Disney World Trip Planning – threestrandswdw

First Time vs. Second, Third, and Beyond at WDW…Part One

When it comes to planning trips to Walt Disney World, h)ow you plan may depend greatly on what number visit it is for you. Today, we will begin to look at some of the differences that may take place in those plans. And, we will start with the first time guest.

If you are a first time guest, how you plan may also depend on kids or no kids! For our purpose, today, we will be using some general plans. If you have kids, feel free to adjust accordingly. Or, better yet, leave a comment below to help others who may need some help.

First time guests often want to push as much into their plans as possible. They may even attempt to ‘do it all”! Having a good plan is essential to making this work. Start by determining how many days you want to be in the parks, to help you plan for your overall number of days for your Disney World vacation. Then, look at a crowd calendar (there are a few available online), and that will help you judge the flow of each park on a given day. For first time guests, I do not usually suggest Park Hoppers, as it can be confusing enough just getting to one park each day. Once you have figured out which park to do on what day, it’s time to plan our order of attractions. And, there are a number of methods that can be used for this, as well.

If you want to do a few Character meals, make sure you make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at the 180 day before arrival point, or as soon as you book a vacation if less than 10 days. If you are an onsite guest, you can book your entire stay at the 180 point before your ARRIVAL day. This is called the 180+10 rule! Also, if you have a larger family, and want the convenience of just making the ADR and showing up, you may want to consider the Disney Dining Plan. For more information on that, see DDP – Plus Dining at https://wordpress.com/post/30334162/1132/

With the new Fastpass Plus (FPP) system, you can choose your rides up to 60 days in advance, if you are staying at a Walt Disney Resort. If you stay at a hotel off-property, you have 30 days in advance to make your ride selections. You can do three a day, for one park. After you use those three FPPs, you can select another one at one of the FPP Kiosks found throughout the parks. If you want to do one of the hard to get attractions (ie, Anna and Elsa Meet, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, Soarin, Toy Story Midway Mania), you may want to plan those for later in your stay to increase your chances of getting one of those.

I try to tell my clients to set a flow, not necessarily go WITH the flow, that works for your family. I find it easier than criss-crossing the parks and putting more mileage on my feet. However, do what works best for what you want to accomplish. And, if you do have little ones, you may want to plan a midday break for rest and recovery. Then, return to the park in the evenings.

One last thing I would suggest. Don’t plan to do EVERYTHING there is to do! I have been to WDW 12 times, and STILL haven’t seen it all! But then, that gives me an excuse to go back over, and over, and over again! We will look at how to plan when you return in the next issue of the threestrandswdw blog! Thanks for reading and have a Blessed and Magical day, my friends!!

Extra: Memory Making Idea

How do you travel to Walt Disney World? Fly? drive? train? I have been thinking of something that could be fun for the entire family on the way.

I came up with the idea to put together a Vacation Journal. It seems simple enough! All we need is a good notebook to keep track of the states we pass through, restaurants we eat at (especially local fair) along the way, anything that might catch an eye and add to the memories of the journey.

Or, maybe we take a pack of 3×5 index cards and make notes to go with pictures we could snap along the way and then put the pictures, with the proper description card, into a photo album to bring a little more to our memories.

It just seems to me that it would be a really great way to keep track of where you have been, what you have done, and especially the greater highlights of your adventure.

I’m going to put one together for our upcoming trip. I may end up being the one to makes the entries, too! This could be interesting if I am the one driving. I’ll let you know how it works out and will likely share a bit of it with you!

Have a magical week, and God Bless You!!

First Impressions! Part one

So, I’ve been trying to think of something interesting to write about. And, the one thing that kept coming into my mind was the first time I visited Walt Disney World on October 2, 1982. And, the very first thing I got to do was ride the futuristic Monorail to The Magic Kingdom! I remember standing there gazing in awe as this sleek looking, shiny ‘train’ wooshed into the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) Station. I was amazed!

In the years to follow, I still have that same sense of awe! As someone who has spent a significant part of his adult life in the transportation industry (bus driver), I am always interested in other forms of transportation. What has amazed me most about the Monorail, is that it hasn’t been a concept widely considered by local governments. After all, if I remember the spiel, the monorail is propelled by magnetic motors that use electricity to drive them. That seems incredibly efficient in my mind.

On my last trip, I took a Disney Transport bus from Port Orleans – Riverside to The Magic Kingdom. And, while it was nice to have someone else do the driving, I was a little confused by being dropped just feet away from the entrance to the park. What happened to the TTC? So, at the end of our day, my oldest daughter and I jumped on the boat from The Magic Kingdom to the TTC and boarded the EPCOT Monorail. I had to have a ride! There was no choice for me! I was drawn to it! And, my daughter loved the ride, too! Seeing her eyes as the train approached reminded me of how I must have looked oh so many years ago.

So, I ask you…Is the monorail a ride? An attraction? Transportation? Or, could it be a little of all three? I think you know my answer, please feel free to leave your comments.

I’d like to thank ResortLoop.com for mentioning my blog on their show! It was unexpected, but quite appreciated! Thanks, Guys!

And remember, may you always come home with Magical Memories!