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8 Simple Tips For Planning A Sensational Walt Disney World Vacation

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Credit: Disney

Guests love going on vacations to Walt Disney World and they can spend months looking forward to their time spent in the parks. With four theme parks, two water parks, over twenty Disney Resorts, and the massive Disney Springs to explore, there are endless experiences to be had once on a Disney vacation. With so many things to do and see, guests want to make the most of each moment and experience as much as possible while enjoying themselves. In order to have the perfect Disney vacation, guests need to go through a few simple steps to plan before leaving home. By doing some research and planning, guests are sure to make the most of each moment in the parks and have an absolutely perfect Walt Disney World vacation. Here are eight simple tips for planning a sensational Disney vacation!

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8. Choose The Right Disney Resort

Guests who are planning a Disney vacation should start by choosing the perfect Disney Resort. Guests should begin the choice by figuring out their budget for accommodations. Disney Resorts are broken down into three categories with Deluxe being the most expensive, Value having the best rates, and Moderate falling somewhere in the middle. Overnight resort guest parking fees should also be placed in the budget. Once guests know which category fits their budget, they can choose from several Disney Resorts which are perfect for them. Guests should consider the size, theme, amenities, pools, dining options, shopping locations, layout, and transportation options at each resort to make sure that they one they are choosing is perfect for them.

7. Book FastPasses

Guests who are smart with their vacation planning make sure to book their FastPasses well before leaving home to save time and frustration once on vacation. FastPasses allow guests to select specific times for attractions and return during those windows to enjoy the experience with little to no wait time. Guests who are staying on property at a Disney Resort can book their FastPasses up to sixty days in advance and guests who are staying off property can book up to thirty days in advance. Up to three FastPasses can be booked in advance for each day and a fourth can be booked in the parks once the initial three are used, followed by a fifth FastPass and so on until the park closes. Guests are smart to book FastPasses as far in advance as possible for the most popular attractions which tend to have the longest wait times. Great options to choose from are Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, Avatar Flight of Passage, Frozen Ever After, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Soarin’.

6. Book Advanced Dining Reservations

Walt Disney World is home to countless dining locations including some amazing full service dining options. Guests who are looking to enjoy full service meals on their Disney vacations need to plan on booking Advanced Dining Reservations up to one hundred and eighty days in advance. Some Disney restaurants are so popular that they tend to book far in advance, and guests are smart to make reservations. This saves the frustration of being turned away from a fully booked restaurant or wasting lots of time waiting to be seated as a walk up reservation. Some of the most popular Disney restaurants which tend to book far in advance are ‘Ohana, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and the California Grill.

5. Know Where Things Are

A key part of planning a Walt Disney World vacation is knowing where things are located on the property. Before leaving home, guests should know where important things like transportation, the front desk, concierge, pools, dining locations, amenities, and shopping locations are located at their Disney Resort. Guests should also have a general idea of where attractions, dining locations, and shows are located in the parks. By having a general idea of where things are located, guests save lots of time that otherwise would have been spent wandering around trying to locate something or stopping to consult a map.

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4. Know What Things Are

Knowing what things are is equally as important as knowing where they are. Before leaving home guests should do some research and have a general idea of what each attraction and show entails. This avoids guests accidentally boarding thrilling attractions like The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith if they do not like thrill rides or running into the hiccup of a child not meeting the height requirement on an attraction which is rather intense. By knowing what things are, guests save themselves from being surprised once actually in the parks.

3. Have A Tentative Schedule

A great way to save lots of time once on vacation is to plan ahead and have a tentative schedule set. By knowing what park or parks are going to be visited on each day, guests can book their FastPasses and Advanced Dining Reservations accordingly and also save time each morning that otherwise would have been spent trying to figure out what to do for the day.

2. Plan Time To Relax

Many guests don’t realize how tiring a Walt Disney World vacation can be! With hot temperatures and lots of walking, guests can easily become tired and cranky on a long day in the parks. It is really important to plan time into each day of the Disney vacation to simply relax and recharge. By spending time relaxing by the pool, sitting down and enjoying a full service meal, or even napping in the air conditioned resort room, guests are sure to up their energy and be happier spending longer hours in the parks and enjoying all that there is to see.

1. Know How To Get Around

An easy thing to plan and research before leaving home that will save a lot of time and frustration on a Walt Disney World vacation is knowing how to get around. Depending on the Disney Resort that guests stay at, they can enjoy complimentary Disney transportation via buses, boats, ferries, monorails, and skyliners. By knowing how to get from one point to another on Disney transportation, guests can save lots of time and be sure to be on time for any reservations, tours, or FastPasses. Getting around in Disney is a breeze thanks to their easy and efficient transportation and guests are smart to learn how to get around while visiting Walt Disney World!

About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane first started visiting Walt Disney World when she was two years old, and despite spending most of that trip quarantined with the chicken pox she managed to fall in love with the place. Visiting WDW every year since, she especially loves learning all about the history and small details of the parks and eating/drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each fall. When she's not in Disney, Caitlin lives in New York and spends her time counting down the days to her next trip.