Planning For Walt Disney World: The Easy Way
What are your top 3 recommendations for parents taking their kids to Disney for the first time?
So many people have visions of what they want the trip to be and how special they want to make this for their family. And when I read that over 20% of people regret their Disney trip, I wasn’t surprised. My advice is to set realistic expectations before you go, of how much you will do or “cross off your list” while you’re on vacation. When your expectations are too high, you end up feeling disappointed. My second recommendation would be to make sure you plan for downtime, whether it’s spending time at the pool, a day spent outside the parks, or a morning when you don’t have to set an alarm. Everyone will appreciate the breaks, and having some time to relax makes the trip less stressful. And my last piece of advice for kids under 8—BRING THE STROLLER. Even if your kid doesn’t use a stroller at home, they’re going to need a place to sit. It’s better to bring the stroller and not need it than the other way around. (Editor’s note: thank you to Silvercross for sharing their Jet Double Travel Stroller with us which made navigating Disney a breeze with it’s super lightweight design, UPF50+ extendeable hood, magnetic Genius buckle, double snack cup holders, compact, easy to fold design- and of course, Disney approved)
Many people budget for Disney. What are some money-saving tips?
My favorite way to save money is by renting DVC (Disney Vacation Club) points. This is how we stay at nicer “deluxe” resorts for much less than booking through Disney’s website, and you don’t have to be a DVC member to do it. You simply visit the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) site, put in the dates you want to go, and it shows all the options. There are also lots of small ways to save money, like visiting in September or January, which are less crowded times, or skipping the Park Hopper tickets and sticking to a single park each day, but we truly save thousands this way.
What tips should families keep in mind when finding a place to stay at Disney?
Think of the location above all else. Before your budget, before the pools, before the food. Look at the map to get your bearings on how close your resort is to the parks, especially the parks you’re planning on visiting the most. For example, it doesn’t make sense to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge when you’re only planning on visiting Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. From there, become familiar with how you’re getting there, either by car, walking, the monorail, a boat, or the Skyliner and how long it will take to get to each place.
Is a Disney Dining Plan worth it? Also, how do you recommend families handle dining reservations?
Like a lot of Disney-related questions, the answer is— it depends! But in 2026, there is a promotion where “Kids Eat Free” and get a free dining plan with your resort stay. If you have more than one kid between 3 and 9, it will more than likely save you money. A lot of my friends use it because it makes their food feel pre-paid, like an all-inclusive. For the actual dining reservations, make sure you have your top spots picked out (pro tip: you can look at the menus ahead of time on the Disney World app to see what you jive with) 60 days before your check-in. You can start making reservations at 6 AM EST, and you definitely should, especially for the hard-to-get character meals like Topolino’s Terrace (which is one of my favorites).
What is your top Disney travel hack?
To join my planning community! I know that most moms are trying to piece together their trips from social media and other online sources, which can be great, but you do not need more random “must-dos” thrown at you. You need someone to tell you what matters for your family, what to skip, and what order to do things in. That’s exactly why I created Laid-Back Magic, my planning community for moms who want the best Disney World trip but still feel laid-back. It has tools that make it easy to plan and navigate the trip, so you spend more time enjoying it and less time worrying about the details.
To learn more about Dana Stanley and Somewhere Worthwhile, visit her website, Instagram, Podcast, and Laid-Back Magic website.
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through our links.
