Are you considering a vacation to Walt Disney World? If so, this page on How to plan a Trip to Disney World will provide you with valuable information and will point you to resources that will help you plan the perfect Disney World vacation. This page is organized as a planning guide for those individuals who will be going to the Walt Disney World Resort for the first time, although even repeat visitors will benefit from the content.

With the vast amount of information available online, planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida can be very time intensive. Why you might ask? The Walt Disney World Resort boasts four theme parks, two water parks, an entertainment district, a sports complex, and over twenty resort hotels.www.disneyparks.com With so many things to see and do, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Below you will find links to online and print guides, tips, and Disney planning forums. Since all of these resources and links are all in one place, this site will reduce the time you would otherwise spend searching for Disney planning resources.

For first-time visitors and veterans alike, the information below has the potential to save you time and money. Continue reading for tips on planning the ultimate Walt Disney World vacation!

...with the Walt Disney World (WDW) Resort. At the center of the WDW resort are four theme parks: the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Beyond the theme parks, there many other places of interest including water parks, golf courses, shopping centers, spas, and multiple other excursion opportunities.

There are two official sources that are great for first time research. Both provide basic information in a user friendly format. The first source is the Walt Disney World website. There, you can order a free vacation planning DVD from Disney. You can also pose specific questions to Disney experts in the new "Disney Mom's Panel" on the site. The second source is an annual print publication by Birnbaum Guides, "Walt Disney World: Expert Advice from the Inside Source" (see Amazon link below).

Many unofficial sources exist, both online and print. At about 800 pages, the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" (see Amazon link below) is the most comprehensive unofficial guide in print. Online, there are multiple sites that cater to Walt Disney World vacationers. One of the best is the DIS, which provides articles on WDW planning, maps, park rehabilitation updates, and an online forum for Disney World visitors and enthusiasts.

With so much to do, it's very important to familiarize yourself with the resort so that you can pick and choose the parks and activities that will best meet the needs of your group.

Choosing accommodations for a Disney vacation is the second step in the process. Where you choose to stay will affect your itinerary.

If you choose to stay at one of the Disney properties, you will receive perks as a Resort guest. Two of the biggest perks that are associated with being a resort guest are 1) free transportation around the entire Resort (all parks, etc) from your hotel and 2) extra hours in the parks.

If you choose to stay off property, you will need to find transportation to the Resort. Once inside, you may use Disney transportation to move from park to park, etc.

Disney World opens early and will stay open later in specific parks on certain days for their Resort guests. This extra time is referred to as "Extra Magic Hours." http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/calendar/extramagichours/1

Disney hotels are categorized based on price. Value resorts are for guests on a budget, moderate resorts are an upgrade, and deluxe resorts and villas are the most luxurious. There is also a campground on Disney property.

If you choose to stay off property, you will need to find transportation to the Resort. Once inside, you may use Disney transportation to move from park to park, etc.

Check out the Walt Disney World Official Website or any of the unofficial sources below for more information on accommodations. As a reminder, many sources provide reviews of hotels both on and off property.

Disney allows guests to build vacation packages, which include a combination of accommodations, dining, tickets, and add-ons. Once you know where you want to stay, you should consider the other components of a Disney vacation package to determine whether it will be worth the investment.

Dining

Only on-property guests can purchase the Disney dining plan. The dining plan is explained in depth on official and unofficial websites. One important tip about the dining plan: Disney requires that your dining plan lasts the duration of your stay in Disney properties.

Tickets

Disney theme park tickets are called "Magic Your Way" tickets. One ticket with a magnetic strip holds the information for your entire stay (when and how many parks you may enter, etc). Even if you are staying for 10 days, you will receive one ticket. The price per day decreases as the number of days increases. The base ticket allows you to get into one of Disney's theme parks per day of your stay.http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/tickets/magicYourWayPackagesPopUp2

Add-Ons

For a fee, you can purchase add-ons for your base ticket that will allow you greater flexibility within the resort. Check out the descriptions of the Park Hopper, Water Park and More, and No Expiration Option add-ons on the Disney World website. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/tickets/magicYourWayPackagesPopUp2

1. Plan well in advance to take advantage of early bird perks

2. Visit the Walt Disney World website for basic information about accommodations, tickets, attractions, dining, and entertainment (and of course--prices!)

3. Visit unofficial online sources for additional information and cost-saving strategies

4. Order the free planning resources (maps, DVDs, brochures) from the Walt Disney World website