Wandering off on a magical journey to Disney World is an experience that is worth experiencing for many people, including myself. If I could, I would visit Disney on a daily basis. Disney World isn’t just a theme park; it’s a mixture of experiences tailored for everyone, be it the young or the young at heart, the outdoor adventurer, the food enthusiast, or the dancer. There’s an abundance of magic for everyone.
However, the path to this wonderland involves meticulous planning—a task that may seem daunting to many. Fear not, for by the end of this blog post, you’ll become a self-made Disney planner and expert. Having planned numerous Disney vacations for my family without a travel agent, I assure you that the journey is as rewarding as the destination. While there’s nothing wrong with relying on a travel agent, the thrill of unraveling the Disney magic personally adds an extra layer of satisfaction.
Let’s dive into the art of Disney planning with a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Choose The Time of The Year
Determining the season for your Disney escapade may seem trivial, but it significantly shapes your experience. I’ve found my favorite months to be February, March, September, and December—the sweet spots with milder crowds and bearable weather. Although, let’s be honest, any time of the year is the best time at Disney World!
Step 2: Determine Dates of Travel
Before delving into the nitty-gritty, pin down the dates that align with your family’s preferences. Some revel in the summer’s heat for great deals, while others seek the festive holiday season for special events and parties.
Step 3: What Is Your Budget?
A budget is crucial when it comes to planning your magical vacation. Beyond tickets and accommodations, factor in expenses like food, Genie Plus (fast pass), character dining, and magic bands. Having a clear budget in mind helps determine the duration of your Disney adventure.
Step 4: Determine Theme Parks To Visit
Disney World unfolds in four captivating parks—Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. Each park is a unique universe, and if feasible, I would recommend doing all 4 parks because they each provide you with a different unique experience.. Consider dedicating two days to the enchanting Magic Kingdom, especially if you have little ones in tow. Magic Kingdom has so much to do and see.
Step 5: Decide Staying Onsite or Offsite
Choosing where to stay can be a challenge, but simplify the decision by asking an important question—on-site or off-site? Both have their perks, and my family has enjoyed both for different reasons. On-site convenience versus off-site spaciousness, the choice is yours.
Staying on Disney property provides you with the convenience in many different directions. Specifically, transportation to the parks is one of the biggest factors that people chose to stay onsite. Disney makes it easy to use the buses and most of them arrive every 15 minutes to all four parks.
One of the advantages of staying offsite is the comfortability of the hotel room space. We have stayed at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. It is conveniently located close to Disney world and offers limited transportation to the parks. I would recommend using uber as the transportation takes you to the transportation center which can be a hussle if you are going to parks other than magic kingdom.
For the purpose of this blog post, we are going to look at onsite options.
Step 6: Disney Resort Categories
Disney’s resorts are categorized into three tiers—Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Each tier offers unique experiences, and the choice boils down to your family’s preferences. Dive into the theming to find your perfect fit.
Value: The pools at values do not have slides and dining option is a quick service dining. They tend to have one main bus stop. One might be walking a little bit more to get to the bus stop, unless you book a preferred room which is close to various things like the bus stop, the pool, or dining. They have about 2 pools, though some Pop Century and Art of Animation have 3. Pop Century and Art of Animation also have access to Skyliner
Resorts in this tier: Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s All Star Music, Disney’s All Star Movies, and Disney’s All Star Sports.
Moderate: The moderate resorts offer several restaurants on site in addition to the quick service dining. They generally have several bus stops, which means you are not walking too much to the bus stop. The pools at moderate hotels will generally have a slide and there are other pools in other sections of the resort. They also offer recreational activities like bike riding, catch and release fishing, health clubs, spa services or live entertainment in the lounge. Disney’s Caribbean Beach has access to the Skyliner while both Port Orleans resorts offer boat transportation to Disney Springs.
Resorts in this tier: Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, The Cabins at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort,
Deluxe: Deluxe resorts live up to their name. They generally offer character dining and signature dining experience in addition to quick service. They have one main pool with a waterslide and will have a secondary pool. Transportation options for Deluxe hotels are endless. They offer boat rides, monorail service, or a walking option to at least one of the theme parks.
Resorts in this tier: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Beach Club, and Disney’s Boardwalk,
Step 7: Decide Ticketing Options
Now that you have chosen your Disney resort and decided which parks you would like to visit, its time to determine if a park hopper is necessary. I would recommend getting a park hopper if you have older kids who can move at a faster pace in the parks, otherwise with little kids, it is not necessary. One might feel rushed using a park hopper because you are going from one park to another and trying to make the best use of the hopper.
Step 8: Disney’s Genie Plus Option
Yes, you need Genie! This digital magic carpet, akin to a fast pass, lets you breeze through rides with pre-booked time slots. A “skip the line” time-saver that enhances your Disney experience. How does it work? You have to book it on the day of starting at 7am (set a time to book your must-do rides: book 7am sharp!). You can only book one fast pass one ride at a time. Once you ride that ride or check in, you then check to see what other rides are available and book the fast pass. So on and so forth. It saves time and allows one to get on many attractions. My advice is to book the most popular ride that you want to get on.
You may also book to be on a Virtual Que (free; also starting at 7am and then again at 1pm) on rides like Tron. It is sort of a first come first serve With Virtual Que, you are assigned a group and will receive a message on your Disney app that your group is ready to go on that particular ride). Be sure to abide to the time window you are given (it depends on how fast the groups in front of you are moving) otherwise if you miss the time window, you may not be able to ride.
A Lightning Lane is a fast pass (“skip the line pass”) that you purchase for an individual ride or attraction. It is seperate from the Genie or Virtual Que. The Lightening Lane also has to be booked starting at 7am. You might not be able to obtain it if booked late.
Booking the rides you want could be a marathon at 7am on the day of. Just set your alarm and reminder to book right at the dot.
Step 9: Dining Plan Dilemma
Consider your family’s priorities. If, like mine, you’re all about rides and attractions, a dining plan might not be your cup of tea. We do one character meal on our last day (a brunch). We usually will reserve dinner on the day of depending on availability. If you are looking for specialized dinner options like Cinderella’s Castle or Beauty and the Beast, then I suggest booking in advance when dining reservations open 60 days in advance if you are staying at a Disney Resort. You may book your 60 days in advance for the entire length of your stay.
Step 10: Price Out Your Trip
Budgeting becomes a breeze with Disney’s website. Plug in your dates to get a comprehensive view of the costs, allowing you to plan accordingly. You may even call Disney and a cast member will price everything out for you.
Step 11: Book the Enchantment
Armed with a plan, it’s time to make your dream a reality. Book your trip online or opt for the personal touch of a Disney cast member over the phone. They not only answer your questions but might unveil hidden gems you hadn’t considered.
In conclusion, crafting a memorable Disney adventure is an art, and you, dear reader, are now armed with the brushes and palette to paint your magical masterpiece. May your journey be as enchanting as the destination itself!