Disclosure: Affiliate links within. Purchasing and/or clicking on some of the links in this post helps support Family Travel Magazine®. I am a former member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel and have been on some complimentary press trips at Walt Disney World, but all opinions are my own.
Planning a Walt Disney World family vacation can certainly be confusing, whether it’s your first Disney vacation or your 10th. With four theme parks, two water parks, dozens of lodging options, and so much more, it’s hard to learn everything that you need to know about planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Although there are numerous online places to learn more about Walt Disney World, there are also so many different acronyms to learn. Here are Family Travel Magazine, we’ve put together dozens of articles with key information about Walt Disney World. If you are looking for Walt Disney World planning tips, this is definitely the place to start.
Before you plan your Walt Disney World vacation, you’ll need to do a few things – like review your budget, and decide when to go. This article on Disney World Planning – Things to Do Before Your Start Planning, is the best place to start. How to plan a Disney Vacation is also a helpful article to review. You’ll also want to figure out the best time to travel to Walt Disney World, as well as the best age for a first Walt Disney World trip.
Once you’ve figured out those things, you’ll want to check out these Free Resources to Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation. In addition to the articles I have published here, those resources can definitely help. You may also wonder – should You Stay On Property at Walt Disney World? There are lots of good reasons to stay on property, but some families prefer to stay off-property. You’ll also want to review our list of The Best Hotels for a Disney World Vacation. There are definitely other great hotels that aren’t on the list, but these are the hotels we’ve experienced first hand. I also have these tips for saving money on a Walt Disney World vacation.
You’ve probably heard all about FastPass+ and MagicBands – but do you know how they work? If you are planning an off-property stay, check out this post for Off Property Disney Guests: Things You Should Know About FastPass+ and Magic Bands as well as this update for MagicBands 2. You should also review these 10 Things You Need to Know About Walt Disney World Resort’s MagicBands and Fastpass+, 9 Things to Know About the New FastPass+ System at Walt Disney World, and 7 Tips for Booking Your FastPass+ Allocations. Unlike other theme parks, you won’t pay a fee to use the FastPass+ system – but will need to do some advance work. Don’t plan on renting a car? You don’t need one, but if you are flying in to MCO, you’ll want to learn about Disney’s Magical Express.
You’ll also want to book Disney Dining in advance of your stay. The booking window opens 180 days in advance, and yes – restaurants do book up right at this window. Check out these 9 Things to Know About Disney Dining, as well as our review of one of the most popular restaurants – Be Our Guest.
As it gets closer to your Walt Disney World family vacation, check out these Things to Do Before Your Disney Vacation. You’ll also want to download the My Disney Experience app, and check out this article that explains How to Use the My Disney Experience App to Improve Your Disney Vacation. The parks, as well as the Disney resort hotels now all have WiFi, so you’ll be able to check the app on the go. Be sure to bring along extra power if you need it to power up your phone. The Disney Play app can also be lots of fun to play while waiting in line.
If the forecast shows rain, you may want to be prepared. Check out these things to do at Walt Disney World in the rain.
Depending upon your plans, you may find these articles helpful:
35 Fun Must-Dos at Walt Disney World
Traveling With a Baby at Disney World
All About Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World
Review of the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom
Review of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
What’s New at Walt Disney World
Is Disney After Hours Worth the Money?
The Best of Both Worlds: The Disney Swan and Dolphin Resorts
A Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation
Is Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Appropriate for Kids?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Kids
Express Transportation at WDW (no longer offered)
Eatings and Shopping Your Way Through Disney Springs
Review of Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
What You Need to Know About Walt Disney World Tickets
Educational Experiences at Walt Disney World
There’s plenty to do even if you don’t go to a theme park. Check out what to do outside the parks at Walt Disney World. If you are traveling without kids, you may want to read about adult things to do at Walt Disney World.
Remember to have fun, drink lots of water, relax, spend time at your resort, and get plenty of sleep. Have a great vacation!
If you are looking for a hotel for your Walt Disney World vacation, I recommend the following hotels. Note that I have stayed in some of these resorts as part of press trips, but all opinions are my own.
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