by Alicia Holman

Created on: January 20, 2009

Planning for a magical stay at the Happiest Place on Earth can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many fantastic options available from the style and decor of the hotel, to the meal package, to the park hopper option, to whose autograph to stand in line for first. Walt Disney Resorts in Florida really does cater to the entire world allowing for anyone on any budget the opportunity to experience the magic.

My family and I traveled down to Walt Disney World in September of 2008. In attendance was myself, along with my husband, two year old daughter and mother. We had planned to book the trip online through Disney's website and pay for it month by month before departing. This option is excellent for families who are working on a tight monthly budget.

After confirming that we all indeed want to go to Walt Disney World, I began my long journey of planning the trip. Now, keep in mind, it was only a long journey for me because I chose to indulge in the process. I researched the hotels, the restaurants and each park so I knew everything we planned to participate in and everything we would have to save for next time. If extensive planning is not your cup of tea, Walt Disney World is still only a click of the mouse away for booking your dream vacation.

We chose to stay in an All-Star resort as this was our first big family vacation, and the decor and price were appealing enough for us all. I originally booked us in the All Star Sports as my husband liked the oversized baseballs and footballs and other sports decor on the outside. However, about 2 weeks after booking, I received a coupon that was eligible for part of our stay, so I called to find out more. I was able to use the coupon if I switched over to the All Star Movies resort. Considering they are all within walking distance and all on the same street, I had no problem making that change.

The Disney website shows pictures of all their resorts and hotels, and to my surprise, the pictures and the actual appearance were equally amazing. When we arrived to the All Star Movies resort, I proceeded to check in with my husband. We were greeted by a cast member at check in who was very friendly. She confirmed all our info and even made reference to a previous note I had submitted with my reservation that my husband and I would be celebrating our anniversary. She quickly handled our check process and then proceeded to contact "mousekeeping" to arrange a special surprise for us on the night we planned to celebrate the anniversary.

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