There are pros and cons to traveling to Disney World at all times of the year. Today, I have my favorite times to go overall as well as the best times to visit if you're working around a school schedule.

I also have a quick tip for people traveling in January.

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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MY FAVORITE TIMES TO VISIT DISNEY WORLD

You can see my overall predictions in my 2015 chart of best times to visit Disney World.

These are my favorite times to visit:

• Late April and early May - light crowds, Flower and Garden Festival, warm enough to swim, can overlap with Star Wars Weekends in mid-May
• September and early October (before Columbus Day) - moderate crowds, end of September has Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Food and Wine Festival
• Early November - moderate temps, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Food and Wine Festival (and you can catch the last Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party if you go at the very beginning of the month)
• Week after Thanksgiving - low crowds, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Candlelight Processional, resorts are all decorated

If you're working around a school schedule, I'd suggest these things:

• Early spring breaks are a good time to go - if you happen to be in a school district that has spring break in early March, those crowds are moderate compared to spring breaks that are close to Easter
• Late May, early June and late August are moderate crowds - If you happen to be in a school district that dismisses early or goes back late, take advantage and travel during slightly less busy times

QUICK TIP OF THE DAY

People traveling in January should make a room-only reservation before packages are released to allow them to make all dining reservations 180 days in advance.

Have a quick tip of your own? Call it in at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo

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There are some things that might come as a surprise to you or not live up to expectations on your Disney World trip. I have 8 of those for you today.

I also have a quick tip about why you might not be able to get FastPass+ reservations right when they open.

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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8 THINGS THAT COULD BE DISAPPOINTING

1. Ride closures
Attractions can close at any point and sometimes there are lots of closures all at once. They usually open up later in the day but it can throw off your touring plans.

2. Weather
Florida weather can be volatile with extreme heat, cool temperatures, and sometimes torrential rain. Be sure to check the forecast beforehand so you'll know what to expect.

3. Transportation
Disney transportation can often take a long time which is why I usually recommend allowing an hour each way.

4. Wait times (even though you have reservations)
Even if you've made dining or FastPass+ reservations, you can end up having a bit of a wait. This varies by attraction and the time that you're eating.

5. Strollers
Although strollers are very helpful with alleviating kids from 10+ miles per day of walking, they can be a pain to fold up every time you get on a bus, to park outside of each attraction, and to track down after exiting an attraction (especially since Cast Members often move them).

6. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The newest ride at Disney World is one that everybody wants to ride, and it's beautifully themed and charming, but it doesn't last very long and may not live up to expectations.

7. Illuminations
This show doesn't pack the same punch that Wishes or Fantasmic do, although understanding the story is helpful in appreciating it.

8. Be Our Guest dinner
This is probably the most difficult dining reservation to get and experiences here vary a lot. Some come away having loved it, but many find the food and service disappointing.

QUICK TIP OF THE DAY

If any of the parks are open after midnight eastern time on the night that you're scheduled to begin making your FastPass+ reservations, you'll have to wait until they are closed to begin making them. Update - You can now make your FastPass+ reservations at 7 a.m. eastern time.

Have a quick tip of your own? Call it in at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo

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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After asking my son to be on the podcast for over a year, he finally agreed.

In this episode, we chat app development, his favorite Disney World things and a few of his favorite podcasts.

I also have a quick tip about something to consider if you plan to stay off-site.

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

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CHATTING WITH MY SON

My 13-year-old son, Blake, just released a Disney World countdown app in the Apple App Store. He discusses how he got started programming and what his next project is going to be.

He also offered some advice on Disney World, including:

• his favorite Disney World restaurant (Le Cellier)
• the best rides for first-time visitors (Magic Kingdom rides, especially in Fantasyland)
• his favorite must-do attractions (Carousel of Progress, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, and Spaceship Earth)
• his thoughts on DisneyQuest
• the best age to take a kid on a Disney World trip
• things kids can do to make the World Showcase interesting (Agent P's World Showcase Adventure)

He also discusses his favorite podcasts which include A Way with Words, TechStuff, and Fw: Thinking. (He doesn't listen to this podcast because he says hearing my voice coming out of his podcast app is super weird.)

QUICK TIP OF THE DAY

If you're staying off-site, strongly consider renting a car for your trip as shuttle services can be unreliable. When comparing prices of staying on-site vs. off-site, be sure to add the cost of the rental car + daily parking at Disney World. Check TripAdvisor.com for reviews of your off-site hotel to see how others view the shuttles.

Have a quick tip of your own? Call it in at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo

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
• Listen on Stitcher

Disney updates park hours frequently which can work out well or really mess up your existing plans.

Today, I've got advice on dealing with these changes.

I also have a quick tip about maximizing Disney Dining Plan credits at resort Quick Service restaurants.

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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DEALING WITH PARK HOURS CHANGES

Park hours are published about 6.5 months beforehand. You can get them (plus park hours updates that are made after the initial set is published) by signing up for email alerts on the monthly dashboards.

During your trip, I recommend using the My Disney Experience app to double-check hours as Disney sometimes updates hours at the last minute.

After the initial park hours are published, updates can be made. Here are some ways park hours can change:

Earlier opening times
This is happening much more frequently than it used to and can be a blessing or curse, depending on your situation.

• People with early morning breakfast reservations in the parks may find themselves eating during the first hour the park is open. I'd suggest keeping your reservation and trying to check in just before the park opens, or you could try to get a later dining reservation so you're not eating during the first hour the park is open.
• People who are willing to get up early will find this to be a fantastic time to tour since most people won't be willing to be at the parks at that time.

Later closing times
Disney has often extended the closing time of parks if they think the crowds will be heavier than originally anticipated. This can affect you in a couple of ways.

• The later the closing time, the better those late hours will be for touring since most people won't want to stay up that late.
• After Disney extends the park hours, they will open up more FastPass+ reservations. You can use theDIBB to help you keep track of current FP+ availability. Unfortunately, this service is no longer available.

More nighttime shows are offered
Disney often adds additional nighttime shows (especially Main Street Electrical Parade and Fantasmic) during busier times. The later the show, the lighter the crowds will be.

Extra Magic Hour changes
Occasionally Disney will change the Extra Magic Hours which changes which parks I recommend for each day. However, if you have good dining and FastPass+ reservations, I would keep your plans the same. Good touring plans will always be more important than choosing the best park each day.

QUICK TIP OF THE DAY

Michele called in with a quick tip about maximizing your Disney Dining Plan credits. She suggests that when you're eating at a Quick Service restaurant at a resort, you can take your refillable mug to get your drink there. Since you're entitled to a drink with your Quick Service meal, you can pick up a bottle of water that you can use at another time during your trip.

Have a quick tip of your own? Call it in at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo

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
• Listen on Stitcher

I get very passionate when giving advice on trip planning and today I have some background on my philosophies on trip planning, along with some stories on why I feel that way.

I also have a quick tip of the day on an alternative to taxis on Disney World trips.

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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4 OF MY TRIP PLANNING PHILOSOPHIES

Do as much as time and money will allow based on your child(ren)'s interests
As I explained in a Facebook post, I'm passionate about people doing things while their kids are young because we weren't able to do that with our daughter.

Make a plan, but stay flexible
One of the reasons my touring plans for all 4 parks are only for the first part of the day is that I think you should leave plenty of time to be flexible on your trip.

It's also why I group the first few hours of the day by hour: so you can have a good general plan but won't feel too rigid.

Remember that the goal is to make memories, not to do everything
You can never do everything on a trip, so be sure to pare it down to the important stuff that will allow you to have fun and make memories together.

Involve children in the planning process
You can do that by watching videos of the rides (I have videos for every ride in my park guides), read Birnbaum's for Kids books, or watch TV shows about the parkson channels like Destination America.

QUICK TIP OF THE DAY

Consider using Uber as an alternative to a taxi on your trip. I'd recommend downloading the app and setting up your credit card beforehand. Keep in mind that Uber isn't allowed at the Orlando airport.

You can get a free ride (up to a $20 value) using code "shannona9" or redeem at this link.

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
• Listen on Stitcher