If you are planning your first visit to Walt Disney World, congratulations! You will be visiting one of the most “magical” vacation destinations there is, filled with literally hundreds of attractions, rides, restaurants, hotels and events. Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to figure out how to start planning this wonderful vacation? This article will focus on some of the very first things you need to do before you book anything. Doing your research is central to planning the most affordable Disney family vacation.

Hopefully starting a good 6-9 months in advance, you will need to first decide when you are going to go. To determine the best time for your family to visit Walt Disney World, it is important to evaluate your preferences for things crowds and weather. For example, if you are not thrilled with crowds, don’t plan a visit during the crowded summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring breaks. Do you hate heat and humidity? Don’t go during Florida’s brutal summer.

Next, you want to get an idea of the things that you and your family want to see and do while at Disney World. While it may seem odd to discuss this now, it is really important to your planning at this stage to have an idea of which parks your family is most interested in visiting, or if there are any special events that you want to attend. Knowing these in advance will help you plan your trip to coincide with these special events, as well as make the most of your time while there.

To do all this, good planning guides are important to give you an overview of what you can see and do at the parks. I have two favorite planning sources:

1. I always start with the Disney World website, as they have a great free planning DVD. In order to get it, you will need to sign up for a log-in and get on their email list, but you want to do that anyway, so that you are eligible to receive promotions and special offers.

2. The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide is a helpful e-book that was written by a former Disney castmember. With a lot of really helpful park information, it is especially great at providing some excellent money-saving strategies.

OK, you know when you are visiting, and what you want to see and do. Next you need to determine how long to plan your Disney vacation for. Check your available vacation leave, as well as work/school schedules and then get an idea of how long you will need to see everything that is important to you. This relates to an extent to the discussion about the time of year you will be visiting Disney World. If you will be there when it is the crowded or the very hot summer, you will want to allow a little more time: the need for “cooling off” breaks, or navigating through crowds, means that it will take longer to do everything. And if you have little ones, add some extra break time in for them as well.

Now the most-asked question usually is, how long will it take to see and do “everything” at each of the parks? In my opinion, you should plan for at least 5 full days to completely see all four parks. And you should add more time if any of the above conditions apply to you.

The final step before you start booking your vacation, is to decide how much you want to spend. To plan an affordable Disney family vacation, this will be extremely important. Having a budget in mind right from the start will help you keep control of your costs. Be realistic and honest about this part, and don’t worry if your budget is not huge: you can still have a fantastic vacation without spending a huge amount of money!

Once you have these four things in mind…when you are going, what you want to see, how long you can stay, and what you can afford…you are then ready to start filling in the details and booking your vacation. Lay the groundwork at the beginning, and you will have a wonderful, magical, and affordable Disney family vacation!

Learn how you can save money on a Disney vacation with the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. For help planning your own affordable Disney family vacation and to receive a free bonus guide that has Disney vacation tips and strategies, be sure to visit www.theaffordablemouse.com.