Everyone will tell you something different when you go to plan your first or your hundredth Walt Disney World vacation. And whether you’re a seasoned pro, or a complete newbie, there is always a completely different take on what you should do, and how you should do it in Disney World. But here is the kicker: there isn’t a RIGHT way or a WRONG way to do Disney, all there is is magic. Whether you do for the whirlwind, the laid back chill or a mix of both, Disney World has it all, and you can get your dream vaca no matter your budget, mood or travel style. Here are some of our tips and things to think about when you’re planning a WDW vacation:
1. You DON’T Have to Plan Every Minute
You might feel that you are spending a truck tonne of money going to Disney World, and because of that you need to plan every waking moment of your time. I get it, I’m a planner, and I’ve done Disney World vacations like this. You know what order you’re going to ride attractions, where your snacks will be, and you’ve precisely timed it all around your Disney dining reservations. This is great, and fun, if everyone in your party agrees. But you also need to take a moment, and just enjoy being in Disney World. Every single thing, down to the garbage can placement, has been put there to make your vacation and experience perfect. The imagineers that plan Disney parks know exactly what they are doing. So trust them, and at least plan some time to just sit back and enjoy it.
2. Make Time For Everyone To Enjoy Your Disney Vacation
When you decide to go on a Walt Disney World Vacation there are a hundred different ways that you can plan your vacation. You need to start doing research about parks and attractions you want to visit, restaurants you want to eat at, shows you want to attend and hotels you want to stay at. You could spend a year (or a summer– like we have) in Walt Disney World and still not experience everything the “city” has to offer. So, it is great to consult everyone from the little kids to the grand parents that are going on the trip to see what everyone has on their “must-do” list.
3. Be Prepared For Things To Go Wrong
No matter how you plan your days out at Disney World, you will have change of plans! This is absolutely guaranteed. Since there are a million things that can happen, from a parade you didn’t know about, to a line that takes a touch longer, to a dinner buffet you never want to leave, you have to go with the flow. This means that you have to go to WDW with the outlook that things will go wrong, and you need to just roll with the punches!
4. Don’t Forget To Take Time To Relax
Depending on how many days you are in Disney World for, you need to remember to have some non-park days. In Disney World there are four major parks, and each one offers their own unique rides, attractions, dining experiences and experience. I always recommend taking a day at each park, and getting the park hopper option to head back to wherever is open late. But, I also think you need more than four days in Walt Disney World. Planning a WDW vacation is hard, and you need are going to feel like you need to pack every minute of every day, but you don’t. Take half a day to sit by the pool or drive to the beach.
5. Remember to Book in Advance
If you really want to make your vacation perfect, you need to plan in advance. Reservations for Disney Dining open 180 days in advance, and depending on if your are staying in a Disney Resort, your reservations for Fastpass+ opens up to 3 months in advance. This means that before you even think about stepping onto your flight to Orlando, you will have your days somewhat planned out no matter what happens.
6. Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize
This is the step that I would say is the most important when it comes to planning a WDW vacation. Why you ask? Well you need to pick and choose when you plan your Walt Disney World adventure. You cannot possibly do everything, and trying will leave you defeated and wanting to go home. You’ll leave WDW with regrets instead of amazing experiences. So before you head to Orlando and get on the magical express, make sure that you prioritize the things you HAVE to do. This means that you can make sure to do the things you want, and if you don’t get to other attractions, restaurants or shows, it’s no big deal.
7. Get Ready To Have The Time of Your Life
After you have decided how you are going to plan your time in Walt Disney World, you need to just enjoy the vacation. There is a reason people keep coming back time after time to Walt Disney World, and it’s not the seemingly endless lines. It’s the pure unadulterated magic. So get ready to enjoy it! Disney vacations are some of the best vacations!
