Since our first visit in 2010, Disney has hike theme park ticket price drastically, but the newly installed RFID system (wristband or card) does help on wait time. This bold transformation with billion dollar investment works. Disney also stops selling unexpired tickets like 10 theme park tickets with 10 water park bonus deal we got years ago. But after all, Disney is Disney. It still shows its magic to lure millions of people into its world every year on even higher and higher ticket price.
Travel Tips
- Reserve your fast passes ahead as early as possible from your Disney account. Generally you can start fast pass reservation from 30 days ahead. If you stay at Disney resorts, you can start fast pass reservation from 60 days ahead. You can reserve up to three fast passes initially. After using ALL THREE passes, you can schedule more on a one-by-one basis. Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom is the most time-saving fast pass (well, if you are lucky enough to find one).
- Install Disney mobile app to observe wait time and schedule next fast pass as soon as your quota free up.
- Don’t be discouraged by rainy day, especially raining since morning. Theme parks is gonna less crowded. Although some facilities may temporarily close, you may play other open facilities like fast pass holders.
- If you stay at Disney resorts, theme park magic hour can save you tremendous time. Participating attractions varies in the morning magic hour or in the evening. Check here.
- If your ticket can hop theme parks, consider to pair a no-magic-hour theme park with a magic-hour one in the same day.
- If you drive, you can park free at Disney Spring and then take bus. If you pay parking at a theme park, you can park at any other theme parks for the day you pay.
- Some Disney resorts offer direct bus to Disney water parks instead of transferring at a theme park. If you are resort guests and plan to go water parks, consider this as part of your resort booking plan.
- No fast passes for a group? Try to reserve a fast passes individually. You may have chance to overlap everyone together during allowed time period. If you are just couple minutes short, don’t give up yet. The scan system might take you in or ask staffs for help.
Commute
Disney World provides extensive bus network between Disney resorts, theme parks, Orlando airport, and cruise port. Bus runs from 45 minutes before theme park opens and two hours after theme parks close. Disney World also offers two car rental centers and rental companies can give you a ride to the center either from theme parks or from resorts. For airport commute, if you stay at the Disney resort, you can check in your luggage and get your boarding pass at the resort directly. Your scheduled Disney Express should be at least three hours ahead your flight time. Parking at Disney Spring (downtown) is free for everybody. Resort guests get complimentary parking at every theme parks and your resort on the days you stay (whole days from the check-in day to check-out day). When driving to resorts other than yours, be aware of that your magicband won’t work at gate. You should go through security.
Resorts
Caribbean Beach Resort
Caronado Beach Resort
Rapid fill beverage cup works at the place you buy only. It can not share between theme parks and resorts. You can get free water from refill station though. Not every building at the resort has a refill station. For people refill more often, book a room in a village near a refill station.
2018 picture book – link will open a new tab on shutterfly site.
Places We Go
Animal Kingdom (2010, 2012, 2018)
My favorite ride is the new Avatar Flight of Passage in Pandora. We arrive before 8:00 but the line for Pandora already piles up (park opens at 9 for all, 8 for Disney resort guests). The wait time for Avatar Flight of Passage started at 60 mins at opening and went up to 190 mins during the day. (We could not get fast pass for this even 60 days in advance but had the fast pass for Na’vi River Journey) so planned to do the flight of passage first thing in the morning, I guess everyone had the same thought… we waited about 50 mins total which compared to 190 is not too bad… but would preferred if we were able to get fast pass.
Epcot (2012, 2018)
My favorite ride is Test Track, Mission: Space and Soarin. Test Track is on the top of all. This ride is so real that gives you thrill racing experience simulated excursion through the rigorous testing procedures run on concept car.
Hollywood Studios (2012, 2018)
My favorite ride is Tower of Terror and Star Tour. This park is relatively smaller than others. If you are lucky in wait time, you should have plenty of time to hop on another theme park.
Magic Kingdom (2010, 2012, 2018)
Magic Kingdom is the largest theme park among all. When you step inside the park on the first moment, looking at Cinderella Castle, you do feel like wandering in a fairy tale. Most of rides are more for young kids below middle school age. Bring yours kids there when they are still young and still believe fairy and princess. Till now, I can recall my daughter’s face expression when she saw a “real” princess at age of 5. Firework show at the castle is a must see. People start finding good spots one hour ahead. If you want to skip firework to avoid huge leaving crowds afterward, you can take ferryboat sailed away around firework time which gives you another view of Magic Kingdom fantasy over the lake.
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (2012)
Typhoon Lagoon wave pool is bigger and wave is stronger than Blizzard Breach’s. The wave make huge white water. My favorite attraction is Shark Reef in which you swim over an aquarium with vivid marine lives. Unfortunately this attractions is permanently closed since 2016.
Blizzard Beach Water Park (2018)
I like rides here better than Typhoon Lagoon’s because rides are more exciting for older kids and ride length are longer.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is Disney downtown. You can kill half day easily there to shop many well-known brands and dine at restaurants. In my personal preference, restaurant options ain’t diversified enough here. Instead, Epcot offers better dining options and experience.
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