Top Five Resources for Obsessive WDW Trip Planning

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation for the first time? Not sure where to find the resources you need to plan your vacation, get psyched, and feed the flames of obsession? Here’s my Top Five list. Read it at your own risk; I’m not paying for your Zoloft if the Disney OCD gets you too.

1. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This is your basic reference. Most civilians don’t really need to buy the updates every year, though you don’t want to be using a book that’s more than a year out of date. Disney keeps changing its ticket pricing strategies, “extra” hours, etc, and you’ll want to know what’s current. You could actually plan your whole trip based just on the guidance from this book. But why would you want to, when there are so many other excellent resources out there to feed your addiction?
2. Deb’s Unofficial Walt Disney World Vacation Information Guide. The amount of detail on this site is phenomenal. Wondering what’s on the menu at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe? Need a list of the discounts for Disney Annual Passholders? She’s got it for you.
3. TourGuide Mike. This is the only web site of any variety that I actually pay for (which probably tells you more than you wanted to know about how lowbrow my information needs are). Mike is a former VIP tour leader at WDW and he’s got plenty of good tips. I rely heavily on his recommendations for which parks will be least crowded on any particular morning or evening.
4. MouseSavers. Disney trips are darn expensive, no matter how you slice it. MouseSavers always has great, up-to-date information about discounts that’ll save you a few bucks. I’d recommend signing up for the mailing list; subscribers get special discounts, including deals on Disney World tickets.
5. The DIS Discussion Forums. There is no Disney-related question that somebody on these forums can’t answer. In addition to standard Disney tips and tricks, there are forums for special topics ranging from disabilities, solo travelers, and lesbian and gay travelers. Need to ask whether the new Tiki Room might be a problem for kids with Aspergers? Or when the latest new attraction is rumored to be opening? These people have you covered.