Tips and Hints for Planning a Vacation to Walt Disney World, Florida

Are you ready to plan you're first trip to the "World"? If so, it may seem like a LARGE undertaking. For me, planning is the key. We've been to Disney World seven times in the last couple of years. I've been busy the last six months planning our eighth trip. We will be leaving in only two short weeks. We have turned into Disney addicts. I'm going to share some of the information that I have picked up over the years and hopefully help you plan the perfect Disney family vacation. I've used several websites to help me plan past trips and occasionally look to them for the latest and greatest information. The ones I use the most are www.wdwinfo.com, www.allearsnet.com, www.mousesavers.com, www.passporter.com, and www.themouseforless.com, hopefully these websites will be valuable information to you. There are other sites, some are paid sites, one example is www.tourguidemike.com, which will help you in your daily park tour planning.

Question 1

What kind of transportation will you be using?

Driving, Rental Car, Flying, Train - Our preferred method is flying. By watching sales we are able to fly from Baltimore into Orlando for about $100 round-trip per person. Tip # 1 - Sign-up for Ding on Southwest.com, it lets you know when fares drop. We have saved a ton of money doing this. We take our original flight and cancel and rebook under the ding fare. Tip #2 Sign-up with AAA. So many wonderful things to say about them. Discounts on car rentals, road side assistance,trip planning, routed maps, and discounts on hotel stays, shopping, and dining. Although we have never done it, the auto-train from Amtrak is another good way to get there if you do not wish to make the long drive yourself.

Question 2

Where to Stay

We prefer to stay on-site while we're at Disney World. We've tried many of the resorts and they do have several to choose from depending on your budget. They range from value, moderate, deluxe, and home-away from home. There's also the Shades of Green which is a military resort. Please check the website at www.shadesofgreen.org for the latest information. There are other nearby hotels and resorts and timeshares. We have always stayed on Disney property for the "complete" Disney feel and the convenience of being so close. One other perk is that Disney guests also have extra magic hours in the park that are not available to outside guests. The mornings you usually get an extra hour in a designated park and in the evenings you get three extra hours in a designated park.

Question 3

What to Eat

Everything!! One of our main reasons for visiting Disney is for the food. We are big foodies so we always have a blast here. There's something for every taste imaginable and for the wallet (thick or thin). Some of our favorite restaurants are Crystal Palace (Winnie the Pooh character themed buffet available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at the Magic Kingdom, O'hana (Polynesian themed buffet) at the Polynesian Resort, Boma (African themed buffet) at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Cape May Cafe (clambake themed) at the Beach Club Resort. There are also Signature Restaurants that we will be trying in two weeks like the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort and Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian. There's many counter service restaurants available and please don't forget all of the dining choices at Epcot, you can literally eat your way around the world. Most sit down restaurant reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE. Please book early so that you can get the dates and times that you want. Try using the websites listed for additional information. Many of them offer menus that people have brought back from the restaurants. With over 100 choices, you will not go hungry.

Question 4
What Parks are available

1. The Key Park - Magic Kingdom
2. Epcot
3. Hollywood Studios
4. Animal Kingdom

Question 5

Where to Shop

Many of the Disney resorts have shops located within the resorts. Always great when you need that last minute gift that you forgot to pick-up in the park. Although the stores are not that big they do have a good selection. Each park has several shops and then there's the Big Kahuna, DOWNTOWN DISNEY. A shoppers dream. You'll find all things Disney here. Plan for at least a day here. There's so much to see and do. The little ones will love playing with the outdoor Lego's at the LEGO Imagination Center. Dining choice abound here too.

What Else Can I See and Do

There are many other activities available if you get tired of the Parks. There's also water parks that many people don't associate with Walt Disney World. You have Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Always check operating hours first. During the winter usually one of the parks is closed at any given time. There's also fishing excursions, para-sailing, Richard Petty's Driving Experience, Cirque Du Soleil, DisneyQuest, Miniature Golf, Horseback Riding, etc. You name it and I'm pretty sure Disney World has it.

Disney's main planning site is www.waltdisneyworld.com, from there you can get an idea of cost, find out about tickets, and all the information that I listed above.

Have a wonderful and magical vacation. I'm sure you and your family will love it here.