4. Grab tickets and FastPasses

If you don't already have park tickets, but you do have a little more than a week before your trip, you could get a discount by buying them through sites such as Undercover Tourist. That site is a Disney-authorized broker that can save you some serious money.

And while you won't have the typical 30 to 60 days to reserve your FastPasses, it's still possible to get on your favorite rides without long waits in line. Hit the FastPass+ kiosks at each park and you'll find the latest FastPasses available. If you're not planning to visit during the busiest times of the year, chances are good that you'll be able to get the FastPasses you want (though you might need to be flexible about the return times). Another way to make sure that you get on your preferred rides is to make sure you're at the parks for rope drop, then rush to the attractions. You can get a lot done in those first few hours after the park opens. Or, if you're more of a late-night person, keep in mind that other guests will get tired and will leave some of their FastPasses unused. That means that the standby lines will get much shorter.

Also, you'll still be able to receive a customized MagicBand (with your name and favorite color) sent to your home if you order it 10 days before your arrival at a Disney hotel. If you customize it six to nine days before your arrival, it won't be sent in the mail but it will be waiting for you when you check into your hotel. If you don't customize your band until five or fewer days before your arrival, you'll get a non-customized band or card at the check-in desk.  

5. Enjoy the moments

Last-minute planning can be extremely hectic, but your trip will turn out much better if you don't get stressed out about the small details. So you couldn't get reservations at your favorite restaurant, or the only room available was smaller than you would've liked. These things probably won't be remembered years after your trip, but the good times will. Besides, making plans on the fly could lead you to try things you never would've considered before. Maybe you'll find new restaurants and attractions that will become must-do's in future trips. Just go with the flow and you'll realize that it's possible to have a wonderful Walt Disney World trip whether you have 12 months or 12 days (or less) to plan it!