Travel Dates

My favorite times to travel to Disney are January, February, October, and early December. However, I always end up visiting at least once every summer. According to crowd calendars, these months usually have the lowest crowds and manageable weather. But, for many, these times are not ideal due to work, school, and kids' sports. So, I don't think crowd calendars matter because the way we plan our trip is based on YOUR family priorities, and crowds don't have as much impact as you may think. When planning a trip, I consider days off from work and school, sports and activities that the kids will miss, Florida weather, festivals and events happening at WDW, as well as discounts and deals.

Resorts

Once you have selected the date of your visit, the next step is to decide on the resort you would like to stay in. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to make a choice. However, let's break it down to make it easier. Disney offers four categories of resorts, which include value, moderate, deluxe, and deluxe villas. As DVC members, we often choose to stay in deluxe villas. While I prefer to stay on property, I didn't start doing so consistently until 2018. Other accommodation options include Airbnb, VRBO, Disney Good Neighbor Hotels, Disney Good Neighbor hotels with privileges, and timeshares. In Magic Made Easy under Resorts can give you a full breakdown of which options may be best for your family.

Tickets & Park Reservations

Since Disney’s reopening, ticket and park reservations have been the most significant change in Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. Not only do you need a Park Ticket, but you also need to make a park reservation for which park you plan on entering that day. As of January 9, 2024 date based tickets will not need park reservations, but military tickets, Annual Pass holders and dateless tickets will still need reservations. This can be tricky because Park days do sell out, especially around the holidays. Therefore, making reservations as soon as possible is always a good idea. Additionally, you want to pick the best ticket for your family with various ticket options for Walt Disney World.

Transportation

How are you getting to Disney? We drive or fly depending on the length of the trip and the cost of plane tickets. We are a family of 6, so flying sometimes is expensive. Then we add the cost of transportation while we are at Disney, whether we rent a car, take a Charter Bus Service, or Minnie Vans. We live on the east coast and have a 14.5-hour drive to Walt Disney World. Which is not too bad, and we have mastered driving with kids. So weigh all the options and decide which mode of transportation is best for your family.

Disney Dining, Enchanted Extras & The 60 Day Window

Let's begin the planning process. It's crucial to keep in mind your 60-day window for booking dining reservations and enchanted extras when visiting Walt Disney World. With so many options for activities and dining experiences, it can be overwhelming to decide on the best fit for your family. If you plan to dine at a Table Service restaurant, you must have a reservation. But don't worry! Our Magic Made Easy Community is here to help you find the perfect option for your family.

Daily Park Game Plan

When planning a trip to Walt Disney World, it's important to take it one park at a time and one day at a time. Start by making a list of your family's top 3 attractions and rides you want to experience at each park. With that information in hand, we can create a strategy to accomplish those three things and then add in other experiences at the park to fill in the rest of the day.

It's also important to plan some downtime, whether it's taking a break in the park as an off-site guest or returning to your room for a rest. To maximize your time, we can teach you how to use mobile ordering for quick service or table service as a break to get off your feet. Finally, we can help you use Genie+ to ensure you will be able to make the most of your time at the parks.

Although Genie+ is not essential to have an amazing time at Walt Disney World, it is a great resource that can save your family 5-7 hours of waiting in lines, and help you make the most of your day by reducing wait times and minimizing stress. Our family never visits the park without it.

Magic Planning Guides

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World and feeling overwhelmed by all the information out there? At Well Hello Magic, we offer Magic Guides that specialize in breaking down specific aspects of the park to make your planning smoother and stress-free.

If you're trying to understand Genie+ and how it works, our Genie+ Guide can help simplify it all for you. No need to feel like you need a master's degree to navigate the system. For those who are planning their entire vacation from start to finish, our Family Planning Guide is an essential resource. It provides detailed information and tips on everything from booking your accommodations to making dining reservations and creating an itinerary for your trip.

And if you're looking for a comprehensive timeline and organizational sheet to keep your planning on track, our Planning Timeline Workbook is the perfect tool for you. It breaks down the planning process step by step and provides a customizable timeline to help you stay organized and on top of everything.

At Well Hello Magic, we're committed to making your Walt Disney World vacation planning experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. Let our Magic Guides help you plan the trip of a lifetime! I can with 100% certainty say you will not need another guide after using Well Hello Magic Guides.

It’s time to start planning!

Planning podcast

Start by listening to the Plan Disney in 15 Minutes podcast to get a general overview of the steps we need to take to plan your Disney Vacation.

Disney planning: Start here

Feeling overwhelmed about planning your Walt Disney World trip? Are you confused about where exactly to start with the planning? Let’s take our first step in simplifying Walt Disney World.

Youtube Introduction

Watch my introduction video on YouTube to find out what our channel is all about, then explore some of the experiences you are excited to have for your family on your Disney vacation.

Planning Timeline workbook

If there's one thing you need to take away from our site, it's this - a comprehensive timeline that covers the past two years up to now. Even if your trip is only a few months away, our workbook will help you plan every step so you don't miss anything important.

Magic Made Easy

Are you tired of spending countless hours researching and planning your Disney vacation? Do you end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? As a busy parent, I understand how daunting and time-consuming it can be to plan the perfect vacation. That's why I'm here to help simplify the process for you. With Magic Made Easy, you can stop feeling overwhelmed by all the options and details because I have organized everything for you!

Our travel planning course is designed to provide expert guidance on all aspects of travel planning, from finding the best deals on flights and accommodations to creating a personalized itinerary that suits your interests and budget. You'll learn how to avoid common mistakes, save money, and make the most of your time at Disney.

Say goodbye to the hassle and hello to stress-free travel. Join our planning community and have access to a catalog of guides that cover every aspect of Walt Disney World in an organized manner. Save time and money with Magic Made Easy!

Next Steps…

magic made easy planning community and course

Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming and confusing. But don't worry, my community and catalog of guides is here to help! It includes a series of videos, PDFs, blog posts, monthly live video calls, and a community forum to assist you in planning a perfect trip for your family. We guide you through every step of the planning process, taking away the stress and bringing the joy of creating a well-curated itinerary that works for you. Our goal is to help you navigate through Disney days smoothly and realistically without missing a single step. Let us simplify Disney for you and do the work!

Planning blog tab

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As a creator, I would appreciate your support. You can do this by shopping through my affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, I receive a small commission on the sale. Although it may only be pennies, they add up over time and are greatly appreciated. I love spending time creating and curating tips and tricks that will help you have the best Disney vacation possible.