If you've decided to go to Walt Disney World for vacation,
and if this is your first time to Disney (or haven't
been in a while!), you'll probably have lots of
questions. Here are answers to the most common
questions:
What time of year is best to go?
What is the weather like?
What's the best way to deal with the crowds?
Should
we stay inside or outside the park?
Which resort should we stay at?
How do I make reservations?
Where can I buy our
park tickets?
Should we rent a car?
How do we get back and forth to the airport?
Is it true Disney will pick up my luggage for me at
the airport?
How far in advance do I have to make
dining reservations?
Are there Disney vacation packages available? Do they
include dining?
We've heard the Florida sun can be brutal. How do we
cope with the heat?
What about laundry facilities? Are there places to
buy personal items?
What else is there to do besides Walt Disney World?
How old should our kids be before we take them with
us?
If we have a child who's too small to ride
an attraction, do we have to wait in line twice if
my spouse and I both want to ride?
Is it worth going without kids?
What time of year is best to go?
There are several factors to consider when deciding
when to go to Walt Disney World: crowd levels,
weather, and pricing.
Crowd levels are highest during the early summer
(June to mid-August) and over holidays. Think of
your child's school year—families usually
time their vacations during school breaks, hence
the increase in crowd levels. Holidays, despite
what you may think, are actually the worst time
to go in terms of crowds. The week between Christmas
and New Year's Day, for example, is the busiest
time of the year (often times the parks are so
crowded that the parking lots will actually close
by late morning).
The best times of year to go to avoid the crowds
are:
After Labor Day through the week before Thanksgiving
The week after Thanksgiving to the week before
Christmas
Late winter/early Spring (but avoid the week before
Easter)
The last week of August (many schools start back
up at this time and you'll find that the crowds
will start to thin, the advantage of this time
of year is that the parks are open the latest,
during the other off-periods you'll find that the
parks close much earlier).
Pricing tends to follow the same time frames; during
peak attendance periods (summer and holidays),
resort prices will be at their highest. During
the off-season the prices will be lower.
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What is the weather like?
Weather is the other important consideration when determining when to go. Summers
in Florida can be quite brutal (though there are ways to cope with the heat),
and frequent thunderstorms and showers are quite common (most of the time however,
they only last a few minutes!). The spring and fall are more comfortable, with
temperatures usually in the 80s (but hot days are still quite possible).
Winter
is a mixed bag. You have as good of a chance of having a pleasant day in the
80s as you do of having a cool one in the 50s (definitely pack a sweater!). It
can get quite cold at night, with temperatures in the 40s and lower not unheard
of. However, winter has the advantage of typically being much drier than the
other times of the year.
Of course, when you're talking about Florida, talk of hurricanes can't be too
far behind, particularly in light of the unusually high hurricane activity in
Florida the last couple of years. Hurricane season runs from June to November,
with July through September being the peak times for storms. If you do go during
that time of year, just remember that odds are that you will be fine (Walt Disney
World has only closed twice due to hurricanes in its entire history). Nevertheless,
it's a good idea to keep an eye on things as your vacation approaches. If a hurricane
does appear to be brewing, you might want to consider rescheduling your trip
(but don't panic too early, you'll only be able to tell a week or so ahead of
time whether there's a chance of a hurricane).
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What's the best way to deal with the crowds?
The best way of course is to visit Walt Disney World when the parks aren't as
crowded.
If
you
must
go during a period of peak attendance however, don't panic. There are strategies
you can use to lessen the impact of the crowds:
| • |
Stay at one of the Walt Disney World Resorts. Not only will
this guarantee you admission to the parks (the parks may close to outside
guests if they are extremely busy), but you will also be able to take advantage
of Extra Magic Hours—a wonderful way to enjoy all of your favorite
attractions with little or no wait. Doing so will also free up your days
so you can enjoy the parks at your leisure, take a dip in your resort pool
or just relax. |
| • |
Get to the parks early. The earlier you arrive the better chance you
have of enjoying your favorite attractions before the crowds build. |
| • |
Take a break in the afternoon. Crowds are heaviest at this time of day,
so instead of dealing with long waits, the hot sun and tired legs, take
a break and visit one of the Disney resorts for a nice lunch. You can also
take a relaxing swim at the resort pool, enjoy many of the recreational
activities at the resorts—or even take a nap! When you come back
later in the evening you'll be refreshed, it will be a bit cooler, and
the crowds will often thin out a bit. |
| • |
Visit attractions during parades or fireworks. Most people will be watching
the show and you'll usually find the lines have died down significantly. |
| • |
Take advantage of FastPass! It's free to everyone and will let you experience
your favorite attractions with little or no wait. Visit our FastPass
page for more information. |
| • |
Keep an eye on the tip boards. Each park has a tip board that displays
the current wait time for all of the attractions (it's updated constantly
and is extremely accurate). If you see that your favorite attraction is
exceptionally busy, you can chose to visit another attraction or get a
FastPass instead of wasting time. |
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Should
we stay inside or outside the park?
There are advantages and disadvantages to staying in the parks, deciding where
to stay is pretty much determined by which factors are important for you:
| |
Walt Disney World Resorts |
Outside Resorts |
| Cost |
WDW Resorts are generally more expensive, with prices ranging from $79
per night at the Value Resorts to $350 and higher per night for the Deluxe
Resorts. |
You'll often find room rates much more reasonable (sometimes significantly
so) at outside resorts. |
| Convenience |
All Disney Resorts offer complimentary transportation to and from the
parks (via bus, boat or monorail). Some of the Deluxe Resorts are actually
within walking distance of the parks. If you have your own car, parking
is free at all of the parks. |
Many outside resorts offer shuttle service to the parks, but you'll often
find that it's inconvenient (shuttles only run a few times a day, there
may be a fee, etc.). If you have you're own car you'll have to pay to park. |
| Benefits |
Disney Resort guests receive many special benefits including:
Extra Magic Hour mornings and evenings
Complimentary package delivery to your room
The ability to make charges to your room throughout the Disney parks
Guaranteed admission to the parks, even on the busiest days |
Outside resort guests do not receive any of the benefits that Walt Disney
World Resort guests enjoy. |
| Magic |
Staying at a Walt Disney World immerses you completely in the Disney
experience. You'll feel like you're in your own self-contained utopian
city. Your entire experience (sleeping, getting to the parks, dining, shopping
and so on) takes place within this magnificent fantasy world, and you can
truly leave the real world behind. |
Staying at an outside resort of course means that you won't enjoy that
Disney magic 24 hours a day. Some people find, however, that taking a break
from Disney is a welcome relief. |
| Hospitality |
Walt Disney World is renowned for its hospitality and attention to detail.
When something does go wrong, you'll find that the resort staff will go
to great lengths to assist you, after all, they're primary mission is to
ensure that you have a magical vacation. |
Many of the outside resorts are as equally concerned with your happiness
and comfort, and you'll often find that the customer service and attention
to detail is outstanding. Keep in mind though, that the outside hotels
will not be able to assist you with specific Disney-related problems. |
Overall, our recommendation is to stay in the parks if you can. You'll enjoy
a great number of benefits, conveniences and magical moments that will make your
vacation truly memorable!
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What resort should we stay at?
The choice of which Walt Disney World Resort to stay at can be tricky. The first
thing to consider is your budget. Value Resorts are
around $79 per night, Moderate
Resorts range from $139 to $189, while Deluxe
Resorts start in the low $200s,
with many rooms costing $300 or more per night. (The Moderate and Deluxe resorts
also offer larger rooms, suites and concierge rooms at a higher cost.
You'll
also
find
that
specials
are
frequently
available, particularly for Annual Passholders, so it usually pays to call Disney
and shop around a bit).
Once you decide what type of resort you want to stay at, the choice of which
one is often up to which resort you prefer. Each has their own advantages (particularly
concerning their proximity to the different parks) and their own theming. Be
sure to visit the Guide to the Magic Resort pages to get an overview of each
of the resorts.
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How do I make reservations?
There are two ways to go, depending on your preference. The first is to book
your trip through a travel agent. The advantage there is that they'll do all
of the work for you—everything from making your hotel reservations, booking
your flight, arranging for rental cars, even getting your park tickets. Additionally,
they can help you with all of the aspects of your trip that aren't directly related
to Walt Disney World (including making reservations at off-site resorts and hotels
and getting tickets for other Florida attractions).
Need help booking your vacation?
MouseFanTravel.com provides
their complimentary signature services like itinerary planning and advanced
dining reservations, and they never charge any agency fees. One of the
best services that you will never get by booking direct is they proactively watch
for price reductions and if your booking qualifies, they will apply the savings.
For more information or to request a no-obligation quote for your next vacation
just visit their website at MouseFanTravel.com or
call toll free 877-881.7771.
 |
If you'd prefer to do your own planning, you
can
call
Disney
directly
(407-W-DISNEY)
to
get
rates
on
the
different resorts. The Disney web site can be helpful here, though the interface
can be
a bit confusing
(currently
it's difficult to get a precise quote for a particular resort at a given
time period, you are often just given a list of suggestions). The reservation
agents
are often very helpful; feel free to ask them if they have any specials going.
A good strategy is to book your room well ahead of time (6 months or so).
You'll probably get quoted the standard rate, but call back occasionally to
see if
any specials have popped up (especially a month or two before your trip).
You can always change (or cancel) your reservations up to 24 hours ahead of
time
to
take
advantage
of
these
specials
without any penalty.
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Where can I buy our park tickets?
If you're staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you can purchase your park tickets
when you check-in (the exception is the annual pass, you'll need to purchase
them at Guest Services counter at any of the theme park entrances). You can also
purchase tickets in advance at most Disney Stores, they have a variety of choices
to suit
your
needs, and you'll usually get a small discount.
If you're working with a travel agent and don't
have tickets, they will work with you to get you
all the passes you
need.
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Should we rent a car?
If you're staying outside of the park, then most likely yes (otherwise you'll
be at the mercy of the hotel's shuttle service, which might not be convenient
to your schedule).
If you're staying in the park, then the answer is probably not. Most of the time,
Disney transportation is far more convenient and less stressful than driving
yourself. There are a few situations, however, where a car can be useful:
| • |
Traveling from resort to resort. With the exception of the
Magic Kingdom resorts, there is no Disney transportation directly between
resorts. If, say, you want to visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge from the Caribbean
Beach Resort, you'll need to take a bus to a park or Downtown Disney and
transfer to an Animal Kingdom Lodge bus. This can be very time consuming,
and it is much, much quicker to drive yourself. |
| • |
Visiting other Florida attractions. If you plan on visiting Universal
Orlando, Sea World or other destinations, your own car will be a necessity. |
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How do we get back and forth to the airport?
If you're not renting a car, don't worry. You'll find plenty of shuttles and
limos waiting to take you to your resort. Mears is probably the most popular,
you can purchase round trip tickets when you arrive in Orlando and be taken straight
to your resort (though you need to make some stops at other Disney resorts to
let off your fellow passengers). Better yet, you can pre-book a private limo
and have it waiting for you when you arrive. Not only is this very cool, but
it will save you lots of time. Either way, you can prearrange to be picked up
at your resort when it's time to go back to the airport.
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Is it true Disney will pick up my luggage for me at the airport?
Yes!
Disney also offers a special service called Magical Express, which offers free
airport shuttle service, luggage delivery and airline check-in for most Disney
resort guests (Magical Express is not offered for the Walt Disney World Swan
and Dolphin or Shades of Green resorts). Basically, you will be greeted upon
arrival at the Orlando International Airport where you will be escorted to a
special coach and taken to your resort. Don't worry about your luggage, it will
be picked
up for you and delivered right to your room!
When it's time to leave, you can also take advantage of Disney's Magical Express
Departure Service. A motorcoach will pick you up at your resort and drop
you off at one of the four drop-off locations in all four quadrants of the Orlando
International Airport.
Additionally, if you are flying one of the participating airlines (American,
Continental, Delta, including Song, JetBlue, Northwest, and United, including
TED), you can avoid airport check-in lines by taking advantage of the Resort
Airline Check-in Service, whereby you can check your luggage and receive your
boarding pass before you leave your Disney resort. This service is separate from
Magical Express. You do not have to participate in Magical Express to utilize
the Resort Airline Check-in Service.
Disney's Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior to arrival (though
it is recommended that you make your arrangements as far in advance as you can)
by
visiting disneyworld.com,
or calling the Disney Reservation Center at 407-W-DISNEY (you can also make arrangements
through your travel agent). Be sure to have your Arriving Flight Number and time
into the Orlando International Airport, your Departing Flight Number and time
out of the Orlando International Airport and the name of the airline(s) you'll
be flying.
Is it worth doing? If you're trying to watch your
money then free transporation to the resorts can
make a big difference—particularly if you're
traveling with a large group. It
is mighty convenient to not have to go to the baggage
claim
to pick
up
your
luggage, but be aware that you will be boarding
your coach with lots of other families, and it
may take you quite a long time to get to your resort.
Also, you might be a bit wary of not picking up
your own luggage. Unfortunately, there have been
reports of problems with luggage being lost—trying
to track it down if that happens can certainly
put a damper on your vacation. If you have concerns
in that area it may be worth getting your own transportation.
It's quicker and you'll be in "control" of your
own luggage.
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How far in advance do I have to make dining reservations?
You can make reservations up to 6 months in advance for dining and other special
events. This is highly recommended if you will be visiting during a busy time
of year and if you are trying to get into one of the more popular restaurants
(Cinderella's Castle, for example). Additionally, you can call 6 months ahead
to make reservations for other things such as an Illuminations fireworks cruise.
AllEarsNet (a wonderful Disney web site run by Deb Wills), has a great calculator to
assist you in determining when you should make advance reservations for a variety
of restaurants and events.
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Are there Disney vacation packages available that
include dining?
Yes! You can purchase a Dining Plan when you buy
a Disney vacation package. With the basic dining plan, you can eat at more
than 100 participating Walt Disney World Resort restaurants (both in the parks
and at the resorts).
For
each
night
of
your
package
stay,
you will receive a number of credits that
will allow each person in your party to enjoy one table-service meal, one counter
service meal and one snack. These credits activate as soon as you check in to
your resort
and can be used at any time, in any combination, during your stay.
Special meals use up more credits, for instance, two table service meal credits
must be exchanged for one signature dining experience (i.e., a dinner at
one of the finer restaurants, such as the California Grill at the Contemporary
Resort).
The addition of the Dining Plan to a Magic Your Way
Vacation Package costs (prices subject to change) $37.99 per adult (age 10
and
up) per night of stay and $10.99 per child 3-9 per night of stay.
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We've heard the Florida sun can be brutal. How do we
cope with the heat?
| • |
Use sunscreen! |
| • |
Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your head
and your eyes. |
| • |
Drink PLENTY of liquids (a good strategy is
to buy a bottle of water and then keep the bottle
when you're done, refill it at a drinking
fountain so you can keep a supply of cold water
on hand). |
| • |
Bring a washcloth from your room. If you get
hot there's nothing quite as refreshing as giving
your face a quick wipe with a cold, wet washcloth! |
| • |
Take a break during the hottest part of the
day by going to a resort for a nice lunch or
taking a cool dip in your resort pool. |
| • |
One thing Disney has lots of is great air-conditioning!
If you get hot wander through a store to cool
off. Some attractions are also great to escape
to if the sun gets too heat. Sit down theater
attractions (the Hall
of Presidents and Impressions
de France are good examples) are the best, the
shows are long and the air is nice and cool!, |
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What about laundry facilities? Are there places to
buy personal items?
Every Disney resort has laundry facilities for guests and a shop where you can
purchase any personal items you may have forgotten (toothbrushes, aspirin, etc.).
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What else is there to do besides Walt Disney World?
There is of course a lot more to see in Florida besides Walt Disney World. Other
popular destinations include Universal Orlando, home to two theme parks, Universal
Studios and Islands of Adventure. Visit SeaWorld for an exciting day of aquatic
shows and attractions that are quite well done. The Kennedy Space Center is a
must stop for space enthusiasts, you can even see an actual Saturn V rocket—the
same rocket that took the first men to the moon in 1969.
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How old should our kids be before we take them with
us?
Kids of all ages are of course welcome at Walt Disney World, but you may find
that children under 4 years of age are too young to appreciate many of the attractions. If
you do travel with small children, be sure to keep an eye on them throughout
the day. Don't forget to take a break for a well-earned nap or some down time.
A full day at the parks is a lot for an adult, for young children it may be more
than they can handle!
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If we have a child who's too small to ride an attraction, do we have
to
wait in line twice if my spouse and I both want to ride?
Nope! You can take advantage of Disney's
Baby
Swap.
The
way
it works is this: you and your spouse (and your child) wait in line as usual.
Let
a Cast
Member know that you want to do a Baby Swap. When you get to the front
of the line one of you can ride the attraction while the other waits in a special
area. When the ride is over your spouse can get right on (after "swapping" your
child of course!) and
experience
the
attraction
immediately with no additional waiting.
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Is it worth going without kids?
Absolutely! Some people think of Walt Disney World as being just for kids, but
there is plenty of magic to be experienced no matter how old you are. Walt Disney
World is a popular honeymoon destination, and why not? There are plenty of beautiful
resorts to visit with luxurious restaurants, relaxing spas and quiet, romantic
hideaways. You can go horseback riding, enjoy a round of golf, take a boat for
two out on the lakes, shop at a variety of shops and boutiques or enjoy a
late
evening
on
the
Boardwalk
or
at
Pleasure
Island. Experiencing the attractions at the theme parks can be extra magical
when you're with that special someone. And nothing is more romantic than holding
hands and watching the fireworks bring a perfect end to an enchanting evening!
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