When You Wish Upon a Star

“To all who come to this happy place, welcome!” – Walt Disney at the opening of Disneyland Anaheim, California

Greetings everyone, it’s Disney Magic Monday! Every Monday on this blog, I will be posting knowledge that may be beneficial to those travelling to Walt Disney World this summer. For those of you that don’t know, Walt Disney World is a wonderful magical place where elephants fly, princesses rule with pirates, and your wallet meets its maker. There are five Disney World/Land parks throughout the world. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, EuroDisney in Paris, France, Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong, China and Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo, Japan.

Out of all the Disneylands out there, the most famous and popular one is Walt Disney World. This is the one I have traveled to thirteen times and have gained a great deal of experience from. Throughout the summer, I will at least have a Disney post every Monday, just before my normal Friday posts.

Today I will be giving you some general helpful tips for Walt Disney World.

    1)      ALWAYS get reservations for Character dining – Character dining is where you get to have breakfast, lunch, tea party, or dinner with some of your favorite Disney characters. These type of restaurants are scattered throughout the parks, luxury resorts (such as the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian), and campground resorts. Most of these experiences are expensive so be prepared to bury your wallet. However, some are reasonably priced, depending on what one you go to.

That will be $80 for your daughter's smile, a chance to meet Chip and Dale, and some pretty decent food.

Character dining is also a once in a lifetime experience that parents want their children to have. Because of this, expect crowds. If you know you’re going to go to a specific character dining location during your stay, make reservations the day you arrive at your resort or the day before you go. Your hotel should have numbers for the restaurants or you can easily find them in Disney travel books and the Internet.

     2)  Fastpass it up – Fastpasses are your best friend. All you have to do is approach a Fastpass machine near a ride you want to go on, insert your park ticket, and out comes a Fastpass. The Fastpass will tell you when to return. When you do come back, you’ll be ushered into the Fastpass line that takes you to a shorter line. In the near future, I will be highlighting which rides you should DEFINITELY get a Fastpass for.

      3)  Pace yourself – Regardless of how long you’re staying at Walt Disney World, always take your time. In my thirteen years of Disney, I've learned that it’s best to stop and smell the roses. Other than the attractions, parades, and restaurants, Disney’s specialty is making memories. So why not slow down and make some? Go on an adventure, you’ll eventually see something new that you hadn't before!

For example, during one of my times at Walt Disney World I was rushing to get on Expedition Everest because I knew the line would be crowded. I had forgotten to get a Fastpass for it and was suffering the consequences. At one point I stopped and realized that regardless of when I got to Expedition Everest, the line would still be long.  There was no point in running across the theme park just to get to it. So I figured I might as well slow down, enjoy where I was, and relax. In doing so, I stumbled upon one of Animal Kingdom’s hidden secrets.

Isn't she beautiful? Apparently she’s The Living Tree of the Animal Kingdom. She camouflages with the green scenery. When she moves, she's slow and graceful like an unfurling flower. I watched her for a while before returning to my mission.

      4)      NO CRAMMING – No matter how long you stay at Disney, you’re not going to cram everything in your one visit. But that’s the brilliance of Disney. They have created so much for you to do that they know you won’t be able to fit it all in one stay. You have to come back and continue to experience the magic. Everything that you see and do might be a bit overwhelming, but no sooner you’re having fun it’ll easily fade away. See what you can do and most of the time, the magic will find its way to you.

   5)      Planning is also your friend – When it comes to any trip, planning is the key. As for Walt Disney World, you must prepare yourself for what lies ahead. The months of July, October, and December are the most crowded. July for the extremely hot summer and no school, October for the warm Halloween, and December for the mild Christmas/New Year’s. Walt Disney World will also be pretty packed when Spring Break rolls around. These are the times when hotels will be more expensive. Try to schedule your trip during the other months. Not only will you save money to go to the park with but you’ll still be experiencing the beautiful Floridian weather.

      Well that covers this week’s Disney Magic Monday. If you want me to offer any advice on the other Disney Parks, feel free to leave a comment. While I have not been to any other Disney Parks, I know a great deal about them. Next week I’ll be covering what rides you should DEFINITELY get Fastpasses for. Until then, have faith in your dreams.