Planning a trip to Walt Disney World is not the same as planning a family trip to the beach.  There are many things that a Disney vacationer must consider before they go.  Are you going to stay on-site?  Are you going to go to all the parks?  Do you plan to eat your meals in the parks?  There are literally dozens of different questions that you'll want to have answered before your trip.  An informed traveler to Walt Disney World will have an exponentially better time than someone that didn't take the time to plan.

These are 5 of my favorite Walt Disney World tips that will allow your family to have the best possible time on your vacation.

1.  Stay "On-Site" - Staying on the Disney property has many benefits over staying at a property that is considered "off-site".  The Disney hotels are incredibly themed and will really add the magic to your vacation.  You are also rewarded by early entry to certain theme parks each day of the week.  This is called the Extra Magic Hour and will allow you to explore the park before the mad rush.

2.  Get There Early - Get to the parks 30 minutes before the park opens its gate on any particular day.  This does not mean leaving your hotel 30 minutes early or getting to the parking lot 30 minutes early.  This means to be at the front gate 30 minutes early.  You will not believe how much more you will be able to get done in that first hour or two before the masses show up.  If you listen to nothing else that I say, listen to this tip.

3.  Learn Fastpass - Learn how to use the Disney Fastpass.  Fastpass is a proprietary technology that allows you to insert your park ticket into the FP machine and get a ticket to come back to the front of the line later on in the day.  If you maximize your fastpass opportunities you will likely get to do twice as many attractions as the family that simply goes line to line.