How to plan a trip to Walt Disney World

So you've decided that your next family vacation is Walt Disney World? Awesome - let's get you ready to go.

You will need to decide a few things:

1. Resort. What is most important to you? Transportation options, pool/water activities, restaurants, theme, room type?
2. # of Park Days. Most families build in 1-2 resort-only days to decompress from the parks.
3. Restaurants. Rank your preferred restaurants from most to least important to you. You'll build your parks strategy around the restaurants (not the other way around!).
4. Park Strategy. We have multiple strategies built around Rope Dropping, using Genie+, late arrivals, nap time and more.

Important Dates and Times to Remember

• Deposit Due: 3 Days after Reservation Created
• Advanced Dining Reservations Window Begins: 60 Days Prior to Check-in (6:00am EST)
• Activities Booking Window Opens: 60 Days Prior to Check-in (6:00am EST)
• Customized Magicband Orders Due: 30 Days Prior to Check-in 
• Paid-in-Full Date: 30 Days Prior to Check-in

Did you know: when booking your vacation with famvia, our platform automatically alerts you before every important task and sends reminder on the due date.

Walt Disney World Resorts

Staying on-property at Walt Disney World has several benefits like free transportation between the parks and resorts, early entry, themed pools and water activities and more.

There are 35+ resort options spread across five categories:

1. Value Resorts ($)
2. Moderate Resorts ($$)
3. Deluxe Resorts ($$$)
4. Deluxe Villa Resorts ($$$$)
5. Good Neighbor Hotels ($$-$$$$)

Walt Disney World Value Resorts

• All-Star Movies Resort
• All-Star Music Resort
• All-Star Sports Resort
• Art of Animation Resort
• Pop Century Resort

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

• The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort
• Caribbean Beach Resort
• Coronado Springs Resort
• Port Orleans - French Quarter Resort
• Port Orleans - Riverside Resort

Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts

• Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Beach Club Resort
• BoardWalk Inn
• Contemporary Resort
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Polynesian Village Resort
• Wilderness Lodge
• Yacht Club Resort

Walt Disney World Deluxe Villa Resorts

• Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins
• Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
• Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
• Beach Club Villas
• BoardWalk Villas
• Old Key West Resort
• Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Riviera Resort
• Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels

• Dolphin Hotel
• Swan Hotel
• Swan Reserve Hotel
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels

Dining at Walt Disney World

When you look at the 400+ dining options available on and around the Walt Disney World map, it can be a bit overwhelming! There are essentially 4 dining categories:

• Snack Carts
• Quick Service
• Table Service
  • Reservations Accepted
  • Character Dining
• Fine/Signature Dining