Magic Kingdom Orlando Blog

Trip Packages to Disney World

Disney has long brought magic to families through its movies, music, and theme parks. Of course, you can take your family to the magic with a wide variety of trip packages to Disney World. I know that last line was totally cheesy! but the truth is that you will find some of the best trip packages to Disney World through their “Magic Your Way” program.

What Trip Packages to Disney World are available through Disney?

Disney World calls their vacation deals Magic Your Way packages. The Disney website shows six different Magic Your Way trip packages to Disney World:

1. Magic Your Way Basic
2. Magic Your Way Plus Quick Service Dining
3. Magic Your Way Plus Dining
4. Magic Your Way Plus Deluxe Dining
5. Magic Your Way Premium Package
6. Magic Your Way Platinum Package

What exactly is included in each of the trip packages to Disney World?

Every Magic Your Way package includes:

1. Accomodations for every budget level

• Deluxe
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
  • Disney’s Polynesian Resort
  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Deluxe Villa
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Tower
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Moderate
  • The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
• Value
  • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
  • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
  • Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (Scheduled to open in summer 2012)
  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Campground
  • Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

How many Disney World Parks can I visit each day?

• You get to choose 4 parks you can visit during your stay.
• You’ll get to visit one park each day.

Do I have any options for ticket upgrades?

Disney gives you a few option to upgrade your trip packages to Disney World:

• Park Hopper – Let’s you visit more than one park on any given day.
• No Expiration – Disney passes are set to expire 14 days after you initially use them. If you buy the No Expiration option, they will never expire! (Until you’ve used them all, of course.)
• Water Park Fun – Disney World has great water parks. This could be a great option for your family.

How do I get around from the airport and around the Disney World Resort?

• This is an easy one. Disney World provides complimentary transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport and around the Disney World Resort.
• Getting to and from your lodging really is a breeze as buses are constantly running.

What’s this I’ve heard about going earlier or staying later at the park?

• Your trip packages to Disney World will include “Extra Magic Hours.” This means that there will be extra hours at certain parks where you can stay and enjoy yourself with smaller crowds.

All of the packages, except for the basic one, include some dining.

When you pick one of these trip packages to Disney, you really can’t go wrong. However, I wouldn’t plan my trip to Disney without help from one of the many guides available. In fact, I know several people who have saved hundreds of dollars on their trips.

There’s one guide in particular that I have used to save money for my family. It comes from an ex-Disney employee who had access to all of the tricks and secrets of Disney World. It’s called the “The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide”.

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.

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.