So where does one even start when planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Well, obviously you have to figure out your trip dates, and book your flight (if needed), and hotel. I can't give you advice on any of that, as we always drive, and have only stayed in two resorts while in Disney. First one was Shades of Green (thanks to my Father in Law), and Caribbean Beach. Both were extremely nice. This trip, we are saving a BUNCH of money, and staying offsite. But still, I have to plan..
So, you've booked your airfare, or decided you are driving. You've booked your accommodations. You are now ready dive into the Disney Magic! First thing I suggest you do is to print out a blank calendar for the time you are there. If you are like me, you want to write everything down. A spiral notebook is also a great place to record all of the tidbits of info that you uncover while you plan. You can also create a spreadsheet (I do both). Here's a sample of my "creation calendar" as I call it..
As you can see, there's a lot of writing on it! I can tell you that most of it has changed by now. After you have your calendar ready for planning, turn to the internet for your information. There is so much out there to help you. One of the first things you need to decide is which park you want to go to on which day. I did this by looking at 'Crowd Calendars' online. These crowd calendars help predict how crowded a particular park will be on a given day. Remember that these are just predictions, based on the parks history. They should be used as a guide only. A great one is found at easywdw.com . There's also a more popular crowd calendar at touringplans.com. Bewarned though, Touring Plans charges, while easywdw is free. The Touring Plans website has many great features (including an app for your phone). They will suggest plans for you, or let you customize your own plans, adding only the attractions that you wish to see, then telling you in what order to see them, as to maximize your day, and limit you standing in line waiting. There is lots of information at your fingertips! Take a look!
I'm not going to go into all of the boring details of how I plan for my trip, as I know that everyone has a different way of doing things. No two ways are wrong. I just want to pass on the information and resources that I have used; those that have helped me out over the last few months to put this adventure together. From there, you can bury yourself under mounds of paper as you wish.
There are many Disney informational websites to read through, and lots of information to be had. Here are a few of my favorites websites for planning
- The Dis - Lots of great information, Podcasts bursting with more information, and some of the best Forums online pertaining to Disney. If someone there can't answer your question, you'll need to go directly to Disney for the answer. A MUST see..
- All Ears - Another wonderful site with an abundance of great information.
- Passporter - Yes, they publish a book, which some consider a Disney trip bible. They also put most of their information on line... :)
- Mousesavers - DISCOUNTS! This website sends out a newsletter each month, and along with it, a special link to savings. Worth signing up for.
- Disney World Junkies - This is actually a Facebook page.. a group of people who love Disney. Some go ALL the time, some not so much (we can dream!), but very friendly people, and lots of chit chat. Fun!
- Kenny The Pirate - This one is fun! Not only does it contain lots of great information about the parks, etc.. but it also has lots of character information. I have used Kenny's site more for character locations, and suggestions for interacting with the characters. If you have little kids, or are into meeting the characters, definitely check this one out!
'Tootles!
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