"The Earth is the LORD's, and everything in it..."
Psalm 24:1
More joy, less overwhelm when it comes to Disney vacation planning for families
Planning a Disney vacation can feel exciting - and very overwhelming. Between choosing the best resort for your family, understanding ticket options, navigating dining plans & reservations, and park planning, there are a LOT of details and components to manage.
At Stay Well Travel Planning, I help busy families travel with confidence on their Disney trip with personalized guidance and support every step of the way.
Whether you're planning your very first Walt Disney World vacation or returning for another magical trip, I'm here to simplify the planning process and tailor a trip that matches your family's vision.
Who I help:
I specialize in helping:
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Families planning Disney vacations
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First-time Disney travelers
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Busy parents who want expert guidance
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Travelers looking to save time & money and reduce stress when planning their Disney vacation
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Families wanting personalized support instead of spending hours researching online
You don't have to figure everything out alone - I'm here to help guide you through the planning and booking process from start to finish.
My Complimentary Services Include:
Planning & Booking
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Personalized Disney resort recommendations
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Help choosing the right park ticket for your trip
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Magical extras & options recommendations
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Vacation package booking assistance
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Dining guidance and recommendations
Resources & Education
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Park planning support and information packets
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Tips to maximize your time and budget
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Assistance understanding the My Disney Experience (MDE) app
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Transportation guidance
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Assistance booking advanced dining reservations
Timelines
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60 days out: advanced dining reservations, specialty reservations
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30 day out: final payment due
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7 days out: select Lightning Lane passes if staying at a Disney resort
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3 days out: select Lightning Lane passes if staying off property
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Ongoing support before and during your trip
Frequently Asked Questions:
Disney Vacation Planning
When is the best time to visit Disney World?
The best time to visit Disney World depends on your family, your schedule, & your priorities. For lower crowds and better prices, most families prefer mid-January, early February, and late August. Guests looking for cooler weather and seasonal events often choose fall and early winter. Holiday weeks, school breaks, and early summer typically bring the largest crowds and highest prices.
I help clients choose travel dates based on budget, crowd levels, weather, school schedules, and special events during their stay.
How many days do you need for Disney World?
Most families need 4-6 days to experience all 4 Disney parks comfortably. Shorter trips can still be enjoyable, but they often require more strategic planning.
A typical first-time itinerary includes:
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1 day at Magic Kingdom
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1 day at Epcot
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1 day at Hollywood Studios
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1 day at Animal Kingdom
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an optional rest/resort day, typically in the middle of the stay
How much does a Disney World vacation cost?
Disney World vacations vary widely depending on travel dates, resort choice, ticket length & type, family or group size, and dining preferences. A moderate Disney vacation for a family of 4 can range from $4000-$8000, including resort stay, tickets, meals, and a few other magical features.
During the planning process, I help my clients:
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build realistic budgets
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compare resort cptions
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maximize promotions
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avoid unnecessary expenses
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prioritize what matters most on their vacation
Is it better to stay at a Disney resort or off property?
Staying at a Disney resort offers convenience, early Park entry, complimentary transportation throughout the day, and of course, immersive theming, among other things.
Off property hotels may offer larger rooms, lower rates, or free breakfast, but often charge daily parking fees, have shuttles that run on sporadic schedules, with longer commute times that may include stopping at other hotels in the area.
Popular Disney resort benefits include:
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Disney transportation that runs from an hour before park open to an hour after close
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Early theme park entry
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Proximity to parks
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Lightning Lane selection at 7 days prior to check-in (vs 3 days if staying off property)
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A variety of restaurants & food courts that accept Disney dining plans
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Easier to take mid-day breaks
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Simplified travel logistics - able to link your resort stay in the My Disney Experience app
I help clients to compare both options to determine the best fit for their family, travel style & goals for their particular trip.
What is Lightning Lane and is it worth it?
Lightning Lane (LL) passes are Disney's "skip the line" system that allows guests to reserve Lightning Lane return times for select attractions. It can save several hours of waiting, especially during busy seasons.
The 3 types of LL passes are:
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LL Single Pass - used for the most in-demand attractions; can purchase up to 2 daily
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LL Multi Pass - choose up to 3 attractions & arrival windows to begin with per park, per day. You can select more as you use them, as long as availability allows
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Premier Pass - includes a one-time entry into each LL experience in one park on one day
The can be purchased 7 days prior to your check-in if you're staying at a Disney resort, and 3 days prior to your first ticketed day if staying anywhere else.
Whether it's worth it for you & your family depends on crowd levels, time of year, your park plans, which rides matter most to you, and what your goals for your Disney trip are. This is a topic that I discuss throroughly with my clients during the planning process.
When should I book Disney dining reservations?
Advanced dining reservations (ADRs) open up 60 days before your check-in date. The most popular restaurants and character meals typically book quickly, especially during the holidays and school breaks. For those staying at a Disney resort, you may make reservations all at one time for your length of stay (up to 10 days from check-in.) Other guests may make them 60 days in advance. The booking window for dining reservations typically opens up at 6:00am ET.
Highly requested reservations include:
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Character meals
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Themed restaurants
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Signature dining
I assist clients with dining recommendations, reservation strategies, and reservation assistance as needed.
What are the best Disney resorts for families?
This is such an individual question! It really depends on your family size, personality/travel style, budget, room size & requirements, transportation preferences, desired atmosphere, goals for the trip, and more.
What works for one trip with one set of goals may not work for a future trip with different trip goals.
Families may choose:
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Value resorts for affordability
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Moderate resorts for balance between affordability and amenities
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Deluxe Resorts for convenience and amenities
Popular family-friendly options include resorts near the Skyliner, Monorail, or Magic Kingdom. I take my clients' various preferences into consideration when making resort recommendations for their stay.
How can I avoid long lines at Disney World?
Avoiding long wait times requires a combination of timing and planning (and some luck). I always tell my clients that it is Disney, so long wait times should be expected - especially during their busiest times of year, including the holidays and school breaks.
Various time-saving strategies include:
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Utilizing Early Park Entry if staying at a Disney resort
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Visiting less crowded parks on specific days
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Prioritizing high-demand attractions early ("rope drop") or by using Lightning Lane passes
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Using the My Disney Experience app to watch wait times throughout the parks
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Monitoring crowd calendars to help plan your park schedule
What should I pack for a Disney World vacation?
Comfort and preparation make a huge difference at Disney World!!
Essential items typically include:
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a few pairs of comfortable walking shoes
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portable phone chargers
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reusable water bottles/collapsible cups
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ponchos, rain jackets, shoe covers (especially during the rainy season which would be all summer)
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cooling towels or personal fans
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sunscreen
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park bags or backpacks
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Electrolyte packets (especially in the summer)
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Patience... lots of patience
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snacks & drinks
Florida weather can change quickly, so light layers, rain protection, and an extra clothes are always recommended.
Should I use a travel advisor to help plan my Disney trip? If so, why?
Planning a Disney vacation - especially your first one - can become overwhelming very quickly. You're trying to make the best decisions (& no mistakes) when it comes to resort options, ticket types, dining plans & reservations, magical extras, time of year, your budget and more. Add to that policy changes & updates as well as a variety of discounts & promotions that are released every few months, and suddenly you need a detailed spreadsheet to help keep everything straight.
As a travel advisor that specializes in planning & booking Disney vacations, I help my clients:
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choose the right resort and ticket options that fit their needs, style and budget
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develop a schedule for the best parks to visit each day
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monitor promotions to save money (when applicable)
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prepare for the parks using a variety of resources & information packets
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avoid common mistakes
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simplify planning
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reduce stress
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maximize vacation value
My goal is to help families focus on what's truly important on their Disney vacation, cut through all of the noise of helpful and not-so-helpful (wrong) tips on the internet, spend less time researching,and more time enjoying their vacation.
Not all travel advisors are created equal, so take the time to talk with them to find out about their communication style, resources, experience, and get a feel for if they'd be a good fit to work with you and your family.
