When you're planning to take a Walt Disney World vacation book your trip early (if possible) so you'll have the best selection of resorts and lots of time to plan.
It's said that half the fun is in the planning and I agree, especially when it comes to Disney. If you're planning to include in your vacation one of the 4 Disney Dining Plans, it may take some time and research to decide what restaurants you want to make reservations for. And you can make those reservations 90 days from your departure date. If you go during free dining (this year it's Aug. 16 - Oct. 3 and you must be booked for the free dining program) it's especially important to plan ahead because the most popular restaurants book up fast. It's also good to have a time range for your table service meal times so you have the needed flexibility to get reservations where you want. When special deals are released for Disney, people act on them quickly. Last November when the buy 4 nights get 3 nights free promotion began, many people (including myself) took the opportunity for a great deal. For me, it allowed me to stay at a deluxe resort while paying about the same as I would for a week in a moderate resort. In addition to dining reservations, you may want to plan other activities while you're in Disney. Golf, parasailing and behind-the-scenes tours are also available. If you're planning a special event like a Grand Gathering (family reunion) or a wedding in Disney, you might want to start a year (or even two) ahead of time. It's also good to familiarize yourself with the parks and depending on what time of year you visit, plan for afternoon breaks for small children, especially in the summer with the hot Florida sun. In fall, winter and spring, the parks close earlier than the summer so you may want to plan other activities for the evenings.
Give yourself time and do your research before you go because you definitely need a game plan when you're vacationing in Disney.