Recommended Disney World Websites

OVERVIEW

Welcome! This site is designed for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World who do not know if they will ever return.

It guarantees the best possible first family visit to Walt Disney World for the least possible time spent planning!

To use this site, begin by clicking Summary of Instructions.

Follow the instructions that you can, and where you can’t, click the links in Summary of Instructions for your next best options, ranked in order!

If you are looking for something very specific,

This site is designed so that first time family visitors don’t need any more information than what it presents. But if you do, or are just curious, the websites below are wonderful.

BASICS FOR THE FIRST TIME FAMILY VISITOR

  • The Walt Disney World Instruction Manual at yourfirstvisit.net.  Everything you need in one easy and fast site
  • disneyworld.com the official site…
  • Official Walt Disney World Calendar pagepark hours, events, and Extra Magic Hours, next six months.
  • Len Testa and Bob Sehlinger’s TouringPlans.com, the unofficial site…tons of stuff, but especially good on daily crowd forecasts, and park touring plans
  • TouringPlans.com has also released a way cool mobile app, Lines, for estimated this-second waiting times for all the rides and attractions at Walt Disney World. To learn more, see this see this post, or go here.
  • Steve Soare’s Walt Disney World Entertainment show schedules for current week
  • Deb Wills’s AllEars.Net tons of information on almost any Walt Disney World topic
  • Mark Goldhaber’s weekly Walt Disney World Park Update on MousePlanet.com (see below) is mostly too geeky for first time visitors but in the middle of the page almost always has great information on upcoming ride closures, hotel renovations, and such.
  • Mary Warings’s MouseSavers.com additional indispensable money saving ideas, and more
  • DISboards.com discussion board where you can get basic and advanced questions answered
  • Orlando Visiting, at orlandoflorida.net, is an interesting, newer discussion board and resource
  • Chip and Company news, planning tips, giveways, etc
  • easyWDW.com is a neat, often hilarious site, with a great community. It covers a lot of the same terrain as this site, but in some different ways, and not focused on first-time visitors.  I don’t agree with everything Josh says, but overall it’s a terrific resource
  • Dad’s Guide to WDW, like easyWDW.com, covers much of the terrain of this site but with a different spin, and without the first-time focus. As with easyWDW, I don’t agree with everything, but Carl’s site is well worth checking out
  • Dan’s OrlandoInformer.com has lots of good stuff, and is particularly strong on Universal
  • Sarah and Tom Brickell’s Disney Tourist Blog–varied but good stuff, especially strong on dining and photography
  • A great site for resources and discounts for military families is MilitaryDisneyTips.com.

OTHER GREAT DISNEY WEBSITES

MAGICAL BLOGORAIL TEAL

The other sites on Magical Blogorail Teal are

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8 comments

1 Dan Murphy { 09.26.11 at 10:15 am }

HI Dave,

Always good looking at your new growing website.

Just wanted to give you a heads up on the link, now outdated, that you have for Steve Soares’ site on your Recommended Disney World Websites page. It should be http://www.wdwent.com now.

Keep up the good work.

Dan

2 Dave { 09.26.11 at 10:41 am }

Hi Dan, thanks for the kind words–and for the save! The link is now fixed…Dave

3 Tasha 2.0 { 12.24.11 at 12:50 pm }

I’d like you to review my site at MickeysFanClub.com This is a Disney destination planning web site for people with disabilities. Working closely with Disney Cast Members and disability organizations, we provide infromation that make enjoying Disney’s magic available to everyone.

4 Dave { 12.24.11 at 2:11 pm }

Hi Tasha, and thanks for the request. I don’t review websites–although I may someday, and if so, I’ll keep yours in mind.

5 Sharon { 12.30.11 at 3:17 am }

Hi Dave, I have a 9 year old son who will be going to Wdw for the first time. My problem is we live in California and go to the Disneyland/calif adventure park in Anaheim at least once a year. Since this will be our first trip to Florida, what itinerary would you suggest for a 10 day trip.? We also want to go to universal to see Harry potter attraction. Thank you for your suggestions.

6 Dave { 12.30.11 at 7:58 am }

Hi Sharon–see the examples on this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/ They are 8 night/9 day itineraries. If you can, add an extra Monday or Tues, and see Harry Potter on a mon or a tues…

7 Joan { 01.09.12 at 12:07 pm }

Dave, I called the concierge at our Universal hotel and he was very helpful re restaurants there. Apparently not as crazy there re reservations for dinnersas at WDW.
Now another question for you. Since part of our week at WDW includes the MLK holiday (Jan. 16), which park would be best for us to visit on that crowded day? Thanks, Joan

8 Dave { 01.09.12 at 7:11 pm }

Hi Joan! Epcot handles corwds the best, especially the World showcase section…Glad the Universal dining is not so nutso!

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