Questions to Consider When Planning a Disney Trip

I've been having such fun serving my current clients that the blog has been a little neglected lately. Forgive me!  I know I've said it a hundred times, but one of my favorite aspects of my vacation planning role is the opportunity it gives me to help families create custom trips.  I love talking through the wishes & desires of each specific family and then offering suggestions, selecting FastPasses, & making dining reservations that are tailored to that family's dreams (and budget!), and I never grow tired of answering questions and talking through options with guests.  More often than not, I actually feel a sense of loss once each family travels and our communication becomes significantly less than what it was during the planning process.  Call me crazy, but I love it! :)

That being said, I thought I'd share a few of my most essential Disney-related planning questions here on the blog tonight.  In case you're wondering, these are the types of things I help clients work through as part of the quote-building and vacation-booking process.  Whether you're looking to book through a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations (which, by the way, should always be a completely free service) or attempt to handle the planning on your own, below are some important things to consider:

• What is your budget?  (I'm a huge fan of a budget, by the way!)
• It's no secret Disney World is expensive.  There are so many options, though, that really allow for flexible pricing, as well as a variety of ways to save.
• What time of year do you want to visit? 
• Is your schedule flexible?  Do you want to avoid crowds & heat or do you literally have one week that will work for your family this year?  Are you interested in seeing the holiday decorations?  Do you want to travel when it's cheapest?  It's important to prioritize your wants/needs when picking travel dates!
• Where do you want to stay?  
• Do you want to stay "on" or "off" property?  In a value, moderate, or deluxe resort? Do you know the benefits of staying at a Disney hotel?  There is so much to consider here!
• Which parks would you like to visit?
• Did you know that not all characters can be found in every park?  Or that some parks have more shows than rides?  Or that Epcot might actually appeal more to your family than Animal Kingdom?  Have you ever thought about visiting Disney's water parks? Park details can be incredibly overwhelming; it helps to have an idea of what to expect at each place!
• Are you interested in purchasing a dining plan?
• Is a dining plan the best use of your family's money?  Are you interested in dining with characters?  Do you know where to dine with the characters you'd like meet?  Did you know you can bring your own food & drinks into the parks?  How much food do you actually need/want each day?  Disney's food & dining options are vast--and delicious--and it can definitely help to bounce some ideas around!
• What rumors/myths (positive or negative) do you need to verify before you move forward?
• Let's be honest: everyone, everywhere has an opinion about how to "do Disney."  Some information you'll find via google is accurate, some is not.  Some will work for your family, some won't.  It's important to know your options, but to not allow yourself to get overwhelmed in the process, which can be tough!!

I don't want to leave you hanging, so if you're interested in a Disney trip, be sure to check back soon! I'll be blogging more on each of these topics (with details!) over the next few weeks (or even months!). If you have specific questions, please don't hesitate to email me at heather@mmadventures.net or check out my Facebook page for more info!  I'd love to help your family plan a fantastic vacation!!