Yay, you're going to Walt Disney World! Whether you're planning your first trip or your sixtieth, a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or you have an annual pass, going by yourself or planning a family reunion for twenty-three of your loved ones (may all the pixie dust be with you), there are a few things you need to consider when you start the planning process.
My answer to this is usually, "um, I just decided that I need a trip, so, like, let's look at the calendar and see when airline prices dip?" But not everyone has that flexibility. Here are some things to think about:
I can't take my kids out of school!
Totally understandable. But know that crowd levels will probably be busier over any school breakfs, peaking in the week between Christmas and NEw Years, Spring Break, summer months, and Fall break. General rule of thumb: if your kid is out of school, so is someone else's.
My elderly parents have trouble with heat and humidity.
I'm 38, and *I* have trouble with heat and humidity! January and FEbruary are the coolest months. Keeping an eye on a monthly forecast tracker, such as this one at Weather.com,, is a good idea for anyone not used to Florida heat and humidity.
I'm allergic to crowds.
Sorry dude, there will always be crowds at Walt Disney World. If you're looking for smaller crowds, checking out Walt Disney World's tiered pricing system (accessible from the main Walt Disney World Website and choosing "1 day tickets" from the ticketing menu) is a really great way to find the lowest forecasted crowds. Is it value season? LOWER CROWDS. Many Walt Disney World travel sites, such as WDW Prep School, Touring Plans, and Undercover Tourist have their own crowd calendars. However, you'll notice that any date you choose likely shows a different crowd level on any given crowd calendar. This is because they all use their own formula, and it's all a big guessing game.
I don't want Ichabod in my Cinderella Castle picture!
Ichabod is the affectionate name for the construction crane that hovers like an annoying swarm of mosquitos over Cinderella Castle from mid-January into March, late August into September, and late October into November. In other words, the lowerst crowd times s, as Walt Disney World prepares for the next season of decorations. I consider Ichabod a member of the Disney family at this point, and the Disney photographers are really good about getting angles that don't include him (unless you ask for it, I suppose). And no, there's no way for the cast members to take him down each day and put him back up at night.
When is the best time to go, you ask? I say: WHENEVER YOU CAN. But balancing the above factors when making travel dates will prepare you for your time at Walt Disney World.
That's a question best answered by you. Let me explain.
Ticket Prices
So. Many. Options. Single day tickets for guests age 10 and up begin at $99.00 during value season for Epcot, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios, and go up to $124.00 during peak season for Magic Kingdom. The cost per day decreases on multi-day tickets, good for fourteen days from first use. For example, a three-day ticket for guests 10 and up is $289.00, while a ten-day ticket is $440.00.
If you will be at Disney more than one day, Five Star Mouse highly suggests investing int he Park Hopper add-on, which allows you to visit more than one park on the same day. Park Hopper is an additional $75.00 per ticket regardless of how many days you are spending in the parks, and it opens up the parks to you in a way that being limited to one park per day does not. I personally see that $75.00 as an assumed cost, and don't do Walt Disney World without it.
For an additional $15.00 (beyond Park Hopper) you can add the Water Parks and More option, which also give you access to Typhooon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach (Walt Disney World's water parks) as well as other recreation opportunities.
More Add-Ons!
Over the past few years, Walt Disney World has added a number of ticket events. These events include dessert parties during fireworks, Early Morning Magic (an extra hour in Fantasyland before park open, plus breakfast), the popular Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a multitude of backstage tours, and so much else. Available events are listed under the Special Events page on the Walt Disney World website. Check it out and decide what events, if any, are best for you.
Special Tickets
If you purchase tickets through a third-party, decide to purchase an annual pass, are a member of the military, are a Florida resident, are attending a conference, own a dog from the same litter as Uncle Walt's third cousin's great-grandnephew twice removed (okay, not really that one), tickets could be available at a lesser cost.
Where You Stay
The on-property resorts range from reasonably priced to dear-fariygodmother, as do off-property resorts. See the Resorts page for more information.
What You Eat
Food options also run the gamut from expected to Dionesyian proportions of gluttony, with pricing to match. See the Dining page for more information.
No matter what you decide, know this: I have experienced exceptional levels of the fabled Disney service at all budget levels of a vacation. It really is what works best for you.
The easy answer? NOW! Mainly because it's fun. But there are some things you need to think about well in advance.
Resort Reservations
If you want to stay in one of the on-properrty resorts, a room-only reservation can be made 499 days in advance by calling Disney Reservations (407)WDISNEY. This is especially recommened if booking during a very busy season (i.i. 4th of July or the week between Christmas and New Years), or if there is a specific resort or room type that you would like.
Is it necessary? I don't think so, particularly if you are flexible.
If you want to book a package, which normally includes room, theme park tickets, and possibly the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), those are traditionally released sometime in the summer for the following year and can be reserved on the phone or online.
My take? I've only booked two trips more than four months out, and I've always been happy with my resort room options. Because I will be at Walt Disney World.
Dining Reservations
Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) can be made 180 days in advance, and if you're staying on-property you can reserve your check-in date plus ten additional days after taht (180+10). Because Disney's resort restaurants are open to anyone and you don't need to rhave a room reservation or purchased tickets to make dining reservations, it is best to do these as far in advance as possible. This is especially true if you're interested in hard-to-get reservations at Character Meals or Disney's Signature restaurants.
Dining reservations can be made on the phone or online, and require a credit card number. With the exception of a few pre-paid locations, the card is only charged if you fail to cancel within 24 hours of the reservation.
My take? I'm pretty open about where I eat, but when I use the DDP I do like to have everything lined up. You can learn more about the DDP and various restaurants on the Dining page.
FastPass+
FastPass+ (FP+) reservations can be made 60 days in advance of check-in if you are staying on-property, or 30 days if you are staying off-property. More information on FP+ can be found on the Understanding MyMagic+ page.
I Think I'm Going To Tell My Kids On The Way To The Airport.
My take? I think your vacation will be much happier involving the entire family in the planning, especially if it's your kids' first trip. Walt Disney World is gigantic and overwhelming, and involving the kids in the planning allows them to tell you what they're most excited about (and their answers might surprise you!), and gives them concrete things to look forward to doing. It also takes the pressure off of you trying to creating the Most. MAGICAL. TRIP. EVER> and designing an itinerary that might not go as planned. And don't worry - the first time your family walks underneath the train station at Magic Kingdom and sees Cinderella Castle for the first time will be just as magical whether they know at the very beginning of the planning process or when you've pulled into the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
The best idea I've ever seen is to have each person in your traveling party create a top ten for each park, or overall, including attractions, restaurants, character meet and greets, and anything else Walt Disney World has to offer. After they've done that, then you can sit down and compile those lists together to get a good idea of what you're going to do on your vacation! It's probably best to have this completed before your FP+ reseration window opens.
So When Do I Make Day-To-Day, Hour-To-Hour, Minute-To-Minute Itineraries?
Simple answer: you don't. If you have your dining, FP+, and any other bookings completed, that will give you a few touchpoints throughout the vacation that are set, and the rest is up to you and your family!
If you are a bit more type=A than this (and that is totally cool), Five Star Mouse is happy to help you pan your days. Just email me, and we'll chat!