If you know me at all, you know that I’m a huge Walt Disney World fan. I was blessed to have parents who took us there almost every Spring Break, and I even worked there during college as a lifeguard at Contemporary (one of the best times of my life).

With Spring Break just around the corner and people lining up their summer vacations, I thought it might help for me to give some of my Disney planning tips. I’ve actually had several friends just in the past week ask me particulars about their planning process. I love sharing my tips (I have many!) – it’s such a magical place and something you’ll never forget. But it’s MUCH better to experience Disney with a little planning and know-how before you hit Orlando.

Our last trip was a year and a half ago. We hit the road with Nathan, then 3 years old, and Corinne, 6 months old. People thought we were insane to drive to Orlando with two young kids. Honestly, it was a super easy drive, and the whole experience with a 6-month-old was great.

But the key was that I knew what we were doing, where we were staying, where we were eating and how we were going to manage the parks. If I hadn’t planned that out, it would have been way more stressful on everyone and far less magical (read: screaming, tired kids and parents).

So, if you’re planning your trip for the coming months, I've got some pointers after the jump that will help you alleviate the stress and focus on having FUN!

If you have really young ones, consider staying on property – on a monorail resort if you can swing it. We stayed at the Polynesian, and although it was more expensive, it was well worth the extra money to be so close to the Magic Kingdom and have immediate access to the monorail to get back for naptime. Here’s a tip: if you haven’t already done so, register for your free Disney vacation planning DVD here. Not only is it a fun DVD that will get you completely excited about your trip, more importantly it registers you with Disney. This, hopefully, will put you in the mix to possibly receive great discount codes (that only work for you) on resort rooms. Last time we went, we chose the deluxe resort because we receive a 40 percent off code! It makes worlds of differences on the ‘ole pocketbook. From what I have read, the 40 percent codes are rare, but the 30 percent codes are pretty widespread.

Make your dining reservations. Especially if you are tackling Disney during the busy times (Spring Break or June-August), this will be a MUST. Before the days of the popular Disney Dining Plan, you could make dining reservations on the same day. My parents were notorious for never planning any part of our Disney vacations. We survived back then (even got same-day ressies for a lot of the popular spots); nowadays, we would be eating at Burger King. Literally. You can actually make your dining reservations 180 days in advance. Most reservations you can do online, or you can also call Disney at (407) WDW-DINE. Be sure to check out AllEars.net for the most complete info I have found anywhere on Disney dining. The site features menus and reviews for every restaurant and even special dietary info. It is a wealth of info, and you’ll definitely want to check it out and make your dining “wish list” before making your reservations.

Don’t forget the character dining. You can do breakfast, lunch or dinner just depending on the spot you pick. You can dine with the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy), Disney princesses, Winnie the Pooh and Gang, Mary Poppins, Playhouse Disney characters and more. For me, it’s a no brainer. You have to eat anyway, and you’re probably going to do one of the buffet-type restaurants at some point anyway, so you might as well dine with the big dogs! Tip for Chef Mickey’s at Contemporary Resort: Consider going for brunch vs. first thing in the morning or at lunch. The crowds are thinner, and you get much more one-on-one time with the Fab Five. We made ressies for 11 a.m., and it was perfect. Tons of time with Mickey and crew, and we got awesome pics! Speaking of pics …

Definitely use the Disney Photopass. Again, this is something new that was never part of the “old days” at Disney. Remember going to college Greek functions and having the “Flash” guy take your photo at every turn. Same concept, just Disney style. They have photographers everywhere ready to take pictures of all your magical moments – you give them your card, they scan it, and it automatically goes to your folder. Of course, I took a ton of my own pictures, but it was so nice to have the ones from Photopass of all four of us. They also take great pictures of your kids with the characters, which is ideal since you’ll most likely be too engaged making sure they aren’t bursting into tears! Tip: The price is pretty reasonable to buy the CD of all the pics. I suggest doing that. And if you’re traveling with friends or family, just get one Photopass (you can have as many cards as you need) and then split the cost once you get home and order the CD.

Get your specific questions answered by the Disney Moms Panel. This resource is ideal for all of those little details you’re dying to know about. Wondering which restaurants serve Kraft mac & cheese? Or are you concerned about specifics rides for your toddler? Just ask the panel, and they can give you the entire scoop. What I like about this panel is that these moms (and even some dads) are seriously in the know. They travel to Disney all the time with their children of all ages. They are hosted by Disney, but they are allowed to give their personal opinions – good or bad. Check them out before you head to Orlando.

Plan your days at the park. This sounds seriously Type A (and it kind of is), but it makes a huge difference in whether you leave the park with a smile or wanting to murder everyone in your family. Check out the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. These people scare me with the detail that they have researched in terms of crowds and wait times for rides. If you want to really get serious about planning exactly when and what you’ll see, this is the place to do it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love this site, but I use it more for info on when to visit and which parks to go to on which days. I do not – I repeat I do not – use the touring plans. To me, that is really overdoing it on the planning side of things. I have friends, though, who are extremely Type A and have used these and love them. It depends on your personality and how your family operates best. If you’re all about maximizing every minute and moment, then the touring plans are for you.

I truly could go on and on in terms of Disney planning tips. Here is a link to an article I wrote for Little Rock Family shortly after we got back from our last trip. It has some additional tips. Another great planning site is Passporter.com, which also touts an active community where you can chat with others planning their vacations. I visited Disboards.com to help answer many of my questions about taking young children to Disney. That community was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I even figured out which stroller was best to bring because of the many tips other parents posted.

And if you have more questions or your own tips to share, please comment below and get the sharing started!