Planning a Disney Vacation [May 2023]

Are you considering planning a trip to Disney World? If you are, you’re not alone. Although COVID-19 has changed things, around 58 million people visit the park each year, more than any other amusement park.

However, many people might not be sure how to plan a Disney vacation. Looking at everything and trying to understand it all can be overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips for visiting Disney World. So what do you need to know?

Keep reading to learn everything you’ll want to consider when planning a Disney family vacation.

Choose a Time to Visit

The time you choose to visit Disney will greatly impact your overall experience. Your travel time affects everything from the crowds to room rates, so make sure to choose carefully.

For the most part, the best times to visit are when most kids are in school. You’ll have smaller crowds, as well as cheaper room rates.

Vacation periods like Christmas and summer tend to feature stereotypically large crowds. Expect to pay more for hotels during this time, as well.

Decide How Long You Want to Be There

Most people travelling to Disney World stay there for around four to five days. The park has four parks, so this gives you a day at each one. If you opt for five days, you’ll get an extra day at your favourite park.

This schedule also works well for most adults and children. You can fit four or five days into a normal work or school week, then use the weekend to get to and from the park.

Find a Place to Stay

Finding a place to stay at Disney can be one of the hardest decisions to make. This is because the Park has so many great accommodations.

Are you sad that Orlando isn’t located on the coast? Stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Interested in seeing exotic animals? Stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

You can even consider becoming a part of the Disney Vacation Club. Check out this guide to learn about renting versus buying DVC.

Understand the Different Parks

While Orlando is great, people don’t go there to see the city—they go there to see the parks. At Disney World, you have four unique and amazing parks to explore:

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is the main park, and it’s the one that people most often associate with Disney. The central landmark is Cinderella’s Castle; around it, you’ll find different park sections, or “lands”. These include:

• Main Street the USA
• Adventureland
• Frontierland
• Fantasy Land
• Liberty Square
• Tomorrow Land

From rollercoasters like Space Mountain to slower rides like It’s a Small World, the park is great for children and adults of all ages. Crowds and lines can be large, but they usually move along quickly.

Epcot

If you’re into science and learning, then Epcot is the park you’ll want to spend the most time in. It has two different areas, World Showcase and Future World.

World Showcase houses eleven different nations from around the world. You’ll find authentic food, cultural sites, architecture, and even language.

Future World has a series of pavilions that commemorate different human achievements.

Although kids will still enjoy it, many of the attractions are more “grown-up” in nature. For example, you’ll find a Food and Wine Festival in the fall months of September, October, and November.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Known as Disney-MGM Studios in the past, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about television and film. It allows visitors to immerse themselves in some of the most famous and iconic moments from Hollywood history.

It’s also home to some of the most exciting and adrenaline-inducing rides. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drops users 13 stories down in an elevator, while the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster takes you to 60 mph in a matter of seconds.

Some of the latest additions to the park include Star Wars-themed rides and exhibits. If you or anyone in your family is a fan of Darth Vader, Chewbacca, or any other Star Wars characters, be prepared to spend a good chunk of time there.

Animal Kingdom

If anyone in your group loves animals, then Animal Kingdom will be a great place to visit.

Kilimanjaro Safaris takes riders on a ride past zebras, giraffes, lions, and many other exotic animals. If you’re more interested in animals of the past, then the Dinosaur ride takes you on a car ride past realistic (and terrifying) dinosaurs.

There are also plenty of great and exhilarating rides, like Expedition Everest.

How to Get There

Walt Disney World is in Central Florida, in the city of Orlando. If you end up flying into the state like most visitors, you can take a taxi, rent a car, or hop on Disney’s Magical Express to take you to a Disney-owned resort.

If you are staying at one of the Disney resorts, we recommend using the bus. It’s free!

If you’re driving through Florida to the park, you’ll want to use Interstate 4. This is the most direct route. If you’re coming from the south from Miami or another southern point, you can use the Florida Turnpike.

Wondering How to Plan a Disney Vacation? This Guide Should Help

If you’ve never been to Disney, planning a trip there is worth planning. From amazing rides to cultural exhibits and wild animals, there’s so much to see and do.

Make sure to use this guide as a resource to help you plan your Disney family vacation. Have fun, and stay safe!

Do you now better understand how to plan a Disney vacation? If you do, make sure to check out some of our other articles for more helpful guides and tips.