Disney World Planning Tools

Planning for Disney is a multi-resource kind of endeavor. Many people employ the use of travel agents (read this enlightening article about travel agents) which can cost you NOTHING! If you're
interested in seeing what an agent can offer you, you might try:

Ears of Experience: a Disney-centric travel agency that is fee free! Their website could use some updating, but they are active on Facebook and one of their specialties is booking military discounts with Disney vacations for current/former service members. Their services are free so long as you are booking at a Disney-owned resort for accommodations. If you aren't, there are concierge packages available to you for $130-$150 and those services include personalized itineraries, dining reservations, and more! (also recommended by Military Disney Tips - see below!)

If you want more options for finding a travel agent, look no further than than this agency locator: Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. Travel agents and agencies come with all different skill sets- you MUST use one that is a Disney-centric agency if you want to get the best deals and most thorough info on current WDW happenings. This site will return a list of local-to-you agents or online agents (or both) and you can then further research their websites and    policies to find your right fit.

Aside from travel agents, you will find hundreds of blogs, Disney-related Pinterest pages, and websites devoted to planning tips, itinerary-building, maps, and more. Some of the sites I've taken advantage of:

Touring Plans - for $12.95, you get year-long access to TP's excellent trip-building tools. Interactive itinerary-builders allow you to use pre-made itineraries with wait and walk times for your specific dates based upon crowd-data for those dates. You can go on to customize your itinerary completely per day adding any and all types of attractions. You gain access to the TP forums upon joining, and the friendly forum members are ready to offer advice and answer questions. If you are detail-oriented and need to          understand just what it will take to make a plan for your Disney trip
(read more here about planning vs. not planning your days in the parks).

Kenny the Pirate  - If you're interested in meeting characters while you're at the World, Kenny the Pirate is for you! This blog has many useful features (a crowd calendar and character location maps are just two of them!) Kenny even has an info-packed app! It involves a couple more steps to properly work on your device than your typical app, but the reviews say it is worth it!

WDW Prep School - Shannon's blog is packed with good stuff for your trip to Disney World. Her site is clean, neat, and easy to navigate. One of the coolest features of WDW Prep School is that Shannon does podcasts! So if you're strapped for time and can't sift through tons of info on your computer, you can take her anywhere!

Military Disney Tips - though it isn't the prettiest of prettiest when it comes to blog designs, it has TONS of info for military discounts of every kind (and they aren't limited to just Disney discounts, but other major Orlando-area discounts as well). The Armed Forces Salute FAQ section is thorough and perfect for any and all AFS ticketing questions. If you're part of the military sector- you can't plan without stopping in here and having your questions answered by Steve!

Mouse Savers - this site is so simple and easy to use, it is one I'd recommend to start with if you're overwhelmed by Disney planning. The info that is included here is extensive, well-organized, and easy-on-the-eyes as there aren't visual distractions, just information.


Finally, in 2015, a Walt Disney World trip can't be planned without the use of Pinterest (Well, ok, maybe it can, by why would you want it to be? All of those colorful pictures and diverse posts- I can't get enough!).

Which sites and apps (post on must-have apps coming later!) have you relied on when you're planning a WDW vacation?