The Quick and Dirty Walt Disney World-Vacation Checklist

Perhaps the title is a misnomer; Walt Disney World is not only the happiest place on earth, but it is by far one of the cleanest places on earth as well. There are a million details to consider when planning a Walt Disney World vacation, and unless you are a seasoned traveler, you might just miss an important one. Walt Disney World in Florida is a completely different world, and your vacation plans should take that into consideration.

The following checklist is a starting point for your Walt Disney World vacation plan:

Packing

With the cost of taking luggage when you travel going up on a daily basis, consider packing for only half of your vacation and plan on using guest laundry facilities midway through your vacation.

Transportation

Are you driving or flying? Where will you stay?

If you are driving, are you doing it because you really want to? Walt Disney World parking lots can be murder on a family that has been having fun all day since exhaustion generally hits just as you exit that last park turnstile and set foot in the parking lot. Unless you absolutely must drive, consider flying into Orlando and taking a shuttle to your hotel.

If you will be staying at a Walt Disney World resort, consider using the free Disney's Magical Express service to get from the airport to your resort.

Ideally, the hassle-free option is to plan to stay at a Walt Disney World Disney Resort, which can be just as inexpensive as an off-property hotel, and provides you with the free Disney's Magical Express service. Disney's Magical Express not only does the driving for you but they'll also handle your luggage. (Special luggage tags will be sent to you before you depart on your vacation. Just tag your luggage and check it as you would at the airport you are flying out of. You don't have to touch your luggage again until you unpack it. Disney's Magical Express will claim your luggage in Orlando and transport it directly to your hotel room!

Accommodations

Staying at a Walt Disney World resort really is the best option for any busy family. You can find a price to accommodate any budget and you'll have transportation in the form of trains, boats and busses that will take you to and from all of the Walt Disney World parks. No matter what your taste in lodging, there is a Walt Disney World resort ready to meet your needs. Whether you want high glamour and pampering or just a basic, no frills hotel room, Walt Disney World resorts have you covered.

Meals

The first thing any family planning a Walt Disney World vacation will ask is "How much will the meals cost?" Meals can get pretty expensive for any family on a vacation. That is why the folks at Walt Disney World have designed the Disney Dining Plan. The Disney Dining Plan will save your family an average of 30% on meals and snacks for your trip. The Disney Dining Plan includes table service meals, quick service meals and snacks and starts at about $40 per day. When you make your reservations, be sure to purchase the Magic Your Way Dining Package. It will save you and your family a whole lot of money.

The Parks

Which Walt Disney World Parks do you plan to visit? Have you considered this question at all or do you intend to go to every park during your vacation. Word of warning: unless you plan to stay an entire year, you will never see everything there is to see at every Walt Disney World Park. Plan accordingly and pick the parks you really want to get to. Save a few others for your next trip. The main parks at Walt Disney World are The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. In addition to those parks you also have Downtown Disney which includes the Marketplace, Pleasure Island and the West Side. When it comes to entertainment, don't forget The Boardwalk too. Walt Disney World also has two water parks. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach could easily keep your family busy for one day each so be sure to plan accordingly. Daredevils will want to enjoy some of the extreme sports offered at Walt Disney World like parasailing, surfing, waterskiing and stock car racing. Fort Wilderness also offers a laundry list of fun family activities like fishing, biking, carriage and horseback riding, electric cart rentals and campfires with sing-a-longs. Add to all of those offerings the spas, special tours, sports and championship golf available at Walt Disney World and you may just need a vacation to rest after your vacation!

This is just a quick and dirty Walt Disney World Vacation checklist meant to help you cover the basics. If you really want details, get Birnbaum's Guide to Walt Disney World, the only official Walt Disney World guide. Visit www.disneyworld.com for details on all of these and other options available to you and your family during your Walt Disney World vacation.