Kristin and I are anxiously awaiting our upcoming trip to Disney in September. We are so excited - the only way to keep it under control is watching Disney themed videos on YouTube. (Thank you, YouTube, for so lovingly feeding our addiction.)
Preparing for vacation can be daunting, especially when you’ve never visited a place before. Disney World is no exception. In fact, Disney World can be incredibly overwhelming because of all of the options you have in merely planning your stay. As Kristin and I approach the departure date for our 26th (?) trip together, we’ve been reminded of just how hard this planning can be. Here are some suggestions which have made our planning experiences easier and we hope they will work for you too!
The first thing we always do when we’re planning is consult a Disney vacation planning DVD. You can request these online for free and they produce a new one every couple of years to include recent additions, new promotions and upcoming attractions and events: we requested our newest DVD almost a year before our projected visit. At best, this new DVD is disappointing with obnoxious hosts and an un-engaging format; however, it can give you an idea of what time of year you’d like to visit, where you would like to stay and which key attractions you do not want to miss. (If you can get a 2009 DVD, I would highly recommend it. This DVD, although slightly outdated, has much more information, much more personality and gives you a much better idea of what WDW is all about.)
Our next recommendation is to go to disneworld.disney.go.com and check out the specifics on hotels and room rates. EVERY hotel offers different accommodations and, subsequently, a different range of rates. (Always remember that rates are lowest during the week and increase slightly over the weekend. This is very much the norm.) If you have a small budget, check out the value resorts. If you have been saving for years for this trip so that you can go “soup to nuts,” definitely check out the deluxe resorts. It is always a really good idea to have a firm "top 3" before you call to book your vacation. If you just call up and choose on the spot, you may not get the exact kind of hotel you’re looking for.
ALWAYS call to make your reservation. The website offers a reservation service that you can use; however, it’s not the same as interacting with the employees of Disney. The call center is open 24 hours – Walt Disney World caters to people all around the world. The people on the other end of the line walk you through the reservation process, answer ANY question you may have and can even make dining reservations for you at any restaurant on premises. The call is quick and easy. Most people are probably thinking “oh, I’ll be on hold forever. The website is much easier.” Fear not, the WDW operators are responsive, thorough and quick. They do not mess around. Oh, and they’re friendly. They are some of the friendliest people you’re going to meet throughout your Disney experience. Trust me. You’ll understand when you call.
Keep an eye on airfares. As we are all painfully aware, fuel costs are yo-yoing like a politician during election season and the best thing you can do for your vacation budget is to limit the amount of money you spend on transportation. We keep an eye on these rates for months. Sometimes we luck out and watch the rates go down and then pounce. Other times, we see them go up a bit, panic and then pounce. Maybe we don't have mad skills at getting the best airfare rates, but we highly recommend shopping around and watching the trends in pricing before reserving your seats. From the airport, getting to WDW is the easiest - peasiest thing in the world: Disney’s Magical Express.
This is going to sound so incredibly lame, but it’s so incredibly true. May 2009 was the first time I had ever utilized this amazing Disney amenity, and it made me feel like the Disney magic enveloped me as soon as I stepped on board. When you book your reservation, let them know that you are planning on using the service; they're going to ask you for your flight numbers. If you don't have them, hakuna matata! You can always call back and update your flight information OR you can just walk up to the desk when you get to the airport and check in. From your gate at Orlando airport, you take the monorail to the main terminal and head towards side B. From there, follow signs to your magical transport. Once you find the magical express check in you will get on a designated queue and wait in line, true to Disney style. Everyone going to your resort (and a couple of others) file on board, sit down and are immediately greeted by the sounds of Disney. (If you bring carry on luggage, not a problem, just pass them off to the bus driver and he will stow them for you.) A welcome video begins once you are on the highway and reminds you of all the fantastically awesome, wonderful things you are going to be encountering in the parks and, if you’re lucky enough to have a bus driver who likes to be a part of the show, the driver begins whipping out his/her massive amount of Disney Trivia. (What is Cinderella’s castle made of? It looks like brick, but guess again!) Checking your baggage? No problem! Just continue right from the plane to the Magical Express. You’re going to receive luggage tickets in the mail that are marked with your name and which resort you’re staying in. After your plane lands, a Disney employee will collect the luggage for all Disney guests on that plane and load it on to a bus. Your luggage will only be delivered to your resort much later than your arrival, BUT you won’t have to wait at the baggage claim. Convenient, right?
If you aren’t planning on flying and prefer to drive, the highways through Orlando have specific exits for Walt Disney World. The place is massive, after all. We can only speak of experience driving from the North East, but Disney World is definitely hard to miss while driving.
Some great tips for first timers traveling to Disney:
1. There are certain times of the year (the off-seasons) when hotel rates are lower and crowds are minimal. We consider this the best time of year to go. If you're lucky, and persistent enough to call 5 or 6 times, you will be able to keep track of hotel discounts and may be able to snag an enviable rate. Sometimes, you can even upgrade to a better hotel for the same amount you're already paying. It's all about luck, persistence and current occupancy levels.
2. The Disney store sells Disney park passes! You can purchase any type of pass at any Disney store prior to ever leaving for your trip. Florida sales taxes are applied, but that is one line you can cut out and skip on in to the park.
2. The Disney store sells Disney park passes! You can purchase any type of pass at any Disney store prior to ever leaving for your trip. Florida sales taxes are applied, but that is one line you can cut out and skip on in to the park.
3. Keep a watchful eye on the weather a week before you leave. Florida weather can be extremely fickle (we’ve been there in January when the weather was colder in Orlando than it was in New Jersey!). Pack accordingly. WDW has tons of clothing stores, but everything is Disney themed. If you don’t want to make expensive clothing purchases to adjust your wardrobe to the climate, keep a watchful eye. On the other hand, ALWAYS bring a swimsuit. A good number of the hotels have an open hot tub, which is always relaxing after a long day riding roller coasters.
4. You can check into your hotel at any time. I swear! This is no joke. WDW, like any other resort, has a standard official check in time; however, if you arrive early and want to get a full day in at the parks, you can check in before your room is even ready. Carried your bags on the plane? Once again, not a problem. WDW has excellent bellhop services. Leave your baggage with them, and they will deliver it to your room when it is ready.
5. If you are checking your luggage and using the Magical Express, you're going to want to bring essential items (i.e. medicine, cameras, a change of clothes, etc.) on the plane with you. This is especially important if you're planning on going to the parks before your room is ready for check in. There is no way to speed up your luggage, sorry.
6. Check out allears.net for resort reviews. This is one of our favorite sites. You can read reviews of every resort from anyone who has ever stayed there and has ever visited the website. I completely disagree with many of them (Polynesian Concierge service has always been incredible to me), but other reviews hit the nail right on the head. You can get a lot of other really great tips and reviews and news updates on allears.net. They keep track of which attractions are being updated, which concerts are playing at the American Pavilion, and so much more. We love it!
7. It may be a good idea to at least take a gander at the park maps prior to leaving for vacation. Going into a Disney park can be disorienting- there are so many things happening at once. Getting a general idea of the layout of the parks will make your visit a little bit less stressful.You can find artists' renderings online and I'm pretty sure you can get copies of the maps at the Disney store as well.
8. When you’re making your reservation, make sure you let them know if you’re celebrating anything or if anyone in your party is a first time visitor. You may get some little surprises throughout your trip.
That’s all for now. If we come up with some other really great planning tips, we’ll let you know. Check out Mommy's Thoughtful Spot for a new post about planning your trips with children. We’ve reached the final month countdown until our next visit and we’re getting incredibly excited.
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