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  • 29Sep

    Making Every Minute of Your Disney Trip Count

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    According to a USA Today article,  The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2011 is in print.  It’s never to early to start planning your Disney Trip.  Start now for 2011.

    First, something new that I didn’t know about the guide.  Apparently, the author of the book has a “patent-pending algorithm used to create touring plans that weighs variables such as ride capacity, traffic flow and mechanical reliability.”  That’s awesome!  He claims it can save you up to four hours every day.  On our last trip to Disney World, my sister-in-law planned everyday using this guide.  I can promise you that it saved us a ton of time.  I’m not sure it was four hours, but we know we saved time just by the sure volume of rides and events we were able to catch.
    So here’s what the author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2011 had to say:
    1. Make sure you plan.  If you don’t plan, you’re going to walk around the park aimlessly and waste even more precious moments for your family.
    2. Prepare physically.  Most of us don’t walk eight miles a day.  But, that’s what a typical Disney visitor walks every day.  Don’t get worn down, prepare now.
    3. Save money on Lodging and Meals.  Everybody pays the same price at the gate, so you have to save elsewhere.  Off-site will be your best option for deals.
    4. Take a cooler.  (Or buy a Styrofoam one.)  You can take this with you in the park and it will save you money that you can spend on souvenirs.
    5. Take breaks.  You’re not going to be able to do it all, so pace yourself.
    I look forward to delving further into this new guide to to discover any new secrets I can find.  I always find something that makes my stay that more enjoyable.
  • 23Sep

    How Disney FASTPASSES Can Save Your Vacation

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    Of the thousands of things I love about Disney, there is one thing I absolutely HATE!  Lines!  For me, lines can make or break my trip to the Magic Kingdom Orlando.  Thankfully, the thinking people over at the Happiest Place on Earth created Disney FASTPASSES.

    I say thankfully because if you’ve ever been stuck in a 1-2 hour line with a younger kid, you know that the torture of the line is amplified exponentially by the whining or a kid!

    Why You’d Want a FASTPASS

    I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here but bear with me, please.

    The way I see it, there are four reasons for wanting a Disney FASTPASS:

    1) The line right now is way too stinkin’ long.

    2) The ride is your favorite.  So you want to wait in line now and come back with a Fast Pass later.

    3) You want to stand in a different line now and come back to this ride later.

    4) You have children (or teenagers) who won’t last waiting in line.

    Assuming those are true, the Disney FASTPASSES are your key to line heaven (assuming there is such a place, and, of course, that you believe in it).

    How to Get Disney FASTPASSES

    When you arrive at an attraction that allows FASTPASSES, you’ll notice a “Distribution” machines.  (You’ll probably also notice a winding line of people who don’t have FASTPASSES.  Remember this line, because the reward for getting a FASTPASS is bypassing all of these poor unfortunate souls!)

    First thing…Check the time to return for your FASTPASS.  If the time matches your schedule then proceed to step two.

    Step Two…Insert your park pass into the FASTPASS machine.  A ticket will be dispensed.

    Step Three…Hold onto the FASTPASS.  This will be your key to getting into a shorter line.

    Some Rules About Disney FASTPASSES

    Now, these blessings we call FASTPASSES come with some stipulations:

    1) According to Disney rules, you have to come back after the time designated on the FASTPASS and not longer than one hour later.  Otherwise,  they won’t let you on.  (But frankly, I’ve brought FASTPASSES back several hours later and they have always honored them.)

    2) There’s a limit on how many you can have at a time.  This means you won’t be able to run around the park in the morning just collecting FASTPASSES.  They have a smart computer system that limits how many you can have.  This means, of course, that you will have to be smart about which FASTPASSES you collect, and when.  I recommend you buy one of the available Unofficial Disney Guidebooks.  They usually have recommended schedules for these types of things.

    3) Everyone in your party needs a FASTPASS to get on the ride when you go back.

    Use Them with Rider Switch Passes

    Use your Disney FASTPASSES in conjunction with the Rider Switch Passes for even quicker lines.  (More on this in a future article.)

    I guarantee that if you learn to use Disney FASTPASSES effectively, you will save many hours of line-waiting and potentially even save your vacation.

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  • 10Sep

    Plan Your Trip to Magic Kingdom Orlando

    Magic Kingdom Orlando 2 Comments

    How would you like to make planning for your Disney World Trip a breeze?

    Could one of these bestselling Magic Kingdom Orlando books help?

    Planning a trip to Magic Kingdom Orlando can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time and if you’re traveling with kids. I remember the first time I took my kids – the planning was overwhelming. Luckily, I have a sister-in-law who is a Disney nut!!! She used the books below to plan the best Disney vacation I could have hoped for. Everything from where to eat, when to get Fast Passes, and when to go to different parks was all planned out for us.

    The books I’m listing are the ones we used. I hope they will be as beneficial to you.

    Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide 2010

    Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide 2010
    The Ultimate Disney Savings Guide 2010

    This guide definitely saved us a lot of money. But it also has great tips about when to go to the parks and what to do once you’re inside the parks.

    Someone else who bought this guide said:

    “We Actually Felt Like We Were Professional Disney Goers And We’d Been Doing It All Our Lives.”
    Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort's Best Kept Secrets

    Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort’s Best Kept Secrets    Once you’re inside the park, you’ll love to have this book along as a kind of scavenger hunt. You’ll definitely get a unique look at the park with this book. You’ll have an experience that few others have had.

    One satisfied reader said:

    “It is a great twist on visiting Disney World, Epcot, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom and other Disney attractions and a recommended purchase for anyone heading” to Magic Kingdom Orlando.
    The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010

    The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010

    This is the mother of all the books.

    You’ll learn:

    • The best time to visit the parks.
    • How to create a schedule that allows for downtime.
    • A plan of attack for each of the parks.
    • Which rides best fit your likes.
    • The best places to eat.

    One happy Magic Kingdom Orlando visitor stated:

    “Contains all the information you could possibly want about each park and individual attraction/show. “

    As you plan your trip to Magic Kingdom Orlando, I hope that you will find that these books add as much enjoyment and stress-free vacation time as they have to my Disney vacations.

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