Planning Ahead Logistics Organizing a trip properly takes time, but most travelers find the increased enjoyment well worth the effort. The fact is, planning a Disney visit can be a pleasant sort of "armchair" exercise for the whole family. Kids will enjoy their visit to Disney all the more if they, too, are involved in the process. Take it from us, the more information you can gather, the better. To assist in that effort, we immodestly recommend Birnbaum''s Walt Disney World for Kids, a colorful look at the World, written for readers ages 7 through 14. For parties aiming to pair a Disney cruise with a WDW visit, the info beginning on page 337 is a good place to start. Hot Tip * So you''re using the Birnbaum Guide to plan your trip to Walt Disney World. What are you going to do next? Go to www.
disneyworld.com! There you can get WDW news and park hours, purchase tickets, make dining reservations, and more. (You can also use the handy-dandy My Disney Experience app or website.) INFORMATION SOURCES For additional information about Walt Disney World, use the My Disney Experience app or website, visit www.disneyworld.com, or call 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639). Specifics such as park hours, ticket prices, refurbishment schedules, and directions are available through an automated system 24 hours a day. For info by mail, write to: Walt Disney World, P.
O. Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000. Free park guide maps are available at all four theme parks, just inside the entrance and at Guest Relations locations. Theme Park Tip Boards provide information such as attraction wait times; Disney character appearance, parade, and stage show schedules; and more. Internet and smartphone users can get details about trip planning, reserve a resort room, order theme park and water park tickets, book (and modify) dining reservations, and get attraction wait times, park operating hours, and special-events descriptions by using the My Disney Experience app or website, or by visiting disneyworld.com. Disney Cruise Line vacation packages may be booked at disneycruise.com.
For discounts on (non-Disney) area attractions, hotels, and restaurants, contact Visit Orlando at 407-363-5872 and visit www.visitorlando.com. For information about other Central Florida attractions, contact Visit Florida; 888-735-2872 (to request a free visitors guide and map); www.visitflorida.com. You can also download area guides from the website. On-site Resources: Those staying at a WDW resort should consider their Lobby Concierge desk a primary resource.
Resort guests may also receive information via their room''s TV. Fort Wilderness campers are advised to stop at the Pioneer Hall Information & Ticket Window, call extension 2788, or touch 11 on a phone near any public restroom. (Tablet and smartphone users can access mydisneyexperience.com or use the free app.) WHAT TO PACK While there''s no formal dress code at Walt Disney World, neat, casual clothing is the rule, with few exceptions. Most notably, semi-formal/formal attire is requested for Victoria & Albert''s restaurant in the Grand Floridian resort. Generally speaking, T-shirts and shorts are fine during the day. For evening, slacks, jeans, or Bermuda-length shorts are appropriate.
Bathing suits are a must, along with the appropriate attire for any sport you want to pursue. (Tennis, anyone?) Light sweaters are necessary even in summer--to wear indoors when the air-conditioning gets chilly. From November through March, warmer clothing is a must for evening. Pack for weather extremes so you will be comfy should it become unseasonably warm or cool. Be sure to take hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Adults must have government issued photo ID. (Leave selfie sticks at home--they are not permitted in Disney theme or water parks. Also forbidden: weapons of any kind, including toys.
) If possible, pack rain gear (a large, light-weight poncho is best). One of the most important items of all? Comfortable walking shoes (two pairs). Guests staying at the resorts on Hotel Plaza Boulevard may access a tourist-information television station of their own. Some other area hotels also show a version of the programming, usually aiming to provide an overview of all Central Florida attractions. For Day Visitors: When purchasing one-day admission to a given theme park, guests receive a complimentary guide map for that park. Ticket holders may receive all four park guides upon request. Extra park guide maps are available at City Hall (in the Magic Kingdom) and at Guest Relations (in Disney''s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney''s Animal Kingdom), as well as in shops and restaurants throughout the theme parks. PACKAGE POINTERS The sheer number and diversity of packages offering vacations in Central Florida are enough to bewilder even the savviest traveler.
Still, such plans are worth exploring. Most offer the convenience of a vacation that''s completely organized in advance, and one that will generally cost less than the sum of the same transportation, accommodations, and admission elements purchased separately. In addition, since most package providers purchase blocks of Disney resort rooms, they are an excellent source for securing a room on WDW property when the hotel of your choice is booked solid. Southwest Vacations (southwestvacations.com; 800-243-8372), American Airlines Vacations (800-321-2121; aavacations.com), expedia.com, travelocity.com, and the Walt Disney Travel Company (407-939-6244 or disneyworld.
com) all offer packages that may feature WDW on-site hotels, as well as choice off-property accommodations. Some packages may sweeten the deal by including (relatively) lower-cost air transportation. Vacations and other travel packages may include particular perks and discount offers. For possibilities, check travel websites, or consult a travel agent. Packages booked via disneyworld.com are known as Walt Disney Travel Co. packages, and may include extras such as miniature golf or passes to ESPN Wide World of Sports. For details on how to book packages through disneyworld.
com, see pages 19-20. Travel agents may design packages around a specific type of vacation: say, a golf getaway, honeymoon, or family reunion. They may include extra elements such as unlimited tee times or a carriage ride. Still others are tied to an annual event, such as the Walt Disney World Marathon (see Holidays & Special Events on page 10). Air transportation, rental car, travel insurance, or airport transfers can be added to most packages. Hot Tips * When purchasing a Walt Disney World vacation package, pay attention to the type of WDW park ticket that''s included--and make sure you are able to customize the ticket to meet your needs. See page 21 for more information. * New multi-day theme park tickets expire 2 to 14 days after the first day they are used.
The "No Expiration" option was discontinued in 2015. Tickets purchased prior to then will be honored at the parks. Email inquiries to ticket.usage@disneyworld.com. If you have questions about any ticket purchased in 2016 or later, call Ticket Services: 407-566-4985, Option 4. The value of a package depends on your party''s needs. Before considering options, use this book to help determine which of the accommodations, activities, and attractions most appeal to you.
There''s genuine value in certain package elements, such as airport transfers. Several packages also include meals with the Disney characters, tennis lessons, golf greens fees, spa treatments, boat rentals, and the like. Never choose a package that includes elements you don''t want or won''t have time to enjoy. While extras such as welcoming snacks may sound appealing, their cash value is negligible. Also beware of any packages that tout certain services as selling points that are actually available to every Disney guest. Finally, we highly recommend insuring your trip when purchasing a package, as cancellation fees can be steep and emergencies do happen. Insurance ensures peace of mind (and wallet). How to Book a WDW Resort Stay Have you decided that you would like to stay at one of the Disney-owned-and-operated Walt Disney World resort hotels? Fantastic! We''re happy to walk you through the step-by-step process of booking your vacation.
First, you''ll need to decide if you would like a "room-only" reservation or a vacation package. A package includes theme park tickets, and can include other components, all depending on how much you''d like to customize your Disney vacation. Both types of booking come with the following perks: * Theme Park Early Entry Benefit: Walt Disney World resort guests may enjoy a half hour of early access to any of the four theme parks on most mornings. (For further details, see page 22.) * Free Water Park Admission: In 2025, guests of select WDW resorts receive free admission to a Disney water park on the day they check-in ( pending availability). * Complimentary use of the Walt Disney World Transportation System: WDW''s vast transportation system includes buses (aka motor coaches), boats, the WDW monorail system, and the Disney Skyliner. Note that each reservation type (room-only or package) comes with its own unique deposit requirements and cancellation policies. Finally, keep in mind that packages for the Swan, Dolphin, and Four Seasons Orlando, plus Disney Springs area resorts, hotels at Flamingo C.