high as $399 a night for The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Other Deluxe Resorts include The Contemporary, Disney's Beach or Yacht Club Resorts, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, and The Polynesian.

Deluxe Villa Resorts: Complete with kitchens or kitchenettes and extra living space, these six Villa resorts offer guests the comforts of home with the magic of Disney. They include the Animal Kingdom Villa, Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Old Key West, Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, and the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. Prices range from $295 per night to $335 per night.

Camping: From as low as $43 a night, camping is available at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campgrounds.

4. Location. Location. Location.

Online you can check out the map of the Walt Disney World properties and see the locations of each resort in comparison to each theme park. If you know your family is going to spend most of your stay visiting the Magic Kingdom, check out the resorts located in that area: Disney's Contemporary, Fort Wilderness, The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, The Wilderness Lodge, or the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge. If your Disney vacation is a romantic holiday, you may enjoy the southern charm of the Port Orleans Resorts with their direct boat service down the Sassagoula River to Downtown Disney and its fantastic dining, shopping, and evening entertainment.

5. Order a Free Vacation Planning DVD.

Go to www.disney.com and click on Parks in the upper right-hand corner. Follow the link to request your free planning DVD.

6. Virtual Tours.

Gather the family around the computer and take virtual tours of each Disney resort online to get a feel for each unique theme and style.

7. Get Recommendations.

Talk to several different people and hear which Disney Resort they enjoy most. Talk to friends, family, and especially the Reservation Specialists at (407) 939-7500. You can call and talk to a Disney Reservation Specialist even before you are ready to book your trip. The Reservation Specialists are always helpful and will offer recommendations on resorts and pricing options.

8. Read Reviews.

A valuable resource for information on how to find your perfect Disney resort is just a click away at www.disneyworldmoms.com. This site is home to the Disney Moms Panel and they are there to provide insight and information on Disney vacations. At the site you can read reviews and even post your questions.

9. Amenities.

Determine which amenities is a must-have for a magic visit. All resort rooms are air-conditioned, have cable/Satellite TV and internet access. Pak-n-Play cribs are available and each room is non-smoking. Each resort offers in-room babysitting, housekeeping, voice mail, wake-up calls and is wheelchair accessible. For a complete list of resort features on an easy to read comparison chart, check out the Compare Disney Resorts page at Disney.com

10. Visit Other Resorts.

During your Disney vacation, stop by the other resorts and see first-hand if they might be your choice for your next Disney vacation. Talk to other guests in line while you're waiting to visit the Haunted Mansion. Ask which resort they're at and what they like about it.

Finding the perfect resort for your Disney vacation should never be stressful. Planning for your Disney extravaganza should be as memorable and fun as the trip to see the world's most famous Mouse.

Learn more about this author, Barb Hopkins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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