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.

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.

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.

When the Disney parks closed in March 2020, The Disney Hack and I decided to start a weekly live discussion on Facebook. We’ve been chatting all things Disney parks almost every week since then. From our favorite hacks, to the movies you should be watching right now, to our fantasy Disney vacations, we’re bringing Disney into our lives, and yours, every Tuesday.

You can tune in to see us live Thursdays at 11am Pacific Time on my Facebook page. And you can watch all the past chats right here.

Want to catch more from us? Here’s a link to The Disney Hack website. And you can listen to me on the Go Informed Podcast on your favorite podcast app.

Check out our archived chats below!

Mistakes we’ve made in the parks | February 23, 2023

Get ready for some interesting stories as we share our mistakes, so you don’t have to.

Disney snack chat | January 26, 2023

Maybe eat lunch before you watch this one – we’re talking all about food at Disney World. Get our tips for how to save time & money while dining at Disney.

Disney Parks news round-up | January 19, 2023

There has been a LOT of big announcements coming from Disney lately. Fellow Disney geek Ric joins us to break down all the news, and make our predictions for what’s yet to come.

What should you do if it’s your last trip to Disney World? | January 12, 2023

Today we ponder the unthinkable: what if you knew this was your last Disney World trip ever? Find out what we’d do, and what we wouldn’t, on this nostalgic episode.

All about Sue & Joey | January 5, 2023

We kick off the year with a “getting to know you” chat. Just how did Joey & I end up hosting a weekly Disney chat for over two years & counting?? Find out how this whole thing got started, and how we ended up being such huge Disney geeks.

Armchair Imagineering for 2023 | December 22, 2022

What would we like to see change in the parks for 2023? Find out in this final discussion of 2022.

Christmas in the Disney parks | December 8, 2022

We take a deep dive into what it’s like to visit the Disney parks during Christmastime.

The post Disney Parks Conversations that Scratch Your Disney Itch appeared first on Go Informed.

This episode is all about our recent Disney World trip. We tried some new restaurants, tested my touring tips, and survived the Orlando summer heat! The notes here are for quick reference. Be sure to listen to the episode to hear all the details.

These are the show notes for episode 32. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

Tips From My June Disney World Trip

On this trip, we visited both Universal Orlando and Disney World

To hear about our Universal Orlando visit, be sure to listen to episode 31.

For my tips about visiting both Disney World and Universal Orlando in the same trip, read this post.

Orlando in June is Hot

As always during the summer in Orlando, the weather was a big factor in our park touring. This week was really hot, with temperatures in the 90’s every day.

Make sure you are prepared for the weather before you go.

Listen to the episode to hear the top tips we used most often.

Here are my other episodes and posts about Orlando weather:

Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips – Go Informed Podcast Episode 028

Disney World and Universal Orlando Summer Gear Guide – Go Informed Podcast Episode 024

Weather at Universal Orlando: 5 Cool Tips for the Heat and Rain

Disney World Weather Tips and Why August is a Great Time to Visit Orlando

This is my post about what to do if you experience extreme weather on your trip, including soaking wet shoes.

Here’s a link to the video of the rainstorm we experienced on our ride to the Orlando airport.

Get This Shirt

OK, I already mentioned this shirt on the last episode and on episode 28. But in case you missed it, I can absolutely recommend it for your trip. It was comfortable, it never wrinkled, and it never got sweaty or stinky. Plus it looked better than just a t-shirt.

It’s called the Club Ride Bandara Plaid Bike Jersey and you can find it on Amazon here.

Yes, they make shirts like this for guys too. Here’s a link.

Disney World Rain Tips

A couple of quick tips for rain at Disney World –

Cover your stroller every time you go inside, even if there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Rainstorms can start very suddenly and your stroller can get absolutely drenched.

If you see dark clouds, pay attention when the wind starts blowing. The wind seems to always precede an imminent downpour.

I talked more about the Orlando rain on the last episode.

Other Episodes and Posts Referenced on this Episode

How to use a Disney World Dining Reservation to Get an Entire Theme Park to Yourself – Go Informed Podcast Episode 027

10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation

Get the Right Room and the Perfect Table at Disney World – Go Informed Podcast Episode 029

Morning Extra Magic Hours

Not everything is open at early Extra Magic Hour, but usually the big headliner rides are operating.

If you’re planning to use that early hour to get on Flight of Passage without a FastPass, be sure to listen to this episode: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tour – Go Informed Podcast Episode 016

Use Uber as an Alternate to Disney World Transportation

Uber still worked really well for us to get around when we didn’t want to use the Disney transportation. Be sure to set up your Uber account before you get to Disney World.

If you’ve never used Uber before, here’s a promo code for a discount on your first ride: 5YJ9X

A Few More Disney World Restaurants We Recommend

We tried a few new places on this trip, and I highly recommend these restaurants.

Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom – great for lunch, especially if you get there right when it opens at 11:30am.

Monsieur Paul in Epcot – This special restaurant takes you to Paris. An excellent choice for a special meal while you’re in Disney World.

The Edison in Disney Springs – A really great atmosphere, and we had delicious food and drinks here.

Disney Springs

Believe it or not, this was our first-ever visit to Disney Springs. We really liked the unique shopping choices here.

The store we especially enjoyed was called Cherry Tree Lane, located in the Marketplace Co-op.

Mobile Ordering at Disney World

You can use a feature in the My Disney Experience app to pre-order food and drinks at most of the quick-service restaurants in the Disney World parks. This is another way to skip lines, and you can set up your order while you’re waiting to get on a ride.

But, funny thing, you can’t currently use mobile ordering at the Starbucks in Disney World.

Make Sure You Go Through the Correct TSA Checkpoint at the Orlando Airport

Something we never noticed before is that there are two sides to the Orlando airport. If you go through the security checkpoint on one side, but your gate’s on the other side, you’ll be stuck. This is exactly what happened to us!

Before you get in line for the TSA checkpoint, be sure that this is the security check that will get you to your gate.

And be sure to leave yourself lots of time to navigate the maze that is the Orlando MCO airport.

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes

Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

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 to Your Disney World Trip

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.

Find all episodes of the Go Informed podcast here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Lessons From My June Disney World Trip – Go Informed Podcast Episode 032 appeared first on Go Informed.

TouringPlans.com is one of my favorite tools for planning and executing a Disney World vacation. Along with an enormous amount of valuable information, the TouringPlans.com website includes powerful resources to help you optimize your Disney World hotel and dining reservations. Today’s show is all about two of my favorite features on the TouringPlans.com website.

These are the show notes for episode 29. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

Two Great Reasons to Subscribe to TouringPlans.com

A subscription to TouringPlans.com costs about $15 per year (as of this recording). This gets you access to lots of customized tools like a trip planning wizard, detailed crowd calendars, extras in the TouringPlans app, and two outstanding services that are worth the subscription alone. These widgets are a Disney World dining reservation finder and a Disney World hotel room request service.

How to Use the TouringPlans.com Dining Reservation Finder

The TouringPlans Disney World Dining Reservation Finder tool is an amazing way to score a hard-to-get restaurant reservation at Disney World. The reservation finder continually searches for open reservations at Disney World restaurants so you don’t have to. When it finds the reservation you want, it sends you a message so you can jump on and get your booking. And it really works!

Know Your Disney World Dining Reservations Basics First

This advanced technique will resonate better if you already have a familiarity with how dining reservations work at Disney World. If you’re new to this, be sure to check out this episode and show notes: Disney World Dining and FastPass+ Reservations – Go Informed Podcast Episode 012.

Step 1: Subscribe to TouringPlans.com

First, you’ll need to be a TouringPlans.com subscriber. Head over to the site and sign up. If you own an Unofficial Guide to Disney World book you get a discount on your subscription.

By the way, if you plan to also visit Universal Orlando on your trip, I recommend spending the extra few dollars to add this to your TouringPlans subscription.

No, TouringPlans is not paying me to tell you any of this. I just think this site is an amazing resource for anyone planning a trip to Disney World. (If you click the links to purchase an Unofficial Guide from Amazon, I do get a small advertising fee from them. Thanks for supporting Go Informed).

Step 2: Fill in the Reservation Finder details

Now that you’re subscribed, when you log in and go to your Dashboard you’ll see something like this:

Down towards the bottom is the link for the WDW Reservation Finder – this is your dining reservation concierge. Click on the Reservation Finder to open up the tool.

Now choose “Add New Request”. A form will appear that allows you to put in the parameters for your desired reservation. You can be very specific about the date and time, or give a range of dates and a meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

For my request, I chose a date and an exact time to search for an early morning Be Our Guest reservation.

After you enter your information, click on the green icon to start the search.

Step 3: Watch for a Notification

When the reservation finder identifies a match, you’ll get a notification. The system looks for any open reservation within an hour of your requested time.

Don’t Skip! Step 4: Make the Reservation

As soon as you get the notification, if it’s a time that works for you, jump on the Disney website or app to make the reservation.There is a link to Disney’s dining reservation page included in the notification you’ll get from TouringPlans.

Very Important – The reservation finder can only alert you about an available reservation, it can’t actually make the reservation for you.

Didn’t Make the Reservation in Time? Restart the Search

Note that the reservation finder works around the clock, so the notification could come in during the night or in the middle of your kid’s dance recital or at another inconvenient time.

If you get the notification, but by the time you get to the Disney site your desired time slot is gone, go back to the reservation finder and click the circle with the arrow. This will restart the search.

A Few More Tips for Using the Touring Plans Dining Reservation Finder

Try to make your dining reservations on the Disney World website or app first, then use the reservation finder to search for the restaurants that are full.

You can only search for two reservations at a time, so use this for your top-priority bookings first.

This tool is currently in Beta testing, which means it could occasionally be buggy and that it could disappear from the TouringPlans.com toolbox at some time in the future.

This is an awesome way to score last-minute reservations at any Disney World restaurant.

Booking.com

How to Use the TouringPlans.com Room Request Service

TouringPlans has photos of the view from every single room at all the Disney World resorts, so you can see the location and view before you get there. If you are a TouringPlans subscriber, you can use the Room Request tool to preview these views and choose a specific room for your stay at a Disney World resort.

When you request a room, TouringPlans sends a fax to Disney to formally make the request on your behalf. The request isn’t guaranteed, but Disney does their best to accommodate advance room requests.

This tool is also great for deciding which room category to book at any given resort. Wondering what the location or view is like at a standard view versus a garden view room? Ask the Room Request tool to show you.

Get Familiar With Disney World Hotel Options First

If you’re in the early stages of your planning, be sure to read my Essential Guide to the Disney World Hotels before you jump into using the TouringPlans Room Request service.

Step 1: Subscribe to TouringPlans.com

If the dining reservation finder didn’t already convince you to subscribe, go to TouringPlans.com and sign up.

And remember, you get a discount if you have a current copy of  The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.

Step 2: Add a Trip to Your Plans

In order to use the Room Request service, you’ll need to create a trip and add a hotel in your plans. Click on “Add a Trip” in the upper left hand side of your dashboard.

A box will pop up where you can add details about your trip. If you haven’t booked your hotel yet, but want to explore the room locations and views, choose the hotel where you think you’d like to stay and add in your tentative dates.

Now your dashboard will show this hotel and these dates, along with some other related information.

Step 3: Click on Request Room

Now click the “Request Room” box, located just under the hotel name, towards the top of your dashboard.

Step 4: Choose Your Room Preferences

A new page will come up, showing options for the room type and location, plus a map of that resort.

Select the room type you already booked or are considering booking.

Then, in the list of filters, select any other parameters that are important to you. Options on the list include walking distance to the lobby and transportation, sound levels, accessibility, and floor. You can input some or all of these choices, depending on what’s important to you.

Then click “Show Matching Rooms” at the bottom of the list of filters.

Step 5: Review the Room Preview Images

After you click “Show Matching Rooms”, a set of images will pop up. These are the view from rooms that meet your requested parameters.

Note that if no images come up, there are no rooms that match all your requests. This is probably related to the distance from transportation or from the lobby. You may not be able to have a specific room type that’s only 3 minutes from transportation, for example. Adjust the distance numbers until some images pop up.

Just for fun, I tried a Magic Kingdom view room at the Contemporary Resort. You can see that these rooms are all 9 minutes from the bus stop and 7 minutes from the lobby.

You can click on each image to see the view from that room.

If none of the rooms shown are quite right, click the “Show Matching Rooms” button again and the system will display three more rooms. Click this button enough times and you’ll cycle through all the rooms that match your desired options.

Step 6: Request Your Room

At the top of the image there’s some text, including a link to request this room. Click the link to make your room request.

If you already entered your name and confirmation number in step 2, your fax will be ready to go, and TouringPlans will send it 5 days before your stay.

If you haven’t entered your name and confirmation number you’ll see a note that says “For a room request to be sent, you must CONFIGURE FAX below!” Click the “Configure Fax” button to complete this step.

Five days before your stay, TouringPlans will send the request to Disney. Disney will do their best to honor your request. Even if you don’t receive the exact room you requested, you will likely end up with something very similar.

More Tips About TouringPlans Room Requests

If you’re booking your room with a travel agent, the agent can make this request for you. You can still use the tool to preview the view and location of the room so you can give a specific request to your travel agent.

Disney wants the request about 5 days before check-in, so be sure to get this done at least a week before your trip.

If you have any other information to convey to Disney about your stay, there is a box for “Additional Special Requests” if you click on “Configure Fax”. This is where you can let the resort know if you’re celebrating a special occasion or any other notes you want them to have.

You can also cancel a room request by clicking on “Configure Fax”, then click “Never Mind, Delete this Request”. Just make sure you cancel this more than 5 days in advance of your stay.

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes

Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

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 to Your Disney World Trip

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.

Find all episodes of the Go Informed podcast here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Get the Right Room and the Perfect Table at Disney World – Go Informed Podcast Episode 029 appeared first on Go Informed.

If you listen to any of my podcast episodes, you’ll know that my number-one theme park touring tip is to be first at the gate. Disney World offers a little-known tactic that anyone can use to enter a park before official opening time. And it involves bacon.

In this episode, I discuss how to use a Disney World dining reservation to schedule breakfast in the park before rope drop. This system offers you the opportunity to skip the line for a popular attraction like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Frozen Ever After, or Soarin.

These are the show notes for episode 27. Listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

How To Use A Disney World Breakfast Reservation to Get Into an Empty Theme Park

Every Disney World park has at least one restaurant that serves breakfast starting at 8:00 am, even if the park opens at 9:00.

Anyone can make a breakfast reservation in the Disney parks – it doesn’t matter whether you’re staying on-site or not.

Check out episode 12 for my tips about making dining reservations at Disney World.

Make sure you check the Disney World park hours before you choose the park for your breakfast reservation.

When To Make an Early Disney World Breakfast Reservation

Don’t make an early breakfast reservation at a park that has early admission the same day! The idea is to get in before anyone else – so only make an early breakfast reservation at a park that is opening at 9:00am with no morning Extra Magic Hour.

Watch the park hours as you approach the day of your reservation – sometimes Disney World will add an extra magic hour at the last minute. Cancel your early breakfast reservation if this happens. And be aware that Disney charges a fee for cancellation on the same day as your reservation, so make sure that if you cancel, you do this at least the day before.

You don’t need to have a breakfast reservation at exactly 8:00am. Even if your reservation is closer to 8:30, you can enter the park before 8:00. And you can usually go to the restaurant and get seated before your actual reservation time.

What To Do When You Get Into the Park Early For Breakfast

When you get in early for your breakfast reservation, you get to see the park with almost no one there. It’s a great time to take pictures and explore. The rides won’t open until just before park opening time.

Photopass photographers are at the parks starting at 8:00am so guests who have early breakfast reservations can get pictures.

Aim to finish breakfast by about 8:40. This will give you the chance to get in line for your favorite attraction before the main gates open.

Let your server know that you’re planning to be done with breakfast early.

After breakfast, head for the ride you want to do first. Cast members expect an early crowd at the most popular rides. If you’re not sure where to line up, just ask.

More Disney World Park Breakfast Reservation Tips

Sometimes you can get last-minute dining reservations. If you haven’t planned far ahead, an opening could pop up even the day before. So don’t give up if you haven’t made a reservation yet. On episode 29 I share a tool to help you get that tricky Disney dining reservation.

Know where the restaurant is located in the park. You’ll be on your own when you get into the park and you don’t want to waste time wandering around. Get familiar with where things are before you go. The Disney World park tours on this podcast are a good place to start.

And, as always, I recommend you get an Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World before you go.

More Resources to Help You Plan Your Early Breakfast in the Disney World Parks

Read this post to find out about our experience using a breakfast reservation at Akershus. We were first on the Frozen ride, and met some princesses too! That post also has more info about the logistics of using a breakfast reservation to get into the parks early.

You can also hear me discuss this topic in even more depth on episode 12 of the Disney Hack podcast.

Get lots more Disney World tips when you listen to my series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation.

Booking.com

Restaurants That Take Breakfast Reservations at the Disney World Parks

Be sure to listen to the episode for my advice about which of these restaurants to choose when using this strategy.

Magic Kingdom Breakfast Reservation Restaurants

Be Our Guest

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Crystal Palace

Epcot Breakfast Reservation Restaurants

Akershus

Garden Grill

Hollywood Studios Breakfast Reservation Restaurant

Hollywood & Vine

Animal Kingdom Breakfast Reservation Restaurant

Tusker House

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes

Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

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 to Your Disney World Trip

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.

Find all episodes of the Go Informed podcast here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post How to use a Disney World Dining Reservation to Get an Entire Theme Park to Yourself – Go Informed Podcast Episode 027 appeared first on Go Informed.