Are you thinking about booking a Disney vacation in Florida? Orlando is a beautiful place to visit and Disney World is arguably one of the best theme parks that this world has to offer. That said, there are a few things that you should be aware of before you commit to booking this trip. Here are the key points.
There Are Six Parks
Let’s start at the beginning with the key fact that there are in fact six Disney theme parks, all with separate thrills and attractions. The theme parks are:
Magic Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Blizzard Beach
Typhoon Lagoon
Easily the most popular is Magic Kingdom but all three of the other theme parks now have stand out attracts. Epcot has the Guardians of the Galaxy Ride, Hollywood Studios is home to Star Wars land, and Animal Kingdom has the famous Avatar rides. You’re going to need Genie Plus for these rides unless you are happy to queue.
Each Park Has Its Own Nighttime Event
It’s also worth mentioning that each theme park you might be thinking about visiting does have its own nighttime event. For instance, the Magic Kingdom has the magical Happily Ever After. These run every night with very few exceptions and will even go forward when there is bad weather. The queues are massive but they are well worth the trip particularly if you love fireworks and light shows. These are all included in your ticket, so there’s really no reason not to add at least a few of them into your travel plans.
Universal Studios Is Forty Minutes Away
If you are planning on visiting universal studios while on your Florida trip then it is worth noting that it is forty minutes away from the DisneyWorld resort. This means it might be easier to hire a car for part of your trip so you can get there with ease. You can get a taxi to Universal but this will quickly get expensive. Check out local rental places to find a great deal. Alternatively, you could jump on a local bus but this could take you up to two hours.
You Will Have At Least One Rained Out Day
It’s important to understand that you are always going to have at least one day that is totally rained out and there’s no real way around this. At this time, it’s possible that the rides are going to close, although the parks usually will remain open unless there is a hurricane. At this point, it’s best to stay in your hotel room and occupy yourself with a game like Solitaire. You might even want to pack some boardgames or buy Disney themed games in Disney Springs which brings us neatly to our next point.
Disney Springs Is The Perfect Break Away
The parks can be overwhelming, crowded, and hot. The perfect break from these crowds is absolutely Disney Springs. This is free and so is the perfect choice if you have a seven day ticket and a ten day holiday planned.
Be aware that Disney spring has a massive selection of shops and restaurants. As such, you should plan your spending money accordingly and ensure that you do leave a little money spare for this unique part of the theme park complex. There’s also a cinema with a restaurant built-in. That’s another great choice for a rainy day that you might be worried is going to get in the way of your plans.
You Don’t Need A Hire Car
You might be planning on not leaving the Disney resort for the duration of your trip. If this is the case then you won’t need a car while you are there. Many people may have told you to hire a car when you land at the airport but if you are happy using the shuttles then you really don’t need one.
Your hotel might put on regular buses to and from the parks, depending on which one you are staying at. Alternatively, you can walk to and from each different park.
You Need At Least 10 Days
While there’s no set rule in terms of how long you should stay in Disney World, seasoned experts recommend at least 10 days. This will give you two days in each of the parks and one day in each of the water parks. Be aware that you might also choose to park hop and jump around through the day. If you are planning this type of trip, then it’s best to make sure that you check the magic hours. People flood parks with early magic hours and abandon those which don’t have them. Ironically, this leaves the parks without magic hours with smaller queues. This is also weirdly true for parks that are scheduled to stay open later in the evening. Remember, this perk is exclusive to Disney hotel guests and that brings us to another great fact.
You Are Better Off Staying On-Site
While this might be the more pricey option you are definitely better off staying on-site when it comes to Disney. The pros certainly outweigh the cons and what’s not to love about the Disney hotels. There really is something for everyone and you will be right on the Disney doorstep.
It Always Worth Booking Early
Finally, if you’re not opposed to booking a trip in advance, then it does make sense to try and plan your Disney holiday at least a year before you go. Why is this? Well, Disney World tend to provide exclusive deals for early-birders and if you are booking a Disney hotel, then these rooms also sell out quite quickly for popular dates. You can book Disney on the fly but it does make things a little more complicated and precarious.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key things that you should be aware of if you are planning on booking a Disney vacation this year. By being prepared, you can guarantee that you have a great time, regardless of when you are planning to travel.
