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Disney World planning is probably one of the most exciting and daunting concepts at the same time. There is an entire new culture that comes with that kind of planning, as it isn’t like the process of planning other vacations you’ve taken…at least it hasn’t been for me. But rest easy, because I’m here to walk this road with you and give you the tips I have found helpful as I have been planning our family’s Disney World vacation.

1. Make Key Decisions First For Disney World Planning

First things first, you should make some key decisions about your trip so you can focus your Disney World planning moving forward.

Are you flying or driving?

Are you wanting to stay on Disney property or off?

What does your budget look like?

What time of year are you going on your Disney World vacation?

These are some of the crucial things you should nail down first so you have direction in planning the other things.

There are pros and cons to driving vs. flying, and depending on what you decide, it may impact whether or not you stay on Disney property.

Pros to driving include not worrying about how much stuff you bring (or take home), having your own vehicle to get around in, and having freedom to venture beyond Disney property without calling a taxi or ride share.

Cons to driving would include how long it may take you to get to Disney World from where you live, gas prices, and worrying about parking fees.

Staying in Disney property allows you to have free transportation to anywhere within Walt Disney World, including parks, Disney Springs, and other resorts. You may also get added perks for some of the resorts in extended park hours, first dibs on meal reservations, and discounts on magic bands.

But staying on Disney property also tends to cost more and give you less space. You also are completely immersed in Disney 24/7. While the experience is fun, it may also be draining, and give you a small bed to sleep in.

Knowing your budget will help you know the best decisions for saving money in certain areas. If you value eating all of the things in Disney, splurge on meals and snacks, rather than staying in a Disney resort. If you can save money by driving rather than flying, and time isn’t an issue for you, then follow that route. You will quickly learn that you will never be able to do it all in Disney, but if you prioritize what you want to do, you will be able to allocate your funds accordingly, by cutting some of the extras.

Knowing what time of year will guide you in what experiences you may want to add to your must-do list, as well as allow you to know rates for that time. Would you like to see Disney at Christmas? Check rates for that time (and crowd calendars). I like this calendar. If you’re avoiding crowds and want lower rates, look into a September or late January trip. Weather is a factor here too. Do all of the research so you get an idea of what kind of environment you’ll be spending your vacation in.

Decide these things pretty early in your Disney World planning, so you can better plan the rest.

2. Find Good Resources For Your Disney World Planning

Now, you should know that everyone and their aunt will have suggestions about what you should do on your Disney trip. But keep in mind that what worked for them, may not be your family’s priority.

I was super overwhelmed at first glance when I began my research. So much so, I wanted to tell people I was going to Disney, but was overwhelmed by their advise because it was drastically different from the advise of someone else I talked to.

Then I discovered AJ at The Disney Food Blog.

I am serious when I say she and her team do a remarkable job simply laying out info, and letting you decide what is right for your family. I’m in love with their YouTube channel and get giddy whenever I see a new video released. The blog is a go to place for restaurant reviews, tips, and research for certain things we want to look into.

I also then discovered Molly at All Ears, and was blown away all over again. She and her team do a great job laying out the best snacks, food, and whether or not certain elements of Disney are worth it for your family when Disney World planning.

If nothing else in your research, spend some time watching these bloggers’ videos and reading up on things that intrigue you there. The best part is that all of their info is up to date, which is HUGE in an ever-changing world.

And if you’re not big into being on the computer or a device, but would rather have a guidebook, I recommend Birnbaum’s Disney World guide. They come out with a new one every year, so those stay relatively up to date as well. My husband isn’t big into being on a device and wanted a book to look through, so he could at least have a grip on Disney. He liked how this guide was laid out and could learn about different aspects of each park.

3. Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize

Unfortunately, you can NOT do everything in one Disney trip…or even 2 or 3. That is why you need to sit down with your family or travel group and lay out what you “must do” at each park on your trip. Keep in mind that you don’t have to all be together every single step. If some of your party likes thrill rides, then let them coaster hop. If some of you are all about riding the classics, plan that. You can split up and still make memories.

Knowing what your group values narrows so much down. For instance, my daughter loves princesses, especially Ariel, so we HAVE to at least see Ariel, ride the Ariel things, and wave at all the princesses at the Princess cavalcade and Fairy Tale Hall.

If you are foodies, research your restaurants and make a list of which ones you want to hit so you can jump on dining reservations as soon as they become available to you. Keep in mind that there are also stellar eats outside of the parks, like in different resorts and in Disney Springs. My husband is German, so he is all in for eating at Beirgarten in Epcot’s Germany pavilion.

Making a list now will help you feel less overwhelmed later as you are Disney World planning. You can pay more attention to the must-dos for you, rather than trying to sort out how to fit it all in one trip.

4. Use The Disney App NOW

Yes, download that app to your phone right now here. I’ll wait…

Ok, so now you have a whole new toy to play with for your Disney World planning. You will be using this app for almost every aspect of your trip, especially now since the Genie+ element has been released. This app will help you plan your priorities, set dining reservations, play with maps, learn more about each park and locations, and so, so, so much more.

When you actually enter Disney, you can use this app (and have to if you don’t get a Magic Band), to enter parks and link your tickets, check in for dining, order food ahead of time, get your Genie+ attractions lined up, enter virtual cues, get photos taken by Disney photographers, enter your Disney resort room…and more. It is an essential app for every travel party and you can’t get through a Disney day without it.

I love the maps on there because you can see things like wait times, find food nearby, see what entertainment is going on, find photo pass locations, and even find the closest bathroom! It is a very handy tool to have and to get to know as soon as you can.

By downloading and playing with the app now, you will save yourself panic and stressing out later when you need to use it to do your actual Disney stuff in the parks. Plus, it’s just fun to play with.

5. Start Acquiring Essentials

The earlier you start your Disney World planning, the earlier you can start acquiring the things you need for your trip! Our family will be driving to Disney from Michigan, (as you may have read in my about section, you’ll find we are road-trippers) so we are laying out routes we want to take for fun on the way, planning meals, and figuring out what we will need across the board.

From what to bring in our Disney day packs to which fast food stops we may make along the way to get to Florida, I love to lay it all out on Trello so it’s all in one spot. In fact, I talk about vacation planning in general in a previous blog post here that may be helpful to you. I like to plan the nitty gritty details because then I can try to acquire as much as I can ahead of time, which not only saves my sanity, but it helps save on the budget too.

Not only do we ask family members throughout the year leading up for Disney gift cards, which you can use on pretty much everything in Disney, but we collect others as well. I know I love Starbucks, so I started to save stars and gift cards to use on our trip. I also collect the “Been There” mugs from each state (and Disney has one for each park). We love certain fast food restaurants, so we hang onto gift cards and rewards for those.

I also use Ibotta when shopping for groceries and other needs throughout the year to save up for cash withdrawals and gift cards. It is a great app that rewards me for shopping for things I already shop for anyways. I earned $50 to put towards vacation groceries for this trip alone. You can also get restaurant cards, store cards, or just a straight up deposit to your account.

Outside of gift cards, we begin getting things we need for our trip, like rain ponchos, glow sticks, shoes we know we need to break in for walking around parks, etc. Disney World planning ahead of time will help bring to light these little things you’ll need, and the earlier you get started, the less stressful it will be, at least that’s how it works for me.

Good Luck With Your Disney World Planning!

Planning a Disney trip can feel like an overwhelming endeavor. In fact, you’ll feel like you need a vacation from planning your vacation. I’m not an expert at all, but I am a real mom, trying to plan my family’s first trip. My biggest piece of advice is to take it one chunk at a time. Follow these preliminary tips and throw in some of your own favorite ways to plan and organize.

Good luck with your Disney World planning and have so much fun along the way! The process is worth it. I hope you and your travel party or family have a wonderful time. Comment with questions!