Tips about Planning, Resorts and Security
We are leaving on our 6th trip to WDW and are taking 13 others with us! Something new we are doing this year....we have made 1 reservation a day for everyone (Hoop De Doo, Crystal Palace, Fantasmic, Cinderella's Breakfast......) so to make it easy for everyone we made a spread sheet of sorts with the whole week (calendar look to it) and put all of our confirmation numbers for each day at each location with times included (hotels also). Then we reduced it to a credit card size (still readable) and laminated it. That way everyone in the party has a copy and it is easily accessible!!!! - Gaylia Laird
When planning my vacation, I got a calendar that you can write on, and put on the calendar when to call for dining reservations, reminders to buy things for vacations, phone numbers, anything related to the vacation. Anytime I thought of something related to the vacation I wrote it on. I even wrote confirmation numbers on it so they would all be in the same place. This is a great way to keep reminders for vacation planning. - Donna Rebholz
I went on a Disney Trip with many people and I suggest this for anyone who is traveling in a larger group from one location. Each of us made a little gift for each person. We made notes, bags of candy, tapes with our favorite Disney songs, coloring pages, games, and pictures. Then before the flight each person put their gifts in everyone else's bags. It added a lot of excitement to have a plane packet. My gift was a little more complex, but it was great. It was a journal that had quotes, pictures, photos, maps, and brochure clippings pasted inside. Everyone on the trip wrote in them. Another tip is to have a pre-party a week or two before the trip. We did this before our cruise. We played games, had dinner, read through books and researched little things and just discussed everything. Then we had a post party to look at pictures and videos. - Lindsay
We love to visit WDW over the Christmas holidays. In fact, I've already booked our 2 week December Wilderness Lodge trip. As you know, the holiday season rates at the resorts are out of this world. A few years ago we just happened to stumble on the fact that the rate you receive for your entire stay is based upon what "season" it is when you check in. Thanks to this little known fact, we are checking in on December 20th (the last day of value season) and receiving the value season rate for our entire 13 night stay! By arriving on the 20th (instead of the 21st) we are saving hundreds of dollars. - DZNYNUT35
I was recently unable to book a room for the nights of 2/9 -2/10 to no avail. Then I started asking for the whole week and many things became available. When it became time to pay for the entire trip, I just had them cancel the other days and I kept the nights that I wanted. - Roxanne Stritt
To save yourself some money, and avoid the grocery trip on the way in, send yourself a package via UPS to your hotel. Mark on the package: hold until guest arrival xx/xx/xx (the date). Package up whatever you like to eat: cereals, Parmalat milk, crackers, juice boxes, etc! - Dorothy Kurz
At WDW, it is difficult to save both time and money. Usually you have to spend one to save the other. Figure out which is more important to you, and plan accordingly. For instance, buses will take longer than driving, but will save you the cost of a rental car and parking fees. - Jen Kitchen
ALL RESORTS - Be sure and take plenty of one dollar bills for tipping the castmembers in your hotel. We stayed at the Beach Club and the castmembers there are so helpful & friendly that I found myself wanting to tip everybody!! I left an envelope for the maid everyday that I had printed on the computer with Disney graphics on the front that said "Merry Mousekeeping" for the maid. The maid did a super job!! I ordered from room service several times during our stay & the service was impeccable. Each time I was delivered my order promptly & the tray always had a fresh flower on it & plenty of food! - Margaret Wilkins
POLYNESIAN RESORT - Watching Fireworks from Polynesian - The view is wonderful; the fireworks will appear right above Cinderella Castle. I'd recommend starting at the pool, and working your way along the beach toward the Contemporary until you find a comfortable spot with a good view of the castle. The music is piped through the speakers along the path, but it's not very loud so if you want to hear it, find a spot near a speaker. No need to go early, unless you want to be sure to get a beach chair or a hammock. We find that beach towels on the sand work just fine too, and there are always plenty of great spots left at fireworks time. At the end of January, when we were there, the beach was actually deserted for the fireworks. Last May, it was a little more crowded but still no trouble finding a spot. - Joyce Ruppert
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ALL RESORTS - If you're staying at a WDW hotel, be SURE to request a wake-up call, ESPECIALLY if you have kids. I won't spoil the fun by going into detail about who calls or what the message is, but trust me - it's GREAT! If you have more than one kid, let a different one answer the phone each day. This is a WONDERFUL way to start a Disney Day, even if - ESPECIALLY if - you don't actually NEED a wake-up call. - Brenda Burchett
ALL RESORTS - Each morning wanted our daughter to be awakened by Mickey. However, we, the parents, needed to be up earlier than our little one. Each day we would set the alarm clock and quickly turn it off. Our wake up call from Mickey was set to come a little later when we knew Emily would be waking up or needing to get up. It worked well and the smile on her face each morning as Mickey urged her up was wonderful. - Lisa Stewart
ALL RESORTS - THE PHONES IN THE ROOM: Any phone with a button for ordering pizza is okay by me! Joining the pizza button was the Housekeeping button and the Guest Information button, and the Wake up Call button. The Guest Information button is the general operator for the resort. They are know all, see all, do all. It's like calling 411 without the guilt or charge. Example: My 11 year daughter was having a problem with her braces. She needed Braces Wax to cover a wire that was digging into her cheek. Who ya gonna Call? They gave me the name of 2 drug stores and called them for me. I called back and ordered a taxi and 10 minutes later I was off to Walgreens for the Wax. I called them for park opening times, baby sitter info, movie information. Each time they came through like a champ.
ALL RESORTS - All hotels say there check out time is 11am. This can actually be extended until 1pm at no additional charge to accommodate your flight schedules. I even extended my stay until 3pm and paid 1/2 price. Not bad to enjoy the hotel pool and spa one last time before boarding my plane back to reality. It was worth it. - AHalton
EDITOR'S NOTE: With the new Magic Bands be aware that they will stop working automatically at 11am on your check out day. If you get an extension please check with the desk about access. Remember that during busy times resorts will not be able to honor requests for late checkouts.
