Disney Fanatic

An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

10. Plan for gratuities In planning for your dining expenses, or a budget in general, putting aside some extra money for gratuities is always a good idea. Chances are you’re going to come across plenty of cast members who should be tipped, including housekeeping, bell services, Magical Express drivers (who handle luggage), wait staff, bar

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

9. Decide whether or not to purchase the dining plan The dining plan has the potential to save up to 35% off the cost of dining during your vacation. While this can easily be a great deal, it really depends on your own personal preferences, which dictate how much you would truly save. To see if the dining plan is worth it for you, browse

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

8. Make advanced dining reservations Some of the restaurants at Walt Disney World are actually so popular that you’ll want to make them 180 days before your trip. If you have your heart set on dining at certain popular locations, advanced reservations are a must.  

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

7. Make Fastpass selections before your trip I’m totally guilty of making Fastpasses on the fly, however when I’ve actually sat down and made them ahead of time I’m always pleasantly surprised at how much I’m able to visit during those days in the parks. If you know which park you’re going to be in on a certain day, plan on making some se

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

6. Go to the parks during Extra Magic Hours During Extra Magic Hours, certain parks will either open earlier or stay open later for Disney resort guests only. Going to the parks during this time allows you to get more time in for your favorite attractions, with less time dealing with crowds.  

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

5. Use Disney’s Magical Express If you are flying into the Orlando International Airport, and are staying at a Disney resort, you can take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express. This complimentary service allows guests to take a bus to their resort, while skipping baggage claim and letting their vacation start right away. Bags will be del

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

4. Stay on property Unless you live near Orlando, already own property near Orlando, or are able to stay with family or friends who live near the parks, I always recommend staying on Disney property. Staying off property can be cheaper, however staying at a Disney resorts come with so many benefits that I would prefer to stay at a value r

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

3. Choose a resort The most important part of choosing a resort is finding a place to stay that is within your budget. Disney breaks up its resorts into value, moderate, and deluxe categories, making it easy to narrow down your options to resorts that you know you are willing to pay for. Once you know which resort tier to look at, conside

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

2. Set a budget One of the most important things that I take into consideration when booking any vacation is my budget. Disney makes it easy to make plans that work within your budget, as the prices for nearly any part of your vacation can be found online. I would suggest setting a budget (including spending money) and sticking to it. Sav

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An Expert’s Guide to Walt Disney World: 20 Tips

1. Plan early Once you’ve decided to take a vacation to Walt Disney World, you should ideally begin planning immediately. If you are planning on using a special offer or promotion to book your resort stay, you’ll want to book your trip early to make sure you are able to get the resort and room of your choice before the offer sells out. Ma

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