In last month’s column, Good Advice / Bad Advice, I took issue with an article that appeared in my local Sunday newspaper which offered advice for planning a Walt Disney World vacation. This advice came in short notes from readers of a parenting blog. After discussing a few hits and several misses from that article, I offered my own concise planning advice (in 150 words or less) and invited my readers to do the same. As always, you didn’t disappoint.
Many of you took up the challenge—and space won’t allow publishing all your great insights, but I will share a few. Here are some great reader tips for planning your next Disney vacation.
Korta suggests setting priorities and writes:
Decide what your priorities are, and spend your money on that… there are no shortage of things to spend money on, but everyone's ideas of the ideal vacation are different. If you want great rides, get the park hopper and make sure you hit them all. Have to have great dining? Book those fancy restaurants in advance! We just have to have swim time, as much as possible, so we upgrade to the pool area now. Some people want to shop the whole time. But decide this before you go, and plan accordingly!
Jennifer puts in a plug for the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Norway’s Akershus Royal Banquet Hall:
I would also have to add to your article that if you want to eat with the princesses and can avoid the castle, Norway has the best princess dining experience. I feel the food is better and my kids don't really mind not eating in the castle just as long as they see the princesses. The extra bonus is that Epcot is 1 meal plan and the castle uses 2.
I also agree the Disney transportation system is the best way to get around the parks. We drive to Florida but we use the Disney bus systems to get everywhere. Yes, you might need to wait if you leave or enter the park as soon as it opens or closes, but that is the time to talk to your family or others on vacation and get tips or give some tips to families that are new to the parks.
Keep up the great articles I love reading them.
Pam Miles offers some planning insights and a suggestion for character meals:
Super, fun column Steve! Here is my top advice for what it's worth in 150 words or less:
Visit sites like MousePlanet prior to making decisions and read the Unofficial Guide for excellent advice. Stay on site and utilize Magical Express and Disney transportation. Ship a box from home containing bulky items like princess dresses, light up toys, individual cereals and snacks directly to the resort because this saves in baggage fees and over packing, then ship it home with stuff. Buy glow sticks at dollar store ahead of time for nighttime fun. Be at the parks at opening, break in the afternoon for naps and swimming and return in the evenings. Use Fastpasses if waits exceed 20 minutes. Stretch out your vacation for longer than a week if possible to slow the pace down and enjoy as much as possible. For small children, hold off on the hopper feature on passes and add a few extra days to instead to keep from wearing everyone out. For a terrific splurge with small children, stay at a monorail resort. It's very convenient with strollers for MK and Epcot, returning for naptime and for most all character meals. Character meals are great fun and help cut down on waiting in line to meet them in parks.
Brad offers an endorsement of Extra Magic Hours:
Nicely done. While it is somewhat laughable – and a bit frustrating – to see some bad advice out there, I sort of take some relief in knowing that not everyone will be so well organized that we're all following the same plan—and thus, competing for the same ride/restaurants, etc.! That said, my $0.02…
We took a last-minute trip to WDW over Christmas (2011). While it was certainly crowded during the day, we were able to enjoy all the parks by taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, particularly the evening times. We enjoyed leisurely breakfasts, took in some gym time (or spa time for the girlfriend) during the afternoon, then headed to dinner at one of the parks or resorts. We were entering the park(s) just as most of the crowds were leaving, and we were able to see all the primary attractions during the EMH – something we could not have done during the crowded daytime hours. Plus, it's so cool to be walking around the Magic Kingdom at 2:00 AM! The light crowds and unique [late night] atmosphere make the EMH worth any added expense of staying on property.
Laurie J likes a more spontaneous approach:
Make your trip an “adventure” not just a check list. It is good to look over the parks and have an idea of what is most important to you, but sometimes the best stuff just happens! My kids love getting caught up in the Hollywood “street actors” schemes. These are so much fun and will be remembered. Eat a bigger lunch (restaurants are cheaper at lunch) and have a smaller meal back in your room or get a pizza at your hotel. An advantage of staying onsite is being able to take a break. Remember it’s the quality of the experience not just how much you can pack in. Smile, you’re at Disney! Enjoy!
Amy supplies some transportation advice:
I just wanted to say I love reading your articles. You share the same passion for Disney that my family and I have.
My tip for planning a Disney vacation has to do with transportation. My family and I used to do the rental car thing. However, because we were staying in the Polynesian and enjoyed using the provided transportation, the car just sat in the lot for a week until we had to leave again. A few years ago, my parents decided on using a limo service. It was less than a rental car that would only be used twice, but still gave us the luxury of not having to wait for the Magical Express to pick us up. This also allowed us to plan our departure in accordance with our flight. We used Happy Limo the past couple years and haven't gone back since.
This next piece of advice came in via MousePad, not direct email, but I liked the tip so much I’m including it here. Scoobydooby writes:
My advice. GET UP EARLY. Be at every park at least 40 minutes before official opening and have a plan for the first 3 hours. Leave smelling the roses and spontaneity for after lunch. Or be the family staring aimlessly at a park map and bickering with each other. There's always a choice….
If you take a long 2 week holiday like we do this advice also needs to be coupled with SLEEP IN EVERY THIRD DAY. Plan late nights at the parks to precede your third day lie in rule. Then enjoy.
This has worked for us the two weeks before and after Christmas, the two weeks before and after Easter, and August. Longest wait in line 30 minutes, four times in four trips. Average wait. Walk on to 15 minutes.
In March, I wrote an article I called That Disney Something and attempted to explain that feeling we all seem to have when we journey to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Apparently, I’m not alone as many of you wrote in to express similar sentiments.
A fellow Albanian, John B writes:
Thanks for the great article(s). We too are from upstate (Albany), and I am the planner for us as well. We just got back from an early March trip (our 1st in over 8 years), and everything you said is true…from the ADR's to the flight, and seeing the signs and sights…. one of the few times you know you are spending money, and enjoying every minute of it. Now we are trying to figure out when and who can go with us just as soon as we possibly can. Take care, and keep up the great work.
I’m with you, John, and thanks for writing.
Kevin Rowe writes:
Thank you for the great article. I have been trying for years to explain that 'Disney Something' to my friends and family. Between the safety (watching the dogs check every single inch of the World of Color area before they open it to 9,000 of your new best friends), realizing that the person I accidentally bumped said sorry before I did, noticing that there is no line-jumping and all the patience that happens in those queues, and finally after 40+ years of visits, stood in queue to get a candy cane (which I cannot bring myself to eat). The feeling of peace, joy, excitement, and pleasure that happens when you are close enough to see the tip of the Matterhorn or the purple lights of the Hollywood Tower Hotel cannot be explained. If you could bottle it however, you would be a wealthy, wealthy man.
Andrew Eric Szucs offers that superior customer service plays a major part:
I've always believed that Disney guests always experience the best hospitality and customer service on the planet. Does Disney make mistakes? Sure, but they make good on those errors many times over. No excuses, they just fix the problem quickly. It's like an ironclad guarantee that you will have a good time. Then you add to that a magical barrier from the cares and worries of the outside world. What's not to like… over and over again.
Tina writes:
My daughter and I will be spending 3 weeks in WDW this June. We will divide our resort stay between an off-property timeshare courtesy of a friend and POFQ and Pop Century. My meter needle has been ramping up recently because I've booked some dining ressies and Magical Express. Those purple signs always do it for me too! My friends and family keep asking what we'll do for three weeks. I only reply “A lot: relaxing by the pool, sleeping late, seeing all the fireworks (all things we seem to miss even though we plan for them), but not everything…sheesh, it's only three weeks!”
Lisa Barker writes:
I absolutely loved your article. I actually cried when I read it. We go to WDW every Halloween and friends, relatives and co-workers always roll their eyes and wonder why we don't vacation elsewhere. I've really never been able to quite verbalize it. You managed to do that for me. Thanks for actually “Getting Us” and reaffirming why we choose WDW as our FAVORITE vacation destination.
Thanks, Lisa. And thanks for “getting” me.
Baylakebeliever writes:
What a great article! My family and I totally agree. I find it funny that friends will plan to go to the Cape (Cod) every summer and think nothing of it year after year. Well you could say Disney is our Cape! My moment is turning off the highway and onto WDW property and seeing Mickey welcoming us. Then as I turn to my right the monorail is speeding past us! I can hardly wait for our summer trip! Thanks for a Disney Fantastic article!
Love your screen name, baylakebeliever and thanks for the kind words.
I offer a big “Thanks” to everyone for taking the time to send your feedback. It’s certainly appreciated and great to share your tips and opinions with your fellow Disney fans. I’ve often said that as long as I keep listening, or in this case reading, I’ll learn something new. Until next time, thanks for reading.
