When it come to planning a trip to Walt Disney World, there are some basics that I think everyone needs to consider as you prepare to make your reservations. Even the simplest of plans can be a benefit to getting the most out of your WDW Vacation! So, today, we will look at some of the basic things needed when getting ready to visit The Happiest Place On Earth!
When it comes to planning, there are several categories of the types of planners. Today, I’m going to attempt to boil it ALL down to a few basic ideas, that you can choose to build upon, or not, and still have a wonderful time on your vacation!
First, make sure you know what time of year you want to visit! This makes a difference because of crowd levels! For instance, if you are wanting to head to WDW during the week of Christmas to New Year’s, crowds will be very, VERY heavy. New Year’s Eve is typically one of, if not THE, busiest times of the year throughout Walt Disney World! And, particularly at The Magic Kingdom! If you go in with no plans, you may end up with no vacation.
Spring and Summer breaks can also be heavier times to visit. And, having a good crowd calendar for planning purposes can be invaluable. There are two that I recommend. One as at http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/ for a very well organized and up-to-date planning tool! And, it’s free! The other does cost a little bit of money, but it’s reasonable, and if you listen to WDWToday podcast, there is a discount code to help defray a bit of that cost. It is found at http://www.touringplans.com! I have used this one myself on the past few trips and find the numbers to be highly accurate and helpful. There is also a chat feature on the site to ask planning questions, if you need extra assistance in putting things together.
The next thing I think is important for any WDW trip is what do take in your luggage. There are a lot of packing list ideas available online. One of the best, that I have found, is at http://wdwprepschool.com/the-ultimate-disney-world-packing-list/. This is a very complete list, and you can tailor the list to fit your specific needs. But, it has some good suggestions of things you might not think about without the guidance! There is also a short weekly podcast, that I found recently, where there is discussion about some of these planning ideas. Give it a listen, it’s worth the time!
Finally, let’s talk about food! If you want to eat at WDW, especially at a more relaxed, sit-down type restaurant, you will truly want to know what your travel dates are before you get to the six-month mark! The reason is that at 180 days from the start of your visit to Walt Disney World, the reservations system opens up for you to make your dining plans. And, IF you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you can use the 180 days plus 10 rule! That allows you to make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) up to 10 days into your vacation. And, that becomes very important if you want some of the harder to get reservations like Character Meals, or popular spots like ‘Ohana, or Be Our Guest!
These are the three basics I suggest to everyone going to Walt Disney World, anytime of the year! And, even though there are lower crowd times through the year, there are really no truly Low Seasons at WDW!
One more thing, if you don’t want to face the mountains of planning, may I suggest using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to help with the arrangements? Your specialized planner will take care of all of the details for you! You can be as involved as you wish, or just have them tell you when to leave and where to go once you get there! I can point you in that direction, if you need help. I have several friends who do a wonderful job assisting their clients!
Well, that’s it for now! Have a Blessed and Magical weekend, my friends! See you next time!
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