#TravelTuesday - Your First Trip to Walt Disney World, Part 1

Since many of my friends and family know that I love traveling to Walt Disney World, I get a lot of questions from first time visitors.  For first time guests, Walt Disney World vacation planning is overwhelming and I frequently get asked, "what do you recommend?"  There are so many pieces of your magical vacation puzzle to put together, it's simply too much to sum up in a few sentences.  With that in mind, I'm going to break down my best first time visitor advice in a few posts to help spread a little pixie dust to those of you planning your first vacation.

First things first, decide on your when to go and where to stay!

For most families, this process begins about a year prior to their big trip.  However, don't fret if you're throwing together a last minute Disney trip.  As I've shown, it can be done!  Regardless of how far away your trip is, deciding when and where to stay is usually the first step.  Walt Disney World has many great festivals and holiday celebrations throughout the year that add to the already fantastic attractions at the parks.  If you're looking for the least crowded times to travel, avoid major holiday breaks and summer as times that children are usually off school tend to drive up attendance numbers in the parks and wait times on the rides.

Sunset at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

When deciding where to stay, the first thing you need to know is that you have both "on property" on "off property" choices when staying in Orlando.  For first time visitors (and even the experienced Disney traveler), I highly recommend staying on property.  You get free transportation to and from Orlando International Airport, easy transportation to and from each theme park, extended park hours, advance FastPass+ reservations and so much more!  There are also over two dozen resort hotels to choose from in various price categories so that there is something for every budget.

There are some other options outside of the traditional vacation package booked through Walt Disney World.  There are several companies, such as David's Vacation Club Rentals, that will allow you to rent Disney Vacation Club points from members to stay at Deluxe Villa Resorts without the full price tag.  You could also consider staying off property where you will find some cheaper prices, but without the extra perks of staying inside the "Disney bubble."  Whichever option you choose, your family is well on it's way to planning a magical vacation!