WDW Prep To Go - a Disney World planning podcast
My Deluxe Resort rankings – PREP203

Now that I've stayed at all of the Disney World resorts, I wanted to give you my ranking of the Deluxe resorts. Some might surprise you.

I also have a quick tip if you're struggling with the My Disney Experience app.


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 trip report? Please leave me a SpeakPipe message with your name, trip dates, resort, and who is in your group.

You can do that using your computer or phone at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

My Deluxe Resort ranking

8.) Boardwalk Inn - nearby resorts much better, have to go outside for all food and drinks, pool is creepy to many

7.) Grand Floridian Resort - good food, 1 monorail stop away from Magic Kingdom, but expensive, lacks Disney theming, inconsistent service

6.) Wilderness Lodge - smaller, dark rooms, frustrating transportation, food has improved

5.) Animal Kingdom Lodge - most gorgeous resort at Disney World, great onsite food, lower cost than most Deluxe resorts, animal views and lots of resort activities, does have service and transportation issues

4.) Yacht Club Resort - fantastic pool, great food, darker theming which may not appeal to all, walk to 2 parks

3.) Polynesian Village Resort - monorail access to 2 parks, fantastic food, studio villa rooms have an extra bathroom

2.) Beach Club Resort - 5 minute walk to Epcot, 15 minus walk to Hollywood Studios, bright and airy and smells good, best onsite pool, character breakfast, easy access to lots of great restaurants

1.) Contemporary Resort (main building) - best transportation or park access (walk to MK, buses at resort and MK bus stop, monorail), great food at resort, all views are good, monorail going through building is a thrill

Quick tip of the day

The My Disney Experience app causes a lot of problems for a lot of people, so consider using your phone's browser as a backup option if you run into issues.

Not all of the functionality of the app can be found in the browser, but the ability to do things like make reservations, view plans, and check park hours comes in handy if you can't do it in the app.

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)

Direct download: episode203.mp3
Category:WDW Prep To Go Podcast -- posted at: 3:24pm PDT

My January 2019 trip report – PREP202

I recently went to Disney World (surprising!) and got to try lots of new things (Animal Kingdom After Hours, Hollywood Studios After Hours, Rivers of Light Dessert Party) as well as revisit some things I've done before (staying at Port Orleans Riverside, Festival of the Arts, and Early Morning Magic at Magic Kingdom).

Listen to the daily updates to hear what did and didn't go well.


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

Leave me a message

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

You can do that using your computer or phone at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Links/notes mentioned in this episode

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)

Direct download: episode202.mp3
Category:WDW Prep To Go Podcast -- posted at: 8:56pm PDT

I recently went on a Disney cruise and lots of people wanted to hear how it went, so I'm telling you all about it in this episode.

I also have a quick tip on making a very creative character autograph book with your kids to use during 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.

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

Leave me a message

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

You can do that using your computer or phone at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Links/notes mentioned in this episode

Contact info for Jen Filling

Suggested private transport companies

Quick tip of the day

Emailed from Jennifer M.:
"I have found your podcast soooo helpful as we plan a Disney World trip for February. I’m not sure if this is a 'quick' tip, but wanted to share an idea for a unique autograph book that also helps build lots of excitement for the trip with kids.

The short version: my kids drew pictures of the characters and I had those drawings printed into a very adorable book.

The detailed version: My daughter (age 5) heard from a friend about Art Hub for Kids on YouTube and she drew a few characters following those guides. My son (age 7) then did a few.

Soon, they were making up their own versions of characters and we kept tucking the drawings into a folder. We then somehow decided that all 3 kids (my four year old daughter joined in the fun) would do drawings of as many characters as they could think of. We looked at which ones are often in the park and prioritized those.

I then snapped photos of their drawings on my iPhone, and assembled them into a book using Blurb (you could also use Shutterfly or whatever you prefer). We left spaces to add photos and for characters to sign on pages next to drawings of characters we anticipated meeting (if we don’t meet them, we will just add trip pictures that work with it).

This has been an incredibly fun project and they are SO proud of it, and working on it has also built so much excitement about the trip. For us, it will also make a really meaningful keepsake and a beautiful, personal coffee table book we can display after our vacation. Hopefully the characters will get a kick out of it, too!"

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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)

Direct download: episode201.mp3
Category:WDW Prep To Go Podcast -- posted at: 4:05pm PDT

There's lots to look forward to at Disney World in 2019 and today you'll hear all about it.

I also have a quick tip on making it easier to share photos during 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.

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

Leave me a message

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

You can do that using your computer or phone at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Links/notes mentioned in this episode

Read all about the new things coming to Disney World in 2019

Contact info for Sarah Goff

Contact info for Josh Taylor

Quick tip of the day

Emailed from Sue B.:
"We are a family of iPhones, and our children and their girlfriend/boyfriends often travel with us. When they do, I create a shared album on my iPhone and invite all to it.

Then we can all dump our trip photos into that shared folder, we can see each other's and download if we want! "

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)

Direct download: episode200post.mp3
Category:WDW Prep To Go Podcast -- posted at: 4:01pm PDT

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