If you are planning your first visit to Walt Disney World, congratulations! You will be visiting one of the most "magical" vacation destinations there is, filled with literally hundreds of attractions, rides, restaurants, hotels and events. Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to figure out how to start planning this wonderful vacation? This article will focus on some of the very first things you need to do before you book anything. Doing your research is central to planning the most affordable Disney family vacation.
The first thing you will need to decide is when you are going to go. If possible, try to start planning at least 6-9 months in advance. In order to determine the best time for your Disney World vacation, you will need to think about your feelings about things like crowds and weather. For instance, do you hate crowds? Then don't plan to visit during the crowded summer months, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or spring breaks. And likewise, if you hate heat and humidity, you should avoid Florida summers.
The next step then is to determine the things that you and your family would like to experience at Disney World. I realize this seems odd to do this at this part of the process, but it is very helpful to your planning to know which parks you are most interested in, or if there are special events you want to be a part of. You want to know these things at the beginning so you can plan your trip accordingly.
To get an overview of everything there is to see and do, you will want to have some good planning guides to provide the information you need. There are two that I use over and over:
1. I always start with the Disney World website, as they have a great free planning DVD. In order to get it, you will need to sign up for a log-in and get on their email list, but you want to do that anyway, so that you are eligible to receive promotions and special offers.
2. The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide is a helpful e-book that was written by a former Disney castmember. With a lot of really helpful park information, it is especially great at providing some excellent money-saving strategies.
OK, you know when you are visiting, and what you want to see and do. Next you need to determine how long to plan your Disney vacation for. Check your available vacation leave, as well as work/school schedules and then get an idea of how long you will need to see everything that is important to you. This relates to an extent to the discussion about the time of year you will be visiting Disney World. If you will be there when it is the crowded or the very hot summer, you will want to allow a little more time: the need for "cooling off" breaks, or navigating through crowds, means that it will take longer to do everything. And if you have little ones, add some extra break time in for them as well.
So how long does it typically take to visit each park, if you want to see and do "it all"? I honestly advise you to plan for at least 5 full days to see all four parks completely. And if any of the above applies to your plans, then add a little more time.
The final step before you start booking your vacation, is to decide how much you want to spend. To plan an affordable Disney family vacation, this will be extremely important. Having a budget in mind right from the start will help you keep control of your costs. Be realistic and honest about this part, and don't worry if your budget is not huge: you can still have a fantastic vacation without spending a huge amount of money!
Once you have these four things in mind...when you are going, what you want to see, how long you can stay, and what you can afford...you are then ready to start filling in the details and booking your vacation. Lay the groundwork at the beginning, and you will have a wonderful, magical, and affordable Disney family vacation!
Learn how you can save money on a Disney vacation with the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. For help planning your own affordable Disney family vacation and to receive a free bonus guide filled with Disney vacation planning ideas, make certain to visit www.theaffordablemouse.com.