Tag: Tips

Why I Think Everyone Should Visit Walt Disney World – How to Make it Happen!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Why I Think Everyone Should Visit Walt Disney World – How to Make it Happen!  

Every once in awhile you have one of those days that makes you really appreciate the little things in life. You have that moment where you realize that no matter what, it could simply all end tomorrow. Now, I know that sounds a bit sad, but at the same time it’s one of the greatest blessings life gives us. In many ways that simple thought encourages us to enjoy every moment and make the most of any and every situation life throws at us. It could be a terrible day, but it could always get worse and no matter what there’s a silver lining to each and every moment in life. 


It’s About More Than Just the Parks

You may be wondering what this has to do with our topic for the day, but to me it has everything to do with today’s article. To me, more than anything else, Disney is a place that makes you appreciate every moment. The place creates memories that are unmatched by any other location. As I’ve said many times, to me its not about the attractions, it’s not about the food, and it’s not about the many joys of the parks themselves, but rather the moments we share with those who we care the most about. That’s what makes Disney different. It’s a place that fosters incredible memories with a cast that exceeds expectations and stories that many of us hold close to our hearts. 

All of this sounds rather simple, but those of you who have been traveling to Walt Disney World for many years likely know exactly what I mean. That single point, in and of itself is a reason I recommend a Walt Disney World trip to anyone and everyone. Even if you’re traveling alone, there is this incredible online Disney community that will often invite you into their lives like family and help you create memories no matter what your situation is in life may be. It’s a group of like-minded people and while there are a few exceptions, so many of us aren’t in it for the money (trust me, if I was, this would have ended a long time ago lol), but rather for the interaction we get to share with Disney fans and friends each and every day. 

There’s Something For Everyone

In an entirely different way, I recommend a Disney trip to anyone and everyone because it is a place that exceeds expectations and truly offers something for everyone. If you’re into food, there’s plenty of world class options if you take the time to look for them, if you’re into thrill rides, there’s something for that, if you like golf, there’s that too. Even if you hate Disney and everything about it, you drive ten minutes and you’re surrounded by a city of so many things to do that you wont know where to start. 

In all reality, it’s kind of shocking when you think about it, and while we’ve covered many different things to do inside and outside of the parks, there’s no way to cover it all. We continuously strive to share new experiences with you day in and day out, but here are a few of our top recommendations and articles with some unique options to add to or take part in during your stay. As always, if you want to see us cover even more, just let us know and we’ll try it out and let you know what we think! One of the things you history buffs may want to take part in is learning the legacy of this incredible organization and while Walt Disney World isn’t the “original” park, you may be surprised at the history of Walt and the early days of the parks you can uncover even today!   


Unique Activities: 

History of the Parks and Beyond! 

This array only scratches the surface of what’s available on Disney property and a couple of options beyond the parks and resorts. I’ve said t before and I’ll say it again, there’s something for everyone, it’s just a matter of finding what you love and doing it the “Disney way” with a level of quality that exceeds expectations time and time again. 

In regards to how you can make it happen, it may not be as difficult or as expensive as you may expect. Disney can be done on a “shoe-string” budget, and we’ve done that many times ourselves for various reasons, or you can go all out and create the luxury vacation of a lifetime. 

Many of you may be facing another issue, or simply an obstacle to overcome, of a family member that isn’t convinced that Disney is for them. Honestly, you’re not alone. That happens to many prospective guests I know and have tried to convince to head to the parks time and time again. The key to it all is making a special effort to share with that person the one part of Disney that they’ll enjoy more than anything else. Oftentimes, their mind automatically jumps to noisy kids and Mickey Mouse when Disney World is mentioned. Truth be told, you will face both of those in the parks, but that’s not what it’s all about. When you unfold the realm of possibilities for guests, you may be surprised at how their thought process and view of a Walt Disney World vacation changes. 


If you’re concerned about the actual trip planning process, you have a ton of options. First and foremost we have a series of itineraries here on the site (listed below) that can get you started but Disney is pretty good about walking you through the process if you choose on-site resort accommodations. Also, you could consider an Authorized Disney Travel Planner (here’s the one we recommend) to do the majority of the work for you or as much or as little of the planning as you’d like. Disney trips can be intimidating for sure, but when you get the right help and do the research it gets far easier and you continually grow upon your past experiences. If you’re looking for even more Disney trip planning info, don’t forget to check out our friends over at WDW Magazine and their new in print magazine featuring all kinds of awesome Disney content debuting soon (online version already available). As always, we appreciate it when you support those who support us!        

Itineraries:
I know this short article has a lot of links to other articles in it, but I do that for one main reason, and that’s to show that there’s no perfect way to do Disney and there’s no one way to tour the parks or even tour Disney property as a whole. It’s all about what works for you and what you want out of your vacation experience. When it comes right down to it, that’s what it’s all about. Use the knowledge you get from research and apply that to your trip to develop the ultimate vacation experience for you and your family. 

One last thing you may want to consider is that Disney spans the globe. So, if Walt Disney World isn’t your thing or you can’t find what you love in Orlando, head to California, Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, and so many other unique locations. If you’re not a theme park fan, take a Disney Cruise, or check out one of the truly incredible offering by Adventures By Disney to many parts of the world under the watchful eye and leadership of that Disney comfort and level of service. Disney service is part of what keeps me going back 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! 


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.

An Interesting Disney Bus Transit Experience – A Surprising Cast Member Role

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

An Interesting Disney Bus Transit Experience – A Surprising Cast Member Role 

Transportation at Walt Disney World tends to be a big factor in your vacation experience overall. From the Monorail transportation, to watercraft, to the upcoming gondola system, and certainly the classic bus transport, Disney truly provides for guests in basically every way. 

On our very early stays on property, many years ago over at Caribbean Beach, we relied on Disney bus transportation each and every day of our journey. It was a way not only to easily get to the parks, but also an opportunity to talk with friends or family we were traveling with, park the car for a bit, and really and truly just enjoy that “Disney bubble” so many of us have grown to love over the years. 


There really is something special about being able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, as the trained cast member carries you on your way to your desired destination. Of course, the bus system isn’t without flaw and at times can be a bit crowded or hectic. With that being said, it leads right into our topic of discussion for today. 
On a recent trip to the parks, we boarded our bus from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort early in the morning in hopes of arriving at Animal Kingdom right before park opening. While we didn’t quite make it in time, we had the opportunity to interact with a unique cast member in an even more surprising role. As we stepped onto the bus, we noticed something a touch out of the ordinary (at least compared to our past experiences) in that there were two bus drivers on the actual bus. While this isn’t all that unusual in and of itself as driver changeovers do occur from time to time to give breaks, or even just switch shifts, this was a bit different. Rather than leaving the bus, this second driver stayed and talked to guests. 

I know that seems ridiculously simple, but upon inquiry he shared with us that this was his actual roll with the company and that he was hired to simply improve the guest experience. I must say, he did an incredible job. Throughout the whole journey, he told jokes, shared stories, and got to know just about everyone on the bus. Obviously it wasn’t a grand production, but it was certainly one of those unique moments that made me think, “only Disney would do this.” To other organizations, this would be an absurd concept. In essence, they hired an older gentleman with an excellent personality to ride around with the sole purpose of making guests days a little bit brighter and just a touch more memorable. 

For the life of me I can’t remember the cast members name, but it was a prime example of someone going above and beyond in a cast member role. As we reached our destination, everyone on the bus had a big smile on their face and were ready to enjoy the day. None of us ever anticipated that extra touch of magic in our day, but I’d have to openly and honestly admit it put everyone in my group in an even better mood. 

Sure, buses aren’t the ideal solution to the transportation situation at Disney and while I would be willing to bet we’ll see more than just the Skyliner system unveiled in the coming years, it’s interesting to see attention being brought to the bus system. 


At the end of the short trip, as I stepped off that bus, I had one overwhelming thought enter my mind. I had just experienced a small part of the “old Disney” mentality. For those of you who remember Disney 10 or so years ago, this was the quality of service you expected every minute of your trip and often times that expectation was met or exceeded day after day of your trip. Disney has slowly trickled away from that earlier mentality but still manages to create magic for guests day in and day out. At the same time it was neat to see an experience like this resurfacing in even a small 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! 


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.

How to Do Disney World With Larger Groups – A Few Tips for Planning a Group WDW Vacation

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

How to Do Disney World With Larger Groups – A Few Tips


We’ve all been there, a friend wants to travel with us, a child’s sports team makes it to an event at the Wide World of Sports complex, or even an extended family vacation starts to shape up and could be an excellent group to travel with. While, for many, this isn’t necessarily the ideal travel situation, you may be surprised at how a few tips can make all the difference when planning Disney World Trips for larger groups. Of course, in my opinion, a group is a relative term. Personally, anything much more than our typical four person family vacation falls into the group category. As many of you may know, traveling with extended family and even our very best friends can be stressful (If you haven’t tried it, trust me, I’ve been there. lol). 

Group travel is perhaps the most unique type of travel situation you can face when visiting the Walt Disney World Parks and resorts. Inevitably, especially in rather large groups of 10+ guests, you’re not going to be able to accommodate every single need and want of the party. As unfortunate as that sounds, it’s about like trying to sit down and watch all the Star Wars franchise in a row in one day. You probably could do it (and many of us will try) but at the same time very few will be completely and entirely successful. Sadly, for many it ends up being a vastly hectic experience but it does have to be. 


If you know what to expect, your trip can still go off without a hitch and the experience can be vastly influential on the guests in your group and can create lasting memories for everyone involved. Granted, this isn’t likely going to be quite as productive of a trip as one with a smaller group. To an extent, you do have to manage your expectations. It will be vastly difficult to spend long hours in the parks, and to stay out as late as possible. Truth be told, the entire situation is a compromise but if you’re like us, and likely if you’re reading this, you’ll take any and every opportunity you can to visit the magic of Walt Disney World. 
           

Consider All Your Resort Options

Resorts are perhaps the most difficult portion of the equation you’ll have to consider with larger groups. You can book multiple resort rooms all at one resort or, depending on your group size, you could look at a villa at a vast majority of the deluxe resorts on property. Personally, I highly recommend option number two. It’s what we do and while it is the best case scenario it will only work for parties up to around 9 guests. Some of the largest rooms on property will comfortably sleep that many guests while still providing luxury accommodations that could potentially save you quite a bit of money over purchasing multiple rooms if a large enough room exists for your party size. 

From my experience, if you’re looking at any resort location on property (especially anything above a value tier), for a vast majority of the year it is more budget friendly or relatively equal in price to purchase a deluxe villa room when you’re splitting the cost among multiple guests and staying all in one villa rather than purchasing separate resort rooms. 
For example, if you were looking to purchase a stay in Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village later on in June of this year, here’s what you’d pay: 

  • For a resort room you’ll pay $397 a night for a Savannah View Deluxe Studio room. Multiply that times two and you’ll end up paying almost $800 to accommodate up to 8 guests. 
  • By comparison, a 2 bedroom villa is $819 for the same tier view (I only used Savannah view rooms in this example in order to provide real numbers. The other accommodations were unavailable for the dates researched *July 22nd-27th*). 

Additionally, there’s one more thing you’ll want to consider. If you book a villa style room, you also get access to a relatively “full” kitchen complete with an oven and a full size refrigerator. For many, that could be a huge cost savings over the course of a week if you are willing to cook breakfast or any number of meals during your trip for the whole group. 

While I’ve not used them personally, I’ve heard great reviews of companies like Garden Grocer who will deliver grocery style type food to resort rooms on Disney property and beyond. I’m not affiliated with them but have heard great things about their service and their prices don’t seem too terribly high to become unreasonable for a majority of travelers. Some guests may even find their prices cheaper than their home state grocery stores/services. We’re from central Kentucky, so Orlando area prices are fairly comparable to what we experience on a near daily basis. 

In the grand scheme of things, the benefits of staying in a villa and enjoying the perks of a deluxe resort, especially if the cost is being split among guests, is well worth the few extra dollars you may or may not have to spend to all stay in one resort room together. It wont solve the problem for extremely large groups that exceed the maximum occupancy of these resort room types, but could be a great option if you travel with friends …. or if you’re the Brady Bunch…  (We all know you just sang the song). 

Plan Early

If you’ve made it this far into the article, chances are you’re pretty serious about planning for a group, and/or you like to be over prepared for any situation you may ever face when booking. Both of those reasons I can really and truly appreciate. I’m a notorious over planner and as we booked our latest vacation for 4 guests just two days ago for an early June trip to the parks, I don’t recommend trying that. However, it is doable and we were vastly successful booking last minute, it makes things far easier when you book as far in advance as possible. 


If you can, try to book for your group stay at least 6 to 8 months in advance. If you’re traveling at peak times like Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, or even some of the summer months, try to book at least your resort room even earlier. The largest rooms on property are limited in number when we’re considering the realm of villas and the larger your group, the harder it will be to come up with the perfect accommodations you desire.    


      

Get Some Help From a Friend 

Getting help from a friend going on the trip with you or just someone you trust that has been to Disney many times can make a huge difference. Not only can they help you weigh the options and take new things into consideration, but chances are they’ll think of something along the way that you overlooked or could have potentially skipped altogether. I’ve been planning my vacations for years, but never once, no matter how large the party size, have I planned every detail on my own. Chances are I wont make any big mistakes that could change the course of a vacation, but having that second opinion or helping hand can really make all the difference in both little and big ways.  


If nothing else, it’s someone who can help you relay information for very large groups or someone to pose those tough decisions to before making a final choice. If you don’t have someone traveling with you I do highly recommend a travel agency because they have worked with groups and oftentimes know little details of the experience that many (even highly experienced guests) overlook because they can and do deal with these things on a daily basis. Personally, I recommend Destinations to Travel because they’re who I have personal experience with and they help us out here on the site in return.   
   

Have Everyone Pick One “Must-Do”

This is one of those things I consider fundamental to every Disney vacation involving 2 or more guests. It sounds so simple but having the guests in your party pick one, two, or even three of their top “must-do” items they want to ride or experience during the trip can make all the difference. For parents, if you invoke this strategy a lot of times you can avoid the argument of what to do “next” and at the same time everyone gets to experience that one aspect of Disney they came to experience. It may not be everyones ideal attraction, dining location, etc. but at the same time everyone will have their one moment to pick and it works out quite well in a wide variety of situations, especially when booking fastpasses and dining reservations. 


For example, little Johnny may want to go swim at the pool and slide down the waterslide more than anything else, but Suzy’s top pick for the stay is to ride Splash Mountain at least one time. As you plan your days out you grab Suzy a fastpass selection for Splash Mountain and set aside an hour or so for Johnny to swim and enjoy the resort pool. Of course, with my family, Collin (me) wants to ride the People Mover 17 times and the rest of the family tries to reason with him how unnecessary that is…    

Be Flexible With Meals

Similar to what was mentioned above about planning early, dining is something you really want to jump on and get set up as soon as possible. Typically, the bigger your group the more difficult it will be to find reservations that seat your entire party. Again, it’s entirely doable to book later on, but it isn’t the best case scenario. 

When I started going to Walt Disney World as a young kid traveling with family, we spent days planning the perfect meal layout and got on the phone 180 days out to reserve those perfect times. Was it necessary? Not entirely. But, it did do something for us that is worth noting. When we spent those afternoons on the phone (which can now be far more easily done online today) it built anticipation for our trip and started to create a simple memory long before our actual vacation even began. We were half a year away from visiting the magic as a group, but at the same time we shared a moment with family in those phone calls and afternoon booking strategies that meant the world to us and gave me a story to share with you even today. Booking can be a part of the fun and booking early can make a huge difference in the end result. Here’s the final tip or perhaps the “Holy Grail” of an equivalent Indian Jones adventure and that is to not let this be stressful. Enjoy the planning experience and make the most of it and the end result will exceed your expectations. 

Consider a Fireworks Viewing Package 

Fireworks for many are the pinnacle highlight of a Disney trip. For me, there’s nothing quite as enjoyable and iconic as standing there on Main Street USA staring up at the castle with a smile on your face and a certain level of unexplainable joy in your heart as the fireworks burst overhead. As you look around you catch a glimpse of the colorful bursts high in the air reflecting in the eyes of those around you and the light glimmering off the faces of those surrounding you. In that moment, even for a brief second, the difficulties of life slip away and you can simply enjoy the moment. 

Fireworks with groups is quite difficult. If you all want to stay together, and there’s more than 5 or so in your party, finding space in front of the castle can be incredibly difficult unless you are willing to camp out over an hour in advance. On our most recent trip, we traveled with 7 guests in total. Even 45 minutes before the show began, we were forced to find a spot about half way down Mainstreet and it took us about 20 minutes to walk there from Liberty Square. Granted, it was a very busy day, but we ended up splitting up our group just to find a spot. For larger groups, it would be even more difficult and one of the main situations in which I would recommend a fireworks dessert party at Magic Kingdom. It will, in theory, guarantee you a spot for the fireworks where everyone can be in one area and while expensive, you do get a pretty good bonus out of the cost by means of unlimited desserts.   
      

Consider Splitting Up At Times  

Splitting up your group doesn’t sound fun at first or even early on in your stay but as the week draws on, and tensions tend to rise among group members, sometimes it’s the ideal fix to combat that mid week “blow up” moment where an argument breaks out in full force. Split up a fastpass selection or pick a different dining reservation than some other guests in your group and that little break from the rest may just recharge you and put everyone back into a great mood.
 

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.

Our Ideal 4 Day "No Parks" Disney World Itinerary

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Our Ideal 4 Day “No Parks” Disney World Itinerary

Every once in a while, you get the chance to take a vacation that is a bit different than your typical Walt Disney World vacation. Quite a few years ago, we took the time to step away from the parks for a few days in order to intentionally and fully embrace all that Disney has to offer beyond the parks. Honestly, it ended up being one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken and it ended up that way for one main reason: There was zero stress! 

I know that sounds cheesy and a bit unconventional, because in all honesty it is. It seems counter productive to take a vacation if it’s going to be stressful. However, when it comes right down to it there’s a certain level of stress involved in the planning stages of a Disney World trip. To an extent, the feeling is inevitable, but at the same time vastly rewarding in a majority of circumstances. I love planning trips and wouldn’t have a site to share with you all if I didn’t truly enjoy the process and everything a Disney World vacation involves. For me, this isn’t about making money, or trying get “noticed” but rather to meet new people and share new friendship with the people I meet along the way. I do it to help as many guests as I possibly can and no view count or other factor will change that. I mention that for one main reason. I do not work for Disney and as a result get to share a few recommendations that aren’t based on selling tickets or accommodations or anything in that realm. Simply put, it’s my opinion here and an effort not to sell anything but rather to share something that may change a portion of the way you experience the magic. 

Don’t get me wrong, I highly suggest touring the parks if you haven’t done it before but if you’re looking for something a bit different to try during your trip, here’s a closer look at what I recommend. If you still want to visit the parks in addition to these things, it would be an excellent way to to get a touch of both experiences along the way. Truth be told, even our non-parks focused trips we’ll typically make it to the parks a few days of our stay and even plan to do just that on a summer trip we’re looking into this year. 


So, if you’re looking for something a bit less stressful or a touch more relaxing than the fast paced action of many Disney trips, I invite you to take a look at what we recommend for 4 days at Walt Disney World without stepping into the parks. It’s a bit out of the the ordinary to think about but can be one of the more unique experiences you’ll embark upon in the realm of Disney. The cool part about this itinerary is that you can literally mix and match or “plug and play” your days in to any specific date you so desire! There’s no perfect order and there’s no “best way” to do this, but rather something to mold and manipulate to your ideal situation. 


One thing to note before jumping into the details is that I recommend you stay on property to try this. It makes transportation a bit easier and our plan is heavily weighted towards resort touring so it may prove beneficial to have Disney transportation available to move from one resort to the next. It sounds a bit counter intuitive but if you can jump on a bus to a park of your choice, arrive at the bus stop of that park without entering the park, and take a bus to another resort, you can get just about anywhere on property free of charge. The main thing is to make sure you return to your resort before the buses stop running at the end of the night in order arrive back at your resort without having to hire a Minnie Van, Uber or something similar.     

Day 1  

If I’m planning a Disney Trip outside of the parks, one thing comes to mind automatically, FOOD! Disney World is one of the top dining destinations in the United States. There’s more restaurants per square mile on property than just than just about any city in the country. 

To start out your first day, I’d do one main thing to kick off the vacation. Head to Disney Springs for a quick meal over at Homecomin’ Kitchen or your top pick for dining in the area and enjoy a day of shopping and dining! If shopping isn’t your thing, make your way to the Aerophile (Formerly Characters in Flight) to take flight in a tethered hot air ballon for some of the most picturesque views of Disney property available to guests of all ages. If you’re like me and don’t do well with heights, you may want to sit this one out… 

For those of us who are “vertically challenged” for lack of a better word, a few steps away you’ll find Sprinkles cupcakes, the Ganachery, and even the Boathouse were you can sit back and enjoy a quick snack or even a meal while the rest of your party enjoys the Springs from above. For the Boathouse in particular, avoid the wait times for the main restaurant and make your way out to the waterside dock bar area for access to the menu without having to wait for a table in the main restaurant itself. The view is spectacular out on the water and shaded for those warm summer nights with a cool breeze trickling in as the sun sets over the lake. 


Day 2

After your gradual start and likely active day on your feet, start day two off with a breakfast at one of the various resort hotels. As always, I highly recommend a few options. First would be Whispering Canyon and the breakfast canyon skillet. The food is unlimited and family style and really is one of the most entertaining breakfast you can have on property that still remains a hidden gem of Walt Disney World. Another great offering is Ohana over at the Polynesian resort, or even Chef Mickey at the Contemporary. Chef Mickey isn’t quite as high ranking on my list because the food quality isn’t quite as comparable to the others mentioned but the resort itself is a great place to start the day exploring the grounds and catching a few picturesque views of Magic Kingdom from the iconic Grand Concourse balcony.

After the meal, I highly recommend heading down to the boat dock. It’s easy to find and if you head out the back of the resort and head all the way out towards the lake. The transport ferry boats are free to use and will take you to the Contemporary (if you’re not there already), Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, and even Magic Kingdom. With one quick boat change you can also reach the Polynesian and Grand Floridian without ever entering the park. 

If you’ve not done it before, heading to each of these resorts can be an eye opening experience of all that Disney has to offer. Every resort holds little hidden gems and theming elements that separates them from all other resorts on property and even all other resorts you’ve ever traveled to. Each location has it’s own unique themed gift shops and merchandise and you may even get the chance to stop for a snack. If you head to the Polynesian you can even grab an iconic Dole Whip without ever leaving the resort. 

As always, don’t be afraid to visit resorts even if you’re not staying in them. Disney gladly welcomes and encourages non-resort guest visitors. They know better than anyone that once you see these resorts you’ll want to stay in them one day or return for another meal at one of their many restaurants in the future. 


If you’re carful about how you plan your day, you can really spend an entire day strolling around, enjoying the views, and shopping your day away at these resorts. As day turns to night pick a resort with a view of the castle in the distance to experience one of the most unique views possible of Magic Kingdom’s nighttime fireworks spectaculars. Particularly around the holidays, grab a spot on the beaches of the Polynesian or another resort and prepare for the multi-launch site fireworks experience you’ll be talking about for years to come.    

Day 3 

Day 3 is to me the ideal way to spend a summer day outside of the parks. It can be moved to whatever day of your trip you would like but particularly on a hot day, very little beats spending some time at your themed resort pool. 

Start your day with a nice breakfast or sleep in just a bit then head out to the pool to soak in the sunshine and relax the day away. If simply hanging out isn’t your thing, head to the lobby and search for the activity list for the day. Each resort will be a bit different but it’s not out of the ordinary to find a list of free activities (or low cost activities) to partake in at your very own resort. Certain resorts offer free guided tours, others offer an open fire as the day turns to night, or even a movie out under the stars. The possibilities are endless and vary from day to day, but taking that day to really fully explore the little details of your resort is a great way to not only save a little money, but also tends to be a vastly memorable day with family or friends. 

It’s certainly not the conventional way to explore Disney but sometimes taking a step back to enjoy the simpler aspects of the experience can lead to some of the most unique and memorable aspects of the vacation.

Day 4 

On your final day I recommend making the journey over to the Boardwalk resort area. In my opinion this is one of the most, if not the most, overlooked areas on property by a significant margin.

The Boardwalk area is one of the most picturesque places you’ll ever visit. Sitting prominently on Crescent Lake in the Epcot resort area, the views are truly spectacular. From sun up to sun down, the colors and lights of the area glisten casually, yet prominently, off of the water enticing guests to enjoy a casual day of exploration and enjoyment from a simpler time and a simpler place. Grab a funnel cake, rent a surrey bike, or simply enjoy a stroll through the incredible art gallery and a day will slowly pass by unveiling detail after detail as you explore everything the resort has to offer. As a bit of hidden gem of the experience I recommend heading to the main floor of the resort to find a piece of Disney history hiding in plain site. 

As a few of you may remember, Main Street USA used to be home to the iconic Penny Arcade. Unfortunately, after the closure of that space in 1995, the nostalgic games that once filled that iconic space slowly disappeared. A select few reappeared years later in the Main Street Station in non-operable form, but one was relocated and still functions today. Any guesses at where it might be today? You guessed it, the Boardwalk resort. 

Just a few steps from the main lobby near the restrooms on the main floor you’ll typically find one or sometimes two machines prominently placed in the hallway. Most guests will walk right by and entirely ignore the history in front of them, but a select few will peer into the view finder and and gently turn the crank to watch the flipbook style production come to life before their very eyes.


Little details like this adorn the property and taking the time to explore it may uncover more than you ever expected. If you want something else to do in the area, grab an ice cream at Ample Hills creamery, Beaches and Cream across the water at the Beach Club, or make the short walk to the Dolphin resort for a dip of ice-cream or incredible soft serve at the Fountain restaurant. 

If you’ve made it that far over to the Swan and Dolphin, walk just a touch further and you’ll stumble into the Fantasia Gardens miniature golf course. If you book your stay in a package you may even get to play free of charge with the vouchers provide when your magic bands are delivered!  

To wrap up the night, head back to the main crescent lake area to catch a unique view of Epcot’s Illuminations nighttime spectacular from a unique viewing angle. It’s the perfect way to end a night outside of the parks. 
                                   

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.

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Is There A Best Order to Visit Disney World Parks?

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Is There A Best Order to Visit Disney World Parks?

After sharing a few itineraries of ours over the last few days, that very question popped into mind. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but as I spent a few minutes thinking about the concept a few distinct ideas came to mind. My first and most prominent thought was that there could be no “perfect order” to tour the parks but then I caught myself. While there may not be a set order, there’s a few things that can affect the way you should likely plan your Disney park days throughout your length of stay. 

Obviously, no two guests will be doing the same thing everyday and very few guests will be arriving at Walt Disney World on the same day or at the same time. For the entire premise of this question that poses a fairly significant problem. How could there be an ideal order to tour the parks if no two trips are exactly the same? Ultimately, that realization led me to a few different thoughts which I’ll share in a bit more detail below. 

  • Length of Stay Will Make Difference 
  • When You Arrive Will Make A Difference 
  • Where You Stay Will Make A Difference 
  • Your Travel Party Will Make a Difference 
  • Park Hopping Will lake A Difference
  • Extra Magic Hours WiIl Make A Difference  

Honestly, the easy answer to this question is a simple “no.”  However, it’s not quiet that simple. So many of these little things that will “make a difference” posted above can play a vital role in the best case scenario of your Disney trip. Sure, there’s no perfect way to plan a trip and while we do have a few different “go-to” itineraries (below this section) for our Disney trips of various lengths, nothing will beat looking at each of these categories and figuring out what works best for you! 

Disney World 4 Day Itinerary – Making the Most of a Short Disney Trip
Our Typical Disney World 7 Day Itinerary 
Our Ideal 1-Day Walt Disney World Itinerary for 2018 

That’s the key to the whole thing. There may be a best order to visit Disney World parks for your given situation, but no two situations or travel plans will be identical. Dive into the details and you may be shocked at what you come up with for your trip! 



Length of Stay Will Make A Difference 


Chances are, every Disney trip you go on is going to be slightly different than the last in a few different ways. The experiences are going to be different, cast member interactions are never the same, and so many little details from your resort to your number of ticketed days will add up to a shocking difference from vacation to vacation. Your length of stay will mandate how you should best plan your days and order in which you visit the Disney World Parks. For example, you might go to Disney for four days and choose to spend your time trying to complete as many attractions as possible. To do so you’ll probably have to spend long hours in the parks and avoid the crowds to the very best of your ability. By contrast, you might go to Disney for a 10 day journey (which makes for a truly incredible length of stay), but in doing so if an attraction is crowded or you don’t feel like waiting you can simply come back another day and try it again. In either situation you can have an incredible trip, it’s just a little different outlook in the big picture. 

With longer stays, pegging down when you head to the parks isn’t all that important because you have multiple opportunities to revisit parks and favorite attractions time and time again. The crowds will be the same as a shorter stay but your sense of urgency wont necessarily require you to plan your days quite as aggressively.        


When You Arrive Will Make A Difference


The beginning of a stay and the end of a stay tend to be the most difficult aspects of a Disney trip to plan. If you choose to fly to Orlando, chances are your flight wont arrive early enough in the day to make it to the parks for the opening timeframe. As a result of the later arrival you’ll have to stage your fastpass+ selections late in the day in order to best utlize that particular option. Personally, I see a partial day as a great way to catch a favorite nighttime spectacular like Happily Ever After or Illuminations while also starting off your trip right with a few guaranteed attractions preselected in advance as your fastpass selections. 

If you arrive late at night, you may not even make it to the parks on your first night. A good compromise would be to schedule a meal at Disney Springs or a resort hotel to take full advantage of the Disney magic while making the most of your time. 

Personally, my recommendation is that if you are arriving for a partial day, head to your favorite park or what you’re looking forward to most first thing. If you’re waiting for your first full day before you go to a park, head to your favorite park first but avoid Magic Kingdom on Mondays. From my experience, Magic Kingdom always tends to be a bit more crowded on Mondays as a result of guests heading there for their very first day of a week long vacation. Sunday and Tuesday tend to be much better options in regard to crowds. It’s not a massive difference but may be worth it to you to hold off on that Magic Kingdom day to save yourself a bit of time standing in line. Another great strategy is to use our tips on How to Ride 6 or More Attractions in 90 Minutes or Less: With Only 1 Fastpass+! 


Where You Stay Will Make A Difference 


To be completely honest this particular category tip sounds a little crazy. To an extent, it’s overplanning at it’s finest. However, if you’re staying at Bay Lake Tower or any of the Magic Kingdom Monorail resort loop resorts chances are you’ll be much more likely to spend time in Magic Kingdom. In a similar way, if you stay at The Boardwalk resort or any of the Crescent Lake properties you’ll likely spend more time at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. That wont necessarily effect the order in which you visit the parks, but it will have a pretty strong connection with what parks you visit the most during your stay in the vast majority of cases.       


Your Travel Party Will Make a Difference 


When many families travel to Disney, there’s a few different types of situations. Typically you have parents with kids, all adults trips, teenager/college age trips, and potentially extended family trips. In nearly every case, each guest in the party will have at least a few things they want to do and see more than anything else. To accomplish it all, the best thing you can do is have everyone in the group create a top 3 choices list. If all goes well, a few things will overlap on a few of their lists and in the end you can make those things a priority and schedule your order of visiting the parks accordingly to assure that you can get everything you would like to get done accomplished. 

In a similar way, if you travel with young children, you may prioritize your days differently than you would if you traveled solely with adults. Kids tend to prefer Magic Kingdom and surprisingly Animal Kingdom. As an adult, I tend to prefer Epcot and so do quite a few other adult Disney fans. When it comes right down to it it is all a matter of perspective.       


Park Hopping Will Make A Difference


As many of you may know, I tend to be a big proponent of the park hopper option when buying tickets. In my opinion it opens you up to so many more dining and planning options that it more than outweighs the additional cost of the ticket. If you are purchasing a park hopper, I don’t see there being a best order to visit the parks in any way. If one park is overly crowded and you’re not too worried about your length of stay, you can simply head to another park. The park hopper also offers guests the opportunity to revisit a park for a few hours rather than having to spend an entire day in a park to go back and experience those one or two attractions that you were really looking forward to but happened to miss on your first day in that particular park.       


Extra Magic Hours WiIl Make A Difference 


When you’re planning park days, this is the single most important thing I look into and recommend other guests look into before they pick their park days. Extra Magic Hours are select hours designated to give Disney’s onsite resort guests access to the parks 1-2 hours before the park opens to the general public for the day. An extra hour seems like a short amount of time but if you get there when the park opens for the extended hours, you can accomplish a vast array of attractions before the largest crowds of the day roll in. Typically early morning extra magic hours will be more productive timeframes compared to late night extra magic hours. Either way, if you can plan your order of visiting the parks around these extra hours you may add as much as 10 hours to your “park hours” over the course of a 5+ day vacation. 

Final Thoughts   


As you’ve likely deducted at this point in the post, there really is no best order to visit the Disney World parks. Your Disney vacation is going to be different than your friends Disney vacation and that’s part of the joy of a Disney vacation as a whole. There’s no one “best” way to do Disney and everyone is going to have a different goal in mind going into their stay. The most important thing to take away from this whole discussion is that you have to do some research and find out what you want to do more than anything else. You can’t see and do it all in one trip. Truth be told you can’t do it all in one lifetime, but that’s the magic of Disney. There’s always something new to explore and enjoy that you’ve never done before! 


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 (kit lens currently)
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.

            

Visit Disney! – When and Why You Should Travel to WDW in 2018

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

The decision to visit Disney can be a rather large one for many families. Committing to the expense and starting to save up for that one of a kind vacation experience that fits your style of travel can be rather intimidating at first. However, 2018 is actually a really great time to visit Disney for a variety of reasons. I know many guests think they should wait for the unveiling of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge next year or even went last summer to see the debut of Pandora and plan on skipping this year’s vacation in anticipation of the big debut. In all honesty I wouldn’t recommend waiting for a variety of reasons. 

Here’s a closer look at why I think you should visit Disney this calendar year and why there’s way more to do than you would expect that is entirely new and arriving this year (2018). 

(Concept Art: Disney)


Take Advantage of the Time Before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
Without a doubt, Star Wars will be a gigantic expansion drawing massive crowds from all realms of life. Many of us have been waiting for this expansion for so many years, and while it will be an incredible addition to Hollywood Studios, it will also draw in crowds that will likely be unbelievable to witness in person (in both a good and bad way). For example, last year’s “Star Wars Celebration” was brought to Orlando. It is not a Walt Disney World event but still managed to draw an absurd amount of guests into the city. Many lined up hours before the event and waited many hours just to get into the building. Personally, I see that as one of the greatest comparisons to what Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be like for the first few months after it debuts. 

If you look at what happened about 20 minutes up the road at Universal when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter burst onto the scene, we can easily expect a similar cult following of fans to arrive for the grand debut of the Star Wars expansion. It will be a truly incredible experience, but I wouldn’t wait until 2019 to book a trip just to see it, and here’s why. 

As the crowds flow in for the expansion/debut, Disney will be marketing the land heavily and as a result not only guests who are attending the land will be drawn in in mass numbers, but the other parks will see in increase in attendance as well (assuming the expansion is received well). By contrast, crowds are already quite high this year, but the big rush to Pandora has almost faded away (with the exception of the Flight of Passage madness) and there’s no huge push to visit Magic Kingdom or Epcot any more than there is on a normal day. As a result, the crowd levels may be a bit more manageable this year than next. So, in theory, if you use our tips on How To Manage The Crowds During Walt Disney World Peak Attendance Dates you’ll likely be able to see and do more on your vacation this year than you will in future years. Of course, if you want help figuring all this out or keeping it straight, contact us directly with questions (guide4wdw@gmail.com) or reach out to our friends at Destinations To Travel for booking requests. As always, when you support them it helps support us as well, which we truly appreciate.   


Toy Story Land Is Coming 
On June 30th of this year, a place we’ve all wanted to be apart of is arriving in a big way at Walt Disney World as Toy Story Land debuts. I’ve said this before but I’ll happily repeat myself. This could be the single most under-anticipated expansion Disney has had in many years. For most guests, this expansion is getting downplayed because of the impending Star Wars expansion coming to the same park, but the project does span 11 acres and will debut 2 new attractions and a dining location. Of course, it wont be quite as grand in scale as Pandora, but at the same time on a basic level it’s going to unveil two new attractions and two new attractions that appeal heavily to young children. Beyond the children, there’s an audience for this new land that so many entirely overlook and that’s the 20-30 year old age range (which I fall into myself). Many of us are beyond thrilled for this expansion because it truly takes us back to a piece of our childhood. When you think about it, the original Toy Story film debuted in 1995. Essentially, that means that anyone 22 or younger doesnt even know a world without the Toy Story franchise. 

Nevertheless, and setting my personal excitement aside, this summer and early fall are going to be an incredible time to travel. Sure, the parks will be crowded as they are each and every summer, but at the same time you’re not likely to face the massive crowds that should accompany the Star Wars debut. Also, it gives you something entirely new to explore and even if you’re not a Toy Story fan, you’ll get two new attractions to enjoy at Hollywood Studios in a park that does need a few more attractions as construction continues on. The construction will certainly pay off in the end but right now that park needs a little bit more to experience before I’d call it a truly full day park (and it hurts me to say that…).  

(Concept Art: Disney)

Disney Springs Is Finally Wrapping Up (Well… sort of)

Throughout this year, Disney Springs will be adding even more dining opportunities for guests to enjoy. With a new wine bar being built, the Edison recently opening to guests, and Maria and Enzos offering up a new Italian flair next door, there’s so much to see and do down there that it’s hard to really explore it all. Additionally, new shopping and dining is debuting and a redesign of the main World of Disney shopping location will bring new life to that wonderful merchandise destination. 

With all of that arriving this year, the Springs development is reaching a turning point and a finishing point of what I see as the potential first and largest phase of the project. We could be looking at a near ideal representation of that area, but I truly believe we’ll see the West side change a bit more with the NBA Experience moving into the old Disney Quest location, and Cirque Du Soleil being reimagined. Perhaps on the scale of speculation rather than fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see an overhaul of the Marketplace section as well in the coming years. It may or may not happen, but with the age of many those buildings I wouldn’t be surprised if we see additional construction pop up on that side of Disney Springs. It may not happen (if anything happens) this year, but it may once again point to the future and expansions or adaptations of current experiences as the Springs truly starts to show it’s character.

When Should You Go?
Honestly, everyone is going be a little different. If it were me I’d do one of three things. My first thought would be to plan a trip (and do it soon to avoid accommodations filling up) from June 26th – July 3rd. These dates certainly sound random but there’s a method to the madness. First, you get there before some of the Toy Story craziness begins. Second, you get to experience the debut on the 30th. Third, you get out of there before the 4th of July crowds build to a peak. With the being said, don’t pick these dates if you want to avoid crowds, but rather if you want to try everything new that you possibly can. One thing to note with these dates is that something could happen pushing the Toy Story debut back. I highly doubt it will, but I wouldn’t fully focus your vacation around that in the rare case that it does not happen. 

Another set of dates I would consider would be in late August/early September as Food And Wine Festival begins. Food and Wine festival is huge event, but it’s also far enough away that you’ll likely miss the bulk of opening crowds for Toy Story. Lastly, I would consider waiting until Christmas decorations roll out in the parks. Of course, Christmas at Walt Disney World is in full swing right after Halloween ends so there’s a huge variety of dates you could consider for that time frame. Don’t forget to try and attend a Very Merry Christmas Party and check out our 5 Tips To Get The Most Out of Your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Experience for that experience along the way. 

If you really want to get into the details of it all and really dive into some crowd calendars and peak times to visit I recommend Dad’s Guide to WDW. It doesn’t do me any good to link over to him in a financial since, but he’s one of the very best in that planning category and shares a lot of useful month by month crowd expectations. 

Wrapping Up
The years of Disney working one project at a time or having one special event in one park at a time are basically gone. This summer, special events will be happening in all four parks, with something new to experience in each and every park. At Magic Kingdom we’ll see a new Incredibles dance party-esque experience. At Epcot a Guardians of the Galaxy Music based series will debut at the American Gardens Theatre. Hollywood Studios will get Toy Story Land. Lastly, Animal Kingdom will be unveiling some type of themed party or experience in Dinoland featuring Daisy and Donald Duck (the details aren’t really known quite yet about that one). Long story made short, there’s going to be plenty to do in the parks this year that is entirely new and would warrant a vacation in my opinion. Obviously, I’m a bit bias because I truly enjoy traveling to the parks, but I see this year as an excellent time to visit Walt Disney World.      

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.

Our Top 5 Things To See (and Do) At Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

With spring quickly approaching and the near perfect Florida weather starting to show itself for our local friends down south, that can only mean one thing, Flower and Garden Festival is almost here! In just 20 days, the Festival will be unveiled to guests of all ages to enjoy an array of colors, foods, and unique experiences. To me, it’s the best time of year at Walt Disney World and one of the many reasons we’re making the journey down to the parks for a short stay March 14th – 18th at none other than Disney’s Boardwalk Villas (Where else would you stay? …. You’ve got to stay close to the food! lol). So, if you want to meet up and say hello, feel free to reach out to us or say hello if you see us in the parks!  


Over the years, the Festival has grown into my favorite time of year at Epcot for so many reasons. The weather is typically near perfect (in my opinion) and the Florida climate is a welcomed changed from the cold we’re experiencing further north. We typically tend to do  Epcot a little differently than some guests as we shared in our Our Tried and True “Epcot in a Day” Touring Plan and the festival simply enhances those plans and offers an incredible array of opportunities that aren’t available throughout the rest of the year. 
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This years Flower and Garden Festival will take place beginning in just 20 days (February 28th) and will run through May 28th. Of course, Disney will unveil a few new surprises this year in the realm of culinary offerings and topiary displays, but will also bring back many classics of the event which many guests have developed into a tradition. We’ve developed a bit of a tradition among our family to take part in a few particular staples of the event which is a large part of what we’re sharing with you today.  

But before we get started, here’s a quick hint if you’re traveling this Spring/Summer. If you’re looking to buy third party tickets (or any tickets for that matter), do so before February 11th. There’s is a strong trend and expected increase in ticket prices coming on that day. If you buy your tickets before that day, if the historical trends hold true, you will escape the price hike. If you need tickets that are discounted even beyond the current prices from Disney, we recommend the Official Ticket Center. Personally, we’ve already locked our tickets into a package rate but if you’re not traveling in that way, this is probably your best option before the prices increase.  

So, with that little tip for the weekend out of the way (we’ll update you when the new price structure is unveiled) we’ll jump right into our list.    

1. The Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens are inevitably a highlight of our time at the festival. Personally I’m a huge proponent of the America Pavilion’s Smokehouse outdoor kitchen. The food is excellent and the prices are fairly reasonable for what you get. I always order the pulled pork slider. It’s simple, tastes great, and is one of the very best snacks I’ve found that can easily be stretched to a small meal out of all the pavilion offerings. Of course, that is simply my opinion and with the vast array of little walk up kitchens covering the entire realm of pavilions exhibited throughout the World Showcase there really is a little something for everyone. If you want to make a day of it, you can go on a culinary adventure around the promenade and with a few hours and a little bit of extra money you can taste the flavors of so many places that you may never have the opportunity to travel to. It’s a sensory experience and one that should be a grand part of any day at the Flower and Garden Festival. As a bit of a side note, if you’re looking for a fun surprise for your family, buy gift cards for each member of your party to dine around the showcase. Not only are the gift cards a fun treat but also are incredibly convenient and oftentimes sold on little lanyards so that you don’t have to dig for a wallet to pay.       
2. The Butterfly House 
The butterfly house is one of the more unique aspects of the festival. As you enter a fairly sizable garden, through a series of drapes, you’re instantly surrounded but butterflies of all colors and sizes, many of which completed their metamorphosis right in that very garden. Of course, this isn’t an open air experience but rather occurs in a large vaulted tent, but the experience is excellent and one of those things that only Disney could pull off on such a grand scale for a non-permanent event. It’s a simple addition to the magic of Epcot, but an experience you’ll want to take a few minutes to enjoy nonetheless.  



3. The Bonsai Collection 
This intricate display takes place in certain portions of the Japan Pavilion and tends to amaze guests on a day to day basis. Bonsai trees are interesting miniature trees which many recognize best from the Karate Kid films. While the trees themselves remain rather small, they age in a similar way to full scale trees and at a smilier rate. Just as the full size iterations, vines grow and the trees branch out as they age. However, a well taken care of bonsai tree can be carefully and intricately shaped into some truly magnificent displays and Epcot’s yearly showcase unveils some of the most intricate in the World. It seems like a quite rudimentary and simple concept but the level of devotion it takes to grow one of these trees into its prime and elder years is something you have to see in person to truly appreciate and there’s no better place to do that than at the Flower and Garden Festival. 
   


4. Exploring the Topiaries

The topiary displays are perhaps the most recognizable and iconic element of the festival. Ranging from well known characters to intricately designed welcome setups for pictures as guests arrive, the yearly debut is an interesting process. Behind the scenes, cast members spend countless hours picking designs and the perfect arrangement of plant types to gradually grow and develop into the grand designs that unfold for guests during the festival. It’s a truly painstaking process but one that yields yearly results that exceed expectations and always offer guests a new experience and a new picture to add to their vacation experience.   

5. Taking a Morning Stroll Around the Showcase
As the simplest item on our list, this is perhaps the one things most guests overlook. Take some time and make a quick walk around the World Showcase in the morning (before the crowds build) and wander through the pavilions. I understand it’s hard to leave the hustle and bustle of your morning vacation plans to do this but its worth the time and effort. As you walk the promenade when the crowds are lower, you can pick up on so many subtle details that tend to get overlooked in the more crowded portions of the day. Look left, look right, look up, and look down and you may be surprised at what you stumble into that isn’t always a portion of the Epcot experience. As you end your stroll, pick up a time guide for the day and a free “passport” for the festival to track what you’ve done and then head back around to capture a whole new aspect of the journey with the passport in hand and a list of events and special offerings to go to and enjoy on your second (or third, or fourth …. yeah, we know we have a problem lol) trip around. 
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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!
    

The "Little Things" We Do At Disney That Can Make All the Difference

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

When you think of Disney as a whole, it’s easy for your mind to run straight to the parks. A simple song we hear on the radio, a faint smell we catch a whiff of in a store, or even a simple Disney TV commercial can take you away from daily life and take you back to a fond vacation memory. It’s a phenomenon that is hard to explain but vastly influential in many of our lives.

If you haven’t been to the parks, I’m almost positive we sound crazy right about now, but we don’t work for Disney (even though I wish I could write for them some day!) and only share our honest experiences in the parks and beyond. Today, we’re taking another look at some of the simpler elements of a Disney vacation that have largely become traditions for our family over the years. Chances are these won’t be what everyone tells you to experience on your first Disney vacation, and a few of them may be things you’ve never even thought about looking into, but nonetheless they’ve held a special place in our travels for years on end.


Before we dive into it, I should first share that we don’t necessarily travel in a “typical manner.” We move around a lot during our Disney vacations, jump from parks to park, and even from resort to resort. It’s part of what we do and what we enjoy, but honestly it’s not a strategy that works for everyone. However, if you want to check out how we do Disney in depth, be sure to check our Our Typical Disney World 7 Day Itinerary, Our Tried and True “Epcot in a Day” Touring Plan, or even our How to Ride 6 or More Attractions in 90 Minutes or Less: With Only 1 Fastpass+! Not only do they share some of our top tips but they’ll also give you an idea of our style of travel. We enjoy a nice relaxing afternoon at the pool, but also like to get adventurous and attempt some of the less typical offerings of Disney property, which we’re sharing today!

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After years of touring the parks, we like to take a step beyond their gates for even just a brief part of the day to explore a little more in depth what there is to offer. Like many of you, we’ve spent years riding the attractions and still do today, but what you may give up in riding Small World for the 100th time, you may uncover an entirely new aspect of the Disney experience you never knew about. There’s so much to see that you’ll never experience it all but if you’re like me you search to uncover one more piece of the magic each and every time you visit.      
Playing Miniature Golf
Over our last 4 or so visits to Disney World, this seemingly simple activity has become a staple for our vacations. To be quite honest with you, I never thought I’d put miniature golf on a “must-do” list of any type but it really is that enjoyable if you take the time to venture over to Fantasia gardens to play a quick round. 
When we first started this traditions, we only did so because we had free passes that came with our package. To our surprise, we loved it and took the whole family back the next trip down and have payed out of pocket to play on more than one occasion. One of the courses is heavily themed, but the other offers a unique challenge that represents an iteration of full scale golf on a scaled down platform. For example, any given whole may offer a sand trap, water hazard, elevation changes, or even require strategic shot placement to make it out with a par for the hole. It’s by far the toughest miniature golf course I’ve ever played and offers a unique challenge. 
Many of you may pass on the opportunity or assume you can’t get there to enjoy the activity without a rental car or other type of transportation, but there’s one simple tip that can get you past that barrier. If you’re at any of the four parks, utilize the free Dinsey transportation to one of three resorts: The Swan and Dolphin (the shortest walk), The Boardwalk (the most picturesque walk), or Yacht and Beach Club. Once you arrive at any of the three resorts walk towards the common area of the Swan and Dolphin which sits between the two buildings, and continue walking towards the main pool of the property which sits on the back side of the small pond (the walkway will lead right towards the main grotto style pool). Right before you get to the pool area, there will be a single path leading off to your left. Follow that path and it will lead straight to the entrance of Fantasia Gardens. In words, it sounds like a long walk but from the main lobby of the Swan, it takes less than 10 minutes to make the journey on foot.        
Playing Real Golf
This tip may not be for everyone but if you’ve ever given thought to picking up a set of clubs and stepping into the realm of golf, there’s no better place to start than at Disney. The full scale courses are incredibly difficult, but each of the courses offer teaching programs, and driving ranges open to the public year round. Take your first golf lesson or simply step out onto the driving range at the Lake Buena Vista Course (attached to Saratoga Springs) and experience a unique take on the driving range concept. The range, which many expected to be a long narrow field, is designed to incorporate a water element and utilizes a large target to challenge guests while creating an element of both frustration and entertainment as you challenge the guests in your group to a closest to the pin challenge. 
The simple joys of the game get really overlooked by many, but can oftentimes provide that one thing that convinces a non-disney fan to embark on a Disney vacation. They may even surprise you and become a Disney fan in the end as a result of the impressive course conditions and creative layouts.     
Going to Get Soft Serve at the Dolphin 
Another tradition of ours, which typically accompanies a night of miniature golf, is soft serve ice cream from The Fountain. The Fountain isn’t Disney owned or operated but lies just inside the doors of the Dolphin hotel. They don’t just offer soft serve and actually offer a variety of excellent hand dipped ice cream as well, but the soft serve is the show stopper. I know I’ve mentioned it here on the site before but the rich flavor and thick consistency of the treat here can never be matched. It’s impressive in a surprising way, because at it’s most basic principle, it is just soft serve ice cream. If you don’t believe me, go try it for yourself and let me know what you think (I recommend the chocolate/vanilla twist in a waffle cone and a seat by the main pool a short walk away! It’s the perfect end to a night at Disney.)
Pro tip: If you’re already at Epcot, don’t worry about catching a bus. Head to the back of the World Showcase and exit through the International Gateway between France and the United Kingdom. If you’re not up for the walk around the lagoon by the Boardwalk and the Yacht and Beach club over to the Dolphin. Hop on a boat just outside the exit and make two stops before arriving at your destination about 15 minutes later leaving a short 2 minute walk to The Fountain walk up ice cream window. If you want to catch a meal too, they do offer a sit down location, where you can order food and ice cream all from your table. The burgers are quite excellent and reservations are not required.    
   

Join the Event

Driving out to Character Warehouse
Unfortunately for this tip you will need a car or an Uber or other form of transportation, but sometimes it’s well worth the hassle. Typically I’m not a fan of leaving the “Disney bubble” (unless you’re headed to Discovery Cove), but this is one of the rare exceptions. The Character Warehouse is something we stumbled into by accident many years ago but has grown to reach a higher level of media attention over the last few years. The shopping location is a part of the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets which sit about 5 minutes away (driving) from Disney Springs’ main entrance. The outlet mall itself is in no way associated with Disney, but one particular store sells a vast variety of essentially overstock Disney Parks and Cruise Line merchandise. We’re not talking about the boot-leg cheap t-shirts found on parts of International Drive, but rather legitimate parks merchandise at deeply discounted prices. 
If you have a car and about 2 hours of free time, head over to the outlets and take a quick look. The rest of the mall is quite nice as well, but remains incredibly crowded most of the year.        
Catching a Late Night Snack at Goofy’s Candy Company
At any point during a Disney vacation, we’ve been known to leave a park or our resort and head someplace for a late night dessert or snack. Time after time, we’ve found ourselves going to Goofy’s Candy Company for one particularly experience, the create your own option. Tucked away in the back corner of the store, this particular offering allows guests to create the snack of their dreams. At one point, the sky was the limit for the amount of toppings you could add to the famous Mickey rice crispy treats, pretzel sticks, and marshmallows but now the offerings have changed slightly and the toppings can still be piled on but a select few will cost you. Nonetheless, the resulting treat is a masterpiece unrelieved by the depths of your imagination.

There’s an unexpected joy to it all and when you’re finished building your dessert, you can step outside and grab a table (after looking for a few minutes to find one) by the lake and take in the sunset or shimmering lights of Disney Springs reflecting off of the water. It’s the definition of a simple joy and relaxing element of the Disney experience but one that never fails to create smiles and memories that will last a lifetime.        

You see, for us a vacation isn’t always about what the parks hold, but the opportunities elsewhere on Disney property. On your next trip, consider taking that leap of faith and spending some time outside of the parks. You may be surprised at what you uncover and on a grander scale, you may be shocked at the additional memories you get to take away from the new experiences. Until next time, enjoy the magic and we’ll talk with you all again soon! Thanks for reading and have a great rest of the day!

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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 if you liked this post, please SHARE it with friends! 

4 Excellent Places to Relax During a Disney Vacation

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

A Disney vacation can be a bit overwhelming at times for guests of all ages. At some point during your trip you’ll inevitably need an escape from the crowds or simply a place to sit back and relax for even just a few minutes. The crowds of the parks can be overwhelming at times, especially during peak seasons, but I dont see that as a reason to avoid the parks altogether, but rather quite the opposite. I see the crowds as an opportunity to explore something new. 

Perhaps, I view the crowds that way because I’ve been able to ride attractions time and time again over the years, or because I tend to enjoy the simpler elements of a Disney experience, but nevertheless, a relaxing spot can make all the difference throughout the course of your Disney vacation. A place of “escape” and a place to relax the mind and simply step away from it all while remaining present in the Disney realm of activities can become a small highlight of the day. No matter what your purpose of your vacation may be, here are a few unique places to step back and relax at Walt Disney World.

While many of these locations are outside of the parks, none of them will be more than 10 minutes away from the heart of the magic in Disney’s theme parks. Additionally, we’re taking a look at some of the less obvious locations and on top of that, locations that cost absolutely nothing extra during your vacation. 
  
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The Second Floor of the Grand Floridian
The Grand Floridian is designed in a way that is quite relaxing and an excellent place to step away from the parks for even just a short while. The resort is a short monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom and opens up a world of possibilities developing a relaxing venue for guests of all ages. The lobby is complete with a piano playing in the background or a classic band playing in the loft above the main floor, creating a sensory experience that is nearly second to none. Around Christmas, the lobby transforms into a winter wonderland and a Christmas setting like you’d find in a Hollywood movie. 

While the main lobby is excellent, one of my favorite places to relax for even a brief few minutes is on the second floor of the resort. On the right hand side of the lobby, if you’re facing Magic Kingdom, you’ll find a grand staircase lined with red carpet leading up to the second floor. As soon as you arrive on the next level you’ll notice a relatively small seating area off to the right complete with an outdoor covered balcony. As you sit in the comfortable chairs, rest your feet for a while, or take some time to catch up with family or friends you can hear the sounds of the lobby while stepping away from the constant flow of guests. It’s a vastly simple experience but oftentimes the needed few minutes of rest necessary to finish out your day in the parks no matter if you’re a guest of the resort or not.       

(Pictured: The Carolwood Room)

The Carolwood Room 
A second location just a short boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom is Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Of course, the grand lobby of the resort is typically the selling factor for most guests when booking reservations for the location, there’s a second lobby that many guests completely overlook. The second lobby is a short walk away from the main atrium if you follow the path traveling out the right hand side of the lobby. 

As you walk down the hill you’ll see a second building. That second building is the main section of villas at the resort (the original villas) and actually features it’s own small lobby with a unique twist involving Disney history, The Carolwood Room. I’ve mentioned it many times here on the site, but the Carolwood Room and display is one of my favorite places on Disney property. It’s a place where you can head to late at night, sit down in front of a fireplace, and catch a glimpse at some true Disney history. The chairs are incredibly comfortable, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and could quite easily be one of the quietest places on property at the right time of day. 

I wont go too in depth about the historical element of the room, because we covered it in detail in our Outstanding Disney History Hiding in Plain Sight: The Carolwood Room article. All things considered, it’s one of the most overlooked elements of Walt Disney World that I honestly think any guests should go and see even if you’re not looking for a place to relax.

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The Contemporary’s Grand Concourse 
As one of the closest and simplest places to take a break from the parks, the Contemporary’s 4th floor Grand Concourse is a great place to sit down or even wander around for a short amount of time. There are small seating areas throughout the floor in addition to one of the most expansive balconies with an excellent view of the Magic Kingdom. Looking to avoid the majority of the crowds during the Happily Ever After fireworks or have a young child who’s ready to be done for the night? Head to the balcony of the Contemporary’s 4th floor to relax before the show debuts and then as it nears the nightly fireworks debut, head out on the balcony and enjoy the show from a new perspective. It’s not the perfect view of the show and you will miss some of the projections (due to the distance away from the castle) but it’s a magical experience nonetheless. 

   
The Japan Pavilion 
Over at Epcot, you can take a few steps away from the promenade and the day’s activities to a little hideaway full of character at the Japan Pavilion. Tucked away on the left hand side of the pavilion you’ll find a series of fountains over near Katsura Grill. Grab a snack from the counter service location and escape from reality for a brief moment as you explore the unique elements of the garden atmosphere in one of the most picturesque settings in all of Walt Disney World. It’s an incredibly simple location, but one that I see as one of the easiest “escapes” to implement for a long spell or as briefly as you want during your day at Epcot.   

The Polynesian Outdoor Seating 
Last but certainly not least is a casual location that I stumbled into a few short years ago and have surprisingly never mentioned here on the site. Just outside of the Polynesian’s main lobby, near the Captain Cook’s counter service location, you’ll find an outdoor seating area a few steps away from the pool where you can catch a glimpse of the Seven Seas Lagoon and even Magic Kingdom in the distance. It’s nothing overly special, but a great place to grab a snack and take in a view that is certainly hard to beat! The only real downside to this location to step away from the parks to is that it is not air conditioned. However, with the Polynesians main lobby and ample indoor seating also a short distance away, you’ll always have that option to beat the weather if you get hot or a mid afternoon rain shower rolls in unexpectedly. 

Personally, my favorite time to visit this casual spot is in the early evening right after the typical dinner time as the sun goes down and those picturesque Florida sunsets debut. Grab a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai a few steps away and take in the sunset before walking down to the beach for an excellent experience you’ll never forget.    

What do you think of our list? Of course, these aren’t show stopping locations, or high end spas that most guests look to for prime relaxation, but if you want a free “escape” look no further! Hopefully, these relatively unique locations can provide you with something special during your vacation experience or something new to try for the first time. 


As always, if you’re looking to book a Disney vacation, but want to catch some free additional help along the way, we recommend Destinations to Travel (no obligation quote request form below). They’re a great group of agents, and it allows you to help out the site at no additional cost to you (Plus, It’s a free service in the first place.)      

Our Top 4 Disney Articles of 2017 – "A Closer Look"

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Without a doubt, the last year has been a huge learning experience, but I wouldn’t of had it any other way. Along the way, we shared a little over 300 articles covering a vast range of Disney World news, tips, and history. However, a few articles stood out as the most popular of the year. 

Of course, we’re a little late in posting this article, considering that we’re already 14 days into 2018, but we thought we’d do a little bit of a throwback post to take a closer look at how the years top posts unfolded. Before we dive into it, I just want to take a moment and say thanks for supporting us over the last year. The site has grown more than I ever expected and continues to amaze me day after day. If this is your first time reading here or if you’re a reader of every post we put out, we truly appreciate you being here and taking the time out of your day to spend a few minutes here with us. 

Moving over to the top articles of the year, we’ll start out with an unfortunate situation turned memorable for many guests of the Swan and Dolphin Resort. During this years closings in preparation for the hurricane, Disney really made the most of a bad situation providing activities for guests that aren’t normally available at resorts and provided entertainment for guests stuck in their resorts. However, one other resort made the most of the unfortunate situation with a celebrity many of us may recognize. Kristen Bell, who was shooting a movie in south Florida as the hurricane rolled in, made a last minute relocation to Orlando to the Swan property (part of the Marriot International group) near Epcot. While she was staying there waiting out the store, she made a special effort to play Bingo with a group of seniors staying at the resort during the storm as well. Along the way, we covered a bit of additional news detailing the items given to guests to get ready for the storm.  

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For a variety of reasons, the article became quite popular. If you want to check it out in full, here’s the original:  

Kristen Bell Bingo, Resort Dining, and Resort Emergency Kits: A Quick Update As Irma Rolls In


The next post on the list brings us to one of my favorite articles based on one of my favorite simple experiences in all of Walt Disney World. A few months back, during our July trip to the parks, we made a special effort to stay until the park officially closed to experience “The Kiss Goodnight.” While that particular short show was excellent and the perfect end to any night at Magic Kingdom, the experience surrounding the show vastly outdid the words of the narration in nearly every way. As the park closes and guests make their way out, the night takes on an entirely different feel. While the park is innately the same in design, the hustle and bustle of the day fades away and there’s a simple elegance of the lands that comes to life in a unique way. The lands are emptied, the music becomes much more pronounced and the atmosphere changes for the better. It’s an incredible experience and while I’m shocked that this post topped our articles for the year, I would certainly say it was a highlight of my year. 

A One of A Kind Disney Experience: Shutting Down the Magic Kingdom!

In a somewhat shocking portion of our top posts, the list changes directions and goes towards our trip planning tips. As one of many food related posts (we know we do a lot of food posts lol) we shared a closer look at 5 excellent entrees under $15 at Walt Disney World. While we love dining at Walt Disney World in nearly any form, it’s always great to catch a great meal at a fair price. It’s no surprise that Disney dining can be quite high, so here’s what we came up with to try and save you a little money along the way. 
Im happy to say that our last article in this top 4 breakdown takes the site back to it’s roots with a little bit of Disney history and in particular Disney’s extinct River Country waterpark. The park closed in 2001 and unfortunately I was 5 years old at the time so I never got to see  it first hand. For years, I’ve been fascinated by the park and it’s origins, and wish more than just about anything that Disney would rebuild it in a self contained format (rather than the original lake conjunction design). Of course, it would never be quite the same due to the inevitable dangers of the lake itself and the nature surrounding the aquatic scenario, but it would be neat to see how Disney could bring the concept back to life in an entirely new way.
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Sadly, River Country faced a number of safety and economical concerns, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of so many guests who experienced it over the years. It certainly wasn’t an ideal waterpark but one that created so many fond memories for guests of all ages and paved the way for the Disney waterparks we have today! 
That about covers our list, but there were many others quite close in the rankings! Do you have a favorite post that we shared this year? Be sure to tell us about it the comments. Have a tip or suggestion for something we should cover next? Be sure to share that with us as well and we’ll get to it as soon as we can! Thanks again for reading and have a great rest of the weekend