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How to Start Planning a Disney World Trip

You’ve decided to travel to Disney World! That’s so exciting! But, how do you start planning your Disney World Trip?

You’ve determined when you’d like to go to Disney World, and if not be sure to grab our When to Go to Disney World Guide! It’s 3 Simple Steps to help you determine your best time to travel to Disney World.

Now what? In this Blog we’re taking you through how to start planning a Disney World Trip.

Planning effectively isn’t about the perfect schedule or which park to visit on which day, it’s about looking at what’s important to your travel party and creating a plan that works for you.

Learn how to start planning your Disney World Trip | The first steps to plan your Disney World Trip | Disney World Trip Planning

After selecting your travel dates, it can seem overwhelming to plan all the things. Instead of spiraling down a path of Disney Genie, Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) and schedules, take a deep breath and set some intentions for your trip.

What are intention?

An Intention is a thing intended; an aim or a plan. It’s quite simply, a thing you want to achieve. Intentions are a want or desire we wish to act on or plan for. When we set an intention, we set plans with specific actions to achieve that desire. When you set an intention, you create the groundwork for the plan ahead, whether it be for the day or a trip to Disney World.

Part of the FMPC Three Pillar System

Without setting intentions our plans have no meaning and our budget has no barriers or direction.  Planning without intentions is like closing your eyes and pointing at a map to decide your next trip.  Learn how to set intentions with our Intention Setting Worksheets.

How To Start Planning Your Disney World Trip

After setting your intentions and being clear on the non-negotiable things you want to accomplish on your trip, it’s time to start creating a plan.  Your plan can be as detailed or Simple as you’d like, but keep in mind your priorities to ensure you don’t miss them like I did. For more on my first trip “home” disappointment check out this Instagram Post, be sure to follow and like us while you’re there!

Planning your Disney World trip doesn’t have to be hard.  Follow the below tips and you’ll be on your way to successfully planning your trip:

  1. Start with a list of all the priority things you want to do.  Cross check this list to see what you can check off in one day, for example attractions or dining in the same theme park.
  2. Start to build your plan by inputting the activities and dining by day you plan to accomplish.  Keep in mind, you may find you shift this plan several times.  We love using a Google form for this for easy updating and sharing.  We have templates available in The Happy Haunts Hub, an all-inclusive planning solution with 9 learning modules and key templates (like our Calendar Template) to empower your planning!  Doors are currently closed, but you can Join The Waitlist here.
  3. As you start entering activities your plan will take shape and you’ll feel confident in your decisions because they align with your intentions.  Once you have your basic plan down start narrowing down the flow for your day, will you rope drop a theme park or start with a character breakfast?  Knowing the flow for your day will help you later on when you start making dining reservations and Disney Genie+ time selections.
  4. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, step away from planning.  We like to plan a little at a time during our countdown period instead of all at once.  This allows the process to be enjoyable and continues to build the excitement.  If You’re still feeling overwhelmed, Book a free discovery Call From beyond here, we’d love to help you plan your trip.

And that’s just the start of planning your trip. There are so many options and things to consider, just remember it should all tie back to your intentions which are the roadmap for your entire plan.

Planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming or hard, it can be a fun and exciting experience. We celebrate this process in our Facebook Community, so come on over! we love welcoming Happy Haunts into our planning community.

“While the worriers are worrying, the planners are planning…..

I’m bust getting started” – Walt Disney

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Greetings Foolish Mortals!

I’m Melissa, a self professed Disnerd and Ultimate Planner!   After taking my family on their first trip in October 2016, I found a passion for helping friends and family plan their trips.

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