How To Use Your Disney World Map 

The key to planning your Disney vacation...

1. Get a map of each Disney World theme park, or a guide book that has comprehensive maps of all of the parks. I've suggested some options in the next section.
2. Take a few minutes to study how the map is organized... Yep, study. It's not hard. Note what's on the map key. That's the little section in the corner or on the side that tells you what all of the colors and symbols stand for.
3. On the map, find the entrance to the park. Get your family to play along... Have one of your children point to the entrance. Then imagine that you are walking through the park. Notice the shops, restaurants and attractions... the restrooms, parade route, shows... anything that you might like to visit.
4. Mark your favorites with a check mark or by drawing a circle around the attraction. Maybe even make a list of what you "must do." (Done right, this activity will involve lots of enthusiastic chattering!)
5. Repeat this lively experience with each of your Disney World park maps... Have fun! Find out what your kids and spouse want to do. Let them share in the planning.
6. With your now-quite-lengthy list of must-do attractions and restaurants, decide how many days you are staying and where you want to stay... Keep reading for more tips.

Disney World Map Guides on Amazon 

Here are two Disney World map guides on Amazon.com... Each one has its special place. Find the one that works best for you.

EZ Fun Guide to Walt Disney World 2007: Year of a Million Dreams Special Edition

by Anne S. Easterling

The EZ Fun Guide features 38 pages of unique color-coded theme park maps, plus dozens of checklists and tables to get to the point faster and easier. Every attraction, restaurant, shop and resort hotel is described concisely and highlighted on the maps. You can quickly find what you want to know about the theme parks, other attractions, resorts and more!

Amazon Price: (as of 09/05/2008)

Insight Fleximap Walt Disney World Resort & Orlando

Orlando Insight FlexiMap features detailed city, street and road maps clearly marked with all the sites and services of particular interest to travelers. Text and photographs offer a wealth of valuable tourist information on major attractions, transportation, visas, currency, important telephone numbers, emergency services, and more. This map is fully street indexed.

Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 09/05/2008)

What To Do With Your List of Favorite Attractions and Restaurants 

Use it. Don't let it just sit there. Really use it.

Which theme park is your favorite? Consider staying at a Disney resort hotel that's closest to the park. Plan to spend more days there.

Seeing a lot of shows on your list? Be prepared with schedule your day carefully... Show times are limited.

Got a bunch of table-service restaurants you want to try? Start making your dining reservations 180 days before your vacation.

Get the idea? If you didn't take the time to learn about the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom... well, who know what you would do. Probably miss some fun!

But you'll maximize every minute because... you've got your Disney World map!

Share Your Disney World Map Tips 

What tips do you have for other guests traveling to Walt Disney World? Share your top tips on how park maps and travel guides helped you plan your vacation...

Joan4 Great lens! Good information and good advice. A visit to Disney requires research for a positive experience -- it's huge! Your lens should be required reading for every person planning a Disney World trip! Posted May 31, 2008

Adelaide Hi, this is a great lens with some really good advice. I've given it 5 stars and will lensroll it as soon as my lens appears as an option (I've only just written it). I will definately follow your advice on my next Disney trip. Posted April 05, 2008

lizthefair Very helpful lens. I've lensrolled you to my "Plan your Orlando Vacation Lens Posted September 28, 2007

KimberlyDawnWells Found you through Digg. Great job, on this and ALL your Disney lenses. We love having you here to show people what you can do with a niche! Posted August 29, 2007