Today I have a first-timer trip report from Rebecca who just returned from her week-long October Disney World trip. Hear from her before and after her trip to see how it went.

I also have a quick tip regarding canceling reservations.

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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Leave me a message

Want to be considered for a first-timer trip report? Please leave me a SpeakPipe message with your name, trip dates, resort, and who is in your group.

Want to ask a non-Disney question to be included in an end-of-year podcast?

You can do either one (or both!) by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Quick tip of the day

You can cancel your on-site resort reservation without losing any dining or FastPass+ reservations. The only exception to that is if you booked a package and already made FastPass+ reservations; if you cancel in that case, you'll lose your FP+ reservations.

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Today I want to tell you about my recent land and sea trip, including my first time staying at The Contemporary and taking a DCL cruise.

I also have a quick tip if you plan to visit a park later in the day rather than at park opening.

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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Leave me a message

Want to be considered for a first-timer trip report? Please leave me a SpeakPipe message with your name, trip dates, resort, and who is in your group.

Want to ask a non-Disney question to be included in an end-of-year podcast?

You can do either one (or both!) by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Land and sea trip

I have details of my recent trip with Key to the World Travel. Find out how I liked my stay at the Contemporary and if I plan to sail on DCL again.

Quick tip of the day

Sleeping in (or arriving later in the day) and parks with tiered FastPass+ reservations don’t go together. Hollywood Studios and Epcot use tiered FastPass+ reservations, while Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom do not.

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Remember year book superlatives where you'd vote for "most likely to succeed" or "best car"? Well, today I have 10 different superlatives for Disney World to show you some of my favorite food, resorts, and attractions.

I also have a quick tip of the day to help a child who might be scared on a dark attraction.

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 to possibly be on a future first-timer podcast

Please leave me a SpeakPipe message with your name, trip dates, resort, and who is in your group. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Disney World superlatives

• Best way to beat the heat: going into the shops, many of which are connected. You might also use this chart for good attractions to get out of the heat (and rain).
  
• Attraction most worthy of a FastPass+: Frozen Ever After at Epcot
• Best character dining experience: Garden Grill at Epcot
• Attraction most likely to soak you: Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom
• Most likely to make you cry: Celebrate the Magic at Magic Kingdom (watch my Facebook Live video of it)
• Best use of a snack credit: anything over $5 is ideal, with Food and Wine Festival snacks being the best value. Look for "DDP snack eligible" noted on Disney Food Blog's Food and Wine menus.
• Most likely to make you laugh: historians at Frozen Sing-Along at Hollywood Studios
• Best smell at Disney World: Karamell-Küche caramel shop in the Germany pavilion at Epcot
• Most likely to break down: Frozen Ever After at Epcot
• Best overall resort (transportation, food, theming): Polynesian

Quick tip of the day

A listener named Erin sent me this tip: "You can completely skip the scary portion of Haunted Mansion and bypass the stretching room and creepy parts to walk straight onto the ride. Just let a Cast Member know as you walk from the outside of the queue into the Mansion and they will escort you through some hallways and straight to the ride. You get ahead of all those people in the stretching room and your kid avoids the scariest part. We’ve done it every time with my 4-year-old and he loves it!"

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Erin just got back from her Disney World trip and you'll hear from her before and after her 3-generation Disney World trip that included a stay at the Polynesian, attending the Halloween party, and enjoying the Food and Wine Festival.

I also have a quick tip about a not-so-well-known photo op spot.

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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Erin's pre- and post-trip report

Erin just got back from her September Disney World trip that included grandparents and kids. Hear how it went in this episode.

Some links mentioned in this episode:

• Booking large groups for dining at Disney World
• 100+ tips for your Disney World trip

Quick tip of the day

The Castle Couture shop behind Cinderella Castle has princess merchandise, but it also has a room at the back that's staged for princess pics. Though it's primarily used by people who have just finished at Bibibidi Bobbidi Boutique, anybody can go in there for pics. As a bonus, there's a PhotoPass photographer there to snap photos for you.

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Most people take hundreds or thousands of pics during their trips. I've learned some things within the last few years that can help you improve them and I share my Disney World photography tips with you in this episode.

I also have a not-so-quick tip on buying luggage for your trip.

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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Disney World photography tips

Before your trip:

• Make sure you have enough memory space for pics.
• Before every trip, I use Dropbox to back up all pics, and then the Bulk Delete app to clear out the main camera roll.
• Planning to edit pics during trip? Install and learn apps beforehand to do that.
• Turn your flash off by default. It should only be used in rare instance when you need extra light on something close to you.
• Get to know all of your phone/camera options beforehand.

During your trip:

• Take lots and lots of photos so you can choose the best ones later
• Don’t take pics/videos of things that have better versions on YouTube
• When taking pics, hold your camera at eye level, not above your head
• When taking and editing pics, focus on composition. Follow the rule of thirds or make things symmetrical, have a focal point, simplify pics by removing things that are distracting, zoom in if that makes more sense, use lines/paths to draw your eye, frame your pic with natural frames like trees or doorways. Check out Tony Northrup's tips to learn more.
• You'll almost always want to crop your pics before using them.
• Edit your pics, but don’t use filters. You can adjust settings manually with built-in tools, but I use presets in the Camera+ app.

Quick tip of the day

Some tips when buying luggage:

• Consider hard-sided luggage for durability and protection from the rain
• Dark colors often work better for wear and tear, but maybe pick a color other than black so it stands out on baggage carousel
• Pick luggage with spinners to make it easy to use
• Choose lightweight luggage to make it easier to meet luggage weight limits on flights
• Brands like Samsonite and Travelpro Crew are popular. American Tourister has a line of Disney bags.
• Shopping at stores like TJ Maxx and Ross Dress for Less can be a good way to save money on brand name luggage, though full sets are harder to find.

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Today we'll take a tour through the World Showcase to highlight some of the best things to do in each country.

I also have a quick tip to help you combine discounts to save money on your trip.

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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Highlights of the World Showcase

General tips

• Evenings are much more comfortable because it gets really hot in the mid-day sun, however most characters and entertainment are scheduled in the afternoon
• Characters are often easier to meet and in nice settings
• Although most entertainment is scheduled in the afternoon, there aren't many things worth planning around anymore
• The World Showcase opens at 11 a.m., though Mexico, Norway, and the bakery in France open earlier with the rest of the park
• Agent P's World Showcase Adventure and Kidcot stops are ways to keep kids interested in the World Showcase
• Illuminations is shown nightly and viewing spots are usually easy to find

Mexico

• Ride Gran Fiesta Tour inside the pavilion
• La Cava del Tequila is also located inside the Mexico pavilion. Phone chargers are available (just request it from your server).

Norway

• Frozen Ever After ride (highly recommend getting a FastPass+ if you can)
• Meet Anna and Elsa (no FastPass+ available)
• Laila perfume is sold in the Norway shop. The creator, Geir Ness, often appears.
• School bread is sold in the bakery

China

• Reflections of China movie
• Folding fans and umbrellas can be personalized with Chinese characters

Germany

• Karamell-Kuche for caramel treats
• Schofferhofer Grapefruit is available at an outside counter and in the Biergarten restaurant
• The miniature train is worth stopping to view for a bit

Italy

• Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar has a good selection of wines that they'll package safely for you to take with you

American Adventure

• Voices of Liberty is an a cappella singing group that performs inside. They stand on the left side of the rotunda, and you should try to sit on the right side.
• Following VoL performances, head upstairs to the American Adventure show right afterward.

Japan

• Kaki-gori (shaved ice) is a favorite snack of ours, available at the kiosk on the American Adventure side of the Japan pavilion
• The garden area back by the Katsura Grill Quick Service restaurant is a beautiful area to sit and have a snack
• The Mitsukoshi department store is huge and worth a visit. This is where the pick-a-pearl option is available.

Morocco

• Great character meet opportunity with Aladdin and Jasmine.
  

  A photo posted by Shannon Albert (@wdwprepschool) on Jun 24, 2016 at 1:41pm PDT

France

• Impressions de France show
• L'Artisan des Glaces has many great options, including an ice cream martini that combines ice cream and drinks into one treat
• Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slushes are available at the kiosk near the water in France
• Lots of photo ops so look for PhotoPass photographers

U.K.

• Souvenirs of popular British shows available (Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Sherlock)
• Red photo booths make good photo ops
• In The Crown & Crest shop, you can get your family coat of arms on a plaque
• British Revolution (a tribute band that plays music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s) is worth seeing for people who enjoy that style of music

Canada

• O Canada! show
• Be sure to go into the pavilion to see more of it, including the waterfall
• Le Cellier is delicious (especially the pretzel bread and cheese soup)

Quick tip of the day

You can sometimes stack discounts when booking through Orbitz or CheapTickets.com by using both a WDW promotion and a site promo. Important to read all of the details. Check out Mousesavers.com for more info.

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Today we'll discuss adding a Disney cruise onto a Disney World trip with Melanie from DCLPrepSchool.com.

She'll help us understand what's included with the price of a Disney cruise, the logistics of getting there, and explain what Fish Extender gifts are.

I also have a quick tip to help you save on merchandise at Disney World.

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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Adding a Disney cruise to a Disney World trip

Some tips:

• Melanie recommends doing the land part of your trip first, followed by the cruise
• Book the two trips separately because there's no financial benefit to booking it all as one trip through Disney
• Disney can provide transportation even if you book the items separately. DCL shuttles to get from Disney World to the port and from the port to WDW/airport are $35 each way per person
• You might also consider Mears shuttles, Uber, and rental cars to get to/from the port
• Keep information organized (stateroom number, reservation numbers, passport numbers, emergency contacts, onboard activities, flight info). A lot of this info will be handy when doing online check-in as well.
• Packing for a cruise is similar to Disney World, including comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes, swimsuits, external battery chargers, and something to pull hair back. Laundry rooms are available on the ship.
• Pirate and formal nights onboard will require special things to be packed that you wouldn't normally need at Disney World.
• Important to keep in mind that the price of a Disney Cruise Line trip includes great dining, non-alcoholic drinks (including sodas), high quality entertainment, kids clubs with long operating hours (for ages 3-17), twice-a-day housekeeping, Disney character meets/parties, and 24-hour complimentary room service
• To make a trip more affordable, consider booking an interior room and/or taking advantage of onboard bounceback offers (usually 10% off)
• Families with older kids should consider booking an interior and exterior room to give everybody enough space
• Many people will participate in Fish Extender gift exchanges on Disney cruises. Groups can be found on message boards and in Facebook Groups. Get gift ideas at pinterest.com/dclprep.

Note to WDW Prep Members

The maps have recently been updated so be sure to log in to get a fresh copy. Not a member? Sign up at wdwprepschool.com/members.

Quick tip of the day

Check your receipt during your Disney World trip to see if a coupon has been included. For instance, there's a current discount of 10% off of Disney Springs merchandise that's included on receipts at most Magic Kingdom Quick Service restaurants.

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There are lots of perks to staying offsite during Disney World trips, and we have some tips on doing that for you today.

I also have a quick tip about a handy new app feature.

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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Tips for offsite stays

Choosing offsite accommodations
Things to keep in mind:

• Size of rental
  • There's a large supply of places to rent around Disney World. From condos which are usually 2 -3 bedrooms to townhomes (which usually have 3-4 bedrooms and some may include splash pools) to private full sized homes which are usually 4 to 6 or even more bedrooms.
  • You’ll find that lots of the private homes have pools. You almost never will find a full-sized private pool in a house smaller than 4 bedrooms.
  • Just because there are more bedrooms doesn’t mean it will be more expensive.
  • Since there are lots and lots of houses that are 5 and 6 bedrooms you can often find those as cheap if not cheaper than the 4 bedrooms.
  • Heather has never rented anything smaller than a 5 bedroom.
• Location
  • The Dibb villa map is a handy resource to help narrow down locations
  • Heather prefers using a site that allows you to search not only by price and bedrooms, but also allows you to limit it to certain areas or even better, neighborhoods.
  • Location is important. There are lots of great places to stay but if you are planning on taking midday breaks you don’t want to go too far away or it won’t be as easy.
  • Sites like VRBO or Home Away let you narrow down by neighborhoods.
  • Some neighborhoods even have their own websites, for example Windsor Hills is a very popular neighborhood and some of the owners there have a website that they list their houses on called WindsorHillsRent.com
  • Different neighborhoods have different amenities. Consider if you want a gated community, community pool, playground, gym, etc.
• Tips after you narrow it down
  • When looking at places, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You can ask for referrals, how old the pictures you see are, if they have a management company and what the name of that management company is (and then do some research on them. A good management company gives you the peace of mind that if something goes wrong you’ll have somebody there and local that can help.)
  • As you research you may feel like you are seeing the same houses over and over, and sometimes that is true because houses can be listed by both the owner and sometimes you’ll see it listed by the management company. The same house can also be listed on multiple sites.
  • While it is important to rent a house that has a good management company that has positive reviews and is reliable, etc., it is almost always cheaper to rent directly from the owner instead of through the management company. When you rent from a management company the price is usually more expensive because if the management company secures the reservation they get to take a piece of it as a commission. However, if the owner secures the reservation they don’t have to pay that commission and therefore the cost to you is cheaper.
  • Once you know the owners names or address (not the management company name) you can check tax records to make sure the taxes are paid (which while isn’t perfect at least lets you know if the owners are paying 1 of their bills on time!). Check taxes here for most areas around Disney here -
    http://ira.property-appraiser.org/PropertySearch/ and http://www.lakecopropappr.com/property-search.aspx
  • Once you have the address you can check websites like Zillow or Realtor.com to see if the house is for sale.

Transportation for offsite guests

• Will need a car when staying offsite. Though some of the big neighborhoods may offer shuttles, it is never a good idea to rely on them.
• Renting a car
  • Lots of great deals to be had, it just takes a little research
  • Some of the popular places to look for discounts include
    MouseSavers
  • There's a service called AutoSlash which tracks prices and then notifies you when prices go down. If you book with them they automatically re-book when the price drops.
• Consider ordering or picking up a SunPass toll tag to make it much easier to navigate Orlando highways.

Annual Passes for offsite guests
It usually makes sense for offsite guests with trips of 5 days or more to have at least 1 Annual pass. Here's a chart to explain why.

Getting groceries for offsite stays
You can obviously drive to shop for groceries, but you may want to save a bit of time by ordering them ahead of time. Heather and I both like Walmart Grocery where you can order online and schedule a time for pick up, or you can check out 8 ways to get groceries on your Disney World trip for more ideas.

Quick tip of the day

Upgrade to the latest version of the My Disney Experience app for navigational information to help you during your Disney World trip.

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A lot of people understandably believe that the doors to the parks will open and close according to the park hours, but that's not how it actually works. I've got details on what you can do before and after hours in each park.

I also have a quick tip to make it easier for you to find dining reservations in Disney Springs.

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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Things to do before and after official park hours

The park hours are really just the times that most of the rides are available but many things happen before and after that. Most parks allow you in 10-30 minutes before park opening (even earlier if you have a breakfast reservation) and you can stay up to 1-2 hours after the official park closing.

Although Disney says that transportation "generally operates from 45 minutes before a theme park’s opening time until one hour after a theme park’s closing time," the truth is that the buses and resort monorail usually begin at 7 a.m., with the Epcot monorail starting at 8 a.m.

Here's what's available before and after the park hours at each park.

(Note: these things were true at the time I recorded this podcast, but always subject to change.)

Magic Kingdom
Opening:

• Magic Kingdom Welcome Show (usually 20 minutes before park opening). On EMH mornings, the show begins before the EMH and won’t take place before the regular park opening. Watch a video.
• Will get to enter early and start riding right away
• CanNOT rent a stroller before park opens

Closing:

• Kiss Goodnight takes place 30 and 60 minutes after official park closing. Watch a video.
• Photopass photographers available
• Some shops still open

Epcot
Opening:

• Early entry, often 30 minutes before official park opening to go into the center. Crowds are released up to 10 minutes before official opening to begin riding.
• Eat and shop at some locations
• Photopass photographers are available
• Line up for main attractions
• Rent a stroller

Closing:

• Take pics, and there will be some PhotoPass photographers available
• Some stores open

Animal Kingdom
Opening:

• See Divine
• Check out small animal attractions in the Oasis
• Some shops will be open
• Photopass photographers are available
• Birds flying overhead just before entire park opens
• Can rent a stroller

Closing:

• Some shops available
• Tree of Life Awakenings take place until 15 minutes after park closing. Watch a video of all 4 animations.

Hollywood Studios
Opening:

• Rent a stroller
• Visit shops, Starbucks is open
• Jedi Training signup

Closing:

• Some shops are available
• Fantasmic often scheduled after official park closing

Quick tip of the day

Use OpenTable for most Disney Springs dining locations, not the WDW app. You'll usually find a lot more openings and get to choose better times that way.

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June was a busy month for Disney World, with several new attractions making their debut. After experiencing them all multiple times, I have some info and tips on each to share with you.

I also have a quick tip regarding having multiple tickets linked in your My Disney Experience account.

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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From my June trip

General thoughts

• June wasn’t busy, but much more hot than usual
• Stayed offsite for the first time. Annual Pass came in handy with parking fees, and driving was convenient, except to Magic Kingdom (add an extra 30 minutes to travel time). Can stay for much cheaper and have more space when offsite. Check this chart to see if getting 1 Annual Pass for your travel group makes sense.
• Lots of sad events took place during our stay. Security at Disney World is still the same with metal detectors being used (sometimes randomly, sometimes everybody goes through).

About the new attractions

• Animal Kingdom
  • Jungle Book Alive with Magic - good show, but not quite up to Disney's standards. Dining package not necessary, standby too limited, highly recommend getting a FastPass+ and sitting on wooden seats to reduce the heat.
  • Tiffins - delicious but pricey restaurant, rarely busy, attached lounge has great drinks
  • Nighttime Kilimanjaro Safaris - quality seems to depend on the driver, opportunity to see animals that aren't as active during the day (like the lions), usually no line after Jungle Book show
  • Tree of Life Awakenings - animations that play on the front of Tree of Life every 10 minutes or so, my favorite way to end an Animal Kingdom night
• Hollywood Studios
  • Star Wars Galactic Spectacular - fantastic show, but you have to stand up close to the Chinese theater to see it well. Hard to combine with Fantasmic unless there's a Fantasmic show scheduled afterward.
• Epcot
  • Soarin’ Around the World - fantastic new version of Soarin' attraction, wait times much less now due to opening of the third theater
  • Anna and Elsa’s Royal Sommerhus - Anna and Elsa left Magic Kingdom to come here to their new summer home. There isn't a FastPass+ option but wait times are usually relatively low, especially if visiting in the morning or at night.
  • Frozen Ever After - charming Frozen-themed ride that breaks down a lot. Best case is to get a FastPass+ for it or arrive at Epcot at least 45 minutes before park opening to be at the front of the lines.

Quick tip of the day

If you have multiple tickets linked to you (for instance, tickets that are part of a package and an Annual Pass), be sure to give Disney World a call to have them set the ticket priority for each. That way the correct tickets will scan when you enter the parks.

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Free Dining is a crazy popular promotion, but things don't always go the way people think the will.

Today, I have 10 lessons we can learn from Free Dining, along with lots of news and a quick tip of the day.

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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10 lessons learned

1. Existing hotel reservations don’t help you when promotions are announced. Promotions have certain availability. New vs. existing reservations have the same chance. Might want to make a reservation beforehand to make ADRs, but only pay the deposit.
2. Promotions are created for less busy times and many dates in fall aren’t unbusy anymore. Supply and demand.
3. Compare apples to apples. Upgraded rooms and tickets might end up costing too much. (And, no, Disney didn’t increase prices just before releasing Free Dining.)
4. Room-only discounts might save more money. You'll have to do the math.
5. Online is usually better than phone. Free Dining was released online at 4 a.m. eastern/3 a.m. central. Phone lines open at 7 a.m. eastern and had long wait times and disconnected calls. Website has some issues, but you can always try to book a new reservation online and cancel the old one later.
6. If booking a new reservation while also having an old reservation, use a different browser or clear cookies/cache in your existing one.
7. If modifying an existing reservation, click the “change reservation” link, then try to change all elements of your reservation to find the promotion. Don’t see the change reservation link? Hit refresh.

   

8. However, you can’t change package reservations online if you have Memory Maker. Might wait to add it after promotions are released. Travel insurance and Magical Express can cause issues online as well.
9. Flexibility with resorts, rooms, and dates will help. Don’t book flights until after a promotion is released. Have backup resorts in mind. As long as you check in during promotion dates, you can get it for your whole trip.
10. Be careful when choosing an agent. They need to be up early, and make sure they’re following promotion rules. No guarantee they’ll get you Free Dining or any other promotion though.

News

• Toy Story Mania third track opens Memorial Day weekend. That just means that the ride will have more capacity, and therefore shorter lines.
• Soarin' Around the World at Epcot opens June 17. FastPass+ is now available.
• Frozen Ever After and the new Anna/Elsa meet-and-greet at Epcot are also opening in June, but no specific date was announced.
• New Star Wars fireworks at Hollywood Studios are coming in June.
• Finding Dory characters are coming to Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot in May.
• Tiffins restaurant at Animal Kingdom opens Memorial Weekend.
• Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire, a stage show at Magic Kingdom, begins in June.
• Though Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom has been delayed, "The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic" has been confirmed to begin Memorial Weekend while they continue to work on Rivers of Light.
• Updated park hours for May, September, October, and November were released this week (here's what changed). AK extended until 11pm starting May 27. Some FP+ for later AK hours have recently opened up.
• TheDIBB’s FastPass+ link is no longer active.

Quick tip of the day

Jedi Training Academy signups have recently been allowed before Hollywood Studios opening time. Look for the separate line for that at the entrance.

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Predicting times to visit Disney World isn't as easy as it used to be. In this episode, I discuss the thought process behind how we put together a crowd calendar.

I also have news and a quick tip to help you maximize your FastPass+ reservations.

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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Picking dates for your Disney World trip

In this episode, I discuss how we put together the 2016-2017 crowd calendar.

News

• This Sunday, April 10, the My Disney Experience app will be updating to allow people to make bonus FastPass+ reservations within the app after the first 3 FP+ are used or expired. Be sure to update your app so you can use that functionality during your trip.
• Another FastPass+ change is that people making their FastPass+ reservations before their trip will be able to choose times more easily than previously allowed. Instead of the app/site suggesting times, you'll be able to choose them upfront.
• Joy and Sadness are now meeting at Epcot in the new Character Spot location where Baymax is also located. There isn't a FastPass+ to meet them and lines have been long. I suspect the lines will remain long until the new attractions open at Epcot, so plan to see them at park opening if you want to do it without too much of a wait.
• Rivers of Light, the new nighttime show coming to Animal Kingdom, was supposed to open on April 22 but the opening has been delayed. Disney said they'll provide an update in mid or late May.
• FastPass+ for Anna/Elsa and Rapunzel/Cinderella at Magic Kingdom are not available for June right now. That's likely due to the fact that Anna/Elsa will be moving to Epcot and they are still working out the logistics of that.

Quick tip of the day

As soon as you check in for your third FastPass+ reservation, open the My Disney Experience app and get a 4th.

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Epcot's undergoing lots of changes, including the addition of some new attractions. We'll talk about those today, and how touring Epcot could be affected.

We'll also discuss recent news and a quick tip to help you get the dining reservation times you want.

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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Changes coming to Epcot

These things are coming to Epcot soon:

• Joy and Sadness are coming to Epcot on April 3. They'll be in the new Character Spot location which doesn't currently have a FastPass+ option.
• Finding Dory characters will be part of Turtle Talk with Crush.
• Soarin' Around the World will be opening in summer 2016 with a new film and additional theater.
• Frozen Ever After and the new Anna/Elsa meet-and-greet area will be opening in the Norway section in summer 2016. Though the World Showcase mostly opens at 11 a.m., these will likely open at 9 a.m.

Touring advice

We'll have to see what the ride tiers end up being, but generally you'll want to ride a popular ride at rope drop, and then ride other popular rides later using FastPass+. Starting at Frozen Ever After and working around Future World might make the most sense.

This is the general order I'd suggest (this map is part of the touring plan tools available to Level 2 WDW Prep Members).

News

• Anna/Elsa FastPass+ not available in June.
• Extra Magic Hours and park hours often change. Check the app during your trip.
• Railroad at Magic Kingdom will be closed April 11-22, 2016.
• Stitch has replaced Marie for a meet and greet at Magic Kingdom.
• Writer’s Stop at Hollywood Studios undergoing changes, including maybe becoming a Sci Fi Dine in Lounge. The carrot cake cookie can still be found at Sweet Spells, near Starring Rolls Cafe.

Quick tip of the day

To increase your chances of getting the dining reservation times you want, select a time and not a meal when making your reservation. If staying onsite and unable to book for whole trip, log out and back in. If that doesn’t work, call.

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Disney World has lots of extra things you can pay to attend, but they are definitely not necessary and have alternatives.

I also have some news for you and a quick tip with an easy way to find a spot to view parades and fireworks.

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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Email list

Be sure to join the WDW Prep email list to receive updates.

Alternatives to paid events

Event: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Description: Held on select nights at Magic Kingdom, tickets in the past have been around $65-70, provides special fireworks, parade, treats, character interactions
Alternative: Enjoy the park decor outside of the party and watch the fireworks outside of Magic Kingdom, either at a restaurant or just by finding a spot on the beaches of the monorail resorts

Event: Dessert parties within parties
Description: Disney has sometimes offered dessert parties that take place during events which give you a VIP viewing area and desserts
Alternative: Instead of using some of the party time that you already paid for, snag your own desserts and find a good viewing spot

Event: Fireworks dessert parties (also discussed in episode 113)
Description: Disney World has fireworks dessert packages available for a special viewing area, drinks (non-alcoholic at MK, but alcoholic options at the other locations), and desserts. These parties are always available at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, sometimes available at Hollywood Studios, and probably will be offered at Animal Kingdom soon.
Alternative: Snag your own desserts and find a good viewing spot

Event: Dinner packages
Description: Booking a dinner package at 1 of the participating restaurants will give you a meal there, plus the ability to sit in a reserved section for the nighttime show. Currently available for Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios and will eventually be available for Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom
Alternative: Not a terrible deal, especially if you're on the Disney Dining Plan (since the # of credits is the same with our without the dinner package), but you can get a FastPass+ as an alternative

Event: Disney After Hours
Description: Disney just announced this $149 option which gives you the ability to stay at Magic Kingdom for 3 hours past the official closing time. You can get in as early as 7, will have access to some popular rides, and get drinks and treats.
Alternative: If I had a short trip, I might consider this. Otherwise, onsite guests could plan to attend one of the late night Extra Magic Hours to be able to stay late at Magic Kingdom, often with shorter lines.

Event: Disney Early Morning Magic
Description: This event is not yet confirmed, but reportedly will give you the ability to enter Magic Kingdom at 7:45 a.m. to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, and Winnie the Pooh, as well as eat breakfast at Pinnochio Village Haus. Tickets are likely to be $69 for adults and $49 for kids. Theme park tickets are required.
Alternative: Make a breakfast reservation at Be Our Guest, order as much (or as little) as you want, finish up before park opening, and position yourself to visit attractions as soon as the park opens.

News

• Agent P's World Showcase Adventure at Epcot is allowing guests to use their own smartphones starting this week.
• FastPass+ for parades and fireworks at Magic Kingdom have been removed. You can see my touring info for all 4 parks for a current list.
• Updated park hours for April and September came out this week and October hours were published.

Quick tip of the day

An easy way to find a spot to watch fireworks and other nighttime shows is to look for the people with cameras on tripods. The usually know what they're doing and where to get a good view.

If you want to plan ahead, you can use our fireworks/nighttime show viewing tips.

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Character meals are the most popular dining reservations at Disney World, but not all are created equal. Today, I have my favorites for you.

I also have a bit of news and a quick tip for people to consider when booking their Disney World resort room.

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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Packing list app

The WDW Prep Packing List app is available in the Apple App Store.

Character meal overview

Each park has 1-3 character meals, and several are located in resorts. The ones in the parks can be booked starting at 8 a.m. (which is usually an hour before the parks open) and Disney always provides transportation to get there. For the full list and more info, see my character meal guide.

Best character meals

• Best food - Garden Grill, Tusker House, Akershus breakfast, Cape May Cafe breakfast, Crystal Palace, and Ohana
• Best Disney Dining Plan values - Garden Grill, Akershus, Crystal Palace, Hollywood and Vine dinner, Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare (see this list for more info)
• Best classic character meals - Garden Grill, Tusker House, Chef Mickey's, Ohana
• Best princess meal - Akershus
• Best overall - Garden Grill, Akershus, Ohana, Tusker House, and Cape May Cafe

News

• Frozen Ever After is no longer scheduled to open on May 27 at Epcot. Opening date will likely be later.
• FastPass+ for Wishes are not showing availability after April 20.
• Premium parking is being tested at the parks to guarantee a spot in a closer lot.

Quick tip of the day

People considering staying at The Polynesian should look at Polynesian Villa Studio rooms which often work out better than standard rooms for many people. Check out my comparison graphic for more information.

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I've just recently returned from a Disney World trip and have now stayed at all of the Value Resorts, so I've got my ranking of those for you today.

I also have lots of news to discuss and a quick tip of the day.

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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Value Resort overview

All Value Resorts have bright, colorful theming, are large (where available, I recommend Preferred Rooms to make your room closer to the main building and bus stop), have food courts and pizza delivery as food options (but no Table Service restaurants), use buses for transportation, and have themed pools (but no water slides).

All 3 All-Star Resorts are located next to each other, often share buses, and sometimes host big school groups for things like cheerleading competitions.

Art of Animation and Pop Century are located next to each other (you can use a bridge to walk between them), and have their own buses (they don't share with other resorts).

My Value Resort rankings

My rankings

I don't dislike any of the Value Resorts, but there are some pros/cons of each that make some better choices than others.

#5 - All-Star Movies
With its location at the end of the All-Star Resorts, All-Star Movies is last to be picked up and dropped off when sharing buses so I've put it last for that reason. However, I like the theming here a lot, including the food court which I find charming.

#4 - All-Star Sports
Though it's located first in the row of All-Star Resorts (and therefore first to be picked up and dropped off when sharing buses), it's also the most likely to host big school groups. Sometimes other All-Star Resorts have groups as well, but All-Star Sports has more than the others.

#3 - All-Star Music
I like that All-Star Music has suites in addition to standard rooms, and this resort is located in the middle of the other 2 All-Stars which means it's not last when sharing buses.

#2 - Art of Animation
The best theming and having direct buses make this one of my favorite Disney World resorts of all, but since most rooms are suites, the price point is much higher. The only standard rooms on property - the rooms located in the Little Mermaid section - are located really far away from the main building/bus stop, and are never part of promotions.

#1 - Pop Century
With the lowest (or nearly the lowest) prices for Disney World resort rooms, dedicated buses that don't share w/other resorts, and the ability to walk over to Art of Animation for things like the food court or to rent surrey bikes, Pop Century is my vote for best bang for your buck.

News

• Purple MagicBands are now available as a color option to guests staying in Disney World resorts.
• Rivers of Light is coming to Animal Kingdom starting on April 22.
• Frozen Ever After should be opening at Epcot on May 27.
• Disney Dining Plan costs have gone up $2-3 per person per day.
• Joy and Sadness are coming to Epcot in April.

Quick tip of the day

When using online check-in for your Disney World resort, opt in to text messages to be notified when your resort room is ready. As long as you have your MagicBands, you'll be able to go to your room without stopping by the front desk.

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I've been making notes about several things that seem to confuse people and will help clarify those for you today.

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

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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Notes from this episode

• The Facebook post I read for my daughter's birthday.
• Touring plans have been updated for 2016, as well as Disney Dining Plan info.

Things that often confuse people about Disney World:

• Good times to go during the year vs. recommended parks (which are on the monthly dashboards)
• FastPass+ tiers. You can see the current tiers in the chart at the bottom of this page.
• FastPass+ return time vs. ride duration. You can arrive at any time during your FastPass+ return time (and also 5 minutes early or 15 minutes late), but rides don't last an hour.
• Resort Airline Check-in Desk vs. Magical Express. You don't have to be using Magical Express to use the airline check-in desk at your Disney resort. More info in my Magical Express post.
• Free Dining availability. Free Dining is almost always a fall promotion and has limited availability when it is offered. More info in my Disney Dining Plan post.

News

• UberFAMILY is coming to Orlando. No date has been announced. Here's how that works.
• Star Wars Land announcements will be made by Harrison Ford on the Wonderful World of Disney special airing February 21 from 8-10 p.m. EST on ABC.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed April 4-July 15, likely to install a new ending similar to the Disneyland version of the ride.
• Joy and Sadness are rumored to begin meeting at Character Spot in Epcot in February.

Quick tip of the day

Refillable mugs can be purchased at Disney resorts. They come in 4 colors, but if you have more than 4 people, it might be handy to mix and match lid colors to create new color combos that will help you tell them apart.

A photo posted by Shannon Albert (@wdwprepschool) on Jan 22, 2016 at 1:01pm PST

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I've been talking for awhile about how we've been working on a big project and today I'm telling you all about that.

I also have a quick tip of the day that makes it easier to modify existing dining reservations.

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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Revealing The Big Project

In this episode, I tell you what we've been working on for two years. Make sure you're on the email list to be notified as soon as it's available.

News

Hollywood Studios has been going through a lot of changes recently, including adding new things and removing others, including Lights Motors Action going away as of April 2. More closures are likely coming in order for construction to begin. Hollywood Studios touring plans will be updated as we know more.

Quick tip of the day

You can now modify dining reservations online (such as number of guests and the reservation time) by clicking "Change Reservation" in My Disney Experience.

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There are a lot of exciting changes coming to Disney World in 2016, including a new nighttime show, all new attractions, completely redone popular attractions, and lots of construction.

I have details on all of that, plus a quick tip of the day.

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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Changes coming to Disney World in 2016

• Magic Kingdom - Skipper Canteen now open (Table Service location, reservations not open yet but can walk up)
• Epcot - Flower and Garden Festival much longer this year, Soarin’ Around the World opening (long closure, new one will be digital with new movie, new theater), Anna/Elsa meet and greet and new Frozen Ever After ride opening by summer
• Hollywood Studios - Star Wars Weekends going away, Star Wars Launch Bay now open (character meets, exhibits, short film, merchandise), Jedi Training and Star Tours updated, Symphony in the Stars fireworks scheduled nightly, Osborne Lights going away to make way for Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land construction beginning, third track for Toy Story Mania opening
• Animal Kingdom - Rivers of Light opening spring 2016, Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris (African wild dogs and hyenas) coming in spring, new Table Service restaurant called Tiffins (indoor/outdoor seating, serving lunch and dinner), Pandora construction continues
• Disney Springs - construction finally wrapping up in 2016, DisneyQuest is closing (NBA Experience is coming), Pleasure Island area now called The Landing, Town Center area completely new
• Resorts: Wilderness Lodge having extensive construction until 2017, Poly refurb finally wrapping up, several resort pool refurbishments listed on the monthly dashboards

Quick tip of the day

Not sure which park you'll be in each day of your trip? When your FastPass+ window opens up, snag Magic Kingdom FastPass+ reservations for each day of your trip since they are the most difficult to get. When you figure out where you'll be, you can cancel the FP+ you don't need.

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