Best Ways to Plan the Perfect Disney Vacation
The number one thing that makes Walt Disney World the perfect vacation destination is that there is so much to see! There are always so many upgrades, enhancements and changes to the property, that even families who frequently choose Disney as their vacation destination will experience something new on their trip! As a Disney vacation planner, the number one question I get from clients is, “How can we see it all?” My answer is, “You can’t.” However, there are definite ways to maximize your experience and purposefully plan your days in order to see and do as much as you can and ultimately get the most bang for your buck. Here’s how you can plan the perfect Disney vacation!
STAY ON PROPERTY
Staying on Disney property is the number one thing you can do right off the bat to ensure that you are maximizing your vacation time and your vacation experience. On the practical side of things, staying on property ensures that your vacation begins the minute you step off the plane at Orlando International Airport. You can skip baggage claim and go directly to the Disney’s Magical Express bus and directly to your resort. While someone else picks up and delivers your luggage, you already have a leg up on the fun- exploring the resort, relaxing in the pool, shopping in Disney Springs, or riding the coasters at the theme parks.
Staying on Disney property puts you at the center of the action and adds an element of magic to your vacation. With the imaginative resort theming, world class dining options and attention to detail, your on site resort truly is an integral part of your magical vacation. Finally, the most important perk to staying on Disney property is the added bonus of being able to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. These extra hours are reserved EXCLUSIVELY for guests staying on property and are an essential part of planning the perfect Disney vacation.
Extra Magic Hours allows guests staying on Disney property the option of either entering a designated theme park an hour before the park opens to the general public, or it allows guests to remain in the theme park into the night while guests not staying on property must leave. Stand-by lines for popular attractions tend to be shorter during these extra magic hours as crowds are at a low. It is by far the best way to make the most of your vacation, as it is a perk that doesn’t cost anything extra to use!
PARK HOPPER PASSES
Adding the park hopper option to your theme park tickets is definitely worth the splurge! The park hopper option allows guests to visit more than one theme park per day, allowing greater flexibility for your vacation. This ability to be flexible ensures, among other things, that your dining does not have to depend on the theme park you are visiting that day. If you visit the Magic Kingdom during the day and want to dine in Epcot and then view the fireworks in Hollywood Studios, the park hopper pass makes this possible. Also, if the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are cancelled due to weather, for example, or you were too tired to stay to watch them, you have the flexibility to view them on another night, even if you are not necessarily spending the day in that theme park.
LENGTH OF STAY
The best way to ensure that you are able to plan the perfect Disney vacation is to plan to visit when you can spend at least a week on property. A week gives you ample time to be able to spend a full day in each theme park, plus it gives you at least one day of rest to enjoy the pool and other resort amenities as well as Disney Springs. An extra day after that allows the flexibility to return to your favorite park, visit a water park, or take advantage of the other amenities or activities on property such as mini golf, spa treatments or even unique activities such as archery lessons and horseback riding.
BOOK WITH AN AUTHORIZED DISNEY VACATION PLANNER
This is truly the best way to get the most out of your Walt Disney World Vacation. Vacations are precious. Disney vacations can be expensive and they do not happen every day. Using an Authorized Disney vacation planner gives you the invaluable benefit of having a Disney vacation expert in your back pocket. They know the crowd calendars; they know the secrets to getting the hard-to-get FastPasses.
Authorized Disney Vacation Planners also know the best days to visit each park, and they can advise you on which attractions, resorts, fireworks shows, and parades to prioritize based on the specific ages, likes and travel style of your individual family. Vacation planners save you money by constantly being on the lookout for discounts, and they save you time by being your one point of contact for all of your questions and concerns. They are able to hold your hand and guide you through the process of planning the perfect Disney vacation so that you leave with a detailed, personalized itinerary that reflects your family’s wishes and dreams for a magical vacation.
The best piece of advice I give my clients is to approach their Disney vacation with the knowledge that it won’t be their last. Don’t try to see it all. Choose your must-dos and work with your Disney vacation planner to create an itinerary with a good balance of scheduled time and down time so that you see the things that are most important to you, with the flexibility to make changes and detours for unexpected magic!
Jennifer Price
MickeyTravels, LLC
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner – PLATINUM LEVEL
1-888-898-3079
jprice@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com
https://facebook.com/MickeyTravelsJenniferPrice/