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My Top 5 "Must Do’s" of Any Walt Disney World Vacation

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

I know many of you likely clicked on this list to find the best attractions in each park or even potentially the best resorts as you look to plan your vacation. However, I want to take this post a slightly different way. Soon, we fly south to Walt Disney World and I thought I’d share a few things that are a ‘must-do” for me on any Walt Disney World Vacation, but more importantly we’ll take a look at a few of my most anticipated aspects of the vacation experience as a whole. Of course, I’ll have to throw in a few experiences along the way, but if you’re looking for more broad and slightly out of the ordinary things to look forward to in the realm of Disney World “must-do’s” I invite you to join me on this anticipatory journey! 

For many, Disney is simply a theme park, a place to ride rides, watch shows, or enjoy a few minutes of excitement away from home. While in essence, those are entirely wonderful portions of the magic and a true part of the theme park experience, there’s so much more to the experience than many first time guests (and many returning guests) take the time to enjoy. Disney is an escape from reality for many of us, a place to create memories, and truly share time with friends or family. It’s not the place that creates the memories, but rather the people we share those moments with that make all the difference. 

You see, it’s an experience of a lifetime, but a place that draws you back time and time again. It’s a place that captures your heart, and becomes a small (or large) portion of your life. As things change and the parks continue to develop, it’s easy to develop a nostalgic connection to different aspects of the magic, but as many of us know the parks will continue to grow and develop as the world around us fosters new ideas and increases creatively.
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With all of that being said, there’s always something to look forward to as you tour the realm of Walt Disney World. For many, it’s that classic attraction that’s been a part of your vacations from the very beginning, but others may anticipate the latest and greatest additions to the parks. Honestly, I fall somewhere in between and that’s likely why my list is so varied. It may not be the most traditional list, but nonetheless a list that I hope will give you something to look forward to or a memory to pull from the depths of your mind as we look forward to our next trip to the parks. If nothing else, hopefully this post brings a little piece of the magic into your day! 

1. Exploring Pandora All Over Again!
Inevitably, this ends up at the top of my list for a few reasons. Honestly, it’s the first thing that came to mind. In all reality though, I realize there’s a reason it was the first thing to come to mind. When I first visited Pandora back in the summer, I have to say it was one of those Disney experiences that defied the rationale of what I though was possible. I was a skeptic of the land as whole when it was first announced, and I have to say I was entirely wrong to doubt the creative minds of Imagineering. As I’ve said before, Imagineering has never let me down and I after seeing this project unveiled on such a grand scale, I have to say that concept remains entirely true to this day. For more on Pandora check out: 

Pandora is a place that will defy your wildest dreams (and no I’m not being paid to say that… even though I wish that I was). As you round the corner into the land, often times you’ll witness guest after guest experience that audible “wow!” moment. At first glance, the hyperrealism mixed with the seemingly impossible physical development is truly hard to believe. The land itself throws you into sensory overload and there’s no best way to take it all in. Even knowing what to expect and what to see and not see going into the land for the first time, I didn’t get to experience it all. To me, that inevitable repeatability factor of the land is one of the things I look forward to the most. I didn’t quite get to explore the entirety of the development at first so setting aside time to explore the land is and likely always will be high on my list of “must-do’s.”   


2. Trying Something Entirely New
As many times as we’ve been to Walt Disney World, you’d think that we’d run out of new things to see and do. However, that has never been the case. Trying something new on your Disney vacation can open up a world of new possibilities and may even create your new favorite aspect of the vacation experience. When you travel, I recommend trying one thing that you’ve never done before, even if you have to create that experience for yourself. Personally, about a year ago, I started traveling with a DSLR camera for the first time and I’m looking forward to the possibilities that may create in the future. In a different regard, as you book your vacation, look into a tour offered by Disney or seek out that one attraction or show that you’ve overlooked for years on end. 

A few years ago, I stumbled into the show that once was a part of the animation pavilion of Hollywood Studios called Drawn to Animation. The show was simple and it was corny, but one afternoon in the heat of the summer we stumbled into the place and happened upon the experience. It wasn’t an elaborate show, but rather something we had always looked right past. Unfortunately the show ended a few months after we saw it for the first time, but little “hidden gems” of Disney are hidden in plain sight around every corner. Sure, a few of the lesser known aspects of the parks could be “duds” in your opinion, but you never know what may be outstanding in your eyes but overlooked by a vast majority of guest altogether.      

3. Exploring a New Resort
Resorts are a huge part of any of our Disney vacations. We eat at resorts, obviously stay at resorts, and explore many of them in depth. To many first time guests this seems like an absurd concept, especially because we typically aren’t staying at many of the resorts we visit, but it’s a unique portion the Disney experience. Go try a new meal at resort you’ve always dreamed of staying at, or go to a resort searching for something “hidden in plain sight.” You may be surprised at the history and entertainment many of these unique places hold and unveil when you take the time to look a bit deeper. If you’ve never tried this before, the Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk Resorts is an incredible place to start.    

4. Take A Moment to Take It All In
It’s easy to get distracted by the fast paced nature of Walt Disney World, but one of the things I look forward to time and time again is taking it all in. I know that sounds far to simple to really appreciate, but take a few minutes during your trip to remove yourself from the crowds or change your mindset just slightly in order to step back and observe the little things happening around you. Look around and enjoy the smile on the faces of the guests around you, the little details you may have overlooked on the “race” to the next attraction, or even to sit down and listen to the ever present background music that plays throughout the parks and resorts.   
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5. Enjoy Every Second
As the last “must-do” on my list, this particular element often comes across as common sense when in reality it is increasingly easy to overlook. You get distracted by what you’re doing, you race from attraction to attraction (which can be a ton of fun), but you never stop and appreciate the moment. I know it’s easy to say that, but I struggle with this element every trip. Inevitably something will go wrong during your trip. A resort will be overbooked, you’ll miss a fastpass, or get in an argument with the guy who ran over your feet with his stroller. None of those things are fun, but in the big picture, it’s a small hiccup in overall Disney experience. 

Try and overlook the little things and make the most of every second of your trip. Turn every bad situation into an opportunity to try something new and you’ll be surprised at what kind of unexpected magic could be unveiled. I look forward to the unexpected aspects of Disney more than just about anything because what you don’t anticipate is what often times sticks with you the longest. Making the most of those situations can make all the difference and create those one of a kind situations that you remember for years to come.           


When we first started today, I told you my list would be bit strange, but to be quite honest these are a few of the things I see guests overlooking or avoiding time and time again. Seeing something from a new perspective can allow you to appreciate the experience so much more than you ever have before. We never know what tomorrow brings, so taking the time on a vacation to appreciate the moment is more important to me than any attraction, show, or even a dining location. 

It could all end in a second, but I say that for a reason beyond what this article may state. No, I don’t want to be grim but rather positive and to encourage you to take a step back while you travel the parks and just enjoy the moment and lock in those memories that will truly last a lifetime. We never know what tomorrow could bring, so making the most of every moment we have today is a key part of any Disney vacation. It sounds so simple in writing and to be quite honest it’s a part of the experience that is incredibly difficult to portray in words, but there’s something about Disney that makes you appreciate all that you have and the people that help make that experience a reality in so many ways. I’ve said it before, but I truly believe it’s the people that create the true Disney difference rather than any particular resort, dining location, or attraction no matter how wonderful those things may be.    


Your Thoughts
As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! 

Ready to Plan?
Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

5 of Our Favorite "Hidden Gem" Spots in All of Walt Disney World – 2018

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Our Favorite “Hidden Gem” Spots in All of Walt Disney World – 2018  

Most of the time when you see a title like this you’ll be met with “favorite” attractions with short wait times or even quite possibly a few dining locations thrown in the mix, but today I want to do something a bit different and hopefully something a touch more creative. Today, I hope to share quite the opposite perspective and share a few of the somewhat “little known” locations at Walt Disney World that aren’t attractions, stores, or even dining locations (which will be hard to leave out!) in order to focus on an even simpler aspect of the parks and resorts in the realm of not only theming but setting and experience beyond what you may expect. So, rather than trying to explain what I mean, it’s a bit easier if I just show you and bring you along on a photo journey through “spots” I consider to be hidden gems of Walt Disney World. 

You see, about 8 months ago I started photographing the Disney parks. While at first it was just something I wanted to try, I slowly realized that the age old saying of “a picture being worth a thousand words” is not only true but rather an under exaggerated statement that should potentially carry more weight than it does. As I started sharing photos from the parks, the response was different than what I expected. Not only were readers incredibly complimentary (which I truly appreciate as a very amateur photographer) but many mentioned how the photos took them back to Disney and made them feel like they were there for even just a fleeting few seconds.

From the beginning that concept was something I wanted to bring to this site/blog (or whatever you’d like to call it). I wanted to create a place that took you back to the parks for even just a brief few moments somehow or some way each and every day. So, when I thought up this concept for an article my mind didn’t entirely go straight to attractions but rather to those photos and those “spots” at the parks and resorts that so many guests overlook entirely. To me, it’s those more creative and perhaps less iconic photos that I enjoy sharing more than anything else, because if you know these spots and you know that experience as a whole they have a way of taking you back to that moment no matter what the quality of the image may be. A picture may be worth a thousand words but at the same time it captures a story that transcends my own personal experience and opens the door to the stories I get to hear from readers. We all perceive things just a touch differently, but at times those differences allow us to see things in entirely new ways. 

That concept is my goal for this article more than anything else. If I can share just one new hidden gem “spot” for you to explore and create a story of your own in experiencing it for the first time, it will be a success in my mind. Before I officially “begin” I do have to add that some of these are far more “hidden” than others and truthfully what may be “hidden” to me may very well be a staple of every trip you’ve ever taken to Walt Disney World. My goal is a variety spots that give every guest something new to look forward to and a good blend of truly unique spots with a couple I simply see as underrated or under appreciated. With that out of the way, let’s jump right into it! (If you’re on a mobile device and want to see these photos in higher quality, simply tap the photo). 

1. East Center Street 

In the early years of Walt Disney World, Main Street U.S.A. was a very different place than what it is today. Many of the storefronts were actual stand alone shops, and the layout lended itself to a city style atmosphere that was a touch more eccentric in shopping offerings for lack of a better word. From the Hallmark Card Shop to the House of Magic and those massive plants sold at the Greenhouse Flower Shop, Main Street was a different world but the true change arrived when West Center Street was officially filled in. Truthfully I can only vaguely remember seeing West Center Street in person because it really wasn’t around that long in the time period when I was old enough to remember it. After closing for the expansion of the emporium in 2001 the entire street was essentially lost. However, a casual hidden gem remains on the east side of the cross street splitting Main Street U.S.A. (ironically named East Center Street.) The street is a touch tucked away but the history it holds and shares with guests in an oh so subtle way is hard to put into words. 

From a views standpoint it truly is spectacular at night. The glistening lights of Main Street and the guests strolling about completely unaware of this little side street makes for an excellent location to sit back and relax for a few moments as the music plays and the sights and sounds of main street surround you. 


2. The Gardens of Japan

Epcot’s Japan pavilion is perhaps one of the more unique hidden gems on this list for a couple of reasons. One, you wont find it laid out specifically as an “attraction” on any park map and two, because it’s one of those things many locals know about and would love to keep to themselves. I’m not a local but can completely understand why they would want to keep this spot a hidden location in Epcot. On any given day you enter the main area of the Japan pavilion, take a few steps off to the left hand side and up a short hill to be surrounded by a gentle flowing stream, grab a quick snack (the more popular area of the garden), and enjoy a few quiet minutes taking in the sites and sounds of the garden. 

You can see Spaceship Earth in the distance but it’s largely a transformative experience and one that makes you feel, even for the briefest of minutes, that your away for the hustle and bustle of the parks and Orlando as a whole to enjoy a few minutes of peace. It sounds so strange but this little garden area has a very calming essence to it and is one of many places at Walt Disney World I’d love to have the time one day to just sit down and enjoy for a few hours. Of course, that luxury of time is something only a select few have as we tour the parks and resorts, but nonetheless a cool spring or fall night in this spot for a few hours will always be a “wish list” item for me if I ever end up being a local.  

     

3. The Boulder Ridge Villa Lobby 

As many of you may know, this is and likely always will be my favorite hidden gem in all of Walt Disney World. I’ve raved about this little quiet spot for well over a year here on the site and I don’t see the praise stopping anytime soon. To me, this “hidden” simple experience is one that every true Disney fan should experience at least once and one that only the most obsessed of us will likely appreciate at first glance. It is, without a doubt, the definition of a hidden gem. 

The Boulder Ridge Lobby is spectacular in a very subtle yet vastly recognizable way. As soon as you step through the doors (just a short walk from the main Wilderness Lodge Lobby) you’re surrounded by a quaint woodsy feeling lobby with a high peaked ceiling and recognizable smell that is incredibly difficult to appreciate without experiencing it first hand (“smellovision”, or rather “smellonet” in this case, can’t come soon enough!). The beauty of the lobby paired with large soft chairs, ample seating and a crackling fireplace lends itself to a sensory experience that is rivaled by very few. 

As wonderful as this location really is, miraculously it’s vastly overlooked by nearly every guest visiting wilderness Lodge that isn’t staying in the villas. It’s a bit amazing really. even with hundreds of guests making their way to their villas each night, it’s rare to see more than four or five guests sitting in this spot. Perhaps it simply gets overshadow by the far larger and slightly grander lobby just a short walk away in the Wilderness Lodge, but to me this smaller area has so much more character than it’s “larger brother.” 

On top of all that, there’s a certain history to this place that is perhaps the reason I appreciate it so much in the first place. As mentioned in my Outstanding Disney History Hiding in Plain Sight: The Carolwood Room article, this is one of the very rare places in Walt Disney World where you can actually see something that Walt physically laid his hands on and something that wasn’t necessarily about the parks but rather his personal joy and passion from his daily life. You see, all the attractions and all the details Disney can develop in the parks can show you so many things and take you to so many different places, but only one is dedicated to Walt’s personal passion and a part of something that was once in his very own back yard. This room, attached to the lobby is a window into Walt’s life and a window that opens the door to the exploration by guests into who Walt really was. It gives perspective to the statue on Main Street so many guests pose for photos with each day, and it allows guests to uncover something truly unique. In my opinion that’s the true essence of a “hidden gem” in it’s finest form. So many guests have sat in this room or walked by this seemingly simple display of props but only a select few dive deeper and uncover a piece of the true Disney Magic hiding in plain site.    

    


4. The Boardwalk at Sunset    

Moving in a slightly different direction, if you’ve never took the time to step away from the parks and catch a sunset at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort area, it is worth every second of your time.  I don’t know why and I don’t know how but sitting on that Boardwalk and those carefully placed wooden planks over the water sets up the most picturesque sunsets you’ll ever witness in your life. It’s not every night, but as if by clockwork, if there’s clouds in the sky you can expect a truly spectacular unveiling of colors across the sky. With the view over the Yacht and Beach Club in the distance, and the Swan and Dolphin perched high on their accompanying resorts, the light reflects off of the buildings and the water and the worries of the world seem to slip away as the sky explodes with color. On our last trip I spent a little over an hour trying to capture this setting in a photo and thankfully ended up with two that come somewhat close to sharing those fleeting minutes of color with you all in a photo. It’s impossible to fully capture but hopefully these encourage you to take that leap and step away from the parks to enjoy a more laid back night embracing the beauty of Walt Disney world in an entirely new way. (Again, feel free to click on the photos to see a higher resolution image on mobile.)     


5. Magic Kingdom After Close  

As perhaps the most obvious of locations on our list, Magic Kingdom after close makes you rethink Disney in a way that only a few truly appreciate time and time again. A few of you might be wondering how it is possible to get in after the park closes for the day, but in reality you just postpone leaving as long as possible. As ridiculous as that sounds, it’s quite normal for Magic Kingdom to be open up to two hours after the posted closing time. Slowly but surely they clear the lands but Main Street U.S.A. is open for quite some time. If you can stick it out and wait until the bitter end, you’ll be surprised at how the Magic Kingdom transforms. For the nostalgic Disney fan it’s a dream come true. The crowds slowly trickle out of the park and while a few late diners or final riders of the day wrap up, you can walk around a fairly empty hub, enjoy a quiet Cinderellas castle view and enjoy a moment you never thought you’d get to. It is, in its simplest form an “empty” Magic Kingdom and for a brief few minutes you get to feel what Walt must have felt as he walked through Disneyland late at night as his dream slowly but surely became a reality. Security can be a touch aggressive at times and on rare occasion a bit touchy, but if you’re friendly and non-confrontational, savoring those final minutes of the night can be one of the most memorable moments you’ll ever experience at Walt Disney World.

You see, often times a “Hidden Gem” spot can be something oh so incredibly simple and I’m a firm believer that the simplest moments tend to be the things we remember the most years down the line. It’s what keeps us coming back and trying new things in a way that is incredibly difficult to describe without experiencing it first hand. Enjoy every little moment because you never know what will stick with you years down the road.  

I am far from a professional photographer, but I hope at the very least these photos help put you in the scene for even just a brief moment and may have even taken you back to a moment in time where you experienced your own iteration of these stories portrayed by our “hidden gem” spots. Perhaps more importantly, I hope this gives you something to look forward to in the future and a look behind the lens (for lack of a better word) at some of the stories behind my various photos shared over the last month or so on Facebook and Instagram. If you have questions or simply would like to contact me directly, feel free to email me at guide4wdw@gmail.com with photography questions, comments about this post, or any suggestions you may have for the site. This isn’t my site, it’s yours in every way shape and form and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Have a question about planning or while on your trip? Feel free to send that my way as well!  

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Our Ideal 1-Day Walt Disney World Itinerary for 2018

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Our Ideal 1-Day Walt Disney World Itinerary for 2018 

For many of us that have been to Disney time and time again, it seems a little strange and a bit weird to think about having one day to spend at Walt Disney World. Many of us spend a week or more touring the parks and resorts and still don’t mange to get done all that we hope to accomplish. It’s an inevitable reality that presents itself time after time, but I don’t say that to discourage you from taking a day to explore Disney World, even if you just have  single day or even a few hours to explore a small portion of what there is to offer on property.

Many of you reading this will find yourself on a work trip in the Orlando area or on an extended layover at Orlando International Airport at some point and may just have one day to get away for a while and enjoy some time in the parks. Again, it’s weird for many of us who vacation to the parks year after year to think about, but there are tons of guests arriving at the gates of the parks each day that only have one day to spend at the happiest place on earth.

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A majority of those guest come unprepared, don’t have tickets, and have no idea what they’re walking into, but they all have one thing in common, expectations. Disney World is one of the most sought after destinations in the United States and for fairly obvious reasons, but in today’s Disney planning scenario, it can be tough to set up one day and vastly enjoy all that even one park has to offer. 

So, as a result we’re taking today to look at what we’d do if we had only one day to spend in one park. I will preface this with the fact that we’ve been in this situation before and while it isn’t ideal, you’ll be surprised at how amazing your day can be with the limited amount of time available to you. However, to make the most of the time, you have to arrive with a plan and this is the plan we’d go with. 


What Park Do You Go To?

If I had never been to Walt Disney World I’d have to spend the time I had exploring Magic Kingdom in 2018. Now, I say in 2018 for one reason and largely one reason only. As the parks grow and new expansions are unveiled over the next 2 years, including Star Wars – Galaxy’s Edge, my opinion on which park to visit could likely change. Honestly, I would even consider going to Epcot and originally that was my pick for this 1 day itinerary. As I thought about that decision, I took a step back. I redirected my thoughts and considered the scenario once again from a different perspective. If I was a first time guest, what park would leave a lasting impression on me?

The answer I came up with wasn’t ideal, because what came to mind was our 7 Day Itinerary. Then I realized one more thing and that was that the point of one day at Disney isn’t about doing everything but rather taking the time you have and making the most of it. It’s not going to be the perfect trip, but for one day you get the opportunity to escape the world for a few minutes and enter a place of pure happiness. So, the answer I came up with wasn’t my favorite park, Epcot (with our Our Tried and True “Epcot in a Day” Touring Plan), but rather a place described best as where you can “leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy,” the Magic Kingdom. 

What Ticket Do You Buy? 


Honestly, you’re only going to need a one day ticket to the park and the cheapest place and most reliable place (other than Disney themselves) I’ve found to buy that is the Official Ticket Center online. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and you may save a few dollars along the way. For longer stays, you may even catch a free upgrade through them, but I recommend checking out our 2018 Discount Disney World Tickets post before you dive too deep into the ticket buying process for longer stays.

Our Ideal 1-day Disney World Itinerary - Crescent Lake

All things considered, I’d go with a base one-day ticket *without* the park hopper option if you’re only doing one day in the parks. Truth be told, you won’t have time to park hop without wasting a lot of unnecessary time in this situation. This one tip alone goes against just about everything I talk about in our 2018 Disney World Vacation Planning Tips article when talking about tickets, but in this rare case I can genuinely say to avoid the park hopper (it kind of hurt me to say that lol). Save the money you would have spent on that add-on and see if you can find a table service dining reservation at any location in the Magic Kingdom on the My Disney Experience App.  It can be tough to secure a reservation at the last second but use our last minute reservation tips and you should be able to come up with an excellent meal even on the day of your time in the park.

If you’re looking for meal suggestions, I highly recommend looking into:

–Crystal Palace – For a fun filled family character meal with Pooh and friends. There are a ton of great options on the buffet for both kids and adults and the atmosphere is quite elegant as you look out the glass windows towards Cinderella’s castle. At the same time, the dining location remains extremely kid friendly and is a place for the whole family to enjoy.

–The Plaza Restaurant – If you’re looking for a slightly more budget friendly offering without going to exclusively quick service locations, the Plaza offers a nice blend of classic cheeseburgers and sandwiches of different varieties while mixing things up with a Honey Barbecue Brisket Macaroni and Cheese. If you get the chance to talk with the chef, he’ll make your day and share a few culinary tips with you along the way. Ask about his secret to getting rid of that “Florida water” taste! It’ll blow your mind and he’ll likely remember your visit and you for years to come. We met with him years ago about an allergy some of our friends deal with and he remembered us literally 8+ years later!

–Liberty Tree Tavern – Liberty Tree tends to be a guest favorite of Magic Kingdom. If you’re looking for classic Thanksgiving-esque style food, this is an excellent option. Honestly, I haven’t been to this one in years, mostly because an extremely heavily meal rarely intrigues me on a sunny Florida day, but it’s definitely worth a look if you’ve never tried it before!     

How to Make the Most of Your Time – Our Ideal Itinerary 

If you clicked on this post or Google brought you here, you likely came for what I’m about to share. I appreciate you having confidence in our planning abilities that are based on experience, but I will say that you’ll likely have to modify our plan slightly to fit your needs. Everyone wants to do something different when they head to Magic Kingdom. We all want to see different attractions, eat at different locations, and honestly just see different things. With all of that under consideration, I can say with confidence that if you use this plan, I can nearly guarantee you’ll have an excellent day that will be memorable for years to come. 

With that, we’ll dive right into it and share exactly what we would do and have done to make the most of a limited amount of time on Disney property. 

First and foremost, if at all possible, get there when the gates open, if not a few minutes before they open. The Magic Kingdom welcomes guests before it’s official opening and allows the earliest of individuals to explore Main Street before the attractions and other areas of the park officially debut for the day and the welcome show is performed on the castle stage. If you get there early enough, you’ll have plenty of time to scout out some hidden gems of Main Street (like these below) or many others you may uncover on your own that can be found in the “history” section of this site: 
I share these not to build page views to those article (ok, well maybe I do to an extent lol), but rather to share with you an aspect of the parks that many guests miss on one day trips that could leave you with a much greater appreciation for what you experienced during your day in Magic Kingdom. The history of the place is what sets it apart form many other parks across the country and the attention to detail is unparalleled when you take the time to take a closer look. Additionally, those extra few minutes allow you a bit of time to explore the gift locations of Main Street and get a better idea of some special souvenirs you may want to take home with you to commemorate the experience or share a piece of the magic with a friend or family member back home.

Our Ideal 1-day Disney World Itinerary - Epcot Monorail


Ideally, after catching the opening show at the castle, you’ll head to one of your favorite attractions and begin the process we’ve used to Ride 6 or More Attractions in 90 Minutes or Less: With Only 1 Fastpass+! That detailed process is one that we’ve been using for years and it’s the key to taking full advantage of the first hour and a half to two hours after the park officially opens. 

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Once you get done with all of those attractions, we recommend trying to find a way to eat breakfast or lunch at Crystal Palace. It is a tough reservation to secure at the last minute, but if all else fails attempt to do a walk up and ask if you can wait for a table. They wont always let you wait, but it’s worked for us time and time again over the years.
I recommend Crystal Palace for a few reasons. First and foremost, we’ve had great experiences over the years there. Second, it offers a buffet that most guests can find something they’ll really enjoy eating. Lastly, it’s a great way to escape the heat of the summer months as it begins to build in the late morning and early afternoon. You’d be surprised how much of a difference an hour or two in the AC opposed to a few hours in the Florida summer heat can make. In the long run, it’ll give you more energy for the rest of the day and you get the chance to eat at our favorite Table Service Breakfast on Property.  

After that meal, I’d recommend heading to a few attractions with shorter wait times (typically its a small world, The Peoplemover, or even the Magic Carpets of Aladdin for a quick set of attractions before the afternoon parade begins. (If you’re looking for spot for the parade, I highly recommend the center hub of the park near the Partners Statue or up near the Car Barn at the front of the park. 

Once the parade ends, you’ll be well into the peak crowd level for the day and it’s a great time to head back to Main Street to do some shopping and cool off again in the air conditioned stores rather than spending that time in an attraction queue. As night starts to set in, catch a few more attractions like Haunted Mansion, or even visit Tom Sawyer Island before catching a quick service dinner or a snack. If you can manage it, try to set up your remaining fastpass+ selections for this point in the day.  

I know, it may be very difficult to get exactly what you want if you buy your tickets last minute or if you didn’t plan on visiting the park originally. Either way, take what you can get when you can get it. If you can buy your ticket further ahead of time, do it and then immediately book your fastpass+ selections at the 30 day window for non-resort guests or 60 days for resort guests.

At the end of the day, you’ll want to catch one last thing before leaving the park and that’s the Happily Ever After Fireworks. It’s an excellent show and one I highly recommend so grab an ice cream sandwich at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor and claim your spot about 30 minutes before the show (or an hour+ if you’re picky about your “spot”). When the performance in the sky is complete, don’t do what most guest do and head for the exits. Stick around the park and head back over to some attractions (if the park is remaining open) for a few last minute attractions. Once the park officially closes for the day, you’ll no longer be able to get in line for attractions, but continue to stick around until about 30 minutes to an hour after close for the Kiss Goodnight and to close down the park. The collaborative experience is something you wont want to miss and is truly the perfect way to end a one-day itinerary. 


Wrapping Up


At the end of the day, you’ll likely have experienced nearly every attraction in the park, and if all worked out as planned you’ll be eager to return at some point in the future. Many guests will leave the Magic Kingdom with a series of memories, a positive outlook, and a greater appreciation for the place created by a man with a dream. It’s an empowering experience and one that encourages you to take a step and pursue that one thing you never thought could become a reality. I say this for a reason, but also as a motivation. Two years ago, I never thought I’d be where I am today and doing what I’m doing right this second. The theme park experience not only gave me a place to explore but a location that has brought so many people into my life that I never expected. Once you visit Disney, you become a part of this community that is so difficult to explain. It’s a wonderful group of people and a community like nothing else. 


Walt said it best, it takes people to make a dream a reality. At the time when that was first shared, he likely didn’t know what that simple phrase would become to so many. He created a place not only for cast members to grow and learn, but also a place that fulfills dreams and creates an escape from reality for so many of us time and time again. I share all of this for one reason and that is to encourage you to take whatever amount of time you have to visit the park and to make the most of every minute. You may not have enough time for a full day at Magic Kingdom, but take the time you have and make the most of it. You never know when a simple experience may develop a new favorite aspect of your life and a place that you want to return to time and time again. 


Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


How Do I Create These Posts? 

Every once in a while I get questions about my gear. This is what I use and highly recommend at the moment in the realm of content creation. This list is varied and tends to change from time to time, but this is my current set up of gear used to create these posts. If you have any questions or need some tips in the site building process, feel free to message me on Facebook!

Computer: Macbook Pro  
If you get one of these you’ll inevitably need dongles (The USB-C Struggle): 
Main DSLR Camera: Nikon D3400 
Tripod for Night Photography: PrimaPhoto Traveler 
Photo Editing Software: Lightroom 6 Stand Alone Version (Not Creative Cloud) 
Secondary Camera: iPhone 7 (Older Photos on the Site) 


Ready to Plan?

Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

                

An Incredible Bay Lake Sunset – The Story Behind the Shot

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin Kendall

An Incredible Bay Lake Sunset – The Story Behind the Shot 

If you’ve ever read one of our articles here on the site, you’ve likely noticed that I’ve relatively recently started getting into theme park photography. While I’m far from an “expert” I tend to get asked quite a few questions about photography and in particular night time photography. So, rather than strictly planning articles for making the most of your Walt Disney World vacation, I thought I’d start sharing a few stories “behind the shots” along with some simple photography tips and tricks for the parks from time to time. 


My very first photography article – Disney World Pictures – Our Photography Guide for Walt Disney World – is perhaps the most inclusive of the write-ups I’ve done so far, but a more recent post dove into my top tips on night photography in How To Take Quality Empty Parks Photos at Disney – From a Photography Perspective. Today’s article, while similar to those two posts, is going to share a story behind one particular experience that produced some of my personal favorite sunset photos I’ve ever been able to capture at Walt Disney World. So, that’s what we’ll start with today, the story “behind the shot.” 
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Over the last 8 months or so I’ve had the opportunity to spend around a month at the Disney parks and resorts on various vacations. While every Disney trip is unique and picturesque, the summer nights we were lucky enough to spend on property were some of the most picturesque I’ve ever experienced. The nightly sunset glow continuously exceeded expectations as the afternoon summer thunderstorms drifted away and made way for a beautiful summer night time and time again. 
On this particular day (June 10th of 2018), a typical Florida summer day unfolded in the early afternoon. The morning was full of sunshine and beautiful blue skies, but as the afternoon heat rolled in huge rainstorms developed and stuck around for hours on end. As always, heavy rain is rarely what you want to face during your vacation, but it’s something we’ve grown to expect on summer trips. It’s an inevitable part of the experience but on this particular day it set up perhaps the most incredible sunset I’ve experienced at Walt Disney World in recent years.
This particular Disney trip was one in which we planned to take the time to enjoy the resort and a little time away from the parks for a few days out of the week. Just by chance, this particularly stormy day coincided with a really relaxing day out by the pool in the morning followed by resort hopping in the rain that afternoon. The afternoon led to a quick return to the resort to dry off and grab a quick meal before heading to the Contemporary to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Almost by pure luck (or as I’d like to claim… pure ingenious planning lol), the storms passed as we returned to the resort. Just as we boarded a boat from Wilderness Lodge to make the loop over to the Contemporary to catch the fireworks from a distance, the following scene exploded in the sky. 
At first, as we stood waiting for the boat, a relatively normal Florida sunset started to develop with a pretty standard yellow “glow” (well at least as “normal” as sunsets can possibly be in the beautiful sunshine state). As we boarded the boat, the sky exploded with orange, blue, and purple creating spectacular reflections off of Bay Lake.                     
The closer we got to Fort Wilderness (in route to the Contemporary), the greater the sunset grew in depth of color. As we passed the former Discovery Island, one particular boat happened to cross paths with the sunset. It was one of those moments where I couldn’t have asked for a better composition. Thankfully, I was in the right place at the right time and on the right side of the boat to catch this shot. I leaned back, my sister leaned forward (since she was sitting against the external railing of the boat), and I braced the camera on the railing. I honestly thought I had missed almost every one of the photos found in this article due to the motion of the boat and the awkward angles required to give myself a shot at it… no pun intended lol. When I got back to the room that night, uploaded the photos to my computer, and pull them up in Lightroom, they exceeded my wildest expectations.   

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For the photographers of the group, the shots seen here were taken with the Tokina 11-16 dx II lens at 16mm and f/11 at 1/125 second on the shutter. Chances are I should have set the shutter speed slightly higher, but in the moment I was just firing shots to catch as much of it as I possibly could.
Upon arriving at the Contemporary, this was about all that was left of the 20 minute array of colors in the sky. It was a near perfect conclusion to one of those moments you never quite expect to unfold before you. I’ve said it time and time again, but those moments you expect the least while on a Disney vacation are typically the ones that stick with you for years on end. It’s not about the parks, and it’s not necessarily about the resorts, but rather those moments with friends and family that you never could have expected.                
As the day rather quickly turned to night, we made our way up to our original destination high above the fireworks viewing balcony in the external staircase. To my surprise, the sunset had one more picturesque view to share and the following bluish purple sky slowly lead to darkness right as Happily Ever After began for the night. It was a night to remember!       

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 
For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.      

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

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Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way. 

Our Ideal 1-Day Itinerary for Disney’s Hollywood Studios

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Our Ideal 1-Day Itinerary for Disney’s Hollywood Studios 

If you’re looking to visit Hollywood Studios, our 1-Day itinerary provides a guide to the park after one of it’s largest expansions in the history of the park, Toy Stay Land. It’s not a huge surprise that I’m not the biggest proponent of spending a massive amount of time in Hollywood Studios. The Toy Story Land expansion has made things vastly better, but I still can’t recommend devoting more than one day to this park during more lengthy vacations. With that being said, there still is a vast amount of quality entertainment and things we recommend you try in the park at least once. Inevitably, this is going to be a place where we share thoughts and opinions of what we do and what we recommend you do regarding top attractions, dining choices, and even shows that should be a part of your day in the park. 


As many of you know, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (better known as “Star Wars Land”) is set 
to debut in this park in Summer of 2019. The expansion is what will set this park over the edge. Hollywood Studios has needed something big for many years and while Toy Story Land was an amazing step in the right direction, this 14 acre expansion is going to drastically alter the park. For reference, when Pandora debuted at Animal Kingdom it was a 12 acre expansion. Combine the sheer size of the expansion with the cult-like following Star Wars has grown to encompass and you have the recipe for incredible and unparalleled levels of success.//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js
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With all of that being said, the problem still remains of what exists in the park today. Don’t get the wrong, Hollywood Studios is a park that is far superior to nearly any average theme park destination, but it’s also a park that has struggled with a definitive identity. In the early days, it was an active studio, but as the years continued on that concept was left behind and another theming concept never fully took hold. The end result is what we have to day, and the sole reason we highly anticipate the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I believe it will give this park the needed push and needed character it deserves while remaining true to the classic nature of the park. Setting all of that aside, here’s how we recommend planning your Hollywood Studios day! 

Toy Story Land Strategy  

First and foremost, plan your park day (if possible) on the same day as an early entry extra magic hour day. Second, get to the park before it opens and head straight to Toy Story Land when it opens. The shortest wait times you’ll find for the attractions of the land will be right when the park opens. On an average day for crowds, all of Toy Story Land can be ridden in under 45 minutes, even if you include Toy Story Mania. We’ve done it and tried this strategy first hand. If you follow our plan (How We Rode All 3 Toy Story Land Attractions in Under 45 Minutes!) it can save you hours of time waiting in line. If you move quickly from attraction to attraction it can be surprising how much you can accomplish quickly due to the proximity of the attractions to each other. When you get done with the attractions of the land, move on to other top tier attractions you may or may not have a fastpass for or take a few minutes to explore the land, grab a snack, and take in a few details if you’re not overly worried about riding the other two main attractions of the park. 

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror 

If these attractions are “must-do’s” for you, typically you can still get to these attractions before the lines start to build heavily as the day progresses. On early entry days, fastpasses don’t start slowing the lines until the park officially opens to non-resort guests. If these two are on your list of attractions, I highly recommend booking a fastpass for one of the two and then holding your other two fastpasses for whatever shows you decide are must-do’s for you and your friends or family. If for some reason you can’t secure a fastpass for Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror, don’t worry too much because nighttime at Hollywood Studios is a great time to experience attractions because most of the shows end their performances fairly early in the day.    
In my opinion, these are the must-do shows.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

This show has remained largely unchanged for years on end and it is a staple of our Disney trips year after year. The Voyage of the Little Mermaid has a certain level of depth that has stood the test of time with rain and laser effects coupled with the on stage performance. It’s unique and creative and an honest must-do for most guests touring the park. As a result, the wait times can get rather lengthy, and shows are somewhat sporadic but also quite plentiful throughout the day. The experience only lasts 14 minutes, but depending on wait times it may be something you want to reserve up to an hour of time during your day to see and do. If anyone in your party does not particularly care for the show or is uninterested, the Star Wars Launch Bay is only steps away and provides entertainment of an entirely different variety.   

Beauty and the Beast – Live On Stage

While this show isn’t necessarily my personal favorite, it is one that guests sincerely love. In my opinion it is better than the feature length Broadway play, due in part to it’s more concise representation of the story, but your opinion may vary. Either way, I’ve seen the Broadway iteration and this theme park iteration of a similar concept is far more impressive than I tend to give it credit for. If you enjoy the movie, you’ll love the show! If this one is on your list, as it likely should be, I recommend the afternoon showings. Arrive early for the performance to avoid sitting in the bleachers in the very back of the theater. If you’re late or arrive at the last minute, overflow seating is incredibly hot in the afternoon sun and is not covered as well as the rest of the theater.

Years ago, my next must-do pick would have been a stop by the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. At one point, this was one of my favorite shows in all of the Disney parks. Today, it has remained so unchanged for so incredibly long that I can’t say it holds quite the spot it once did for me in this park. At the same time, it is a really neat experience for first time guests that can’t necessarily quote the entire scripted performance. It’s a great look at what it takes to film a scene in a movie while taking a few creative liberties along the way to make it comical and entertaining. If you choose to view this show, I recommend doing so in the afternoon before or after Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. Check the time guide for that particular day in the parks to choose which showing works best for your day.

Truthfully, these are the main things I would put on an itinerary for the park as it sits right now. Dining is a whole different topic so we’ll dive right into that. Dining at Hollywood Studios isn’t quite as expansive as many guests anticipate it to be. Personally, I see it as a good place to catch a counter service meal but the options are pretty limited when you get away from burgers and fries. One option is PizzeRizzo, and others are the array of different stands in the “marketplace” area of sunset boulevard. The food offerings vary but if I had to pick one dining experience to add to a day in this park, it would be a table service offering outside of the park (only a short distance away) over at the Beach Club. The ride to the Beach Club via boat takes around 15 minutes and the views are spectacular. You can also walk over but transpiration is provided if you choose to use it.

If you’re looking for table service, the Beach Club’s Cape May Cafe is our top pick. The seafood is unlimited, the macaroni and cheese is incredible, and the atmosphere is far better than nearly anything you’ll find in Hollywood Studios. Skip Hollywood and Vine and head here instead if you are looking for a quality buffet!

Nighttime Entertainment

Nighttime at Hollywood Studios has become the highlight of the park in my opinion. The shows will have wrapped up for the night, but the attractions continue to run until the park closes for the day. However, this is the ideal park to take some time to simply enjoy being there and to explore without having to deal with lines or overly heavy crowds. It’s a pleasant place to hang out for the night and the atmosphere, complete with the neon glow of Sunset Boulevard, will exceed your expectations.

As far as nighttime fireworks shows are concerned, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is a great show. It is rather lacking in the department of large fireworks bursts but the scenes it helps portray from the film, not only through the projections but also in the 4 dimensional space around you, is pretty great to experience in person. Don’t expect a Happily Ever After-esque performance but it is an interesting show nonetheless. If this is one day of a short trip, I would likely recommend park-hopping over to Magic Kingdom to see Happily Ever After a second time, but it’s going to depend largely on your affinity for the Star Wars franchise.

The other main nighttime show is Fantasmic. Fantasmic is unique in that it often fills to capacity. The show is different and largely a performance rather than a strict fireworks show and it has become a guest favorite. Go early (up to an hour early) to grab a seat or risk missing it entirely once the theater fills.

In my opinion nighttime entertainment could be better in this park and if your time is limited you may be better off spending the night at Epcot or Magic Kingdom. Toy Story Land is show stopping at night and could sway a necessary visit to this park at night, but it will largely depend on your length of stay and desired outcomes of your trip.
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Wrapping Up

As always, use our itineraries as a guide but don’t follow them to a science. Alter the plan to make it work for you. Don’t over-plan your day and be sure to stop and smell the roses along the way. Sometimes the simplest of moments and the simplest of experiences can make all the difference when you least expect them to occur. As a final parting note for today, if you’ve yet to take the time to enjoy the random performances of the Citizens of Hollywood, add that to your afternoon and you wont regret it! Enjoy the parks, and we’ll talk with you again soon!

Thanks for reading! We truly appreciate you following along with us and taking a few minutes out of your day to read a quick article here on the site with us. Our lives are incredibly busy each and every day and the fact that you take a portion of your time to stop by and read a few of my ramblings means more than you may ever fully understand! If you enjoy these posts, please SHARE them out to friends. We appreciate all you all do to help build this community.            
                       

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.



Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way. 


Our Guide to Disney’s Pandora in Late 2018

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Our Guide to Disney’s Pandora in Late 2018

It’s almost shocking to think that our first Pandora article was well over a year ago at this point. Without a doubt, it’s a land that has changed the entire Animal Kingdom park and more importantly the Animal Kingdom nightlife overall. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I was one of the skeptics of the project when it was first announced. I didn’t feel that Avatar was a good fit for the Disney parks and honestly the whole project failed to interest me until the massive scale model of Pandora debuted at the D23 Expo. 

After seeing the model and various videos and press releases, my opinion of the project started to change. While I wasn’t quite convinced that Imagineering’s big ideas for the project would ever actually become a reality, the project did still start to spark my interest. Later on, as the construction grew above and beyond the construction walls, the project became even more intriguing, but it wasn’t until opening day that I really got on board with the land. I was the perfect example of one of the skeptics, but after entering the land first hand, not too long after it’s debut, I have to say it exceeded my wildest expectations and I instantly figured out the role it played and the void it filled at Animal Kingdom. 

To this day, I’ve only seen about 30 minutes of the movie and the cool thing is that it doesn’t even matter if you’ve seen the film or not. No matter what, this is and will always be a transformative experience that truly takes you to a different world. From the sight of floating mountains, to the sounds you hear all around you, to the subtle details in every inch of the land, it is one of the most impressive additions Disney has ever made.

However, it seems that many guests took a similar thought process and outlook towards this land as I did. Many appear to have been skeptics and either avoided the land or denied the hype and stayed away from the new land early on. When the first debut crowds finally died down slightly, there was a slight lull in wait times and opening procedures became somewhat manageable. At that point in time it wasn’t out of the ordinary to arrive at park opening time at Animal Kingdom and get on Flight of Passage within the hour. Today, that’s a near impossible feat unless you’re there an hour or more before the park opens. I’m not entirely sure if this has been the case for everyone, but in our experiences it’s almost more difficult to ride Flight of Passage at “rope drop” today than it was a few short months after the attraction first debuted. Thankfully, during the first hour or so of park opening, Navi River Journey’s line is pretty short in comparison, but a fastpass is always your best option if you can secure a pass for one of the two Pandora attractions (it is not possible to get both).

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So What’s the Strategy? 

If you are set on riding both attractions, the priority should be to secure a fastpass+ selection for Flight of Passage if at all possible as soon as your fastpass+ booking window opens up (60 days out for Disney resort guests and 30 days out for non-resort guests). If you can’t get a Flight of Passage fastpass, snag a Na’vi River Journey pass or even a Kilimanjaro safaris fastpass if nothing else. 

If you can’t secure a fastpass for either attraction, consider riding them really late at night and getting in line just before the park closing time or getting there as early as you possibly can the morning of your Animal Kingdom day. Both options will shrink your wait time considerably compared to late morning or mid afternoon attempts. The main goal should be to ride Flight of Passage first and then Na’vi before the line builds. Sometimes it’s possible, other times it may not be. Either way, ride whatever attraction is more important to you first. That’s the key to all of this. 

If you really, really don’t want to wait, try this method to increase your chances of getting a fastpass+ selection. If you have an hour of free time watching TV or doing some other pretty simple task, open up your computer or iPhone app and go to the day and current array of fastpasses you have selected. Click on the option to “modify a current fastpass.” This part is really important. You don’t want to replace your current fastpass selection completely or delete it. Instead you want to attempt to modify your current pass. If you go to the modify screen and no desired fastpass selections are available you can simply back out of the process and keep what you currently have. If you’re looking for something in particular, pick  a one hour window (as mentioned above) and refresh your modify page time and time again. It’s amazing how fast things can change if you’re determined and willing to check many times in quick succession. In order to get the best results when trying this, attempt to do this two to three days before your park day. It’s not a “fool proof” solution and nothing is guaranteed but this is what has worked for us in the past and likely will work for you as well. 

If you can’t get a fastpass and you can’t get there early on or stay late, there is one solution… just wait. I know that’s not what you want to hear but I can guarantee you that when you get off of Flight of Passage for the first time you will not care how long you waited. It is mind blowing and really is one of the few things at Disney I’d say is 100% worth the wait. I’m one of those people that refuses to wait more than 30 minutes or so for an attraction. At a certain point we’ve seen and done the attractions so many times that they’re not necessarily a priority for us anymore (as strange as that sounds). With that being said, I would wait well over an hour for Flight of Passage any day and be thrilled that I did each and every time. 

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What are the Must-Do’s?

Based on my previous comments, you can likely guess that Flight of Passage is certainly a must do attraction if your stomach can handle it. It is truly mind blowing and for a brief moment you really do feel like you’re flying on the back of a Banshee. It’s an unexplainable sensation and one of the most authentic experiences I’ve ever been able to experience first hand. Na’vi River Journey is excellent as well, and while I do wish it was a bit longer, the level of detail is still extraordinary and seeing the animatronic shaman is worth the wait on it’s own. 


Perhaps the biggest selling factor of Pandora is the landscape. I can not say enough about the immersive nature of the environment. You feel like you truly are on a different planet or at the very least in a place that you could have never imagined in your wildest dreams. I know this all sounds like an over exaggeration but it’s something you really have to see to believe. I’d recommend visiting Pandora during the day and at night at least once. If you have to choose one time, start your night in Pandora at sunset and experience the sights and sounds as day turns into night. The area at night is mind blowing and it really is one of those things you have to see in person to fully grasp. Photos are great, but there is no substitute to being there and seeing the intricate details in person. 

Take Time to Explore the Rest of the Park

It’s only natural that guests gravitate towards Pandora at night, but taking the time to explore all the new offerings of Animal Kingdom at night is something that you really should take the time to do. Take a moment to see the Tree of Life Awakening. The projections are stunning and the casual aspect of the show is unique and different from everything else. The nighttime live entertainment and music is excellent as well, so don’t be afraid to stop and enjoy some music on the “streets” of each land. Last but certainly not least, go and experience DinoLand at night. The atmosphere of that land all lit up after dark brings a whole new feel to the area. The carnival-esque lighting brings a more nostalgic and fitting glow to the area and as an added bonus, the crowds tend to be incredibly soft here as the night gets later and the park approaches closing time. 

Wrapping Up 

Overall, Pandora should be a part of every Disney vacation in my humble opinion. It’s a place that young guests and old guests can enjoy no matter what. There is something for everyone in a way that is notoriously “Disney.” It’s a place where parents and kids can have fun together, and that was Walt’s goal from the very beginning. I’ll be the first to admit that I was a Pandora skeptic, but the end result fits Walt’s original goal in nearly every way. For Walt it wasn’t necessarily about a “Disney” character-based attraction, but rather a means of conveying a story in real life that is a multi-sensory experience. At it’s very core, Pandora meets and exceeds that simple goal and it has become a must-do part of any Disney trip for us.

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 

For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.     


Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.       


  

            

           

The Forgotten Walt Disney World Resorts That Could Have Changed Everything

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney has had great success over the years with their vast hotel empire at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. However, there are a few plans that didn’t quite become a reality for a variety of reasons. They never left the drawing board, never broke ground (well most of them), and never truly became a reality beyond their concept art. Many Disney enthusiasts believe these plans could be carried out some day in the future while others believe they are a thing of the past and nothing more. 
Nobody knows for sure, but we can always dream of what these “forgotten” resorts could have been like. However, you can’t help but wonder how different today’s Disney experience would be if those designs would have become a reality. We can never know for sure, but we can always enjoy the ideas of the past and learn something new through Walt Disney World’s history. The history is what made today’s parks a place that has created memories for your family as well as mine for generations. There’s nothing quite like it, but there’s always something new to learn about it and with that we’ll take a look at the forgotten resorts.

Disney’s Persian Resort
In the early days of the Disney resorts, 3 hotels were planned in quick succession to open in the years following the debut of the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, the resorts were never fully developed. However, the plans for the resorts were grand and many just steps away from being constructed. The Persian Resort was no different.

The resort was going to be to located on the east side of the Magic Kingdom along the edge of Bay Lake. Many versions of the renderings even proposed a second monorail loop which would connect the resort directly into Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom! The resort plans were incredibly developed and would feature an enormous domed common area where guests could relax, shop, and be entertained in a variety of unique ways in the “theme” of the Persian culture. Unfortunately, the resort and two others were all but forgotten when the 1973 Oil Embargo halted tourism across the nation. Disney no longer had a need for new and elaborate resorts, and the plans, no matter how elaborate and innovative, were completely forgotten by the company. 

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Fortunately, this is the one of the of three proposed designs that could actually still become a reality, no matter how unlikely that may be. The other proposed resort locations have been filled or reevaluated, but the area where the Persian development would have been located is still a largely undeveloped area. However, if the resort was built today, it would be located very close to the recently built Bay Lake Tower. A very unlikely build decision for the Walt Disney Company. 

Disney’s Asian Resort 
Just like the Persian Resort, Disney had great plans for the Asian Resort Concept and had even gone as far as to clear land for the new development in the process of building the Seven Seas Lagoon! Later on, as many of you may recognize, the Grand Floridian Resort was built in its place which ultimately led to a reconstruction and development of the designated land. 
The resort was going to be a very unique concept that fit not only a cultural mold that would entertain as well as educate, but also invent new experiences along the way. It was to be a location that sat on a unique square peninsula jutting out into the Seven Seas Lagoon, a design that many have never experienced before. It was one of those ideas that only Disney could truly accomplish and do so in a way that would set a standard in design and guest expectations for years to come.

Just like the Persian Resort, Disney’s Asian resort suffered the same fate and disappeared shortly after it was planned. Tourism dropped off and the need no longer met the ambitions Disney had for the resorts. The attendance numbers, according to Disney rumors over the years, could not support the new resorts.      
Disney’s Venetian Resort
The Venetian Resort has a unique history and has actually been “forgotten” twice rather than once. That just goes to show that a good idea never truly fades away with time! Imagineering is always planning the next step even though we may or may not know what’s next as the consumer. 
The resort was originally planned to be located on the area of land between the contemporary and what is now known as the Transportation and Ticket Center. While the resort was grand in scale and had plans for a gondola ride through canals, shopping for all kinds of merchandise, and a multitude of resort rooms. Unfortunately, it was also abandoned as the oil crisis struck the tourism industry across the nation. However, this time it was not forgotten completely. 
During Eisner’s time as the CEO at Disney the idea almost resurfaced but as the land was cleared, it became obvious that the foundation that would need to be build would not be cost affective to build. Once again, the idea faded away.   

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Disney’s Legendary Years Resort 
The story of the Legendary Years Resort was one that actually ended in great success that developed out of utter failure in many ways. However, it is a fairly unfortunate story that ended in fortunate success. As many of you may know, in the Value tier of resorts at Disney, you have the All Stars, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. Pop Century was originally designed to be a sort of companion resort across the lake from a second resort called The Legendary Years. Unfortunately, Pop Century was built first and the Legendary Years began construction and met an interesting road block.

The timing of construction happened to fall directly in line with the somber events of 9/11. After the attacks, Disney faced one of their greatest challenges, a tourism industry that was stagnant as a result of the state of the nation and travel concerns. So, as the costs and struggles of building the resort were dealt with, the project was ultimately abandoned (quite literally). In the years that followed, Pop Century remained open and The Legendary Years, across the water, remained untouched. Strangely, Disney never made a serious effort to cover up the abandoned resort or alter the look of the buildings until years later.  
Thankfully, this isn’t where the story ends. In May of 2012 Disney officially opened the Art of Animation Resort and, you guessed it, it is what replaced the Legendary Years. Interestingly, many of the buildings created originally were updated and developed into what became many of the rooms at the Art of Animation. So, you may not remember the Legendary Years, but many of you may have stayed in the very same room that was designed to be a part of the original resort and never knew it!  
Thankfully, the crisis that caused these resorts to be forgotten played a role in what the parks and resorts would later become. Tragedy is never a good thing, but through unfortunate events, opportunity often results. The worst of situations can create the most incredible developments.

These resorts may be “forgotten”, but with Disney’s recent push towards expanding the Disney Vacation Club to new properties and new locations, we might just have a chance to experience a variation of one of these proposed ideas in the years to come. It may not be likely, but at the same time rumors have been spreading like wildfire through the Disney community recently, so you never know what’s coming next!      
As Walt Disney once said, the parks will never be complete!  
The Walt Disney Parks and Resort are changing and adapting as the world around them changes each and every day. New ideas develop and some older ideas get left behind, but Walt Disney World may have never been the resort we know today if it weren’t for the little changes along way.

Unfortunately, some copyright laws prohibit us from sharing the original concept art legally here on the site, but if you want to check out what any of these resorts original designs looked like, hop on over to google images and type in the resort name for a closer look!


Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! 

Ready to Plan?
Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! 
Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips, 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets, check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections!
Thanks for reading, and until next time, have a wonderful rest of your day! 

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Neil Patrick Harris "Wins" Halloween With This Costume!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Neil Patrick Harris “Wins” Halloween With This Costume! 

Happy Halloween everybody! If you’re entering a costume contest or simply passing out candy, we hope it’s been a fun night for each and every one of you. However, after a recent series of Instagram posts from Neil Patrick Harris and family, I don’t think any family costume will come close to beating this one! 

The Harris crew pulled out all the stops (as usual) and brought to life the living dead from an attraction that has become synonymous with classic Disney dark rides, The Haunted Mansion! 

From parents to kids, the whole family got involved and I have to say it was nothing short of a spectacular Halloween costume for the whole family. From the hitchhiking ghosts to the classic haunted mansion bride, no detail was overlooked, and you have to see it to believe it! The level of effort put into the production is incredible.  
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The caption of the final photo was simple and straight to the point, but there’s no doubt the post will go viral in the coming days! The description simply read, “Welcome, foolish mortals. We hope your Halloween is happily haunted, but heed this warning: beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!” 
     

Neil Patrick Harris himself detailed the process in a little greater depth on his own page sharing the following images. 


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So, did this celebrity family “win” halloween? If nothing else, this is the best Dinsey parks themed costume I’ve ever seen! Would I expect anything else from Neil Patrick Harris? Not at all! Be sure to catch him live during Disney’s Candlelight processional if you’re in the parks December 3rd through December 6th.   

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 

For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.     

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.       

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What to Do at Disney’s Boardwalk – An Underrated Piece of the Magic

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

What to Do at Disney’s Boardwalk – An Underrated Piece of the Magic

Disney’s Boardwalk resort is one of those unique “hidden in plain site” places on Disney property that are getting more and more difficult to find. I’m even somewhat hesitant to write this article in order to keep it a “hidden gem” for as along as possible, but at the same time it’s inevitably going to become more popular as the Skyliner project draws more and more guests to the International Gateway rear entrance to Epcot. 

For years the Boardwalk resort and Crescent lake have been our escape from Epcot. Sometime the crowds are heavy or we need to escape the heat for a short while, the Boardwalk was and is the ideal “escape” in the perfect location. For some reason or another, the resort doesn’t feel quite as crowded as other Disney resort locations and for that very reason it’s a place that you can go and find a tucked away seating area, a comfortable chair on the balcony of the main lobby, or even the perfect grassy spot for kids to run around while the adults enjoy the sights and sounds of the boardwalk experience.


So, why is this spot so underrated? Simply put, so many guests are so enthralled with the Magic Kingdom resort area (and rightly so) that they tend to overlook the Epcot resort area simply because they don’t quite realize how incredible it really is. Additionally, very few guests realize that the Boardwalk is less than a 10 minute walk from the back entrance of Epcot. If you’re one of those guests or have been hesitant to take the time out of your park days to head to the Boardwalk one night, consider giving it a shot because it may exceed your wildest expectations.
             

Grab A Late Night Snack

The Boardwalk and snacks just go hand in hand. Grab a pretzel, a funnel cake, some fried ice cream, or even a bakery treat from the Boardwalk Bakery and the surrounding food stands. Late at night you’ll find a vast variety of live, family friendly, entertainment which develop the perfect “dinner with a show.” (Please tell me I’m not the only one that calls a slice of pizza or even a Mickey shaped pretzel “dinner” at Disney from time to time…) If you’re looking for a few more snack or dessert options, be sure to check out the Screendoor General Door to find a full array of fresh baked snacks behind a large glass counter.      
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Enjoy the Details

If you take the time to walk into the lobby, you’re instantly surrounded by a bit of real life history. From the scale model Illions Carousel (which comes to life each hour), or the Lucy the Elephant Scale Model, to the creepy chairs tucked away by the fireplace, the Boardwalk harkens back to the days of old school Boardwalks readily overlooked in today’s fast paced world. The little details make the experience and truly take a nice resort and turn it into a surprisingly and vastly memorable experience that will exceed your wildest expectations. 

Catch a Sunset 

Enjoying a sunset at the Boardwalk has become a must do for me on nearly every trip to Orlando. There’s no way to describe it, but at the same time as you sit there on the wooden planks of the boardwalk, and as the glowing lights start to light up the night, there’s a surprising calming effect that unfolds around you. The night life and music from Jelly Rolls and the Atlantic Dance Hall aren’t quite playing songs, and for a brief few moments the sky opens up with those classic Florida sunsets. 

I know it sounds strange but there really is just something about this portion of Walt Disney World that sets the stage for the most incredible sunsets you’ll ever experience. From the reflections off of the water to the subtle sounds of the boats moving across Crescent Lake to the colored building setting the backdrop for the sky above, it’s simply impressive in the grandest of ways.

As an added bonus, it’s an escape from the crowds of the parks, a great place to relax and recharge for a night in the parks, or the perfect spot to enjoy after a dinner at one of the many incredible offerings in the Epcot resort area.            

Enjoy a Movie On the Village Green  

Enjoying a movie with your kids or even with other adults at a Disney World deluxe resort is one of those memories that will stick with you for years. Most nights, the resorts will set up an outdoor movie screen, set up a viewing area and create a one of a kind movie under the stars for guests of all ages. Of course, the movie tends to be a kid focused movie, but who doesn’t love a classic Disney movie? 

The schedule for the event at each resort does vary from time to time, but you don’t necessarily have to be staying at the resort to visit and enjoy the experience. The Boardwalk resort is perhaps the best place on property to enjoy the nighttime movie as a non-resort guest. The viewing location is typically right in the middle of the Village Green grassy area and the cast make it obvious that anyone hanging out on the Boardwalk is welcome to wander over and enjoy the movie. It’s not out of the ordinary to see families sitting on blankets or sitting on the fairly comfortable artificial turf enjoying the atmosphere and a classic film.      

Enjoy the Night Life 

Nightlife is likely the only thing on this list that pops into the mind of most resort guests when the Boardwalk is first mentioned. Honestly, the nightlife is quite interesting and enjoyable, but it’s far from what the Boardwalk is all about. JellyRolls is the true, long time, “go-to” nighttime entertainment venue at Walt Disney World. The entertainers at this legendary piano bar are truly incredible and many of them have been sharing music and unique compilations with guests for years on end. 

As Disney Springs continues to grow and develop, the nightlife has certainly developed along the way as well. While that has put JellyRolls and the other Boardwalk nightlife on the metaphorical “back burner,” it’s still well worth looking into if you’re looking for something to do long after the parks close for the night.     

Roast Marshmallows 

Similar to the movie offering listed above, if you’re willing to walk a short distance around Crescent Lake to the beaches of the Yacht and Beach Club, you’ll find a nighttime campfire for roasting marshmallows at select times. The schedule does vary so be sure to ask at the resort for the time for that particular day.

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Once again, roasting marshmallows at a Disney resort is the perfect way to disconnect from the fast paced days in the parks. In a similar way, gathering around a campfire with other families is just one of those things that takes you back to simpler times and simpler forms of entertainment. I’m reminded almost daily how lucky I am to have grown up in a time period right before technology really took over our lives. Kids today and adults alike are constantly surrounded by tech. I’m the first to admit that I love technological advancements and the “next big thing,” but at the same time getting away from it all is a huge blessing at times. 

In my opinion, that’s the huge benefit of this simple experience. Gather around a fire with friends or family and you may be suprised at how much your kids enjoy it and more importantly how such a simple experience can help you disconnect from the fast paced world that we experience day in and day out.        

Relax In The Lobby

At this point in the list you may be noticing a trend on our list. Everything about the Boardwalk resort area encourages a slower pace and a softer presence of entertainment when compared to the parks. It’s different in a near perfect way and offers just enough to keep you entertained for a few hours while offering up a quiet spot to enjoy.

As you journey inside the resort itself, the lobby offers comfortable seating, brilliant decor, and even a few tucked away gems of Disney’s past. Just off the side of the lobby, near the restroom, you can find a piece of Disney history hiding in plain site from the retired Penny Arcade that once held a prominent place on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. The hidden gem decoration appears at first to be a simple decoration. However, if you take the time to look carefully you’ll discover the antique Mutoscope is still in functioning order and set so that any guest can walk right up and interact with the vintage machine. A Mutoscope is comparable to those little flip books you’ve likely seen at hobby stores or made yourself at some point in time. However, a Mutoscope often plays a classic cartoon as a a viewer pears into the viewfinder and turns a small crank on the side of the machine. It’s not a thrilling experiencing but for the nostalgic of the group it’s well worth taking a few brief moments out of your day to go and see for yourself. 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 
For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.     


Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.



Our Top Tips When Saving Money For A Disney World Vacation

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin Kendall

Our Top Tips When Saving Money For A Disney World Vacation

It’s not unusual for people to ask me how often I go to Disney World. The question that always follows the answer to that initial question is, “How do you afford that?” or my favorite, “So does Disney pay you?” As much as I wish someone would pay me to do this, unfortunately that’s not quite the reality of the situation. So, inevitably that leaves the other question unanswered. How do we afford to go to the parks so often? The secret lies in knowing the right ways to save and the right ways to plan for your trip.  

Saving for Disney World


One thing and perhaps the main thing to keep in mind with all of these tips is the concept of being flexible. You may not be able to change your travel dates but a lot of other things in the planning equation you can change. There’s no ideal way to explain that without a proper example so we’ll jump right to #1 on our list to further explain. 

1. Book Less Convenient Flights

It’s no big secret that airlines are more likely to offer budget friendly rates at times when flights are typically less sought after. On our next trip we’re flying out at 6:30am on Southwest from an airport an hour and a half away. We’ll have to be at the airport before the sun rises but that has two benefits. One, the flights are typically cheaper and two, there are certainly some benefits to arriving in Orlando as early as possible. The main benefit is extra park time! 

Another option, while typically the less-preffered option, is to take the late flights when they are available. Late day flights are typically budget friendly but are also typically delayed or canceled more frequently. In either case, the benefits can certainly outweigh the risks to save you hundreds of dollars. 
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2. Start a Change Jar

I know this sounds like a tip you’d get from your parents in the third grade, but start a change jar for your Disney trip. Hardly anyone wants to carry around change anymore, but if you make it a habit of paying for things in cash and saving your change at the end of each day, you may be surprised at how fast it can add up. It seems so simple but may end up paying for a round trip flight over the course of months of planning and anticipating the costs of your next Walt Disney World vacation. 

3. Stay Where the Pricing Is Right 

Being willing to search for your resort accommodations and then re-search for the same dates time and time again can prove vastly beneficial when planning your trip. For a vast majority of the year, Disney has been and will be offering discounted resort room rates. Sometimes it’s room only discounts, other times its a package requirement. Each discount rate has an allotted amount of rooms available for the given discount. The first time you look for resort accommodations you may see limited availability or even possibly no availability for the given offer. If you can’t find your perfect room or the perfect resort you always stay at,    just book something! If you reserve some type of resort reservation under the discounted rate at the very least you wont end up paying full price for a room you may or may not want. After you book that room, check back day after day and your ideal accommodations may pop up weeks later. The deposit and any payment you’ve put toward your current reservation will carryover to your new reservation!      

Saving for Disney World

Saving for Disney World

4. Buy Disney Gift Cards

This tip isn’t quite the little known secret it once was. If you hold a membership card for any of the major bulk discount clubs like Sam’s or Costco, consider buying the bulk packs of gift cards at discounted prices when they are available. They are somewhat rare but can save you a considerable amount of money when they are available. Sometimes 5% or so, but 5% over $300 or more is a sizable savings. If you have extra money on hand one month, head to the store and pick up a couple gift cards. Those cards can be used to pay off your Disney vacation online just like you would with a credit card. 

Something else to consider regarding gift cards is black Friday gift card bonus offers. Every once in a while, Target, Lowes, Walmart and others will offer up a bonus $5 when buying $25 gift cards or other similar offers. While $5 free or even a 5% discount doesn’t sound like much, every gift card you buy essentially gets you 5% off your stay in small increments that certainly add up! If nothing else, you can use gift cards to pay for souvenirs or meals in the parks! 

Saving for Disney World

Another option that I’ve not personally tried is buying gift cards at Kroger or other grocery stores that offer gas discounts as a result of money spent in the store associated with the gas station. Kroger does this on a point system. If you buy gift cards, it’s no different than buying tons and tons of groceries. If you max out your points, you may not save money on the Disney vacation itself but you could save a huge amount of money over time on gasoline purchases that you’re likely to make anyway! The only trick to this is knowing at what point the given retailer caps your discount. Don’t accidentally over buy gift cards one month and max out your gas points when you could buy more gift cards the following month and max out your savings all over again! You’re not likely to save $1,000 dollars doing this but every penny saved makes a difference as the prices continue to rise at Walt Disney World.    

5. Use Credit Card Points 

I refuse to give anyone credit card use advice or real world financial advice for that matter, but I will say that certain credit card rewards points can be vastly influential in shrinking your costs in certain situations. Our go-to money saving option for discount vacations is American Express and Hilton Honors points. The Hilton Honors card is great if you travel frequently and stay at fairly reasonably priced hotels when you travel. 

It’s no secret that we travel frequently, but we always do so in a relatively budget friendly fashion. We’re not the massively thrifty travelers who stay strictly at super budget motels, but when we travel outside of Disney vacations we tend to split the difference between economical accommodations and upscale accommodations. For the most part, that leaves us in Hilton owned properties like Hampton, Double Tree, Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, and so on. For us, the rewards card just works out because that’s where we stay the most and the points add up as you stay in their hotels and use their card for everyday purchases. As an added bonus, you typically receive a discount at Hilton hotels and resorts simply for being a card holder. 

Saving for Disney World


If you’re not dead set on staying on Disney property. The DoubleTree at Disney Springs tends to be our “go-to” Hilton destination near Walt Disney World. While you can read our full array of thoughts on that resort in our DoubleTree Suites by Hilton – Disney Springs Area – Resort Review, it’s worth noting that we’ve never had a bad experience at that particular property. It’s not quite the same experience as staying at a Disney resort, but on certain occasions and certain times of year it can save you a ton of money. It’s worth noting that American Express did not ask us to say that and we are not affiliated with them (however… that would be cool lol). It’s simply what we’ve used in the recent past.  

Another card to consider would be an airline miles card. We were just offered a fairly interesting card when booking our Southwest flights that would have saved us over $200 if we chose to get a Southwest Airlines card when checking out. I honestly don’t know the details of the offer and we did inevitably pass on it but similar airline miles cards exist for basically every airline with many of our closest friends utilizing the Delta Skymiles card. Credit cards aren’t the end all be all solution to saving money on airfare and accommodations but sticking to the right card that works for you can prove beneficial in the end result. 
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6. Consider External Websites

Oftentimes guests (including myself) tend to look at Disney’s website as the end all be all booking site for Disney planning. You’re not wrong in doing that and it is by far the simplest option, but others do exist that many guests entirely overlook. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been looking for resort accommodations and found myself wandering over to Kayak or Priceline to compare costs. 

Most of the time, Priceline will have a better offer for at least one resort. These aren’t different resorts or even different rooms. The room you book is the exact same room Disney offers up but Priceline, or whatever retailer you choose to utilize, simply buys the rooms in bulk (for lack of a better word) and sells them off at a rate at which they consider to be profitable. That rate is often different than what Disney has available. If you’re booking last minute, these types of sites can be incredibly beneficial and you can catch some incredibly cheap rates on rooms that the booking site is about to get hung with if they don’t unload them.

Saving for Disney World

Saving for Disney World
Saving for Disney World

If you try this, you do have to be careful about cancellation policies and take the time to learn how to book other aspects of your vacation. Namely ticket buying, dining plans, etc. on your own. Disney wont touch these reservations because they’re ultimately not their reservations to deal with until you arrive at the resort. They won’t match prices and can rarely answer any questions about the rates these third party sellers offer up. 

7. Think Through “Add-Ons”

Add-on special events and benefits are becoming more and more popular at Walt Disney World and the Disney Parks as a whole. Some add-ons are relatively unnecessary in my opinion while others may be worth it one way or another. As with anything in the planning process, before you go all in on a VIP tour guide (if you plan on doing that you’re probably not reading my money saving post anyway) or a paid hard ticket event for an extra 2 hours in the park at a cost of $70 a person, run a cost benefit analysis. Everything in the “add-on” offering equation falls on a continuum of saving time or saving money in the majority of cases. Honestly, our family falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. We’ll be the first to pay for a Very Merry Christmas Party ticket to enjoy that experience, but at the same time we’re not going to spend $70 to enter Magic Kingdom two hours early to ride a small selection of attractions. One is worth the time and money and the other isn’t (for us). 

For this particular continuum most guests fall into one of three categories. 1. The guest that is booking the dream vacation and places a priority on saving time and spending whatever is necessary to build their dream vacation. 2. The guest that is saving every penny and maximizing their experience in other ways. 3. Lastly, the guests like us that wants to split the difference and not spend large amounts of extra money but who also enjoys the perks of select special events or deluxe tier accommodations when it can be done affordably. The key to it all is knowing where you fall and what’s important to you. We’ve done Disney vacations with big budgets and we’ve done Disney vacations with very very small budgets. 

If you’re looking to save time and do as much as you possibly can no matter the cost, you’ll end up paying more for it. We’re never going to to buy a cabana (no matter where they decide to put them next… if they ever do that again) for hundreds of dollars to take a break in at the Magic Kingdom, but other add-ons we’re more than willing to pay to experience. It has to be your decision and you have to figure out what works for you! That’s the key to any Disney vacation. Plan the vacation you want to experience and if you want something, find a way to make it happen. These tips may not work for you and that’s okay, other options do exist if you take a moment to think it through and get a little creative along the way. 


Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 

For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.     

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.       

                 
  

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