The present state of the world is a strange one. With people around the world stuck home in self-isolation or quarantine, there’s definitely a lot of uncertainty. After all, the current situation is pretty unprecedented in our modern world.

So you might be saying…why in the world would I plan a Disney trip right now?

Well, we can be relatively sure that the parks WILL reopen (though timeline is unclear at the moment), and we know that Disney is already releasing discounts for later in the year!

Also, with significant changes in the travel industry that could mean lower-risk booking…and an abundance of family time right now to fill with fun and positive projects…it may make a lot more sense that you think to start planning your next visit to the mouse. Let’s dig in!

Take Advantage of Some Seriously Deep Discounts

You know what’s even better than a Disney trip? A Disney trip on sale! The first great reason to consider planning your Disney trip NOW is that you might save some serious cash.

Discounted Rates Are Already Starting To Pop Up

The travel, entertainment, and even retail industries are taking a major hit from the current situation, and we’re already starting to see some serious travel discounts pop up for later in the year. Recently, Disney released a great hotel discount for Disneyland AND extended the Sun and Fun offer in Disney World. 

Hotels, flights, and experiences could continue to be deeply discounted over the next several months or into next year as the travel industry entices consumers to resume leisure travel once the current situation settles down.

When more discounts and deals start to appear, you’ll have all of your plans ready for when you DO want to book your vacation so you can grab the deal before they run out. Usually Disney’s best discounts and deals are limited to a certain number of bookings and they can — and do — sell out, especially for the most popular resorts.

Travel Change and Cancellation Fees Are Extremely Flexible

On top of that, we’re anticipating that travel policies may look a little bit different as the year goes on. Already, many of the hotels on Disney World property and elsewhere have policies that make planning a more flexible process. Disney is waiving all change and cancellation fees up to the day of check-in through June 30th. Hilton, similarly, has flexible change and cancellation policies through April 30th; and Wyndham is accommodating all changes up to 48 hours prior to check-in indefinitely. Flexible cancellation and payment policies may continue for an extended period until we have more certainty about the future.

And if you’re looking for a cheap flight, prices and policies in the airline industry are taking a similar tack. You can book by the end of March with Delta or American Airlines and you’ll find that change fees will be waived if at any point in the future you decide to switch dates.

In light of constant changes, however, you should note the cancellation policies for what you DO decide to book at this time! 

A Travel Agent Can Be More Helpful Than Ever Right Now

And if you decide to book some of these discounted rates, we highly recommend using a GOOD travel agent. A qualified and experienced agent will keep an eye on all of the changing policies and discounts and will not only re-book you at a lower rate if it comes available, but also will sit on hold with Disney for hours at a time if any closure extensions or other changes occur.

If at any time you feel overwhelmed by the change policies or looking for a deal, please, please reach out to Small World Vacations. They’re amazing. And 100% FREE. If things DO need to be canceled or switched around, it’s not YOU on the phone for three hours doing it. Not only will they help when planning, but they’ll also help save you time when making changes later!

Trust me — not all travel agents are equal. These guys are *full-time* agents. This is what they do, day-in and day-out, and they can help you navigate any situation.

Want to find out EVERYTHING a travel agent can do for you? Click here!

Make Planning Into A Fun Family Experience

For most of us, planning a Disney trip can be ALMOST as much fun as taking one — especially when you get to work together on that planning with the whole family. With such a scary international situation, your kids (and you!) could definitely use a little de-stressor. If you’ve never thought of planning a vacation as a “fun family activity” now is the time to start!

Here’s how: have each person in the fam (including the kiddos) make lists of what they want to do on your trip. Everyone can pick out their must-do or want-to-do attractions, restaurants, character meet-and-greets, and out-of-park activities! Then, compare lists and figure out those high-priority adventures that everyone can agree on. DFB TIP: If you’re planning a trip with family who live somewhere else, get on a group zoom call or google hangout to share in the fun!

If your kiddos are too little to make their own lists of must-do activities, have them sit with you and look at the ride pictures on the Disney website. Bonus! Making a list of Disney attractions they want to ride is a great opportunity to help teach your kids how to research something well — and they’ll likely enjoy it, too! Did someone say e-Learning?!??!?!

Get Tips From The Experts!

Ready to plan?? Let’s go!!! Spend some of that fun family planning time watching Disney Food Blog videos to get an idea of the best way to do Disney. After all, we have thousands of tips on how to build the perfect trip, so you can use this time at home to become EXPERT DISNEY PLANNERS. Not only are our videos full of great tips, but they’re also a really fun way to feel like you’re exploring the parks from the comfort of your living room.

Some suggestions? You could learn “What I’d Wish I’d Known BEFORE I Went to Disney World,” get up to date on allll the “Disney World PRO TIPS From the Experts,” and get your dining goals in order (and make your stomach growl) with the “14 Must-Do Disney World Restaurants for 2020!”

Click here to take a look at ALL of the awesome DFB Guide videos!

Oh, and don’t forget to grab your DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We pour our hearts and souls into this guide every year, and it’s the NUMBER ONE RESOURCE for lots of Disney fan families. It’s got EVERYTHING we know in it — including recommendations, suggestions, reviews, tips, hidden secrets to planning the best Disney trip ever, and more. And, with planning a trip so far in the future, you don’t have to rush any decisions!

Click HERE To Learn More About The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book

Planning Doesn’t Have to Mean Booking — So There’s No Risk!

Now, remember, planning doesn’t have to mean booking everything. A lot of us have been left with financial concerns and what-ifs about the rest of the year; but even if a Disney trip in the near future isn’t feasible, I’ve never heard anyone say they “over-planned” for a Disney trip.

Planning one or even two years in advance is the norm for most families. So dreaming up the Best Day Ever for sometime next year could be a great way to lift your spirits!

❤️We Wish You Truly HAPPY PLANNING ❤

We know things are scary right now. We want to help to make this time as positive and stress-free as it can be. After all, we love planning trips to Disney (almost as much as we love being in the parks) and we think doing so will be a great way to have a little fun in these troubled times. Plus, you can tweak your trip to be absolutely perfect for your family AND make it as inexpensive as possible. What could be better?

For more tips on planning the perfect Disney vacation, click here!