Walt Disney World Resorts
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We have divided Resorts into 10 sections. YOU CAN AFFORD DISNEY WORLD! If you THINK a Disney vacation costs too much ... WE AGREE! That's why we created the ULTIMATE Disney savings site. Save up to 40% on your total trip. Learn about discounts on tickets, food, Disney merchandise, hotels ON Disney property, travel, parking, and MUCH more. Too much to list here. See it all at here. "We just got back from a great trip ... and thanks to you and your great advice, [we] saved money and time! ... In total we saved about $3,000.00 for our group of 6. We are going back within a year to use our passes again, and think our per person cost will be in the $150-200 range, flights and all." Michael Barrett, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Dina writes about traveling with a family of five: "Just wanted to respond to the woman who wanted to hear about a family of 5. I, too, have 3 adults, 2 children and we go to Disney at least 1 time a year, sometimes twice. (My oldest son is almost 17) Here are some tips from your book as well as some I've learned on my own. We usually go in mid January, that way we wait in virtually no lines, and the weather is perfect. (We're from New Hampshire). We stay at the Days SUITES maingate east of WDW. 1.9 miles to the gate. We pay $34.95 per night plus tax for a full suite. It's an average hotel with plenty of amenities for the price. Also a "Disney Good Neighbor" hotel. It has a full fridge, a 2 burner stove, a microwave, and a dish washer, 2 heated pools, laundry facilities, 2 double beds, and a murphy bed. There is a PUBLIX (For those who don't know, like Shaw's or Market Basket), Dunkin Donuts, and a WALGREEN"S right across the street so that everything you'd need is very close by. We go shopping the day we arrive and I buy 2 24pks of water (I think it costs $7), many quick snacks, and some food that is easily made. We purchase plastic wear, and plastic bowls for cereals, and paperplates. We always bring 2 napsacks and fill them with snacks, and plenty of water. 3 waters a day x 5 =$30 ($3.00 per H2O OOOCH!!) We also head down the road to Walmart, and buy a small fry pan so we can make grilled cheese for our kids, and scrabbled eggs, grilled muffins, easy mac and cheese, and many other quick things. I don't mind cooking something quick. It sure saves a truckload of $$$$. I always check many websites in terms of renting a van. Last year, I found the best with Orbitz. (Sorry one Travel, I did you the previous time), and I found $125 with unlimited miles for the week + taxes. We usually stay 12 days, 11 nights. For that entire time, I paid $318.72. How incredible is that? That was with taxes as well. It pays to shop around. Every year we learn something new and apply it to our next trip. The moral to the story is for 12 days, 11 nights, with a family of 5, I usually spend right around $4000, sometimes a little less. I also need to add that we always do 1 day at SeaWorld, a four day Hopper at Disneyworld, a 3 day Hopper for Islands of Adventure/Universal Studios, a character Breakfast, and the Pirate Dinner Adventure.(Which I think is the best dinner show, especially if you have children, they include the kids in the show). I also have to admit that I may shop a lot!!!! This is all included in my trip. Hope this helps for all looking for stories with a family of 5. Thanks John for all your tips!!!"
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For those who have a laptop computer, Disney is in the process of making all resort rooms computer accessible. If you wish to use Disney's computers, the following Disney resorts have business centers with computers, fax, photocopying machines and clerical staff: Coronado Springs, Swan, Dolphin, Contemporary, Yacht Club and Beach Club, Grand Floridian and BoardWalk. All Disney resort guests can use these services, no matter what resort they stay in. Go to guest services and ask for the computer room.
We took a tour of Disney’s newest resort, the
Coronado Springs. Looked great! The Mayan temple next to the pool
was something to see. They have a nice gift shop, too. The fact that this
resort is in the moderate price category with Port Orleans - Riverside, Port
Orleans - French Quarter and Caribbean Beach is enough to make us want to
stay there. If you like Tex/Mex, you will love this place!
Rick writes: "We just got back from a WDW vacation. We want to go back already! We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside which was great for us. Just to add to the question of checking other resorts; we had no problem going to the security booth and asking if we could check out the resort. All we were asked was a last name and they copied down our license plate number. We were offered a map (or you may request one). We saw about 10 separate resorts from the All Star to Grand Floridian. Even Fort Wilderness campgrounds. The resorts and grounds are very well kept." Touring the resorts is one of our favorite activities at WDW. See our book for "A Touring Plan of the Walt Disney World Resorts." To order our book, click here.
"I thought I knew all the tips for saving money at WDW, even being a member of the Magic Kingdom Club for over 15 years, but just learning about [your ticket agent] saved our family over $300.00! Thanks." Janet Handy, Bel Air, MD "Plenty of roadside outfits in Orlando promise discounted tickets, but most of them really want to rope you into a time-share sales pitch in exchange for vouchers - accept at your own risk. [Affordable Disney's ticket agent], though, is legit." The New York Post, November 16, 2004.
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Resort Facts All Star Sports All Star Music All Star Movies Resorts
Some buildings are rather far from the bus stop, so
book a room near the lobby if you plan to use Disney transportation.
Animal Kingdom Lodge It's a 1-1/2 hour private tour that recreates an afternoon game drive. You get to spend time with members of the Animal Kingdom team and learn about the history, architecture and animals. (Plenty of photo ops, too!) Following the tour, you get a multi-course meal at Jiko. This is a pre-determined menu which includes wine pairings, and all eight people dine together. You meet an hour and a half prior to sunset for this tour. You can reserve 90 days (180 days starting October 27, 2009) in advance by calling 407-938-4755."
Epcot's Illuminations and Disney's Hollywood Studios'
fireworks are visible from certain rooms.
The walk around Barefoot Bay (larger than the lagoon
at Epcot's World Showcase) is ideal for strolling, biking, etc. The California Grill is considered to be one of the finest restaurants at Walt Disney World.
"We stayed at the Contemporary Resort and had a great time. We were fortunate
to have a room that faced Magic Kingdom so that we could watch the fireworks
from the comfort of our balcony (we only needed to join the crowds one night
to realize that with the heat and time of day, the 10 p.m. showing was a
bit much on site for our 8 and 10 year old children). Additionally, this
resort has refrigerators in the room which came in handy for the leftovers
and cold drinks." Thanks, RJ and MJ, for the
tip!
Take a stroll late at night on the Ranchos illuminated
trail. Coronado Springs has a very nice gift shop. The Fort Wilderness Campsites are the least expensive accommodations on Disney property. Bikes and motorized carts are the easiest ways to weave your way through this resort. This resort is a great place for all WDW visitors to see the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom and the Electrical Water Pageant.
Touring Fort Wilderness: Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Did you
know that if you're staying at Ft. Wilderness you can rent a golf cart? And
you can take as long as you want to do a lap around your loop!
:-)" Fort Wilderness Carriage Ride: Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds is offering 30-minute carriage rides 6-10 PM every night. Reservations are recommended. Call 407-824-2734. Avoiding Backups at Fort Wilderness: "If you stay at the Fort Wilderness Cabins as we did (again!) and you are using a car to get around, get used to passing the first FW entrance after the Magic Kingdom gates. Drive another 400 feet to the Pioneer Hall driveway. You will not encounter the guard booth or chance getting stuck behind a camper, which can take a few minutes to gain admittance. It may not be the longest line you wait in at the parks but after a long day the last thing you want to be stuck behind is a caravan of campers." Thanks, Nick, for the tip! Concierge Accommodations: "I recommend staying at the sugar loaf building which is concierge for larger families. 8 of us went and the food in the lobby all day really helps. It is worth the extra $100 per day! The people at the desk there were extremely helpful when our flight was cancelled on Saturday. They got through to Delta for me and extended our stay for 2 more nights at the rate we had. The hotel accidentally threw away my Paul Mitchell shampoo and conditioner. They told me to go purchase some in their salon and they would credit my account. Also, 2 of our new shirts were damaged in the dryer so the manager came up and gave me a $50 credit for them. The service is outstanding, the place is very, very clean, you have food all day, turn down service at night, and they help you with anything you need. They even got us into the Park Fare restaurant with reservations." Thanks, Renea, for the feedback!
Pirate Cruise at the Floridian: The
Pirate Cruise is for kids only. Children must be potty trained and 3-10 years
of age. Lori writes: "Just a little F.Y.I. . . Upon
calling WDW Dining I uncovered another 'Adventure' for my little one. It
is called 'PIRATE CRUISE' and is offered at the Grand Floridian on certain
days. It books up pretty fast and I was able to sweet talk my way into a
spot for our little guy! Includes lunch, a story about a true FL pirate,
a cruise around the lagoon on their TREASURE HUNT, they get to bring home
their treasures and they dress up as little pirates. (There is also a lifeguard
who is along on their journey). The whole thing
lasts about 2 hours. It was difficult to get in but I kept calling and finally
told them a little something about Nicholas and the reservationist took over
from there. Advise people to call early (like Cinderella Breakfast early)
and to keep calling back for cancellations... But as you said a little personal
touch never hurts and I do have a special little boy. The reservationist
says it is almost a must see for little adventure-minded children!"
Make your reservations 120 days in advance by calling
407-WDW-DINE.
A Disney Vacation Club resort.
Let the reservationist know that you are on your honeymoon
or celebrating your anniversary -- they'll give you a free bottle of
champagne! "The rooms are nearly identical to the All Star resort rooms with respect to size and amenities, and the buildings themselves are very similar as well. There are differences in how the resort is laid out, though. Some of the buildings are nearer to the main one than others, but the furthest ones aren't quite as far a walk as the furthest All Star buildings. (With nearly 2,900 rooms the resort is huge, so you should anticipate at least some amount of walking.) As with the All Stars, you can pay extra per night to get closer to the main building. Another nice change is the food court area. Pop Century has many built-in booths in addition to the tables, and the entire area has a softer, somewhat classier feel than the All Star cafeteria ambiance. It's still a food court, but a definite improvement. What continues to amaze me is how many people still request an All Star Resort rather than Pop Century. All I can figure is that people just don't understand the amenities and improvements they're missing at Pop Century. The number one thing I hear is, 'We want to stay at All Star Movies because of the giant characters.' In truth, Pop Century has more of those giant characters than ANY of the Disney resorts, including All Star Movies! The 50s section has characters from Lady and the Tramp. Jungle Book characters are in the 60s section. In the 70s section you get Mickey himself in the form of a classic Mickey dial phone. And, of course, you get the pop culture icons the resort is known for: humongous Play-doh cans and cell phones and yo-yos and big wheels and more.
Pop Century has the added benefit of being in the same county that most Disney
resorts are rather than over the line where the All Star resorts are. That
means you save an extra 1.5% on tax! So the next time you feel that a value
resort is what you need, give Pop Century a try. If you liked the All Star
resorts you'll LOVE Pop Century!" Riverside is our favorite section. A cruise on the Sassagoola River is one of the most pleasant free things to do at Walt Disney World. Guests are allowed to use the pools at the French Quarter. Carriage Ride: Port Orleans Riverside features a half-hour carriage ride. Reservations are recommended. Call 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529) up to 90 days before arrival. "I thought I'd let your readers know that our room at Port Orleans Riverside was the perfect location. We stayed in building 87. Rooms 8739 and 8740. We had a great river view and were just a short walk over the bridge to the main pool. The East depot bus stop was just another short walk from the front of the building and we always got a seat. There was only one additional stop (the very crowded main depot at the lobby) before the Magic Kingdom." Thanks, Stephanie! Beth writes about her last stay at Port Orleans Riverside: "I've walked through this resort many times, but this was the first time for staying there. I have to give it two thumbs up. The room we had was one of the refurbished ones. The beds are now rather high, but ultra-comfy. The room has a new piece of furniture to house a small refrigerator. I heard that including the refrigerators in the moderate and deluxe rooms was a test program, but I can't imagine that they are spending all this money for the equipment and the furniture to put it in if they aren't committed to it. And the frig is larger than the tiny dorm-type ones they rent for $10 a day, too. I didn't think that the addition of the privacy curtain between the dressing area and sleeping area would be that big of a deal, but it was REALLY nice to have it since we had some shy children in the party. Our room was clean and in very good shape. Other than what I mentioned, I didn't really notice major changes to the rooms compared to my last stay in a moderate resort. The two children (ages 5 and 6) were totally content with the regular pool right next to our end of the building, but once they tried out the themed pool they didn't want to do the other one anymore. Who could blame them? It's a very cool pool! And plenty of life guards, too. I was amazed to see that there were at least six of them to cover a pool that most places would have assigned no more than two or maybe three guards to. I have also come to the conclusion that there really isn't a 'bad' building to stay in at PO-Riverside. The themed pool is very centralized, and it's easy to get over to the main building, too. No matter where you are you'll have to do some walking, but I can't say that it's significantly worse from one area than any other. HINT: Before leaving your room the first time, take a good look at the map and determine what bus stop is closest to you. The drivers can't tell you which one to get off at based on your building name or room number, so decide in advance which one you want. We also learned that walking through the buildings to get from one place to another is a maze. It is MUCH more direct (and faster) to go out to the parking lot or to the main path along the river and then go. You can walk in a straight line from there to where you want to go rather than weaving in and out. The peacefulness and tranquility of the Riverside grounds make this a wonderful contrast to the noise and bustle of the parks. I still think I like French Quarter better because of its smaller size, but I wouldn't hesitate to stay at Riverside again."
Port
Orleans French Quarter Port Orleans Bus Transportation: PO French Quarter and PO Riverside use the same buses. We usually catch the bus at PO Riverside at South Depot where the store is. The buses are empty there. Other depots can have crowded buses depending on how many have gotten on at other PO depots. A Disney Vacation Club resort.
Carriage Ride: Saratoga Springs features a half-hour carriage ride.
Reservations are recommended. Call 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529) up to 90 days
before arrival. Since Swan and Dolphin host convention centers, you may want to book before or after a convention.
Beth writes: "The Swan and Dolphin are fine resorts - among the best of the
Sheraton and Westin chains - but I have always found them to be just that...
a Sheraton and a Westin. They could be located in any city in the country.
I find the service there to be at least as good as others in their chain
- but generally no better than the typical service I get at a Disney resort.
If you can stay in them on points or get a really great discounted rate that's
one thing, but otherwise, if your budget can handle it, a Disney resort is
the way to go in most cases." Concierge Service: Beth writes: "We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in a concierge level room. The security guard phoned ahead to alert them that we were on the way in, so there was a concierge representative on hand at the door when we arrived. He helped us upstairs and checked us in at the special concierge desk so we didn't have to stand in line at the regular desk. The room is identical to a regular room, but is on the seventh floor which is accessible by room key only. We also had nightly turndown service and chocolates each evening, and there were comfy robes in the closet. The Continental breakfast offerings were nice... assorted bagels, pastries, and baked goods; fresh fruit; yogurt; dry cereal; juices, and numerous hot drink offerings. There were plenty of tables to eat at, including one area for children that showed cartoons. I found the concierge employees to be very helpful and readily accessible until about 10 PM daily. USA Today was delivered to the room in the morning, and other national papers (NY Times, Wall Street Journal) were available in the concierge lobby. In the afternoon there were cookies as well as cold beverages (including canned sodas), and this offering expanded later on to included hot soup and an additional hot item as well as assorted beers in the cooler, cheese and crackers, and some nice wines. In the evening there were several dessert items plus cordials (Bailey's, etc.). My only two gripes with the concierge F&B service were that they completely shut down between offerings (so you can't even get a drink), and that they close up around 10 PM. Again, you can't even get a drink. We learned quickly that you need to grab what you can, when you can, and stock the frig in your room.
In short, we had a great time at Wilderness Lodge, and I wouldn't hesitate
to stay there again, or to recommended it highly to others. Concierge level
would be worth maybe $10-15 per day per person for breakfast if for no other
reason than it's relatively quiet and unhurried. If you actually get back
to drink the sodas, cordials, wine and/or beer then you might save another
$5-20 a day per person (depending on your drinking habits). If you pay anything
more than that, it's for the service - and only YOU can decide how much it's
worth to you to have the concierge cast members at your
service.
Gayle writes: "I look forward to waking up to your Disney update. Thanks for doing the nice job you do. Question....We are traveling to Disney's Vero Beach and then the Grand Floridian the end of January. We have a Concierge room at the GF. In your opinion, what is the best location in the hotel. Are nightly fireworks visible from a room? Thought you might know. Keep up the great work & thanks." The best views of the Castle and the fireworks are from the rooms with a lagoon view: Sago Cay and Conch Key lodge houses. Sugar Loaf Key is closest to the main lobby and Big Pine Key is near the beach. Thanks for your kind comments. Polynesian
A member writes: Yacht Club & Beach Club Melisa writes: "My husband, son (3) and I just returned from a 10 day trip to Disney. The trip itself had some ups and down. We were booked at the Beach & Yacht Club (beach side) I requested a certain room and due to the view had to pay the upgrade of water view to have my request filled. However, when I got to the room and saw the view I don't know what water view I paid for. The room was huge which was wonderful. we had 2 balconies. The larger one - about 20-feet long - looked over the main court yard. The other, which was a one person standing balcony. barely overlooked the pool. If you don't like to walk a distance to your room from the lobby this might not be the best choice of hotels. ONE set of elevators middle of the resort and you walk from there to whatever end your room is in. For us, that turned into about a 3-4 min walk. All in all a nice quiet resort." Fort Wilderness Tinita writes: "Although you don't know me, I feel like we are friends because I have bookmarked your website on my computer and have subscribed for your newsletters. Also, my family and I are HUGE Disney fans. My husband (now deceased) and I took our only child to Disney for the first time in 1974 (before EPCOT), and were instantly hooked. We have returned as often as possible since then. My husband died in 1992, but our son, his wife, and kids (now 3 of them) go at least once a year. This summer trip will be my 26th (we had to miss a few years because of sickness, new babies, etc.) and my son's 25th. Anyway, a lot of the tips you have on your site are great ones which we have found out by trial and error. We just bought a 32 foot motor home this year and will stay at Fort Wilderness (3 years in the cabins, 1 year in a travel trailer of mine, and now in the new motor home). This will be inexpensive because full hookup is only $57 per night and you get all the conveniences of resort guests. We really love the Fort Wilderness scene. The kids love the electric carts which we rent for the whole week--a great way to get around and a lot of fun, as well. Anyway, thanks for maintaining such a wonderful site. It is nice to know there are other people who get all 'quivery' as they drive in through those gates and see the Mickey ears on the water tower!!"
Thank you for your kind comments, Tinita. Over the
years we have made many friends like you who share with us their love for
the magic and wonder of Disney! "Love your newsletter. On a recent trip to Disney World in November we stayed at the Fort Wilderness Campground in our camper. The campsite we received, though listed as a premium site (cause it had cable), was the smallest we’ve ever had in 5 trips. The bathhouse for the loop had recently been remodeled and just been reopened. 5 of the 7 days we were there we had no hot water in the showers. We had to rent a golf cart for the week cause we had 5 children with us and had to go to other loops for showers. The first 3 days the drains in the showers in the women’s showers backed up all over the floors so even if you could tolerate the cold water you were standing ankle deep in dirty water. We received a survey from the campground after returning home and let our displeasure be known there, but have never heard any apology or anything. My question is there somewhere else we should be complaining or just let it ride. Any input would be appreciated. The best thing you could have done is complain in person while you were there. They could have placed you at another resort or compensated you in some way. You should still file a complaint and see what happens. Send a letter to: COMPLAINTS AND COMMENTS:
Walt Disney World Guest Communications You can also send a letter to the General Manager at Ft. Wilderness:
General Manager at Fort Wilderness Caribbean Beach "If you are planning to stay in the Caribbean Beach resort - be forewarned that you need to call housekeeping to have a hairdryer or iron brought to the room. However, they have plastic drinking mugs ($13) on the table (a la mini bar) that your kids will definitely want - plus $5.00 ponchos. Also, they supply a coffee maker but if you want coffee, it costs $1.14 a package." Thanks, Kathy, for the tips! Coronado Springs Paula writes: "It doesn't happen often but we had a very bad stay at the Coronado Springs Resort on our vacation (6-29-01 to 7-5-01). We could not talk to the housekeeping staff because they could not understand English at all. We tried showing them with our hands and pointing. nothing worked. When we called the front desk to ask for towels they said they would send them up. they said the same thing two hours later. to make a long story short my husband had two hand towels for his shower. The one girl on the phone from housekeeping said Disney only changes the beds in the rooms once every three days! I was amazed. I thought they changed them every day. You were right about the tip added on to your bill in the food court and for what? We had to get our own soda and everything talk about a rip-off! I guess they don't have to try to give you good service because they are going to get their tip anyway. On a positive note the food is not that bad for food court food but they should not include the tip! We had requested fitted sheets for the beds because the flat sheets ... just [kept] falling on the floor. well anyway housekeeping said they don't use fitted sheets anymore! I have never heard of such a thing. I told my husband that i think the quality of Disney is really starting to slip and people are noticing it! i'll write again if anything news worthy happens around here as we go down to Disney about every other month. Thanks for the tips. keep up the good work!!!" A cruise on the Sassagoola River is one of the most pleasant free things to do at WDW. (See our chapter on 100 Things To Do At Walt Disney World® That Cost Little Or No Money for other great free or inexpensive activities like this one.) Guests at Riverside and French Quarter are allowed to use each other's pools. Building #1 at French Quarter" overlooks the river and is particularly secluded. Rooms on the top floor are the quietest. NOTE: Port Orleans has changed its Fax number to 407/934-5777.
David writes: " I am staying in November at the Wyndham Palace Resort in the Disney World Resort - is this actually considered a Disney Resort, for the purposes of the unlimited passes and such? Is it best to buy Universal studios tickets in conjunction with disney passes, or is it best to get them from a separate source. Thanks a lot for your book!"
The Wyndham is an official Disney hotel that is
independently owned and sells WDW passes. Guests do not have early-entry
privileges and they must use the hotel buses unless they purchase a multi-day
pass which gives them the right to use all of WDW transportation. You can
buy Universal tickets at the same time. See our book for places to buy the
Universal tickets at a discount. All seven independently owned Downtown Disney Resort Hotels also participate in E-ride nights. You must have a muti-day pass to qualify. Purchase E-tickets at your onsite gift shop. E-tickets are limited. They only allow 5,000 in the Magic Kingdom. We've uncovered a source that guarantees the lowest rates at the Downtown Disney Resort Hotels! Click here to check out the prices.
Kimberly writes: "My fiancee and I are coming to Disney for our honeymoon,we would like to do something special while we are there. What kinds of things does The All Star Music Resort offer?" The buildings are adorned with giant musical icons like clarinets, maracas, etc. The music motif is everywhere. If you like music, you'll love this resort. The music supervisor for our local school system took his wife there recently and they loved it. See our book for free or inexpensive things to do at the All Star Resorts.
Gail writes: We will be in Orlando in November and would like to attend Catholic Mass at the Polynesian Village on Sunday..." Disney no longer provides religious services on property. The Catholic Church, Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, is nearby at 8300 Vineland Ave. Call 407/239-6600.
Gary writes: "You have said your favorite place to stay is Port Orleans - Riverside. Is it that much better than something like All Star - Movie Resort?" Port Orleans - Riverside is more upscale. The rooms are larger and the food at the food court is better. However, the All Stars are a lot of fun and economical. Young children especially like the larger than life icons on the All Star Resort buildings. PO Riverside also has a ceiling fan that helps circulate the air conditioning on those hot and muggy Florida days. In a pinch, we would not turn down either resort.
Simon plans to stay at Port Orleans - Riverside: "I will be in orlando 2 days before going into the Disney World. I would like to know whether I am allowed to visit Downtown Disney as well as visiting some of the Disney resort areas during that time?" You can visit Downtown Disney any time. The guards at the resorts will admit visitors staying off property. They will record your name and license plate number. "What is the earliest time that I can check into Port Orleans and to visit the first park ie Magic Kingdom or Epcot straightway without losing valuable time?"
Check-in is 3 PM. Leave your luggage in the car or
at the luggage depot outside Guest Services and come back later to check
in. Buses run every 15 to 20 minutes. We have had no problems with buses to or from The Riverside section. "Is there any cooking facility near or in Port Orleans where I can cook some simple food like Instant Noodles etc to cut food bills? Also, is there any bakery around to get fresh bread everyday?" There are no cooking facilities at Port Orleans. The food court has a microwave if that will do. The Riverside has our favorite bakery. In addition to cake, pie, cookies (I want one!), muffins, and ice cream, it sells fresh bagels and croissants.
Tina is taking a large group to WDW: " When is checkout time at the resorts? Will my group have to leave the park since they won't be able to lug around their luggage during the day?" Check out time is 11 AM at all resorts. If you would like to check out later, you can ask for permission to stay until 1 PM when you check in. Disney won't mind if they are not sold out. If you want to spend the day in the parks after you check out, leave your luggage at the luggage depot outside Guest Services. Then return and pick up your luggage when you're ready to leave.
Anita writes: "I would like to organize a family reunion in Orlando next summer and would appreciate your input. Our group would consist of about 25 adults (couples and singles) and 20 children (ranging in age between 1 and 15, most of which are younger than 8). My initial impression is the best course is for us to rent 2 or 3 houses on the same street, where we could share lodging and food expenses... Are the homes found at various locations, such as Rolling Hills and Lindfields, really within 15 minutes of the WDW main gate or is that a misnomer?" Certainly, renting townhouses and condos with cooking facilities is a way to cut costs. For affordable condos and vacation rentals, click here. As far as hotels advertising that they are 15 minutes from WDW? Well, technically, they might be 15 minutes from the WDW property entrance, but you still have another 15 minutes to travel before you get to get to the WDW resorts and parks! So, figure a half hour in traffic.
Caroline writes: "I just wanted to let you know that we returned from our Disney trip last week and had an incredible time! We purchased our park hopper passes in advance from [your travel agent] and I was so glad that we did. We saved lots of $$$ and didn't have to worry about purchasing them when we got to Orlando. I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone traveling to Disney World or the Orlando area to purchase their attraction tickets in advance from Omar. They will save lots of time AND money! Also, we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was incredible! We would never have been able to stay in a Deluxe resort and were actually looking at staying off property. Because of your [deals], we were able to stay on property at one of the Deluxe resorts for about the same price as staying off property. I would highly recommend staying on property. The Disney magic just never ends!!"
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