Everything You Need To Know About Planning and Booking A Walt Disney World Vacation

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned of guests. With new add ons and unique experiences to try, it can feel like you won’t have enough time to try and do all that you want to do in the Happiest Place on Earth. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered! Here’s everything you need to know about planning and booking your Disney World vacation.

1. Book through the MyDisneyExperience website

This website is your one-stop-shop when it comes to planning your entire vacation. The website is incredibly user-friendly and will allow even first-time guests to find a hotel within their price range, check available resort dates and even find out when theme park tickets are at their lowest. More than that though, is how the website works as a travel itinerary. It walks you through the process of selecting your dining plans and FastPass and even sends out an alert as to when the time has come to book your reservations. It’s a handy site that handles your entire Disney World vacation from soup to nuts. Just ask Chip and Dale!

2. Once you book your flight, book your complimentary transportation from the airport

Once you have your flight information, you can visit the MyDisneyExperience website or call Disney’s customer service line to book your complimentary transportation from Orlando International Airport. Disney’s Magical Express comes and whisks new arrivals to their hotel reservations with complimentary luggage travel, too. Once you book your Magic Express reservation, they’ll ship special luggage tags to your home. Once you drop your luggage off at baggage claim, they’ll be “magically” transported to your hotel room later on. This service also works for your return flight home -- but we don’t want to think about that!

3. Research specially ticketed events and hotel refurbishments before you book!

There is always something fun and exciting happening in the parks at various times throughout the year. However, just because you’re visiting the parks in October, doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be there to attend a ticketed event such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. While these special events do take place often, they don’t happen everyday. This is why it’s essential to research that they have available tickets on the day you’re planning to go -- especially since these types of events sell out quickly!

In addition to ticketed events, you’ll want to do some research as to whether or not your hotel is currently undergoing any kind of refurbishments and how it will affect your stay. If you’re planning on visiting Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort because of their large hot tub and get there only to find out it’s closed, that may put a wrench in your plans. The MyDisneyExperience website goes into detail about each resort and theme park to tell you what will be open or being remodeled during your stay.

4. Adapt your plans for rainy weather

It rains all the time in Florida and while you can’t avoid it entirely, you can be smart about how you plan your days. Each park will offer different experiences when the weather is less than perfect. While Magic Kingdom has a ton of indoor rides for you and your family to enjoy, a park like Animal Kingdom shuts down a lot of their wildlife attractions due to poor weather conditions. If your forecast is showing rain, it’s best to quickly adapt your itinerary to new plans. This is why it’s so beneficial to opt for a Park Hopper ticket as opposed to specific admission to one park per day. While it does cost extra, it makes for incredibly easy accommodations.