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Top Ten Disney Vacation Tips
Planning Your Adventure: The holiday vacation season is right around
the corner, so if you'll be buying new clothes for your journey now is
the time to do it. Comfortable, well broken-in footwear is essential,
so buy 'em, wear 'em, and make sure your feet won't fail you when you
need them most. Consider practice walks at your local park or mall. And
try on all the clothes you plan to bring, so that if you have to replace
those worn-out shorts you won't be paying resort rates.
Getting There (and Back!): Worried about traveling from the airport to
Walt Disney World? It's easy! Mears and Transtar offer shuttle bus service
to nearly every hotel in the Disney area. Just show up at their curbside
kiosks. For groups of three or more, town car service can be cheaper.
Book in advance with Tiffany Towncar (1-888-838-2161) or Mears (1-800-759-5219).
Cabs are usually more expensive. If you rent a car be sure to pick up
a road map. Walt Disney World is an easy 25 minute drive from the Orlando
International Airport.
Staying in Style: Should you stay at a Disney resort, or "off property"?
Lodging bargains are easy to come by in the Orlando area, but not at Walt
Disney World's "on property" resorts. Still, there are other
factors to consider. Disney fans love the 24-hour immersion in Disney
"magic," the added convenience of staying at Disney's resorts,
and the privilege of early entry to theme parks. Resort guests also save
by using Disney's free transportation system in lieu of a car rental.
Touring the "World": Vacationers who try to "do it all"
at Walt Disney World will arrive home more exhausted than when they left.
Try to keep your list of "must do" items as short as possible,
and leave lots of room in your schedule for rest and relaxation. You don't
have to ride every ride to get full value from your ticket. There's lots
you'll miss if you're scurrying about, and Disney magic will find you,
even if you're sitting on a park bench.
Feasting and Snacking: Priority seating "reservations" at Disney's
full-service restaurants can be hard to come by if you want to dine at
traditional lunch and dinner times, and lines at the counter service eateries
can be equally fearsome. Life is far easier if you plan to eat at off-peak
hours. You can save a few bucks by eating an early supper at lunchtime
prices.
Making More Magic: Walt Disney World is an autograph hunter's paradise.
You never know when you or your children will bump into a favorite Disney
character, so be prepared! Bring an autograph book and a thick-barreled
pen or marker (the characters have trouble holding skinny pens). The look
on your child's face will be priceless! If you forget to buy an autograph
book in advance, nearly every Disney gift shop sells them, too.
Family Travel: It's easy to get separated in a busy theme park. First
thing, select an easy-to-remember rendezvous point. Children should carry
identification listing their name and the name of your hotel. Each Disney
park gathers lost children at its central Lost & Found. Ask any Disney
staff member for help getting reunited. Separated parties can also leave
messages for each other at Guest Services, or use their hotel's voice
mail system.
Special Events: Nibble and sip your way around the world at the Epcot
International Food & Wine Festival, now through November 21. Kiosks
throughout Epcot's World Showcase offer small servings of foods and wines,
most priced from $1 to $4 (or sample a rare cognac for $25). Think of
it as a huge, open-air Tapas bar. You can also pop in on cooking demonstrations
and wine seminars. Sign up for special events at 407-WDW-DINE.
Holiday Disney Vacations: The period from Thanksgiving through New Years
is an especially magical time at Walt Disney World. Every Disney theme
park and resort hotel is decked-out in its holiday finest and Disney offers
a wide range of activities and events to be sure you're in the right mood.
The theme parks can be very crowded during the holidays, so look for celebrations
and events at your hotel, too.
Saving Money: It's hard to control expenses on vacation, but set a good
budget and stick to it. Budgets are like diets-once broken they tend to
be abandoned. An overly strict budget can lead to all-out rebellion, especially
since everyone's trying to have fun. Sensible budgets are less likely
to be broken and if broken they're easier to get back on track. The PassPorter
Walt Disney World travel guide can help, offering tools for setting and
tracking your budget.
As special as any Walt Disney World vacation can be, it's even better
when you plan ahead. There's so much to see and do, and so many hopes
and dreams rest on a successful visit. Start planning now, and watch for
more PassPorter Planning Tips in the months to come.
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