It’s complicated, say some fans

It’s said to be “the happiest place on earth.”

But some travelers aren’t thrilled about what it takes to pull off a trip to Walt Disney World these days.

Top restaurants can be booked solid months in advance. Timeslots for new attractions can go within seconds of coming online at 7 a.m.

And then there’s the lingo: To avoid lines, FastPasses are out, and Lightning Lanes are in. There’s also Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ (the latter costs extra), Individual Lightning Lanes (not to be confused with regular Lightning Lanes) and photography services like PhotoPass and Memory Makers.

To some Disney super fans, mastering the system is all part of the fun — not to mention a way to reduce waiting times in the parks.

But for casual parkgoers, strategizing for a stay can be overwhelming.

“It’s insane how much work has to go into planning a Disney vacation,” said Andrea, who asked that we not use her full name because she works in the travel industry. “I would need a vacation just from planning my vacation.”

She said she joined several Disney groups on Facebook to get planning tips: “Oh my goodness — what a rabbit hole.”

Other travelers turn to Disney-focused YouTube channels, blogs and message boards, where fans trade tips on saving money, hotel pools and navigating the new rule changes.

A post last week on one message board read: “We have been to WDW plenty of times but not the last couple of years and all the new changes are confusing me [to] no end.”

Those changes are, however, part of Disney’s continual quest for improvement, a company representative told CNBC.

“We are always listening to our guests and continue to make updates to improve their experience, which includes rolling out new ways to make planning easier and simpler, now and into the future,” Disney spokesperson Avery Maehrer told CNBC.

For now, planning a trip to Disney World is like “an Olympic sport,” Andrea said, adding that many of her friends turn to a Disney travel agent in the end.

“But even that is cumbersome and confusing,” she said.  

Jonathan Alder, CEO of the travel agency Jonathan’s Travels, organizes African safaris, wine tours through France and trips to remote parts of Patagonia. But he said Disney World vacations require the most complex planning of all.

“The problem is the system is so incredibly complicated that it requires its own doctorate to really understand,” he told CNBC.