bestillandwrite I recently spoke with a friend who is going to Disney World in a few weeks, and it got me thinking. Once you decide You’re Going to Disney World… Now What? What questions should you ask and steps should you take once you decide to go? Below are some of those questions that might help you in those initial days of planning.
1. When Is Your Trip?
The first thing to decide are the dates for your trip. We recommend going on the off-season, but sometimes the only days you have off from work are during the busiest time of year. No matter what, you and your family will a magical experience.
Knowing the time of year you plan to go not only helps with planning around the crowds, but with weather and the events happening within the parks. Is it Halloween or Christmas? Summer or Winter? Check out the Undercover Tourist Crowd Calendar to get a better idea of what to expect.
2. Where Would You Like to Stay?
Where you choose to stay will greatly depend on your budget and preferences. I’m sure you’ve already thought about the budget at this point in the planning, but if not it’s a good idea to set your limit.
As always, we recommend staying on property. The benefits you receive staying at a Disney resort far outweigh the money you may save somewhere else. The number one benefit being transportation. Staying on Disney property means you are able to utilize Disney transportation (buses, skyliner and boats) to get to and from the parks.
Disney has three levels of resort: Value, Moderate and Deluxe. Each have their pros and cons, and you can learn more about the hotels we’ve stayed at here on the Gentry Journeys blog or on the Disney World website.
3. Who is Going?
Are you traveling with adults or kids? What is the age range? Knowing who is traveling with you will help set expectations. If you are traveling with young children, you will need things like a stroller or an afternoon break. Older children may only want to ride coasters. Adults may want to walk around Epcot and enjoy good food.
We find it helpful to sit down with each person going to Disney and have them list three things they would like to do during your stay. For example, on our last trip my daughter wanted to meet Chewbacca, drink blue milk in Batuu and watch the Beauty and the Beast show. Realizing her expectations helped set mine.
4. Which Parks will You Visit?
Now that you know who is going with you and what their preferences may be, you can choose which parks you will go to and when. If no one in your group cares for things like animals and Avatar, you may want to skip Animal Kingdom and spend more time at Hollywood Studios. If you’re traveling with small children, Epcot may be a more difficult place to navigate.
Disney World has four theme parks, two water parks and a shopping district. You likely won’t have time for all of those places unless you’re staying for a week or more. Choose the most important ones and soak them in.
5. What Will You Pack?
There are plenty of things you could remember to pack for Disney World. That could be it’s own blog post, but the most important thing to remember is to bring things appropriate for the weather and comfortable shoes. We walk on average 20,000 steps a day at Disney World. Having comfortable walking shoes is vital.
6. Do You Have a Plan for Food?
The one thing that could ruin a lovely Disney day is hanger. It’s important to have a plan for food when you are traveling to Disney World. Will you eat out for all your meals? Order groceries to keep in the room? Pack a bunch of snacks?
We have found that ordering a few groceries from Amazon Fresh and having one dining reservation each day is the perfect combination. Amazon Fresh groceries are delivered to your hotel and can be picked up at bell services.
My Final Advice…
My final advice when planning a trip to the happiest place on earth is this. No matter what plans you make, where you stay or what you wear… you will have fun as a family. Don’t get so lost in the details that you forget to be present and take in the magic. Don’t get so frustrated with the crowds or lines that you stop being grateful. Some of the most perfect moments we’ve experienced at Disney World were when we were wandering without a plan. Safe and happy travels.
And for more help planning your trip to Disney World, be sure to check out Somewhere Worthwhile. Her planners and advice will make your whole vacation a breeze.
Thank you for reading You’re Going to Disney World… Now What?. I hope this information will help you on your next family vacation. For more helpful tips, be sure to read the additional content below:
The Best of Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s EPCOT
Where to Find Quality Disney World Clothes for Kids
Helpful Tips for Bringing a Stroller to a Theme Park
If you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message on Instagram. Follow @gentryjourneys on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and don’t forget to subscribe below for new content every week!
Safe Travels,
