Fastpass+ at Animal Kingdom

When using FastPass+ in the parks, it is always recommended to not book any fastpasses in the first 2 hours of the day.  The lines in the park are a lot lighter at this time and the Fastpass+ is usually not needed.  It is best to use FastPass+ later in the day when the crowds arrive and lines began to grow long.  FastPass+ in Animal Kingdom does not have a tiered system.  The following is a list of the rides that you should get FastPass+ for in Epcot in order of longest wait times:

Kilimanjaro Safari

Expedition Everest

Dinosaur

Kali River Rapids

Primeval Whirl

Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventure Outpost

Kilimanjaro Safari is the main attraction at Animal Kingdom, but you may not need to use your fastpass there if you would like to use it elsewhere.  If you plan on being at the park when it opens, and ride the Safari within the first 30 minutes, you can save your fastpasses.

Expedition Everest is a popular ride and is definitely worthy of a fastpass.  Remember to get your fastpass after the first two hours, as you may be able to ride in the first two hours with minimal wait and you can ride a second time with your fastpass.

Dinosaur is a hit and miss in terms of line length, I have seen it long at times, and non-existent at others.  If you really want to use your fastpass elsewhere, you may consider taking your chances on this one.

Kali River rapids can also be a hit and miss, but it is predictable based on the weather.  Since you usually get absolutely soaked on this ride, you typically want to ride when it is hot (and so does everyone else).  You are not likely to see a long line in the early morning or when the temperature is below 70, but you probably are not very interested in riding it at those times either.  If you are in Animal Kingdom during a hot time a year, be sure to get a fastpass for the middle of the day.

Primeval Whirl is not exactly my favorite ride, but my son loves it, and it typically gets a fairly long line.  If you plan on riding it, you may want to use a fastpass if you have not used your 3 selections already.

As mentioned on another post, I typically do not recommend using fastpass on character meets.  Since the Safari is the only ride in Animal Kingdom without height limits, any family with small children may want to consider a fastpass with characters here.

Animal Kingdom also has wonderful shows that are listed as fastpass selections.  The shows are fantastic however a fastpass is virtually useless.  Only on the absolute busiest days will you be shut out of a show if you don’t have a fastpass.  Typically guest can get into all shows if you arrive before it starts and only on a few occasions, you may need to show up 20 minutes early.  Unless you are determined to be one of the first into the venue to watch a show, there is no need to use a fastpass on the shows.

Fastpass+ at Epcot

When using FastPass+ in the parks, it is always recommended to not book any fastpasses in the first 2 hours of the day.  The lines in the park are a lot lighter at this time and the Fastpass+ is usually not needed.  It is best to use FastPass+ later in the day when the crowds arrive and lines began to grow long.  FastPass+ in Epcot has a tiered system.  You are only allowed to pick one attraction from the first tier, and two from the 2^nd tier.  The following is a list of the rides that you should get FastPass+ for in Epcot in order of longest wait times:

Tier One:

Soarin

Test Track

Mission Space

Tier Two:

Spaceship Earth

Meet Disney Pals at Character Spot

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

The only two rides at Epcot that really need a fastpass are Soarin and Test Track, but unfortunately, you only get to pick one of them.  My advice is to choose one of them and ride the other one immediately at park opening.  Mission Space is probably the third best ride in the park in most people’s opinion, but it is a very distant third.  (As of the writing of this post, Soarin is currently closed for a long refurbishment.  When it returns, the video will change from Soarin over California to Soarin over the World.  There will also be a third theatre added to the attraction.)

The second tier at this park is a big drop off from the first.  Spaceship Earth is definitely worth a ride if you have never rode it before, but my family only rides it once every 4 or 5 trips.  It’s not a bad ride, but for me it is not worth waiting more than 5 minutes.  Since it is located in the Epcot ball and very front and center, the line there tends to be very long.  I can only imagine that first time visitors see this as the first ride when they enter the park and think it is a must do since it is the icon of the park.  I would recommend riding it if there is no wait or you have a fastpass, but do not feel bad if you decide to skip it.  I would normally not suggest a Character Meet for a fastpass, but there is really nothing else here to use your fastpass on in this park.  You have an extra fastpass selection; you may as well use it somewhere.  The Seas with Nemo rarely has any weight at all, but again, if you have nothing else to use your fast pass selection on, you may as well use it here.

Kylo Ren to meet at Star Wars Launch Bay

Kylo Ren will replace Darth Vader at the Star Wars launch Bay. Chewbacca will continue to meet guest in his current location, and Jawas and Storm Troopers will continue to walk around the areas inside and outside the area.

Most rumors appear to suggest that the characters available to meet may continue to change as more Star Wars are released.

Fastpass+ at Hollywood Studios

When using FastPass+ in the parks, it is always recommended to not book any fastpasses in the first 2 hours of the day.  The lines in the park are a lot lighter at this time and the Fastpass+ is usually not needed.  It is best to use FastPass+ later in the day when the crowds arrive and lines began to grow long.  FastPass+ in Hollywood Studios has a tiered system.  You are only allowed to pick one attraction from the first tier, and two from the 2^nd tier.  The following is a list of the rides that you should get FastPass+ for in the Hollywood Studios in order of longest wait times:

Tier One:

Toy Story Mania

Rock’n’ Roller Coaster

Tier Two:

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Star Tours

Toy Story Mania is the ride that everyone runs to as soon as the park opens.  Fastpass for this ride must be booked at least 30 days out from your trip as it is very popular.  The general rule of now booking a fastpass in the first two hours can be broken if that is the only time that is available.

Rock’n’Roller Coaster is definitely a ride worthy of a fastpass, but given the tier structure at Hollywood Studios, it is hard to choose Rock’n’Roller coaster over Toy Story Mania.  While Toy Story Mania usually has a line immediately when the park opens, you can generally ride Rock’n’Roller Coaster in the first few hours of the day with a relatively small wait time.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Tours are the only two rides in tier two that are worthy of a fastpass.  As a matter of fact, they are the only two rides in the second tier.  All other attractions in tier two are shows.  It is highly advisable to avoid shows for fastpass reservations, as you will generally be sitting or standing right next to someone that did not use a fastpass.  The only time this may not be true is during extremely busy times a year when it might not be possible for all park guests to enter a show.  It is only these few times a year that shows fill up all seats in the theatre.

After using all 3 fastpasses for the day, it is advisable to first check to see if there is a fastpass available for rock’n’roller.  They are usually not available, but it is always worth a try.  Next I would try to secure a fastpass for Fantasmic.  During busier times of year, there are normally two showings for Fantasmic in the evening.  The second showing is usually not full and it is advisable to attend that showing if possible.  If you would like to see the first showing of Fantasmic, it is helpful to have a fastpass to make sure you can get into the theatre and get a seat.  Without a fastpass, the first showing will frequently fill up and the seats remaining for non-fastpass guests are extremely limited and sometimes it is standing room only.

FastPass+ at the Magic Kingdom

When using FastPass+ in the parks, it is always recommended to not book any fastpasses in the first 2 hours of the day.  The lines in the park are a lot lighter at this time and the Fastpass+ is usually not needed.  It is best to use FastPass+ later in the day when the crowds arrive and lines began to grow long.  FastPass+ in the Magic Kingdom is fairly straight forward, there is not a tier structure that is present in some of the other parks.

The following is a list of the rides that you should get FastPass+ for in the Magic Kingdom in order of longest wait times:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Anna & Elsa Meet

Peter Pan

Space Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain

Splash Mountain

Storytime with Belle

Buzz Lightyear

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is this most popular ride in the Magic Kingdom.  In all our visits to the Magic Kingdom since the Dwarfs Mine Train was open, our family has never been able to secure a fastpass for the Mine Train.  The line for this ride is rarely less than an hour.  If you are not able to secure a fastpass, make sure you are one of the first people “on the rope” at rope drop and go straight to the ride.  After only 5 minutes of park opening, this ride line is an hour long.

Anna & Elsa Meet regularly had waits in excess of 5 hours when they first arrived at Magic Kingdom a few years ago.  The waits have reduced significantly, however; along with the Mine Train, this is one of the attractions that everyone rushes to at park opening.   If you are unable (or unwilling) to get a fastpass for this attraction, I would plan on watching the ride time throughout the day.  I would plan on waiting until the wait time goes down to about 30min.  During busier times of year, the wait time expectations may be closer to 45 min for a “short wait” for this attraction.

Peter Pan is another ride in fantasyland that frequently has a really long wait.  The line does not grow quite immediately as the previous two attractions.  Without a fastpass, you could get in line immediately at park opening without much wait.  If you do not immediately get in line at park opening, you should expect to wait no less than an hour for this ride.  Peter Pan is definitely a nice ride and a classic, but it is really hard to understand how people would wait so long for a 30 second ride.  I personally would either plan on getting a fastpass, riding it first thing at park opening, or just do not plan on riding at all.

The Mountains (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mounatin) are typically not very busy first thing at park opening.  If you would like to save your fastpass+ for other rides, you can plan on riding the mountains without much wait within the first two hours of park opening.  Space Mountain tends to be a little more unpredictable and should be rode first, or get a fastpass if you only plan on using one fastpass on the mountains.  Splash mountain typically gets a long wait as it gets warmer in the day, and may not get much of a wait at all during cooler days.

Storytime with Belle is on the list because it creates a unique dilemma.  The wait time is typically low in the morning, but it is not advisable to see in the morning because the attraction typically takes 30 to 40 minutes.  It is not a great idea to waste 30-40 minutes in the morning when you could otherwise experience 3 or 4 rides in that time.

Buzz Lightyear is a favorite for my family, but I would not recommend wasting one of your first 3 fastpasses on the ride.  After using your first 3 fastpasses, you are able to go to a fastpass kiosks in the park and add an additional ride one at a time.  As you can imagine, the rides that are available at this time are normally rides that don’t require a fastpass to ride.  Buzz lightyear is usually a ride that is available, but may still have a fairly decent wait otherwise.  Another great way to ride buzz is to wait until late in the evening.  If you wait until after the parade and fireworks are complete, you can generally ride Buzz over and over again with a wait of 5 minutes or less.

What about parades and fireworks? I have never been one to wait on the curb for hours waiting for a parade, or standing in the middle of Main Street for 30 minutes or more for the fireworks.   I have seen people pay $70 a ticket for the Halloween or Christmas party then walk in and sit on the curb for 3 hours to wait for the parade.  If you are one of those people, you may want to use your fastpass for parades and fireworks, but I cannot relate. 

Where do we stay when going to Disney?

Where do we stay when going to Disney?

There are more than 25 Disney Resort hotels in addition to the several other hotels on Disney property and a virtually unlimited number of accommodations outside of the property.  As with all other Disney topics, there could be books written on the subject, if they are not already.  So let’s go through the basic options.

First, what are the advantages of staying at a Disney Resort?  As a Disney Resort Guest, free parking is available at all parks and there is also free transportation offered to get you anywhere within Disney World that you would like to go.  Additionally, Disney Resort guests are allowed exclusive early access and/or late access to certain theme parks each day of the week.  Typically there is at least one park that  opens an hour early for resort guests or one park that stays open an extra 2 hours for resorts guests.  During busier times of the year, there are multiple parks that will offer either early or late magic hours each day.

Disney Resorts

Disney resorts are divided into categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas.  Although each category offers several different resorts, the cost and types of amenities are similar within each category.

Value Resorts – These resorts are the most budget conscious.  The entrances to the room are from the outside, each resort has a food court, and there is one main bus stop.  Value resorts also tend to be further from the theme parks than the other categories

Resorts in this category are as followed: All-Star Music, Movies and Sports; Pop Century and the newest member of the resort family, Art of Animation.

Moderate Resorts– These resorts offer a little more.  The entrances to the room are from the outside, each resort has a food court and one sit down restaurant and there is one bus stop for each section of the resort.  The rooms are a little larger, and usually contain two queen beds.  The locations of the resorts are usually near resort activities (Disney Springs, Disney Boardwalk)

Resorts in this category are as followed: Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter; Coronado Springs; and Caribbean Beach.  Disney also includes the Cabins at Fort Wilderness

Deluxe Resorts– These resorts can be quite fancy and offer the best of accommodations.  The entrances to the room are

Fly or Drive?

Do we fly or do we drive?
This can be a very personal decision and easy for some to make, but it can be a toss-up for others. Obviously distance and flight prices may be the biggest determining factor. I am not sure those living in the West Coast or those living in Florida will find this blog post very useful; but for all others, here we go… Before we start, I must first admit that the Western family has never flown to Disney World; however, that does not mean that my objective is to convince you that my way is best. As stated originally, it is really a personal decision and there are many pros and cons to each.
Distance – As stated originally, this is likely the biggest factor and it is different for every person. There is not much advice I can give you on this factor.
Staying on Property or off Property? –
Let’s first discuss the arguments for flying if you are staying on property?

• Disney has done a great job of making it extremely convenient to stay on property. If you are staying on property, Disney has a “Magical Express” that will pick you up from the airport and drop you off at your resort as part of your vacation package. They even take your luggage for you and it will be sitting in your room when you arrive. Pretty magical I would say. You can also use Disney transportation to get to all parks, and areas inside the resort including tons of restaurants of every shape and size. If you elect to get the Dining Plan, there is really no need to ever leave Disney property, and therefore no reason to have a car.
• If Disney makes it so easy, why would you drive? If you elect to stay off property in order to save money, get larger accommodations, visit other attractions in Florida, or whatever the reason may be, you just might want to have your own car. If you live close enough to consider driving, you may be able to save substantially by avoiding airfare tickets and the need to rent a rental car. The other perk of having a car is that you do not have to eat inside Disney. Although dining at Disney is a special part of a Disney vacation, it does come at a price.

So why do the Western’s drive? Since we have timeshare-like property that is paid for yearly, we never stay on property. For that reason, I like having my own car. We have tried using Disney transportation and while many Disney fans love it (please do not let me discourage you), I struggle to let someone else determine when I can come and go. (We even avoid the parking lot trams because I am so hard headed). Additionally, I am just not a fan of dragging four children through an airport with more luggage than I have hands to carry. We also eat on Disney vacations very similar to the way we eat at home, we go to the grocery, stock our refrigerator, and cook. Although we do enjoy a few meals in the park we keep them to a minimum. At this point, you may be saying, “you guys are boring, I thought you were Disney fans, you skip all the fun.” Well, let me answer that like I explain to my children. We each have personal preferences on how we do things and what we enjoy. Some people would like to Stay at Disney, Eat at Disney, and do everything else possible at Disney for the 5 most magical days of their life. The Western family likes to try to be a little frugal and have a little less fun for 20-30 days a year.

The other question I get, “How in the world do you continue to drive from Houston, Texas to Orlando, Florida multiple times a year with FOUR KIDS?” Our normal travel consists of leaving Houston in the afternoon after school/work to drive to New Orleans. We always stop in New Orleans to visit my family and drop our puppies off with their incredible babysitter (my mom). We gerenally try to leave New Orleans around 10 or 11 PM in order to make it to park opening. We drive straight through the night, alternating drivers if necessary until we arrive at Disney. And yes, even though I cannot seem to stay awake at home past 8 PM most nights, I somehow manage to drive straight through the night with little difficulty (not to mention the time I am running through the parks on no sleep on the first day). We can call it just a little bit of Disney magic.

When do we go????

When to go to Disney….
I must first warn you, if you ask the Western kids when to go to Disney, the answer is most likely NOW, or EVERYDAY. I am sure you have all heard the phrase, “bad day fishing is always better than a good day at the office;” the same idea applies to Disney as well. There are upsides and downsides to each time of year on the calendar, and there are also a few general concepts that apply.

Crowds & Discounts – The crowds at Disney are always much larger when children are out of school. As the general rule of supply and demand, this also means that Disney will also not offer discounts at these times, and the park hours are likely to be extended. If you are interested in having low crowd levels and the best discounts available, it is best if you take your family when school is in session. But, it is important to remember that park hours are likely to be reduced at these times as well. As an example, Magic Kingdom may have extra magic hours as late as 3 am in summer months, but may close at 9 pm the first week of February.

Weather– The weather in Florida can be fairly predictable. It is hot often and rains a lot. The heat in the middle of summer in Florida can be quite unbearable. If you do decide to travel to Florida during the hottest part of the year, careful planning can still lead to a great time. Early morning times and late evening visits can keep you out of the hottest part of the day and avoid the crowds as well. Also, I like to look at rain as an opportunity instead of a bad thing. Rain normally drives many away from the parks and typically makes for lighter crowds. Disney has many indoor attractions that can be enjoyed during rainy weather. My favorite is Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Events– Disney has several events all throughout the year that provide a little uniqueness to your trip. If you like to go to Disney often, like my family, the events allow every trip to be unique.

• RunDISNEY Events – Disney has several events throughout the year that are a lot of fun for runners. In 2016, the following are on the calendar: Walt Disney World Marathon (January 6-10), Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (February 18-21), Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend (April 14-17), Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend (November 4-5). All events include kids races, 5k, as well as a half marathon. The Wine and Dine event is the only even that does not include a 10k, and the Marathon is only offered at the first event of the year. These events all take place on Disney property, and include race courses that wind through the parks. There are also plenty of unique characters at these events as well as special parties and festivities. I was able to run the Marathon and Half Marathon (called the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge) January of 2016, and I can honestly say it was one of the greatest Disney experiences I have had. It was amazing.

• Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival – This occurs each March and continues until the end of May. During the Festival there are 3 concerts held each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. There is a different performer or band each weekend during the event. There are also additional food booths added around Epcot world showcase with unique food offerings. And of course, flowers are in full bloom and plentiful, including many topiaries that depict Disney Characters.

 

• Halloween Party – Halloween parties are separate ticketed events that occur on select nights in the Magic Kingdom. The parties typically begin in mid-September and usually end the first day or two of November. Since the parties are separately ticketed events, the crowds for the parties are limited; with that being said, the park can still be pretty crowded on some party nights. Party participants can begin entering the park at 4 pm on party days with their party ticket (separate park ticket is not needed). Regular day guest will begin to be escorted out of the park at 7 pm when the party officially starts. The Halloween party is a great opportunity to meet special characters that may not regularly appear at the park and there are regular characters that are dressed up in Halloween costumes or festive Halloween attire. As you can imagine, the Disney Villains are popular at the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Also on party nights, a unique Halloween parade occurs twice a night and a special firework show “Hallowishes” is performed. Additionally, the children are provided tiny bags (you are also welcomed to bring your own larger bag) for trick-o-treating around the park. Although children can wear costumes to Disney world at any time of year, this is one of the only times that adults are welcomed to dress up as well. Of all the times my family has visited Disney World, the Halloween parties are definitely some of the best experiences. This event is definitely one that surprised me the first time I attended.

 

• Christmas Party – Christmas parties are separate ticketed events that occur on select nights in the Magic Kingdom. The parties typically begin a day or two after the last Halloween Party and usually end the first week of January. Since the parties are separately ticketed events, the crowds for the parties are limited; with that being said, the park can still be pretty crowded on some party nights. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party participants can begin entering the park at 4 pm on party days with their party ticket (separate park ticket is not needed). Regular day guest will begin to be escorted out of the park at 7 pm when the party officially starts. Much like the Halloween party, the Christmas Party is a great opportunity to meet special characters that may not regularly appear at the park and there are regular characters that are dressed up in in festive Christmas attire. Early in the night, the castle is lit with amazing Christmas lights in a short ceremony/show by Anna, Elsa, and Olaf. Also on party nights, a unique Christmas parade occurs twice a night and a special firework show is performed. Additionally, hot coco and cookies are handed out to all guests at several locations around the park.

 

• Christmas – In addition to the Christmas party held, Christmas is a very festive time around the entire Walt Disney World Resort. Each Park has a huge Christmas tree and tons of decorations as well. The Disney Resorts also participate in decorating and have incredible displays. The Grand Floridian Resort is famous for the Gingerbread house that is the size of a real house.

As you can see, there are really not any bad times to go to Disney World, but you have to know what to expect. Our family really enjoyed attending the Halloween parties before the oldest children were in school. Now that the oldest two are in school, it is much more difficult to attend. If you really want to attend a Halloween Party and a Christmas Party, plan to arrive the day of the last Halloween Party. This will allow you to attend the Halloween party, then watch as the park magically gets redecorated alost overnight, to prepare for the Christmas Party a few nights later.

For others that have school age children, my secret tip is to try to go the first week they get out of school or the last week before they go back. Since schools around the country have different start and end dates, you may find that the crowds are much smaller than the times when all schools are out. Another good time to plan for a trip is any special time of year that your child’s school may be out, but other schools are not. Since I originally grew up in New Orleans, Mardi Gras was a great time of year that anyone in south Louisiana can visit without interfering with school.

We want to go to Disney, what do we do?

The most famous question I receive from friends that are considering a trip to Disney – “We want to go to Disney, what do we do.” To be honest, I can spend the next 5 years blogging on this topic and still not completely answer the question. With that being said, most people who ask that question are looking for the basics; they want to make sure they don’t leave out something really important in the process that they will regret later. Since Disney has become a place that, over the years, has demanded that visitors plan more and more; it is very important to know a few key points before even beginning the planning process. The basic steps to planning the trip are as follows:

1. Go to Disney’s website and order the vacation planning CD. This disc will help you get excited about your upcoming trip and also help answer some of the other questions below. Not to mention, it is absolutely free.
2. Is there a specific time frame or time of year that you want to go, or would you like to plan around crowds, weather, or holidays? The basic advice for this topic is that Florida is really hot in the summer, and the parks are considerably more crowded when kids are out of school. This does not mean that you cannot have fun at Disney when it is crowded; you just have to make sure you have the right expectations for the time of year you are going.
3. Do you plan on driving to Disney or do you plan on flying? This subject is a matter of personal preference and personal circumstances, but it is very important to decide before considering step #4.
4. Do you stay on Disney property or off? If you are flying to Disney, it is likely that staying on Disney property tends to be a better option. Disney has made it very convenient to get you from the airport, and to everything you could want to do in Disney without every needing a car. If you are driving to Disney, I would argue that you could save considerably by staying off property and also getting much larger accommodations for a fraction of the cost. With that being said, there are a lot of personal matters and preferences to consider. I know many that would never consider to stay anywhere other than on property. My family on the other hand has never stayed on property. As a family of six, we would either be required to get two rooms and split up the family, or we would have to get deluxe accommodations that are very expensive. My family also has access to a timeshare type property, that is paid for yearly (whether we use it or not), so we rarely even need to consider this question for our personal trips.
5. Once you make the decision about the dates you want to go to Disney World, set up a calendar appointment for 180 days prior to your trip. This is the date that you can begin booking any dining that you would like to plan. This is very important, because dining at Disney is becoming increasingly popular and many restaurants are booked immediately when the reservations open.
6. Now make a calendar appointment for 60 days prior to the trip if you decided to stay on property and 30 days prior to the trip if you are off property. This is the day you can begin to book your Fastpass+ for rides. Fastpass+ allows you to ride 3 rides (at a minimum) on each day with a minimal wait. Fastpass+ can be intimidating for a first time Disney visitor and the topic needs an entire blog post of its own.

These are the first six steps I recommend for anyone considering making a trip to Disney. Many of these steps are worthy of a blog post of their own (or two or three) to help narrow the decision. Please stay tuned for more to come on each topic.