Where can I find information to plan our trip?

[CanuckTraveller]

We have just booked our next vacation, which will be 4 days at WDW staying at a nearby but off site resort, then driving to Port Canaveral to catch the DCL Dream. I'm completely comfortable planning the cruise portion as this will be our third family cruise and I know what questions to ask . However I've only been to the parks once when I was a teenager, which is over 20 years ago now (!).
Where can I find suggestions about what areas of the parks to see and which ones to skip? I read one thread about disappointing rides which was very helpful. I also keep reading about fast passes, but how exactly do they work? CAA is going to give us some sort of "preferred " parking lot entry pass, but I understand we still need to pay for parking. Since we are driving, how do we get directions to drive to each park? Everything I find just says to follow the signs, but I need more than that lol! We will not use a hotel shuttle to the park due to car seat needs, this is not something I will change regardless of the reason.
I don't want to offend anyone, but there seems to be a lot of very detailed-oriented posts on the forums, whereas I'm looking for more general information.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Check out our site www.wdwinfo.com-- you may find the more general information you are looking for there.

I know the idea of "follow the signs" seems hard to plan with but as someone that LOVES my GPS and maps and has all my plans on notecards written months in advance, believe me when I tell you-- follow the signs!!! They are very well marked and it is very easy to get where you need to go with them. No maps or GPS will get you where you need to be more efficiently than just following the signs. You can mapquest ahead of time how to get from your hotel to the WDW property but I am sure that you will probably get better directions from the desk staff at the hotel.

 

[siskaren]

Actually, a guidebook would probably be a good place to start for general information. I particularly like PassPorter.

 

[boundfordisney]

I recomend the unnofficial guide to walt disney world, anything and everything you could possibly ask is in that book. I read it before our first trip to disney and it was sooooo helpfull! I also have the passporters book but it doesnt have as much info in my opinion

 

[JeanfromBNA]

I second the Unofficial Guide. Welcome!