Why You Need a Plan

Walt Disney World is a vast resort, complete with four major theme parks, two water parks, a huge shopping and entertainment district, dozens of restaurants, well over a dozen hotels, several golf courses, two miniature golf courses – and more. And that’s all just on site – not including all of the rest of the attractions, parks, restaurants, malls, etc. off site in the Orlando area.

People often ask why they need a plan when visiting WDW. I always like to compare it to the Big Apple. The total land area Walt Disney World sits on is comparable to that of Manhattan. And while it isn’t all developed like the big city is, it’s a good comparison of the complexity and size. You wouldn’t take a vacation to New York City without at least a general idea of where and what attractions you want to visit. And you’re going to want to have at least some restaurants picked out for meals.

Walt Disney World is like a vacation to a big city in the sense that you need to have a plan – at least a rough one. Unlike a trip to the beach – where you might plop yourself on the sand, eat at the hotel’s restaurant, and just let time pass you by – a trip to WDW (for most) is meant to be a “see and do” style of vacation. You want to go see the various shows, experience the attractions, and do something interactive.

So, could you book your hotel, buy your tickets and go? Of course you can. A lot of people go this route, with little or no planning. Will you enjoy yourself? All things considered, you should have at least a decent time. It is Walt Disney World after all.

But having a plan will make your vacation even better. You’ll stay better organized – which will help you see and do more with your time. And if you decide on a more detailed touring plan, you can even avoid the argument of “What do we do next?” after every attraction. I’ve seen it happen – a family will spend five minutes arguing which direction to go or what to do next when exiting a ride or show. Wouldn’t you rather spend that time experiencing what Disney has to offer?

While I believe the more detailed the plan, the better (which I’ll be showing you in this blog), not everyone likes a rigid, step-by-step plan. Too strict a plan could be just as bad no plan at all. So don’t become overwhelmed if you think my style of planning is too much. For some, it is.

But with WDW, you absolutely need at least a basic plan. The time you spend will be rewarded – by saving money, having more time to experience everything, and being less stressful – all with the goal of having an even more magical vacation.