Making the Most Of Disney World Vacations

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.

Disney Vacation Packages

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.

The Disney Vacation Club

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.

Best Orlando Hotels

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.

Planning Disney World Vacations

Walt Disney World in Orlando is among the top vacation destinations in the world. Visitors come from all over the globe to peruse the 30,000 acres of this massive complex. Nearly 7,000 acres of it are devoted to theme parks and this is probably the main focus of a vacation. But planning Disney World vacations should be started well in advance of your trip to get the most out of your time there. It can be overwhelming to decide what to do, and that’s what these tips are for.

Getting to the parks is probably the easy part, signs point the way and any hotel can tell you at least five ways of getting there. Once you get into the parks is where the planning ahead of your Disney World vacations is most important. No matter what park you’re in there will be transportation around. Whether it’s the steam trains and horseless carriages of the Magic Kingdom or the water taxis and buses of Epcot, there is a way. And of course there is always the trams which provide service to all five parks and run on a very frequent basis.

If you’re planning your Disney World vacations well ahead of time be sure to check on any special events or deals that will be available from that time. Often time you could get discounted tickets or the kids eat free in all parks, if you just take the time to look. If you are planning a long stay it may be good to make a list of which parks to visit on which days. Otherwise you can wear yourself out before your vacation even begins. Starting with the classic theme parks of the Magic Kingdom on your first day and then winding your way down to the low key Animal Kingdom when you’re worn out from a tough week is a sensible way to plan it. And of course don’t forget to visit the two water parks for those hot summer afternoons.

Anyone who has been on to Disney World can tell you that food is not a problem. As with most theme parks there will be fast food and snack stands every few feet. But Disney World has some of the best restaurants in the country on site that shouldn’t be missed. Anything from a kid friendly breakfast with Mickey Mouse all the way up to adults only fine dining, it can be found in these parks. Disney even has what they call the Disney Dining Plan. This is a new option with vacation packages and it’s the best way to sample the parks many dining options. With this plan you can enjoy two meals and one snack per day for each night of your stay. The rest of the planning of a Disney vacation can only be worked out once you’re there, but these basics will get you on the right path.