 boys (ages 7, 9 and 11). Would love recommendations on what to consider in starting to plan?

    Hi Kate!

    One of the first steps is determining when to come.  I think it is fair to say that Walt Disney World is generally least crowded when older children are normally in school.  However, with the right plan, you can navigate the parks even when they are crowded.  To help you determine when might be a good time to come in terms of crowds, I recommend visiting the independent website TouringPlans.com.  That is the website for the research team behind the tour book "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World".  They are famous for producing a crowd calendar.

    After you know when you would like to come, you need to decide where you would like to stay.  I recommend staying at Walt Disney World to enjoy all of the benefits of staying on property.  Still, there is a huge selection of resorts designed to meet all budgets.  I suggest visiting the independent website MouseSavers.com to look for any money saving information; sometimes Disney releases discount codes and that may influence when you come and where you stay.  While you are on Mouse Savers, be sure to look at their other tips as well.

    Since it is your first time visiting,  I recommend picking up the book "The Complete Walt Disney World" by Julie Neal.  It is a great book for first time visitors as it is full of information but is not overwhelming.  It is also a beautiful book full of color photographs.  It will give you a great feel for everything there is to do at Walt Disney World.

    Our responses are limited in length, but I would be happy to help you more.  You can send questions directly to me!  After you know when you want to come, you will want to develop a rough plan regarding which parks you want to visit.  Then you can make Dining Reservations which can be made up to 180 days in advance and are critical for the Table Service restaurants, especially the more popular ones!  I hope this gets you started.
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Meet the Panelist: Bernie, Maryland

I am an engineer with NASA with prior Air Force service. My wife and I have two boys, ages 13 and 8. At home, I'm known as the "Disney Guy" and I've enjoyed helping guests plan their Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and Disneyland vacations. Learn More About Bernie

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