Big things are happening in the Happiest Place on Earth. That means now’s the time to dust off your mouse ears and start planning your next big Disney vacation.

“Planning” is the keyword. Walt Disney World is a huge and ever-changing network of resorts, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the options. Here’s a simple guide to planning your Disney World vacation in 2018 or 2019.

Why plan your Disney World vacation for 2018/2019?

If you visit Walt Disney World in 2018, you’ll be able to experience the new “Pandora: World of Avatar,” which opened in 2017. In Avatar Flight of Passage, you can fly on the back of a winged banshee on a 4D ride that people say is absolutely exhilarating. In the beautiful but more sedate Na’vi River Journey, you’ll cruise through a bioluminescent realm.    

The “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” land is opening in 2019, where guests can interact with their favorite characters in a trading port on the edge of space. In one ride, guests will get a chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon; in another, they’ll feel as if they’re inside a Star Destroyer as they join a battle between the Resistance and the First Order.¹ For an even more immersive experience, you can check into the new Star Wars hotel, where you’ll dress, eat and sleep like a resident of a galaxy far, far away. Even the windows will look onto outer space.²

More changes are coming as well, such as upgrades to Epcot that will add “Ratatouille”- and “Guardians of the Galaxy”-themed rides. In 2018, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is adding Toy Story Land, where “you’ll find yourself shrunk to the size of a toy to explore the world of Andy’s backyard with your favorite Toy Story characters, including Woody and Buzz,” Disney says.³ Another hotly anticipated attraction is the TRON LightCycle Power Run, but that’s not opening until 2021.⁴

Your step-by-step Disney World vacation planner

Step 1: Pick your dates. Do a little research, and you’ll find dozens of opinions about the best time to visit Disney World. The best rule of thumb is to avoid the times when everyone else is on vacation, including the summer months, Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday weeks, and spring break season. The best times to visit? September, October, January and February.⁵ Check your preferred dates carefully to see if they coincide with major events in Orlando or ride closures.

Step 2: Work out your budget. A four-night Walt Disney World vacation for a family of four can cost anywhere from $3,500 to nearly $10,000, depending on where you stay, when you go and how many parks you visit.⁶ Before you book your hotel and buy your tickets, decide how much you’re willing to spend. Remember that travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits is an absolute must because resort tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.⁷

Step 3: Plan out each day. First-time visitors often plan to visit all four Disney parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom — and maybe the two water parks too. You can do that, but you don’t have to. Instead, plan your Disney vacation around the experiences you absolutely don’t want to miss. Want to meet Cinderella and Elena of Avalor? Go on safari in the Animal Kingdom? Lose your breath on the Soarin’ ride? Organize your days to minimize the time you spend in line or in transit.

Step 4: Book your lodging. You have several options here. You can go full Disney and stay at one of the on-site Disney Resort hotels, which range from basic “value” hotels to luxurious suites and villas. (A Magic Your Way Vacation Package includes resort lodging and park tickets, too.) Or, you can stay off-site at an Orlando hotel. While off-site hotels often offer nicer amenities for your money, Disney insiders say you can save a lot by staying in the park.⁸ Because transportation is included, you don’t have to rent a car (or get rental car insurance) or even catch a cab from the airport. Disney also extends the operating hours for select attractions during Extra Magic Hours, which are offered only to resort hotel guests.     

What if you want to reserve a room in the Star Wars hotel? Disney hasn’t released the details yet, but past experience suggests people can begin reserving rooms 499 days before the hotel opens, the Dad’s Guide to WDW says, either through a travel agent or by calling Disney. You’ll probably be able to book a 2019 Disney World vacation package beginning in July 2018.

Step 5: Buy your tickets. It seems so simple, but buying Disney tickets requires a strategy. Here’s what you need to know:

• Authorized Disney ticket resellers can save you money, but the key word is authorized. Tickets purchased on eBay or online classified sites are likely to be fraudulent.
• Multiple-day tickets save you money, too. At 2017 prices, the daily price per person for a 9-day pass was less than half the cost for a two-day pass.
• Park Hopper tickets let you visit multiple parks in one day. That’s great for energetic adults and older kids, but not so great for families with small children.
• FastPass+, a service included in the ticket price, lets you avoid lines by reserving access to certain rides and experiences. For the most popular rides, it’s smart to make your reservations before you enter the park.
• MagicBands are radio-frequency wristbands for annual pass holders and Disney Resort hotel guests. MagicBands serve as tickets and room keys and allow you to purchase things inside the parks.

Step 6: Plan your transportation to Orlando. Fly, drive or take the train? Dozens of airlines serve Orlando International Airport, so shop around for the best price. If you live in the Washington, D.C. area, you can take your family (and your car) on the Auto Train, which travels from Lorton, Va. to Sanford, Fla. daily.

Step 7: Protect your Disney vacation with travel insurance. The worst-case scenario: You drop thousands on airline tickets, hotels, and Disney park tickets, and at the last minute you have to cancel the trip because your youngest child falls seriously ill. Travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits can save your vacation investment by reimbursing you for prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs when you must cancel your trip for a covered reason.

Then, you can reschedule your Disney vacation for another time! Mark 2021 on your calendar — that year, Walt Disney World will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in spectacular style.

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