Magic Kingdom® Park Prep: Your Guide to Seeing the Movies that Inspire the Magic

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Headed to Magic Kingdom® Park soon? Be sure to check out this comprehensive list of Disney films that either inspired the attractions or were inspired by the attractions at Magic Kingdom® Park! Keep in mind most titles you can find on Amazon, but some may be in the "Disney Vault" so you may have to do a little digging. Also I have only listed primary features to watch, not sequels or other shorts where characters may appear.  

Films/animated features/cartoons are listed first, with the attraction or restaurant listed below and the location in parenthesis. I encourage families with small children to focus on the animated classics first then move on to the live-action films if you have time.

BY NO MEANS do you need to watch ANY of these to have a phenomenal day in Magic Kingdom® Park... this just helps to enhance the experience and get you excited about your upcoming trip!

So what are you waiting for?  Grab some popcorn and enjoy!!

  • Classic Mickey Mouse Cartoons or the New Mickey Mouse Cartoons (like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or these Mickey Cartoons)

    • Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater (Main Street, U.S.A.® Area)

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Pete's Silly Sideshow (Fantasyland® Area)

    • The Barnstormer (Fantasyland® Area)

      • This is a goofy-themed rollercoaster but is very much reminiscent of the the classic Goofy cartoons so many of us watched as children.

  • Peter Pan

    • Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater (Main Street, U.S.A.® Area)

    • Peter Pan's Flight® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Fantasia

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

  • The Lion King

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Lady and the Tramp

    • Tony's Town Square Restaurant (while the food at this restaurant leaves a lot to be desired, it's fun to see the Lady and the Tramp decor here. If you're a big fan of the movie be sure to peek your head in). (Main Street, U.S.A.® Area)

  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

    • The Crystal Palace, A Buffet with Character Restaurant (Main Street, U.S.A.® Area)

    • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Swiss Family Robinson

    • Swiss Family Treehouse (Adventureland® Area)

  • Aladdin

    • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Attraction (Adventureland® Area)

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Pirates of the Caribbean® Movies

    • Pirates of the Caribbean® Attraction (Adventureland® Area)

    • A Pirate's Adventure ~ Treasures of the Seven Seas (Adventureland® Area) - this is an interactive game where you collect Treasure Finder Cards and unlock special effects in the Adventureland® Area - lots of fun for boys and girls (and adults!) alike!

    • The Pirates League (Adventureland® Area) - you can transform into a pirate here for ages 3 through adult.  Extra fee required.

  • Song of the South

    • Splash Mountain® Attraction (Frontierland® Area)

      • This film will be VERY hard to find as the Walt Disney Company has removed it from circulation due to controversy surrounding the it.  I have seen it, and love the animated portions of the film depicting the stories of Uncle Remus, Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear.  At the very least, if you can't see the film be sure to check out YouTube videos of the animated portions by doing a simple search for Br'er Rabbit within YouTube.  And of course, you must watch this clip of the classic song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.

  • The Country Bears

    • Country Bear Jamboree Show (Frontierland® Area).  

      • This film is not a favorite of mine - I'd make it last on your watch list!  This is a case where the film was inspired by the attraction (and the film leaves a lot to be desired).

  • The Haunted Mansion

    • Haunted Mansion® Attraction (Liberty Square Area)

      • This is another case where the film was inspired by the attraction, and is a live-action movie starring Eddie Murphey.  The house in the movie actually looks more like the Haunted Mansion® Attraction out in Disneyland® Park but much of the theming is exactly the same.  If you go into this movie expecting it to be cheesy and corny, you won't be disappointed in the feature, and it does have some really cool ties back to the attraction.  I'm still holding out for one that Guillermo del Toro is supposed to be making.  HOLY COW that would be amazing!!  Check out an article on that here.

Attractions or Lands that inspired movies, starting at top left and going clockwise: Country Bear Jamboree, Haunted Mansion® Attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean® Attraction, and the themed Tomorrowland® Area (Tomorrowland® Area photo courtesy of Jennifer Sebby)

  •  Cinderella (animated classic) and Cinderella (live-action feature film)

    • Cinderella Castle (Fantasyland® Area and "the hub" where all "lands" meet)

    • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall  (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Cinderella's Royal Table Restaurant in Cinderella Castle (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (Fantasyland® Area in Cinderella Castle) - transform into a Disney Princess or a Valiant night for ages 3-12 only.  Extra fee required.

    • **BONUS** while not in Magic Kingdom® Park, you can have dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming over at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at 1900 Park Fare. It's a short monorail ride from Magic Kingdom® Park!

  • Elena of Avalor (Disney Junior TV Show)

    • Meet Elena at Princess Fairytale Hall (Fantasyland® Area)

  • The Princess and the Frog

    • Meet Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Tiana's Riverboat Party - Ice Cream Social & Viewing Party (Liberty Square Area) - this is an additionally priced experience on the Liberty Square Riverboat where you can meet Princess Tiana and Price Naveen during an Ice Cream Social and then have VIP viewing for the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

    • **BONUS** while not in Magic Kingdom® Park, you can stay in a Royal Guest Room at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, all decked out by Tiana for her princess friends.  And the entire feel of the Magnolia Bend portion of Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is classic New Orleans plantation-style.  Love!

  • Tangled

    • Meet Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall (Fantasyland® Area)

    • While not an attraction, if you walk from the Fantasyland® Area to the Liberty Square Area, you will go through a part of the park that is very much dedicated to Rapunzel and you can even spot her tower.  While here, be sure to check out the restrooms - they're the prettiest ones in the Magic Kingdom and there are hints of Rapunzel throughout.

  • Beauty and the Beast (animated classic) and Beauty and the Beast (live-action feature film)

    • Enchanted Tales with Belle (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Be Our Guest Restaurant (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Gaston's Tavern (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

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Above, the interior of Gaston's Tavern (photo courtesy of WDW Shutterbug).  The cinnamon rolls here are delicious and you can use a snack credit to buy them on the Disney Dining Plan!

  • The Little Mermaid

    • Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Ariel's Grotto (meet Ariel in her mermaid form) (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Prince Eric's Village Market (snack stand) (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Mickey's PhilharMagic® Attraction (Fantasyland® Area)

    • **BONUS** while not in Magic Kingdom® Park, you can stay in a Little Mermaid room at Disney's Art of Animation Resort.  These rooms are super cute and loved by aspiring little mermaids everywhere. :-) Even if you're not staying there, if you have a Little Mermaid fan in your family it's totally worth stopping by to check out this section of the resort.

  • Alice in Wonderland (animated classic) and Alice in Wonderland (live-action feature film)

    • Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Cheshire Cafe (snack stand) (Fantasyland® Area)

    • **BONUS** while not in Magic Kingdom® Park, you can have breakfast with Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter (among others) over at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at 1900 Park Fare.  It's just a short monorail away from Magic Kingdom® Park.

  • Dumbo

    • Dumbo the Flying Elephant® (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station (Fantasyland® Area)

    • Big Top Souvenirs (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

    • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Pinocchio

    • Pinochio's Village Haus (quick-service restaurant) (Fantasyland® Area)

  • Tomorrowland (live-action feature film)

    • Tomorrowland® Area

      • This live-action feature film was partly inspired by the themed land of Tomorrowland® in Magic Kingdom® Park.

  • Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University

    • Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor® Attraction (Tomorrowland® Area)

  • Lilo and Stitch

    • Stitch's Great Escape!™ (Tomorrowland® Area)

  • Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 3

    • Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin® (Tomorrowland® Area)

Bonus! Fireworks & Parade

Magic Kingdom® Park's fireworks spectacular, Happily Ever After, is FULL of references to Disney movies from the past and today!  I've listed as many as I have caught below but quite possibly could have missed a few! These include:

**Note: I only provided links to films that were not outlined already above.

 

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Above, Happily Ever After lights up the night sky and turns Cinderella Castle into an amazing projection screen during Magic Kingdom® Park's not-to-be-missed nighttime spectacular! How many Disney characters do you recognize from this picture?

Finally, Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade also features spectacular floats, catchy music and amazing performances that highlight characters from the following Disney movies:

  • Beauty and the Beast

  • Cinderella

  • The Princess and the Frog

  • Frozen

  • Tangled

  • The Little Mermaid

  • Peter Pan

  • Brave

  • Sleeping Beauty

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

  • Alice in Wonderland

  • Pinocchio

  • Dumbo

  • Fantasia

  • Classic Cartoons featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip & Dale

Above, images of some of the Festival of Fantasy parade in Magic Kingdom® Park.

Why you should visit Walt Disney World® Resort... right now!

Many people avoid visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort in the warmer summer months because it can get pretty warm in Florida in the middle of the summer.  But with a little preparation and a lot of excitement, it can be one of the best times of year to go!

1 - You don't have to take the kids out of school (and if you work for the school system, you don't have to worry about taking vacation days!).  Especially if your children are older and it is very important for them not to miss those college-prep classes, going in the months of June, July and August allows you to take the kids and stay as long as you want without having to work-around the school schedule.

2 - The parks are open longer into the evenings, allowing you to take breaks mid-day to rest, relax and cool off in your resort pool while returning at night to sometimes lower crowds and cooler temperatures.  Typically Magic Kingdom® Park is open until 10 p.m. or later, with other parks open until 9 or 9:30 p.m. (and sometimes later).  Plus, right now with the opening of Pandora: The World of Avatar, through the first part of July Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park is open for resort guests until 1 a.m. each night!

Above: The Walt Disney World® Resort is even more beautiful at night than it is during the day.  Enjoy the night even more with longer hours during the summer season.

3 - Typically all attractions are up and running.  As we all know, refurbishments of popular attractions are necessary from time to time to keep them updated and running smoothly.  But during the summer months, typically all attractions (and especially the most popular ones) are open and ready for you!  Major refurbishments of popular attractions are typically done during the slower winter months.

4 - Summer discounts on resort stays are still available!  Get up to 25% off your resort stay when you book for a summer trip (vacationing through August 31st) by July 14th, 2017.

5 - There is still a lot of availability in popular restaurants and resorts in August!  Typically in August kids start to need to be back for band camps, sports practices and other before-school-starts activities.  If your child can miss these or is not participating in these activities just yet, there is actually still a lot of availability in great resorts and at popular restaurants in August!

6 - It's prime time to enjoy Disney's two outstanding Water Parks or your resort's pool.  Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park (better for older kids) and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (better for younger kids) are excellent ways to cool off on your summer Disney vacation!  And with hours from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day, it's fun to enjoy a water park on a "down day" and sleep in a little, then head back to your resort for a delicious evening meal before turning in for the night to enjoy more Disney Theme Park fun the next day!  And did I mention that each of these parks has a bar for you adults?  Just take your Magic Band (which is waterproof after all!), and swipe away with the phrase, "Yes, I WILL take a Margarita, thank you very much!"

And did I mention resort pools?  Some of them can be mini-water parks themselves!  A perfect example is the pool at Disney's Beach Club Resort and Disney's Yacht Club Resort.  With a life-size shipwreck, sand-bottom pools, lagoons, water slides and even a lazy river, you could spend an entire day just enjoying this resort's amazing water playground!

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Above: Just a very small portion of Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht Club and Disney's Beach Club Resorts.  You can see the mast of the pirate ship looming in the background. If you stay at this resort I highly recommend taking a "down day" just to enjoy this amazing water recreation area!

7 - The Cirque du Soliel™ show La Nouba®, which has been playing at Disney Springs™ since 1998, is closing on December 31st, 2017.  And let me tell you - it is a sight to behold. No words can describe this amazing performance that is part acrobatic amazement, part theatre, part circus, part music concert and ALL spectacular.  Even the soundtrack is performed live during each show!  You should see it this summer rather than this fall or winter because I'm sure as we get closer to its closing date the faster shows are going to sell out.  Check out this clip below:

8 - There are tons of new offerings for the summer months!  Be one of the first to experience Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.  Avatar Flight of Passage is very quickly becoming a resounding "favorite attraction" among ALL the attractions at the Walt Disney World® Resort.  

Above: Pandora: The World of Avatar is absolutely breathtaking and features 2 new highly-anticipated attractions: Na'vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage.

Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios®, see The Music of Pixar Live! - where the touching and beautiful music from your favorite films is played by a live orchestra along with clips from the films and your favorite characters making appearances on the stage.

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Above: The Music of Pixar Live! features a live orchestra, clips from the film and your favorite characters!

If you haven't heard the buzz over the new nighttime fireworks and projection spectacular over at the Magic Kingdom® Park called Disney Happily Ever After... I can assure you it is AMAZING!  Check out the video below for just a few glimpses into the most amazing fireworks show yet to come out of Disney Parks!

Over at Disney Springs™, check out new restaurants such as The Polite Pig (a modern barbecue outpost featuring Florida-inspired cuisine and an array of libations on top), Paddlefish (board an iconic paddleboat and feast on fresh seafood and savory steaks), and Planet Hollywood Observatory.  There's even a new second story bar that has opened over at Splitsville™ Dining Room!

The Polite Pig.jpg

Above: The Polite Pig is one of the newest - and yummiest! - additions to the restaurant offering over at Disney Springs™.

Did I mention the Water Parks?  Don't miss the newest addition to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Miss Adventure Falls, a family raft ride!  And back for a second year are the Frozen Games at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park!  Join in the fun on Team Kristoff or Team Olaf and take part in tons of family friendly activities.  Check out the video below for highlights from last year's games!

 

Been to the Walt Disney World® Resort before in the summer?  I'd love to hear YOUR favorite things about visiting during this time of year! Comment below!

Want tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your summer vacation to the happiest place on earth?  Be sure to reach out to me by clicking HERE.  I would love to help you plan your trip!

Why stay "on-property" in a Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel? Here are the top 10 reasons!

As a travel planner for all Disney Destinations, I work closely with clients to choose the perfect hotel for their family and budget.  I sometimes hear the phrase, “…but it’s much less expensive to stay off-property when you are at Walt Disney World®” or “my friends said they stayed off-property and it was fine.”  While that may be true for some, for the vast majority of families (especially those going to Walt Disney World® for the first time), the benefits you receive if staying on-property far outweigh the little cost-savings you may receive staying off property... and sometimes it’s not even a cost savings at all!  Keep reading for more information or head straight to the bonus at the end of this post to see a black-and-white numbers crunch! 

The breathtaking lobby of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, a deluxe resort on-property.

Above: The breathtaking lobby of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, a deluxe resort on-property.

Top Ten Reasons to Stay On Property

1 - Parking and Transportation

  • Complimentary parking at the parks.

  • Complimentary transportation to and from the parks.

    • Not only is it free, but depending on where you stay you have a variety of transportation options as well (bus, boat, monorail, and walking!). Further, Disney is now planning a Gondola system connecting some of the value and moderate resorts to Epcot® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.® Talk about variety!

    • Transportation runs to each individual theme park approx. every 20 minutes. Most places off property, if they do run a shuttle bus, only run every 30 minutes and can have multiple park stops along the way (meaning typically an hour plus commute to your off-property resort ONE WAY.).

    • Using Disney’s transportation, you’re usually dropped off right at the entrance of the theme park (or just a very short walk away). Typically if you are headed to Magic Kingdom® Park, your off-property shuttle will have to drop you off at the Ticket & Transportation Center, where you will then have to take a ferry boat or the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. This double-commute can be a bit daunting (and time consuming).

  • Complimentary transportation between Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World® Resort.

    • Disney’s Magical Express® Transportation will not only transport you to and from the airport with ease, but they will pick up your bags from baggage claim and deliver them right to your resort hotel room – all totally free of charge. Now that’s service with a smile - where YOU are most definitely the one smiling!

    • When you return to the Orlando International Airport, you can check-in to your airline at your resort and check your bags at your resort so when you get to the airport you just head straight through security and to your gate.

Clockwise above, from top left: Disney's Magical Express® Transportation, a Disney Transportation Bus, boat transportation to Disney Springs™, and the monorail running through Epcot®.

 

2 - Magic Bands

  • MagicBands are complimentary when you stay on-property.

    • If you are staying off-property you can still get a MagicBand and link your tickets to it – but it will cost you $12.99 plus tax for each band (current price at the time this article was written).

    • MagicBands are not only your park tickets, but they are your hotel room key, your dining plan “card”, your Memory Maker “card”, a charge “card”, and your Disney FastPass + service “vouchers” (for lack of a better word).

    • Imagine being able to enjoy your day without worrying about pulling out your wallet every time you want to make a purchase, get into the park, or utilize the Disney FastPass + service. It’s possible with the MagicBand technology. Further, on certain rides when you’re wearing a MagicBand you’ve received as a part of your Magic Your Way Package, some attractions have special personalized surprises just for you - within the actual attraction! It will really blow your mind.

    • MagicBands are waterproof – meaning you can go to the pool or a water park without worrying about keeping up with your credit card, park ticket, and room key.

    • Along with this, regardless of whether or not you utilize a MagicBand, comes the ability to be able to make your charges back to your Walt Disney World® Resort hotel. It’s so nice to be able to see all your charges on one statement at the end of your stay rather than keeping up with a million receipts.

    • Click here to learn about the new style of MagicBand on my YouTube channel.

  • MagicBands are personalized for you free of charge.

    • On the inside of your band you’ll have your printed name or a fun name of your choosing. It makes a great souvenir!

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Above: Some personalized "special magic" inside the "it's a small world®" Attraction in Magic Kingdom® Park, possible by technology reading the MagicBands we were wearing.

3 - Dining Plans and Advance Dining Reservations

  • The opportunity to purchase and utilize the Disney Dining Plan.

    • Only guests staying on Walt Disney World® Resort property can purchase the Disney Dining plan, which can typically save you 10-15% off the cost of food at the Walt Disney World® Resort. When using the dining plan you can also use your credits to reserve meals that you have to pre-pay for in advance (such as Cinderella’s Royal Table or the dinner shows like the popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue) – instead of having your credit card charged for the full amount at the time of reservation.

  • The ability to make dining reservations for your ENTIRE length of stay (up to 10 days) 180 days out.

    • Anyone – on property or off, with or without a resort reservation or park tickets, can make a dining reservation 180 days prior to the date you want to make the reservation for. However, only guests staying on-property at the Walt Disney World® Resort can make their Advance Dining Reservations for their entire length of their stay (up to 10 days of a stay) at their 180 day-out mark. And with the popularity of such restaurants as Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest Restaurant filling up right at 6 a.m. on 180 days out, you’ll need every bit of advantage you can get to secure those hard-to-snag dining reservations for the entirety of your trip.

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Above: This delicious Grilled Salmon Salad at Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is a quick-service credit on the Disney Dining Plan.

4 - Advance Disney FastPass+ Service Reservations

  • The ability to make your FastPass+ reservations 60 days prior to your check-in date, rather than just 30 days prior to your stay for everyone else.

    • As with some of the most popular restaurants, FastPasses for the most popular attractions (think: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom® Park and Frozen Ever After in Epcot®) can either be totally gone or have return times for very late in the day if you have to wait until 30 days out to make those reservations. Even if you do get a reservation for late in the day, that’s not the most efficient and effective use of the Disney FastPass+ system. We’ll help you out with that when you book with us!

5 - Extra Magic Hours

  • One park each day either opens early or stays open late – just for guests at Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels.

    • Head to a park an hour early or stay a couple hours later at night when you stay on-property. This allows you to get a jump-start to your day or take advantage or less crowds during the evening. (Hint: one of these is better to utilize than the other… book with us to find out which one!)

6 - Package Delivery

  • Shopping in the parks during the day? Have that package sent back to your Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel free of charge.

    • While you can have packages sent to the front of the park regardless of if you are staying on-property or off, having them sent directly to your resort is really priceless. No lugging shopping bags along with your stroller, backpack, kiddo sleeping on your shoulder and other park bags on and off the bus, boat, or monorail – you just pick the package up at your resort hotel’s gift shop a day or two after your purchase. It’s super simple and SO convenient.

7 - Coupons and Vouchers

Above: When staying on property, you'll get vouchers to use at either Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf or Winter Summerland Miniature Golf.

8 - Booking Deposits

  • Only a $200 deposit is required to book your stay – that’s for tickets, room, and dining plan, if applicable.

    • While this may not be true for each and every off-property resort, many will require a full length-of-stay deposit in order to reserve your hotel room (in the example I use below, this was the case).

    • When you stay on property, it’s one easy transaction that includes your room, tickets and dining plan if you choose the dining plan… when staying off-property, it’s a different deposit and transaction for your room and your tickets – and tickets must be paid for in full at time of purchase.

9 - Complimentary Services from Jennifer Henneman with Ears of Experience

  • While anyone can use my services as a travel planner for all Disney Destinations, only those staying on-property at the Walt Disney World® Resort get to take advantage of personalized itinerary planning, our invaluable park tips & tricks, and more - 100% FREE of charge.

    • As part of Ears of Experience, we are paid by Disney and not by our clients when they stay on-property at a Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel.

    • When staying off-property I can still plan for you, but at that point I do have to charge a concierge planning fee of $249.95 (an upcharge for parties of 8 or more does apply).

Above: On an early morning for me as travel planner for all Disney Destinations, I was able to get every dining reservation on my client's wish list. I'm up at 6 a.m. 180 days prior to your check-in date to do this so you don't have to - all free of charge when you book your Disney vacation with me.

10 - Being in the Middle of the “Magic”

  • There is just something to be said for staying “in the middle of the Magic” that you really can’t describe to someone unless they’ve experienced it for themselves. From the amazing customer service you’ll receive, friendly cast members, fun Disney-themed activities and movies at your resort hotel, to even being able to see the fireworks from your room in certain resorts, there is just something about staying in the “Disney Bubble.” If you are trying to get the authentic experience and magic that a Disney Vacation can bring, there’s really no other choice than to stay on property!

Above: One of my children giving Tow Mater from Disney/Pixar's Cars a hug at Disney's Art of Animation Resort - because when you're at Disney and are staying on property... the magic is REAL.

Bonus! 11 - It may actually be less expensive to stay on-property!

Now, having said all that, I also did a pricing exercise (because I’m a numbers girl and wanted to see it in black and white dollars-to-dollars comparison).  I took a family of 4 staying for 6 nights and 5 days, checking in on a Sunday and checking out on a Saturday and looked at staying at a Holiday Inn off property, versus staying at Value Resort OR a Moderate Resort on property. Check out my comparison below… I think it will surprise you!

**Disclaimers**

  • Pricing is for 2 adults and 2 children between the ages of 3 & 9.

  • This pricing exercise was completed in May of 2017.

  • Pricing assumes the family drove their own standard vehicle to Orlando.

  • Pricing does not include park tickets or a dining plan (if on-property only).

  • Pricing DOES include applicable tax at time of this publication.

  • All pricing shown below is for a vacation in August 2017; all pricing is subject to availability at time of booking, regardless of whether you are staying on-property or off-property.

  • This assumes that said family will be eating a quick-service meal, a table-service meal, and 2 snacks in the parks each day (including their arrival day).

Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area

  • Total cost for standard hotel room + service fees + tax = $733.43

  • Cost of parking at the resort, $12 per night = $72.00

  • Add on the cost of (4) MagicBands at $12.99 + 6% Florida sales tax = $55.08

  • Add 10% extra that this family would pay for in food because they cannot add on the dining plan when staying off-property: $113.17 (based on the calculation of the Disney Dining Plan being $1,131.67 for this family of 4 and how much 10% of that is)

  • Family wanting to drive to the parks in their own vehicle for 2 of their 5 days in the parks = $40.00

  • Family decides to play miniature golf one day ($14.00 + 6% Florida sales tax per adult and $12.00 + 6% Florida sales tax per child) = $55.12

  • Purchase of Concierge Program to utilize personalized itineraries and park planning from Jennifer Henneman with Ears of Experience = $169.95

  • GRAND TOTAL for staying off-property = $1,238.75

 Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (Moderate Resort)

  • Total cost for standard hotel room + service fees + tax = $1,022.70

  • Cost of parking at the resort, FREE = $0.00

  • (4) Personalized MagicBands included, FREE = $0.00

  • Family decides to purchase the dining plan which would save them approx. 10% over the cost of food they would buy if they did NOT do the dining plan and stayed off-property = $0.00 (calculated at $0 since we ADDED in $113.17 in the Holiday Inn example)

  • Family wanting to drive to the parks in their own vehicle for 2 of their 5 days in the parks, FREE = $0.00

  • Family decides to play miniature golf one day (they use the vouchers included in their Magic Your Way Package) = $0.00

  • Personalized itineraries and park planning from Jennifer Henneman with Ears of Experience, included FREE of charge = $0.00

  • Staying in the middle of the magic = PRICELESS!

  • GRAND TOTAL for staying on-property in a Moderate Resort = $1,022.70

    • This is a SAVINGS of $216.05 by staying ON property!

Disney’s Pop Century Resort (Value Resort – my favorite value resort, actually!)

  • Total cost for standard hotel room + service fees + tax = $708.36

  • Cost of parking at the resort, FREE = $0.00

  • (4) Personalized MagicBands included, FREE = $0.00

  • Family decides to purchase the dining plan which would save them approx. 10% over the cost of food they would buy if they did NOT do the dining plan and stayed off-property = $0.00 (calculated at $0 since we ADDED in $113.17 in the Holiday Inn example)

  • Family wanting to drive to the parks in their own vehicle for 2 of their 5 days in the parks, FREE = $0.00

  • Family decides to play miniature golf one day (they use the vouchers included in their Magic Your Way Package) = $0.00

  • Personalized itineraries and park planning from Jennifer Henneman with Ears of Experience, included FREE of charge = $0.00

  • Staying in the middle of the magic = PRICELESS!

  • GRAND TOTAL for staying on-property in a Value Resort = $708.36

    • This is a SAVINGS of $530.39 by staying ON property!

 

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock... When is the best time to BOOK your Walt Disney World® Resort Vacation?

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"Tiiiiiiime is on my side... yes it is!"  The infamous song by the Rolling Stones is running through my head as I write this post.  I know that many people ask me when the best time to visit Walt Disney World® is, and that's subject for another post, but here I'm going to talk about when the best time is to BOOK your Disney vacation.  And in this case, when you have a lot of time, it IS on your side.  Yes it is!

So let's get right to it.  In my professional opinion, the best time to BOOK your vacation is at least 7 months out from the day you want to check in.  Now don't look at me like I'm crazy... it's true!  And here's why:

  • Dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance, so booking 7-months out gives us time to come up with a preliminary park plan and secure those must-have dining reservations for you.  Trust me.  I know you have no idea what you'll be in the mood for 6 months ahead of time.  But let me tell you - the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World® book up at 6 a.m. on your 180 day-out date.  Why?  Because they are excellent... either excellent food, atmosphere, service, or all three.  Restaurants like the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort where you can see the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom... Be Our Guest restaurant in the Magic Kingdom which is modeled after the ballroom & the west wing from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella's Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom where you can eat in Cinderella Castle and dine with the princesses, Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort where you can eat with Mickey & his pals, Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot where you can feast on some of the most delicious steaks you've ever tasted, and the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater at Hollywood Studios where you eat in cars while watching old 1950s Sci-Fi clips on the big-screen in a drive-in setting... all these places and many others - especially character and princess dining experiences - are just a handful of examples that book up quicker than you can say "Mickey Mouse." 

Booked closer to your check-in time than 180-days out?  Unfortunately many times these popular places to eat are completely booked when we look for reservations.  The good news is that many times I've seen reservations come open for these places at random times, but it does make it all the more difficult to snag what you want.  If you book 7 months out, we can discuss your wishes and where you would like to eat so that at 6 a.m. on your 180-day-dining reservation date, I'm up and at 'em with my phone, iPad & computer searching for your dining reservations.  The likelihood of you getting EXACTLY what you want, when you want it is much greater if we have a plan and can be johnny-on-the-spot at your 180 day mark.

Images above are from Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom.  One of the hardest reservations to secure, oftentimes if you don't reserve exactly at the 180 day mark, your likelihood of eating here (especially for dinner) can be slim.

  • You have many more options for on-property hotels if you book way ahead in advance. This one isn't quite as critical as your 180-day dining date, but if you've always wanted to stay at the Contemporary Resort in a room with a view of the Magic Kingdom, or your little girl would simply be in heaven if she had a room fit for a princess at Port Orleans Riverside, again, the best bet of getting exactly what you want is to book as far in advance as possible.  You don't get to Disney that often and it can be (doesn't HAVE to be, but can be) quite expensive... why shouldn't it be what you've always dreamed of?
  • Related to your resort, booking ahead of time (before a promotion or discount comes out) gives you a greater change of securing a discount or promotion if and when a promo DOES come out for your dates.  When you book with me, I always will look for the lowest price for you.  If a promotion has not come out for your dates yet, never fear.  Part of my complimentary services to you include price-watching.  If a promotion does come out for your timeframe that is applicable and available for your package, I will automatically adjust the price down for you.  Not applicable to your package?  If you like, I can look at other resorts or different time frames that may work and we can adjust your package accordingly.
  • Fastpasses can be booked 60 days in advance of your check-in date.  Again, not as critical as the dining date or your hotel, but I've seen many a popular ride (think: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Frozen Ever After) have zero fastpass times available for a certain date when going back in and looking on a client's 58-day out mark (thankfully I had already gotten them what they wanted... phew!).  If there were still fastpasses available then they typically weren't until late in the afternoon, which isn't exactly ideal for your park plans (which I explain when you book your vacation with me!).

Your Fastpass+ experiences can be booked up to 60 days prior to your check-in date.

  • Get the party dates you want.  During the Halloween & Christmas seasons, two separately-ticketed events take place: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  Both are highly-anticipated events that can have a tendency to sell out quickly, especially as you get close to the actual holidays.  Advantages to going to these parties include lower wait times at some of at the more popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom, special character meet-&-greets, special parades & shows, and even snowfall on Main Street USA for the Christmas Party.  If you've booked well in advance, I can be watching for the dates those go on sale and get you the exact day you want.  

Special parties during the Halloween & Christmas seasons can fill up quickly. Seeing beautiful decorations throughout the parks like the ones shown above are just one of the many reasons visiting during Holiday Seasons require planning and booking ahead!

  • It only takes $200 down to hold your package, with the remainder due 45 days prior*.  So why not book in advance?  The $200 is fully refundable until about 45 days prior to your trip.  Going ahead and booking gives us the ability to secure those dining reservations and fastpasses for you.  
  • When you book early, you have more time to save for your trip.  This one's kind of a no-brainer.  The earlier you plan and know how much the trip will cost, the earlier you can start saving.  OR - the earlier you can apply for a Disney Visa Credit Card from Chase.  While I'm not condoning credit card debt, this is a GREAT way to earn FREE money for your Disney trip (yes, you read that right!).  It's a no-annual-fee credit card that allows you to earn 1 Disney Dream Reward Dollar for every $100 you put on the card.  Another perk of the card is that many times discounts and promotions for resort hotels come out to Disney Visa Cardholders before they come out to the general public.

What have I been doing lately?  Paying all my bills with my Disney Visa then paying them off right away to earn Disney Dream Rewards Dollars.  I also upgraded to the Premier Disney Visa card ($49 annual fee) so that I can earn points faster, earning 2% at places like Disney locations, restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores.  They also will give you points for referring friends and family.  What does that mean for me & my family?  Next time we head to Walt Disney World® we have over $400 in Disney Dream Reward Dollars to spend however we like in the parks (restaurants, merchandise, etc.).  Woo hoo! 

  • More time to research, read, and get excited!  While there is fun in a spur-of-the-moment, last-minute trip, if you are going to Walt Disney World® for the first time you may want to read up a little bit about all there is to see and do in the parks.  Part of my services to you is to let you know as much as possible about Walt Disney World® as I can, but the place is so huge and there is SO much to do that you may want to check out a book or two from the library or download some on your kindle.  Some of my favorites include The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness, The Complete Walt Disney World Fun Finds & Hidden Mickeys by Julie & Mike Neal, and The Imagineering Field Guides to the parks.  You can find all these on Amazon.  Also you can watch Disney movies to start getting your kids excited too.  Part of the fun of a Disney Trip is discovering all there is to see & do!

What did I leave out?  What advantages have YOU discovered when you booked early?  How about the other way around - why is planning a last-minute trip better?  I'd love to hear from you! 

*45 days prior to check-in date is when Ears of Experience® requires final payment due on your package.  If you book directly with Disney, the date is 30 days prior to check-in date.  The reason why Ears of Experience® requires 45 days out is to give us as agents enough time to secure your documents and ship you your package full of park tips & tricks, your personalized itineraries, etc.  If you have a special circumstance and you need to wait to pay only 30 days prior, please let me know up front and we will work something out!