Walt Disney World Resort is one of our favorite destinations! There is so much to do for the whole family – we’ve taken seniors, newborns, and every age in between. Plus, things are changing constantly, so there’s always something new and different to experience! However, planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation can be overwhelming, to put it lightly! Below, I’ve outlined the steps my family takes when we are planning a trip.
Table of Contents
When to go?
Our Favorite Time of Year
Off-Site or On-Site?
On-Site Resorts
On-Site Perks
Staying Off-Site
Memory Maker and Dining Plans
Steps to Booking
When to go?
There are many factors to consider when planning a trip to Walt Disney World. First, if you have kids, school schedules come into play. Make sure to check with your school district’s attendance policy and plan accordingly with teachers! Secondly, weather can be a considerable factor for some. Summers can be very hot and humid, and for some people, it’s just too much! Finally, are there any special events you want to see, such as the Epcot Festivals? Perhaps you’re a foodie – consider going during the Food & Wine Festival. Into art? Festival of the Arts may be the best time to you! Is gardening your jam? Check out the Flower & Garden Festival! Holidays are also a beautiful time to visit! If you’re a runner, you can line up your vacation with a runDisney event and earn yourself a unique, shiny medal! You can read about my experience running the 2017 Princess Half Marathon here!
Our Favorite Time of Year
We have vacationed to Walt Disney World in January, February, spring break, July, and November, and now we live here full time! Each time has its pros and cons. January and February are generally great for lower crowds, but the weather can be a bit all over the place. In one of our recent trips, it was in the 80s one day, down to the 60s the next. Additionally, there are runDisney events and holiday weekends in January and February that can bring in crowds, so watch the calendar and plan accordingly. January/February is around the time that Festival of the Arts ends and Flower & Garden Festival begins, so if you want to see one (or both) of the festivals, double check Disney’s calendar to make sure you book the right dates! This time of year tends to see increased refurbishments – water rides like Splash Mountain go down for lengthy refurbishments.
Spring break was hot and humid, but not as bad as it is during the summer. We got to experience the Flower & Garden Festival, which is my personal favorite! Crowds are higher during spring break than during January and February, but with ample planning and realistic expectations, much can still be accomplished.
We visited at the end of July 2019. Crowds were about comparable to spring break a few years ago. The only difference is that it was much warmer, into the 80s and 90s most days. We were still able to get everything that we wanted to done.
Mid August to mid September is a great time to go if you want to avoid crowds but can handle intense heat and humidity. If you aren’t used to Florida heat and humidity, it can be really rough. With wise preparation, plenty of hydration, and stops in air conditioning, it’s totally doable! Local schools go back in session early August, so it’s a fantastic time to avoid crowds. This time of year is peak hurricane season, so consider purchasing travel insurance in case of travel disruptions.
November is when holiday decorations start going up! If you time your trip right, you can actually catch the end of Halloween and the beginning of Christmas. The parks are beautiful during this time of the year, but be prepared for early closures at Magic Kingdom to accommodate for Halloween or Christmas parties.
Hands down, our favorite time is January or February, for the lower crowds and great weather!
Off-Site or On-Site?
Once you’ve determined a time of year, it’s time to figure out where you want to stay. There are tons of off-site and on-site options to consider, and off-site may be better for your budget, depending on your family’s needs! Additionally, there are lots of attractions in the greater Orlando area, so it might be worth considering splitting your time between staying off-site and on-site if you plan to experience attractions outside Walt Disney World Resort.
On-Site Resorts
There are so many great options to choose from if staying on-site at Walt Disney World. There are 3 levels of resorts to choose from, plus DVC units.
I’ve stayed at almost all the value resorts, one of the moderates, and a couple of the DVC units. Value resorts are great for budget-minded travelers. Rooms have 1 or 2 beds, a bathroom area, and a mini fridge. Value resorts have a food court style dining option, and a pool (but no hot tubs). Moderate resorts are a step up from values and offer more in terms of amenities, such as additional restaurant choices and better pools (with hot tubs). Deluxe and DVC units are the top of the line accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort, with prime locations near theme parks and a wide array of amenities.
On-Site Perks
- Complimentary transportation between theme parks and Disney Springs: bus, boat, Monorail, Skyliner, and walking paths connect the theme parks and Disney Springs to each of the resorts at Walt Disney World.
- Early Theme Park Entry: This allows resort guests to enter a theme park of their choice 30 minutes before official park opening time. It is offered every day at every park.
- Deluxe Resort Hotel guests have access to special Extra Magic Hours, taking place for 2 hours after the parks close. These are typically offered at Epcot and Magic Kingdom a couple days a week.
- MagicBands: While MagicBands are no longer complimentary for resort guests, they can be purchased at a discounted rate.
- Complimentary parking at theme parks.
- Option to purchase Disney Dining Plan, sometimes available for free as a promo. NOTE: Disney Dining Plans have currently been suspended due to COVID-related restraints.
- Room charging privileges: simply tap your MagicBand or use your room key to pay!
- Advanced Dining Reservations at 60 + 10 days prior to arrival.
Staying Off-Site
Staying off-site can save you some money, that’s for sure! However, there are some things to consider:
- Resort fees: Walt Disney World properties do not charge resort fees, but many off-site hotels do.
- Some off-site properties offer complimentary transportation to the theme parks and/or Disney Springs, but it might not align with your schedule. Some off-site properties charge for transportation. Other options include Uber, Lyft, or renting a car. Parking a car at the theme parks costs $25 per day.
- Select off-site properties do get to take advantage of the Early Theme Park Entry perk, but not all do.
- Anyone can purchase a MagicBand before arrival through ShopDisney, or on property at any Walt Disney World Resort merchandise location. MagicBands are not required for park entry, but it sure is convenient.
- Theme parks parking costs $25 per day for off-site guests.
- Disney Dining Plan is unavailable for off-site guests.
- Room charging privileges are unavailable for off-site guests.
- Dining reservations are available at 60 days out for off-site guests, but off-site guests have to make their reservations 1 day at a time instead of for your entire length of stay.
Ticket Types
You’ll also need to determine if you plan to park hop, or do one park per day. You’ll also want to ask yourself if you want to visit any of the water parks. Also, double check the Walt Disney World calendar to determine if there are any extra events going on during your visit.
Tickets & Annual Passes
Ticket prices vary depending on when you visit – peak days, regular days, or value days. Check the Walt Disney World website to determine what type of ticket you’ll be purchasing!
You can choose to add on park hopping to your tickets. Many first time visitors prefer doing 1 park per day. We usually park hop, but it does cost quite a bit extra to do so. Our usual plan of attack is start at one park and stay there through lunch, then head to another park at around 2pm or so until dinner time. We are usually back in our hotel around 7pm. Some families take a midday break by going back to their hotels to swim or rest, then return to the same park for nighttime entertainment. It really just depends on what’s right for your family.
During certain times of the year (particularly the winter months), the water parks can shut down for refurbishment or for cold weather. If you plan to go into the water parks, double check the refurbishment schedule before planning to purchase tickets to the water parks! Tickets with the Park Hopper Plus or the Water Park and Sports Option include admission to the water parks. The Water Park and Sports Option also includes admission to the NBA Experience at Disney Springs.
Annual Passes may be a good value if you’re planning to return. It also may be worth getting an Annual Pass for one member of your party if you’re planning a longer trip, to take advantage of merchandise & dining discounts, as well as PhotoPass downloads. If you live on the west coast and visit the Disneyland Resort often, look into the Premier Passport – this is an Annual Pass that allows entrance to the parks at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. If you’re considering an Annual Pass, it is best to sit down and do the math to figure out if it’s best for you. NOTE: New Annual Pass sales are currently suspended except for the Pixie Dust Pass which is available to Florida residents only. Renewals are still being processed.
Special Event Tickets – Read All About Special Events Here!
Disney offers special event tickets throughout the year. These are for special events outside of normal park hours. Examples of these events include:
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- Early Morning Magic
- Disney After Hours
I’ve done Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney After Hours, my favorite of the two being Disney After Hours. What I liked about Disney After Hours is that we got about 95% of the attractions done at Magic Kingdom during the party. It really felt private, and we definitely got our money’s worth!
Some families, in lieu of getting park hopper tickets, will get 1 park per day tickets, but will go to special events at night. For example, they will have Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets (which takes place at Magic Kingdom), but will spend their morning and afternoon at Animal Kingdom. Then, when it’s time for the party, they’ll head over to Magic Kingdom.
Some of these events include special entertainment, treats, and food. The Early Morning Magic events include breakfast. Disney After Hours include unlimited bottled drinks, and ice cream & popcorn from the outdoor vending carts. The Halloween parties include trick or treating and small snacks. The Christmas parties also have small snacks.
Again, this is where you’ll have to do some research and planning and determine what’s best for your family’s needs!
Memory Maker & Dining Plans
Memory Maker allows you to download all your PhotoPass and attraction photos! Simply scan your MagicBand, and your pictures will appear on your MyDisneyExperience account. Memory Maker is an added cost, and for my family, we like having it so that we don’t have to dig out a phone or camera when we want a group shot. The advance purchase price offers a bit of a discount, so if you want it, make sure to add it on before you go.
Disney Dining Plans must be purchased as part of a package (with a few exceptions). There are varying levels of Disney Dining Plans, and sometimes they are offered for free as a promo with a package booking. Our family has never used a Disney Dining Plan; when doing the math we found that it would not be worth it to us. NOTE: Disney Dining Plans have not returned since the parks have reopened from Covid.
Steps to Booking:
- Determine time of year.
- Determine on-site or off-site, then select hotel.
- Determine ticket type.
- Add a dining plan (optional).
- Add Memory Maker (optional).
When you’re ready, booking can be done through MyDisneyExperience.com, with an authorized travel agent, or by renting DVC points through an authorized agency. Once you’re booked, it’s time to start planning!
Head to MyDisneyExperience.com to start planning!
Next up… Advance Dining Reservations and Tours & Special Experiences!
Looking to pamper yourself? Find out about Spa, Health, & Beauty Experiences at Walt Disney World!
Want to know about parties & events? Find out about Ticketed Events at Walt Disney World!
Read about the Epcot Festivals here!
Looking for a special way to celebrate? Consider Dessert Parties!
