Let’s face it… planning for a Disney World trip has always been a project. And with our brains all a little foggier from this pandemic season (and too many Mandalorian binges), navigating HOW to get to Disney can feel like scaling a mountain as tall as Expedition Everest.
Much has changed at Disney, that’s for certain. Fastpasses disappeared (hello, regular standby queues!), resorts closed, favorite restaurants have temporarily shuttered (Columbia Harbour House, how we miss you!), and even park hours have shifted so much it rattled our well-oiled machine of daily routines for conquering the parks. Masks became mandatory pretty much everywhere. And most of our beloved shows are still on hiatus (here’s hoping they will return soon!).
As we’ve adjusted to this “new normal”, we’ve come up with new plans and explored new territory (see: The Disney Ghost Rules you Didn’t Know you Have for how to expand your horizons at Disney). We’ve eaten new places. We’ve accepted no nightly fireworks or elaborate parades, and surrendered our ability to eat in line or drink our Starbucks while hustling to BTMRR. As Lilo would say, “We’re adjusted.”
But all the changes have left some reeling. Some on the west coast who are are Disneyland-planning veterans are looking at the behemoth that is Walt Disney World and feeling a bit overwhelmed. And others who have not braved the magic since before the pandemic hit are wondering… what has changed? What do I need to know now?
So this post is dedicated to all of y’all who are craving the peace of the Disney parks but feel like the stress of getting there is overwhelming. I promise you, it may feel daunting to plan, but it’s actually easier than ever to plan a visit Walt Disney World.
Below are 5 steps I follow when planning my post- pandemic Disney trips. I would recommend doing them in the order when booking. For you seasoned Disney planners who may have a different method, speak up below! I’d love to hear how you’ve adapted in this season.
I’ll be linking to some other great blogs I know to help you with the nitty-gritty details and help you do these steps. I’ve no intention to re-invent the wheel here, but just want to help you make your Disney dreams possible!
1. Pick your dates
When to go to Disney is a question I get asked often. When it comes to Disney World, my standard advice is “Avoid holidays and summer, and weekends if you can.” Even with the pandemic, we’ve seen this pattern still ring true, with the exception of a very slow summer last year which I believe is an aberration due to the unknowns of COVID.
Summer is brutal in Florida, with the humidity making your vacation feel like a slog through a steamy oven. And if you go during the holidays, expect crowds and long-lines to be the norm. BUT, if these are the only times you CAN go, know that it will still be magical, but with a bit more waiting and/or air-conditioning seeking.
I typically look up the crowd calendar for my proposed travel dates using my Touring Plans subscription, but I also completely agree with this summary of when to go from Undercover Tourist:
It’s also helpful to note here that May and September are lovebug season in Florida. Disney does a pretty good job at insect control, but these guys are unavoidable.
Before making any final decisions or booking any plans, be sure to check daily park availability here as you won’t be able to get into a park without a daily reservation!
2. Choose a resort (& book it!)
Choosing where to stay at Disney can feel overwhelming in itself because there are so many options! If you really need to save money, staying offsite (off Disney property) is always an option. There are some great AirBnBs and hotels that are very close to Disney. I won’t delve too deeply into those options, however, because I prefer (personally) to stay in the Disney Bubble and use Disney transportation. It’s all a matter of personal preference… book what makes sense for you!
As for Disney resorts, with some of the deals that Disney has had recently, booking directly with Disney is often the best price. That has not always been the case, and usually, I advocate for renting DVC rooms at a fraction of the cost of the rack rate. But right now in our pandemic world, Disney is pricing their rooms more competitively than ever before, and even some deals on Expedia or Hotels.com are close to Disney’s website in terms of pricing. If you’re on a tight budget, I highly recommend mousesavers as a resource for all the current discounts and deals for Disney!
One thing that has not changed… the further out you book, the better your chances at getting the room you want. While you don’t have to book quite as far out as you used to (usually it was 7- 11 months for the best options), so many resorts being closed right now have reduced overall inventory. I have been able to score some great last-minute discount rooms though by renting DVC. ?
So the question remains… where to stay? This demands it’s own post, quite frankly, because it’s a loaded question, and everyone has their own opinions about it. But here are my go-to resorts, in descending order of price:
Deluxe Resorts – The Grand Floridian, Disney’s Riviera Resort, & Animal Kingdom Lodge
Moderate: Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter (currently still closed),
Value: Art of Animation & Pop Century
Touring plans has some great reviews for resorts, and helpful tools for selecting the best one, I highly recommend their resources, I’ve found them extremely helpful in my Disney travels!
3. Buy tickets & Make Park Pass Reservations (immediately!)
As soon as you book your trip, purchase your tickets if they weren’t already included in your package. I usually advocate for a rest day at your resort mid-vacation, because by the third park day in a row, you do get pretty fatigued. I typically go for 5 park days… two Magic Kingdom days with Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom sandwiched between them, but plan on whichever parks you love the most and where you want to spend the most time!
After getting your tickets, you’ll want to go make your Park Pass reservations immediately (don’t wait!!), available in the My Disney Experience app or MDE section online. These are daily reservations to a specific park you will need to enter the parks, and without them, you will have a very nice time at your resort but won’t actually be able to go to any parks, even if you have tickets.
4. Book Advance Dining Reservations
Many of the best places to eat in Disney need dining reservations, and these are made online 60 days out from your trip (trip date calculator here). If you’re staying at a Disney resort, you get to make reservations “60 days + 10”, or at the 60-day mark plus the length of your vacation up to 10 days.
Tip: Book the most desirable restaurants near the END of your trip for the highest possibility of getting the reservation you want. And be ON TIME, refreshing the screen right at 6 AM Eastern time (3 AM Pacific time). As Disney travel ramps up this year and the parks get more crowded with revenge travelers, it likely will get harder to get reservations. Right now, there are still many last-minute cancellations though, and it’s easier to get what you want!
If you’re past the 60-day mark and the restaurant you want is filled, no worries! Keep trying every day for your reservations, or try mousedining.com or Touring Plan’s reservation finder. Cancellations do happen, so don’t lose heart!
Where should you eat? That is a great question. I talk about some of my favorite Disney eats here which will help. But I also highly recommend the Disney Food Blog for dining information and the latest updates!
5. Buy Airfare
If you’re within driving distance, you can go ahead and ignore this step. But if you DO need to fly, I recommend setting up a flight fare tracker that will keep you posted about when fares go down and purchasing at the lowest point, which is between 30-72 days out right now. My favorite is to use kayak.com, but I know others who use Google Flights with success. I’ve been able to get as low as $190 from the west coast to Florida.
Once you’ve booked your flight, if you’re taking Disney’s Magical Express (complimentary resort transportation exclusively for Disney resorts, which will only available till the end of 2021), you can call (866) 599-0951 and give them your flight info so you can get transportation to your resort.
*Pandemic note: Make sure you know what travel advisories are in place for any travel during this crazy COVID season and plan accordingly. Some states or countries may have restrictions or mandatory quarantines in place.
Other Magical Planning Extras
These are a few extra steps I take to make our trip as special as possible, but they are totally optional!
Request a great view
I usually use Touring Plan’s room finder to select a great room, but I also love searching the resources other travelers have posted on the disboards to select the best view! Just make sure you are looking in the right “category” of rooms (ie standard view, garden view, etc). Touring plans will actually fax in a request for your room view, but you also have the option of requesting your view when you do online check-in. Just know that while you may not get the room your request specifically, the cast members do try their best to honor requests. They assign rooms more than 5 days out from arrival, so make sure to do this early!
Book “extras”
Want to make a droid at the Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge, build a lightsaber at Savi’s workshop, have a private photoshoot, have a VIP tour, or order a custom cake or flowers? There are so many ways to build extra magic into your trip here! We asked for a custom cake for our daughter’s birthday, and Disney did not disappoint!
Make daily plans
I cannot say this enough… go in with a touring plan, and then hold it loosely. You can make adjustments to your day as needed, but knowing what you definitely want to experience will keep your party on track so that you don’t get to the end of the day missing out on what you really wanted to see because you got distracted. At the same time, it’s your vacation, so make it what you want! If you want to stop for snacks or to sit awhile and soak it all in, do it. If you want to ride a ride 3 times in a row, do that! I love the Touring plans Lines app because it allows me to optimize my plan according to current wait times, and I can change it on the fly at any time.
Plan outfits & masks
This is obviously completely optional, but my crew loves dressing up to match, either with t-shirts or Disney bounding outfits. Etsy has some great options for ears, shirts, masks, and more! Note: Actual costumes are only allowed for guests 13 and under.
Make sure any footwear you get is comfortable for 10-14 miles of walking per day.
Prepare physically
Disney World is a marathon, physically. If your everyday life does not include being on your feet and walking long distance, it may be a good idea to start moving more 6 weeks before your trip. This will make your park days more enjoyable as you won’t feel quite so exhausted.
It must be said, however, that I always say I am going to do this and almost never do. If this sounds like you, just plan on taking additional breaks in the park, and maybe some short afternoon rests in the hotel if your park for the day has a later closing time. You’ll need to budget in more time off your feet (which you will need anyway if mask requirements are still in effect).
Order Groceries and water
One of the first things I do when arriving at my resort is to order groceries. I usually load up my Amazon Prime Now cart with what we need before we go and then complete my order the day of arrival, but you can also preschedule with Garden Grocer. I like to order some spring water for drinking in the rooms plus breakfast foods and a few snacks for late-night. If you order groceries, Bell Services will receive them and then bring them up to you if you call them when you get to your room (don’t forget to tip them!). They also have storage facilities to hold your groceries and keep refigerated items cold if they arrive before you do.
That’s it! Are you feeling confident about booking your next trip? If you have questions, ask away in the comments! I’d love to help!
Happy Disney Planning, friends!
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