Steps to Booking a Disney World Vacation

So you've decided to take a trip to Walt Disney World and stay on property. You've ordered the planning DVD and are already picturing yourself soaking up the Florida sunshine. So where do you go from here? What are the decisions you need to make before you book your trip? Start with a few basic steps, make your decisions and get ready to book your vacation.

Budget. How much do you have to spend on your vacation? Take everything into consideration: lodging, transportation, dining and tips, tickets, and spending money. If you drive or rent a car, don't forget gas and tolls. And always make sure to have extra for emergencies. Once you know how much you can afford overall, break it into the previously mentioned categories to aid in your next few selections.

When. The next step is picking your dates. Decide the best time of year for your vacation schedule and then take into consideration other factors like weather, expected crowds and special events happening at Disney World. Pick some general weeks and remember to finalize dates when you've determined length of stay based on budget.

Where. Spend some time on the Disney World website and take another look at that planning DVD. Disney World offers onsite accommodations ranging from value to moderate to deluxe to home away from home. Prices can begin around $75.00 and can go up (sometimes way up!) from there. Look at what you have budgeted for lodging and compare it against the resorts you prefer. This is the step where you are also able to being determining length of stay. You may be able to afford eight nights at one of the value resorts, but have your heart set on a deluxe. Taking a look at your budget will help you decide if staying at the more expensive resort of your choice is worth shortening your stay.

Tickets. Disney World has many options for park tickets and you have the ability to choose, a la carte, exactly what you want. Determine how many days you will be visiting Disney parks and then decide if you want to add on any of the options. Will you be visiting more than one park in the same day? Go with the park hoppers. Interested in the water parks and Disney Quest? Add in the water parks and more option. Think you want to add the no expiration feature? That also costs extra. Take a close look at the prices for adding days, however. You will find that there are sometimes only a few dollars in difference as you add more and more days. Pick out what works best for you.

Dining Plan. Disney World offers several different versions of its Disney Dining Plan for guests and there is truly something for everyone. Think about your touring style and how many sit down meals you like in order to choose between the Quick Service, magic Your Way Dining, Deluxe Dining and Wine and Dine packages. Each does have a different cost assigned so you can pick the best one for both your vacation needs and your budget.

Transportation. Disney offers transportation from the airport to your resort at no cost, and transportation via bus, monorail, or boat can be found throughout the resort complex. Guests can get themselves to and from the airport and to any destination on Disney Property without spending a penny. If you prefer to be in control of your own comings and goings and/or you want to leave property to explore other destinations in Orlando, you may want a rental car. Check out travel websites to see where you can find the deal that fits within your budget.

Once you have decided when to go, where to stay, and how long you'll be gone you can begin the booking process. Next, make note of the extras you'd like to add to your trip such as tickets, dining and Magical Express to complete customizing your vacation package. Get your plans in place by either heading to www.disneyworld.com to book online or calling an agent to book over the phone. And then sit back and relax, knowing your vacation is all set to go. At least until it's time to book your dining reservations, plan the rides and attractions you can't miss and put together a packing list.

But that's a whole different article...