WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS
CHECK OUT OUR LIST BELOW FOR THE BEST WALT
DISNEY WORLD TIPS.
A trip to Walt Disney World isn’t cheap. Or easy to plan.
For most of us our time in Orlando is at a premium. With
park tickets running upwards of $50 a day, every minute
is important. Check out the tips below on how to save
time and money before you plan your next trip.
AT THE ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Rental car in Orlando
(1) Rental car lines at the Orlando Airport are
tortuously long. Expect to wait a minimum of thirty
minutes to pick up your car. There are two ways around
this: While one family member waits for the luggage,
send the other parent downstairs to stand in the car
rental line; or use a car rental service like National’s
Emerald Aisle Club so you can walk directly to your car
and by-pass the long lines.
(2) Security at Orlando Airport is tight. Allow a minimum
of three hours from the time you arrive at the airport until
your return flight home. I’m not kidding here. The lines at
the security checkpoint are worse than any theme park
line. First, prepare to stand in a long line to check in with
your airline. Then you’ll be asked to walk your checked
bags over to the Federal screeners so they can go
through them while you wait. Before you can proceed to
the gates you go through another security checkpoint.
Expect a wait of thirty to forty five minutes here. If you
have a stroller, unfold it and use it. The screeners
sometimes pull families with children in strollers to the
front of the line.
WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS
There is a trade-off between time and money if you stay
at a hotel inside the Walt Disney Resort. Once you drive
inside the gates, the price of everything goes up-way up.
The best solution is to find a hotel right outside the gates
that is convenient to restaurants and stores. The
additional drive time to the theme parks won’t be more
than ten minutes.
(4) Know that most Orlando hotels abide strictly to the 4
p.m. check-in time. Don’t expect to check in, unpack and
hit the parks before this time. Have an alternate plan in
mind so the kids won’t be disappointed.
(5) Hotel prices range from $45 and up. A small
difference in price can make a big difference in the
comfort and cleanliness of the hotel room, especially in
the $45-$79 price range. It’s worth the money to pay a
little more. Another option is to check hotel websites like
Hilton.com for specials. I found a special offer on their
website for a free Sunday night with a minimum three
night stay. We paid $180 total for three nights at the
comfortable and convenient DoubleTree Club Hotel
located at the entrance to the Disney World Resort. At
$60 a night, this was less than the rate advertised by
several run down hotels located along I-4. Shop around
on the Internet before you go.
WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS FOR THEME PARKS
(6) Arrive at the theme parks at least thirty minutes
before they open. Due to increased security, all bags are
hand checked upon entry, which creates long lines.
When the park opens, go straight to the most popular
rides. At 9 am, we rode Thunder Mountain Railroad, one
of the most popular rides at the Magic Kingdom with no
waiting. The line stretched around the building an hour
later.
(7) Use the FastPass at Disney theme parks. This is a
lifesaver for families with small children. All of the most
popular rides use this system. If the regular line is longer
than ten minutes, get a FastPass. Insert your ticket into
the machine, which prints out a return time, usually within
an hour. Return at that time and you’ll be escorted to the
front of the line with no waiting. It’s amazing how many
people do not use this wonderful feature. Universal
Parks offers a similar system called Express Pass that
works the same way. If you’re staying at a Universal hotel
you’ll received a special privilege called Universal
Express Ride, which takes you to the front of any line at
any time.
MEALS AND SNACKS:
(8) To save $30 a day for a family of four, eat breakfast
in your hotel room. Stop by a grocery store and buy
cereal, muffins and milk. The cost of breakfast at IHOP
with a beverage averages $7.75 per person. Plus, you’ll
save on time so you can be at the parks early.
(9) Carry a backpack everywhere and pack it with bottled
water and snacks. A small bottled water at the parks
costs $2.50, a small box of popcorn $3.75. Water
fountains are plentiful so you can refill often.
(10) If you plan to return to Disney sometime in the
future, save time and money by purchasing a four or five
day Disney Park Hopper ticket. The ticket offers the
ability to visit different theme parks the same day and the
days never expire. We prefer Magic Kingdom in the
mornings before the crowds arrive and lush Animal
Kingdom in the hot afternoons. Park Hopper tickets are a
good investment because ticket prices increase often.
The Orlando FlexTicket featuring 14 consecutive days
of unlimited access to Universal Studios, SeaWorld,
Wet ‘n Wild and Islands of Adventure is also a good
bargain if your vacation spans several days.
CHECK OUT OUR LIST BELOW FOR THE BEST WALT
DISNEY WORLD TIPS.
A trip to Walt Disney World isn’t cheap. Or easy to plan.
For most of us our time in Orlando is at a premium. With
park tickets running upwards of $50 a day, every minute
is important. Check out the tips below on how to save
time and money before you plan your next trip.
AT THE ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Rental car in Orlando
(1) Rental car lines at the Orlando Airport are
tortuously long. Expect to wait a minimum of thirty
minutes to pick up your car. There are two ways around
this: While one family member waits for the luggage,
send the other parent downstairs to stand in the car
rental line; or use a car rental service like National’s
Emerald Aisle Club so you can walk directly to your car
and by-pass the long lines.
(2) Security at Orlando Airport is tight. Allow a minimum
of three hours from the time you arrive at the airport until
your return flight home. I’m not kidding here. The lines at
the security checkpoint are worse than any theme park
line. First, prepare to stand in a long line to check in with
your airline. Then you’ll be asked to walk your checked
bags over to the Federal screeners so they can go
through them while you wait. Before you can proceed to
the gates you go through another security checkpoint.
Expect a wait of thirty to forty five minutes here. If you
have a stroller, unfold it and use it. The screeners
sometimes pull families with children in strollers to the
front of the line.
WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS
There is a trade-off between time and money if you stay
at a hotel inside the Walt Disney Resort. Once you drive
inside the gates, the price of everything goes up-way up.
The best solution is to find a hotel right outside the gates
that is convenient to restaurants and stores. The
additional drive time to the theme parks won’t be more
than ten minutes.
(4) Know that most Orlando hotels abide strictly to the 4
p.m. check-in time. Don’t expect to check in, unpack and
hit the parks before this time. Have an alternate plan in
mind so the kids won’t be disappointed.
(5) Hotel prices range from $45 and up. A small
difference in price can make a big difference in the
comfort and cleanliness of the hotel room, especially in
the $45-$79 price range. It’s worth the money to pay a
little more. Another option is to check hotel websites like
Hilton.com for specials. I found a special offer on their
website for a free Sunday night with a minimum three
night stay. We paid $180 total for three nights at the
comfortable and convenient DoubleTree Club Hotel
located at the entrance to the Disney World Resort. At
$60 a night, this was less than the rate advertised by
several run down hotels located along I-4. Shop around
on the Internet before you go.
WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS FOR THEME PARKS
(6) Arrive at the theme parks at least thirty minutes
before they open. Due to increased security, all bags are
hand checked upon entry, which creates long lines.
When the park opens, go straight to the most popular
rides. At 9 am, we rode Thunder Mountain Railroad, one
of the most popular rides at the Magic Kingdom with no
waiting. The line stretched around the building an hour
later.
(7) Use the FastPass at Disney theme parks. This is a
lifesaver for families with small children. All of the most
popular rides use this system. If the regular line is longer
than ten minutes, get a FastPass. Insert your ticket into
the machine, which prints out a return time, usually within
an hour. Return at that time and you’ll be escorted to the
front of the line with no waiting. It’s amazing how many
people do not use this wonderful feature. Universal
Parks offers a similar system called Express Pass that
works the same way. If you’re staying at a Universal hotel
you’ll received a special privilege called Universal
Express Ride, which takes you to the front of any line at
any time.
MEALS AND SNACKS:
(8) To save $30 a day for a family of four, eat breakfast
in your hotel room. Stop by a grocery store and buy
cereal, muffins and milk. The cost of breakfast at IHOP
with a beverage averages $7.75 per person. Plus, you’ll
save on time so you can be at the parks early.
(9) Carry a backpack everywhere and pack it with bottled
water and snacks. A small bottled water at the parks
costs $2.50, a small box of popcorn $3.75. Water
fountains are plentiful so you can refill often.
(10) If you plan to return to Disney sometime in the
future, save time and money by purchasing a four or five
day Disney Park Hopper ticket. The ticket offers the
ability to visit different theme parks the same day and the
days never expire. We prefer Magic Kingdom in the
mornings before the crowds arrive and lush Animal
Kingdom in the hot afternoons. Park Hopper tickets are a
good investment because ticket prices increase often.
The Orlando FlexTicket featuring 14 consecutive days
of unlimited access to Universal Studios, SeaWorld,
Wet ‘n Wild and Islands of Adventure is also a good
bargain if your vacation spans several days.
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM
WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS
WALT DISNEY WORLD TIPS
 | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |