If you've read my previous posts, it's probably not a surprise to learn that my family is wild about Walt Disney World. Our stays have ranged from a one-day-whirlwind to a few days to a full week, so I've become a bit of a self-taught expert when it comes to Disney planning. Interestingly, those ideas have crossed into my writing philosophy, too.
More than anything, a successful Disney trip depends on a balance between organization and wonder. Let's break that down:
The immersive details are my favorite part of the Disney experience. You find pieces of storytelling everywhere you look, and they're presented in a way that appeal to all ages. If you lean into your imagination, the experience becomes so much richer.
It's also easy to feel overwhelmed at Disney if you don't have a plan. There are just too many things to do and see, and it's impossible to get to all of them. I love to organize, so I have fun preparing for our vacations. (Ironically, I don't like outlining my novels. Maybe I need to think of them as Disney trips?)
Our go-to planning resource is The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It's incredibly comprehensive, and it's less biased than other guidebooks because it's not written by Disney employees. Best of all, it has an interactive planning website and a companion app called Lines. We've used Lines to make personalized touring plans for each of our trips, and I credit it with keeping "the wind in our sails."
That being said, it's important to leave room for spontaneity and flexibility during your itinerary, rather than rushing from attraction to attraction. On our first trip, my son stumbled across Lady and the Tramp's pawprints in the sidewalk in the Magic Kingdom. We stopped in our tracks and gave the moment our full attention. We still seek them out whenever we enter the park. They're not an official attraction, but they have our hearts. On that note, look for the simple joys. It's not all about thrills. Sometimes the tamest, oldest attractions can be the most meaningful.
When it comes to planning a Disney vacation, here are my top recommendations:
Early entrance is KEY. You'll have a head start on the lines, but even more importantly, you'll begin the day with a quiet (by Disney terms) atmosphere, giving you time to soak in the details.
Stay at a Disney resort. You'll stay connected to the magic, and you'll have easy transportation to the parks (and early entrance!). Our favorite is Pop Century. It's clean, offers great storage in the rooms, and has fun theming.
We don't return to our resort for a midday rest. I know this is a highly-debated topic, but unless your resort is right next door, it takes hours to get back to your room, finally rest, and then reverse the process. Instead, we stack shows in the middle of our day and enjoy sitting in the AC. The shows are actually some of our favorite attractions. Granted, my kids are old souls, but they're wild about the Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress.
Use a touring plan (through the Lines app!) and eliminate the need for Lightning Lanes.
Prep! We watch episodes of "Behind the Attraction" and "The Imagineering Story" before each trip, and it helps us be extra mindful of the incredible work that goes into designing the parks. We get so much more out of the experience when we understand the vision and history behind it.
At its core, Walt Disney World is about artistry. Leave room to marvel at the intricate, intentional theming. Open your eyes to the story unfolding around you. Disney is about putting everything aside for a moment to remember that stories, play, and curiosity all matter. They matter more than we can possibly realize, and I'll always value the time I spend on them.
So, how does all of this relate to writing? It goes back to the balance between organization and wonder. I was halfway through drafting my first novel when I finally wrote an outline, and it gave me the clarity I needed in order to finish. As I embark on my second novel, I'm leaning more heavily on outlining, with the hope that it will make the drafting process smoother. It's tempting to dive in without any planning, and I still think discovery writing is important, but a loose outline provides guideposts along the way. The same goes for a Disney touring plan. It's a gentle nudge toward the next step, while still leaving room for improvisation.
And during that improvisation? That's when the wonder happens. It allows you to step away from the nuts and bolts, and let the magic and artistry take over. It gives you a chance to feel the joy in creating stories and characters, without worrying about structure. Later, during revisions, structure matters immensely. But during the drafting stage, it's essential to embrace the wonder, just as you would on Main Street, USA, in full view of Cinderella's Castle.
Being a Floridian, when my daughter Josie was little, we would go to Disney World at least once a year, sometimes more. One year there wa a special ticket for Floridians that allowed you to go to Disney World, Epcot and Hollywood Studios all in one day. The ticket was for October or February, when the parks are not so busy. We planned our strategy, got up super early and went hard until night. We did everything we wanted in all three and had super fun.