May 13, 2010 - 3:10 pm
Planning out the details of any vacation is very important although when planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando that can seem an impossible task. But for a lot of people how those details are worked out and mean the difference in enjoying a vacation and needing another one before it’s over. Keeping a few things in mind when you’re planning can make the entire process so much smoother.
Having someone to help you plan out this Orlando vacation can be the best idea if you know who to choose. There are a lot of diverse choices to choose from when deciding where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and how to get there. One of the most reliable ways to get information is from the company or attraction’s websites or a travel site that offers reviews. Also, talking to a travel agent about all of your options can make these decisions a lot easier.
The best thing about visiting the official websites o the resort or attractions if that they have any ounce of information you could possibly want about the location. Most of these sites also have a phone number to reach someone if you have any questions that only a human being can answer. There will be pictures of the resort so that you can see the kind of amenities they offer and how nice the rooms appear to be. Some of the sites will offer a virtual tour of the place that many times offers information that is not available through any other source.
Traveling sites are offering feedback on resorts to more and more customers by the year and with around 40 million tourists going to Orlando every year that is considerable amounts of information. Travel agencies have made it a point to make sure that they are providing feedback on these resorts and how well their customers enjoyed them.
This kind of information isn’t readily available anywhere else and I you are visiting Disney it can be invaluable to hear what others thought of it. All of the important information that matters to a customer will be reviewed there and whether they would stay there again.
Of course the final decision on where to stay is up to you and your personal preferences. It is most informative to look at all sources of information and then make a decision that is well informed. Once you have finalized your plans you can rest easy that you did all your research and that your vacation is going to be just as wonderful as you imagine. Being able to relax and enjoy yourself on a vacation is all in the planning and this is a great place to start.
June 28, 2009 - 5:20 am
Planning Disney World vacations can be intimidating. There are so many parks and so many things to see and do. Obviously you want to see as much as you can in the amount of time you have and preferably in the most efficient way possible. Ideally, you will be able to spend 2 or more days in each park. Also, keep in mind that using a FASTPASS can mean doubling back over parks you’ve already been to and might mess up your schedule.
If you have kids then the Magic Kingdom is the place to start. You might want to consider making reservations for dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Kids of all ages will love this. If you have preschool age kids they will likely enjoy Toontown the most, it is most suited for the small kids. Between 6 and 10 Tomorrowland is the best starting place. For anyone over ten they probably won’t have as much fun in these places and you can go straight to Liberty Square of Adventureland. This will have the most enjoyment for older kids. You want everyone to enjoy your Disney World vacations; so tailoring your adventure to their interests is the best way to do so. With teenagers or adults you may want to consider starting in Frontierland. This is where most of the water rides are so you’ll have the rest of the warm, sunny Florida day to dry out. After that your route should probably be with whatever is the closest so you don’t wear yourselves out walking all over the park.
Epcot really needs two days to fully take it all in and see everything there is to see. The first day should be devoted to Futureworld. This is where the excitement of Epcot is, and isn’t that what Disney World vacations are about? Futureworld is where the rides are, and perfect for the first day. If you get there early in the day try and get to Spaceship Earth first, it will be the most crowded later. Once you’ve finished up there, head over to Innovations East. On day two, go back to any Futureworld rides you missed or wish to repeat and then spend the rest of the day in the World Showcase.
The Animal Kingdom and MGM are probably the easiest parks to manage. Everything is relatively compact compared to sprawling parks you’ve already been to. It doesn’t really matter where you begin, it’s not a huge event to get to the things you haven’t seen yet, so there is almost no need for a plan of attack. But as always, you should try and plan your day around any of the special events you wish to see. Parades, light shows, whatever the case may be, you need to make sure you end up in the right place at the right time.
June 16, 2009 - 5:04 am
Every year the Disney World Resorts offer different vacation packages, as well as discounted packages you can find through travel agencies or online venders. There are a lot of options to choose from, so it’s best to know what you want before you go. You should plan out what you would like included in Disney vacation packages and what is not completely necessary.
Currently Walt Disney World is offering several packages that generally stay close to the same year after year. The prices may change or the benefits might shift slightly, but it will likely be close to the same thing. The current packages are the Magic Your Way Package, Magic Your Way Plus Quick Service Dining, and Magic Your Way Plus Dining. All of these packages include accommodations although the prices and location will vary. The accommodations will vary from a Value Resort Package to a stay in a Deluxe Villa. The prices for all vary based on the Disney vacation packages you choose, and the length of time you stay will alter this as well. All packages offer accommodations at any level of hotel room all the way up to a deluxe villa.
Other features these packages share are park tickets and a park hopper pass with no expiration date. So the park hopper pass can be used the length of your stay, not just on one or two days. Transportation to and from the airport are included in all three as well. Finally, with any of these Disney vacation packages you will enjoy extended park hours and the ability to send your souvenirs straight to your room after purchase.
Where these three differ is in the food provided to you. In the Magic Your Way package, you are responsible for all your own food and beverage. The Quick Service Dining will include 2 quick-service meals and 2 snacks daily. The Plus Dining package includes one table-service meal, one quick-service meal and one snack daily. You also have the option of having a bottle of wine delivered to your room nightly with the Plus Dining package.
These are just the options you have through the Disney World resort itself. If you book rooms with other hotels in the area, you can sometimes find packages that include Disney tickets or discounted park tickets. It is always worth the effort to ask if the hotel offers any specials like this before you book your room. They will likely not offer it to you outright, and it would be a shame to miss out on the offer. Always check with a travel agent as well. They will know of all the best offers and the most current so that you will get the most from your vacation.
June 11, 2009 - 3:45 am
The Disney Vacation Club is owned by the Walt Disney Company and revolutionized the concept of vacation timeshares. It is one of the fastest growing timeshare companies in the nation for many of the same reasons that they Disney World parks are one of the top vacation destinations in the world. Disney knows how to do things right, and they don’t fail on this endeavor either.
In order to become a Disney Vacation Club (or DVC) member you make a one time invest in one of the five resorts and then pay annual dues after that. Unlike most other timeshare properties, investing in the Disney Vacation Club is much more flexible since you can use your points at any of the resorts you wish. Your annual dues earn you points, the value of those points never change. So if you purchase the points today, they will be worth the same in 5 years. The current minimum for membership is 150 points per year and the current cost is $101 per point.
But not only do you have the flexibility of staying at any of the Disney parks, you get discounts off of annual passes and a discount at many of the Disney park restaurants, programs or tours. You can also book dates at your home resort up to a year in advance. Your home resort is whatever property you originally invested in. But you can book up to seven months in advance at any of the other resorts as well. Recently Disney announced that they will begin offering the use of your DVC point for a discount at any Disney hotel. There are set numbers of points that would be needed to stay at one resort for a full year, but the points per day may vary depending on the time of year.
If you decide that you just don’t wish to participate in your DVC membership anymore, you are free to sell it just like any other real estate property. Keep in mind that all DVC memberships have an expiration date ranging from the year 2042 and 2057. There is always the possibility that you will no longer want or need your membership before that, and you are free to sell that membership at any time. Also, there is no negative impact on anyone buying a membership through resale. So if you wish to invest in the DVC program this way, then you will receive the same benefits and the same restrictions as anyone else.
In addition to all these benefits, the DVC is part of the larger organization of Interval International. Your points can be traded for accommodations at Disney Resorts and the DVC locations in Vero Beach, FL and Hilton Head, SC that are run by Interval International. Of if your vacation of choice is cruises, the Disney Cruise Line also accepts DVC points on certain vacation opportunities.
June 10, 2009 - 4:55 am
When you are going on vacation, no matter the destination, inadvertently picking the wrong hotel can make it hard to enjoy yourself. Waking up with a cockroach on your arm when the website said it was a luxury hotel can put a damper on a trip. There are a few hotels that guest reviews, travel agents, and guidebooks agree are the best Orlando hotels. All would be a superb addition to your Orlando vacation.
One of the best luxury hotels in the Orlando area is the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grand Lakes. It is in a very large complex and could be a vacation all by itself. The nightly rate starting at $400 is well worth it when you see what there is to do. There is a spa that is probably bigger than your home at 40,000 square feet. Kids’ activities are available, they have a lazy river and an 18-hole golf course on site. You could never leave their complex and have fun, it is definitely one of the best Orlando hotels.
The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate is a great hotel for someone looking for a luxury hotel but at a reasonable price. It’s in a quiet place and it surrounded by over 1000 acres of natural wetlands. They feature five restaurants, a spa, a putting course and a lot more. In addition to all the on site options it is adjacent to a huge golf course and is about five miles from Walt Disney World and less that 20 miles from Universal Orlando. With rates starting at $135 nightly, it’s definitely an investment worth making.
When thinking of the best Orlando hotels, you can’t overlook a widely renowned name in luxury hotels with the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort. Not only does the Regency take world class to a whole new level, you will be floored with the stream in the middle of the lobby and the VIP helicopter pad. The swimming pool covers nearly half an acre and has its own waterfalls. They also feature what amounts to a summer day camp for kids. This isn’t just a day care, it’s a camp designed to keep the kids begging to come back. This doesn’t even begin to cover the list of activities offered to you for starting at $179 a night.
Finally you have another renowned name with the Marriott Orlando World Center. With the onsite golf course, tennis courts, water park and over 200 acres of landscaped grounds you’d probably be expecting a high price tag. But with rates starting at $129 nightly, at many other destinations you may be lucky to get a room and a continental breakfast for that. This is why it’s one of the best places to stay in Orlando.
