Disney World is the topic of more vacation guides than I can count. I won't try to create the definitive guide to Disney World, but I do have a few suggestions and experiences to pass on to you that I think are helpful. This can be considered a work in progress and any comments suggestions would be welcome!

We went to Disney over Easter of 2005. That was the busiest Easter they had at Disney World since pre-9/11. It was crazy but we had a great time and for the following reasons:

• For our children (age 3 and 13) we opted for an 8 day/9 night stay for their first Disney visit. We had a day and 1/2 to kick back and relax at the resort. We didn't feel rushed. Will we do that long one again? I think Friday to Friday will work.
• Magic Hours! We figured out that although we had a 7 day park hopper pass, my 13 and Husband actually had an average of about an extra full day of activity. They stayed when the Magic Kingdom was open til 3 a.m., etc. If you stay in a Disney resort, its THE best deal Disney has going!
• We saved about $200 by booking our hotel, the Carribean Beach Resort, separately from our park hopper tickets. The packages that are rooms+tickets are not required. Through our helpful travel agent we learned that you can do everything a la carte.
• Since we were going in March, we opted to not get the Park Hopper + Water Parks and were very happy with that decision. The weather was cool enough that we didn't have to deal with the crowds.
• We booked the Character breakfast at the Contemporary and then proceeded to sleep right through it since we had stayed for the extra magic hours at MGM. We ended up walking right in to the Donald's Restaurantosaurus (sp?) at the Animal Kingdom. It was a GREAT buffet so we didn't eat again until dinner (aka save money), the characters were plentiful, and it wasn't a 3 ring circus!
• Everyone raved about the free mugs they have at the Resorts that you can buy and then reuse anytime you are in the cafateria, but to be honest, they were a nuisance because we kept forgetting them in the room, in the stroller, etc. AND then the forgotton mugs invariably contracted bugs. Gross! Forget the mug and go with less stressful water!
• Easter in Disney = Mob scene at Magic Kingdom. We decided to avoid the Magic Kingdom from Thursday night through Sunday Night. The locals and "weekend" visitors want to do the Magic Kingdom. We went to MGM and Epcot on the weekend and had to deal with less crowds.
• A lot of people gave us Visa Giftcards for Christmas that year so we'd have them for Disney; however, we learned quickly that the kids that work at Disney didn't know how to ring them up correctly. If you had a balance on a Visa giftcard of $12.75, they had to ring in the $12.75 exactly and then tell you the balance of what you owed. A couple of them would just swipe the card, but it didn't always register the balance. What a headache! Tell'em to just give you cash or Disney Dollars from the local Disney Store.
• Or if they do give you the giftcard, use them at home to buy the Disney Park Hoppers at the local Disney store. Buying them there saves you an average of about $4-5 a ticket. The downside is that when you buy the tickets at your resort in Disney, that ticket is also your room key and debit card. Its a personal preference, but I think in the long run I'd rather save a couple of bucks to pay the visa bill when you get home!
• Our 3 year old loved Mickey's PhilHarMagic! He could have been a Disney advertisement. However, "Honey, We shrunk the Audience" was too much for him and he wouldn't go into anything that was a show or 3-D for the rest of the trip. He was traumatized, The Hubby and 13 were annoyed with him and I was stuck as the 3's defender. READ the warnings they post. A 3 is just not ready for the sensory overload that some of the shows/rides wallop. I told everyone I know to wait until their 3 is two inches taller - they'll be able to do and enjoy more and so will you!!
• Don't feel like you have to stay with the group! The 3 and I had the best morning when we went to the Magic Kingdom on our own and did the Tea Cups, Pooh (always my fav), and Peter Pan. It was something special that I'll never forget and would have missed if we had gone to MGM with the other two.
• 50's Cafe at MGM- LOVED it! Try to get a table for around 11:30 a.m. - you'll get the best meal, the best service, and you won't have to eat until the ice cream cone you get by the Tower of Terror ride at the end of the night.
• Be prepared - Advil, Cold Medicine, Toothpaste, and Feminine products (and we know from experience) all cost more at the resorts. Just pack them - you won't regret it.
• Take a bag you can throw everything in. Ebay has a wide assortment of them. Pick what works for you and run with it!
• Take advantage of Kodak's mail in program, Kodak Gallery. They give you postage paid envelopes that you can mail from your resort so that your film is either on-line or processed and waiting for you at home. It's not anymore expensive than getting it done at CVS and you can relive the memories right away.
• Try to plan your day. Figure you want the most time at MGM and Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom can be done in one day or a half day if you have small kids that are too small for the new rides. Epcot is great for adults, but the 3 was a holy terror and the 13 wasn't that much better. I'd take advantage of a babysitter service if you don't have a built in babysitter like we did. We didn't take advantage of it and are still recovering. If you do take the kids, note that Canada does sell GREAT cold Molson Beer and Mexico makes the BEST darn Margerita I've EVER had. Next time we go, I'm leaving the kids at the pool and doing the Countries with the Hubby.
• For all you Ebayers, Morroco has the BEST shopping in Epcot, France's perfume will put you in heaven. 'Nuff said!
• Don't be afraid to ask! Our 3 was too short for the Stars War simulated ride. That was the only ride he really was upset about missing. The park attendant told us to come back around closing and he would give the 3 a ride without the ride moving, bringing it down to a less intense experience.
• Get the thick pens they sell with the autograph books. They are easier for the Characters in costume to grip. Buy the autograph book ahead of time, though - you can get them at your local Disney store a lot cheaper.
• Let's talk about momentos! There are some you HAVE to buy in Disney World, but there are others that you could get at home a lot cheaper. If you have a lot of little ones, you may do better to buy at the Disney Store t-shirts, etc. (Hit the Clearance Sales!). Pack them in a special suitcase (or ship them down to your hotel so you don't have to carry another suitcase on the plane) and voila! Momentos for their trip to Disney, at a fraction of the cost!
• There are some great planning guides for Disney World. The Official Guide is my bible!
• I saw a lady at the Post office and she was taking a 1 year old to Disney. A smart thing she did was ship all of the "necessities" the baby would need but she wouldn't have to lug on the trip: diapers, wipes, food, etc. How smart was that and worth the $10! All that stuff would cost over $30 at the stores in the resort.
• Cute Idea for Senior Trips: Girls, don't sell those Prom Dresses on E-Bay yet! Plan on Packing your Prom Dress and go to a Princess Breakfast! You have to call ahead to make a reservation! The Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique has a Princess package: You get a morning at the salon complete with a Tiara for your Princess Breakfast! You will be the "Belle" of the Ball! Don't forget some sequined flip-flops to get around in - glass slippers may not be too comfortable! Note: the make up is geared towards young girls, so don't forget mascara!
• Guest Assistance Pass - is a pass that allows people with health conditions (i.e., bad legs, back, etc.) to go to the front of the line so they don't have to wait. There are probably restrictions, but you should look into it if you have someone in your party that can benefit.

As I said this is a work in progress and since we are starting to plan our next trip for June of 2007, I'm in Disney mode again so I'll update whenever I remember something worthy!