Welcome to those of you joining me from Growing Up Disney and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.
Today’s topic is about our online planning resources. Other than our own sites or those of the Magical Blogorail Red line, what are some of our favorite social media or other online planning resources for planning our Disney vacations?
You know, it’s kind of funny to me, when I really sat down and started thinking about my online planning resources, it was kind of hard to come up with a concrete list. I have a TON of Disney sites I read — including my teammates here on the Red line — but generally speaking, I’m reading their sites more for their trip reports, incredible pictures, and unique stories that they tell us than I am for planning tips. In fact, and I’m sure that I’m being short-sighted in my trip planning — but I can probably narrow my online planning resources down to three sites — or less!
Online Planning Resources
Walt Disney World’s main website
I’ve been using the Walt Disney World website for several years now, really ever since we first started staying on Disney property way back in 2007. This site, while it does have it’s technology hiccups — and being a TA and and IT guy, I know all about them — also has a wealth of information about so many things related to the Walt Disney World resort. Here are just a few of the things you can find there:
- Detailed information on the resorts, the parks, and the dining options.
- Incredible customized maps that you can have printed on special paper and mailed to your house — and they are free!
- The park schedules for knowing when they are open and when they close, and what time some of the shows are going on.
- The new My Disney Experience section — which, while it is still quite buggy and full of hiccups, will get better in time.
Touring Plans
I recently started using the Touring Plans website to create customized touring plans for my clients. This is one of the free services that I provide for my clients. It is a useful tool in helping you see as many attractions as possible while spending as little time as possible in lines. As a site goes, it feels a little wonky to navigate, but it is stocked with many touring plans that you can customize for you and your family, and there are plans for all situations, all times of the year, and more, so I highly recommend you check them out if you are interested!
The MouseChat.net Podcast
There really aren’t a whole lot of podcasts that I listen too — but one that I really do listen to, in many cases just for the sheer entertainment I get out of it — is the MouseChat.net Podcast. I listened to it before I started my endeavors as a travel agent, and I listen to it now as well. The gang of Chris, Steve, Lisa, Lauren, and Bob never fail to make me smile and crack me up when I listen to them!
That about wraps it up for me — not that many things to research, right? But somehow, we seem to be doing okay none-the-less!
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Disney Donna Kay.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ A World View
2nd Stop ~ Growing Up Disney
3rd Stop ~ My Dreams of Disney
4th Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay
Final Stop ~ Colorado Mountain Mom
You can’t go wrong with these three…despite the IT wonkiness!
Thanks, Tricia! You and I know a thing or two about wonkiness, don’t we?! :)
Good resources, Mike. I’m saving all these podcast links (from you and Bruce) so I remember to listen more.
Thanks Heidi!
Great ideas Mike! I don’t know why I didn’t include Touring Plans in my post…I am loving all of the great resources I am getting from my friends today. :)
Despite the reviews, I’m going to try My Disney Experience this fall… Wish me luck!!
We’ve used My Disney Experience, and I like it overall! I know everything is still somewhat under development, but it has already improved a ton (we used it in January, then again this June). By fall, I imagine it will be better yet.
Great links and ideas! thanks!
I’ve started to use the Disney web site and app a little more than I have in the past; it has gotten a lot better. And Touring Plans can’t be beat; I especially like to read their blog and growing resource set online. Always a recommendation to my friends. Good advice.
Mike – I LOVE TouringPlans, and before a big trip, I usually pay their subscription fee, so I can see the crowd calendar and daily suggested parks. I tend to use it in conjunction with EasyWDW and the free iPhone wait time apps. Even on a most recommended park, things can get unexpectedly crowded. When that happens, we jump on my app, check out the wait times in other parks, and hop to the one with the lowest wait times! I love how the internet and social media work together to make trips easier!
I love this post, Mike! You are right, the Disney site itself can really tell you a lot… and I appreciate being able to check the park hours on specific dates. Podcast! Have yet to try listening – thanks for the heads up idea.
And I really appreciate your offer about putting in a good word for me. If my circumstances let me try being a TA someday… I may take you up on that! :)