Successfully executing a Disney vacation is like driving in New York during rush hour, it needs to be well-planned and you have to compromise. Being a Disney veteran, I have scoured the internet and bought numerous books on achieving fantastic vacations in Walt Disney World. There are so many factors to consider: mode of transportation to and from the world, transportation within the world, accommodations, tickets, dining options, special events taking place, when to travel, attractions outside of disney, etc. etc.

Mode of transportation to and from Disney is generally the easiest question to answer. The distance to drive to Disney may or may not be feasible. Considerations include how long you have to travel - do you only have a week? Or are you retired and have some extra time? Do you have children? What are their ages? Is it feasible to put them in the car for the amount of time that it will take to get to Disney and back? Maybe a train would be a good idea for part of the trip? Air travel is a great way to go if you live fairly far away or do not have a lot of time to spend on the road.

Transportation within the world is another consideration. When staying on-site, Disney charges a fee to it's hotel guests for vehicles. Depending on which resort you are staying at, you may be able to get by with using Disney transportation only. If you are not staying in a Disney hotel it is almost always recommended that you have a vehicle at your disposal.

The number of accommodation possibilities at Disney is daunting. From Value to Moderate to Deluxe to Home away from Home to the campground there are many options available depending on your travel parties make-up. You may want to do a combination of any two or stay off-site for a few days to enjoy the other attractions in Orlando. Depending on the size of your traveling party will have an effect on the resort you choose. Some hotel rooms only have room for 4 (plus 1 in crib) - values, whereas others can sleep up to 12 (3-bedroom at a Home away from Home resort). Concierge service is available at many of the resorts as well for an additional fee. Pools also differ at all of the hotels, some have the basics, others are a mini-water park unto themselves.

Tickets at Disney can be expensive, especially when you purchase options that you will never use. Getting the right tickets is not a daunting process, but it is very important to plan accordingly so you use the tickets to the fullest extent possible. Disney dining is a dining option available to all guests staying on a resort property within the world. Whether to purchase this plan is determined by your itinerary and how structured you want your vacation to be.

When to travel to Disney is an extremely important decision to make. It will affect the level of people in the parks, line-waiting times, weather and special events. Going at a busier time of the year takes extra planning and structure in order to have a wonderful vacation. When the weather is extremely hot (think 100 in August at times), planned periods of rest need to be considered. Special events like the "Pirate and Princess Party", the "Food and Wine Festival" and many more take place throughout the year. I am especially fond of the "Flower and Garden Festival" at Epcot.

The point of this is to plan, plan and plan some more. And when you are through planning, you will still be doing so when you arrive. It makes for the most pleasant and enjoyable of trips.