Disney World, Florida
Our first experience at Disney World in 1999 was truly a budget adventure as we used travel vouchers for our flights, stayed at a hotel nearby and did a time share presentation in order to earn Disney World tickets. We chose the the Magic Kingdom and Epcot tickets. The Animal Kingdom was just established and Hollywood Studios was Disney-MGM Studios. We ended up coming back several times throughout the years. The 2nd time, we combined a three day Disney cruise with a four night stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. In 2012, we stayed at Disney's Saratoga Springs Hotel for one week. In 2016, we went back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for one week. In 2017, we stayed four nights at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and met our Irish friends for three nights in Savannah, Georgia for the St. Patrick's Day Festival. The secret to making that dollar go further with Disney is to plan ahead, visit during their low season and stay current with promotions by visiting Mousesavers. Below is a very brief overview of Disney World.
Our first experience at Disney World in 1999 was truly a budget adventure as we used travel vouchers for our flights, stayed at a hotel nearby and did a time share presentation in order to earn Disney World tickets. We chose the the Magic Kingdom and Epcot tickets. The Animal Kingdom was just established and Hollywood Studios was Disney-MGM Studios. We ended up coming back several times throughout the years. The 2nd time, we combined a three day Disney cruise with a four night stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. In 2012, we stayed at Disney's Saratoga Springs Hotel for one week. In 2016, we went back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for one week. In 2017, we stayed four nights at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and met our Irish friends for three nights in Savannah, Georgia for the St. Patrick's Day Festival. The secret to making that dollar go further with Disney is to plan ahead, visit during their low season and stay current with promotions by visiting Mousesavers. Below is a very brief overview of Disney World.
Disney Cruise to Bahamas and Castaway Cay
Disney cruises are expensive and there's usually no discounts available unless you go during a low season. Another way to save is to purchase Disney gift cards from Sams Club or Costco at a 5% discount. The cruise we did stopped at the Bahamas where most families want to visit Atlantis. Disney excursions charge about $204 per adult (over age 10) for the Aquaventure, depending on the season and $146 for kids 4-9 (family of four $820). We discovered a significant savings by advanced booking of an overnight at Comfort Suites Paradise Island for about $400 for 2 adults and 2 children. PLEASE NOTE: Comfort Suites will not provide access to Atlantis if you're booking is not placed prior to your check-in day. If you prefer to fly directly there and stay longer, a Comfort Suites package in May 2022 includes, 5 nights in a 2 double bed room, 2 adult and 2 child passes to Atlantis for about $300 per night (sample taken was May 9th for 5 nights). Cruise passengers often use the room to store their items or change their clothing and check-out on the same day. Another option is to purchase daily passes directly from Atlantis prior to arrival, tickets are limited ($150 adults/$50 for kids 3-12). Prices vary depending on dates. |
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Castaway Cay is Disney's Island with lagoons, trails, activities and water play areas. Kids can snorkel, play on the 2400 square foot floating platform or feed the stingrays for a small fee. If you want to drop them off at Disney's supervised play area, you can spend the day at Serenity Bay on the adult side lounging with your beach chair in the water, included is a fabulous steak lunch. The activities available on this island is extensive and exciting to plan.
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Animal Kingdom Park
The Animal Kingdom park is a 580 acre zoological theme park created after Disney designers traveled to Africa and Asia for their inspiration. The park opened in April 1998 exhibiting hundreds of live animal species. The park is operated differently than the other parks as it doesn't allow any plastic straws or balloons. It is focused around animal conservation and natural environment and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Divided into seven themed areas, the park has the iconic Baobab tree which is 145 feet tall and visible from several parts providing a perfect backdrop for family photos. Inside the tree, is Pixar's "It's Tough to be a Bug", a 3D film feature. The main attraction here is the Kilimanjaro Safari trek, in an open sided safari vehicle through the Harambe Wildlife Preserve, viewing wildlife through savannas, rivers and rocky roads. |
The next popular attraction here is Expedition Everest, a roller coaster ride through broken temples in the Himalayas to the base of Mount Everest. This is almost a three minute ride and has an 80 foot drop. This is the tallest attraction at Disney World with a very popular single rider ride feature. The newest attractions that opened in 2017 are in the World of Avatar, Avatar Flight of Passage, a 3D flying simulator ride within Pandora and the Na'vi River Journey, a ride through the Kasvapan River of Pandora. Please note that there have been several incidents in the 3D flying simulator ride which prompted Disney to provide warning cards to riders regarding motion sickness, fear of heights and seating restraints.
If you have already experienced the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland on a simulated motion vehicle then you'll notice the similarities between that ride and the Dinosaur ride at the Animal Kingdom where you'll be escaping from hungry dinosaurs instead of supernatural powers and traps.
The Animal Kingdom Park closes earlier than the other parks so this a good day to also plan a nice dinner at one of the Disney restaurants or visit Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney).
If you have already experienced the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland on a simulated motion vehicle then you'll notice the similarities between that ride and the Dinosaur ride at the Animal Kingdom where you'll be escaping from hungry dinosaurs instead of supernatural powers and traps.
The Animal Kingdom Park closes earlier than the other parks so this a good day to also plan a nice dinner at one of the Disney restaurants or visit Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney).
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is 135 acres and themed after the Golden Hollywood era. You'll notice that some attractions at Hollywood Studios such as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Midway in Toy Story Land are also at Disney’s California Adventure. However, there are many unique attractions you won’t see anywhere else such as the Rock n Roller Aerosmith roller coaster and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. You could also dine at the replica of the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood. The lands you'll see are Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Grand Avenue, Animation Courtyard, Sunset Boulevard and the newest, Toy Story Land which opened June 30, 2018. There's also the expected opening of a 14 acre Star Wars Land in the fall of 2019. Probably one of our favorite attractions at this park is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Professionals show how stunts are made in various movies which include re-enacting scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark as Indiana Jones makes a daring escape in a German Plane. |
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Epcot
Epcot is 305 acres, opened in 1982 and is separated into two sections, Future World and World Showcase. Epcot was designed to celebrate human achievement through technological innovation and international culture as it is often referred to a permanent world's fair. The iconic sphere of Epcot, Spaceship Earth, is the most famous geodesic sphere with a time machine attraction inside. Once you travel through the periods of time inside Spaceship Earth, you have the opportunity to create your own future and send it via email to yourself or others. |
In Future World, the most popular ride is Test Track as a simulated ride through various testing phases finishing at high speeds. This is one of the rides you should have a Fastpass for, but if you can't get a time for this ride, you can also try the Single Rider feature. If I had to choose, the Cars ride at Disney's California Adventure is much more enjoyable and you can't beat the landscaping surrounding this ride as you travel through a canyon.
Continuing through all the countries in Epcot's World Showcase, this area is actually our second favorite after the Animal Kingdom's Safari ride. My husband enjoys spending time at Epcot and we find it romantic to experience a small section of each country, whether as an attraction or a meal. If you choose the table service as part of a Dining Plan in the Standard Plan, the World Showcase has many top quality restaurants to choose from such as Norway's Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
Continuing through all the countries in Epcot's World Showcase, this area is actually our second favorite after the Animal Kingdom's Safari ride. My husband enjoys spending time at Epcot and we find it romantic to experience a small section of each country, whether as an attraction or a meal. If you choose the table service as part of a Dining Plan in the Standard Plan, the World Showcase has many top quality restaurants to choose from such as Norway's Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
Magic Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
The Magic Kingdom at Disney World is the most visited theme park in the world. It opened in 1971 and was based on the attractions and features at Disneyland in California. What is interesting is that the Magic Kingdom is built on an upper level due to the area's high water table and has been closed seven times due to hurricanes. The Cinderella Castle serves as a worldwide icon and attraction at Disney World. The castle was inspired by several European castles, took 18 months to complete construction in 1971 and is 100 feet taller than Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Inside the castle is Cinderella's Royal Table, a one-of-a-kind dining experience and highly sought after. Make reservations six months in advance for this character dining! Another unique ride is at Disney World's Tomorrow Land , under the Astro Orbiter, called the PeopleMover. The PeopleMover is a 5,400 feet long, elevated relaxing ride traveling through Tomorrow Land which opened in 1975. For a special treat, board the Liberty Belle riverboat and ask the Captain if you can pilot the boat. You'll gain access to the wheelhouse and presented with an official river co-pilot license at the conclusion of the trip. |
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Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks
Typhoon Lagoon has one of the world's largest wave pool and is open year-round. The water park is themed on a tropical paradise after a storm with surfboards and fishing gear thrown around. Humunga Kowabunga is an exciting ride with three enclosed flumes where riders travel down five stories at speeds up to 39 mph. Another excellent ride is Crush 'n' Gusher, a water coaster that propels a two-person raft by water jets.
Blizzard Beach is the other water park themed after a freak snowstorm and the developing ski resort. On top of Mount Gushmore, 90 feet high, the water park has a Gleen Slope section for single riders, a Purple Slope section designed for racing side by side and a Red Slope with one attraction called Runoff Rapids with a 600-foot inner tube run. The Ground Level has eight attractions. The lazy river at Blizzard Beach is the better river second only to the lazy river at Atlantis in the Bahamas. Also the body slide is said to be more popular with kids at Blizzard Beach. Overall, kids seem to like Blizzard Beach and Adults seem to prefer Typhoon Lagoon. Both water parks shut down for maintenance each year, but it is coordinated with the other park staying open.
Typhoon Lagoon has one of the world's largest wave pool and is open year-round. The water park is themed on a tropical paradise after a storm with surfboards and fishing gear thrown around. Humunga Kowabunga is an exciting ride with three enclosed flumes where riders travel down five stories at speeds up to 39 mph. Another excellent ride is Crush 'n' Gusher, a water coaster that propels a two-person raft by water jets.
Blizzard Beach is the other water park themed after a freak snowstorm and the developing ski resort. On top of Mount Gushmore, 90 feet high, the water park has a Gleen Slope section for single riders, a Purple Slope section designed for racing side by side and a Red Slope with one attraction called Runoff Rapids with a 600-foot inner tube run. The Ground Level has eight attractions. The lazy river at Blizzard Beach is the better river second only to the lazy river at Atlantis in the Bahamas. Also the body slide is said to be more popular with kids at Blizzard Beach. Overall, kids seem to like Blizzard Beach and Adults seem to prefer Typhoon Lagoon. Both water parks shut down for maintenance each year, but it is coordinated with the other park staying open.
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Disney Dining Plan
The Disney Dining Plan is pricey, but may be a better value in the long run. Part of the excitement is tasting all the food. Disney World has over 200 places to eat and each one is a unique experience. Look at that, I sound like a Disney commercial, but there are advantages to doing a dining plan. With their dining plan, you don't have to keep track or budget on the cost, because with each meal comes with a drink, a snack and dessert (at dinner). You can get the least expensive plan and often use the "snack" for a food or fancy pastry instead of an apple, chips or water bottle. To maximize your snack credits, if you go during their Wine Festival or their Garden Festival, you can use each snack credit for a bowl of soup, a salad, gourmet tacos or sliders at Epcot. Doing this extends a lunch or dinner credit, because you can skip lunch using a snack and save the counter service for the last day of your trip when you may not have credits left. Cupcakes The cupcakes at Disney World are amazing and constantly being updated with very trendy designs and flavors. If you enjoy designer cupcakes, you can use your snack credits to taste cupcakes at each park. |
You don't need to use all your credits daily. For example, you can use two counter services one day and two table services on a different day. You can use these credits in any order you want. There are many ways of determining which plan to use and the best way of using your table service credits. The internet is filled with advice and there is even a spreadsheet with formulas so you can figure out whether getting the plan is worth it. In addition, there are charts that show which table service and counter service is the better value. The last time we were there we had seven snack credits leftover and we purchased seven trail mix pouches and shipped them home. The website Mousesavers maintains more current information from recent travelers. If you rather not do the dining plan, the website also provides recommendations on which menu items provide the best value.
Disney Hotels
If you plan well, you won't need a car in Disney World. Booking through Disney directly for their Deluxe hotels can cost up to $1000 per night for a family of four. If you're interested in a significant savings, there is an option of renting points through the owners of the Disney timeshare vacation rentals. This can be completed directly with an owner, but it may be more secure to accomplish this through a broker such as David's Vacation Rentals. The rates are determined by seasonal values and their website contains all the information necessary to plan your next Disney vacation. We have used David's Vacation Rentals several times for Disney World, Disneyland and Hawaii and always experienced excellent service and rooms. Another advantage is that the rooms used by Disney timeshare owners have kitchens compared to the regular hotel rooms. You can either have groceries delivered to your room or you can ship dry goods to your room in advance. For the Disney timeshare vacation club in Hawaii, you'll save on the daily parking fee. |
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All this being said, with Disney's promotional deals, the savings can be substantial!
You can experience 4 days of magic and thrills across the Walt Disney World theme parks when you purchase a specially priced 4-Park Magic Ticket from $99 per day, plus tax (total price from $396, plus tax). Child pricing (ages 3-9) is also available from $79 per day, plus tax (total price from $316, plus tax). The 4-Park Magic Ticket includes one admission to each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks—Magic Kingdom park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—for a total of 4 admissions, on 4 separate days. Limit one admission per theme park, one theme park per day. This ticket does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park. Date-based ticket with start dates from April 2 through September 22, 2024. Ticket must be used within 7 days of selected start date.
Ticket may not be used to enter the same theme park more than once. All tickets and options are nontransferable and nonrefundable, and exclude activities/events that are separately priced or not open to the general public.
TIPS:
No need to get a HOPPER ticket unless it's free with your package deal! At Disney World, you can save more money without a Hopper. Note: it takes 3-4 hours for the whole process from one park to the other and here’s why...
If you're at Disneyland in California, a Hopper ticket makes sense since you can ride the train to reach the front entrance of Disneyland and then cross over into Disney's California Adventure without the additional bag check, this can be done for about 1 hour depending on crowds. Visiting Disney's California Adventure first? You can walk through Downtown Disney and access the less crowded side entrance by the Grizzly River Run rafting ride through Disney's Grand Californian Hotel past the Storytellers Cafe, Napa Rose Restaurant and before White Water Snacks. By the way, they have a good quick service restaurant with reasonable breakfast and lunch at White Water Snacks, perfect for sit down with the kids away from crowds in the park.
Prior to purchasing tickets, be sure to view theme park reservation availability online. Please note that park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the park reservation is finalized.
Purchasing Tickets
Explore a variety of ticket options. Once you purchase your tickets, then you can make your park reservations. If you have a room-only reservation at a Disney Resort or other select hotel, please call the Disney Reservation Center or call your travel professional to upgrade to a vacation package with tickets—and then make your theme park reservations. Room-and-ticket packages may also be available. View current special offers.
Here is a link on Disney Tourist Blog on how to maximize a dining plan. All the Disney hotels are unique, but our favorite is the Animal Kingdom Lodge as it has many activities where you can actually skip a theme park for the day and do the events at the hotel that involve wildlife and conservation or just simply relax and watch the animals from your room balcony (I believe you may need to request any of the Savanna View categories to be overlooking their animals).
No need to get a HOPPER ticket unless it's free with your package deal! At Disney World, you can save more money without a Hopper. Note: it takes 3-4 hours for the whole process from one park to the other and here’s why...
- Walking back to the front entrance where shuttles are.
- Waiting in line for next bus or boat to 2nd parking lot.
- Long walk from shuttle stop to 2nd park entrance.
- Long line for the baggage security check while your family waits for you at the other end.
- Long line for 2nd park entry and by now, you may be exhausted!
If you're at Disneyland in California, a Hopper ticket makes sense since you can ride the train to reach the front entrance of Disneyland and then cross over into Disney's California Adventure without the additional bag check, this can be done for about 1 hour depending on crowds. Visiting Disney's California Adventure first? You can walk through Downtown Disney and access the less crowded side entrance by the Grizzly River Run rafting ride through Disney's Grand Californian Hotel past the Storytellers Cafe, Napa Rose Restaurant and before White Water Snacks. By the way, they have a good quick service restaurant with reasonable breakfast and lunch at White Water Snacks, perfect for sit down with the kids away from crowds in the park.
Prior to purchasing tickets, be sure to view theme park reservation availability online. Please note that park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the park reservation is finalized.
Purchasing Tickets
Explore a variety of ticket options. Once you purchase your tickets, then you can make your park reservations. If you have a room-only reservation at a Disney Resort or other select hotel, please call the Disney Reservation Center or call your travel professional to upgrade to a vacation package with tickets—and then make your theme park reservations. Room-and-ticket packages may also be available. View current special offers.
Here is a link on Disney Tourist Blog on how to maximize a dining plan. All the Disney hotels are unique, but our favorite is the Animal Kingdom Lodge as it has many activities where you can actually skip a theme park for the day and do the events at the hotel that involve wildlife and conservation or just simply relax and watch the animals from your room balcony (I believe you may need to request any of the Savanna View categories to be overlooking their animals).
Once you visit Disney World...
In 1998, our vacation was delayed by almost 10 hours while sitting at an airport. At least we were given food vouchers. This was partly due to a presidential plane landing. As a result, the airlines gave us two vouchers each for future travel. In those days, airline vouchers were a frequent giveaway. We used one set of vouchers for Washington D.C. and the other set for Disney World. For someone who enjoys traveling, this was a miracle of savings for two family vacations. Many years later, we laugh at these frustrating moments, now memorable travel experiences. Disney World can be a stress-free vacation, like a cruise on land, and we look forward to going back each time.
In 1998, our vacation was delayed by almost 10 hours while sitting at an airport. At least we were given food vouchers. This was partly due to a presidential plane landing. As a result, the airlines gave us two vouchers each for future travel. In those days, airline vouchers were a frequent giveaway. We used one set of vouchers for Washington D.C. and the other set for Disney World. For someone who enjoys traveling, this was a miracle of savings for two family vacations. Many years later, we laugh at these frustrating moments, now memorable travel experiences. Disney World can be a stress-free vacation, like a cruise on land, and we look forward to going back each time.