So You've Decided to Go to Walt Disney World - Here's What You Should Do Next

There are few things that trump the feeling of knowing you’re going on a Walt Disney World vacation. The minute you make your decision, you’re filled with excitement and happiness that is unmatched. However, deciding to go to Disney is only the first step—so what comes next? There is a lot of planning that goes into a Disney vacation in ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Once you’ve decided that Disney is your vacation destination, here are six things you should do:

6. Decide when you’re going to go

This may seem obvious, but it’s not as simple as just picking a few dates. You have to make sure you’re able to take the days off of work and that the kids can miss school, if you’re planning on going during a time when school is in session. Even if you don’t have kids, you’ll want to research the busiest times of the year at Disney and try to avoid them if you can. Or, if you want to visit during any of the holidays, you’ll want to plan that in advance as well.

5. Figure out how you’re getting there

If you live close enough to drive, then this isn’t too hard of a step. However, if you need to fly, then you have to start thinking about booking plane tickets. It’s best to book your flight about 52 days out from when you’d like to fly because this tends to be when tickets are the cheapest. You also have to decide if you want to be picked up by the magical express if you’re staying on property, which is convenient and saves you the trouble of having to find an Uber or other service.

4. Make dining reservations

Even if you’re not entirely sure of your travel plans, you can make reservations 180 days out from when you think you’ll be vacationing at Disney. Securing these reservations in advance will give you peace of mind later on in the planning process, especially if you snag hard to get reservations, such as Be Our Guest or Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno. You can easily cancel reservations if your plans change unless you’ve booked a meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table, which charges you when you book.