2025 Disney World Vacation Planning Guide

So you’re thinking about a trip to Disney World … ouch, that intro is kind of a cliche, huh? But, it’s what we’re here to talk about today. When should you go? Where should you stay? How much will it cost? How do you even get started?!?!

This Disney World planning guide will help guide you through the choices and the timeline for these key decisions. We’ve kept things brief here, but deeper dive articles are linked for several questions. Keep in mind that you can plan a Disney World trip on a shorter timeline than we’ve shown here. You just might find that some of your options are a bit more limited.

First Things First: Know Thyself

How much planning do you need? That partly depends on you. Some people can go anywhere and never be disappointed by their experience. Everything is an adventure. Missed out on seeing the Vatican because you didn’t buy tickets in advance? Oh well, you’ll be back (maybe), and you still had a great time in the trattorias eating delicious Italian food.

Is that you and your travel party? Good news: you can have a terrific vacation at Disney World without a plan. Read this article: How to Have a Great Vacation at Disney World Without a Plan. Then come back here and skim for topics where you’d like a little more detail.

If that’s not you, then you’ll want to work out who is going to take the lead in planning and getting questions answered; the goal is to find a balance between “too many cooks” and “how come you never asked me”? If you’re going with a large group, here are some things to think about: Disney World With Friends or Extended Family: Magical or Mistake?

Is Disney World right for you?

As much as I love Disney World, some people just aren’t into it. (Some of those people are my friends and family – and yes, I still love them.) If you’ve only ever been to a local amusement park, you’ll find that Disney World is pretty different. The rides and entertainment are diverse, and there’s a world of activities beyond the parks. If our Disney World Attractions by Type and Technology rundown leaves you cold, you may want to think about some ideas from 101 Things to Do Near Disney World Without Going into a Park. Or you may decide that a Disney World vacation might not be for you.

7+ Months Before Your Disney World Trip

You’ll start here even if you have six months or less to plan. But if you’re far enough out from your trip, a great way to learn about Disney World is to spend a few minutes each day reading this very blog. On Fridays, Disney in a Minute covers all sorts of Disney lingo and basics. On Thursdays, Bob’s Attractions in Five series gives a feel for individual rides and lands. And you may want to consider a TouringPlans subscription: Five Reasons You Need a TouringPlans Subscription.

1. Establish a budget

Start by taking a look at The Cost of a Disney World Vacation in 2025. That article gives base estimates for your stay, including hotel, tickets, and dining. It will give you a basic idea of how much it might cost to get the vacation you want, and where you might need to make tradeoffs.

2. Decide where to stay

One of those tradeoffs might include deciding to stay off-site. Even if you need to soak up the cost of a rental car and theme park parking fees, you can realize considerable savings by

• Paying less for your room – it won’t have that Disney theming, but hotel rooms offsite can cost quite a bit less for the same amenities
• Using that car to eat at non-Disney restaurants in the surrounding area, which are often cheaper
• Getting lodging with a kitchen and cutting food costs by preparing your own

If you’re planning to stay in a Disney World hotel, start by making a first cut at which hotel tier you’ll be shooting for. (Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Villa: What’s the Difference Between Disney World Resort Categories?). And, you’ll want to give a quick skim at Four Ways to Book a Disney World Vacation; how you choose to book can make a big difference in the cost of what you get.

Don’t forget to check for current discounts. Also helpful:

• Which Skyliner Resort Should You Stay At?
• Which Crescent Lake Resort Should You Pick?
• Which Monorail Resort is Right for You?

Want to be daring and stay at more than one resort? Disney World Split Stay: Add More Magic to Your Vacation can help you decide whether that’s a winning move or more hassle than it’s worth.

A big question you need to answer is whether or not you want to book a Disney World Vacation package. The package is a bundle that comes with room, tickets, and optionally, a Disney Dining Plan. (Should You Buy the Disney Dining Plan?) A big benefit of Vacation Packages is that they are easy to cancel, and you can only get the Dining Plan with a package. But the cheapest way to get the room and tickets you want might be to buy them separately. For instance, our Least Expensive Ticket Calculator can help you save hundreds on tickets by getting them from authorized resellers.

3. Decide when you should go

How you’ve decided to book might impact your decision; some choices, like renting Disney Vacation Club points, require a little more lead time. If you’re just looking to avoid the crowds, the TouringPlans crowd calendar can help you find the quietest times. You may also need to consider school schedules and personal events on your own calendar.

4. Decide how long to stay

The length of your vacation can have a big impact on your trip. You may be limited by the amount of leave that you have available. But if you only have time to dash through the parks, you might come home feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation.

One important thing to know is that the per-day cost of tickets goes down the longer you stay. And a longer trip can also give you breathing room for better strategies to conquer the lines that don’t involve paying to skip them, or for money-saving choices like having breakfast in your room.

Should You Book Your Disney World Vacation Right Now?

One thing to know: Disney releases room rates and Vacation Packages in June (or sometimes earlier) for the following calendar year. You can currently book through most of 2026.

If you’ve made all those decisions, you might be wondering if you should just go ahead with a reservation. That’s going to be all about the risk. If you book now, you might need to cancel. (See: FAQ: Canceling a Walt Disney World Vacation.) Or maybe you still need to save for a deposit. But if you wait, prices could go up, or the room you want might not be available.

For stays at a Disney World hotel, both the risk and the deposit will be minimized. Vacation Packages are fully refundable up to 30 days in advance, and only require a $200 deposit. Room-only reservations are fully refundable up to 8 days in advance, and you only need to put down the cost of one night up front. So for a Disney Resort Hotel, you should usually book immediately to lock in your rate and your space. You can always rebook later if a nice discount comes along.

If you’re not staying at a Disney World hotel, or you’re booking one through a third party such as Orbitz or Expedia, deposits and refund policies may be different. You’ll need to evaluate based on your specific circumstances.

If you’ve decided to rent Disney Vacation Club points, you may need a longer lead time to get a bespoke reservation in place or find the perfect confirmed deal for you. (Don’t Be Intimidated! How to Rent DVC Points) Again, those are reasons to start looking right now.

For tickets, aim to buy before any increases, which are usually sometime around February. Again, understand what’s refundable and what isn’t, and balance that against locking in your price. Unless it’s some kind of limited-time offer ticket, the risk you’re looking at here is that your ticket will cost more, not that you won’t be able to buy it.

Other Things to Consider

This is the time to think about whether you’ll want to buy travel insurance. And if you’re traveling from outside the United States, you should make sure to check your passports and apply for any visas you might need. Last but not least, you’ll want to set up your My Disney Experience account. (Disney in a Minute: What is My Disney Experience?) If you’re traveling with older kids — your partner does not count, I mean kids in the 13-18 age range — you’ll want to consider Should Your Kids Have Their Own My Disney Experience Accounts?

4 to 6 Months Before Your Trip

If you haven’t already, it’s time to book. Make your hotel reservations. Buy your tickets. Set up your rental car if you’re using one. And make plans for how you’re getting to Disney World, too. If you’re traveling within the US, the best time to book a flight is often from 1-3 months in advance (internationally, it’s 2-8 months). But a number of factors can affect whether or not that “average” recommendation applies to you. Even if you want to wait on booking, now is the time to start tracking fares.

If you’re going with a large group, or staying for long enough that you’ll have time for some extras, now could be the time to begin discussing what you want to do while you’re there. If you aren’t already, it’s a good time to start checking on the blog weekly or so. The Travel Beat Series on Saturdays covers minor news and all the week’s major headlines, and will keep you up to date for your upcoming visit.

2 to 3 Months Before Your Trip

Get it booked!

If you still don’t have a hotel reservation or tickets, now is probably the time to get that locked in. Also, flights, rental car arrangements, etc. Other things to reserve by the 2-month mark: strollers, as well as wheelchairs or ECVs. Not sure if you want to rent a car? Renting a Car for Your Walt Disney World Vacation: How Do I Decide?

Beginning 60 days before arrival, you’ll be able to check in online if you’re staying at a Disney World resort.

Get familiar with the tech

You could wait, but from here on, you’ll be using the My Disney Experience app more and more frequently. It’s not a bad time to get familiar with it. How To Use the My Disney Experience App Like a Pro (Even if You’re a Beginner). If you’re a TouringPlans subscriber, you’ll also want to download and browse around the Lines app so you know what’s there. Five Things You Can Do in LINES But Not The Disney World App.

Prepare to make dining and other reservations

If you’re planning to do any Table Service Dining or Extras such as Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, tours, and the like, you’ll want to finalize your plans for that before your booking window opens. If you’re staying onsite you can begin booking dining and extras at 60 days from your arrival date. (Disney in a Minute: What is the 60+10 Rule?) If you’re staying offsite, you can begin booking 60 days out.

You can book dining online or in the app. Dining reservations typically open online between 5:45 and 6:00 am on the morning that you’re eligible, and at 7 am if you’re calling at (407) 939-3463. Unless you’re looking for a hard-to-get reservation, any time that morning will usually net you everything you’re looking for. Hardest Dining Reservations at Disney World.

Learn about Disney World queues

You might be thinking: “What’s to learn about standing in line?” Well, you’ll want to know about Disney World’s upcharge options for skipping the lines. See: How to Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disney World: Step by Step. Newer attractions sometimes use a Virtual Queue (none currently are). If you have kids, you’ll want to know about Rider Switch, which lets parents trade off when their kids aren’t old enough for a particular ride. And if anyone in your party has issues waiting in a traditional line, you’ll want to learn about whether Disney’s Disability Access System is an answer for you.

Begin planning your park time

Now is a good time to draft some Touring Plans for attractions you’d like to see. If you’re planning to buy Lightning Lanes, take a look at The Best Time-Saving Picks for Lightning Lane Multi Pass to begin thinking about your advance selections. You might also want to know about Disney World Rope Drop; arriving early to the parks is a great way to beat the lines.

If you’re a subscriber, you can start with one of our Premium plans. Follow it as written, or customize it to suit you. Step-By-Step Guide: Make and Use a Touring Plan in the Lines App (Including Lightning Lane). Thinking about splitting up from your kids for a bit? Walt Disney World Alone: Is Your Child Ready?.

If your admission media requires it, you’ll want to make Park Pass reservations now. Regular date-based tickets don’t need reservations, so if your ticket has a start date you’re all clear here.

If you plan to apply for DAS, you can begin now. How to Apply for Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS)

Start a walking regimen

Most guests to Disney World clock in upwards of 5 miles a day, and as high as 12. Since you’ll be getting your 10,000 steps and then some, get in shape for it in advance.

45 Days Before Your Trip

It’s transportation time! If you’re driving to Orlando, have your car inspected and tuned up. If you’re flying, make sure you know how you’re getting from the airport to Disney World, and make any necessary arrangements. How to Get from the Airport to Walt Disney World.

If you’re a TouringPlans subscriber, get your automatic room request ready. We’ll send it at the 30-day mark. How to Send A Hotel Room Request to Disney – Automatically!

If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, now is also the time to order your pre-arrival MagicBands if you’d like. They’re no longer free with your Disney World hotel stay, and they’re not essential to your trip. But you can get a preorder discount if you plan to use them. You can order them up to 11 days in advance for shipping to your home, but do you really want to be biting your nails and wondering if they’ll arrive on time? If you’re not using MagicBands (or even if you are), get MagicMobile set up on your phone. Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s MagicMobile.

31 Days Before Your Trip

It’s almost here! But if something has gone awry, and you need to cancel a Disney World Vacation Package, make sure you do it now. You can only get a full refund if you cancel more than 30 days in advance.

If you’re staying onsite and will use an arrival-day water park benefit, now is a good time to review how to make the most of it. Tips for Visiting a Disney World Water Park on Check-in Day.

14 Days Before Your Trip

For grocery delivery, place your order now. Many services accept orders until 2-3 days in advance. But you may have a wider choice of delivery windows if you do it now, and it will be one less thing to do later. Grocery Delivery to Your Walt Disney World Resort.

Finalize any plans for hotel, travel, admission, reservations, etc. that you haven’t already locked in place.

Order Memory Maker if you’re planning on it. Again, you can do this up to 3 days in advance and still get the discount price, but why make yourself crazy in the last few days? FAQ Walt Disney World PhotoPass and Memory Maker.

Review recommendations for what to pack. We have articles on packing, no matter what your travel style, and there’s still plenty of time to pick up anything you need to buy.

7 Days Before Your Trip

Your Disney World vacation is only a week away!

If you’re buying Lightning Lane Passes and you’re staying onsite, today is your day to book. If you’re staying off-site, you can begin booking three days before your ticket start date.

• Check the weather forecast and finalize your packing list.
• Review your Touring Plans and make sure they still match what you want to do. Reoptimize to account for any changes in park hours, etc., since you made them.
• Fill in any last-minute dining reservations you were on the fence about. You can always cancel later (up to 2 hours in advance).
• Make sure travel arrangements to the airport are in place if you’re flying to Orlando.

24-48 Hours Before Your Trip

The homestretch! You’re almost there!

• Check into your flights online and confirm your departure time and gate.
• Consider printing travel or reservation info that you’ll need in transit. At the very least, take a screenshot – there’s no guarantee you’ll have WiFi or cell service if you’re trying to retrieve details from your email to clear up a problem.
• Finish packing.

Take a deep breath. You’re ready. Have a great vacation!

What are your favorite planning tips? Did we leave anything out? Let us know in the comments!