We love knowing that families are purchasing pieces from our new Disney collection for their Disney vacations. It’s a big trip to think about. So to help you, we brought in an expert, Disney Travel Planner, Rachel Carl with Mickey Travels

Rachel knows all the best places to eat, to see, to stay and more close to Disney. And the best part….? Having her plan your trip is totally FREE. Check out a few key pointers Rachel shared with us on Planning a Disney Vacation for the family below. And be sure to check out her IG LIVE with us here!

TIMING

When you first sit down to plan your trip, the most important thing to consider is time of year. 

    1. Christmas and New Year’s are every family’s ideal months to head down to sunshine-y Florida. But it’s important to recognize that those are by far the busiest times of year at Disney. If you want to celebrate those holidays at the park you might want to consider an early December trip. The theme park is totally decked out for the holidays but you miss some of the craziness that comes later in the month. 
    2. Summertime is another very busy time because kids are off school. But the heat!. How do your kids do spending 8-10 hours out in the sun? 3. Disney is officially back in full swing after several years of more limited activities due to the pandemic.
    3. Disney is celebrating its50th anniversary for the next 18 months.
    4. The Food & Wine Festival at Epcot is back this year and started this July and goes through November 19, 2022.
    5. Halloween Party and BOO-Bash are going to be spook-tacular this year
    6. Christmas is expanding across all parks again! Due to the pandemic, the last few years, Disney has had to limit their celebrations for the holidays. But not this year! The holidays are back in full swing for 2022!

LODGING:

There are so many resorts to choose from, and ALL of them are great, each with their own unique features. 

    1. All resorts have fun activities for the kids such as movie nights and crafts, which is great because there is always an option for fun (if your kiddos can still keep their eyes open after the park all day!).
    2. All resorts have bus transportation, but only some have monorail access. Be sure to check with your resort and make sure you choose a place that works for your family’s transportation needs.
    3. If you are looking for something close to transportation, try the Grand Floridian, The Polynesian and Contemporary.
    4. Any hotels near the boardwalk will have you super close to the monorail which can take you straight to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
    5. If you want original Disney characters and songs around every corner, stay at Value Resorts, Pop Century or Art of Animation.
    6. My current favorite resort for toddlers? Beach Club! This resort has an amazing pool for little ones. The Florida sun can get hot, and it’s important for toddlers to find time to cool off and relax a little bit. So this has been a great option for us with a three-year-old on our hands.

AGE OF YOUR KIDDOS:

The best age to take your child to Disney is… ANY AGE!

    1. All parks are child friendly (of course). But all parks are also baby friendly.
    2. Each park offers several key areas/features to keep your little ones comfortable. Think: cribs at the resorts, kiddie meals, baby care centers, high chairs at all restaurants, padded changing areas, places to nurse, a cool place to take hot kids, and little shops with diapers, baby food, medicine and more.
    3. All kids under the age of three get into the parks totally free. And when I say free, I mean entry, food and drink — all free. This is a huge opportunity to save money.
    4. Babies love all the sensory aspects of the park. There is so much to see, hear and touch.
    5. There are 28 rides in Magic Kingdom alone with no height requirement!

PLANNING YOUR SCHEDULE

Booked your trip? Great! Now time to lock down a plan for a smooth and steady vacation.

  1. Once you book and you’re ready to travel, download the ‘My Disney Experience’ app. This provides you with park hours, entertainment times, room keys, magic band access, easy food ordering, reserved dining and more. It’s a one-stop shop for all the magic.
  2. Not in the mood for lines? Download the ‘Genie Plus’ app, aka: Disney’s new fast pass system. This helps you map out your day and gives you clues throughout the day about what rides have slower wait times and make sure you’re hitting all your highlights..


CONTACT ME:

How do you reach out about booking a trip with me?

    1. DM me on Instagram @runtodisney. You can book up to 499 days in advance.
    2. All it takes is a $200 deposit for a vacation package. By booking 499 days out, it helps with budgeting, too!
    3. Give me dates, who’s all coming and their ages, and we can go from there. I give options for Value packages all the way up to Deluxe options so you can decide how much you’d like to spend.


Excited to help you plan and answer any questions! Hope to talk to you soon!