| Here are a few tips to make that first trip to Walt Disney World more enjoyable for everyone. There are many tips available and I am only listing a few that I feel are important to someone going for the first time.
- Decide how long you will stay. While folks may think 5 days is enough, I have to encourage you to stay longer. The 4 major theme parks are large. You will need at least 2 days each for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and 1 day each for the Disney MGM Studios and the Animal Kingdom (at the minimum). Then, there are minor parks. These are Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. You may want to enjoy the water activities at your resort or a game of golf! You can go fishing or play miniature golf. Have I overwhelmed you yet? What this boils down to is my suggestion of a stay of at least 9 days exclusive of travel days. Yes, I am thinking you should travel on day 1 and leave on day 11! I know some folks can’t do this but this is my suggestion. Keep in mind, your airfare will be the same price no matter how long you stay!
- OK, you have your length of stay decided. Now, you need to figure out where. Yup, you guessed it. I think you should stay on-property. Disney resorts are part of the magic. You can spend as little as $77 per night or as much as $2000 per night. Your choice will depend on how many in your party and what level of resort you desire. Staying on property affords you the luxury of returning to your room in the mid-afternoon for a well-deserved rest. It also allows you to enter certain parks early on certain days. The Disney magic will be with you for your entire vacation.
- Should you rent a car? If you are a newbie to Disney, I say forget it. Unless you are planning on going off Disney property to check out the competition or visit Grandma, use the internal transportation. Disney is large…ahem…I mean LARGE! It has many roads and can be a bit confusing. While it is true you will have free parking as a resort guest, do you really want to navigate your way around 47 square miles? No, let the guys in the purple pants (Disney bus drivers) drive you up to the gate (or darn close anyway!).
- You’ve got your airline tickets, your resort reservation and have decided not to rent a car. Now what? Now, you need to figure out where you want to eat! There is a multitude of “all you can eat” buffets. Many of which have character! Yes, this means you can have your breakfast with Mickey Mouse! You can have dinner with Winnie-the Pooh! It is awesome! In order to assure you a table at these dining options, you need to make priority-seating arrangements. This guarantees you the next available seat for the size of your party. It is not a reservation but the next best thing!
- OK, you need tickets! Yeah…you still have to pay to enter the theme parks! Disney has one-day passes. You aren’t going for just one day! You need Park Hoppers or Ultimate Park Hoppers! The folks who are staying on or off property can purchase the Regular Park Hoppers. The Ultimate Park Hoppers are only for resort guests. They are valid from the time of check-in until midnight of the day you checkout. There are also Park Hoppers with admission to the water parks included. You need to research this!
- Now I haven’t been too specific with each of these topics. It is impossible to do so in a short article. What you need to do now is either go to a travel agent or call Disney 1-407-WDISNEY. This is where you will get the specifics of what I have mentioned. When you make your dining arrangements, you call 1-407-WDW-DINE. I also suggest you visit your local bookstore and get a Disney travel book. I prefer Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World but there are many out there. My #1 tip, before you go, is to research this topic! You’ve already started by coming here…now keep going!
|
