Did you know that Walt Disney World is about the size of San Francisco, or that it would take TWO Manhattan islands to fill this 47 square miles of fun in Central Florida? When you consider the sheer size of the resort (and the four theme parks, many hotels, shopping, and attractions that fill it), there’s no wonder that planning your next (or first!) Walt Disney World vacation might seem a little overwhelming. But it doesn’t need to be! With the right guidance, research, and tools, you can decode this incredible destination and plan the vacation of your dreams! Here are six tips to remember when planning your trip to Walt Disney World: 

1. Plan extra time into your day.

Walt Disney World is HUGE. It takes time to get from your hotel room to the parking lot – not to mention from the parking lot into the gate and then finally from the gate to your first ride. As you’re planning your day, you’ll want to leave plenty of extra travel time to avoid stress. There’s nothing worse than trying to power-walk through the crowds on a hot afternoon because you forgot to factor security check into your plans. 

After you’ve enjoyed your first park of the day, you might choose to “park hop.” This requires a special ticket option and allows the guest to travel back and forth between theme parks. While this can be a great feature to optimize your schedule, it will also be very time consuming. If you’re relying on resort transportation, realize that bus and monorail queue lines can get quite long (especially during peak hours). 

Besides its sheer size, Disney is a magical place with lots of unexpected surprises! You’ll want to leave plenty of space for spontaneity during your day. As you’re walking from attraction to attraction, you might encounter a parade or show. You might pass a ride with an unexpectedly low wait time or an awesome character meet and greet opportunity! If you pack your itinerary too tightly, you won’t be able to stop and enjoy these unexpected moments. 

Don’t over-schedule yourself. Plan extra time into every day for travel and spontaneous fun! Remember that resort transportation can be time-consuming. 

2. Plan for your party.

No matter who you’re traveling with, Walt Disney World has something for everyone! If you’re traveling with kids, most of Disney’s rides and attractions can accommodate infants and small children (unlike some of the other large theme parks). There are even plenty of options for expectant mothers, so the entire family can stay together! 

After a long day at the parks, parents and kids might want some separate time to recharge. The appropriately named, Camp Dolphin, at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort offers a safe, supervised environment for play while adults enjoy a quiet dinner. If you’re looking for a different childcare option, independent provider Kids Nite Out offers an in-room baby sitting service. 

**Pro Tip: Camp Dolphin offers up to two hours of comped childcare if you dine at select resort restaurants. Check with facility staff for details.**  

While Walt Disney World is a famous destination for family vacations, it’s also a popular venue for bachelor/bachelorette parties, weddings, conventions, getaways with friends, and other adult-oriented trips. Foodies can sample culinary delicacies and delicious drinks at Epcot’s World Showcase. Theater fans can watch the all-new Cirque du Soleil show, “Drawn to Life.” If your group enjoys live music, you can catch a concert at the House of Blues in Disney Springs or check the live performer schedule for Epcot’s various festivals. 

Besides age appropriate activities, there’s also entertainment to fit every interest. For example, if your group loves African animals, you might want to book a lunch reservation at Sanaa – a restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge featuring views of live animals on an African savannah. If you’re traveling with a Hunger Games fan, consider checking out the Fort Wilderness Archery Experience. Research available activities before your trip – and don’t forget that the perfect restaurant or experience may be outside the theme parks! 

Walt Disney World offers services, attractions, and activities to fit any demographic or group. A travel agent can help you find the best options for your family! 

3. There’s more than just the parks.

When you picture your Walt Disney World vacation, you’re probably thinking about taking pictures in front of the Castle, meeting Mickey Mouse, and catching a last minute ride on Space Mountain. While these are certainly important memories to make on your trip, don’t forget that there’s so much more to see and do beyond the parks! In fact, your family will want to schedule at least one extra day to enjoy some of the other amazing experiences Walt Disney World has to offer. 

Let’s start with your hotel. No matter which Disney resort you’ve chosen for your family, it is jam-packed with incredible, not-to-be-missed experiences. Many of the resort swimming pools include water slides, over-the-top theming, or splash pad areas. Some resorts feature walking paths to explore. Finally, all hotels offer delicious dining options from colorful food courts with a variety of food styles to upscale dinners. You’ll need to plan some extra time into your trip to enjoy these amenities. 

Once you’re done playing in the pool, there’s still so much to do! There are two miniature golf courses on property: Winter Summerland (a Christmas in July theme) and Fantasia Gardens. If it’s hot outside (and it probably will be), you can enjoy Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach water parks. And, of course, don’t forget to browse around Disney Springs, a shopping and dining district with free parking. Disney Springs has loads of restaurants, specialty shopping, and live entertainment. There’s even a dine-in movie theater – an excellent way to recharge after a few long days at the theme parks! 

Besides the Disney theme parks, there’s so much you won’t want to miss! Plan extra time into your vacation to enjoy your resort and smaller attractions around Walt Disney World. 

4. Try something new.

Vacation is a great time to stretch outside your comfort zone, and Walt Disney World is the perfect place to do it! There’s such a variety of dining options, rides, and activities that it’s impossible not to find something you’ve never done before. You can try falafel at the Epcot’s Tangierine Cafe or conquer your fear of heights at Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror. And that’s just at the theme parks! 

If you like sports, try a unique game known as FootGolf (kind of like a cross between soccer and traditional golf) at one of the WDW courses. Typhoon Lagoon offers morning surf lessons. Those wanting to practice their sea captain sails can rent a boat for use in the Seven Seas Lagoon. 

There’s so much to see, taste, and do at Walt Disney World. Take advantage of the opportunities, and try something new! 

5. Make your reservations as soon as possible.

Disney makes it easy to plan ahead, but knowing the strategies can help maximize your vacation time! Firstly, Disney resort hotel guests have the ability to book their FastPass+ (FP+) reservations up to 60 days in advance of their trip! This is earlier than any other guest group, and it’s an amazing tool to ensure you get to see your favorite attractions and shows. 

If you’re not familiar with FastPass+, this is a (FREE) digital system that allows guests to book a reserved time frame to experience a ride or attraction. While it does not completely eliminate the queue, it does significantly reduce your time spent waiting in line. For shows, a FastPass+ reservation ensures that your party will be admitted to a specific showing, often as part of the first guests allowed to choose their seats. 

Before you get too excited and start booking all the FastPass+ reservations possible, you need to understand a few things about how this system works: 

• Each guest is allowed to book up to three advance FP+ reservations per day. 
• Your initially booked passes must be at one theme park. You cannot book one at Epcot and two at Hollywood Studios. 
• You will be restricted on how many passes you can book within certain “tiers.” For example, if you book Space Mountain, you won’t be able to book Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train for the same day. They are in the same tier. 
• Once you’ve used your three previously booked FP+ reservations, you can book same-day reservations on the My Disney Experience app. These reservations can be in a different theme park than your original FP+.

Keeping these things in mind, book your FastPass+ reservations as soon as your window opens. That will ensure your best chance at grabbing the rides most important to you and your family.

 **Pro tip: Make your FastPlass+ reservation for EARLY in the day. Once you use your three, previously booked passes you can begin to schedule additional, same-day passes from your phone. BUT if you space out your passes throughout the day and don’t use the last one until the evening, you’ll miss out on the opportunity for additional reservations.**

You also need to consider what, if any, dining reservations you’d like to make for your family. Reservations open six months in advance, and some of the most popular restaurants (like Be Our Guest and Victoria and Alberts) are likely to fill up RIGHT AWAY! Make your decisions and reservations early! 

Be mindful of your group’s dining and FastPass+ priorities. Make these reservations as soon as possible! 

6. Remember the Slow season doesn’t exist anymore.

Twenty years ago, Orlando theme parks had definitive “busy” and “slow” seasons. If you were lucky enough to visit during the slow season, you might be rewarded with lower wait times and fewer crowds. Many people planning their Disney vacation spend an enormous amount of time and energy desperately trying to “crack the code” on the calendar and discover the elusive slow season once again. 

Unfortunately, this time no longer exists. The addition of different festivals, concerts, and other annual events keep attendance fairly steady throughout the year. While there are certainly super busy holidays I would personally try to avoid (July 4th weekend and the week between Christmas and New Year’s), it’s not worth the extra stress to try to plan around the current “busy” season and “busier” season. Just figure out when it’s best for your family to come to the parks and plan accordingly. 

Don’t stress out about planning around crowds. The parks are always crowded, but it’s always worth it! 

A family vacation to Walt Disney World can be as overwhelming as it can be exciting! But with the proper research, tools, and support, you can take control of your trip and maximize every moment in the magic! For more planning tips and Orlando information, visit my website at www.orlandodecoded.com. 

Travel Advisor Services

I offer a full service global travel agency in addition to this blog. I am Disney College of Knowledge certified – that means I have taken the latest and most extensive Disney certification possible in order to better serve my clients when booking Disney vacations. For more information, please contact me:

tarahallie@hotmail.com

or

218-259-7090

After you’ve checked out Krysti’s other amazing post on all things Orlando, head back over to my blog and check out the other great travel resources there!

Until next time…Eat Well. Travel Often. Love Much.

XOXO