Favorite Resources to Plan a Disney Vacation

Updated October 12, 2020

We're tackling how to plan a Disney vacation, with parents sharing their favorite Disney blogs, podcasts, planning websites and books to consult before a family trip. When you're going to Disney World, there are many guides that will help unravel the mysteries of fast passes, dining plans, wait times and crowd calendars. It's hard to know where to focus! This Disney trip planning roundup collects parent tips to point you toward the most helpful and useful resources for your family, so you can enjoy the process and make the most of your epic family trip!

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disneydining.com

Disney Dining

Tim Ponisciak said: There are dozens and dozens of options for eating at Disney World. The parks have quick service and table service options, and some are quite unique (the Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom is a personal favorite). This unofficial Disney Dining fan site provides a lot of great insider information about the restaurants as well as many Buzzfeed style lists to help you make some quick decisions!

disneyparksmomspanel.disney.go.com

Disney Parks Moms Panel

Tim Ponisciak said: The Disney Parks Moms Panel is a great resource as Disney has gone out of its way to create a site that features Moms (and some Dads) who can talk about their Disney experiences from a variety of perspectives. Some of the panelists have kids in high school, others have toddlers. They are also all very responsive, answering questions from anyone looking for advice about planning a Disney trip!

disneyworld.disney.go.com

Play Disney Parks App

Lisa R said: Unlock a whole new dimension of Disney with this magical app full of special games that are only available while standing in specific areas of the parks! Most of the games are designed to be played while waiting in line for specific rides, and include multi-person play options that turn waiting into a fun bonding experience. Kids can also unlock special achievements and uncover hidden features in the park through the app. Not at the parks yet? Use the app to get in the mood for your trip with a curated playlist and Disney trivia. The app is very large, so be sure to download in advance.

disneyworld.disney.go.com

Disney Experience Account & App

Lisa R said: The minute you book your ticket, be sure to create a Disney Experience account and download the corresponding app. Here you can see all of your Disney reservations in one place, book special experiences, and reserve your FastPass+ tickets (which let you skip the line for up to three rides for FREE) up to 30 days in advance. While in the park, the app includes a map with wait times for all the rides, show schedules & more. You can also use the app to view and purchase your Memory Maker photos (pics taken by Disney photographers) after your visit.