Perks of Staying on Property

Perks to Staying on Property

Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort provides lots of conveniences and puts you in the middle of the magic! In this blog post I will explain all the reasons to stay on property in Disney's Value, Moderate and Deluxe resorts. 

Transportation:

When staying on Disney property, Disney provides free transportation to the parks, Disney Springs, and Waterparks. There are buses, the monorail, boats and the skyliner. These modes of transportation are all free and driven or operated by Cast Members. They are safe, highly monitored and a great easy way to get around the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Early Reservations: 

When staying at a Disney Resort you are able to get ealier access to fastpasses. When staying on property you can book fastpasses 60 days out from the first day of your vacation. When staying off property you can book 30 days out. This is an inconvenience because most of the popular rides' fastpasses are already taken. This is another reason to stay on property to get the fastpasses you want!

Extra Magic Hours:

When staying on property at a Disney Resort you are able to stay in the parks late and get into the parks early. This is exclusive to guests staying at a Disney Resort. The parks are much less crowded at these times. Every park has extra magic hours at some point during a week. This is a great way to get on the more popular rides and have the parks less crowded. This is another perk to staying at a Disney Resort. 

Magical Express:

If you fly into Orlando International Airport, Disney provides free transportation to your Disney Resort and also deals with your checked luggage. Prior to your trip in the mail you will receive Disney Luggage tags with a number on it. This is so the airline can identify that your bags should go to the Magical Express. Once you arrive into Orlando International Airport you can go straight to the Magical Express Kiosk and head to the Walt Disney World Resort. A few hours later your bags will be delivered to your room. This is another magical advantage that makes your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort even better! 

There are so many more perks to staying at the Walt Disney World Resort which is why my family and I always stay on property. Please email me if you have any questions or post recommendations at hcfswimmer@gmail.com . Have a magical day!

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom OPEN!

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have Opened! This is a very exciting accomplishment! Although there are new rules in the parks, it is still very exciting that they are open. Continue reading to learn about some of the new social distancing rules and precautions. 

Cleaning Procedures

The Cast Members at Walt Disney World are taking extra precautions to keep the parks clean and their guests healthy. The Cast Members are going through extra training, and using defined cycles for cleaning of high traffic areas. Hand washing stations and sanitizing stations are located throughout the parks. There are also frequent "wash downs" of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues. 

Know Before You Go

Before you go to the parks here is some information you should know about. There is a reservation system, so you can not purchase a ticket at the parks anymore. Your tickets must be purchased online and you must pick what day you are going to each park. You are no longer able to go to any park you want without reserving your spot for the time being. This ensures the parks are not too busy to socially distance. Before entering the parks temperature scans will be conducted. If anyone in your party has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above your whole party will not be allowed into the parks. All children 2 years and above are required to wear face coverings, Cast Members will also be wearing masks. Face masks must be worn except when dining or swimming. 

Social Distancing

Disney has added ground markings and physical barriers to promote social distancing in the parks. They have also set up "relaxation stations" around the parks, guests can remove their facemasks and get some air. I think this will be very helpful especially in the Florida heat! Masks are also sold in vending machines at checkpoints. Disney has replaced character meet and greets with many mini parades throughout the park so guests are still able to see beloved characters. Plexiglass has been placed throughout ride queues to prevent guests from coming in contact with one another. All of the interactive elements in ride queues have been blocked off for the time being. The world famous Monorail is still in action however there are barriers in each car and only two families are prohibited in each car. 

My Disney Experience App

For all quick service locations there is no longer go in and wait inside to order. Through the My Disney Experience App guests can mobil order their food and can pick it up in locations for each restaurant. Guests can still sit inside and eat however they must wait outside for their food to be prepared. Paying for merchandise and other items will be contactless. You can link your credit card to your Disney account and pay with your phone. 

This is a hard time for everyone. Cast Members are working very hard to keep guests safe. I personally and so excited that the parks are opening. We will possibly be visiting in January and I am excited for new information on how the parks are working. Please email me if you have questions or post ideas at hcfswimmer@gmail.com! Have a magical day!

New Ride Experience to Magic Kingdom

New Ride Experience to Magic Kingdom

Hello everyone I hope you are all doing well! Today I have some exciting news about one of my favorite rides in all of Walt Disney World. I am excited to announce that Splash Mountain will be rethemed! Keep reading to find out the information on this exciting new project!

This project has been in the works for over a year now and above is the concept art. Currently Splash in Disneyland and Walt Disney World is themed to Song of the South, due to racial controversy this film is only available in VCR in the U.S. The retheming of Splash Mountain will be based on Disney's 2009 film, Princess and the Frog. The ride will start after the final kiss where the movie left off. Join Princess Tiana and Louis on an adventure as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras. The ride will feature music from the film. The retheming will happen to both Splash Mountain in both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World.

My Feelings:

I am very excited for the new experience. Splash Mountain is one of my favorite rides in Disney World. Although I will be sad to see it go, I think it will be awesome to see Princess Tiana represented more in the parks. I do not think the track of the ride will be changed just the theming. My favorite part of Splash Mountain is all of the drops I do not think that part of the ride will be changed much. Disney has not released much information yet but my question is... will they be renaming the ride! I am sure as construction is farther along Disney will release more information.

 Overall I think a change to the ride is due and I am very excited to experience it! Please let me know if you have any questions or post suggestions at hcfswimmer@gmail.com . In the comments below let me know what your ideas are for what Disney should rename the ride! Have a magical Day!

How to bring Disney Magic into your home

How to bring Disney Magic into your home

Wow a lot has happened since I last posted! Although the Disney Parks are still closed I wanted to bring some Disney cheer into my home! Here are some of the things I have been doing to keep the Disney spirit alive. Please email me with suggestions and show me what you have been doing recently! 

Watch Disney Sing-Alongs:

I love singing along to the firework shows or any Disney Music playing in the parks. Here is a way to do this at home! Hosted by Ryan Secrest there are two sing-alongs available on Disney Plus, Youtube, and Hulu. This one hour event that features many artists singing their favorite Disney songs. Many popular artists like Beyonce, Christian Aguilera, Micheal Bluble, John Legend and many more artists make appearances. I love the sing-alongs and it is a great way to bring the Disney magic into your home. 

Try Disney Recipes:

The Disney parks have released many of their recipes for famous treats. You can find these recipes on the My Disney Experience apps and Disney's instagram. We have tried the dole whip and it was amazing! Some other recipes released are the Grey Stuff from Be Our Guest, The Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake from 50s Prime Time, Tonga Toast from Disney's Polynesian Resort and many more! I look forward to trying many new recipes and hope you try them as well! 

Wear Disney Clothes (Disney Bound):

When visiting the Disney Parks many people Disney bound and dress like a character. Today I am Disney bounding as Minnie Mouse, wearing a hat and some polka dotted stuff. This is an easy way to get some Disney magic and also look cute! 

Watch Disney movies:

There are so many Disney movies available on On-Demand, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Now and Disney Plus. I have been watching many old Disney movies that I haven't seen in years or ever. I watched Pocahontas for the first time and loved it. I have also been watching old Disney channel and Disney Junior shows like Hannah Montana and High School Musical. Let me know if anyone wants a must watch Disney movie list! 

Do Disney Crafts (mickey ears):

You can also do many Disney inspired crafts. I have been making Mickey ears, with fabric I have in my home. I get many ideas from Pinterest, Disney headphone cases and DIY shirts. There are so many ideas and projects to do that I find calming. Let me know if you would like some Disney inspired craft ideas!

I hope this helped you and your family get some ideas of how to bring Disney into your home. Please let me know if you have any ideas or questions at hcfswimmer@gmail.com . 

Have a magical Day!

New Rides Announcement!

New Rides Announcement!

Hello Everyone! The opening of Star Wars Land has been very successful and very advertised. You may not have realized the two new rides coming to Walt Disney World this year! One ride is Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad in Hollywood Studios, and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in Epcot. 

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad

Set to open March 4 2020, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad is highly anticipated! The ride is the first ride including Mickey and friends. This adventure is based off of the Disney channel Mickey cartoons. This is a family friendly ride in Hollywood Studios that does not have a height requirement. 

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

Set to open in Summer 2020, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is based on the ride in Disneyland Paris. You are shrunk to the size of Remi in Gusteau's Kitchen! This ride will be using trackless ride vehicles that are brand new to Walt Disney World! This is a family friendly ride in Epcot that does not have a height requirement. 

Look forward to these new rides that are sure to embrace the Disney Magic! Please contact me with any questions or post requests at hcfswimmer@gmail.com 

Have a magical day! 

Steps in Planning a Magical Vacation

Steps in Planning a Magical Vacation

Planning a Disney World vacation can be stressful, but if you take it slow and manage all your steps you can have a very amazing vacation. There are many steps to take to make sure you get all of the reservations and fastpasses you could dream of! This piece will provide you of all of the steps to planning the vacation of a lifetime!

Step 1:

Picking your dates: Obviously this is one of the most important steps! There are special events all year round, so make sure you are visiting at the right time for what you want to experience while visiting. 

Step 2:  

Book your flights: Flying into Orlando Airport is really your best bet if you can get flights into there. By doing this you can take the Magical Express right over to your resort, and not have to worry about your bags. The Disney employees will get your bags from the flight and then have them brought over and delivered to your room a few hours later. This makes your vacation less stressful from the moment you arrive in Orlando. 

Step 3: 

Pick your hotel: There are over 20 resorts on property to choose from. A lot of your decision depends on your price point. There are three categories; value resorts, moderate resorts and deluxe resorts. If you would like more details on these resorts check out my post detailing them. 

Step 4: 

Dining Reservations: Many restaurants throughout the parks and at the resorts can be eaten at, just by going to them that current day. However there are also many popular restaurants that you can only eat at if you have a reservation. Dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance of the first day of your trip. There are many unique dining experiences that are worth trying to check out, this can only be done by making reservations at the 180 day mark. 

Step 5: 

Fastpass: Once your dining reservations are made, you should make your fastpsses according to your dining reservations. Fastpasses can be made 60 days in advance, for the more popular rides, I would suggest making your fastpasses early. You are aloud 3 per day and they must be in the same park. Having fastpasses does not mean that you can not ride other rides, it just means that you can skip the line on the three rides that you have chosen. 

Planning a Disney Trip can be stressful, but it's all worth it. I am currently planning my Disney Trip and it is an exciting process. Please email me if you have any questions on how to plan a trip or any blog post requests at hcfswimmer@gmail.com

 Have a magical day! 

Differences Between the Resort Levels

Differences Between the Resort Levels

In Disney there are over 25 resorts to stay at. There are three categories and this post is going to explain the differences between them so you can pick the hotel of your dreams!

Value Resorts: 

The value resorts range from about $99 on a night. This is the cheapest level of the Disney resorts. The value resorts offer awesome theming and a great location being so close to Animal Kingdom. However due to the decrease in price there are some amenities that you are losing. There is no water slide at the pool and a hot tub. There is only quick service food at these resorts. The room itself is smaller than the moderates and all access to the rooms are outdoor. There is also no coffee pot in these value rooms.

Value Resorts:
- Pop Century Resort
- Art of Animation Resort
- All Star Sports Resort
- All Star Music Resort
- All Star Movies Resort
- Campsites at Fort Wilderness

Moderate Resorts: 

The moderate resorts range from about $198 on a night. These hotels are the middle level of the Disney Resorts. These resorts also have awesome theming and are scattered throughout the Disney property so you can pick which park you would like to be closest to. At the moderate resorts there are quick service and sit down dining locations. All beds at these locations are queen sized and a king can be requested. All of the room entrances are outdoor except Coranados' Grand Destineo tower which has inside hallway access. 

Moderate Resorts:

- Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort

- Port Orleans: Riverside

- Port Orleans: French Quarter

- Coronado Springs Resort

- Caribbean Beach Resort

Deluxe Resorts: 

The deluxe resorts range from about $363 on a night. These hotels are the high level of the Disney resorts. These resorts have beautiful theming and are in great locations to all of the parks depending on what resort you choose. They offer queen and king sized beds, and hallway entrances to your room. They also have the most elaborate pools on property. Most of these resorts also offer alternate transportation to get to the parks besides buses. 

Deluxe Resorts:

- Yacht Club Resort

- Wilderness Lodge

- Polynesian Village Resort

- Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

- Contemporary Resort

- BoardWalk Inn

- Beach Club Resort

- Animal Kingdom Lodge

Deluxe Disney Villas:

Deluxe Villas are part of some of the Deluxe resorts. So they have the same amenities as the deluxe resorts. 

- Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas

- Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary

- Boulder Ridge Villas at WIlderness Lodge

- Beach Club Villas

- Boardwalk Villas

- Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge

- Villas at Grand Floridian

- Old Key West

- Polynesian Villas and Bungalows

- Riviera Resort

- Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

- Treehouse Villas

All of these resorts are magical and you and your family are sure to have an amazing trip. Please contact me with any questions or blog post ideas at hcfswimmer@gmail.com . 

Have a magical day!