Paved walkway along a beach to the right. On the left, Polynesian style hotel buildings with palm trees against a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Planning Your Trip

Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida can be expensive and overwhelming. . . . but it doesn’t have to be. With the right amount of preparation and some helpful tips, planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be a breeze!

Know Before You Go

How To Use Disney World’s Park Pass Reservation System - If you’re planning to visit Walt Disney World you’ll need to make a Park Pass Reservation. This tells Disney which park you intend to visit on what day. The system is somewhat easy to use, but we’re going over it step by step here today.

What Are MagicBands And Are They Worth It? - You’ve probably heard about Disney’s MagicBand and MagicBand+ during your vacation planning process. In this post, we’re talking about what MagicBands are and whether or not they’re worth the additional fee.

Mailing Stuff To Walt Disney World - Did you know that you can mail boxes to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel? This is a simple way to cut down on luggage and still get your bulky necessities to Walt Disney World.

5 Tips For Sending Packages To Your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel - In previous posts we’ve talked about how you can, in fact, send packages to your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Today, we’re covering some of the things you need to know.

Wheelchairs and ECVs at Walt Disney World - If you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World with a wheelchair or ECV to get around. There's things you're going to want to know.

2 Things You Need To Do Before Your Visit - If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World there are a few things you’ll want to do before you arrive to ensure that you have the best trip ever without being completely exhausted and/or dehydrated. We’re talking about 2 of them today!

This is a MUST HAVE Water Bottle For Disney World - If you’re planning to visit Walt Disney World and don’t want to spend money on bottled water, this water bottle is a must have! It filters water and eliminates that distinct Florida water taste!

5 Things You Should Bring To Disney - Having the stuff you need when traveling is one of the keys to having a great trip. Having done this a few times, and made plenty of mistakes, here are 5 of the things we think you should consider bringing to Walt Disney World.

Questionable Fashion Trends - Some of the fashion you see at the parks might have you raise an eyebrow, but there are some practical reasons for those very trends. Let’s talk about what they are and whether or not they are right for you during your next trip.

How to Transfer Luggage - If your doing a split stay at a Walt Disney World Resort here’s what your need to know about transferring your luggage.

Preventing A Meltdown At Disney - Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort can be overwhelming! It’s hot, crowded, HUGE and there’s a lot going on at any given moment. That makes it a breeding ground for meltdowns. While you can’t completely avoid meltdowns, they happen sometimes regardless, there are a few things you can do to try and prevent them.

Boredom Busters - There’s a lot to do at Walt Disney World, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t downtime. Yup! The opportunity for kids of all ages to become bored and restless does, in fact, present itself during Walt Disney World vacations. That being the case, we have a few affordable and easy to pack suggestions that can keep everyone entertained during some of that downtime on your Disney vacation.

Saving Money & Budgeting

Pros & Cons Of Paying With Gift Cards - This is everything you need to know about paying with gift cards at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Pros & Cons Of Carrying Cash - For many guests visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, cash is a great budgeting tool. However, carrying cash isn’t as easy as it once was when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. Here are some things you need to know.

How To Save 5% On Your ENTIRE Vacation - Disney World vacations can be expensive, but there are a lot of great ways to save money! In this post we’re talking about one that’s so easy. . . there’s no way you want to skip this!

How Much Money Should I Bring To Disney World - Let’s talk budget! Everyone and every vacation is different, so let’s talk about some basic fundamentals that can help

Saving Money For Your Disney Trip - Taking a vacation to the most magical place on earth can be expensive, but there are always ways to save a little bit of money here and there to make a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort [or anywhere really] possible for you and your family. Here are some of the ways we’ve saved money in the past that you might find useful.

How To Save On Disney Stuff - One of the best ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation is to make purchases in advance. Whether it’s from various retailers throughout the country or even shopDisney! Here are some great places to get unique and fun Disney merchandise on a budget prior to arriving at Walt Disney World.

Where To Stay

The Cost Of Staying On Property vs Off Property - One of the first decisions you need to make when planning a Walt Disney World vacation is whether to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel or not. Many people think it’s more affordable to stay off property, but that’s not always the case. We’re going to crunch the numbers here in this post.

Is Staying On Property Worth It? - When it comes to finding a place to stay, there are a lot of options to choose from in the Walt Disney World area. Of course, the question on everyone’s mind is often whether or not it’s worth staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel versus one of the many options outside Disney’s gates.

Is Early Entry & Extended Hours Worth Staying On Property? - Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels have benefits that include Early Theme Park Entry and, for some guests, Extended Theme Park Hours. The question is, are those benefits worth staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels?

What Is A Split Stay & Why Would You Do It - You may have heard people discussing something called a “split stay”. This is when you stay at 2 different hotels during your Walt Disney World vacation. We’ll discuss what it means and why you might consider it in today’s post.

Picking The Right Walt Disney World Resort - It’s important to choose the right resort for you and your family when visiting Walt Disney World. This is our guide for starting that process.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort - Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a moderate resort that transports guests to the Caribbean. Not only is this resort a great option because of its amenities, it’s also along the Disney Skyliner Route!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Room Review - Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a value resort that transports guests into iconic scenes from Disney and Pixar animated features. Located along the Disney Skyliner, this resort is in an ideal location and has rooms that are ideal for large families.

Drury Plaza Hotel Disney Springs Area - Located in the Disney Springs Area, Drury Plaza Hotel is a new hotel a great location and unbeatable amenities.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review - One of the first resorts to open at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village is a must visit for many. This resort transports you to the tropics and is a unique experience your family won’t soon forget.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is a Disney Vacation Club Resort that transports guests to Saratoga Springs New York.

Bryan’s Spanish Cove [Off-Property] - Bryan’s Spanish Cove is a resort nearby Walt Disney World with glowing reviews and affordable accommodations. While it is small, there are a great deal of things to do on nearby Lake Bryan which are accessible to guests during their stay.

Is Bryan’s Spanish Cove A DVC Alternative - Many people like the idea of staying in a DVC Villa because of its size, but could Bryan’s Spanish Cove be an alternative for a fraction of the price? In this post we’ll explore that topic.

Pros & Cons Of Condo/Villa Style Accommodations - There are a lot of different options to choose from when it comes to picking a hotel or resort when visiting Central Florida and Walt Disney World. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about renting a condo or villa.

DVC Point Rentals - You’ve probably heard about the option of saving TONS of money by renting Disney Vacation Club Points. . . . but is that a good deal? Let’s talk about it and get into the things we think you need to know before going this route.

Booking Cheap Hotels: Navigating Third-Party Websites - Booking hotels through third-party websites can be tempting; especially with the perks that they offer. Is it the way to go though? Let’s talk about what you need to know and how to navigate these websites.

Transportation

Getting Around The Walt Disney World Resort - Covering 43 square miles, the Walt Disney World Resort is the size of a city. That being the case, you’re going to need a little bit of help getting around once you arrive. Disney’s got you covered! There’s an entire transportation system at Walt Disney World that helps guests get around with ease at no additional cost.

Taking A Rideshare To Magic Kingdom - If you’re planning on taking a rideshare to Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, there’s some very important information you need to be aware of. We’re talking all about it here today.

Walt Disney World Transportation Pocket Guide - Disney Transportation options take guests all around the Walt Disney World Resort, but there are more ways to use the transportation system to get more places than you might think. We’ve created a pocket guide for you to help make your time at Walt Disney World taking the Disney Transportation options go as smooth as possible.

Disney Skyliner - What You Need To Know - The Disney Skyliner is the newest piece of Disney transportation at the Walt Disney World Resort. Here are some of the things we think you need to know if you’re planning on using this new mode of transportation to get around.

Is Driving To Disney Right For You? - Driving to Disney isn’t for everyone. It takes a lot of work and there are a lot of things to consider. Having done it a few times ourselves, we thought that this would be a great topic to discuss.

Taking A Train To Disney & Why I Won’t Do It - There are a lot of ways to get from wherever you are to the Walt Disney World Resort. One of the lesser discussed options is taking a train, which isn’t something I’ve done before. Nevertheless, let’s discuss this option and some of my thoughts.