So you have decided to look into going to Disney World. Great!!! Now what? Well there are few things to consider. First if it is your first time going I just want to say it is much bigger than you think and you need to have a good plan. You can get more tips for first timers here There is a ton to know before you visit Walt Disney World. As complicated as planning might seem, the payoff is worth it. You can tackle this on your own or have a Disney Travel Agent to help you. The reason why I say Disney Travel Agent instead of just a Travel Agent is because they will know more information on everything Disney. They are usually obsessed with Disney and make it their goal to be as up to date as possible with all things Disney.
So What are the things to consider?
- Your Budget?
- Where Do You want to stay? – There are currently more than 25 Disney Resort hotel locations to pick from when staying at Walt Disney World Resort, from budget-conscious value Resort hotels to luxurious deluxe Resort hotels.
- How Many days at the parks you want – Disney World consists of Four Theme Parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios) and Two Water Parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach)
- Do you Want a Hopper Pass? – Disney Magic Your Way Hopper Tickets allow you to access to more than one park per day. You can visit any of the four parks in a single day– Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Disney Epcot.
- Do you want a Dining Plan or pay as you go? – Quick Service Dining includes 2 quick service, 2 snack, 1 refillable mug $52.50 (adult 10 and over) $21.74 (per child 3-9); Disney Dining includes 1 quick service, 1 sit down (sit down adults over 21 can choose one alcoholic drink),2 snacks and a 1 refillable mug $75.49 per adult and $25.75 per child; Deluxe Dining includes 3 meals any combination with alcoholic beverage, 2 snacks and 1 refillable mug $116.25 per adult and $39.99 per child.
- How are you getting there? – transportation from the airport and to airport and around Disney World is free.
Once You have figured all these thing out you need to know when you want to go. My biggest advice is to book your Disney Trip at least 6 months in advance. You want to book it before 180 day mark so you can be sure to get all your Dining reservations made which start at 180 days mark. You also might want to consider traveling when there is a Free Meal Plan generally End of August, September and some weeks in November. It changes every year. They usually release the free meal plan sometime in April of that year. You can always make your reservations before that and than have the deal applied once it comes out. Sometimes they have exclusions but that all can be worked out. That way if you are really set on staying at curtain resort you can make sure that you have it reserved. If dining is not what your are after and you really don’t have a preference where you stay than you definitely want to book before your 60 day Fast Pass mark. That way you will ensure that you will get the hard to get rides. Click here to get more info on Fast Passes. If you are not staying at a Disney Resort your Fast Pass mark is at 30 days.
Here is the list of other factors to consider for 2018 travel:
1. Disney Springs® Will Welcome Eight New Dining Locations – A total of eight exciting new F&B locations are set to make their grand debuts at Disney Springs in 2018. The Edison, along with Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Enzo’s Hideaway and Pizza Ponte are scheduled to open early in 2018, while Terralina Crafted Italian, Wine Bar George, Jaleo and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill are set to debut later on in the year.
2. The Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival Celebrates its 25th Anniversary –This year’s festival will run from Feb. 28-May 28, 2018. The 90-day event brings with it a multitude of Disney character topiaries, tasty offerings at 15 Outdoor Kitchens, garden tours, the Garden Rocks music series, new kids’ activities, the Egg-Stravaganza scavenger hunt and much more.
3. Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park Celebrates It’s 20th Anniversary – The theme park dedicated to celebrating life in the animal kingdom will mark a milestone 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, 2018.
4. Toy Story Land Opens in June 30th 2018 – The highly anticipated expansion at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will debut to Guests this summer, and with it, two new attractions: Alien Swirling Saucers and the Slinky Dog Dash family coaster. You can already catch a glimpse of what’s in store inside the park’s Walt Disney Presents attraction, where you can view the model and some attraction vehicle maquettes. When it opens, Guests visiting Toy Story Land will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard. Here, you can take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit and topped off with Slinky and Jessie. Families will also be able to take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won from Pizza Planet. Here, adorable little green aliens swirl about in their flying saucers with guests in tow in their rocket ship toys, while “The Claw” hangs overhead. You can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a Guest-favorite attraction at the park since it opened in 2008. Now expanded with a third track, the popular attraction will put even more Guests in the action taking aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games. Woody’s Lunch Box – actually, Andy’s lunch box that he’s set on its side – will serve up tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats from a walk-up window setting. The entire land will serve as a visual celebration of toys, with Crayons, Cooties, Green Army Men, Rubik’s Cubes, Tinkertoys, and other familiar toys and game pieces incorporated into the land’s design.
5. JOSÉ & PANCHITO will join Discovery Island Carnival at Disney’s Animal Kingdom February 4 – José and Panchito, Donald’s feathery friends from “The Three Caballeros,” join the fun of Discovery Island Carnivale at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park starting Feb. 4, 2018.
Discovery Island Carnivale, which takes place nightly on Discovery Island, celebrates the beauty and harmony of all living things in the form of an exuberant dance party that features cheerful music from the Viva Gaia Street Band!, spectacular costumes inspired by the living creatures of the air, land and sea, and more. José and Panchito will join this nightly street party through May 5, 2018.
6. This summer, beloved stories from several Disney films will come to life at Walt Disney World® Resort in the form of new attractions, entertainment, experiences and more at all four parks, setting up summer 2018 to truly be an “Incredible Summer.”
The Incredibles Take Over Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom® Park – You can party with Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone from Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles” and the soon-to-be blockbuster “Incredibles 2.” Edna Mode, the greatest superhero costume designer, will also make her debut appearance. Each evening, you can enjoy a “SUPER” dance party on the Rocket Tower Stage. [NOTE: Disney•Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” opens in theaters June 15, 2018.]
The Guardians of the Galaxy Take the Stage at Epcot® – StarLord, and Gamora from “The Guardians of the Galaxy” will join an alien band, taking you on a journey through the cosmos. The party will feature hits from Awesome Mix Tapes 1 and 2 – fun and favorite tunes from the two movies’ soundtracks – building the anticipation for a new Epcot Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.
“Explorer’s Meet UP! A Great Bird Adventure” & A “Dino-Tastic” Celebration for Donald Duck Will Debut At Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park – Two new can’t-miss offerings will debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in time for the park’s 20th anniversary. First, you can discover new bird species from around the world at the new show “Explorer’s Meet UP! A Great Bird Adventure,” which will star Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug. The park will also launch a “dino-tastic” celebration, in which Donald Duck takes over Dinoland, U.S.A., in a new character celebration.
See “The Incredibles 2” at AMC Disney Springs® – Everyone’s favorite family of superheroes is back in “Incredibles 2” – but this time Helen is in the spotlight, while Bob navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet, Dash and baby Jack-Jack, whose superpowers are emerging. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the family and Frozone must find a way to work together again—which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible. “Incredibles 2” busts into theaters on June 15, 2018.
7. A Path Less Traveled – Disney’s Animal Kingdom 20TH anniversary tour – as a part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you can get an insider’s look at some of the ways Disney brings the magic of nature to life in a new limited-time experience called A Path Less Traveled – Disney’s Animal Kingdom 20th Anniversary tour. This collection of experiences will take you backstage to tour the vet hospital and Animal Nutrition Center, perform a nest check on a purple martin birdhouse as part of a Disney’s conservation project, gaze at some of the park’s largest inhabitants during Caring for Giants and end the day with VIP viewing of Rivers of Light. A Path Less Traveled will be offered daily from April 1-May 5, 2018. Tours can be booked in advance for $59 per person, plus tax.
And Don’t Forget:
At Magic Kingdom there is a brand new fireworks show, “Happily Ever After,” that debuted last spring . It is fantastic! Once Upon a Time is also showing at Magic Kingdom, which is a nice castle projection show.
And that there is Pandora – World of Avatar the newest land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the biggest addition in over a decade at Walt Disney World. We absolutely loved this new land it is very impressive. Flight of Passage is a very hard to get Fast Pass and lines are sooo long but so worth it.
And Last but not least…… Don’f forget all the other offerings throughout the parks that happen every year. Offerings like Food and Wine and Holidays Around the World in Epcot. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom and all your Star Wars needs at Hollywood Studios.
Stay tuned for more info on all these offerings.
Sonja
fairytale travel consultants 