How To Plan The Trip Of Your Dreams to Disney World Resort

For many, a trip to Disney World is something they’ve been dreaming about for years. This means they have certain ideas and expectations for their trip, and many times, if the expectations aren't met, it can lead to disappointment.

The good news? Disney World is a place where dreams come true, meaning whatever it is you’ve been dreaming about is likely a possibility. That said, it’s important to do a bit of planning and take certain steps in order to create the trip of your dreams.

Here are our top tips for accomplishing this.

Identify What Your Dreams Are

First and foremost, you need to identify what exactly your Disney World dreams are. Have you always wanted to ride a rocket into space? Do you want to meet a mermaid? Maybe a trek through Africa is on your bucket list?

Figure out what it is you hope to see and do during your trip, and make a list of these things. This will help you with your planning and ensures that you accomplish all of the things you feel are most important.

Ensure Your Budget is Sufficient

Once you know what you want to see and do, you can take a look at the cost of it all. If staying in the Polynesian Resort is a must, you might need to save a bit more than if you were willing to stay in an All-Star Resort. If you have kids that simply must visit Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, you’ll need to budget for that.

Our recommendation is to save up for your vacation and pay cash if at all possible. Try finding ways to make extra money and seek out ways to save and apply those savings to your Disney fund. This way you can return home without credit card debt, a feeling that is truly magical.

Stay Onsite if Possible

Here’s the thing, staying off Disney property is just fine. However, it requires driving out of the “Disney bubble” each day. This can seriously affect the vibe of your vacation and make it feel much less like the vacation of your dreams and more like any other getaway.

For this reason, we highly recommend staying onsite if at all possible. This doesn’t have to mean staying in one of the fancy Deluxe Resorts. Even a Value Resort can provide that continuous magical feeling we are all looking for in a Disney getaway.

Locate Your Favorite Characters

For many, meeting favorite characters from their childhood is a dream come true. If character meet-and-greets are on your bucket list, we recommend locating them before you ever leave home and planning those meet-and-greets into each day.

Keep in mind that meet-and-greet lines can be long, and that characters found on the street may not always be out. In some cases, it is possible and worthwhile to make FastPass+ reservations to meet a favorite character.