Posts from — February 2010

How to Eat    Where to Eat    The Dining Plan    Guide to Disney Dining

OVERVIEW: THE DISNEY DINING PLAN(S)

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

There are several Disney Dining Plans available to guests at Walt Disney World resort hotels. The basic premise of these plans is that by pre-paying many of your meals, your budgeting is simplified, and, quite possibly, you might save money.

(See this for the official Walt Disney World website material on all of these plans.)

Only one of Disney Dining Plans–the “Disney Dining Plan” itself—is worth considering.  This site recommends that those eating all the meals in one of its recommended itineraries purchase it.

The rationale is that those with younger children eating a number of character buffet meals will save some money by purchasing the dining plan.  Not a lot, though.

Buying this plan, however, raises a couple of complexities.

First, to get the maximum value out of it, you really should eat at some of Walt Disney World’s best loved dining settings.  These can sell out months in advance, so you should follow this site’s advice on when your plans should be firm.

Second, while you are actually at Walt Disney World, there can be confusion about which credits apply to which settings, and what items are included and not included.  The itineraries of this site take care of most of this for you.

MORE DETAIL ON THE DISNEY DINING PLAN(S)

[Read more →]

This is part of The Comfortable Guide to Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW: THE MOST COMFORTABLE WAY TO TOUR THE THEME PARKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

This site provides precise instructions elsewhere , including how to tour the parks at Walt Disney World. These instructions are designed for typical first time family visitors who are not sure whether or not they will ever return.

This page is one of several onhow to tour the theme parks at Walt Disney World for a subset of first time visitors: those seeking the most comfortable visit.

It is part of a series about the most comfortable way to visit Walt Disney World.  Its companion series is about the most inexpensive way to visit Walt Disney World,

I am publishing both series at the same time so that they also help those who are looking for bargains and deals on some things, so that they can spend more on others!! Links to everything in these two series are at the bottom of the page.

MORE ON THE MOST COMFORTABLE WAY TO TOUR THE THEME PARKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW

Summer at Walt Disney World—loosely defined as Memorial Day in late May through Labor Day in early September–is an often difficult season.

The weather is hot and humid, and in mid-August shifts to hot, humid, and the peak of the hurricane season.

Crowds are very high most of the summer–lightest in the latter part of August, and also a little lighter in early June.  They peak over the Fourth of July holiday.

Prices begin fairly high, peak over the Fourth of July weekend, and drop to their lowest level of the year at the Deluxes in mid-July, and at the Moderates and Values in mid August.

Deals and discounts are available for this period.

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW

This page outlines August 2010 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, operating hours, and weather, and then ends with week by week summaries and recommended itineraries.

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: THE SUM OF ALL THRILLS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

My niecelets and I recently tried out the The Sum of All Thrills at Innoventions East at Epcot. 

All of us loved it–one roller coaster avoider susceptible to motion sickness (Dinosaur is too much for her), one roller coaster fan, and one super coaster fan. 

We recommend it for all those tall enough to meet its height requirements (48 inches to ride at all; 54 inches to go upside down), except for those with moderate or worse motion sickness, or claustrophobia.  It’s a blast!

It’s a little hard to describe, but basically you piece together, fine-tune, test, and then ride a simulation of your own roller coaster, bobsled ride, or jet plane ride.

MORE DETAILS ON THE SUM OF ALL THRILLS

  [Read more →]

OVERVIEW: TORNADOES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Although hurricanes get much more attention, tornadoes are likely an equal threat to central Florida visitors—although neither is a major risk.

Winter/Spring tornadoes are a particular threat.

MORE ON TORNADOES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

[Read more →]