Top 5 Tips for Planning your Walt Disney World Vacation
If you’ve only ever ventured to Disneyland, then a trip to Walt Disney World can seem overwhelming. With four theme-parks, two water-parks, hundreds of restaurants and multiple hotel properties, there is so much to do. With all the fun there is to experience, this means you’ll be able to be a part of experience even more magic than ever before! If you’re worried about planning a Walt Disney World vacation, don’t fret. I’ve teamed up with Get Away Today to give you the top 5 tips for planning your Walt Disney World vacation.
Stay on Property
Unlike the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World has 32 hotel properties to choose from. These properties can range from Value to Deluxe, so there is a hotel option for every family and budget. While staying on property might seem more expensive, it’s certainly not. Some of Walt Disney World’s Value properties start as low as $110 a night! Plus, you get so many benefits by staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, that the perks of staying onsite outweigh the cost.
The first perk of staying on property is that you’re always going to be close to the magic. Since Walt Disney World is over 40 square miles, it’s going to take a while to leave if you’re staying somewhere else. Not only will you need to find a taxi or locate your rental car, but you’ll have to make a long drive back to the hotel after a long Disney day. Plus, you’ll have to pay for parking ($20 per day), which can get expensive after a few days. However if you stay on property, you’ll never have to worry about paying a parking fee, because you’ll able to take advantage of the free transportation shuttles from each park to the hotels.
Another benefit of staying on a Walt Disney World property is being able to reserve your dining and Fastpass+ reservations before anyone else. Walt Disney World Resort guests can reserve their dining up to 180 days in advance, while you can reserve Fastpass+ selections up to 60 days in advance. Because of these awesome benefits alone, I would recommend booking your Walt Disney World vacation as soon as you think of it. By being able to reserve Fastpass+ and dining before anyone else, you’ll be able to enhance your vacation even more.
Utilize FastPass
Speaking of Fastpass+, make sure you utilize this service as much as possible while you’re on your vacation. Not only should you make your Fastpass+ reservations as soon as you can, but you also want to be strategic about it. Since you do have the advantage of reserving Fastpass+ reservations before anyone else, you don’t want to waste it on an attraction that doesn’t have a long wait time. Plus, with the brand-new area “Pandora – The World of Avatar” and the debut of Toy Story Land on June 30, 2018 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll want to make sure you avoid the long lines. Because of this, I’ve placed a list of attractions that you should consider making your Fastpass+ reservations for first:
Magic Kingdom
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- Toy Story Mania!
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Na’vi River Journey
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Epcot
- Frozen Ever After
- Mission: SPACE
- Test Track
- Soarin’ Around the World
It’s important to be aware that when you reserve Fastpass+ in advance, you’ll only be allowed to make four reservations per day and they can only be used at one park. Luckily, you don’t have to limit yourself to only four reservations per day. Once you’ve used all of your Fastpass+ reservations for the day, you can start reserving more at any park until they are sold out. However if you do plan on visiting multiple parks in one day, make sure you purchase a Park Hopper ticket.
Free Dining Promotion
If you want to make your Walt Disney World vacation even more magical (and affordable), make sure to take advantage of their Free Dining promotion. If you book a Walt Disney World vacation package during select dates, you’ll be able to receive free dining. The Free Dining offer varies depending on which hotel property you choose to stay at, however, you’ll be able to receive anything from the Quick-Service Dining Plan to the Disney Dining Plan for FREE. If you’re not sure what each dining plan includes, you can find additional details at the Walt Disney World website. Typically, this promotion is offered during off-peak season, which means that you would need to travel during early summer or the beginning of fall. While we don’t have any official dates on when 2018 Free Dining will be released, we know that it is bound to sell-out fast. If you’re flexible on your Walt Disney World dates, make sure to take advantage of this promotion!
Holiday Celebrations
While Walt Disney World is magical all year round, the holiday celebrations certainly don’t disappoint. From the beginning of September until the end of October, you’ll be able to experience Halloween Time at the Walt Disney World Resort. In Magic Kingdom, you’ll be able to visit your favorite villains, socialize with Grim Grinning Ghosts and experience Spooktacular décor and entertainment like never before. Plus on select nights, Magic Kingdom hosts “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.” Although this is a separate ticketed event, it allows guests to dress in their best Halloween costumes and celebrate with exclusive parades, entertainment and more.
If Christmastime is more joyful for you, then you’ll want to visit during the most wonderful time of the year. Walt Disney World Resort celebrates the holidays from mid-November until the beginning of January. Much like the Halloween celebrations, you’ll be able to experience jolly décor, dazzling entertainment and delectable dining options at each park. Plus, join in on an exclusive celebration at Magic Kingdom at “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.” Even though this is a separate ticketed event, it is sure to bring even more joy to the holiday season.
Book with Get Away Today
Last, but certainly not least, make sure you book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation with Get Away Today. Not only do they guarantee the best price, but they’ll also be able to provide you with the best service. Each travel agent at Get Away Today is an expert on Walt Disney World, so you’ll know that you’re getting the best tips, tricks and insider information to make your vacation the best one yet.
To book your Walt Disney World vacation, visit Get Away Today or call 855-GET-AWAY to speak to a travel agent directly. Make sure to mention that Liz on Call sent you!
If you are traveling with kids, check out these tips for planning a Walt Disney World Vacation with kids. Disney World food is some of the best and I’ve shared all the Best Treats at Walt Disney World for you to check out while on your Vacation. And don’t forget to make some matching Disney Squad Goals shirts for the family!
Happy Vacationing!
Liz
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