Tips For Riding Slinky Dog Dash Without Spending Hours In Line

Slinky Dog Dash is definitely the most popular attraction in the new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park; it is currently seeing mid-day waits of 60-80 minutes, even though crowds are moderate now that the kids are back in school. Here’s the good news: we can probably help you get onto both of the new attractions without long lines but it is going to mean waking up early!

Avoiding Long Lines at Slinky Dog Dash With FastPass+

You can book FastPass+ reservation up 60-days prior to arrival when you have a reservation at an official Disney World hotel and at select "Good Neighbor" hotels when you have a vacation package that includes tickets or you purchase your tickets prior to your trip and register them on your MyDisneyExperience account. If you’re not staying at a Disney World resort, you can still book your FastPass+ reservations up to 30-days prior to arrival by purchasing your tickets prior to your trip and registering them on your MyDisneyExperience account. You can make up to three (3) FastPass+ reservations prior to arrival but Disney has a tiered system for FastPass selection that only allows you to select one of the new Toy Story Land attractions. If you plan to ride Slinky Dog Dash, you’ll definitely want to make this your FastPass+ choice because it is the more popular ride and gets the longest lines. The challenge here is that there are a limited number of FastPasses available for this attraction and you might not get one.

Stand-by lines are much, much shorter for the new Alien Swirling Saucers ride though Toy Story Mania! remains popular with the second longest waits in the area by virtue of it being a fun ride and the only ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that does not have a height restriction so that it is my second choice for a Toy Story Land FastPass if Slinky Dog is not available.

Avoiding Long Lines at Slinky Dog Dash When You Don’t Have FastPass+

Here’s what we did on our recent visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on a morning that did not have an Extra Magic Hour, the park was opening at 9:00AM and where we did not have a FastPass for Slinky Dog Dash. TouringPlans predicted low to moderate crowds but we would say that Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt much closer to moderate than low. We were able to get 9:45am FastPasses for Toy Story Mania:

8:10AM - We arrived at the park got through security quickly and lined up close fairly the front gates.

Tip for getting through security: Ideally, you should avoid taking any bags with you so that you can just sail through the "no bags" entrance. If that just isn't possible, do a quick scan of the available security lines to see if one appears to be moving faster or have people who don't appear to be bringing all of their earthly belongings into the park. Be sure you have all compartments of your bags open and ready.

8:35AM (25-minutes prior to the posted opening time) – We were allowed through the gates and down Hollywood Boulevard to where it intersects with Sunset Boulevard. If you don’t already have a park map and Times Guide, you can get those on the rack at the Crossroads kiosk that has Mickey Mouse on the top.

This tip will only work if your group is small and able and willing to move quickly: When you get in line, if all of the gates are not open, try to get in the leftmost line unless there is a compelling reason to avoid it because they may open additional lines as crowds are forming. Watch for that to happen and quickly move over when they do if it gets you closer to the gates. Once they let people in, start moving to the right side of the crowd.

Tip: When they let you through, you can usually move farther forward if you are on the edges of the crowd than if you are in the middle of the road. Try to be on the right side of the street, if at all possible but the left side is fine too - just go as far forward as possible.

At 8:45AM (15-minutes prior to posted opening time) – They opened the park and began leading guests at a very brisk walk to Toy Story Land. There were also people headed to the registration for Jedi Training Academy and there were others who were headed to Rock ‘n Roller Coaster. Some people headed to Toy Story Mania! which is close to the front of Toy Story Land and doesn’t have a height restriction but most people were lining up for Slinky Dog Dash.

Tip: We lost time in the bottleneck of the smaller hole through the arch. It may make sense to aim for the larger entrance unless you’re stuck behind a convoy of strollers and scooters.

9:02AM – We rode Slinky Dog Dash after waiting less than 10-minutes. We weren’t at the very front of the line but we were fairly far forward in the crowd.

In this 10-minute video, Steve and Brian of TouringPlans.com checked out Slinky Dog Dash at park opening in Disney's Hollywood Studios and came out with a pretty good plan. So you know, this was filmed Saturday, September 15 with a crowd level of 4.

Ride Something Else if the Park Is already open when you arrive

The thing about this recommendation is that it only works if you arrive BEFORE the park opens and you are in the first wave of riders. The lines and waits for this ride get long quickly so, if you arrive after the park opens and you don’t get that first wave, early arrival advantage, you’re better off taking advantage of shorter lines at other rides early in the day and riding Slinky Dog Dash later.

The Rest of Our Morning

9:10AM – We rode Alien Swirling Saucers with no line. This is the farthest ride back in Toy Story Land so it takes a little longer to get busy. We would’ve ridden Toy Story Mania! next if we didn’t have a FastPass for it because it’s position near the front of Toy Story Land which causes the lines to get longer earlier and then ride Alien Swirling Saucers after that.

The lines were posted at over one hour for Slinky Dog Dash by now but we could’ve easily gotten onto Alien Swirling Saucers in a timely fashion for a second ride if we’d gone back into the line. Instead, we decided to get a Raspberry Lunchbox Tart at Woody’s Lunch Box and to visit restrooms before using our 9:45am Toy Story Mania! FastPasses. We also took time to watch the Green Army Men stop and train some young recruits.

By 10:00AM, we had seen and done everything Toy Story Land has to offer. The day was getting hot and the people who don’t know to arrive early were coming in droves. The lines for both Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers are outside, with only some patio style umbrellas along the route to provide shade so we were happy to be done and to head towards some indoor, air conditioned shows and attractions during the heat of the day.

Tips: Watch the weather; Slinky Dog shuts down for lightning - For research purposes, we went back in the afternoon and got into the line which had a 65-minute posted wait. We had gotten far enough forward to be under the covered area close to the ride when a lightning storm and heavy rain caused them to temporarily shut down the ride. Those waiting in the open were told to leave and take shelter and those of us under the covered area were given the option of leaving or staying. With no estimate of when the ride would reopen, some of the people in the covered area opted to leave but most, like us stayed. we ended up waiting 89-minutes to ride.

The park was scheduled to close at 8PM so we returned to Toy Story Land at about 7:00PM to see what it was like after dark. It is delightful! We puttered around taking pictures and headed back to Slinky Dog Dash at about 7:40pm to check out the lines at that time. The posted wait was 60-minutes but we got through and rode in about 20-minutes but you should probably keep in mind that the earlier downpour had caused some people to leave early. Slinky Dog Dash usually stays pretty busy all day long.

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities. That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

More Helpful Articles:

• Tips for riding Avatar Flight of Passage without waiting hours in line.

• Minimize lines with a good theme park touring plan

• Disney World Ride Closures and Refurbishments

• More Toy Story Experiences at Disney World

Thursday 3: Comparison of Disney & Universal Family Suites - Value Resorts

Reservations are now being accepted at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites for dates beginning August 1, 2019. We recently compared the standard hotel style rooms so, today, I will cover the family suites to two Disney World value resorts that have both standard rooms and family suites: Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We can help you plan a vacation that includes your stay at any of these resorts so request a free, no-obligation quote today.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - Cars Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s All-Star Music Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Family Suite / Universal Orlando

How do the rooms compare?

Capacity: All of these suites can accommodate up to six (6) adults plus one infant in a Pak ‘n Play crib.

Kitchenettes: All three options include a have a kitchenette with microwave, coffee maker and mini-refrigerator

Disney’s All-Star Music Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Size:

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: The 440-square-feet

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: The 520-square-feet

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: The 565-square-feet

Beds:

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: three queen beds with one bed in a separate room and the other two beds in the main area.

• · Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: one bedroom with one queen-size bed; one double-size convertible TableBed; one double-size sleeper sofa.

• · Disney’s All-Star Music Resort family suites: bedroom with one queen-size bed; a living area with a double-size sleeper sofa; a sleeper chair; a sleeper ottoman.

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Family Suite / Universal Orlando

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - Cars Family Suite / Walt Disney World Resort

Bathrooms:

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: one bathroom that has two compartments with the toilet and tub/shower in one section and a separate section with two sinks and a vanity

• · Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: two full bathrooms

• · Disney’s All-Star Music Resort family suites: two full bathrooms

Seating

• Universal’s Surfside Inn family suites: Concept art shows an adorable picnic table with a bench on one side and two chairs on the other.

• · Disney’s Art of Animation Resort family suites: There is the sleeper sofa and the table with seating for four.

• · Disney’s All-Star Music Resort family suites: Sleeper sofa, chair with ottoman, and a small round table with two chairs. There is also a chair in the bedroom.

Official Disney Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Disney resort gives you some great benefits like airport transportation at no additional cost, Extra Magic Hours not available to the general public, complimentary bus transportation to the Disney theme parks and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 30-days ahead of the general public when you have tickets or a vacation package that includes tickets. Disney Magical Express transportation between the Orlando International Airport and these resorts is also available at no extra cost.

Official Universal Orlando Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Universal Orlando hotel gives you benefits like Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and complimentary bus transportation to the Universal Orlando theme parks. A neat perk of the official Universal hotels is that you are allowed to use the pools at any of the other official hotels, where Disney does not allow “pool hopping” in most cases.

2019 Cost comparison: Pool view rooms are available about Universal’s Surfside for an additional $20 per night. Finding Nemo suites at Disney’s Art of Animation typically cost more than the Cars and Lion King suites. Disney’s all-Star Music resort does not offer any upgrades for their family suites. For consistency, the lowest priced, undiscounted suite available was used for the cost comparisons below. Prices do not include tax.

Parking: Universal charges $12 per night and Disney value resorts charge $13 per night for self-parking.

August 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $184
Disney’s All-Star Music - $309
Disney’s Art of Animation - $406

September 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $184
Disney’s All-Star Music - $310
Disney’s Art of Animation - $405

October 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $154
Disney’s All-Star Music - $300
Disney’s Art of Animation - $395

November 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $184
Disney’s All-Star Music - $306
Disney’s Art of Animation - $395

December 15
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $189
Disney’s All-Star Music - $339
Disney’s Art of Animation - $425

Getting two standard location connecting rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort or any of the value resorts is usually cheaper than getting a family suite and can sleep up to eight adults. On August 15, 2019, the cost of two connecting rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music is $270 which is $39 cheaper than the family suites. You can get guaranteed connecting rooms if you only have two adults in the party and more children age 17 or younger than one room can hold.

I limited the above comparisons to official theme park resort hotels but it is worth mentioning that DoubleTree Suites, one of the Disney Springs Good Neighbor hotels offers a less expensive suite option that runs about $245+ tax per night for the nights listed able and includes some great on-site benefits like Extra Magic Hours, bus transportation to the parks, and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 60-days prior to arrival when you have a package that includes tickets. This hotel does not participate in Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation so you may need to include transportation costs into your comparison.

DoubleTree Suites - Disney Springs - An official Disney World Good Neighbor hotel / Walt Disney World Resort - Florida

In summary, the suites at Universal’s Surfside family suites are significantly cheaper than the Disney value resort family suites and they’ll be shiny and new when they open next August but they’re smaller and only have one bathroom. The Universal resort hotels do not offer complimentary airport transportation so that, if needed, will affect total cost. The Disney family suites are bigger and having two full-bathrooms is definitely a big advantage when you’ve got a lot of people all trying to get ready to get out the door in time for park opening. Families who need separate beds may find the two twin sized pull-out beds helpful at Disney’s All-Star Music resort. I didn’t dive too deeply into style and theme because Surfside only has concept art at this point but it should be noted that, although the most expensive, the suites at Disney’s Art of Animation are delightfully and adorably themed. Disney’s complimentary airport transportation may offset the higher price of the Disney resorts for larger families.

Don't Get Overwhelmed By The Details - Let Us Help!

Vacation planning is always a lot easier when you have one of our travel agents on your side because we specialize in Disney and Universal Orlando vacation destinations and we can help you manage things like crowds, park hours, entertainment schedules, and dining options.  It can be a lot to think through but Imagine how much better your vacation will be when we:

• Give you a "Best Days" itinerary that puts you in the best theme park for each day of your trip

• Book dining reservation on your behalf (subject to availability) at times that don't interfere with parades and fireworks

• Give you excellent theme park touring plans that keep lines to an absolute minimum.  

You get all of this expert service at no extra charge when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip. Click here for more information.

A Rough Start to A Disney Vacation - We Want Better for You

Disney Vacation Tips - Thoughts on getting off to a great start of your theme park vacation.

Steve and I were standing in line outside of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week when the lady with three grandchildren asked us, “Do you understand FastPass and is it worth it?”  You know how a sound can cause an avalanche? Well, that is what happened to that dear lady; her simple question loosed an avalanche of too much information on her head:

• We explained, in too much detail, how FastPass works

• Told her that there is no extra cost to use FastPass so it is definitely worth it!

• Even though she didn’t really understand how to get the first three FastPasses, we explained how to add additional ones once those are done

• We told her that shows are not usually a good use of a FastPass because of their high capacity

• We told her to arrive well before park opening if FastPass wasn’t available for certain popular attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

• Noticing the size and age differences of the kids at her side, we thought she needed to know about Rider Switch Passes

• We asked if she had a park Times Guide and, when she didn’t, we gave her ours.

Poor lady, it was all too much and, if she did not gain a better understanding of FastPass, she at least learned the dangers of talking to enthusiastic strangers!  Steve showed her the spots on the park map where she would find Disney cast members to help her set up some FastPasses so I sincerely hope she went there and that they took care of her.

We gave her the best advice that we could but I was a little sad because, over the course of the conversation, I learned that this was a once in a lifetime trip for her extended family who find it hard to get away from the family farm for very long.  They had stood in line that morning to purchase their park tickets and I just kept thinking, “It would’ve cost a little less to buy your ticket in advance and you could’ve booked your FastPasses 30-days prior to arrival (they were staying off property), making your time in the parks so much easier.”  It is just too hard and stressful to try to figure out tickets, park maps and complex systems on the spot when the kids are clamoring to go do one of the bright and shiny things there in front of them. 

Making sure our clients get to the Disney and Universal theme parks knowing where to go, what to do and how things work is our number one priority and working with us before you arrive means you never have an experience like that classic final exam nightmare where you’ve arrived for the test but failed to study or even attend the necessary classes. If we meet you in the parks, we’ll try to help you even if you aren’t our client but we’d really love the opportunity to make sure you are well prepared and you don’t have to depend on the kindness of strangers.

More helpful information:

• How to Ride Avatar Flight of Passage Without Spending Hours In Line

• All About Disney World Times Guides

• Theme Park Rope Drop and Why It is Important

• Extra Magic Hours Thinking Points

• Getting the FastPass+ Reservations that Save the Most Time

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Thursday 3: Comparing 3 Value Resorts - Universal and Disney Standard Rooms

Comparison of Disney & Universal Standard Hotel Rooms - Value Resorts

Reservations are now being accepted at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites for dates beginning August 1, 2019. This Universal Orlando value resort features standard hotel rooms with two queen beds and 2-bedroom suites so I am going to compare them to two Disney World value resorts that have both standard rooms and family suites: Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We’ll cover the standard hotel style rooms this week and the family suites next week. We can help you plan a vacation that includes your stay at any of these resorts so request a free, no-obligation quote today.

How Do the Rooms Compare?

Beds: The standard rooms at Universal’s Surfside Inn and Suites have two queen beds and a full bathroom. Rooms have mini-refrigerators but they do not have microwaves.

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites Standard room Opening August 2019

At this time, the standard rooms at both Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Art of Animation resort have two full-size beds. Couples or 2 guests + one infant can request a room with one king-size bed instead of two double beds; requests are not guaranteed but Disney tries to honor them when possible. Disney’s Pop Century resort, another value hotel, has recently undergone a renovation where it now has one queen bed and one full-size pull down bed; Disney’s All-Star Movie’s resort is currently undergoing the same type of renovation and we suspect that all of Disney value resorts will someday have this type of bed configuration. Rooms have mini-refrigerators but they do not have microwaves.

Little Mermaid Standard Room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort / / Walt Disney World

Standard Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort / Walt Disney World

Official Disney Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Disney resort gives you some great benefits like airport transportation at no additional cost, Extra Magic Hours not available to the general public, complimentary bus transportation to the Disney theme parks and the ability to book FastPass+ reservations 30-days ahead of the general public when you have tickets or a vacation package that includes tickets.

Official Universal Orlando Hotel Benefits: Staying at an official Universal Orlando hotel gives you benefits like Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and complimentary bus transportation to the Universal Orlando theme parks.

2019 Cost comparison: You can upgrade to a preferred location room at Disney’s all-Star Music resort for an additional $30 per night. Pool view rooms are available about Universal’s Surfside for an additional $20 per night. The Little Mermaid standard rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation resort have been excluded from every discount since they opened.

August 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $109
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $135
Disney’s Art of Animation - $185

September 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $99
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $136
Disney’s Art of Animation - $184

October 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $134
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $126
Disney’s Art of Animation - $173

November 15:
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $129
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $135
Disney’s Art of Animation - $174

December 15
Universal’s Surfside - Standard View: $99
Disney’s All-Star Music - Standard Room: $150
Disney’s Art of Animation - $195

Parking fees for overnight guests:
Universal’s Surfside Inn & Suites: $12 per night + tax
Disney Value Resort: $13 per night + tax.

In a nutshell, Universal’s Surfside Inn and Disney’s All-Star Music resort are pretty comparably priced most of the time though that can vary by date. If Disney continues to offer their Free Dining promotion in September, Disney’s All-Star Music will probably be the better value for most families of up to four people (or five, if the fifth person is an infant) when that promotion is available. The Little Mermaid rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation resort are quite a bit higher and, so far, those rooms have been excluded from all promotions since the resort opened. The queen beds are a plus at Universal’s Surfside Inn. We only have concept art for the Surfside pool yet so it is hard to say which pools will ultimately be the best but, at this time, the three pools at Disney’s Art of Animation resort are absolutely adorable!

Click here to learn more about Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

Click here to learn more about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

This video tells you a bit about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Keep in mind that standard hotel rooms are only available in the Little Mermaid section though guests may use all of the pools and other resort amenities.

This short video gives you a good overview of Disney’s All-Star Music resort though the standard rooms no longer have the colored bedspreads. They’ve switched to the all white

Don't Get Overwhelmed By The Details - Let Us Help!

Vacation planning is always a lot easier when you have one of our travel agents on your side because we specialize in Disney and Universal Orlando vacation destinations and we can help you manage things like crowds, park hours, entertainment schedules, and dining options.  It can be a lot to think through but Imagine how much better your vacation will be when we:

• Give you a "Best Days" itinerary that puts you in the best theme park for each day of your trip

• Book dining reservation on your behalf (subject to availability) at times that don't interfere with parades and fireworks

• Give you excellent theme park touring plans that keep lines to an absolute minimum.  

You get all of this expert service at no extra charge when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip. Click here for more information.

Thursday 3: 3 Special Walt Disney Remembrances at Disneyland

Disneyland - Walt's Park

It is crazy to think that there are kids who are very familiar with the word "Disney" but have no idea that Walt Disney was a real person.  For our first Thursday Three, we're going to take a look at three very special "Walt" remembrances in Disneyland park in California.  Honestly, the park itself should probably be our first item and one of the things that makes Disneyland so special is that it is the only theme park that was built with Walt Disney's involvement at every level, from original inspiration to attraction design to opening day and beyond.  The park was a labor of love right up to the end of Walt's life; in fact, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland was the last theme park attraction that Walt Disney personally oversaw and developed.  Walt passed away in December 15, 1966 and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened to the public in March 18, 1967

#1: Walt's Bench: One of the hidden gems you'll find tucked away in an exhibit near the front of the park is the bench where the first thought of a theme park came to Walt Disney.  He first had the idea as he sat on a park bench watching his daughters ride the merry-go-round at an amusement park and he had the thought that there should be a place where parents and children could enjoy doing things together.   It was an idea that stuck with him and one that took a lot of time to develop but Disneyland opened 15 years later.

#2: Walt's Lamp: Did you know that Walt Disney had a small but fully functional apartment built into the second floor of the Disneyland Fire Station?   This apartment isn't open to the public though you can sometimes peek into it in the "Walk in Walt's Disneyland Footsteps Guided Tour" (extra cost).  The story goes that Walt would put a lit lamp in the window of the firehouse window to let people know he was in residence. They now keep a lit lamp in the window to symbolize the idea of Walt's influence or spirit always being present at Disneyland.

#3: Disney Brothers Golden Initials: Look for Walt & Roy Disneys' golden initials in the railing above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the New Orleans Square area of Disneyland...really, it is maybe a little closer to the Gumbo stand.

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disneyland!

You are probably beginning to see how helpful and valuable it would be to have someone who really knows and loves Disneyland help with your trip.   Did you know that our travel agents that specialize in Disneyland add a lot of value to your experience without costing you any extra?    When you book through us, you receive advice and information to help make your trip a wonderful and memorable time as well as a handy guidebook or online subscription (your choice) at no cost to you that will help you stay ahead of crowds and out of long lines.   We book both Disney and non-Disney hotels and we love helping our clients have a great trip.   Contact us today with your questions or to get a free, no-obligation quote.

More Great Disneyland Information: 

• Best Time to Go to Disneyland

• Disneyland Ride Closures & Refurbishments

• Disneyland Hidden Gems

A Poem About the Disneyland Hotels - by Toni

Disneyland onsite resorts,
So far there are three.
All with-in walking distance
You will see.

Paradise Pier,
So shiny and bright
If you guessed a surf theme
You’re probably right!

The name gives homage to a land,
Which is no longer the same.
Pixar Pier in California Adventure
Isn’t that why you came?

The next one is my fave.
Its origins are true
If you like Disney History
Disneyland Hotel is for you!

Consists of three towers:
Fantasy, Adventure, and Frontier
Trader Sam’s, a monorail pool,
And even Dole Whips are found here!

Stunning details adorn the lobbies
Of Walt’s Era and Imagineer art
Themed-music rocks you to sleep
For a great park morning start.

Grand Californian is a hit
If Disney’s Grand Floridian
And Wilderness Lodge were to merge,
This hotel would be it!

This deluxe hotel, nearest to the parks
Shortest walking distance
And California Adventure
Has its own special entrance.

There you have it,
The DL onsite three
Another one is coming
Soon we will see.

About the poet - Toni Garrett LOVES Disneyland which is why she became a travel agent specializing in theme park vacations.  She would love to help you plan a wonderful and memorable Disneyland vacation too!

See the Manatees at Blue Spring State Park - 1 Hour from Disney World

Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, Florida is the winter home of hundreds of manatees. Located a little over an hour away from Disney World.

Seeing the Manatees at Blue Spring State Park is a neat addition to your Disney winter months vacation (typically mid-November to very early March). The manatees head there when the spring’s 73-degree waters are warmer than the rivers and canals they swim in during the rest of the year.   When it really gets chilly, there will often be hundreds of manatees at the spring.   This is a wonderful way to experience a bit of "real Florida" along side of the manufactured wonders of the Orlando area theme parks. It takes a little over an hour to drive to Blue Spring State Park from Disney World.

The delight of being able to see so many manatees in such a beautiful natural setting has made Blue Spring State Park very popular and the park often reaches capacity so it is a good idea to arrive early.  Blue Spring State Park is open daily from 8:00AM to sundown and admission is $6 per vehicle; limit 8 people per vehicle. 

Blue Spring State Park is located at 2100 W. French Avenue, Orange City, FL 32763.  The park's phone number is 386-775-3663.  Take U.S. 17/93 to Orange City and go west two miles on French avenue to the park entrance.  For more info, see: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring

Click here to check out the webcam at Blue Spring

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Tips for Riding Avatar - Flight of Passage without Spending Hours in Line

Disney World Tips & Secrets - How to ride Avatar - Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom without spending hours in line, even if you don't have FastPass+

Pandora – The World of Avatar has now been open long enough at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park for us to give you some tips for riding Avatar Flight of Passage which is currently seeing mid-day waits of up to 115-minutes, even though crowds are moderate now that the kids are back in school.  Lines are much, much shorter for Na’vi River Journey.  

Avoiding Long Lines with FastPass+

You can book FastPass+ reservation up 60-days prior to arrival when you have a reservation at an official Disney World hotel and at select "Good Neighbor" hotels when you have avacation package that includes tickets or you purchase your tickets prior to your trip and register them on your MyDisneyExperience account.   If you’re not staying at a Disney World resort, you can still book your FastPass+ reservations up to 30-days prior to arrival by purchasing your tickets prior to your trip and registering them on your MyDisneyExperience account.   You can make up to three (3) FastPass+ reservations prior to arrival but Disney has a tiered system for FastPass selection that only allows you to select one of the new Pandora/Avatar attractions.   If you plan to ride Avatar – Flight of Passage, you’ll definitely want to make this your FastPass+ choice because it is the more popular ride and gets the longest lines.   Ride Na’vi River Journey, using the stand-by line as soon as the park opens or come back about an hour prior to park closing.

Avoiding Long Lines When You Don’t Have FastPass+

We can probably help you get onto both attractions in a timely fashion but it is going to mean waking up early!   You need to arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park and get through security at least 45-minutes prior to park opening (60 minutes prior during heavy crowds) and work your way as far forward as possible on the left side (as you face the park) of the entrance.   When crowds are at least moderate or higher, they will let you in and start forming a line for Avatar – Flight of Passage BEFORE the park opens; they may even start letting people ride the attraction before the official opening time.  Arriving early and being closer to the front of that line is key here –arriving 30-minutes, rather than 45-minutes prior to opening, will add an extra half-hour of line time and the line quickly grow to 40-minutes long as soon as the park opens.  If you hate getting up early the way I do, you’re probably thinking, “If have to get up early to arrive 45 minutes before park open and the line will be 40 minutes long at parking opening, why don’t I just sleep later and wait the same 45 minutes?”   That’s a fair question and the answer is that, by arriving early, you will probably get to ride Avatar – Flight of Passage before the park opens and you’ll get to move on to the next attraction.  Every minute you save in the early morning equals at least 10-minutes of cumulative line time as the day goes on.  

If you'd like to hear a first-hand account of how this worked, listen to Radio Harambe, Episode 118.  You can jump ahead to about 57 minutes into the episode. At about the 58-minute point, they go into how this worked for them and the difference between arriving 30 minutes vs. 45 minutes prior to park opening.

Click Here for the Radio Harambe Podcast

Tip for getting through security: Ideally, you should avoid taking any bags with you so that you can just sail through the "no bags" entrance.   If that just isn't possible, do a quick scan of the available security lines to see if one appears to be moving faster or have people who don't appear to be bringing all of their earthly belongings into the park.  Be sure you have all compartments of your bags open and ready.   

Transportation:  If you have your own vehicle, this is an excellent time to drive to the park.  The Disney buses will start running one hour before the park opens.   If it works with your budget and you don’t have a vehicle available, I strongly recommend that you take a taxi or Uber to Disney’s Animal Kingdom so that you don’t have to worry about transportation delays.

Click here to learn about line minimizing theme park touring plans

Breakfast – Satu’li Canteen, in Pandora – World of Avatar, serves a nice selection of breakfast choices, does not require (or even allow) advance reservations, and even offers mobile ordering through the MyDisneyExperience app to help you avoid lines at the restaurant.   This option only works if you’re paying with a credit card, debit card or Disney Dining Plan but cannot be used with the cash.  You just order and pay using the app prior to riding the attractions and then, when you get to the restaurant, go back into the app and press the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” button.  You’ll receive a notification through the map that tells you when you can pick up your food at area with the “Mobile Order Pick-Up” sign.

Click here for Satu’li Canteen Menu & Pricing

Click Here for more Mobile Ordering information.

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

More Helpful Information:

• How to Ride Slinky Dog Dash Without Waiting Hours in Line

• What is Rope Drop & Why Is It Important?

Pandora - World of Avatar Review / Disney's Animal Kingdom

Click here to book or for a free, no-obligation vacation quote

Review of Pandora - The World of Avatar / Walt Disney World Resort - Florida.

I’m back from the Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom and want to pass along a few observations.  I went to Pandora having only seen Avatar once, years ago, and only vaguely remembering that it had blue people in it so I was pleased to find that the land was visually beautiful whether one is a fan of the movie or not.   The "floating mountains" and landscaping are impressive and I loved all of the water falls.  The whole area have a very tropical look and they've created Pandoran plants that are pretty by day and glow by night.  I was one of those curmudgeons who wasn't excited about them adding an artificial world to a park (my second favorite park) that celebrates the cultures and wonders of my real world but I'll admit that I was impressed.   In a way, it reminded me to be amazed by my own world - maybe we don't have flying dragons (bummer!) but you and I live on a planet with incredible mountains and waterfalls and even have bioluminescent animals (check out this Ted talk to learn more)

Pandora has two rides and I was amazed by Avatar Flight of Passage.  Most  of Universal’s recent new attractions have been 3-D, screen based – some, like the Harry Potter rides, are very well done but others feel like they simply re-purposed previous rides with this formula: 1) hand guests a pair of 3-D glasses and set them in front of a screen, 2) shake the ride vehicle while surrounding them with loud noises and random scenes.   While each of the rides may be fun on their own, it can feel repetitive so I was a little worried when I heard the Flight of Passage was going to be a 3-D screen ride but Disney really brought something new and exciting to the table.   It was visually stunning and technically impressive.   The ride vehicle (photo below) is unique in that you straddle it like a motorcycle and gentle restraints then come up against the back of your calves and the small of your back.  I wear glasses and I found that I had to adjust my 3D glasses during the ride as they would slip down on my nose; I am also hearing that children are having to adjust their 3D glasses during the ride.   The ride is exhilarating and exciting but not scary. If you've ridden Soarin' at Epcot, you'll find that the ride is similar as you soar and whoosh over incredible landscapes and scenes.

Na’vi River Journey is a sweet little ride and the movement of the singing shaman animatronic is so fluid that it is amazing.  I love Disney’s commitment to producing experiences that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.   There are no drops or rapids so it is fine for toddlers, pregnant ladies and most anyone else.   Though it is a “nighttime” scene, it isn’t ever completely dark.  The boats have 2 rows that seat up to three (3) people per row, or possible four (4) if one is a baby on an adult's lap.   Honestly, it is a little too short a ride for the long lines that opening brings but worthwhile if you have a FastPass+ reservation or lines are moderate.

I had apprehensions about the Wilderness Explorer stops in the area; thinking that it might be confusing to kids if they were learning real earth science facts in other areas along with Pandoran “facts” but they actually did a great job of handling that…”we’re learning about Pandora by making comparisons to what we know about Earth” and then they gave little lessons about earth’s ecology.   The Wilderness Explorer uniforms seem a bit out of place in the setting but it is consistent with the park on the whole and with long lines at the headlining attractions, I’m glad there are other experiences for guests.

Wilderness Explorers Station at Pandora - The World of Avatar in Disney's Animal Kingdom park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Satu’li Canteen is delicious!  They do bowls where you pick your base (pilaf, sweet potato, salad mix, etc) and then you pick your protein (salmon, chicken, beef, or tofu) and you pick your sauce.  I ate at 1AM and the food was still fresh and tasty. They also do a vegetable curry pod and a cheeseburger pod (photo attached)  that have an other-worldly look.  I liked the taste of the vegetable curry pod but wasn’t crazy about the cheeseburger pod just because it had a fairly strong mustard flavor.  I only tried the chocolate dessert which was tasty; the blueberry cheesecake dessert is getting all of the rave reviews but I didn’t get a chance to sampleYou can pre-order your meal using the MyDisneyExperience app(not yet available with Disney Dining plan) - click here to learn more.    Indoor and outdoor seating; they also serve breakfast. 

Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

Planning A Disney Vacation - The Devil is in the Details

Do you need a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations?

The types of people who benefit most from having the help of a travel agent that specializes in Disney destinations like Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise line and Adventures by Disney.

For every person who loves researching and planning trips, there is at least one busy person who just doesn't have time to wade through mountains of information and appreciates a disney-focused agent who eats, sleeps & breathes this stuff. For one thing, you don't know what you don't know and first time or infrequent visitors to Disney World find it helpful to have an agent that walks them through the vacation planning process.  Not only that, but there is a lot of old and just plain wrong information out there - we focus on the Disney destinations so that you get accurate, up-to-date information.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation

Hotels and building location requests -  Picking a hotel that is a good fit for your needs is just the beginning of what your travel agent can do for you.  Most people don't add building location requests to their reservations and we do it for every client. (not guaranteed, though Disney does try).   Guests don't always realize that a few Disney hotels don't have elevators which is fine for a lot of people but becomes very difficult if someone in your party has mobility issues or if your drying to carry a sleeping child or stroller up the stairs. We also watch for discounts and promotions and automatically apply the best available offer to your qualifying reservation.

Dining Reservations - people sometimes don't realize the sheer size of Disney World and they'll book dining that has them wasting a lot of travel time or scheduled at times that cause them to miss parades or other priorities - we watch for red flags like that.   Not everyone plans a trip six months or more in advance, which is when you can start booking Disney Dining reservations, and they have trouble getting good reservations for their trip.  We can help with offering good alternatives and watching for cancellations.

All FastPass+ options are not created equal - for example, not everyone realizes that having a Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Toy Story Midway Mania FastPass+ reservation is more helpful than any others in those parks and that certain FastPass+  options don't really bring any benefit to the table.  We can help guide you through these challenges.

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

“Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us.  You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer.  You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

Disney World Hotel Rooms For Six People

Are you wondering about rooms at the Disney World hotels for six people? There are several options:

If you want to stay in an official Walt Disney World Resort hotel, the least expensive option is two standard rooms at any Disney World value resort.   You would have a total of 4 double beds and 2 bathrooms.   You can also get connecting rooms at several of the Disney World moderate or deluxe resorts but some of the other options we've listed below may be cheaper.  In the case of a family with 2 adults and 4 children age 17 or under, you can get guaranteed connecting rooms with an interior door between them.  A party with three or more adults can request connecting rooms but they won't be guaranteed connecting rooms though it is worth noting that Disney does have a fair number of connecting rooms and will try to accommodate the request when possible.  If you only need three beds, it may be possible to get a room with a king bed that connects two a room with two double beds at the value resorts or two queen-size beds at the moderate and deluxe resorts. 

A standard room with two double beds at one of the Walt Disney World Resort value hotels. Rooms with one king bed and connecting rooms may also be available.

The Family Suites at Disney’s All-Star Music (ASMu) or Disney’s Art of Animation (AoA) can accommodate six.  Disney's All-Star Music Resort is generally costs less than Disney's Art of Animation resort and has 1 queen bed in the bedroom plus 2 queen-size pull-down beds in the main area, along with a kitchenette and 2 full bathrooms. Disney's Art of Animation costs a bit more but is newer and has 1 queen bed, one double sleeper sofa, and 1 double-size murphy-type table bed, as well as a kitchenette and 2 full bathroom.

The family suites at Disney's Art of Animation resort can sleep up to six adults plus one baby in a crib.

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground sleep six.  They have a bedroom with a queen bed and a twin size bunk bed, there is also a murphy bed in the living area.   This option only have 1 bathroom but it does have a kitchen with a refrigerator, dishwasher, convection/microwave oven, and two counter top burners.  People either love or hate the cabins – I love them!  The challenge with the campground is that it is so large and there is an internal bus system so you have to catch a bus that takes you to either the boat to Magic Kingdom or the buses to the other parks, adding additional transportation time.

The bedroom in the cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground can sleep up to four guests; two more can sleep on the Murphy bed in the main living area for a total of six adults + up to one baby in a crib.

The two- and three-bedroom villas at the Deluxe resorts are very nice, have full bathrooms, full kitchens, free laundry, in a wonderful resort setting with lots of great amenities.  The exact bed configuration may vary by unit size and resort.   Keep in mind that 3-bedroom units are excluded from almost every Disney sales promotion and some of the other villas are also often excluded from discounts. 

Some of the Disney World deluxe resorts have a limited number of specialty rooms or suites that can accommodate six adults (+ one baby in a crib) but these can be very expensive and have very limited availability.   Suites and deluxe rooms are also often excluded from discounts and promotions.

• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has a couple of 1-bedroom suites that can sleep up to six (6) adults.

• Disney's Beach Club Resort does has some 2-bedroom suites - Club Level that can accommodate up to seven guests.

• Disney's Boardwalk Resort has Club level - Deluxe rooms that can accommodate up to six adults.

• Disney's Contemporary Resort has a 1-bedroom suite (Club Level) that can sleep up to six (6) adults, a Garden Wing Hospitality suite that can sleep up to seven (7) adults, and a 2 bedroom suite that can sleep up to eight (8) adults,

• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort has a 1-bedroom suite that can sleep up to six (6) adults and a 2 bedroom suite that can sleep up to eight (8) adults,

• Disney's Wilderness Lodge has Club level - Deluxe rooms that can accommodate up to six adults.

B-Resort and Spa - Disney Springs has a “Captivating Room - Deluxe Queen” option with 2 queen beds and 1 full-size sleeper sofa. his Disney Springs Good Neighbor hotel offers great exclusive Disney benefits like early theme park entry, booking early individual Lightning Lane selections, and complimentary transportation to the Disney World theme parks. Click here for more information.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton - Orlando - Disney Springs has spacious and comfortable suites that can accommodate up to six guests or seven, if the group includes an infant in a crib. These suites feature two (2) queen beds in the bedroom and a sofa sleeper in the living room. This Disney Springs Good Neighbor hotel offers great exclusive Disney benefits like early theme park entry, booking early individual Lightning Lane selections, and complimentary transportation to the Disney World theme parks. Click here for more information.

Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista is opening on October 27, 2022 has a couple of options that can sleep six and is a very good value because it also includes a complimentary breakfast and 5:30PM Kickback Dinner Snacks at no additional cost. The 2 Queen Beds Deluxe with Sofa Sleeper room features two queen beds and a pull-out queen sofa sleeper in a single space. The 2 Room Suite with 2 Queen Beds Deluxe features two spacious rooms separated by a door. There are two queen beds in the bedroom, a pull-out queen sofa sleeper in the living room and a TV in each room. This Disney Springs Good Neighbor hotel offers great exclusive Disney benefits like early theme park entry, booking early individual Lightning Lane selections, and complimentary transportation to the Disney World theme parks.

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace has 1 bedroom suites with 2 queen beds and 1 full-size sleeper sofa. This hotel has a fantastic pool area and handy on-site restaurants. It also offers great exclusive Disney benefits like early theme park entry, booking early individual Lightning Lane selections, and complimentary transportation to the Disney World theme parks.

Going to Universal?

How Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn Family Suites compare to the family suites at the Disney World value resorts.

Don't Miss Out on Great Experiences at Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. We also help with dining reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

New PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs - Disney World

Choose from several great backgrounds at the PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs / Walt Disney World Resort - Florida.

Here are a couple of the images taken at the new PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs. You get to choose your own backdrop. My daughter wouldn't get in the picture with me so it's a little awkward with just 1 person in the picture! (Plus I wasn't a fan of the posing....)

 There are view stations available so you can preview your photos and you can purchase prints of the photos right there, if desired.   Your photos taken at the PhotoPass Studio are included in the Memory Maker and are linked to your MyDisneyExperience account. 

To have photos taken, you go to the PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs, and tell them you have the Memory Maker and you want the studio pictures taken that go with it. You then get to choose your background (I'm not sure if you just get to choose 1 or several....I told him I am a Travel Agent and was interested in seeing how it worked and showing clients so he let me choose a couple of them). They take the pictures and they show up in your Memory Maker!

PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs - images are included in the Memory Maker package / Walt Disney World

The PhotoPass Studio is located between The World of Disney Store and Ghirardelli's Chocolate in Disney Springs.   Click here for additional information.

Map courtesy of Google

About the Author: Monica is the most experienced agent at Build A Better Mouse Trip, a travel agency specializing in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.  Click here to read more about Monica.

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Disney World Transportation Tip - Bus or Taxi?

Disney World Transportation Tip: This week, someone asked me if they should use a taxi or Uber to get to the parks, rather than wait for the buses. We usually just use the buses and do just fine. If you don't have a car, I do like using a taxi or Uber for early morning character meals scheduled before park opening because the timing is more predictable.  Definitely take a taxi or your own vehicle to the Cape May Character breakfast if you're not staying in the Epcot resort area because transportation to Disney's Beach Club Resort from any other resort involves too many transfers.  Buses run pretty regularly at park opening & closing but you might like using a taxi or Uber for your midday break so you don't spend too much time waiting for transportation. It can also be a great option if you're trying to go from one resort to another since the buses typically do not move between the resorts.

Disney World Transportation Tips - Is the free transportation fine or should we taxi or drive to the Disney World theme parks from our Disney World hotel?

Taking a taxi to the Magic Kingdom will not save time in most cases because it will drop you at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) and you will have to take the ferry or monorail to the Magic Kingdom but the resort buses will drop you off by the entrance of Magic Kingdom.  This same principle applies if you have your own vehicle as the Magic Kingdom parking is located in the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC); you'll probably have to wait for a parking lot tram to take you to where you'll wait for the monorail or ferry boat to take you to the Magic Kingdom; or you can take your Disney resort bus and get let off near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.

Some people prefer to take their car, a taxi, Uber or Lyft to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Epcot rather than using the Disney Skyliner from Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort because you have to transfer to a different Skyliner route at the station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach. We like to think of the Skyliner as the first ride of the day and don’t mind the time it takes as long as we start early.

Don't Miss Out on Great Experiences at Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

• Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

• “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

• Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

• We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer. You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency.

Disney World Tip from Ian: Seize the Opportunity

Disney World Tips for making the most of unique opportunities before they are gone

In light of the closing of the Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon and the Main Street Electrical Parade in the Magic Kingdom, I offer this simple notion: Don't let the things you want to do at Disney pass you by - they might not be there forever.

We got the chance to put on air packs and experience this swimming-with-the-sharks attraction a few tears ago - while we're saddened to hear of it's closing, the sheer joy of the experience trumps it every time. I can't imagine how bad I'd feel knowing I could have tried it, and didn't, and now I can't because it's gone. Man - don't let that happen to you.

Do you want to know the best way to make sure you see and do all of the things important to you?  It's easy; work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney World.  We limit our focus to the Disney destinations so that we can help with questions you might not even know to ask - questions like, "What attractions are closing soon?", "Will this be fun or age appropriate for my children?", "Which FastPass+ options will save me the most time?" and "when show I book my dining so that I can enjoy a relaxed meal without worrying about missing something great?"

Don't Miss Out on Great Experiences at Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s how we help you have a great vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us.  You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer.  You can also purchase planning services through us if you've booked on your own or through another travel agency. 

Magical Moments at the End of the Disney Day!

Great reasons to stay until park closing at Disney World

Did you know that if you enter an attraction line at 10:59pm and the park closes at 11pm, that they will run the ride until everyone in line has gotten to ride?!? Well they do! It also works at any closing time, not just 11pm.

This is an excellent time to ride those rides that generally have longer lines like 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. The line may be really long, but they'll continue to keep it open until everyone in line at closing gets to ride it. I like this because it isn't wasting precious park time since the park would be closed anyway! Our favorite ride to ride at closing is Big Thunder Mtn! I swear it goes faster at night!

As a side note, one of my favorite times to be in the parks is after closing. The crowds usually cram their way towards the buses, but I head back into the park! I take a nice leisurely stroll through the park, while everyone else is standing in a long line to ride the bus. I also do my shopping at this time so I'm not wasting precious park time shopping! I would not recommend this if it's your last day, however. Sometimes they will close shops at some parks right at closing (Hollywood Studios is the worst about closing them right at closing, but Magic Kingdom is really good about it!) so you want to make sure you get that treasure before closing. The buses run for at least an hour after park closing, so no need to hurry out!

I love being at the parks after closing....how about you? Have you ever stayed in the park after closing?

Have a Magical Day!

Monica

About the Author: Monica is the most experienced agent at Build A Better Mouse Trip, a travel agency specializing in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.  

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Free Up Vacation Money by Using What You Have

Vacation Money Tip: We cut grocery shopping to just fresh items & essentials twice a year - the months before vacation and Christmas -to free up some cash and force us to use or dispose of those odds and ends that hide in the corners of the pantry and freezer. Partial bags of pasta and frozen veggies work well in stews and casseroles. My kids think I am being a fun mom when Friday night dinner consists of a buffet of random portions of pizza rolls, tater-tots, fries, and taquitos. That giant canister of oatmeal can be used for breakfast, in cookies, and as a topping for a fruit crumble. You'll also use up, rather than throw out, perishables before your trip. If you find yourself passing over the variety of soup or box of Quinoa that you bought on an impulse, this is a great time to decide to pass it on to your local food bank before it expires and goes to waste.

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Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disney World!

We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities.  That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.

Here’s How We Help You Have A Great Vacation:

1. Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.

2. “Best Days” Itinerary – We’ll help you build an itinerary that includes your priorities for fireworks, parades, crowds and shows. Then we help with dining & Fastpass+ reservations.

3. Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.

4. We Are Fee-Free - We book directly through Disney and we never charge a service fee so you never pay any extra to use our services when you book your trip through us. You can have all the benefits Disney offers PLUS all the services we offer.

Disney World Vacation Tip: Eat Outside Your Comfort Zone

Disney World Vacation Tip: Eat Outside Your Comfort Zone - you'll be glad you did!

Disney has SO much more to offer than burgers and chicken - foods from all over the world are at your fingertips, so be open to trying new things - we bet you'll find something absolutely wonderful you didn't know existed!

We tried a lunch at Sanaa, at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge,  on our last trip - out of the ordinary for us. We ordered butter chicken because we recognized the words "butter" and "chicken", but what were tamarind chutney, red chile sambal, and cucumber raita? We have no idea, but they were delicious. Vindaloo? Completely clueless, but it tasted awesome. We didn't even know "kefta" was a word until our daughter ate it.

Give something new and unexpected a try - odds are you'll be glad you did!

If not.....Pineapple Whips cure most ills.

About the author:  Toni is a travel agent specializing in Orlando theme park vacations.  She is an expert at helping her clients find a wonderful balance of theme park fun and relaxation. 

Let’s get started on your next adventure

Recommended article:

• Best Disney World Quick-Service Restaurants

Toni's Tip for a Better Trip - Enjoy some down-time at the pool!

Yes, the theme parks are awesome but please be sure to set aside some time to hang out at the pool.  The Disney and Universal Orlando Resorts have themed pools that range from cute and simple to very elaborate. Got to have that big water slide? Disney's Moderate and Deluxe Resorts have them!  Want to hear music underwater?  You can do that at Universal's Hard Rock Hotel or Disney's Art of Animation resort.  Traveling in the winter and still want to take a short dip? You are in luck; the pools are heated to a comfortable 82 degrees year round. 

Did you know that surveys find that 85% of kids want to go swimming and have pool time as part of their vacation? 

Many resorts also have poolside games to entertain the kiddos.  Of course, if you're hoping to enjoy a mid-day nap, these activities are something to keep in mind when you're booking a pool view room.  You might prefer a room at a quieter part of the resort.

About the author:  Toni is a travel agent specializing in Orlando theme park vacations.  She is an expert at helping her clients find a wonderful balance of theme park fun and relaxation.  

Click here to talk to Toni about your next trip. 

Recommended article:  Disney World hotels with the best splash zones for kids. 

On Pinterest?  We have a board dedicated to Disney World pool pictures and another board dedicated to Disney World Kiddie Pool pictures. 

Planning a Disney Vacation?

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Disney World Secret - Free Hair Glitter

Here's a great tip for your Disney trip - Sir Mickeys is a gift shop in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom that will often have people on hand to sprinkle pixie dust (glitter) in your hair for free. The gift shop is charming. It is themed after Mickey and the beanstalk and you'll see the giant reaching inside.

Disney World Tips & Secrets - Get free hair glitter (pixie dust) in Sir Mickey or Castle Couture in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom.

Are you wondering why the photo above says Disney Freebie #3?   It is because we've put together a list of 40 great freebies at Disney World that we give to everyone that subscribes to our free newsletter.   We also send great tips and information to help you plan your Disney vacation and we'll be happy to send this all to you - just type in your email address in the box below.  Unsubscribe at any time.   

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

Click to Subscribe

Thank you for subscribing!

Disney Vacation Planning Tip - When to Book Your Trip

I get a lot of clients that ask me when is a good time to book their Disney vacation. If possible, I would book my Disney vacation at least 7 months out. Why 7 months?

First of all, and most importantly, you can start making dining reservations at 180 days (6 months) from your date of arrival. If you want to eat at some of those more popular restaurants (Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table, etc...)you will NEED to book your dining 180 days out. If you book your vacation 7 months out, this gives you about a month to go through the planning guide that you receive from your Build a Better Mouse Trip travel agent, and decide which dates and restaurants you want to eat at.

Secondly, if you book at least 7 months out, you will have plenty of time to pay for your vacation! Disney doesn't require final payment on your trip until 30 days prior to date of arrival. At 7 months or more, you will have a good amount of time to pay off your trip!

Thirdly, there is a lot that goes into planning a Disney vacation! You want to give yourself plenty of time to make decisions such as dining, which days you'll go to which parks, which rides you want to ride, and what FastPasses you want to set up. I think 7 months gives you plenty of time to do all of this!

And lastly, you want to book far enough out to make dining reservations, but not too far out that it seems like your vacation will never come!!! Don't get me wrong...I've booked vacations for many guests that book a year or so from date of arrival. There is nothing wrong with that...plus it gives you more time to pay for your trip!

So, my answer to most people that ask me when is the best time to book a Disney vacation would be at least 7 months from the date you want to be there! Of course, in my opinion, it's ALWAYS a good time to book a Disney vacation!! So...when can I book your vacation?!!? :)

Have a magical day!

Monica

About the Author: Monica is the most experienced agent at Build A Better Mouse Trip, a travel agency specializing in Disney World and Orlando theme park vacations.   

Click here to read Monica's full bio.

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