Your Magical Disney World Vacation Made Easy
When you have 25,000 acres, four massive theme parks, more than twenty on-site resorts and two water parks under the title of called Disney World in Orlando, finding an easy way to navigate through the options can be daunting.
With a few days on hand and literally thousands of activities from which to choose, where do you start and how do you get your money’s worth?
Don't forget the lines to take memorable pictures with Mickey and his friends Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck and the princesses. Let’s bring in the smile, fun and a smooth ride with these tips for a great Disney World vacation:
Transportation
After you set a date for your vacation, it is time to choose your mode of transportation. Will you be flying, driving or taking the train? If you fly, you have to pick an airline and decide on the best airport. If you decide to drive, you would want to know if it's really cheaper, as well as planning a route for driving and many other details.
Using our
calculator, you can determine whether flying, driving or taking the train would be better for your family or friends. One of the most powerful tools on the site is the
fly or drive calculator. This tool helps you find out the difference in price between flying and driving taking into account time and average gas costs. For example, if you're traveling from New York City to Orlando, it is cheaper to fly if there are only two in your party.
Take a look at the
fly or drive score from New York to Orlando.
If you prefer to drive, click on the
driving tab on our website and you will get the cost to drive, driving distance, driving time, halfway point and hotels in the area.
Accommodations
Along with transportation, one of the biggest expenses when vacationing in Disney World is your accommodations. There are the “official” Disney hotels, hotels in the International Drive or Kissimmee areas, hotels around Lake Buena Vista, or you can even rent a condo or room at a bed and breakfast for a week in Orlando.
Staying at the official Disney hotels comes with perks like early entrance to parks, complimentary bus, train, monorail or boat transportation from hotel to theme parks and close proximity to the four theme parks. However, these perks do come with a higher price tag. But again, you have options when it comes to price… budget, moderate or luxury.
For a luxurious Disney hotel, you might want to try
Disney’s Polynesian Resort. If you like to be close to nature yet have great amenities, try
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
If you are a member of a hotel reward program, it may makes sense to stick with the hotels you are familiar with and earn your points for a free night stay next time. The Marriott Hotel chains for example have several hotels in the Buena Vista, Orlando and Kissimmee areas.
Disney World Passes
The Disney
Magic Your Way Tickets allow you to customize your trip to suit your needs. Choose from a single-day ticket to a 10-day ticket. The price per day decreases if you buy tickets for multiple days. According to Disney, the longer you play, the less you pay per day!
Disney has the Park Hopper Option and Water Park Fun and More Option in addition to the single-day to 10-day tickets. The Park Hopper Option means you have the flexibility of coming and going through all four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom).
Water Park Fun and More Option includes admission to the four theme parks, 2 water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), Disney Quest, 2 Disney Miniature Golf Courses (Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland), 1 golf course (Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course) and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
To top it off, there are no expiration dates for the unused Theme Parks days for both options. However the Magic Your Way Tickets (single to 10 days) expire within 14 days of first use.
We highly recommend the Park Hopper Option or Water Park Fun and More Option for flexibility, fun and customization for your family.
Our Recommendations
1. For convenience and more fun, reserve your room at one of the “official” hotels. You don’t have to find parking and you can avoid the rush in the morning hours;
2. Disney World is one of the most visited places on planet Earth and there’s really no off peak season. To avoid the largest crowd and for better weather conditions go between mid-January through March. Florida summer heat and humidity can be brutal. Also note the official hurricane season is between June 1st and November 30th;
3. Before you leave, create a daily itinerary for your trip to Disney World. Every person’s must-see list is different. You cannot make the most of your visit to Disney World without a plan. Prioritize your your must-see or must-do list to avoid disappointment. The line is usually long in every theme park, dining room, ride and show.
Lastly, remember to use FASTPASS. This pass is available for most of the popular attractions and allows you to check-in and come back later for a shorter wait in line. Genius!
Do you have your tips on making a Disney World Vacation easier and enjoyable for the whole family? Let us know.
