So you want to go to Walt Disney World?

It's a question people ask all the time, and it's a good one: "When's the best time to go to Walt Disney World?" While that's a great question (and probably the first question that you should ask!) there are no easy answers. The answer is going to depend on your schedule and your desires. For each guest, the answer is probably going to be a little different. Here are some questions that you have to ask yourself before going.

1) How much time do I need to plan my vacation?
This is an important question that I think many of us overlook, because most of us are planners. For many vacationers, a significant part of the fun is preparing well in advance by making ADR's (Advanced Dining Reservations) and attempting to get just the right room at our chosen resort. For some of us, however, those details just aren't quite as important (some of you are picking yourself up off the floor at this revelation). IF, and this is a big if, you are not all that into staying in a particular onsite property and if you are not dead set on particular dining experiences, then you can plan your travel at will. When I was a kid, that's the way we travelled. Dad would come home from work at lunch and tell Mom, "Pack up the car, when I get home we're going to Disney World!" Away we went, with none of the pressures of planning. If this is you, you can save a ton of money by booking an off-site hotel through Hotwire or Priceline, eating off-site, and/or eating quick service meals. Also, if you are flexible, you can find table service availability on off hours by calling the dining hotline (407) WDW-DINE, using the Disneyworld.com website, checking in with Guest Services at one of the parks, or checking in at the counter at any of the table service dining locations. Also, if you are willing to wait, sometimes there is the opportunity to get walk-up seating.

If you are one of those folks who broke out into hives reading that last paragraph, you need six months to plan your trip. Minimum, no questions asked, six months and possibly more. So, take that into consideration.

2)What's my schedule look like?
For many, if not most, Walt Disney World guests the local school schedule is a major determining factor for vacation dates. If you have kids in school or are a teacher, (and you're not interested in just taking the kids out of school) you will be limited on when you can go. The only problem with that is that most school schedules are pretty similar across the nation. There's a reason that the weeks before and after Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Summer break have some of the highest crowds, and its because most everyone is out of school. If you have the flexibility to go any time, you probably want to avoid traditional school breaks. If you are bound to the school schedule, be prepared for bigger crowds when you go and plan accordingly. You can go during school breaks and avoid some of the biggest crowds. For instance, our family loves a good Christmas trip to the World. However, we never go during the week between Christmas and New Year's due to the crowds. We wait for a year where a significant portion of the break falls before Christmas Day and come home on Christmas Eve as the crowds begin to build.

3) Do you have a favorite season?
This one's easy. Are the waterparks a must do for you and your family? Avoid February. Hate the idea of the summer heat? Scratch July and August. Love Halloween? Be sure to go during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Get to know the schedule of events at Disney's Special Events page and you may find something that particularly appeals to you and your family. Going at a time that makes sense for your particular interests keeps the experience fresh and exciting.

4)What about park hours?
Do late night hours matter to you? While the park opening is pretty well standard throughout the year, peak seasons will have extended hours during the evening. If you hate to get up early on vacation, but love to stay out till the late evening hours, you may want to avoid some of the seasons with lighter crowd levels. While the wait times may be shorter, night owls may be disappointed to get on vacation and find out that the Studios are closing at 7 tonight. Keep an eye on park hours as they become available. Disney releases this info 6 months in advance, and there are a number of resources available out there for accessing it. One of my favorites is provided by the folks at WDW Info.

Personally, my absolute favorite week to visit is the week before Christmas, with a shoutout to the week of Memorial Day. What about you? When have you found success visiting Walt Disney World? When are your favorite times to go?