Hi, I'm Jeannette and I really like Disney World. Maybe a little too much. It doesn't take much to get me talking about it and I'm really great at talking people into visiting WDW. You may think you don't want to go, but give me 30 minutes or so and I'll talk you into it. Luckily, my family loves Disney, too. Most days someone in the family will start a conversation with "if we were at Disney today, which park would we be at?" Pretty much we are always planning our next trip back.
I get into quite a few conversations about Disney and my favorite planning sites and resources. I'm one of those over planners- I like to know every detail possible and have a good plan in place so I can relax and get the most out of my vacation once I get there.
I decided to pull together a list of some of the things and places that I recommend and discuss the most. Walt Disney World is a HUGE place and if you are planning a trip- whether it's your first or your 40th- it pays to have a plan for conquering it! My goal on vacation is usually to do the most I can with as little wait in line as possible.
Start with the Disney website itself. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ Here's the place to explore resorts and dining choices and sign up for a My Disney Experience account. You can also order a Disney Vacation Planning video- https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US/VacationPlanningDVD/
The best book for planning your trip is The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. They put out a new edition every year with all the updates for whatever changes have happened in the previous 12 months. Even though the book stays 90% the same from year to year, we still like to pick up a new copy yearly. You can get it from your local bookstore or Amazon- HERE. There is so much in this book, detailed info on every attraction and hotel and restaurant as well as my favorite- Touring Plans. The touring plans help you maximize what you see while minimizing the wait times. They also have a companion website- http://touringplans.com/ where you can view much of the same info and much more. The website has some open access and requires a subscription for full access. In my opinion the subscription is well worth the price for what you get!
Online, http://allears.net/index.html is a great resource. Pictures and descriptions of everything at WDW plus all the menus and rehab and refurb schedules. A go to place for info on anything WDW related.
My other favorite is http://disboards.com/ . The Disboards website is a forum filled with WDW enthusiasts who share and swap information. If you are interested in the newest news and rumors or a strategy for getting from one resort to another for dinner or how to score a reservation at the hardest to get restaurants- this is the place to go! If you have a question, there are so many people willing to help you out and answer.
Ready to book a trip? Visit my friend Shannon at A2M Travel to get the best deal! It doesn't cost you anything extra to book with a travel agent and they can answer all your questions and help you find any deals and discounts. Let Shannon know that Jeannette sent you:-)
One last piece of advice, start walking! You'll average several miles per day walking around the theme parks so break in those shoes and doing a little extra walking before you leave home. Your feet will thank you for it!
So what are your favorite planning resources? Share them in the comments!
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