Hey I get it, planning a Walt Disney World Vacation can be daunting, especially when you’re not a crazy loving Disney family like we are. In my opinion, planning is half the fun and helps build the magic while you pass the time before your next trip however, if planning your trip makes you want to run and hide I don’t want you to worry. We are going to share with you our top tips to help make planning your Walt Disney World Vacation a little less stressful.
Top tips when planning a Walt Disney World vacation
The length of your stay matters
If you are new to Walt Disney World and can swing it financially, we highly recommend staying for at least 5-7 days. This will afford you the opportunity to experience each of the 4 parks, explore your resort in its entirety, splash around in the pool, or even venture over to Disney Springs where countless dining and shopping options are offered as well as live music and entertainment.
Are you staying on or off WDW property?
Personally, we love staying on Disney property! Staying in one of the many Disney Resorts is all part of the immersive experience. Plus, we love being able to take advantage of the many free transportation options offered. Who wants to worry about driving on vacation anyway? There are so many fun, unique and beautiful resorts to experience that continue to keep you connected to the magic well after your park day has concluded. From immersing yourself in the French and Italian Riviera to adventuring through the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, you’ll be sure to find one that meets the needs for you and your family! Regardless of what your budget may be, there is an option for everyone.
Plan rest days
Walt Disney World is massive and there are endless things to see and do, so trust us when we advise against trying to cram it all into one trip. You’ll thank us later! Walt Disney World opened on 01 October 1971 and there are no signs of it going anywhere which means, you can go back another time and focus on all the things you weren’t able to experience this time around. With that being said, we highly encourage building in rest days as you begin structuring your Disney vacation.
For our family, we prefer to incorporate a day of rest following each intense park day. This method allows us to go “all out” and take full advantage of our park days knowing we can sleep in, relax by the pool the next day, or enjoy the many amenities around the resort. If that’s not possible for you, sprinkle in those rest days however it makes sense for you and your family, you’ll be happy you did.
Consider how much money you want to spend on your resort stay
Disney offers a wide range of accommodations and groups them into 4 different tiers, separated by price point. The tiers include Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas. Depending on which tier you and your family choose will unlock different theming, transportation, levels of dining, proximity to the magic, and much more. Like anything else, the more you spend, the more you get.
You’ll want to consider how much time you think you’ll actually be spending at the resort. If you plan to be at the parks from rope drop to close, you may not need that Deluxe Villa with all of the fancy amenities and just opt for a Value resort where you know you’ll have a pillow to lay your head and extra money to spend in the park.
If you think you might mix it up a bit and incorporate some time outside of the park, it might make sense to upgrade your resort type and give yourself a few more perks that will help make your days off a little more special. One of our all time favorite resorts is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Where else can you go where they have an African Savanah right outside your window?
Consider renting points from Disney Vacation Club Members
If the resorts are where you want to spend your time and money, have interest in the Deluxe Villa style accommodations, we recommend checking out places like dvcrentalstore.com or dvcrequest.com where you can save up to 50% what it would cost you to rent that same room directly through Disney just by renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points.
Essentially, DVC is Disney’s version of a timeshare program that allows members to buy a set number of points that they can use every year for future vacations until the contract expires. There are third party companies similar to the ones mentioned above that help members who can’t use their points for a given time period find a good home to someone in need so the points don’t go to waste. It’s a win-win situation for the owner as well as the family looking to try something new!
Disney Vacation Club currently has 11 resorts within Walt Disney World with various themes ranging from the laid back Florida beach vibe of Disney’s Old Key West Resort to a more upscale Victorian-era beach feel like Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and literally everything in between. You will be sure to find something that fits just about anyone’s personality!
Check the WDW website for discounts on room rates
Check out the Walt Disney World website for discounts on room rates. At different times throughout the year Disney will sometimes give up to 35% off select rooms.
Go during non peak times
Typically February and September/October are the best times to travel to Disney to experience lower park attendance. Now to the inexperienced eye these times may still seem busy but nothing says busy like Magic Kingdom on the 4th of July. Trust me!
Gear your park days around your families interests
Like I said before, there is so much to see and do in Walt Disney World. You simply can’t see and do it all. We always recommend tailoring your park days to 2-3 things your family must see or do and anything extra is a bonus. There are so many factors that go into your park days such as weather, crowd levels, your children’s attitudes and lets hope someone doesn’t have an accident on Splash Mountain (not saying that has happened before). Setting unrealistic expectations can leave you frustrated and miss out on the magic of the experience.
Order groceries and have them delivered to your resort
If your looking to save some extra cash during your trip, I would suggest looking into ordering groceries. We typically order breakfast and/or lunch items as well as snacks that we can eat at our resort. You can also pack snacks/food to bring into the park. There are numerous options to order food, such as Garden Grocer, Instacart and many more. We’ve used Garden Grocer in the past and they were great. They delivered everything to bellhop at our resort and a cast member kindly brought them to our room. Some companies will also provide discounts if you order in advance.
Buy souvenirs in advance
Buy Minnie/Mickey ears, shirts, bubble wands, etc. and surprise your kids upon arrival to the parks. It’s a fun surprise and will leave your wallet a little less empty.
How can you get to and from WDW from the Airport?
There are several ways to get to your Disney resort upon arrival to the Orlando airport. The first option is a rental car. Unless your planning to drive off Disney property, I wouldn’t recommend this option. Remember, once in Disney you have access to all the free transportation Disney has to offer. The second option and the one we always use is a shuttle service. Mears and sunshine flyer are two popular options. You will pay a round trip fare to and from you Walt Disney Resort.
We hope these tips help make planning your next Disney vacation a little more magical!
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