Planning a trip to the Magical Walt Disney World? You have visited many websites, blogs and even YouTube but are not quite sure where to start. Sure, it can be complicated at first site, but good news Walt Disney World does have a website that help you plan out your trip, at disneyworld.disney.go.com. But it shouldn’t intimidate you. Think about your past travel plans.
You may have heard others talk about their experiences or that Walt Disney World is so pricey. Others suggest items but when you start picking those items you want to do you notice the price of your vacation adding up. Yes, that could lead to big $$$. Keep others’ opinions to close but look into this for yourself and your family. What did or didn’t work for them maybe way different for you and your guest.
Many people start their planning months, even years before they go. They set a budget and slowly things change like Walt Disney World renovations, the cost, or the dreaded COVID-19!!!
Before you start planning there are a few things you need to know beforehand. Ask yourself these questions first and plan a back up of need be.
The important questions you ask your self before you take this trip:
- When?
- How long do you plan on staying?
- Who is coming?
- What’s my budget?
- What are my dining options?
When?
When do you plan on going and could that date change at any time? Do plan on going in the summer or near a special holiday? Do other factors play apart in this decision making like work or school schedule?
Knowing these answers cold help you with the next questions and your budget. If you are planning for longer periods, for example in 2 years, do you see any up coming changes like a new baby or job. No one could have expected the pandemic and all its glory, but may people had to reschedule or cancel their vacation, after planning it way in advance. Could this be you?
How long do you plan on staying?
Knowing how long you will stay there will determine what you can and can not do. Staying a short 3 days may not allow you to see and do everything on your list. But planning a 10-day trip will but may be costly for larger families.
Standard Theme Park Ticket cost 109.00 a day for 10 years and up but if you stay longer, you get a better discount. In fact, those who buy 1 to 10-day tickets will be eligible for Disney’s “The longer you play, the less you pay per day!” ticket price. That could assist your budget!
Who is coming?
You will need a list of people with ages at the time of the trip. Knowing how many in your party will help with purchasing the right resort and the right room. Different resort will carry different types of rooms and suits. Many will sleep 4 but if your party is larger, you many opt for a larger room, cabin, or adding two side by sides accommodations.
If a child were 8 years old when you planned and paid for the tickets and 10 years old when you visited, the price will go up for tickets, resorts, and food. Children who are 10 and up pay a minimum of $109.00 per ticket, but the longer you stay the ticket price will go down.
What’s my budget?
This is so big and to tell you the truth everyone changes it a little to either accommodate their choice of resort, dining plans, or activity choices. Sticking to a budget is so important and having the correct information to make a budget is as well.
You will need to choose what items on your list are more important and what could be forfeited for the next trip and believe you will want another trip. For example, resorts are very important to some while others rather stay all day at the parks and play.
Depending on what your decision, resorts might be more important. Resort amenities, location, and price also impact guests’ budget and planning.
Activity choices can break the bank, I really mean it! The new lighting lanes could add an additional $15 a day per person to your trip and tours like Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour costing you $114 per person! Ouch! We haven’t even touched photo pass, park hopping, or the water parks yet either.
Dining can also get costly! Depending if you eat on or off the property. If you choose to eat on the property, you will have hundreds of options to choose from. From dining establishments in the theme parks, Disney Springs or even at your resort. Other options to think about are your dining experiences, with options like quick service meals, character meals, or unique/ themed dining room just to name a few.
Disney also offer vacation packages with incentives from free dining to 20% off accommodations. Vacation packages also help with budgeting and perks that come with it can out weight other items. For example, free miniature golf vouchers, a free Disney mug or discounts at merchants all over Walt Disney World to name a few.
With all that being said, what would your realist budget be?
What are my dining options?
Food!!! We all need it and at Disney World it could get pretty pricey. In the past Disney as offered Their Disney Dining Plan. These plans have many incentives:
- Save at least 20% to 30%
- Options to many dining establishments throughout the park
- Free Disney Mug for all paid guests
- 3 options to choose from for your budget and family
- Options to choose alcoholic beverages
- Prepaid plans (just need to pay gratuities)
- Choose from quick service, Character dining to unique/ themed dining to name a few
- Advance booking and planning
If you choose to fly off the seat of your chair and eat when you are hungry that could be an option. But beware most places are booked up and reserved 60 days out. (Pre COVID it was 120 days out.) You may miss out on your choice. Preplanning would be a wiser decision, if possible, reserve them when you can.
Bringing your own food maybe a good choice. We always bring a few favorite snacks and powered drinks along with us. We like to go to the nearest Walmart and buy extra goodies while we are there. But if delivery service is right for you, I would suggest you try it. Just like shopping online, you can pre order your food days in advance or even that day have it delivered to your resort. We especially love this when we get a suite with a kitchen. Last one we had a mickey waffle maker in it for breakfast. Yummy!
All in all, the first thing you do when starting your planning for a magical Disney vacation is set a base line of items and ask yourself certain questions before you start adding items to your shopping cart.
Look for other Disney World Vacation Website Planning Guides