What's Included in Disney Vacation Planning?

When families ask what's included when they plan a Disney vacation with me, I like to give them an honest checklist: what I handle, what you'll do yourself in the My Disney Experience app, what's only a request, and what isn't included at all. Clear expectations make for a smoother trip.

I've been a Disney travel agent since 2010 and I'm a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge. Here's exactly what you get when you plan with Fun Park Go.

Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, Fun Park Go may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What's included in Disney vacation planning services?

Every Fun Park Go family gets the same core services, no matter the size of the trip:

• Your own Disney rep. Instead of waiting on hold for 30 minutes to an hour with customer service for one question, you text or call me.
• Your Disney hotel and park tickets booked, usually bundled together as a vacation package. I recommend staying at a Disney resort for most families.
• Payment plans on packages at no extra cost. Park tickets bought on their own are paid in full. Here's how Disney payment plans work.
• Trip tracking from booking to home. I keep an eye on your reservation the whole way, including new offers and your final payment due date.
• Help with changes. If something needs to change, I help you decide the best option for your situation.
• Advice as you need it on parks, resorts, dining and what to book when.

For a step-by-step look at how this plays out on a real trip, read what a Disney travel agent actually does.

How much do Disney vacation planning services cost?

My services are free. Whether you book on your own or with a Fun Park Go agent, your trip will most likely cost the same. I explain why in How much does a Disney travel agent cost?

Does a Disney travel agent plan your itinerary?

With me, it's more advice as you ask. Depending on what you want to do, I help you figure out where you need to go and when. What families ask about depends a lot on experience:

• First-timers usually have more questions about the logistics of getting around.
• Repeat visitors know what they want, but ask about new rides and attractions and the details that come with them.

We also offer a free Disney Planning Checklist. It's the same checklist our Disney travel agents use to plan trips for families, and it covers dining dates, park tips and what to book when. Look for the "Get My Free Disney Planning Checklist" sign-up pop-up on our website, and it comes straight to your inbox.

What do you do yourself in the My Disney Experience app?

Everything for Disney is done through the app, and some of it happens on your end. You link your reservation to your own Disney account and use the app yourself for things like dining reservations and Lightning Lane passes. We don't log into your account for you, but we'll guide you and walk you through the app.

Two dates matter most. Guests with a Disney Resort hotel reservation can make dining reservations for their entire stay, up to 10 nights, starting 60 days before arrival (Walt Disney World dining reservations FAQ). Disney Resort hotel guests can also buy Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days before their stay, while other guests can buy them up to 3 days before their park visit (Walt Disney World Lightning Lane passes). If you aren't tech savvy, download the app early and start getting used to it.

What extras can a Disney travel agent add to your trip?

Beyond your room and tickets, I can help with:

• Disney dining plans added to your package.
• Memory Maker for your Disney PhotoPass photos.
• Special events, like Disney's separately ticketed holiday parties. We can help with some party tickets, but sometimes they have to be purchased directly through the My Disney Experience app.
• Travel insurance, which I think is a huge benefit.
• Transportation, whether that's an airport shuttle or your own rental car.
• Birthday and anniversary touches to make a celebration feel special.

I'll also tell you what to skip. That depends on what your family wants out of your vacation, so not every extra is right for everyone.

How do you get from the Orlando airport to Disney World?

No matter the destination, transportation options are pretty similar: a shuttle, a rental car or a ride service. In Orlando, here's what I tell families:

• Mears Connect runs shuttles from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to all Walt Disney World Resort hotels and to the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels (Mears Connect). It's an airport-to-hotel shuttle, so once you're at a Disney resort, you'll use Disney's own transportation to get to the parks.
• Universal hotel guests have Universal's SuperStar Shuttle at MCO (Orlando International Airport).
• Disney's free Airport Luggage Transfer now works at select Disney resorts. Here's which Disney World resorts have Airport Luggage Transfer and how it works.

If you rent a car, pay attention to the details. Some rental car companies include or exclude taxes and fees at the counter when you pick up, and that can surprise you. Rental companies are also known for trying to add on extra services, so be careful and review your receipt when you get it.

Can a travel agent book a cruise and Universal Orlando together?

Yes. We offer a travel agent exclusive package that pairs a Universal Orlando pre-cruise stay with your cruise out of Port Canaveral. It includes:

• 1 to 3 nights at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel with on-site benefits
• Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay
• Theme park tickets to Universal Orlando's theme parks
• Free transportation to the parks and CityWalk
• A one-way transfer from Universal to Port Canaveral

Get the full details in Cruise Into Fun with a Universal Orlando Vacation Package, or see our Universal Orlando and Disney Cruise pages.

What isn't included with a Disney travel agent?

I'd rather be upfront about this:

• Airfare. I book your hotel and tickets, and you book your flights separately.
• Logging into your app. You'll make your own dining reservations and Lightning Lane purchases in My Disney Experience, with my guidance.
• Guaranteed room location. Your room type is booked, but a specific location, like a room near the pool, is only a request and depends on availability.

Because we're upfront about all of this from the start, families rarely run into surprises about what is or isn't included.

Prefer to book yourself? You can browse Disney vacation packages and tickets at Get Away Today. Use promo code FunParkGo for $10 off packages.

Frequently asked questions

Are Disney vacation planning services free?

With Fun Park Go, yes. Your trip will most likely cost the same whether you book on your own or with us.

Does a Disney travel agent book flights?

Not with Fun Park Go. We book your Disney hotel and tickets, and you book your flights.

Will my travel agent log into My Disney Experience for me?

No. You use the app yourself, and we walk you through it.

Can I get a guaranteed room location?

No. Your room type is guaranteed, but specific locations are requests that depend on availability.

Should I get travel insurance for Disney World?

I think it's a huge benefit, and I can add it when you book. Ask me what it covers for your trip.

Do I need a travel agent to get these services?

No, but it's a lot easier. If you're still deciding, read Should I use a travel agent for Disney World?

Ready to see what's included for your trip?

Tell me your dates, who's coming and what you'd love to do, and I'll put together a free quote. Planning with Fun Park Go is free, and we can set up a payment plan on your vacation package so your trip is paid off before you go. (Park tickets alone are paid in full.) Request your free Disney planning quote, see everything we do on our services page, or learn more about planning Walt Disney World with us.

Fun Park Go is an independent travel agency in Idaho Falls, Idaho, affiliated with Travel Leaders, planning vacations since 2010. Not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.