Category — j. To-Do Lists for Walt Disney World

USING A TRAVEL AGENT FOR YOUR WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION

Almost anyone—including people who have been to Walt Disney World dozens of times—can benefit from using a travel agent to plan and book their Disney trip.

Using a travel agent for Disney World is free, costs you nothing extra, can help assure a great trip if you don’t have the time to plan it yourself, can save you a lot of time and trouble, and might even save you money!

HOW DISNEY TRAVEL AGENTS WORK

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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
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Because of changes to Walt Disney World’s summer Fantasmic schedule, the Easter/Summer Itinerary no longer works for summer visits.

As a result, I’ve split this itinerary into two. 

• The Easter Itinerary is identical to the old Easter/Summer itinerary, and still can be found here with a new name.
• The new Summer Itinerary is here (and its To-Do List is here). The changes in it are minor, and, in particular, its restaurant reservations remain identical to those of the former version.

Questions or concerns?  Leave a comment below!

OVERVIEW

The crew at TouringPlans.com–recommended on this site multiple times both for their book and their website–has released a way cool mobile app, Lines, for estimated this-second waiting times for all the rides and attractions at Walt Disney World.

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(For a 180 day calendar, see this.)

NOTE: CALENDAR SHIFT BACK TO 180 DAYS

In late October 2009, WDW restaurants returned to being reservable 180 days in advance.

For a 180 day calendar, see this. [Read more →]

TO-DO LIST: SIX NIGHT AUTUMN-WINTER-SPRING ITINERARY, SUNDAY ARRIVAL

A. MORE THAN 180 DAYS BEFORE YOUR PLANNED ARRIVAL DATE

1. Confirm your budget, planned dates, kids’ development paths and heights, and your transportation choice and its availability for your planned dates.

2. Make your plane reservations, if flying. Make any other needed transportation arrangements.

3. Set up your hotel and tickets. Call 407-939-7675 (preferred, because this allows you to tell the reservationist which building at your resort you wish to be in, which the new WDW website no longer allows you to do), or click here to use Disney’s online system.

• When the page opens, click “Book Vacation Packages”
• Add your dates, party size and age of your kids
• Set up your basic package:
  • Click “Advanced Search”
  • Click “I know the Resort I want.”
  • In the drop down menu that appears, click to open, and scroll to pick your hotel
  • Click “Dining Plan”
  • Click “Continue”
  • Wait
• Fix the options–a page will open that has selected several options for you, most of them wrong. You will need to fix each section, and update the sections as you go.
  • At the top of the page you will be put into the most expensive room. Click the button for the least expensive instead. (The views aren’t worth it for first time family visitors, except Animal Kingdom Lodge visitors should always pick a Savannah view)
  • Click “Update” and wait
  • Click, in the “Park Tickets and Options” section, the button in the upper right that says “Open.”
  • If not already set at 7, set the number of days in your tickets to 7
  • Unclick both the “Park Hopper” box and the “Water Parks and More” box
  • Click “Update” and wait
• Click “Ground Transportation” and when it opens, click Disney’s Magical Express, and add your airline info
• Click “Continue” and wait
• Click “Select this Offer” at the bottom of the page and wait
• When the pricing pages shows up, unclick Trip Insurance (if offered)
• In the “Special Room Requests” section, click to open, then click “Refrigerator”
• If you are on the phone, tell the reservationist what room you want
  • If a Polynesian guest, ask for a room on the third floor (quieter) in Rapa Nui or Tahiti. (These are 2 of the only 3 buildings with both the largest rooms and balconies on all floors, and are the 2 buildings closest to the Epcot monorail. You are in fact so close to TTC that you can take the express monorail home from the Magic Kingdom–much faster than the resort monorail.)
  • If a Pop Century Guest, ask for a room on the 4th floor (quieter) in the 1970s area. (This is the only building group at Pop Century that does not surround a pool, so it will be quieter at night.)
• Complete the transaction with your credit card.

B. 181 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

Go to the online restaurant reservations page here, set up an account if you don’t already have one, and practice trying to reserve restaurants.

This may well drive you crazy, but the site works better than it used to…and is likely the only way you can get your Cindy reservations done! (as the site opens up a new reservable day at 6a, whereas the phone reservation line opens at 7a).

Collect your restaurant reservations together. You will want to do them online in order of hardest to reserve first. This is how they are listed below.

C. EXACTLY 6am EST, EXACTLY 180 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

(For an 180 day calendar, see this).

1. Be on the restaurant website here by at least 5:50am EST, and have your Cindy reservation all set up on the page. Keep refreshing, as you will be let in as soon as Disney’s system decides it is 6a.

Make as many of the following as you have patience for (try to get through at least Akershus), in the exact order listed:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table Lunch (dining plan, two credits): Monday at 11a or later if you can; earlier than 11 only if your sole option
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (dining plan, two credits): Monday 6:15p show. (7.15 until 10/1/2102) The other two times don’t work well.
• Crystal Palace (dining plan): Sunday 5.30p if you can; earlier if you must, but make sure your arrival plans fit this—not earlier than 4 hours after your scheduled touchdown at the airport
• Akershus Banquet (dining plan): Wednesday 6:30p if you can, earlier ok, but cuts into your nap and pool time, no later than 7:30p.
• Downtown Disney’s Rainforest Café (NOT the Rainforest café at the Animal Kingdom!!) (cash): Tuesday 8p if you can; no earlier, but later is ok.

For those you don’t make online, make them by calling call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)

2. Order your Cirque du Soleil tickets (Category 2) for the 6p show on Tuesday at this site (cash). (For arrival dates of May 2, 9, or 23 2010, make this for Tuesday)

D. CHECK THIS SITE IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERY FOLLOWING MONTH FOR ANY CHANGES.

E. NOTES ON PACKING ETC. BEFORE YOU LEAVE

1. Check in online at the link you can find on this page

2. If you use Disney’s Magical Express, you do not need to collect your bags at the Orlando airport. Disney will get them for you and, eventually, deliver them directly to your room. Your bags may arrive hours after you do; so, depending on the weather forecasts, have a carry-on with an appropriate change of clothes for Orlando weather on Saturday, as you will almost certainly go to Epcot on Saturday before your checked bags arrive.

3. Follow the instructions in the Magical Express packet you will receive in the mail regarding both tagging your bags pre-departure, and where to go at the Orlando airport to find your transport to your resort.

4. Bring a copy of your room reservation, confirmation numbers (such as for the Gospel Brunch) and any tickets for special events you may have received in the mail.

5. Pack breakfast utensils, as they are not always available in the gift shop: bowls, spoons, napkins

6. When you arrive at the hotel, look for the special “On-line Check-in” line, and get into it.

LINKS FOR THIS ITINERARY

Summary
To-Do List
First Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

ITINERARY LINKS

• For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
• For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
• For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
• To design your own itinerary, see this
• For rides that might be skipped, see this
• For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this