Want a quick answer to some of the most frequently asked questions about Disney and Universal? These are my theme park quick start guides.

When you want to dive deeper into a topic, just tap the links on the slides, or check out the resource list below.

Theme park quick start guides

Harry Potter World Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

Disney World Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

Universal Orlando Resort Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

Universal Orlando vs Hollywood Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

Disneyland Avengers Campus Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

Paris Disneyland Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

Disney Genie Fast Facts

By Sue Winter

Disney World Christmas Quick Guide

By Sue Winter

View all stories

Direct links to each quick start guide

• Universal Orlando vs Universal Hollywood quick guide
• Wizarding World of Harry Potter quick start guide
• Disney World quick start guide
• Universal Orlando quick start guide
• Avengers Campus quick start guide
• Disney Genie quick start guide
• Christmas at Disney World quick start guide
• Disneyland Paris quick start guide

Looking for another fun destination? Here’s my Bora Bora quick start guide.

Go Informed theme park tips

With a little planning and strategy, you can have a fantastic theme park vacation. Check out these resources to get started:

• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando
• 55 things to know before you visit Disney World
• Universal Orlando complete hotel guide
• Disney World complete hotel guide
• Disneyland walking distances and training tips
• Universal Orlando vs Universal Hollywood
• How to do Disneyland Paris in one day

Exclusive bonus tips in your inbox

Want to save money, avoid hassles, and have more fun on your theme park vacation? Sign up now to get two bonus mini-posts every month, exclusive to the Go Informed mailing list!

Click here to join now.

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Go Informed Theme Park Quick Start Guides appeared first on Go Informed.

In 2021, Disney unveiled a major revamp of its long-standing FastPass system. Gone are the Disneyland days of running across the park to get paper tickets, and the months-in-advance Disney World FastPass reservations. Guests can still skip the regular line, but the system has a new name, new technology, and a new cost. Here is a bare minimum guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane.

July 2024 note: Disney has made some updates to the Genie+ system, including changing the name! Read this post first.

Go Informed Podcast episode 76

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 76. Click below to listen to the audio tutorial.

1 – Goodbye FastPass, hello Lightning Lane

FastPass has existed long enough that it’s become part of our everyday language, a brand-name like Kleenex or Band-Aid. Which makes it extra surprising that Disney has chosen to abandon this term.

If you’ve been to a Disney park in the last twenty years, you will recall FastPass as the system that allows guests to skip the regular line. It’s essentially a reservation to get in a shorter line at a specific time, thereby allowing more time to explore the park and skip a long queue.

During the 2020 park shutdowns, and subsequent reopening, Disney completely eliminated FastPass as an option. All guests waited in the same line for however long it took to ride.

It’s called Lightning Lane Now

Today FastPass is back, but without its legendary name. When you skip the regular queue, it’ll be a Lightning Lane you use. And you’ll get your Lightning Lane access using the Disney Genie app.

What else has changed since 2020? Here’s my glossary of the most commonly used Disney Parks words and phrases.

You can only book your Lightning Lane selections using Disney Genie

Disneyland’s paper FastPass kiosks are gone. If you want to get into the Lightning Lane you’ll need to use the electronic Disney Genie system. And it will not be free.

Got 60 seconds? Here’s a super-quick look at Genie and Lightning Lane

2 – Disney Genie is part of the Disney World and Disneyland app

You can access the Disney Genie system through the official Disneyland and Disney World park apps. It is not its own app.

As soon as you log into the park app, you’ll see the Disney Genie button. There is not a dedicated app called Disney Genie.

3 – Disney Genie is free, Disney Genie+ is not

Adding to the confusion, there are several different levels to the Disney Genie app.

Disney Genie provides tips and access to Individual Lightning Lanes

The basic Disney Genie service is free. It offers “plan your day” tips for where to go at the park. If you tell Disney Genie what you want to experience it’s supposed to give you a detailed park itinerary to make your day efficient and easy.

As of this writing, I do not recommend using Disney Genie to plan your day. The suggestions are not useful and won’t maximize your park time.

You can also use the free Disney Genie service to make Individual Lightning Lane selections. These are different from Lightning Lane, as you’ll see below.

Use the TouringPlans app to plan your day instead

TouringPlans.com offers a hugely useful free in-park touring app called Lines. This app really will help you get the most out of your day, including on-the-fly touring plans, ride wait times, dining info, and a lot more. It runs circles around Disney Genie’s functionality and will for sure make your day better.

You can also improve your park experience by getting an Unofficial Guide from TouringPlans.

4 – Disney Genie+ provides access to Lightning Lane reservations

Disney Genie PLUS is a paid add-on to the Disney Genie service. There is a daily charge to use this service, and every guest must have paid Disney Genie+ to get Lightning Lane reservations. (But not Individual Lightning Lane. Why Disney why??)

Disney Genie+ cost

Currently the cost to use Disney Genie+ is $20 per day at Disneyland and $15 per day at Disney World. Per person. Disneyland’s Genie+ includes the entire day’s PhotoPass photos but Disney World’s doesn’t.

Lightning Lane selections using Genie+

This is a bare-bones Disney Genie post so I will not get into step-by-step instructions. The main thing to know is that if you have paid Genie+ you can get Lightning Lane selections throughout the day, just by using the app.

Once you use a Lightning Lane reservation you can get another one. And since there’s no more running across the park to get a FastPass ticket the app is really quite convenient. You can get your next Lightning Lane pass while standing in line to ride something else.

Almost every attraction at Disneyland and Disney World has a Lightning Lane option, so if you really know your stuff you can avoid long lines most of the day.

5 – Individual Lightning Lanes using Genie

So, to recap: Lightning Lanes are the new version of FastPass, which you need to pay a daily fee to access. But there is also something else called Individual Lightning Lanes.

The top attractions in each park will not be available using the regular Genie+ Lightning Lane service. Yes, you can still get on these rides by standing in the regular standby queue. But if you want to skip the long line you will need to spend your way into the Individual Lightning Lane queue.

Individual Lightning Lanes are pay-to-ride for headliner attractions

The types of rides that require Individual Lightning Lane are Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Avatar: Flight of Passage. For most guests, these are the must-see attractions in each park. Especially during peak season, lines can be very long – sometimes two hours or more – for these rides.

To skip the regular queue, guests must use Disney Genie to buy access to the Individual Lightning Lane on these headliner attractions. You will pay somewhere between about $7-$15 per person to get those Individual Lightning Lane passes, regardless of whether you’ve also paid for Genie+ or not.

Note that Individual Lightning Lanes can sell out early in the day. If you plan to use this service, be ready to book those attractions first thing in the morning.

Quick look at Disneyland’s Avengers Campus

6 – The paid Lightning Lane system can be worth it

Yes, FastPass isn’t free anymore. But the new paid Lightning Lane system can be worth it. You will definitely save time in line, and using the app makes getting your next pass easy. Do your homework to decide if you’ll need to buy Genie+ for every day of your trip, or maybe just a day or two, and whether you’ll want to use Individual Lightning Lanes.

Check out this issue of the Go Informed newsletter for more Genie+ cost/benefit analysis.

7 – Disney Genie is new and evolving

Be sure to check for current information about which attractions have Lightning Lanes and Individual Lightning Lanes. As the system has rolled out, Disney has begun adding fireworks and parade viewing, and character meets, to the Lightning Lane options. Individual Lightning Lane attractions are subject to change too.

The cost to use Genie+, and the functionality will all be evolving as well. Be sure your research includes up-to-date information from several sources.

Disney Genie Bonus tips

• Plan ahead
  • If you spend the money for Genie+, having a plan will maximize your investment. As these illustrative TripAdvisor reviews demonstrate, showing up with no preparation can lead to disaster.
• Bring an extra battery
  • You’ll be on your phone a lot to get those Lightning Lanes. Toss an external battery into your park backpack.
• You don’t have to get Genie+ for every day
  • Check a crowd calendar to see if some days are busier than others. You may be able to just use the standby lines for part of your trip.
• Follow my Pinterest boards for more info
  • There’s a ton of great info out there about Disney Genie. I’ve shared some of my favorite resources on these Pinterest boards:
    • Go Informed Disneyland Pinterest board
    • Go Informed Disney World Pinterest board

More tips for your Disney vacation

Here on GoInformed.net, and on the Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation podcast, you’ll find lots of tips to make your theme park vacation the best ever. Check out these posts:

• 55 things to know before you visit Disney World
• How to get your family to the parks in time for rope drop
• Disney World complete hotel guide
• All about Avengers Campus at Disneyland
• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando

Bonus tips delivered straight to your inbox

Join the mailing list to get my twice-monthly bonus tipsheet. It’s like a little blog post made especially for you! Get your bonus tips here.

Here’s an archived newsletter you might like: 8 Ways to Skip the Line at Universal and Disney

The post 7 Disney Genie and Lightning Lane Bare Essentials to Know Now appeared first on Go Informed.

Way more than a zoo, Disney World offers an abundance of adventures for animal lovers. The resort boasts an entire theme park designed around the wonder of animals, an aquarium full of aquatic friends, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a safari lodge complete with grazing zebras and giraffes. Here are some of the many places to find animals at Disney World.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 74. Click below to listen to the episode and get the complete details.

Watch this chat on Facebook video

This post and podcast episode were originally produced as a Facebook live chat. You can watch the original video here.

Enchanting animal encounters at Disney World

Animal Kingdom theme park

Celebrating creatures of all stripes, Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is a must-see for every animal lover. The largest theme park in the world, Animal Kingdom houses about 300 different animal species in a lush natural setting.

Kilimanjaro Safari

A huge highlight in Animal Kingdom is the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. Open-air vehicles carry guests though the African savanna for close-up views of everything from lions to rhinos to bighorn Ankole cattle. Using the best of Disney magic, even the cheetahs appear to have no boundary between them and the guests.

The safari is a real treasure for photographers. For the best shots, sit on the side or in the back row. Often the animals come right up to the safari trucks and sometimes stop in the road, bringing the whole tour to a halt.

Because the animals are free to go about their business, every safari ride is different. Make time to try a few different times of day. Early and late are especially interesting on the savanna.

Watching the animals can be a great way to slow down and relax during your busy day. Here’s a list of 7 more ways to find some Zen on a theme park vacation.

Animal Kingdom walking trails

With so much space, Animal Kingdom offers miles of walking trails to explore. The trails are highly themed and feature all sorts of animals. For tiger fans, be sure to venture through the Maharajah Jungle Trek. To see gorillas, hippos, and a very cool aviary, take the Gorilla Falls trail near the safari.

The area around Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life also offers the chance to discover animals. Check out the Oasis and Discovery Island trails to see exotic birds, lemurs, and wallabys. You may also run into a famous Disney character here, like Mogli, or Kevin from Up.

You may have guessed, there is a lot of walking at Animal Kingdom. Here are my tips for how to get ready to walk at Disney, along with some common distances you’ll want to prepare for.

Conservation Station

For a behind-the-scenes look at animal care, hop on the Wildlife Express steam train to the Conservation Station. On this end of the park you’ll see cotton-top tamarins – basically the cutest monkeys on the planet – as well as an indoor education center.

The Conservation Station features windows into a veterinary lab, science center, and a kitchen where food is prepared for the animals. Animal caretakers are often available to interact with guests and answer questions. This is a must-see for any aspiring veterinarians in your group.

Tours at Animal Kingdom park

If you really want to get up-close, consider booking a special tour at Animal Kingdom. Disney offers several options daily. Here are the current tours at Animal Kingdom park:

• Caring for Giants – an up-close look at the elephants on the savanna
• Savor the Savanna – you’ll have a picnic amongst the animals!
• Up Close with Rhinos – behind-the-scenes tour of the rhino enclosure
• Wild Africa Trek – a privately-guided walking tour through the savanna

Get more info about the tours on Disney’s website here.

There are more than just animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Listen to my virtual audio tour of the park right here.

Epcot’s Seas Pavilion

Animal Kingdom isn’t the only Disney World park where you’ll find wild animals. Epcot is home to one of the largest aquarium tanks in the world. It’s part of the Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction and is a must-see for anyone who loves fishy friends.

Epcot’s aquarium

Epcot’s main aquarium tank is home to over 2,000 sea creatures, ranging from tropical fish to rays and sharks. Cast members are almost always on-hand to answer questions about what’s swimming by. Be sure to look for a hidden mickey on the bottom of the tank.

You may also see snorkelers or scuba divers in Epcot’s aquarium. This is because guests can take guided tours inside the tank. Learn more in this post I wrote for my friends at Disney Park Princess.

Dolphins

Dolphins also live at the Seas pavilion and frequently during the day you’ll see them swim into view. Watch for training sessions where the dolphins’ human assistants demonstrate the incredible brain power of these sleek swimmers. You’ll see it in the main tank area.

Manatees

Epcot is home to a couple of rescued manatees named Lou and Lil’ Joe. These quiet giants love to paddle around their tank, which you can view from above and below. The manatees are tucked away in a corner of the building, so be sure to seek them out.

Coral Reef restaurant

Stop for lunch at Epcot’s Coral Reef restaurant, which has windows that look straight into the main aquarium tank.

Animals at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Main Street horses

Even at Magic Kingdom guests can encounter live animals. Watch for horses pulling old-fashioned trolleys down Main Street USA. You can hop on for a ride and enjoy a throwback form of transportation found these days pretty much only at Disney.

Fantasy animals

Magic Kingdom is of course home to a menagerie of fantastical animals. Not only will you encounter a very famous mouse, but almost every attraction includes an animal element.

Some of the best places to see Disney animatronic animals include the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

You could even make your own scavenger hunt by trying to find all the animals in Magic Kingdom.

Animal experiences at the Disney World resorts

Besides the parks, Disney World’s hotels offer some delightful animal encounters. For animal lovers, it’s hard to beat a stay at Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, or especially Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Want to learn more about the Disney World hotels? Be sure to read my Disney World hotel guide here.

You don’t have to be staying at these resorts to visit the animals, so these are great activities for non-park days.

Animals at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge

Tri-Circle-D ranch

The Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge resort area has a working horse stable, called the Tri-Circle-D ranch. This is where Magic Kingdom’s Main Street horses live. Guests can walk through the stables to view the many horse breeds, including Clydesdales, Belgians, Appaloosas, and Shetland ponies.

From the ranch, guests can take guided horseback and pony rides.

Wagon, carriage, and sleigh rides

Take a quiet horse-drawn carriage ride through the Fort Wilderness landscape, or go with a bigger group on a horse-drawn wagon. During the holidays, your carriage becomes a festive “sleigh” ride.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge savanna rooms

Animal lovers of all ages will delight in the savanna view rooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Built in homage to the great African safari lodges, Animal Kingdom Lodge features a soaring lobby with open fire and a backyard filled with African wildlife.

All of the savanna view rooms look out onto the open prairie where zebras, giraffes, kudu, and exotic birds roam. It’s hard to beat waking up right on the savanna, especially for an animal lover.

Dine with the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Guests at Animal Kingdom Lodge can also book a special safari dinner that takes place on the savanna. Or just make a reservation at the excellent Sanaa restaurant and watch the animals while you eat.

Horse-drawn carriage rides at Port Orleans resort

At Disney World’s Port Orleans Riverside resort, guests can take a relaxing horse-drawn carriage ride along the shore of the Sassagoula River.

Get ready for your Disney vacation

Here on GoInformed.net and on my Go Informed podcast, you’ll find tons of tips to help you have a fantastic Disney vacation. Start with these recommend posts:

• 55 things to know before you visit Disney World
• Disney World walking distances
• How to add Universal to your Disney World vacation
• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando

Join the mailing list

Join the mailing list to get my twice-monthly bonus tipsheet delivered straight to your inbox. Here’s where to sign up.

Live Disney chats

This post and podcast episode were originally produced as a live discussion on Facebook. You can join me, along with my friend Joey – the Disney Hack – most Tuesdays at 11:00am Pacific time on my Facebook page. Scroll up to the top of the page to watch the video.

You can catch all our archived discussions here.

The post Where to find animals at Disney World appeared first on Go Informed.

As one of the biggest movie franchises in the world, Marvel is a natural for theme park attractions. In the USA, guests can experience Marvel attractions and meet characters in both Universal and Disney theme parks. Here’s where you can find Marvel and what to expect at each location.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 68. Click below to listen, or find the show on your favorite podcast player.

In the USA, Marvel attractions can be found at Universal Orlando, Disney World, and Disneyland

Good news for Marvel fans – whether you visit Disneyland, Disney World, or Universal Orlando you can rub shoulders with your favorite superheroes. Yes, Disney owns the blockbuster franchise today, but due to a pre-existing contract with Universal Orlando, there is an entire Marvel land located in the Islands of Adventure theme park.

Technically, Universal is supposed to have the theme park rights to Marvel in any park east of the Mississippi. However, Disney has found a loophole and is introducing selected characters at their Epcot park. So now Orlando visitors can experience unique Marvel attractions at both Universal and Disney.

On the west coast, Disney has opened a Marvel-themed land at Disneyland’s California Adventure. Dubbed the Avengers’ Campus, this land is an immersive visit into the MCU.

Why are all the parks working hard to bring Marvel to life? In our podcast chat, Joey shared some stats that show Marvel is by-far the highest grossing movie franchise of all-time.

Marvel at Universal Orlando

Marvel Superhero Island is Universal Orlando’s Marvel-themed land. It’s located in the Islands of Adventure theme park and feels like a journey into a Marvel comic book. Characters interact with visitors like action-figures come to life, rather than lookalikes from the movies. There are three major attractions in Marvel Superhero Island.

Marvel Attractions at Universal Orlando

• Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall

Listen to my audio tour of the Islands of Adventure theme park here.

Marvel at Disney World

Thanks to a complicated loophole, Disney is also able to offer Marvel attractions in Orlando. The big Marvel-themed ride at Disney World is Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This highly-themed indoor roller coaster opened in 2022 and is by far the most popular attraction in the park.

Want an at-a-glance look at Disney World? Check out my 75-second quick guide right here.

Marvel at Disneyland

Avengers Campus

Located in California Adventure, Avengers’ Campus is Disneyland’s Marvel complex. Immersive theming includes a Headquarters building topped by a full-size Quinjet, an Ancient Sanctum featuring encounters with Doctor Strange, and two major attractions. Movie lookalikes interact with guests and perform stunts throughout the day.

Even the dining options are fully themed. At Pym’s Test Kitchen, guests can enjoy huge chicken sandwiches and giant pretzels.

Marvel Attractions at Disneyland

There are two major attractions at California Adventure’s Avengers Campus:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
• Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Disneyland Avengers Campus Quick Guide

Go Informed Podcast episode 75 is all about Avengers Campus. Click here to read the related show notes.

More theme park tips from Go Informed

Here on GoInformed.net you’ll find lots of info to help you have a great vacation in the Disney and Universal parks. Be sure to check out these posts:

• Universal Orlando vs Universal Hollywood
• 33 Things to know before you visit Universal Orlando
• 55 Things to know before you visit Disney World
• Park maps, walking distances, and how to train for your theme park vacation
• How to add Universal to your Disney World vacation

Bonus tips delivered straight to your inbox

Be sure to join the mailing list so you’ll get my twice-monthly bonus tipsheet, delivered straight to you. Click here to sign up for these exclusive tips, and to read what you’ve missed so far.

More episodes with The Disney Hack

• Christmastime at Disneyland trip report
• Comparing Disneyland and Disney World
• How to hack TripAdvisor One-Star Reviews

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Marvel Attractions in the Disney and Universal Parks appeared first on Go Informed.

When it comes to a Disney World vacation, one of the biggest investments you’ll make is the theme park tickets. Disney World park tickets are priced to compete with top-tier entertainment like Broadway shows, NBA games, and music festivals.

When you start your vacation planning, knowing how Disney World park tickets are priced, and what the options are, can really help your Orlando itinerary fall into place.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 65. Click below to hear the show now, or search for Go Informed: Build A Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app!

Disney World ticket options

At Disney World, you’ll need to decide more than just how many days you want to visit. Tickets are priced based on:

• How many days do you need admission?
• How many parks would you like to visit on any given day?
• Do you want to include water parks or golf in your ticket?
• What is the first date you’ll spend in the parks?

Let’s take a closer look at each of these options, so you can be ready with the right decision when you buy your tickets.

How many days will you visit the Disney World parks?

One of the first things you’ll need to decide is the number of days you’ll spend in the Disney World parks. You can choose a park ticket covering admission from one to ten days total, beyond that you’ll want an annual pass.

One-day park tickets are always the most expensive option at Disney World

On a per-day basis, tickets that are only good for one day’s admission are always priced the highest. Here’s an example:

• One-day one-park ticket for April 7, 2021 is $140
• A two-day one-park-per-day ticket starting April 7, 2021 is $271
• A three-day one-park-per-day ticket starting April 7, 2021 is $389
• A four-day one-park-per-day ticket starting April 7, 2021 is $475
• A five-day one-park-per-day ticket starting April 7, 2021 is $506
• A six-day one-park-per-day ticket starting April 7, 2021 is $521
• A seven-day one-park-per-day ticket starting April 7, 2021 is $539

Note that these dates are in the heart of spring break season. As we’ll discuss in a moment, Disney World’s ticket prices are based on the time of the year you will visit. These Spring Break dates are at the top of the pricing scale.

Incremental price goes down a lot once you get to a five-day ticket

You can see in the example above that as more days are added, the incremental increase goes down, especially when you get out beyond a four-day ticket. Here the cost to go from four days in the parks to five is only an extra $31. Thirty-one dollars for an entire day (or even part of a day) in one of the Disney World theme parks is a fantastic deal.

Staying on-site at Disney? Cover your arrival or departure day in your park ticket

Depending on your travel plans, you may be able to spend time in the Disney World parks on the day you arrive or the day you depart. Especially if you stay on-site, this can be a great way to take that last extra ride on a favorite attraction or get a jump on your vacation.

There are a lot of great reasons to stay in a Disney World hotel, and a top one is convenience. It’s easy to spend a partial day exploring a park when you just have a quick trip from your hotel.

If you’re planning to stay on-site for three nights or more, it can make a lot of sense to upgrade your park ticket to a four or five day admission. At $31, even just a few hours in a park on that fifth day can be totally worth it.

Disney World multi-day park tickets don’t have to be used on consecutive days

If you purchase a multi-day park ticket from Disney, you’ll have a few extra days to use it up. Here’s the rules:

• Two day park ticket must be used within 4 days
• Three day park ticket must be used within 5 days
• Four day park ticket must be used within 7 days
• Five day park ticket must be used within 8 days
• Six day park ticket must be used within 9 days
• Seven day park ticket must be used within 10 days
• Eight day park ticket must be used within 12 days
• Nine day park ticket must be used within 13 days
• Ten day park ticket must be used within 14 days

Adding the Park-Hopper option to your tickets

So far we’ve just talked about the “Standard” ticket option at Disney World. A standard park ticket allows admission to any one of the four Disney World theme parks per day. If you leave that park during the day you can re-enter, but that’s the only one you can visit all day.

Park-hopper allows you to visit up to all four of the Disney World theme parks on any given day.

Want to get more familiar with the four parks at Disney World? Episode 9 of the Go Informed Podcast is an introduction to the entirety of Disney World. Listen here or on your favorite podcast app.

How much does it cost to add park-hopper to a Disney World ticket?

Let’s go back to our sample prices and take a look at what it costs to add the park-hopper option.

For multi-day tickets, park hopper doesn’t cost that much more

As you can see from the numbers, the park hopper option is a flat-rate addition to your Disney World ticket. If you are only visiting for one day, adding park hopper will increase your ticket price by around 50%. But for multi-day tickets the increase is not nearly as great.

By the time you get up to a four day ticket, the option to hop between the parks is around $20 a day. So the question you need to ask is how much do you want to be able to visit multiple parks in the same day?

Why add park hopper?

Here are a few reasons you may want to consider adding park hopper to your ticket:

• You want to rope drop an attraction in one park but eat dinner in another
• You want the flexibility to move to another park if the one you start in feels too busy
• You like the challenge of seeing more than one park in a day
• You only have a couple of days but want to at least step foot in every Disney World park
• You really want to see a certain park after dark but don’t want to spend the entire day there

What you need to know about park hopping at Disney World during 2022

As with a lot of things right now, park hopping is not quite as simple as it sounds. During Disney World’s COVID-19 operations, there are a few limitations to know about.

Park hopping is allowed at Disney World beginning at 2:00 pm

Guests with park hopper tickets are free to hop to a second/third/fourth Disney World park beginning at 2:00 every day. BUT you must have a reservation on that day for a first park, and you must enter that park before you will be allowed to hop to a second one.

Beginning at 2:00, you can switch to any other park, and can go on to visit all the parks that same day if you wish. Keep in mind that during the current operations, hours and capacity is limited.

Park capacity and hours are limited during COVID-19 operations

If the second park is at capacity you won’t be able to hop there. However, this is an extremely rare possibility – even on the most busy days there have not been capacity issues with park hopping at Disney World.

Note the park hours for your visit. Some parks may be closing at 7:00pm or 8:00pm. This still allows lots of time even if you can’t switch until 2:00, but the old challenge of visiting all four parks on the same day is currently a lot harder to accomplish.

Another new twist you’ll want to know about: Disney Genie and Lightning Lane. This is the replacement for Disney’s classic FastPass system. Get the basics here.

Other add-ons to your park ticket

If you plan to spend time either in one of the Disney World water parks, or at the Oak Trail golf course, consider adding this right into your park ticket. You can select the Water Park and Sports option (one theme park per day ticket), or the Park Hopper Plus Option (adds water parks and sports to your park hopper ticket) when you buy your tickets.

Note that it is also possible to simply buy a one-day water park ticket separately. Same with using the golf course. So if you’re not sure if you’d use these add-ons you can skip this when buying your park tickets.

Especially if you are planning to include the water parks in your vacation, adding these right to your ticket can save some money. Play around on Disney’s ticketing site early and do the math to see what makes the most sense for you.

Disney World tickets are priced based on the date you will be visiting

Higher demand = higher price

You can actually tell how busy Disney expects the parks to be on your dates just by pricing out the tickets. Peak dates can top out at around $160 for a one day standard ticket. The lowest one day ticket price you should see is around $110. (spring 2021 pricing)

When selecting your tickets, you’ll have to choose the date you intend to first be in a park. Take a look at the pricing calendar on Disney’s ticketing page and you’ll see a whole month of different prices.

You can use this pricing as a hack to help decide which dates to choose for your vacation. If you have flexibility, go for the dates with lower prices. This is Disney’s prediction so should be pretty reliable.

If the tickets for your dates are on the top end of the pricing, this means you need to plan for busier parks. I’ve got tons of tips for this here on the site – a good place to start is with this post. You’ll also want to get those tickets early so you can lock in your park reservations.

Buy your park tickets early

Disney World is currently operating with a park reservation system that requires guests to choose which park they will start in each day. You cannot make this reservation unless you hold a valid park ticket. And you cannot start your day in a park without that reservation.

Be sure to check Disney’s park reservation calendar before you lock in your dates, so you know ahead of time which parks still have available reservations. Waiting until the last minute to make park reservations can result in limited options, or even no available parks on your dates. When is the last minute? It totally depends on the date you want to go.

Purchasing your tickets in a package with your Disney World hotel is a great way to lock down your itinerary without a big cash outlay. When you book in a Disney package, just a $200 deposit is required – and once you’ve made that deposit you technically have park tickets. This allows you to make those park reservations right away.

Learn more about how Disney World vacation packages work here.

Purchasing Disney World tickets at a discount

There are a few ways to find discounted Disney World tickets. Usually it’s not directly from Disney, although they will occasionally offer promotional pricing in vacation packages.

One thing to keep in mind is that one-day park tickets are pretty much never discounted. If you’re planning to visit for just that one day you’ll be paying full price. See my examples above.

When you purchase through a third-party just be sure to stick with a reputable source like AAA/CAA, a large retailer, or a long-time Disney partner. Discounts are usually modest but can really add up if you’re purchasing multiple tickets.

More tips for your Disney World and Orlando vacation

Now that you’ve figured out the tickets, it’s time to get ready for the rest of your vacation. Get lots more tips here on GoInformed.net, including:

• 55 things you should know before you visit Disney World
• Ultimate Disney World hotel guide
• Tips for Disney World during COVID-19
• Adding Universal Orlando to your Disney World vacation
• How to choose your Universal Orlando park tickets

The Go Informed Podcast

Theme park tips and info on the go! Be sure to look for the Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation podcast on your favorite podcast player.

From audio theme park tours to my best Disney World and Universal tips and hacks, you’ll find it all on the Go Informed podcast.

The post How to Choose Your Disney World Park Tickets appeared first on Go Informed.

Consider these 3 important tips before you book those flights.

Dreaming of your post-vax vacation? Me too!

Theme park travel is absolutely feasible in 2021, if you keep these points in mind.

Further discussion about theme park travel in 2021 on Go Informed Podcast episode 66

I dive further into this topic on the podcast, which you can find on your favorite podcast app, or click below to listen.

1: If you’ve never been there, 2021 is probably not the time to go

Not the advice you were expecting?

The fact is that if your heart is set on a first visit to Universal or Disney, all your dreams may not come true right now. That’s because a lot of the typical theme park experiences just aren’t happening in 2021.

Yes most of the attractions are operating, and you can still eat Mickey waffles to your heart’s content, and cast your spells in Diagon Alley. But parades and fireworks are discontinued. Mickey will wave from a distance but you won’t get a hug.

If you truly want the fully magical experience, it’s going to be best to plan your first visit for 2022 or beyond.

HOWEVER, if you’re OK with a modified theme park adventure, now is absolutely a great time to make those plans.

2: Theme park travel in 2021 is safer than you might think

Orlando’s theme parks have been operating safely since last July. Following and enforcing strict protocols for employees and guests, both Disney and Universal have welcomed millions of visitors this past year without incident. 

Many rules apply when visiting the parks, including mandatory face coverings even while riding attractions, temperature screenings at park gates, and enforced distancing in lines. This probably sounds familiar since you encounter some of the same guidelines even at your local grocery store.

The difference between a Disney park and the grocery store though is that at Disney these rules are constantly enforced. Guests are not just encouraged to wear a mask, it is a requirement that must be followed. Same goes for distancing and other safety measures currently in place.

As the California parks open this spring, expect the same level of compliance and enforcement.

3: In 2021 planning your travel in advance is essential

Look into your potential 2021 travel dates right now.

Summer 2021 is shaping up to be an explosion of travel, and guess what? The parks will still be operating at severely-limited capacity. Probably only 35% of the usual space will be available this summer at all the US theme parks.

The Disney parks require a reservation for entrance, and this is a good way to gauge whether your dates are a realistic time to travel. You can check out availability all the way through 2022 on the Disney World park reservation calendar here.

If you look right now (mid-April 2021) you’ll see that for the month of June 2021 pretty much every Disney World park is already booked. That means even if you have a ticket, if you don’t already have a reservation you’re not getting into that park.

The good news though is that July and August still look good. If you get your dates booked now you can grab those reservations. And since the park capacity is limited you can be sure that even though the reservations are full, the park won’t be wall-to-wall people. That’s exactly why they use this system.

No reservation system at the Universal parks

Universal does not have a reservation system, even though they are operating under the same capacity limits. This means you’ll need to use some other tactics to ensure your entrance into the parks. This includes getting there early and staying in an on-site hotel. (Hotel guests get priority for entrance even when the parks are closed due to capacity).

Want to know if the Universal parks are likely to reach max capacity? Check your dates on the Disney World reservation calendar. If all the Disney parks are full, then it’s likely the Universal parks will max out too.

Bonus tip 4: Consider travel for the end of summer or early fall 2021

Even though the early summer is shaping up to be pretty frenzied, I’d expect things to slow down a bit by mid-August. As kids go back to school – like REALLY back to school! – family travel will taper off.

The end of August and most of September normally see some of the lowest theme park crowds of the year. If you have the flexibility and the tolerance for crazy weather, this is actually an excellent time to travel to Orlando.

Resources to help you get there

Check out these posts and podcast episodes for more tips to help you plan your 2021 (or 2022) theme park vacation:

• 10 things to know about Universal Orlando during COVID-19
• Tips for Disney World during COVID-19
• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando (updated for 2021)
• 55 things to know before you visit Disney World (updated for 2021)
• Disney World ticket buying guide

Plus tons of tips on the Go Informed Podcast in any of these places:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• YouTube
• GoInformed.net

Get the Go Informed Newsletter

This post first went out to Go Informed email subscribers. Click here to join the list and get tips like these delivered straight to your inbox.

This post contains affiliate links.

The post 3 Surprising Things You Need to Know About Theme Park Travel in 2021 appeared first on Go Informed.

Choosing where to stay is one of the biggest decisions for any vacation. With about two dozen on-site Disney World hotel options, guests face a huge host of choices. This post gives you the information you need to decide where to stay, how to save money on your Disney World hotel, and how to make the most of your Orlando vacation.

First we’ll discuss why you should choose a Disney World hotel, and how to sift through the choices. Then I share some advice for booking your vacation. And finally a complete listing of every Disney World resort with a quick guide to what makes each property special. Be sure to bookmark this article for future reference.

Why you should stay in a Disney World hotel

Hear me discuss the basics about Disney World’s hotels on Go Informed Podcast episode 59. You can listen right here or on your favorite podcast app.

The Disney Bubble

There are a lot of choices for accommodations in Orlando, so why should you choose to stay on-site at a Disney World hotel? One of the top reasons is the “Disney Bubble”. The Disney Bubble is the concept that once you enter the Manhattan-sized Disney World property you are leaving the real world behind.

By staying in a Disney hotel, you don’t have to leave the bubble even when you leave a park. All of the Disney resorts exude the same service, attention to detail, and touch of fantasy that you’ll find in the theme parks. Disney provides free transportation to all the theme parks, including some very unusual modes, so you don’t even have to drive. All of this adds up to a complete vacation experience that keeps the real world out for awhile.

Convenience

The on-property hotels are the most convenient to the Disney theme parks, both in terms of physical location and transportation. Some are just a monorail, boat, or Skyliner ride away from the park entrance. A few are even within walking distance.

If you choose to book your hotel in a Disney vacation package, you’ll have the convenience of making payments instead of purchasing your park tickets up front. And you’ll have one number to call if you need to make a change or have a question.

Staying on-site can also make your mornings a little easier. From room service to character wake-up calls, the Disney hotels offer tactics to get your family up and moving with less drama. Check out 7 simple ways you can improve your Disney morning here.

Perks at the parks

Disney offers lots of extra benefits for guests staying in their hotels, including:

• Priority for park reservations
• Convenient free transportation from the hotels to the Disney parks and Disney Springs
• Exclusive 30-minutes early theme park entry to every park every day
• An hour or two morning head-start on booking Individual Lightning Lane selections
• Extended evening hours for guests staying in Deluxe resorts, and the Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin hotels
• Charge your purchases in the parks and Disney Springs to your room. Pre-order a Magic Band and you’ll just tap to pay.

Did you know you can leverage Disney’s early admission to beat the crowds twice in the same morning? Find out how to double-up your rope drop here.

The Disney World hotels are true vacation destinations

Every one of the Disney hotels is a true resort property, much more than just a bed for the night. From the most luxurious to the budget-friendly options, every property has unique theming, postcard-worthy swimming pools, meticulously landscaped grounds, and tempting dining options.

Anywhere else, these resorts would be destinations on their own. The sort of hotel where you could spend a long weekend just hanging out on the property. Make some time in your Disney vacation to explore and enjoy your resort.

How to decide which Disney World hotel is right for you

The Disney World resort categories

Disney splits their lodging options into several categories: Deluxe, Moderate, Value, and DVC Villas. While there are some distinct differences between the types, guests will enjoy the convenience, resort experience, and “Disney Bubble” at any Disney World property.

Deluxe

The Disney World deluxe resorts are high-end luxury properties with the pricing and amenities you’d expect at any five-star hotel. All of the deluxe resorts feature multiple dining options, including fine dining and often character meals.

At the Disney deluxe hotels you’ll find spectacular lobbies and the largest rooms on property. The only hotels within walking distance to a theme park* are deluxe resorts. These resorts also have on-site amenities like fitness centers and spas, which are not found in the other categories.

Disney World’s Deluxe resorts also include a very special perk: extended evening park hours at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. This benefit is only open to guests staying in the Disney Deluxe hotels.

*The Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin, which I categorize as moderate, are the exception to this rule. And one more exception – the moderate Coronado Springs has a fitness center. You can get all these details in the hotel listings later in this post.

Moderate

Disney World’s moderate hotels provide lots of on-site amenities with a more casual design. Rooms here are smaller than at the deluxe resorts, soft goods like towels and sheets are a bit more pedestrian and the dining options are mostly less formal. Many of the moderate hotels are on sprawling grounds with lots of activities, like fishing, jogging trails, and bike rentals.

Most of the moderate hotels feature multi-story buildings with outdoor corridors. Don’t let this “motel” appearance fool you. Sited on park-like acreage, your room is more likely to look out on greenery than a parking lot.

Value

Often at rates that compare to chain off-site options, the Disney World value hotels provide all the delights of the Disney Bubble along with some of the most heavily themed environments. Dining options are extensive food courts, and buildings are low-rise with exterior corridors.

The value resorts take up lots of land, which allows room for incredible theming elements like a life-size homage to the Cozy Cone motel and huge themed pools. Rooms are the smallest on property and the towels are not Egyptian cotton, but for theming and atmosphere these are some of Disney World’s top options.

The DVC Villas

If you’re looking for a luxury condo-style accommodation on the Disney World property, you’ll want a DVC Villa.

DVC is the Disney Vacation Club, a time-share program that rents out excess inventory through the Disney World booking system. You absolutely do not have to be a DVC owner to stay in a villa, and you don’t have to worry about getting sucked into a time-share pitch if you book a villa for your stay. If you book your villa through Disney’s system, your reservation will be just the same as if you book any other hotel room.

The villas are located at most of the deluxe resorts and at a couple of all-villa properties. These are apartment-style units that range in size from studio to three-bedrooms. All have kitchen facilities and most have in-room washers and dryers. The villas share all the amenities of their adjacent resorts, so you get all the space of a condo with the experience of staying at a Disney property.

Questions to help you choose your Disney World hotel

When choosing where to stay, don’t assume one category is automatically the right one for you. Consider a few questions first to narrow down your options, then explore the properties that fit best your needs and budget.

What’s your budget?

The farther ahead you plan, the more opportunity you’ll have to find something within your budget. The Disney resorts usually range in price from about $100 per night at the campground to over $1000 per night for a large Deluxe Villa. There are LOTS of choices in between.

For real-time pricing, be sure to scroll down to the hotel listings later in this post for links to Disney’s website.

Don’t forget to include the price of your park tickets in your budget. Keep in mind that once you get beyond a three or four day ticket, the incremental cost to add another day can be very low. Booking your hotel and tickets in a Disney vacation package can sometimes save money on the total. If you use a travel agent, they can help you figure out the most economical way to purchase your Disney vacation.

Learn more about the different Disney World park ticket options, and how they add up, in this post.

Check out my tips below for more advice about saving money on your hotel stay.

What size room do you need?

How many guests are in your party? Will you all stay in one room or spread out?

Room size is biggest at the Disney World Deluxe resorts, but some of the value hotels have economical family suites that sleep up to 6.

Even for a typical family of 3 or 4, a DVC villa may be the best choice. Villas include a kitchen, separate living space, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms (depending on the size you choose). This means more space for your group and makes it easier to get everyone going in the morning.

What amenities do you want?

While some amenities depend on the resort category (for instance, if you’re looking for fine dining and room service, you’ll want a deluxe hotel), every Disney World hotel has something unique to offer. If on-site activities are important, check out a resort like Fort Wilderness. If you want a fitness center, look for a deluxe or stay at the moderate Coronado Springs.

Be sure to scroll down to my hotel listings below for a synopsis of each resort.

75-second Disney World Quick Guide

What’s your favorite Disney World park?

If you have a theme park where you expect to spend the most time, look for a resort nearby or with easy transportation to that park.

Disney World hotels most convenient to Magic Kingdom are:

• Grand Floridian
• Contemporary
• Polynesian Village
• Wilderness Lodge
• Fort Wilderness Cabins
• Fort Wilderness Campground

Disney World hotels most convenient to Epcot are:

• Yacht and Beach Club
• Boardwalk Inn
• Riviera
• Saratoga Springs
• Old Key West
• Caribbean Beach
• Port Orleans French Quarter
• Port Orleans Riverside
• Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin
• Pop Century
• Art of Animation

Note that Epcot is the most centrally located theme park at Disney World, resorts near Epcot are therefore most equally distant between the other parks.

Disney World hotels most convenient to Hollywood Studios are:

• Yacht and Beach Club
• Boardwalk Inn
• Riviera
• Caribbean Beach
• Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin
• Pop Century
• Art of Animation

Disney World hotels most convenient to Animal Kingdom are:

• Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Coronado Springs
• All-Star Movies, Music, Sports

Do you want a hotel with lots of theming?

If you want the full 24/7 Disney experience, choose a hotel with lots of theming. In many cases these are not the most expensive resorts. In fact, some of the best theming on the property is at the value Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts.

Most of the deluxe resorts have understated theming, but not all. The Wilderness Lodge is a beautiful reproduction of a Western US National Park lodge, and at Animal Kingdom Lodge you can watch zebras graze right outside your room.

For animal lovers, some of the best options are Fort Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Be sure to read my animal lover’s guide to Disney World for more info.

I’ve noted the theming at each resort in my listings below.

The post Essential Guide to the Disney World Hotels appeared first on Go Informed.

Christmas at Disney World is an extra special time of year. Spanning the months of November and December, the holiday season brings special theming and events to every corner of the resort. If you are searching for a way to make your next Christmas extra festive and memorable, it’s hard to beat spending it at Disney World.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 57. To get the whole story, be sure to listen to the audio below or find this episode on your favorite podcast player. Thanks so much for tuning in!

If you want an over-the-top Christmas experience, this is the place for you

Christmas is a magical time of year, and nobody does magic and fantasy better than Disney. From the theme parks, to the resorts, and everything in between, at Disney World you’ll find Christmas charm throughout.

Christmas at Disney World begins immediately after Halloween

You don’t have to wait until December to experience Christmas at Disney World. The theme parks transform virtually overnight from Halloween to Christmas, and by the middle of November most every corner of the resort is decorated for the holidays.

Christmas in the Disney World theme parks

Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom theme park is where you’ll find the classic Disney Christmas experience. Especially on Main Street USA, the park is decorated with garlands, trees, and bows.

In Magic Kingdom you’ll see the characters dressed in holiday finery, and find special Christmas treats and merchandise. The castle is traditionally covered in lights for extra magic after dark.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a special after-hours event in Magic Kingdom. It takes place on select evenings in November and December (sometimes even in October!) and there is an extra ticket price to enter. Because it’s a special ticketed event, the crowd level during the Christmas party will be lower than during a typical day.

The Christmas party includes a special parade and fireworks, plus treats like hot chocolate and cookies. At the party you can meet the characters in their Christmas costumes. And you can enjoy the holiday decor after dark, which is really spectacular.

Be aware that the Very Merry Christmas Party usually starts in the early evening, around 5:00pm, so if you don’t have a party ticket you won’t be able to stay in the park after dark. If you’re planning a Disney World trip in November or December, watch the Magic Kingdom park hours and be sure to plan around the party.

Magic Kingdom is the only Disney World park that charges an extra ticket price for its Christmas event.

Here’s a link to Disney’s information about the Very Merry Christmas Party.

Epcot

Epcot also has a lot going on during the Christmas season. Most of the holiday activities take place in the World Showcase end of the park, officially known as the ‘Epcot International Festival of the Holidays’, and there is no extra charge to enjoy it.

Focusing on the winter traditions in each of the represented nations in World Showcase, extras include kiosks with special food and beverage offerings, plus holiday entertainment and theming.

Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional is a re-telling of the traditional Christmas story. Presented multiple times most evenings, this event takes place in the outdoor theater at the American pavilion.

A hugely popular Epcot tradition, the Candlelight Processional features a celebrity narrator and a large choir. Guests often wait hours to get seat for the show. One way to avoid the wait is to book a dining package that includes reserved seating at the processional. You can also eavesdrop on the show by walking by – if you just want to catch a glimpse.

Know that the Candlelight Processional is a big holiday tradition for Orlando locals, so if you visit Epcot in the evening in November or December it is likely to be extra crowded. Be sure to make your dinner reservation well in advance, or plan to eat from the kiosks and stay nimble.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom’s holiday theming has a charming home-spun quality. You will find Christmas and other internationally inspired winter holiday decorations throughout the park.

One of my favorite areas is on Discovery Island, where the shops are enhanced by rooftop lanterns. Here you’ll also find cast members with puppets telling wintertime stories in mime.

The other spectacular site from almost everywhere in the park is the projection show on the Tree of Life. During the Christmas season, there is a special cycle of projections accompanied by wintry music every night. Be sure to make time to see this park after dark.

Besides the main theming on the tree and at Discovery Island, Animal Kingdom surprises with a few unexpected decorations. When you wander around the park, look for Christmas lights on the dinosaur skeleton entrance to Dinoland and near the gift shop in Pandora. There are also special lanterns in Asia and other delightful touches that look like they were left by the locals.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has Christmas decorations almost everywhere in the park. OK, not in Galaxy’s Edge, but basically everywhere else. This is a park where Christmas comes to life after dark, so I highly recommend visiting at night.

Echo Lake, in the center of the park, boasts a huge Christmas tree and numerous floating decorations. All are lighted at night.

Of course there’s also Christmas music. At Hollywood Studios you’ll hear lots of classic pop Christmas tunes from crooners like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

The projection show in Hollywood Studios is on the side of the Hollywood Tower Hotel (which houses the Tower of Terror ride). This show runs constantly after dark, and you can see it from a lot of areas in the park. Your best viewing angle is on Sunset Boulevard in front of the Tower, where you may even get snowed on if your timing is right!

The Disney World hotels during Christmastime

Christmas doesn’t stop at the theme parks at Disney World. All of the hotels feature special theming, and even if you aren’t staying there I recommend making time to visit a few to take in the extravagant holiday decor.

Explore all the Disney World resorts in this Essential Guide to the Disney World Hotels.

Grand Floridian Resort at Christmas

The Grand Floridian is probably the most decorated resort on Disney World property. If you only visit one hotel, I recommend this one.

In the Grand Floridian lobby you’ll find numerous Christmas trees, including one that is about three stories high! All are highly decorated and photogenic.

You might think that Christmas tree would dwarf everything around it, but it meets its match in the form of a giant gingerbread house. Every year (except sadly 2020) the Grand Floridian culinary team builds basically a life-size house from gingerbread.

Made from over 1000 pounds of honey and 800 pounds of flour, this has to be one of the largest gingerbread houses anywhere. Smoke pours from the chimney and there’s even a cast member selling cookies from inside the house!

Between the delightful smell of gingerbread and the elegant classic Christmas decor, the Grand Floridian lobby truly is a holiday fantasy. It’s just a short walk or monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom, and I really recommend making time for a visit. You’ll want at least an hour to take it all in.

If you want to go all-out for your next family Christmas, consider splurging on a stay at the Grand Floridian. Waking up to that lobby and passing through it at the end of each night would surely be a magical holiday experience.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The other resort I highly recommend visiting during Christmas is the Wilderness Lodge, where the soaring lobby contains a Christmas tree worthy of a mountain forest. Pine garland accentuates the hewn wood railings, and the scent of fireplace smoke permeates the air, creating a cozy feeling of coming in from the cold.

Here you can buy a cup of hot cider and sit by the huge hearth, or explore the many levels that extend above the lobby floor. This is another resort that I think would be a wonderful choice for a November or December stay.

At the adjacent Fort Wilderness campground, guests are known to decorate with Christmas lights and even host a golf cart parade at the holidays. This is another fun and affordable option during the Christmas season.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs also has lots of Christmas cheer. All the shops have special holiday merchandise, including the restaurant gift shops. You can also meet Santa here, and you can see a special exhibition of Disney themed Christmas trees.

The Christmas trees are called the Christmas Tree Trail, and sometimes it’s a trail or sometimes the trees are together in one end of Disney Springs. In any case, the trees are completely decked out in your favorite Disney themes.

Some of my favorites were the Haunted Mansion tree and the Disney Villains tree. Of course, at the end of the trail most of the ornaments are available for sale. These make great souvenirs and gifts for friends back home.

Tips for visiting Disney World during the Christmas season

• A lot of the Christmas theming is best at night. Make time to be in the parks after dark.
• Stay on-site to really experience being in the Disney World Christmas bubble. Find out which hotels have the most expansive holiday theming.
• Be sure to watch the weather forecast when you pack for your trip. December in Orlando can be 80 degrees or literally freezing at night.
• Know that the holidays at Disney World are a big tradition for local Orlando residents. Especially Epcot will be crowded at night so be sure to make your dining reservations well in advance.
• Since Christmas spans from November to the end of the year, if you have the flexibility to visit during a low-crowd week you can see everything without the holiday crush. Best weeks are usually the beginning of November and the beginning of December.
• Christmas and New Years Eves/Days are usually the busiest days of the year at Disney World. If you choose to visit at that time, be sure to have a plan for dealing with the crowds.
• Allow time to visit some of the hotels and Disney Springs.

Want to know what Christmas is like at Disneyland? Check out this trip report and photo album.

Disney World Christmas anytime

YouTube has tons of videos to help you experience the magic of Disney World’s Christmas anytime. The music loops make great background when you want a little holiday spirit from the parks. Here’s one from Magic Kingdom’s Main Street USA.

More tips for your Disney World vacation

• 55 things you should know before you visit Disney World
• Essential Guide to the Disney World Hotels
• How far will you walk at Disney World?
• Adding Universal Orlando to your Disney World vacation
• 33 things you need to know before you visit Universal Orlando

The Go Informed Podcast

Theme park tips and info to go! Be sure to look for the Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation podcast on your favorite podcast player.

From audio theme park tours to my best Disney World and Universal tips and hacks, you’ll find it all on the Go Informed podcast.

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Believing in The Magic of Christmas at Disney World appeared first on Go Informed.

One of the best ways to improve your Disney vacation is to learn from other travelers’ mistakes. One-star TripAdvisor reviews contain an endless number of cautionary tales that can help you have a five-star experience. On this episode of the Go Informed Podcast, my friend The Disney Hack shows us how to hack those negative reviews and just how fun reading them out loud can be.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 54. Click below to hear the show now, or search for Go Informed: Build A Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app!

Watch the video of this discussion here

This conversation originally occurred on our Tuesday Facebook Live “Disney Hack Chat”. You can catch us live most Tuesdays at 11am Pacific on The Disney Hack Facebook page. Watch the entire conversation on the video below.

Want to watch more of our Disney Hack Chats? Click here to check out all the archives.

Hacking One-Star TripAdvisor Reviews

TripAdvisor is loaded with negative reviews of the Disney parks and attractions. Each can be viewed as a cautionary tale of what not to do when planning your vacation.

There are two common issues that come up in almost every negative review: failure to prepare and unrealistic expectations. Watch for this theme as we look at some eye-popping and pretty hilarious one-star TripAdvisor reviews of some of Disney World’s most famous attractions.

Magic Kingdom Disappointment

Here’s someone who did not have a plan for handling the crowds and did not do the research to set the proper expectations.

A lesson here is to consult a crowd calendar before you go so you know how busy the parks should be. If it’s been awhile since you’ve visited Disney World you need to be aware that these days there are very few dates when the parks are quiet. (Except during COVID-19 operations, which is literally another podcast episode. That you can check out here).

If you will be there on a high-attendance day, be sure to have a touring plan so you can still do all the things you want to do. My 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World will give you the tools to help you avoid a Disney disaster.

Disney vacation turnaround overnight

This reviewer had a terrible time at Hollywood Studios. He was not prepared for the FastPass system or how quickly the Rise of the Resistance boarding passes get snapped up.

He also mentions that he was planning to visit Animal Kingdom the next day. So of course I looked up that review too. Check out the turnaround, just because he changed his expectations, overnight. He also shares some great advice in the second review.

Fail to plan, plan to fail

Here is someone who did no research before their trip. Let’s unpack some of the things they could’ve avoided.

• They did not realize the Disney marathon was happening during their trip.
• They purchased their park ticket at the gate so had no chance to get the FastPasses they really wanted.
• They waited in a long line to order lunch instead of using mobile order.
• They arrived in the park at noon when crowds are approaching their peak.
• They had dinner reservations too late in the day to also make time for the fireworks.
• And for some reason they also chose to spend $400 in the shops!

We get pretty excited talking about this one – you can catch our reactions at around 39 minutes into the audio.

Catch more of me and Joey on Go Informed Podcast episode 68, where we talk about where you can find Marvel in the Disney and Universal theme parks.

Top takeaways from these Disney one-star TripAdvisor reviews

As you can see, Disney World is not the sort of place you can just show up for. In order to really enjoy your trip you’ll need to do some research and planning, and set appropriate expectations.

A good place to start is to find out what you don’t even know you don’t know about Disney World. Listen to my episode about Disney World basics, and check out my post 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World, well in advance of your trip.

Are you thinking about traveling to Disney during the COVID-19 era? Here are some top tips I think you should know.

Click here to join my email list and get regular updates from me delivered to your inbox!

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

• 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World
• 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando
• Adding a Visit to Universal Orlando to Your Disney World Trip
• Orlando Theme Park Walking Distances and How to Train for Your Trip

Orlando theme park COVID-19 tips

• Tips for Disney World during COVID-19
• 10 Things to Know About Universal Orlando During COVID-19

Join me on social media

• Facebook.com/goinformednet
• Instagram.com/goinformednet
• Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Hack Hilarious One-Star TripAdvisor Reviews and Achieve Your Five-Star Disney Vacation appeared first on Go Informed.

A lot has changed at Disney World since 2020, including new rules, procedures, and modifications to the usual Disney vacation experience. Because of all these changes, it’s really important to know what to expect before you visit Disney World during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some essential tips to help you plan your trip to Disney World in the time of COVID.

This post was last updated on February 16, 2022

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 53. Click below to hear the show now, or search for Go Informed: Build A Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app!

Click here to listen to my 2022 expectations for all the US theme parks

Be aware of Disney World’s COVID-19 safety protocols

Disney has implemented a lot of new rules to help keep everyone safe. Be sure to get familiar with the requirements well before your visit. Your best resource for the complete rules and procedures will always be Disney World’s official website.

In addition to Disney’s rules, make sure your state or country does not fall under a travel or self-quarantine restriction from the State of Florida.

75-second Disney World Quick Guide

You may have to wear a mask

Masks are still required for all guests on Disney World transportation. Everywhere else they are optional for fully vaccinated guests, encouraged indoors for unvaxed guests.

Here’s a great post from Disney Dream Co. with some excellent tips about wearing a mask at the parks.

Advance Park Reservations are required at Disney World

In addition to a valid park ticket, Disney World guests must make advance reservations at one park per day. Before you even choose the dates for your trip, take a look at the park reservation calendar.

Consult the Disney World park reservation calendar before you book anything

As travel ramps up and more guests return to the parks, demand for those park reservations is heating up. You might be surprised to know that some of the Disney World parks may be completely booked months in advance. Start your planning with a visit to Disney’s park reservation calendar here. Click on “view current availability” to see a calendar with all the parks through 2022.

A quick look at June 2021 shows limited options, especially if you want to visit Hollywood Studios (home of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). This screenshot was taken on April 14, 2021. You can see that even two months in advance, there are only available reservations for one of the Disney World theme parks.

So a key tip here is to plan ahead, especially if you’ll be traveling during prime school-break times.

As soon as you buy your tickets, be sure to jump on the Disney World website and get your park reservations. Capacity is limited in each park so you may not get your first choice. Guests staying on-site at Disney World do get priority for these reservations.

Another great tip is to use park-hopping when reservations are tight. So far there have been no problems getting into any of the Disney World parks when hopping to them in the afternoon. Make the reservation to start your day at an available park, then hop to your first-choice park after 2pm. See my notes about park-hopping below.

Busy at Disney World equals busy at Universal Orlando

Incidentally, if you see a full reservation calendar at Disney World then that is a sign that Universal Orlando will be hitting max capacity too. Universal does not have a reservation system. If you intend to visit there on a high-demand day, be sure to arrive early. Or stay on-site at Universal to get early park admission.

You can learn more about Universal Orlando’s COVID-19 operations here.

Park-Hopping is allowed after 2pm

Visitors with park-hopper tickets are allowed to visit more than one park on the same day. Guests will need a reservation for the park they choose to start the day in, then anytime after 2:00pm they can move to another park with no additional reservation needed.

There are few important things to note about park-hopping during Disney World’s COVID-19 operations.

Before hopping to another park, guests must have first entered the park that they have a reservation for on that day. For example, if your reservation is for Magic Kingdom and you want to go to Hollywood Studios at the end of the day, you will have to first go to, and enter, Magic Kingdom. You can’t just sleep in and go to Hollywood Studios with no reservation.

Disney bus transportation has resumed between the theme parks. However, to board a bus from one park to another, guests will have to show a valid park-hopper ticket. Cast members will verify the ticket before allowing entry to the bus. The Epcot monorail to/from Magic Kingdom is currently not operating, but the Skyliner and boat transportation are taking guests between Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Because of capacity limitations, on any given day not every park may be available for park-hopping. Guests may call (407) 560-5000 for a real-time recorded message, or check the Disney World website at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/day/ to find out which Disney World parks are currently available for afternoon park hopping.

During COVID-19, Disney World capacity may be limited

At Disney World during COVID operations, park, and ride, capacity may be limited. Attendance in each park is dictated by the reservation system, and ride capacity may be lower than normal.

You’ll also find that the on-site Disney hotels are taking limited reservations, keeping the resorts far from full, and not all of the hotels are open right now. Which means you likely won’t see any extraordinary room rate discounts. But you will have plenty of space at the pool!

Rent a car

Disney World shuttle buses, monorail, Skyliner, and boats are also operating below standard capacity, resulting in long waits for transportation. Disney has also cancelled its Minnie Van service, which was a Disney version of Lyft.

This is one time I recommend renting a car so you have the flexibility to get around on your own terms. (Be sure to listen to the podcast episode for more discussion on this topic).

You will pay a daily fee to park your car at your Disney World hotel, but this covers parking throughout the property, including standard parking at the theme parks. So it won’t cost you extra to drive and park at the theme parks if you’re staying on-site.

Disney World park hours are shorter than usual during COVID-19 operations

Another limiting factor in your ability to tour Disney World right now is the park hours. Disney has cut back the operating hours for all four theme parks, especially late nights.

Operating times are staggered between the parks, so you might notice Magic Kingdom open from 9-9 but Epcot open from 11-10.

While the hours are shortened you will likely spend more time at your hotel than normal. Keep this in mind when deciding where you want to stay.

Also, just like everything related to COVID-19, things can change unexpectedly at Disney World. Watch the park hours daily – Disney is known to change them with no notice and if an hour is added you’ll want to know about it.

No FastPasses at Disney World during COVID-19

A big change right now is that Disney World is not using FastPasses in any of the parks. During COVID-19 operations, all guests wait in the regular standby queue.

This means you don’t have to worry about reserving FastPass+ in advance, something we’ve talked about a lot on the podcast. But it also means you don’t have those FastPasses to help you skip the regular queue.

Because park capacity is limited, wait times have generally been short. But if you visit on a holiday weekend or a day that the park is at its full COVID-19 capacity you may encounter long lines. As always, I advise that you arrive at the park before opening to take advantage of the especially quiet first hour of the day.

Need some tips to help you get there early? Check out this post and podcast episode about mastering your theme park morning.

Another fantastic resource to help you plan your Disney World touring strategy is TouringPlans.com. I highly recommend a subscription to their site – and their Unofficial Guide to Disney World too.

No parades at Disney World during COVID-19, but fireworks are back at Magic Kingdom and Epcot

Several of the most popular Disney events are not happening during COVID-19 operations. This includes all parades. However, Magic Kingdom and Epcot fireworks will return beginning July 1, 2021.

Character meet-and-greets are also not happening in the traditional sense. Characters are appearing around the parks at a distance from guests. You can still snap a selfie with Mickey but he’ll be at least 6 feet away from you.

One popular innovation at the Magic Kingdom is the introduction of character cavalcades. These are essentially individual parade floats that pass through the park at unscheduled times. The floats have characters on board and are a delightful way to get a little bit of that Disney parade feel without drawing a crowd.

Disney World dining during COVID-19

Restaurants and dining have definitely been affected by the operational changes at Disney World. First off, not all restaurants are open. Even though there are fewer guests at Disney right now, the reduction in dining options means you will have competition for tables at popular restaurants. So if you have a place you want to dine be sure to make a reservation.

Disney World dining reservations can now be made 60 days in advance. This is a change from the past when you could book a table up to 180 days ahead.

Mobile ordering is very strongly encouraged whenever possible. All the quick-service restaurants have mobile ordering as an option in the official Disney World app. Use this option – it will save you a ton of time and it cuts out a face-to-face transaction.

Character meals do still exist at Disney World, but there are fewer locations and the characters do not visit the table. Disney has come up with some creative ways to provide interaction from a distance.

Listen to the podcast episode for more tips about Disney World during COVID-19

Listen to the podcast recording for more tips, including advice about what to do if you choose to wait before visiting Disney World. You can click the audio at the top of this post, or listen on your favorite podcast app. This is episode 53.

Click here to join my email list and get regular updates from me delivered to your inbox!

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

• Three surprising things you need to know about 2021 theme park travel
• 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World
• 10 Things to Know About Universal Orlando During COVID-19
• 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando
• Adding a Visit to Universal Orlando to Your Disney World Trip
• Orlando Theme Park Walking Distances and How to Train for Your Trip

Considering a trip to Hawaii in 2021? Click here for my tips for Hawaii travel during COVID-19

The Go Informed Podcast

• Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.
• Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

Join me on social media

• Facebook.com/goinformednet
• Instagram.com/goinformednet
• Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Tips for Disney World During COVID-19 appeared first on Go Informed.