Visit Walt Disney World with Kids

You’ve finally decided to go to Disney . . .
​so now what?
Walt Disney World is a magical vacation destination for families. It is not, however, a vacation to be undertaken spontaneously, especially during peak seasons (summer, mid-December through early January, or the month of March.) The Walt Disney World Theme Park covers roughly the same square mileage as the city of San Francisco!

A little planning goes a long way when it comes to your family’s enjoyment. Some of the things to know before you go:     

  • What are the benefits of staying on or off the WDW Resort?
  • How/when should you make FastPass+ reservations and why is it so important?
  • How can you avoid the worst of the crowds (and the longer wait times) even during the busiest months?
  • Brush up on Disney vocabulary – yes, sometimes it feels like they have their own language there! You will need to know words like FastPass+, Magic Band, cast members, dark rides, Extra Magic Hours, etc.
  • What are the differences between the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, and which parks are going to hold the most interest for your family?
  • What else can you do at WDW outside of the theme parks? (Answer: A lot!!)  ​
For all of you laid-back, fly by the seat of your pants, Type Bs out there ~ if you simply cannot bring yourself to plan your Disney vacation, you might want to consider going during October or February when the crowd sizes are much smaller and a FastPass+ is not necessary to get on that “can miss” ride.

Although you will always find things to do and enjoy at WDW even if you don’t plan ahead (especially if you don’t mind missing out on a few favorite rides or if it’s during a slow season), the rule of thumb for a fantastic WDW vacation is “the more you plan, the more you enjoy!”

​The following links are great sources of information on taking a trip to Walt Disney World.

Touring Plans 
Undercover Tourist
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