WDW Trekker

There are many great restaurants located throughout the Walt Disney World Resort catering to just about all types of appetites. One of the best ways to assure getting into one of them is to place priority seating reservations prior to your arrival. This minor step, depending on the time of year you travel, can be critical especially if you are used to eating at a certain time.

There are two ways of making reservations. You may call dining services directly at 1-407-WDW-DINE (939-3463) and speak with a Cast Member who will gladly attempt to get you your desired time and restaurant. Just be sure to have your resort reservation number on hand when you call. (This is relatively new to the process. I’m still getting used to it.) The second way is by visiting the website, DisneyWorld.com/dining, and making your choices there.

The one lesson that I have learned more and more is to make reservations for any sit down meal as you can, including breakfast and lunch. Having the reservations in place guarantees your spot and will get you seated faster (especially in the morning). Certain restaurants are so popular that they will not seat you unless you have a reservation.

Note: There are also times of the year where security will not allow you into a resort parking lot unless you have a confirmed reservation at a restaurant such as Christmas, Easter, and a few others. If you know you will be needing to eat at certain restaurants, even in the morning, make the reservation.

Another small note to remember is that as reservations are being made, others are being canceled. So, if there is a restaurant you would like to try, attempt to make the reservation. If it is not available, try calling back later in the day or another day. One example of this is Le Celier at the Canada pavilion in Epcot. Sometimes it is possible to get a reservation based on a last minute cancellation, but you need to act fast and be flexible with your time.

One thing seems to be in high demand at Walt Disney World and that thing is strollers for young children. There is always the option at the front gates of the four theme parks, but what about for the times when you are not in the parks? Well, there is such a solution and at a much more reasonable price.

Why carry those bulky strollers from home when you can get affordable clean strollers delivered directly to your resort on the day you arrive? You and your kids deserve a hassle free ride when it comes to strollers.

Meet Magic Strollers, the sister company to Owner’s Locker. Magic Strollers offers single and double strollers delivered directly to your resort in black canvas carry bags starting at $15.00 for singles and $25.00 for doubles. The remaining days of your stay  cost approximately half of the initial fee. And, if you happen to become a member of Owner’s Locker, there is an additional discount of 20%.

The owners of the company are the nicest people you could meet and go out of their way to make sure that your vacation goes as smooth as possible. You can be assured that the stroller(s) will be clean, in working order, and at your resort when you need them. If there is a problem, they will do whatever to is necessary rectify the problem. Those who are members of Owner’s Locker are testament to the top-notch customer service.

Once you get through the main gates of one of the parks, it is important to establish a place to meet if you happen to get separated. There are many places in the parks which you can designate as meeting places. Make sure that everyone is in understanding so that there are no questions later on. You may also want to mark it on your park map or your kids’ park maps just in case they get lost.

Of course, this is not as critical as it used to be years ago when cell phones and personal walkie-talkies were non-existent. But it is always a safe move just in case your choice of communications happens to loose battery power or you loose it on a ride.

For those of you traveling with children, clearly explain to them that if they get lost they should find a Cast Member and that the cast member will help your child find you. (Most Cast Members carry radios/telephones with them.)To make things easier, you may want to provide your child some personal trip information so that they can locate you easily if your child gets separated from you.

One of the many things you will acquire in your resort packet at checking is your room key/card. This card is your answer to multiple things while on property. Depending on how you choose to setup your room and park admission, your room key will assume the following roles:

• Room key (valid from day of check-in til day of departure)
• Room Charge – Everything costs money in Disney except for a few items, but everything else throughout the property can be charged to your room just by swiping this little piece of plastic.
• Park Admission – If you choose to purchase your admission tickets to the park at the resort, it is likely that your room key will contain this key element as well. Your “key” will also get you your Fastpasses as long as your admission is attached.

So, keep this key card hand and well protected as loosing it can cause great anxiety and anxiety is not something that is welcomed at Walt Disney World. Fret not, if it does get misplaced, it is possible to get it replaced at your resort or guest relations.

The final step in your preparations to getting ready for a trip to Walt Disney World is packing. Depending on your situation, this process may be more or less cumbersome. But,  whether you are packing for just yourself or your entire family, you will find you will need to bring the following:

Toiletries

• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant/Antiperspirant
• Shaving Cream
• Comb/Brush
• Personal hygiene products
• Makeup

Clothing

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Shorts
• T-shirts/Shirts
• Pants/Jeans/Capris
• Socks
• Undergarments
• Swimsuit(s)
• Sweatshirt(s)
• Light jacket(s)

Other items

• Camera(s)
• Camera accessories (cables, tripods, etc.)
• Batteries (AA,AAA, camera batteries)
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Handy wipes
• Backpack/waist pack
• Pocket tissues

Travel Documents

• Plane/train tickets
• Hotel reservation
• Rental car reservation
• Driver’s license
• Health Insurance card(s)
• Maps
• Membership cards (AAA, DVC, etc.)
• Theme park tickets
• Copies of theme park tickets (front and back)

First Aid

• Aspirin
• Moleskin
• Antacid
• Motion sickness medication
• Medication(s)
• Vitamins
• Anti-itch cream (antihistamine)
• Aloe Vera gel
• Band Aids

This list could go on and on. Depending what time of the year you go, there may be some additions or substitutions in the list. Also, if you are staying at a resort which has a full kitchen or kitchenette, you may want to include certain kitchen items.

There are advantages to renting a car while visiting the Orlando area. A sampling of these advantages are:

• Visiting other area attractions without the costs of taxi cabs
• Enables you to save some money as well, especially when it comes to saving money on food. There are some good and inexpensive restaurants just outside the Disney property.
• Traveling from theme part to theme park without having to deal with bus schedules
• Resort hopping — especially for dinner reservations.

The exact size and class of the car depends on the number of people traveling. Otherwise, there is no reason to spend a lot of money as the car is not going to be used other than a means of transportation to facilitate getting from one location to another.

There are two approaches to renting a car. It can be done at the airport or at a local office within close proximity to the Disney property. From personal experience, I have worked with both Alamo/National Rent-A-Car and Hertz Rent-A-Car. Both companies provide a shuttle service which will pick you up at your resort and bring you to their location.

Alamo, which is now part of National Rent A Car, is the official car rental company of Walt Disney World. Therefore, there is actually a rental office located at two different areas on the property. The main location is at the Car Care Center located within minutes of the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot. The second location is located in the Downtown Disney Resorts area.

Hertz Rent-A-Car has several office located within minutes of the Walt Disney World Resort. There is actually one located on the property itself at the Shades of Green Resort which is strictly for US Military. However, the rental desk is open to the public. The second closest offices are the Marriott Courtyard located on Palm Parkway just off Route 535 and the Bonnet Creek Resort. Either office will provide a shuttle to pick you up.

Depending on how you make your reservation, it is possible to drop the car off at the airport rather than returning back to the local office location. I find it more convenient to drop the vehicle off at the airport as it offers me more flexibility in my final day at Disney.

Recently Disney has started another great service which is available to both regular Disney World Guests and Disney Vacation Club Members. That great service is online check-in. No longer do you have to stand in line for long periods of time waiting for those persons in front of you to check into the resort. You may now take care of this long and laborious task from the comfort of your favorite chair at your computer BEFORE you even arrive in Disney.

To do this, visit Disneyworld.com and login to your personal account up to 10 days prior to arriving in Orlando. Visit the page where your vacation information history is located. At that point, there is a link to begin your check-in process. During this time process, all the information that would typically be collected at the resort is done here such as all the names of those characters traveling with you, credit card information, and any other things that might be happening on your trip (like birthdays or anniversaries).  Once you’ve done all this, you’re now officially checked in.

If you’re a member of DVC (Disney Vacation Club), this process is completed through the dvcmember.com website in the “View Vacation Details” section (found in the right hand column of links).

Upon your arrival in Disney World at your resort, you will notice that there are two distinct lines at the registration counter, one for traditional check-in and one that says “Online Check-in”. Get on the Online Check-In line (which will be much shorter and faster). At the counter, all you will need to present to the Cast Member is a form of identification and they will hand you your folder containing all the great news and your room key cards.

Now you can go to your room or villa and start enjoying your Walt Disney World vacation.

At first, I was unaware of this program and inquired about it and how it worked. On a subsequent trip, I took advantage of this service and boy did it speed things up upon my arrival at the resort. I would highly recommend doing this especially if arriving late at night or if you have persons in your party who just can’t wait to visit with Mickey and Pals.

Whether with your own car or a rental, at one point you most likely will drive to Walt Disney World. Personally, I’ve driven from then airport both during the day and at night and using both major highways I-4 and SR-417. Which one you choose depends on your origin.

From the Airport

The ride from the airport takes approximately 30 minutes. There are two ways to travel from the airport to the Disney, SR528 West to I-4 West. The good part about this option is there are no tolls to pay, but requires watching signs. Once you’ve gotten onto I-4, just follow signs for Disney World and your resort.

The second and most direct way of getting from the airport to Disney is by taking the Greenway (SR417). This is the most direct, but will cost you a little over $2 in tolls. To get to 417, follow the signs at the airport for the South exit and 417. This road leading in and out of the airport from the south is called Boggy Creek Road. From Boggy Creek Road, follow signs for SR-417 West. There will be two tolls between this ramp and Disney.

The Disney Resort encompasses two exits off 417, 6 and 3 (exits decline as you travel west). Most of the resort is off Exit 6. Take Exit 6 to the junction of SR-536 West. Route 536 goes straight into the main gates of Disney World. Once you’ve entered the Disney property begin to observe signs for your destination.

If your destination happens to be Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Pop Century Resort or Coronado Springs Resort, Exit 3 is a better choice. This exit will put you onto Osceola Parkway which leads right to these three resorts.

From other points…

If your driving in from the north, most likely you will be entering the property via I-4. From I-4 follow signs for SR 536. Once on 536, follow signs for your desired location.

Note: All the signs for Disney refer to the Next Left or Next Right. This actually means the immediate next turn off, not the one after the approaching exit. I have thought this many times and have ended up in many places other than my desired destination. Most signs mention a place once and that is it rather than guiding you in, so be careful.

A few years ago, Disney created a new airport pickup and drop off service called Disney’s Magical Express. This service is totally FREE, one of the very few things which Disney offers complimentary to guests. The bus picks you up at the airport and whisks you away to your awaiting resort. You don’t have to worry about the roads or tolls. Just sit back in the seat, relax and begin to enjoy the Magic of Disney.

Now how does it work….That’s the REAL Magic! Depending on who made your resort arrangements, your flight information was provided to Disney. This information is entered into their system which then generates a tracking number and confirmation voucher. This voucher will be mailed to you at your home. In the envelop you will find the following:

• Vouchers for each person in your traveling party
• Baggage tags

The vouchers are needed when you get to the attendant at the Disney’s Magical Express location at the airport and when you board the specific bus. The same voucher works for both segments of the trip (from the airport and to the airport), so don’t loose them or throw them out.

The baggage tags are part of a neat little perk that Disney has included with the service. If you are traveling with checked luggage, a tag is to be placed on each bag. When the flight arrives Orlando, bags tagged with Magical Express are intercepted and loaded onto a truck rather than sent to the baggage claim. All you need to do is get off the plane and get to the bus. Your bags will magically appear in your guest room at the resort. How’s that for Disney Magic! At the end of your trip, baggage tags are placed on your bags by the airline check-in cast members (Disney Speak for employees) and sent off to the airport relieving you of having to lug your  bags. Unfortunately, the magic ends upon your arrival at your home airport.

Note that if you’re arriving into Orlando International Airport (OIA) late at night, it is advised that you DON’T use your tags and pick your bags up at the baggage claim and bring them to the motor coach yourself. Otherwise, it may be a few hours before you see your bags again.

I’ve taken this great service several times when I’ve opted not to rent a car due to very short stays.  The process is very streamlined and departure from the resorts is on time. I recommend this service to just about anyone as it alleviates the anxiety of getting from the airport to the resort (especially late at night). They even provide a short film to watch while going to the resorts from the airport and vise versa.

One of my favorite things to do is picking the place that I will call home during my stay at Disney World. With over 20 resorts on property to choose from, there is something for everyone in just about every price point. There are also a number of hotels just on the border of Disney World which can be a great alternative. But, since this is about Disney World, I am going to focus on the Disney resorts themselves.

There are four categories of resort at Walt Disney World and they are:

• Economy Resorts
• Intermediate Resorts
• Luxury Resorts
• Home away from Home Resorts

The Economy resorts are the budget resorts on the Disney property. They range in price from under $100 per night to just under $200 per night. Their basic amenities include a food court, shopping area, and themed pools. All resorts offer bus service to and from the theme parts approximately every half hour. These work well if all you really need is a clean bed and bathroom to rest after a long day.

The Intermediate resorts are a small step up from the economy resorts. Some of them offer full-service restaurants. Other than that, they offer all the same ammenities as the economy rooms.

The luxury resorts are the cream of the crop at Disney World. They offer various amenities and experiences depending on their location. They generally have more options in eating places, transportation, and outdoor activities. The prices in this category vary greatly depending on accomodations and their location at the resort.

Lastly, there are the “Home away from Home” resorts. These resorts give you all the comforts of home while away such as kitchenettes or full size kitchen and dedicated bedrooms. If your looking for camping accommodations, they fall into this category as well. This category technically falls into the luxury category as they offer all the amenities as the luxury resorts. The Disney Vacation Club Resorts fall into this category although they are not considered resorts but rather vacation villas.

No matter which category of resort you choose, you will be made to feel special while visiting at Disney. You might find that your vacation ends up being the same no matter what resort you choose.