No matter where one travels, the only real way to enjoy a trip - is to plan, plan and plan some more. Fortunately, when going to visit Disney World you have a great advantage. Not only can you get some tips from this blog, but there are oodles of materials out there to assist you. The trick is to not just buy one book, visit one site, talk to a single individual who has already been there, or even contact one and only one travel agent.
Everyone has their own opinions and it is your wisdom that will decide how to pick and chose the best advice. That, of course, is definitely not always easy. But, the best place to likely start is reading books on WDW. There are plenty out there. There are official guides, and unofficial books, all having words of wisdom on how to plan your trip. I am not here to promote and particular book, and you really do not actually have to purchase these to profit from their content. It is a pleasure these days that many book stores have coffee bars, or comfy seats, where one can finger through the various publications t0 obtain information, and take notes. Of course, it would be a good idea to eventually obtain one or more of the publications that you feel best meet your needs - it is always a good idea to have one of these books with you to look over at home during your leisure hours. And most of all it is extremely important to get this information well in advance of your trip.
Now to some, well in advance when planning a normal vacation, might mean a few weeks, a month, or maybe even a couple months. If that is all the advance time you have - there is nothing much you can do. However, just so you "really understand," return visitors often book their hotels up to a year before the trip (not that this is really needed anymore with all the hotel options available), but the earlier the better. Also, even dinner reseravations at the most sought after restaurants, specialty meals with characters, specific meal times, and even special events, have schedules for when one can start booking. These may be 90 days to 6 months prior to taking the trip. So, just a word of warning, if you really want to reserve a particular day and time for a meal or event - do so as close to the time reservations are initially being accepted.
Be aware that you can change dates and times later on - so rescheduling is feasible - but at least you will be assured that you will have booked special meals and activities and not miss by not having reserved these in advance.
Now that I have probably scared many first timers, I want to apologize. I likely made this process seem more complicated that it truly is and I will explain this in later posts. But, the one factor, and likely the most important factor, that keeps people from enjoying Disney World is lack of planning. Disney World is a huge resort, lots of hotels - on and off the property, tons of people, busy seasons, slow seasons, hot weather, cool times of the year, rainy times and dry months, long lines and no lines, popular times to visit attractions, and times you can ride a coaster over and over without a wait. Knowing the tricks is everything, being in a hot park on a 100 degree day and having an hour wait for a 2 minute ride can be unbearable (and for the most part totally unnecessary).
Hopefully, you are still with me, and haven't decided to go to Niagra Falls instead - you would be sorry (not that I don't like the falls - but Disney is a whole lot more "fun").
Well, if you still reading this paragraph, you will be advised to go the the Disney website and just look around - things change so quickly that books are never up to date with every change in the resort area. Check out the parks, the hotels, the attractions, the "PRICES," and make a list of what interest you the most. Not that this won't change once you get there, but you will at least have a starting point. (And be aware that once you visit - you will always be planning your next trip with "what you have learned from this first experience.")
Having gotten this far, you have some idea what WDW has to offer, how much it may cost, and how long you may wish (or have time) to stay. A lot depends on if you travel as a family with children and how old they are, you are adults (and being adults without kids does have its advantages - did I mention that my favorite restaurants are at WDW?), or you are single (or on a business trip - plenty of night life after those long days in the parks or at the pool). WDW truly has something (actually many things) for "kids of all ages."
It becomes time to decide when to go (time of the year), how long to stay, where to stay, when to book the trip, how to book the trip, and find out who is going to baby sit your dog or cat while you are away (there are kennels on the property if you really have to bring Fido along).
As we keep blogging along, some words of wisdom will be offer on saving prices during off season, booking in advance to save some bucks, finding deals, traveling from your home to WDW, and so on.
For those who have already been to WDW, there will be blogs for you also regarding anything and everything from the upgrades to Pirates, the fun of getting stranded on Everest, and how to avoid getting chased by "wild boar" while visiting Celebration (the Disney Town). At least, those big, black grunting objects that were charing at us through the woods looked like wild boar (or small black bears). It was kind of hard to actually tell when my wife and I were running in the opposite direction. I must say every time we visit WDW, something new is waiting for us. Remind me to tell you the alligator story in a future blog - just in case I forget.
Have fun - and start planning for the future today.
Everyone has their own opinions and it is your wisdom that will decide how to pick and chose the best advice. That, of course, is definitely not always easy. But, the best place to likely start is reading books on WDW. There are plenty out there. There are official guides, and unofficial books, all having words of wisdom on how to plan your trip. I am not here to promote and particular book, and you really do not actually have to purchase these to profit from their content. It is a pleasure these days that many book stores have coffee bars, or comfy seats, where one can finger through the various publications t0 obtain information, and take notes. Of course, it would be a good idea to eventually obtain one or more of the publications that you feel best meet your needs - it is always a good idea to have one of these books with you to look over at home during your leisure hours. And most of all it is extremely important to get this information well in advance of your trip.
Now to some, well in advance when planning a normal vacation, might mean a few weeks, a month, or maybe even a couple months. If that is all the advance time you have - there is nothing much you can do. However, just so you "really understand," return visitors often book their hotels up to a year before the trip (not that this is really needed anymore with all the hotel options available), but the earlier the better. Also, even dinner reseravations at the most sought after restaurants, specialty meals with characters, specific meal times, and even special events, have schedules for when one can start booking. These may be 90 days to 6 months prior to taking the trip. So, just a word of warning, if you really want to reserve a particular day and time for a meal or event - do so as close to the time reservations are initially being accepted.
Be aware that you can change dates and times later on - so rescheduling is feasible - but at least you will be assured that you will have booked special meals and activities and not miss by not having reserved these in advance.
Now that I have probably scared many first timers, I want to apologize. I likely made this process seem more complicated that it truly is and I will explain this in later posts. But, the one factor, and likely the most important factor, that keeps people from enjoying Disney World is lack of planning. Disney World is a huge resort, lots of hotels - on and off the property, tons of people, busy seasons, slow seasons, hot weather, cool times of the year, rainy times and dry months, long lines and no lines, popular times to visit attractions, and times you can ride a coaster over and over without a wait. Knowing the tricks is everything, being in a hot park on a 100 degree day and having an hour wait for a 2 minute ride can be unbearable (and for the most part totally unnecessary).
Hopefully, you are still with me, and haven't decided to go to Niagra Falls instead - you would be sorry (not that I don't like the falls - but Disney is a whole lot more "fun").
Well, if you still reading this paragraph, you will be advised to go the the Disney website and just look around - things change so quickly that books are never up to date with every change in the resort area. Check out the parks, the hotels, the attractions, the "PRICES," and make a list of what interest you the most. Not that this won't change once you get there, but you will at least have a starting point. (And be aware that once you visit - you will always be planning your next trip with "what you have learned from this first experience.")
Having gotten this far, you have some idea what WDW has to offer, how much it may cost, and how long you may wish (or have time) to stay. A lot depends on if you travel as a family with children and how old they are, you are adults (and being adults without kids does have its advantages - did I mention that my favorite restaurants are at WDW?), or you are single (or on a business trip - plenty of night life after those long days in the parks or at the pool). WDW truly has something (actually many things) for "kids of all ages."
It becomes time to decide when to go (time of the year), how long to stay, where to stay, when to book the trip, how to book the trip, and find out who is going to baby sit your dog or cat while you are away (there are kennels on the property if you really have to bring Fido along).
As we keep blogging along, some words of wisdom will be offer on saving prices during off season, booking in advance to save some bucks, finding deals, traveling from your home to WDW, and so on.
For those who have already been to WDW, there will be blogs for you also regarding anything and everything from the upgrades to Pirates, the fun of getting stranded on Everest, and how to avoid getting chased by "wild boar" while visiting Celebration (the Disney Town). At least, those big, black grunting objects that were charing at us through the woods looked like wild boar (or small black bears). It was kind of hard to actually tell when my wife and I were running in the opposite direction. I must say every time we visit WDW, something new is waiting for us. Remind me to tell you the alligator story in a future blog - just in case I forget.
Have fun - and start planning for the future today.
