Disney World boasts four amazing theme parks and two water parks. That’s not even including all the other entertainment, shopping, and recreational activities.
In other words, there’s a lot going on and it can be difficult to even begin planning a trip to Disney. What do you need to book? How do you get there? Are you missing something important?
Don’t worry, this Disney trip guide has all the information you need in just seven steps. Keep reading so that you can start planning an epic vacation.
1. Choose the Best Time to Go to Disney World
Of course, when you can go depends on your responsibilities and leave days. However, there are some better times to visit Disney World than others. It just depends on what you want.
You may want to catch a special event, such as the Epcot International Flower Garden Festival or Halloween at the resort, in which case you’ll need to plan your trip on specific dates.
If you’re hoping to escape the maddening crowds avoid school holidays and try to plan your trip for offseason weekdays.
2. Decide How Many Days You’ll Spend There
Walt Disney World has so much going on! There are endless attractions, thrilling rides, performances, and more — and that’s just in the park. There are gold courses, awesome resorts, and amazing Disney shopping spots too.
Figure out what you’d like to do and how much time you need to do it. The best option for the full experience is to stay at one of the Disney Resort Hotels. And the best part? There are over 20 hotels to choose from so you’re sure to find one that matches your budget.
3. Organize Your Tickets and Reservations
Once you’ve decided how many days you’ll spend visiting Disney, you’ll need to decide how many days, or partial days, you’re going to spend in the actual parks. When you book your tickets you’ll see that the more days, the cheaper the ticket.
You then need to choose which type of ticket is right for you. The most affordable ticket is the 1-Park per day ticket which allows you to visit only one theme park per day. Otherwise, opt for the Park Hopper ticket so you can move between parks as you’d like.,
in addition to theme park reservations, you should think about which restaurants and experiences you’d like to visit. It’s recommended that you make these reservations up to two months in advance as the popular ones fill up fast!
4. Planning Transportation for Going to Disney
How are you going to get to Disney World? This is a big question for a lot of visitors, and rightfully so. If you’re on the East Coast, driving is the easiest option. However, visitors from outside of the East Coast usually fly. Then, hop on the complimentary Disney’s Magical Express shuttle service that operates to and from Orlando airport.
Once you’re inside the resort, all transportation is included. There is a network of busses, Monorails, boats, and even Gondolas to ferry you between the hotels and theme parks.
5. Going to Disney on a Budget
Visiting Disney World is not a cheap experience. With the cost of getting there, tickets, reservations, souvenirs, food, and more — the price racks up.
Firstly, if you’re hoping to join the Disney Vacation Club but you’re struggling with the cost, consider different DVC financing resources. That way you get the benefits without feeling out of pocket. You’ll also benefit from discounted vacation club rentals.
There are tons of other money-saving tips. Visiting parks during non-peak times helps to keep the costs down as ticket prices are lower. Take advantage of the free activities while you’re at Disney World.
Bring your own snacks into the park to avoid high costs, and rent equipment such as mobility scooters and strollers off-site.
6. Plan Your Days
Okay, so you don’t have to schedule every minute of your time — where’s the fun in that? But, Disney World is huge and there are many different theme parks and things to do.
If there is something that you really want to see, and especially if there are a couple of things you don’t want to miss, it helps to make a loose schedule. This is a good way to make sure you don’t miss out on all of the good stuff because you get distracted along the way by all the magic.
7. Pack the Essentials
There’s a couple of essential items that everyone needs with them on a trip to Disney World. The first and most important is comfortable walking shoes as you’re likely going to be doing a lot of walking and you don’t want to be plonking around in impractical shoes.
Bring a portable battery charger to keep your phone charged in case of emergencies, and to snap awesome pictures. You’ll also need your phone to check wait times, book fast passes, and more, so it’s important that it always has juice.
Pack an umbrella so that if it starts to rain, you don’t need to give up your spot in line to take cover.
Don’t forget a reusable water bottle as it’s expensive to buy water in the parks and there are tons of places you can fill it up for free.
Are You Ready to Start Planning a Trip to Disney?
Now that you’re armed with all the knowledge and resources you need you can start planning a trip to Disney. The most important thing is to book in advance and give yourself enough time to organize accommodation, transport, tickets, and reservations.
Did you enjoy this post? Our site is full of amazing content to keep you informed and inspired — keep reading for more!
