In this episode, I discuss challenges often faced by groups going to Disney World, including picking when to go, where to stay, places to eat, and touring.

I also have a quick tip about the dining plan, recent news, and a featured company.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

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Call in your non-Disney World questions

If you have a non-Disney World question about websites, podcasts, business, personal stuff, etc., please leave me a SpeakPipe message and I'll put them together for a show at the end of the year. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Challenges for groups

Groups going to Disney World should consider not doing everything together, assigning 1 person to manage My Disney Experience reservations, sharing responsibilities (such as food or Tinker Bell gifts), and getting Memory Maker.

Some areas where challenges often come up include:

• Trip dates - going when everybody can go often means being at Disney World during busier and more expensive times
• Deciding where to stay - everybody has different budgets, many Disney resorts only allow 4 per room (read my post about rooms that allow 5+), and many people may decide to stay offsite. People who stay onsite and have 2+ rooms should call Disney and ask for a "travel with" number to link the reservations which will allow room requests for the group to be granted before everybody else at the resort.
• Finding places to eat - buffets are good, but also consider places like Ohana, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Garden Grill, and Liberty Tree Tavern which will appeal to a wide range of people. Making reservations for a group online can be a challenge since restaurants have maximums, but you can split it into 2 smaller reservations and just let the restaurant know when you're checking in that you're together. Remember that 18% gratuity will automatically be added for groups of 6 or more.
• Touring as a group - I'd recommend splitting into smaller groups based on individual families, age, or interest to make it easier.

News

• Star Wars Half Marathon - the Dark Side was announced and will feature kids races, a 5K, and a 10K in addition to the half marathon. The race weekend will be April 14-17, 2016, and registration opens on September 22, 2015.
• The My Disney Experience app was updated and now shows PhotoPass pics.
• The Blizzard Beach closure will now begin on October 4 instead of in late October.
• Eat to the Beat concerts, which take place during Food and Wine Festival, now offer a tier 1 FastPass+ option
• People traveling to Disney World September 29 and later will receive luggage tags with their MagicBands. The luggage tag you get will depend on which color MagicBand you choose.
  

Quick tip of the day

Adding a Disney Dining Plan to a reservation is usually something you can only do if you purchase a package, but you can add it to a room-only reservation if you call Disney or book through a travel agent. People who rent points can also add a dining plan to their reservations.

Featured company

Today's featured company is Mom Approved Costumes who has washable, glitter free, non-itchy, packable costumes for kids. Use code "wdwprep" at checkout to save 10% on purchases.

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In this episode, I discuss my best planning advice that I hope everyone will use for their trips, including ways to handle dining, FastPass+ reservations, and touring the parks during your trip.

I also have news, a quick tip about parades, and a featured company that I hope you'll work with.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron

WDW Prep To Go Patrons pay a little to unlock even more content than what’s on the main podcast feed, such as a private FB Group and exclusive audio that’s released on a private podcast feed.
 
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Call in your non-Disney World questions

If you have a non-Disney World question about websites, podcasts, business, personal stuff, etc., please leave me a SpeakPipe message and I'll put them together for a show at the end of the year. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Best planning advice

Some tips I hope everybody will follow for their trips:

• Book your most difficult dining and FastPass+ reservations first. Don't book in chronological order.
• The most difficult FastPass+ reservations to get are Anna/Elsa and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Often, the only people getting these (especially Anna/Elsa) are those staying onsite who jump to the end of their trip first. Everybody else should watch The Dibb for openings.
• Plan dining based on where you'll be (unless you booked with very little time, and then I'd suggest choosing dining based on current availability and forming your daily plan around that).
• If you show up to use a FastPass+ and the standby line is short, jump in the standby line and then open the app on your phone to change it to something else.
• Group touring plans by hour for the first few hours and then leave the rest of the day open. That's how my touring plans are structured, and seems to work the best for most people.

News

• Happy HalloWishes Dessert Premium Package is available on Halloween party nights and gives you parade viewing and a Halloween-themed fireworks dessert party. The price is $69 for adults, $39 for kids and can be booked online or by calling 407-939-3463.
• Some Table Service restaurants are now scheduled to be open on Halloween party nights, giving some people a great opportunity to snag a reservation they weren't previously able to get.
• The current bounceback offer (which anybody staying onsite can get by dialing x8844) is for Free Dining for next year and seems to be available through October 31.
  
• Some credible rumors indicate that Frozen Fun will likely be extended and One Man's Dream is relocating to another spot at Disney World.

Quick tip of the day

Magic Kingdom parades don't usually require lining up way ahead of time, though Main Street will have lots of people waiting way beforehand most of the time. I suggest watching from the front of the park or in Frontierland and not showing up quite as early. All parades start in Frontierland and end at the front of the park, except Main Street Electrical Parade which goes the opposite direction.

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In this special bonus episode, I discuss the most touching moments from the D23 Expo (and try not to cry while doing it!).

You'll hear audio that includes Richard Sherman, an animator, a special medley, and Kristen Bell.

Listen to the audio to hear audio straight from the D23 main stage.

Here's the short video I mentioned that I recorded in the parks.

Couple dancing during "A Kiss Goodnight."

A video posted by Shannon Albert (@wdwprepschool) on Aug 17, 2015 at 7:45am PDT

Subscribe to get new episodes

There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep To Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone)

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In this episode, I chat with Casey from DLR Prep School about our experiences at D23, including the big parks announcements.

We also discuss news and a quick tip that involves making "Casey" into a verb.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

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FYI - I say that this is episode 102 in the audio, but it's actually episode 103. I blame D23 fatigue for the error.

Call in your non-Disney World questions

If you have a non-Disney World question about websites, podcasts, business, personal stuff, etc., please leave me a SpeakPipe message and I'll put them together for a show at the end of the year. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

All about D23

At D23, we learned that:

• A Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant is coming to Magic Kingdom in late 2015.
• Star Wars lands are coming to both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios and includes Star Tours and Jedi Training getting updated, and a new Season of the Force seasonal event is coming to both parks in early 2016. Disneyland is also getting a new overlay for Space Mountain (Hyperspace Mountain), while Hollywood Studios is getting new fireworks.
• Toy Story Land is also coming to Hollywood Studios and it'll include an attraction based on the green aliens, a family coaster with the slinky dog as the ride vehicle, and an expansion of Toy Story Mania.
• Epcot updates regarding Frozen Ever After (the animatronics look fantastic) and Soarin' Around the World, both coming in 2016.
• Animal Kingdom will be getting a Kilimanjaro Safaris expansion (including adding 2 new animal species) and there were updates on Rivers of Light and the new Avatar-themed land which will officially be called Pandora - World of Avatar.

News

• There is now a Shop Disney Parks app for Android and iOS which will allow you to buy most parks merchandise from home.
• No Fantasmics are scheduled after January, but Fantasmic packages have finally opened up for the month of January.
• More resorts now have bus monitors to allow you to see when the next bus will be coming to each park.

Quick tip of the day

Don't believe the lines. Be sure to ask to make sure you get the right info. Casey is really good at this and it's become a verb, as in "go Casey it!"

Featured company

Today's featured company is Bitbelt which is a product that allows you to secure your MagicBand and/or fitness band. You can order online and use code "wdwprepschool" to save 15%.

Subscribe to get new episodes

There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep To Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone)

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All 4 Disney World parks have restaurants that open at 8 a.m., giving you a fantastic opportunity to eat before the park opens and maybe even position yourself in a prime spot to visit an attraction as soon as the park opens.

I'll get into the details of how that works, and also discuss news and a quick tip regarding Disney gift cards.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron

WDW Prep To Go Patrons pay a little to unlock even more content than what’s on the main podcast feed, such as a private FB Group and exclusive audio that’s released on a private podcast feed.
 
Become a Patron Now

Call in your non-Disney World questions

If you have a non-Disney World question about websites, podcasts, business, personal stuff, etc., please leave me a SpeakPipe message and I'll put them together for a show at the end of the year. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Pre-park opening breakfast info

First, some basic things that are true for all pre-park opening breakfast reservations:

• The earliest breakfast reservation time is almost always 8:00, regardless of when the park opens.
• Disney will provide transportation to get you there, even though they often tell people that buses begin an hour before park opening. Magic Kingdom buses usually begin at 6:30, and buses for the other parks usually begin at 7 or 7:15. The resort monorail usually begins operating at 7 a.m.
• At every park, there will be a special line for people with early reservations to enter. They'll check your name on the reservation list and then you'll be allowed into the park.

Magic Kingdom
Some things to know about Magic Kingdom pre-park opening reservations:

• Park hours often change from 9 to 8 a.m. so you may want to make 2 reservations and then cancel later when you know which one you want to keep.
• There will be PhotoPass photographers in the park to take pics.
• The three restaurant options are Crystal Palace, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Be Our Guest. Be Our Guest will be the fastest and give you the best opportunity to position yourself for an attraction.

Epcot
A couple of things to know about Epcot breakfast reservations:

• Akershus and Garden Grill are your two options (Garden Grill begins on November 8).
• People entering through the International Gateway won't have any issues getting in early.

Hollywood Studios

• Hollywood Studios often has park hours changes so I'd recommend making 2 reservations and then canceling the one you don't want.
• The only restaurant option is Hollywood and Vine, which has Disney Jr. characters.
• People interested in Jedi Training Academy might want to finish up eating just before the park opens to go jump in line.

Animal Kingdom
Just 1 option at Animal Kingdom (Tusker House), but it is good food and puts you in a great spot to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris after you're finished eating.

News

• Be Our Guest breakfast is now a permanent option that opens up 180 days beforehand, just like all other restaurants.
• Minnie's Holiday Dine is a dinner option at Hollywood & Vine at Hollywood Studios from November 7-January 3. The Fantasmic dinner package option is available online, and the non-Fantasmic option is available by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
• Pizzafari (Quick Service restaurant at Animal Kingdom) is scheduled to be closed August 24-October 19, 2015.

Quick tip of the day

DisneyGiftCard.com can be used to not only purchase Disney gift cards, but it can be used to combine your cards into 1 card worth up to $1000.

Featured company

Today's featured company is Garden Grocer which is my favorite way to get groceries on Disney World trips. Check out my article on 8 ways to get groceries for Disney World trips for other options as well.

Subscribe to get new episodes

There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep To Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone)

• Subscribe in iTunes (and please leave a review!)
• Subscribe to the feed
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Today I have my ideal Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom days to help you figure out how to plan your days (and to even combine the 2 parks into 1 day).

I also have a quick tip of the day and recent Disney World news.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron

WDW Prep To Go Patrons pay a little to unlock even more content than what’s on the main podcast feed, such as a private FB Group and exclusive audio that’s released on a private podcast feed.
 
Become a Patron Now

Call in your non-Disney World questions

If you have a non-Disney World question about websites, podcasts, business, personal stuff, etc., please leave me a SpeakPipe message and I'll put them together for a show at the end of the year. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Ideal Hollywood Studios day

• Arrive 30-40 minutes before the park opens
• Go to Toy Story Mania, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, and Great Movie Ride first. During busier times of the year FP+ reservations for Tower of Terror, Star Tours and Great Movie Ride may be needed.
• Spend the rest of the day seeing shows. Use wdwent.com for show times and consider taking food into outdoor shows to maximize your time (those shows include Beauty and the Beast, Lights Motors Action, Indiana Jones, and Fantasmic).

Ideal Animal Kingdom day

For the shortest wait times at attractions, follow this plan:

• Arrive 30-40 minutes before park opening
• Go to Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, ride Expedition Everest with FP+ (re-ride in the single rider line if desired), Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris with FP+, Festival of the Lion King with FP+, lunch, and remaining attractions

For maximum animal activity, follow this plan:

• Arrive 30-40 minutes before park opening
• Go to Kilimanjaro Safaris, other animal trails and attractions, Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest with FP+ (re-ride in single rider line if desired), Dinosaur with FP+, Primeval Whirl with FP+, lunch, then remaining attractions

Combining HS and AK

My touring plans have a suggestion for combining the 2 parks into 1 day.

Quick tip of the day

Use Facebook to research your trip by searching for any Disney World resort, attraction, or restaurant. They will often have reviews and recent info to help you plan your trip.

News

• Garden Grill at Epcot is now serving breakfast and lunch for dates beginning on November 8 and reservations are now open.
• Primeval Whirl at Animal Kingdom is scheduled to be closed August 17-November 12.
• The credit limit at Value and Moderate Resorts is now $1500, and the limit at Deluxe Resorts is $2000.

Subscribe to get new episodes

There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep To Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone)

• Subscribe in iTunes (and please leave a review!)
• Subscribe to the feed
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