10 Sites to Bookmark when Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World

1. Disboards - This is the largest forum and a very popular website for Disney lovers. There are threads of all sorts on this site, including Podcasts, Trip Reports, Restaurants, Resorts, Disney for Families, Disney for Solo Travellers, Budget Boards, Disney Weddings and Honeymoons, and the list goes on. With close to 2 million threads, 30 million posts and tens of thousands of members, any information or advice that you are looking for on Walt Disney World, can be easily found. While the discussions on this site can become somewhat heated, this is a top choice for many that are planning a trip to Walt Disney World. www.disboards.com

2. Allears - This is a great website for those that are looking to do research for an upcoming trip, or those planning which restaurants to visit at Walt Disney World. The website is run by Deb Wills, and has been running for the last 10 years. This website is most commonly suggested for the extensive and up to date Walt Disney World menus and details on the restaurants and the various Disney Dining Plans offered at Walt Disney World. Allears does not provide open forums for discussion, but does allow for reviews and tips on how to get the most out of your vacation. www.allears.net

3. MouseSavers - Mousesavers was created in 2001 by Mary Waring, after creating a "How to Save Money on Your Trip to WDW" page and receiving over 23,000 hits within 6 weeks of posting. The website is dedicated to providing you with the most up-to-date discounts and tips on how to save money, not just for those planning a trip to Walt Disney World, but also for anyone planning to visit any of the Disney Theme Parks around the world. This website is most well known for its monthly newsletter that is sent to your email and includes exclusive discounts that are not available on the website.

4. Official WDW website - The Official Walt Disney Website is a great source for planning all things Disney. Through this website you are able to plan your trip directly with Walt Disney World, have Disney Planning DVD's sent to you, and make a custom map of rides and attractions that you are interested in and planning to visit and have that mailed to you. This is a great website to use, no matter who you are planning to use to book your trip through as it is a great resource to price out trips and to start your research on where to stay.

5. Tour Guide Mike - This is a website that gives you all the inside information directly from a Professional Disney Itinerary Planner and Tour Guide. Tour Guide Mike has been working as a VIP Disney Tour Guide for the last 10 years, and really knows all the ins and outs of Walt Disney World. He knows the order in which the rides should be utilized in to optimise the day and not spend a day sitting in the lines. He can tell you what days to head to what park, and what day to avoid the Parks altogether. In the past, Mike has made custom itineraries for guests, which ranged from $240 - $280 per vacation. This is a pay website, costing $21.95 per vacation, but the information that I have learned on this site will maximize our time in the parks, hopefully cut down on the melt downs (from both my son and I) and will just keep the vacation feeling like a vacation and not a hectic and tiring experience at Walt Disney World. www.tourguidemike.com

6. Stitch Kingdom - Stitch Kingdom is a very popular website, mostly due to the extensive information that the website has in regards to the Disney PhotoPass. This website has information and discussion on discounts for those planning to use the PhotoPass and Photo information at Walt Disney World, showing pictures of what a PhotoPass Photographer looks like, where you are most likely to find a PhotoPass Photographer, tips on how to maximize the PhotoPass and all the different wonderful magic shots that the PhotoPass photographers have for you. This website is very up-to-date, has more information than the official Walt Disney World PhotoPass website, and is highly recommended. This website will convince you to add the PhotoPass into your budget. (I'd suggest looking into a PhotoPass Share to cut down on costs). http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

7. Magical Dream Tours - Magical Dream Tours is a wonderful Disney/Universal Travel Agency that allows guests to receive FREE no-obligation quotes, has tickets available for purchase, great articles and tips and showcases some of the great promotions or events that Disney is offering at the moment. The Magical Dream Tours team are Authorized Disney Planners, so there is no extra cost to your vacation from booking it yourself through Walt Disney World itself. The plus of having this amazing team put together your package is that they are Disney lovers themselves and have experienced virtually all that Disney Destinations have to offer, they are able to give you great advice, book your dining and tour reservations for you (at no extra charge). This team is also notorious for being an amazing travel agency that will call you, if Disney starts a promotion that will benefit you for your vacation. www.magicaldreamtours.com

8. Owners Locker - The OwnersLocker is a great website for all those people planning to travel to Walt Disney World frequently, whether they are part of the Disney Vacation Club, or are able make it to Disney one or two times a year. This is a website that essentially sells storage for you, so that you are able to pack lightly and have every day essentials at your finger tips. The storage is better known as purple lockers, and are dropped off directly to your resort, whether you stay onsite or off. The locker itself is 13"x22"x20", which is a great amount for storing extra sweaters, George Foreman Grills, Water Jugs, toiletries, etc. The cost is $99 a year, but with the rising costs of luggage fees on planes, for some this just makes sense. http://www.ownerslocker.com/lockers/

9. Disney Vacation Club - The Disney Vacation website is for all Disney lovers that enjoy spending vacations at Walt Disney World, and hope to spend vacations for years to come at the resorts. The Disney Vacation Club is similar to a timeshare, and allows members to have benefits that are exclusive to them, and will allow them to stay at some of the best resorts at Walt Disney World and resorts throughout the world. www.disneyvacationclub.com

10. Ultimate Packing guide - The Ultimate Packing List for Walt Disney World is essential for everyone that always gets to a resort and while unpacking realizes that they left vital items at home. This list is a perfect planning tool that has everything but the kitchen sink, but very well may keep you from having to make a stop at Walmart or the Pharmacy throughout your trip. This list is a part of The Mouse For Less Site, but deserved a bookmark of its own.

Click here for more Walt Disney World information and tips by Amanda M. Rose