50 Things You Need to Know Before You Go To Disney World

do you want an average run-of-the-mill Disney World vacation like everybody else or do you want an amazing unique Disney World vacation that everyone's going to be jealous of if you're looking for the latter then keep watching cuz we've got just the tricks you need to know for the best trip ever here on dfy [Music] guide hey everybody it's AJ for Disney food blog you want Disney World advice we've got the Disney World advice but we're not talking about the regular old Disney tips and tricks that you might have heard a thousand times over today we're talking about all the things you're going to need to know before you go into the parks that have gone undiscussed for long enough either because these tips are brand new to the Disney scene or they've somehow slipped under the radar over time as you start to brainstorm your future Disney World you're more than welcome to use our free planning worksheets to help you keep track of what you'll need to accomplish before you go you can download these worksheets by scanning the QR code you see on the screen now or you can pick them up from disneyfoodblog docomo number one parking trams have returned now this sounds boring it is not my friends if you have been to Disney World if you have tried to get into the Parks from those parking lots or get back to your car from the parks after a very very long day in Disney World you will understand how important these parking trams are now after Disney World reopened in 2020 post those closures for Co the trams in the parking lots disappeared why who knows probably staff shortages however Disney did eventually bring trams back to the transportation and tickets Center which is the area you park in when you visit Magic Kingdom as well as animal kingdom and yet the trams remained Mia and Epcot in Hollywood Studios until now currently all Disney World parks now have their tram systems up and running again meaning if you're forced to park all the way in the back of one of the parking lot areas a tram will be able to take you to and from the spot without you having to worry about all their extra walking especially toward the end of the day when you find yourself crawling out the front Gates of the park as is next up Let's Talk mobile order from Disney Springs so mobile ordering inside the Disney parks has been a thing to do with quick services for a while now sparing you from having to wait in any super long physical cues and instead giving you the option to order what you want through the My Disney Experience app then returning to pick up your order when it's ready for you so mobile ordering around Disney Springs though isn't as big of a deal as it is inside the parks but there are five Disney Springs quick services that do have those mobile order capabilities featured on the My Disney Experience app including amirit Patisserie BB wolf Sausage Company Disney's candy cauldron Delux Burger and Goofy's candy company even though most other Quick Service locations around the shopping district aren't featured as a mobile order option on the My Disney Experience app they may still have a mobile order function available through their own website or app like you can find with restaurants like chicken guy and everglazed and polite Pig and those ones so it's always worth checking to see if a Disney Springs fast food joint has mobile order capabilities whether it be through Disney's own app or not because it can really save you time okay let's talk about Disney's latest attraction that Moana journey of water or journey of water inspired by Moana I don't know we're probably never going to get the name right wearing good reliable water friendly shoes is going to be important at this particular attraction now of course you're already wearing good reliable water friendly shoes right cuz you know it's probably going to rain when you're in Disney World but I just want to kind of reiterate this one for the Moana attraction now this one is going to be opening on October 16th and we were able to check out the attraction early through a cast member preview actually cuz we have a cast member friend that took us along with them and since this walkthrough is all about the cycle of water the interactive elements here are going to get you a little soggy so each of the sections of the walkthrough including rain stream dream Wetland spring land Lake River ocean and Sky have a way for you to directly play with water while you can still walk out of this experience completely dry if you want to by choosing the dry alternative paths instead of the wet ones in order to fully interact with this one you're going to want to pick an outfit that is drip dry ready brace yourself for big ocean splashes and gushing geysers and a waterfall curtain that can split in two depending on how slowly you walk through it it is very cool also go watch our video about it cuz it's really fun now let's talk dining promo cards and the Disney Dining Plan if you're looking for a way to get free money to use toward your future Disney dining and eating then you're going to want to track down those exclusive dining promotion cards dining promo cards are essentially gift cards that you'll receive when you stay at a disney-owned hotel during one of their dining promotional Seasons you can use these cards for food throughout Disney World but you won't be able to spend them on anything else so no big gift store shopping spree or anything you're just spending these on food this year we saw the limited time promotion announced in January applicable for trips taking place in July through September but a new dining promotion was just dropped at the beginning of September which will give these dining gift cards to Hotel guests booking trips during certain time frames between late 2023 and early 2024 so hello Christmas season now depending on the hotel you're staying in you can receive up to 60 to $200 per room per night not per person just keep that in mind per room but of course there are a lot of details in fine print that you'll need to read up on before figuring out if this deal is right for you or if you should book The Disney Dining Plan which is a completely separate thing we've got a whole video on it for you and we have a whole book about it as well so comparing the dining promo card to the Disney Dining Plan is something you should take on now you can do that yourself or you can reach out to our travel agent friends over at Small World Vacations they'll help you do that discount research for you I'll link their info down in the description below in case you want to ask them for a free quote okay this next one is just a general throwing this out there sort of tip that you're going to need to take to heart to keep from beating yourself up if things suddenly go a skew while you're in the Parks you can do everything right literally everything you can make the advanced dining reservations you can learn all about Disney Genie plus you can figure out how to use the My Disney Experience app and your Disney Vacation will still figure out a way to throw you a curveball ride breakdowns happen technology fails us that restaurant you were looking forward to wasn't nearly as awesome as everyone told you it would be cast members will do their best to help fix problems you run into inside the Disney bubble but some of those Solutions can take time so brace yourself for those hiccups that might pop up during your trip threatening to ruin you emotionally and logistically but continue to anticipate the best I'm telling you right now we've been through some horrible things in Disney World we've been through some messed up mistakes we have a terrible things that have happened to people in Disney World and most of them have happened to us that's a video we've got for you if you want to go check that out cuz we're going to give you a bunch of solutions to some of these problems but Disney World is the boss and we're just in their world so do not get too frustrated or upset if things don't go exactly as you planned cuz they're probably not going to leave a little flexibility and leave a little open-mindedness for yourself so you know that none of this is your fault all right we got some Starbucks updates for you now don't worry Starbucks isn't going anywhere but it might throw a kink in your Park day if you're not careful each Disney World Park is home to a Starbucks location where you can order all your favorite drinks from home as well as some Classic Bakery and pastry items they're all located pretty centrally in the Parks usually not too far from the entrance so in the mornings as you might expect you're going to find these Starbucks spots getting pretty packed with early risers looking for their caffeine fix before the official start of the day but after the morning Rush that's when we start to run into a rather bizarre problem you see each Starbucks is designed with two separate Q lines so you can either wait in line to order on the left side of the counter or the right side of the counter there isn't a difference in the offerings or the experience really but it's just a way to get a higher volume of guests through the restaurant in a single go but there have been a few times lately that we've come into one of these Starbucks locations around the afternoon only to find the line getting really long since the shop is effectively operating at half capacity so just as a warning for you if you want to grab your starb in the afternoon you may actually end up waiting longer than anticipated CU they do shut down half of the line it doesn't happen in every Starbucks location every day but it is a fairly common occurrence if you run into this problem you can always choose to visit a Joffrey's kiosk instead for your cup of afternoon Java since they usually have shorter lines and several quick Services also have limited coffee offerings too that you might be able to hit up instead for even shorter lines to find out which locations in the park offer coffee go to your My Disney Experience app and type coffee in the search engine all the restaurants that have coffee on their menus are going to pop up to help you narrow down your caffeine hunt so I am a sucker for a good discount and those discounts are even more exciting when Disney decides to add them to their gift shops sometimes Disney gift shop discounts appear when Disney needs to clear out their end of season festival and holiday merchandise to make room for all the new stuff but on other occasions we find discounts that just encourage you to buy a few more items than you were planning on getting in the first place like promotions for Nimo outfits making it cheaper for you to get three of them instead of too or how if you spend a certain amount of money in the shop you'll be able to get a certain promotional bag or a blanket or something for a highly discounted price so keep your eyes peeled for these unique savings opportunities just in case they apply to you and don't forget to check on the shop Disney website for any bigger discount opportunities on theme park merchandise that you might be missing out on by purchasing your souvenirs inside the physical shops sorry that was a lot of tips in one but discounts in the gift shops check shop disne need to make sure you can't get a bigger discount count there those are the most important parts now turn on those push notifications for the release of this video getting a boarding group number for the virtual cues of Tron light cycle run in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic rewind in Epcot is still the only way you're going to be able to experience either one of these high-speed coasters unless you pay extra for an individual lightning Lane we have entire posts on our dfb website going over how you can secure these virtual cues during your next trip with like stepbystep screenshots and everything but for now I'm just going to talk to you about one very important boarding group reminder that'll make your day in the park that much easier once you have a boarding group make sure your push notifications for your phone are turned on for the My Disney Experience app that way you don't have to keep checking back on the app to see when your number is called instead you'll be notified when it is offering a little extra insurance that you're not going to miss that ride after your boarding group number is called you'll have an hour window to scan into the line so you don't have to stress about rushing over to the ride right right when you get that notification just wrap up whatever you're doing and scan into the line before the end of the hour next we've got some space 220 advice for you so space 220 is the most popular table service restaurant in abcot meaning Advanced dining reservations for both its main dining room and its Lounge book up really really fast and it's hard to find them if you've missed them but what if I told you there was still a way to experience the centor space station with no reservation necessary well each day space 20 offers up some first come first serve bar seating more often than not you'll have to put your name on a walk up wait list in order to be eligible for this which you can do over at the space 220 host Stand Bar seating is only available for those 21 and older so if you're traveling with younger group members you're still going to want to set your alarms 60 days before your vacation to snag those popular Advanced dining reservations which will go live on the site around 530 to 6:00 a.m. eastern but if you're just traveling with you and your spouse or a group of all adults this could be a good alternative alternative for you if you miss that reservation window now Disney gift cards aren't just something you can get in a birthday card or as a wedding present they can really become the most convenient way to pay for things around the parks if you make yourself an account on the Disney gift card website you'll be able to virtually keep track of all your gift cards even the physical ones that you get as a present or the discounted ones you can get inside those big box stores like Target or Sam's Club on the Disney gift card website you'll be able to purchase new cards reload more money onto pre-existing cards check your card balance and several other things that'll make using these cards inside the parks even easier than using cash or a credit card so as you know we always recommend that you go ahead and buy some discounted Disney gift cards before you leave which you can do with your Target red card or at Sam's Club Etc but loading them all up here means that you're not going to be completely in the dark about how much you have left on your cards now I love this tip this is one of my favorite ones that a lot of people don't know about so you can make merchandise returns with no strings attached like any store so buyer regret does not have to be a thing in Disney World for you if you buy something from one of the Disney World gift shops and then decide later on you'd rather return it and get something else you can do that you've just got to make that return within 30 days of the product's original purchase and make sure that it's never been worn or used with all its packaging and tags if you bring a copy of the items receipt when making the return then you'll be able to get a full refund on the card you use to purchase said item that includes Disney gift cards as well however if you can't find the items receipt you may still be able to get a refund for it but only in the form of Disney park merchandise credit now remember you don't have to return the item to the store where you bought it you can return the item to any Disney owned and run store on property that's right so maybe you bought something at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom and you want to return it but you don't have any more Park tickets well you can just go to the gift shop in your Disney hotel so maybe you're at Wilderness Lodge you can go to the Wilderness Lodge gift shop and return that item right there you don't have to go back to Magic Kingdom to Emporium it's going to save you a lot of time and a lot of effort okay this next one might be the most important Disney World lesson you learn in your life Disney has very sexy French fries and by sexy I mean they an't your average fast food fried potatoes these are loaded with Savory toppings salty seasonings some of the best dipping sauces around here are a few of our personal sexy fry favorites the loaded Burnt End fries at Regal Eagle Smokehouse in Epcot are made with seasoned french fries burnt ends macaroni and cheese and beer battered onion rings Mr Kamal seasoned fries in Animal Kingdom come with a Sriracha mayo giving the fries this nice creamy Tangy flavor packed with a little bit of heat and yes we're sad that there aren't the rest of the dipping sauces there still but at least we still have one y'all let's let's be happy now the Truffle fries at Enchanted Rose in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa that's kicking it up a little fancy Notch for you these are topped with shaved black truffles and 18-month aged parmesan and last but not least for now steakhous 71s fries inside Disney's contemporary resort our garlic parmesan dusted waffle fries that come with a side of chimmy churi and truffle aoli now we've got a lot more fry options for you believe me I'm sure we've got them sprinkled throughout the rest of our videos I've talked about lots of fries lots of times we also have a good sexy fries blog post for you so definitely go check that out now Disney World has to routinely close parts of their hotels for maintenance and remodeling we know this and that goes for their pools as well cuz they want to keep those in tiptop shape if you love hanging out at Disney World pools and that's going to be a real big part of your trip coming up then you're going to want to make sure you check the main web page of the hotel you're staying in to see if any temporary pool closures have been announced so far the main pool closures we're seeing for Disney World in 2024 that'll last from January through April we'll be over at the Fantasia pool at Allstar Movies Resort the Cozy cone pool at Art of Animation the Fuente storo pool at Caribbean Beach resort and the dubloon Lagoon pool at Port Orleans Resort French Quarter oh also storm along Bay over at Y and Beach Club will'll be receiving massive updates too but not until 2025 when it does close though it'll be gone for five whole months between January and May and I'm starting to warn you about this now because I definitely don't want you to book this really expensive hotel and now be able to use their water park-like pool so please excuse me while I preor its absence cuz it's literally the best pool in all of Disney World and I will not be taking questions at this time fortunately even if you do wind up at one of these hotels when a pool closure is scheduled each Resort still has multiple pool options for you to choose from as an alternative except for dubloon Lagoon if you're at that one you're going to have to go over to Riverside to use their pool and if experiencing a certain style of pool or a certain feature pool was a key reason you were planning on booking a stay at said Resort in the first place then you may have to to adjust your vacation schedule for one of the warmer Seasons after maintenance wraps up or you can always choose another resort to stay at where all the pools will still be ready and available for you to Cannonball on into okay this next one is one of those harsh realities of going to Hollywood Studios that's better to accept now rather than when you're in the thick of your visit and because you know not all of these tips have to be happy tips some of them are going to be difficult tips for us to come to grips with just so that we know so that our trips aren't the worst right so while Hollywood Studios has a lot of great Quick Service locations like Woody's lunchbox and ronto roers and Backlot Express great quality table service meals are kind of in short supply here sure you've got those options like Roundup Rodeo barbecue and Hollywood Brown Derby but even those have their faults to an extent Roundup Rodeo is going to be your most expensive barbecue option propertywide with much cheaper barbecue Quick Service options including places like flame tree barbecue and Animal Kingdom that yummy Regal Eagle Smokehouse in Epcot and polite Pig and Disney Springs meanwhile even though our love for Hollywood Brown Derby is immense this is the park signature restaurant meaning those prices are going to be steep often we find ourselves preferring to grab a table over at the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge instead for some apps and Cocktails rather than having to fight for advanced dining reservations for Hollywood Brown Derby sit down table service in there which can fill up pretty quickly depending on the season you're visiting now there are really cool themed table service restaurants and Hollywood Studios like sci-fi dining 50s Prime Time Cafe and Hollywood and Vine but the problem with these babies is that their food quality is Hit or Miss like all the time so while the overall atmosphere is great the food itself might wind up being kind of disappointing for the price you paid not always but enough of the time that I want to warn you about it that's why it's always a good idea to study up on the most recent reviews of these kinds of restaurants just so you know what exactly you're making reservations for if you're headed to Hollywood Studios or any of the parks for that matter and you're overwhelmed with dining options wondering whether or not any of these restaurants are actually going to be worth booking a reservation for been there done that then I got good news for you cuz we've tried every single restaurant across the parks and across the resorts multiple times we go there all the time we could fill you in on Insider reviews for every place you can find food and drinks in Disney World so pick up our three-part dfb guide to Walt Disney World dining if you are so inclined you can head to dfb store.com type in code YouTube to save money on your purchase if you buy it and if you do I thank you in advance for supporting our work here on the channel but if you're not into purchasing that yet if you're new to us not sure if you trust us yet that's cool go ahead over to disneyfoodblog outcom we got lots of reviews we got lots of recent reviews we do food reviews at least a couple times a week um and we make sure we hit all of those restaurants at least once every few months so go check those out and see how you feel okay please bring your hand sanitizer Disney World is a petri dish there are a lot of germs there just like any other public place and you're going to be exposed to them a lot whether it be pulling down on a rides lap restraint or sitting at a quick service table or even picking up a plushy at a Disney gift shop germs lurk around every corner I'm not trying to be you know dramatic about it I'm just saying it really stinks to take a Disney World vacation and get sick in the middle of it or be sick the whole week you're home after the vacation so you're always going to want to be prepared with portable hand sanitizer and those maybe those disinfecting wipes too in your Park bag this is especially important if you're planning on tasting around one of the Epcot festivals and you don't want to track down a bathroom to wash your hands all the time Disney Resort gift shops also sell germ fighting agents if you find yourself needing some ASAP but it's better to purchase these ahead of your trip to avoid having to pay those more expensive Disney prices for them by the way I will say even if you don't care about germs those wipes can be super super helpful if you're trying to find a table to eat at during a very very busy time of day and someone just got up and left and nobody's been able to come over and wipe it down yet and it's really gross you know what I'm talking about those can be helpful during those times too okay this is kind of an overall blanket tip about menus I know I talk about all the changes that happen in Disney World literally all the time but nothing changes here more than the food does the reason Disney changes up its menu so frequently kind of varies you might find new snacks and desserts specific for holidays ingredients might be replaced with other ingredients and certain Entre based on kind of what's left L expensive or what's more available less popular items could be taken off the menu and replaced with new ones prices might tick upward a less fun menu change but it happens a lot the moral of the story here never trust that a Disney menu is going to stay the same forever and always things change chefs move around there are food shortages sometimes we had like no turkey in Disney World for like months last year because of that you never really know what's going to happen now our team is constantly keeping track of any and all Disney menu changes we write a blog article every week with every single menu change we spot on the Disney World menus for you and believe me I know if you're really excited about having something specific at a Disney restaurant and it's not there when you arrive that can make or break your trip right so check out our dfb website the newsletter social media Pages be sure to follow along so you'll always know what menu changes are happening or are about to happen as well speaking of menu changes did you know that you can get chicken stuffed Mickey waffles on a stick yes you can my friends consider this mic officially dropped it has happened over at Rick's sports bar and grill in Disney's Coronado Springs Resort which you've probably never even heard of because nobody ever goes there you can find chicken stuffed waffles on the breakfast menu now these come with four Mickey waffles stuffed with chicken tenders and maple syrup and served with herb butterhouse potatoes on the side and while the waffles here aren't massive they're the Mickey mini waffles the mini Mickey waffles they're still really filling and fun to share so it may be a great breakfast option before you head into the parks for the day especially if you're a big chicken and waffles fan for even better quality Chicken and Waffles though I'd recommend hitting up the Grand Floridian cafe or switching out those waffles for the fried chicken and donuts at homecoming over in Disney Springs both of those are awesome but they are not chicken stuff Mickey waffles so just heads up but if you're already staying as a guest at Coronado Springs or you really can't picture eating your chicken and waffles any other way than in a Mickey form on a stick Rick will give you a fun breakfast alternative that your family's going to love okay with each new Epcot festival a new concert series arises bringing with it celebrity guests and bigname performers and local talent of All Sorts so these concerts are totally free with the cost of Park admission and most of the seating is first come first served that being said for the more popular concerts like the Candlelite processional that happens during Festival of the holidays those theater seats fill up quickly and could leave you seatless very easily which is why some folks like to go the dining package route instead dining packages allow you to prepay for a meal at one of the eligible Epcot restaurants and after you eat you'll be given a seating badge that gets you access to a special queue for reserved seating at the show it's basically guaranteeing your seat while it's a good idea to book these dining packages ahead of your trip Same Day dining packages might also be available for the day of your visit for Regal Eagle Smokehouse and or spice Road table depending on the festival the same day dining package can't be booked through the my Disney EXP experience app or website meaning you'll have to physically walk up to the restaurant and book this package in person if you're going to take the Gamble and try your luck at getting a same day dining package try heading to the restaurant that's offering it as soon as it opens we've seen Same Day dining packages sell out real early on in the afternoon and cast members have told us in the past that the amount of packages they have to sell can vary by the day so sometimes they can be quite limited there also might be certain restrictions that apply to these same day dining packages so be sure to read over the rules of the offerings before before you bank on them for your next trip oh and get this you might not even have to pay for a dining package for some of these VIP privileges depending on what festival you're at depending on the time of day and availability you may be able to get a wristband for seating at the e to the be concert series which happens during the Food and Wine Festival just by visiting the Florida Blue Lounge over in Morocco now the Florida Blue Medicare Lounge is a popup rest spot during the Food and Wine Festival it takes place inside the former restaurant maresh according to one of the Epcot cast members guests with a special wristband from this Lounge can head to the brick building by the America Gardens theater about 15 minutes before the concert to be led to their VIP seats subject to availability be sure to check with a cast member inside the lounge for more details now we were told they have about 25 wristbands for each show of the evening so you need to get there early and grab yours now for warning you will need to register for the lounge through the My Disney Experience app you can just search Florida Blue to get to the registration part or by visiting the Florida Blue website it's free but you must be 18 or older and if you do decide to register you are consenting for Florida Blue to use your email and phone number for marketing to you it's nothing malicious but you'll still want to talk it over with your group just to make sure everyone's cool with that now as much as we tend to express our qualms regarding the Disney buses I really am grateful they exist so we don't have to constantly pay for ride shares or drive ourselves place to place if we don't want to that being said bus transportation can take forever for example let's say you're staying at All-Star Sports and you have an advanced dining reservation at Via Napoli and Epcot and you need to get their stat after walking to the bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive riding over to the park scanning in and walking over to the Italy Pavilion the entire trip could take you well over an hour and if you're staying at a hotel with an internal Bus Loop that picks up guests at several different stops before finally heading over to the park it might take you even longer than that so just be sure to factor in plenty of extra travel time into your daily itineraries and don't forget to budget back for Uber or lift rides just in case you're on a tight schedule or mini van you can always do that minivan Jam too but let me tell you from experience just add on an extra half hour to however long you think it'll take you to get there cuz you're probably going to need it at least to avoid the stress all right now here's how to request the best seats at epcot's newest restaurant there's a lot to love about the new Shiki saai Sushi isak Kaya restaurant in epcot's Japan Pavilion from from the seasonal Decor to the rotating menu to Fresh flavors and a $300 Sushi Boat but there's another new element you can enjoy here too and that's the specialty fireworks Windows these aren't your average everyday windows that just so happen to look out at the fireworks going on each evening though you can do that from Shiki Sai as well these are digital windows that use screen technology to create a nighttime spectacular over a Japanese garden that you can experience no matter what time of day you're visiting if you're planning on dining a shiky side during your next visit and want to see the exclusive fireworks going on there be sure to request a table at one of these windows granted you aren't 100% guaranteed a fireworks window and you ask for one cuz they could already be filled up during your reservation time but even if you're not seated at a window with this particular fireworks view it's still worth walking past a table that does have one just for a quick peek okay so wildly enough the best Disney park merchandise may not be inside Disney World okay stay with me here while you're in the Orlando area be sure to check out the Disney character warehouses outside the parks Disney Parks operates these character warehouses as liquidation stores for Disney parks and Resorts merchandise which is why you can find legit Disney Parks merch at Outlet prices here there are two Disney character warehouses in Orlando the first is at the Orlando International Premium Outlets and the second is located at the Orlando vinand Premium Outlets if you don't have time to visit either Warehouse during your next trip no worries you can also typically find discounted Park merch merchandise maybe not as discounted but still discounted over there on the shop Disney website too so there are a number of rules you're going to want to know before you visit Disney World but one in particular is especially important to keep in mind in order to keep the piece cast members are generally trained to limit guests to no more than two alcoholic beverages per transaction at Quick Service locations which yes also includes the abcot festival booths so if there's a certain location at Disney that has multiple drinks you're wanting to try narrow down your options to just one or two priority purchases instead of aiming to push those limits sure you could always swing by a restaurant again a few hours later to make a new drink transaction but limiting your drink options to just a couple must tries can also help save your budget since those alcohol prices add up so fast and as always please drink responsibly when you are in Disney World in 2021 the Main Street confectionary got a nice shiny upgrade which included a little spot in the back of the shop called the kernel Kitchen where you can c customize your very own popcorn mix now a lot of people don't know about this nobody talks about it very much but at the colonel kitchen you'll pick a popcorn flavor either caramel rainbow butter or cheddar and sometimes they change those up you'll pick a syrup dark chocolate milk chocolate or white chocolate and then top it all off literally with a selection of multiple candy possibilities like M&M's and pretzels and marshmallows you know the works the kernel kitchen is a really fun concept that allows you to put a unique spin on a classic treat but be warned it can be bit of a steep asking price for just a bag of popcorn customized or not popcorn prices start at around $13 but cost an extra dollar for each additional topping Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our favorite Deluxe resorts to stay in but many of the offerings it has available for guests don't even require you to book a room at the hotel to take advantage of them take its secret Lobby balconies for instance to find these balconies just exit the main building and climb up the spiral staircases and then you'll be led to These Quiet areas with rocking chairs and a perfect view out across the Resort's full Savannah to find these just head toward the lobby bathrooms to find the doors leading out to the balconies speaking of the resort Savannah if you want a more in-depth look at all the animals here you might want to consider taking a Starlight Safari for $89 per person this is an hour-long experience that takes place well after the sun goes down but don't worry you're not driving through pitch Blackness the entire time you're going to receive a pair of night vision goggles before your journey to help you spot the African Wildlife dur during your ride guests must be at least 8 years old to participate and believe me when I say your older kids are going to love this I mean a nighttime Safari with real animals and their very own night vision goggles yeah they're going to love that making you the hero of the trip booking is available via the My Disney Experience app just search Starlight Safari or by calling 407 wdw t r okay are you ready to reach out and find your happily ever after then bring a box of tissues and find a spot to stand at one of these areas Inside Magic Kingdom which are the best places to watch Happily Ever After first up is behind Cinderella Castle now this is only a recommendation for those who only care about seeing the fireworks and hearing the music but don't care if they have to miss the projection show in order to skip the high volume crowds the areas in fantasy land or Tomorrowland that aren't closed to guests during the duration of the show like near Gaston's Tavern provide a unique perspective that's usually pretty chill and doesn't have you shoulder checking people the whole time next is near Casey's corner if you want to for sure see all the projections happily ever after has to offer then try staking out a spot at the top of Main Street USA in the area of Casey's Corner in the plaza ice cream parlor that should give you a good view of the projections on the castle and the projections behind you down the Main Street strip if you want a spot around this area you're going to have to seek it out at least 30 to 45 minutes before showtime for most of the shows and you can go by Main Street train station or even up onto the train station if you keep moving your way down Main Street USA toward the entrance of the the park you'll be able to watch Happily Ever After near that station which will allow you to fully take in the full breadth of the massive fireworks over the castle without needing to cram your neck Skyward the only downside is that the castle projections will be a bit far away you'll still be able to appreciate all the pretty colors and lights and you can make a quick getaway after the show concludes before everyone starts charging toward the exit Okay anybody can go to the hotels remember what I said earlier about how anyone can experience most offerings in Animal Kingdom Lodge regardless of whether they're staying there as a guest or not the same goes for their restaurants too in fact the same goes for all Disney World hotel restaurants whether you're staying at one Resort or another or even one that's completely off Disney World property you're still totally allowed to make dining reservations for any of the Disney Resort restaurants that you want to try so you want to get all fancy with a meal over at Citra Co and Grand Floridian or you want to bring on the tropical Vibes with all you can eat Delicacies from Ohana and Disney's Polynesian Village it doesn't matter whether you're staying at either Resort or H the holiday and across the way just as long as there's reservations still available everyone has the option of grabbing a table for even Disney Resort's nicest signature dining locations now we love it when Disney World launches a change that makes our lives easier instead of more complicated which is why we very much appreciate this super recent My Disney Experience dining update so making Disney dining reservations through the My Disney Experience app used to be a game of luck while you were able to search around for advanced dining reservations via the website or app there was never a way to see the full list of available reservation times for any given restaurant instead you had to Tinker around with the system in hopes that the different time would magically appear that worked well with your Disney itinerary but now things are way easier if you're looking for a specific dining reservation you'll be able to see all of the available dining options for the restaurant you're interested in all right there right in front of you how easy is that for example if you're looking for a Saturday lunch reservation for 50s Prime Time Cafe in Disney's Hollywood Studios a family favorite among many you'll be able to see all the reservation time still available for that day without all the extra search and find leg workor it's kind of like open table now if you've used the Open Table website and it has been so much easier to find reservations for those hard to get restaurants okay so I can't be the only person who hates the paper straws right right now well I am grateful that Disney's taking steps to being more environmentally conscious the feel of paper straws getting all Gummy and then eventually ol olving before you finish your drink is just gross no thank you so select Disney World restaurants have sugar cane or bamboo straw Alternatives which I highly prefer but since more straws are of the paper variety especially around Disney's Quick Service locations you may want to invest in some reusable straws before your trip now some reusable straws come with carry-in cases and cleaning brushes and they are even better to track down at your local Big Box store or off the Amazon website and that way you can keep them nice and clean all trip long but I personally love my fade straws which are Marine biod degradable so you can keep the turtles safe and they feel a lot more like regular straws I buy those on Amazon too so bringing a change of clothes for your younger kiddos or infants might have already crossed your mind you know you're supposed to do that right in case of ice cream spills or blowouts or super soaked outfits after running through the splash pads but you might want to do the same one too many times I found myself in the Parks wishing for a wardrobe change when a sudden rainstorm hit and soak me to the Bone or I'm caught with shorts in a tank top during a rare Floridian cold Spike because of an ice cream spill since news flash parents accidents happen to grown-ups too so packing spare lightweight clothing in your Park bag or stroller for emergency purposes can save you from having to backtrack all the way to your hotel room to change or having to pay for an overpriced Disney outfit on site and while you're at it make sure you have a sack or extra bag to put your dirty clothes in too I like bringing wet bags with me just so that they're not hanging Loosely in your backpack all day getting the rest of your stuff all wet or ice creamy okay so no Disney World trans transportation service is perfect though the Disney Skyliner almost is but even these Sky gondolas have their faults especially when they have to face off against their worst enemy weather when there's lightning nearby or severe weather in the area the Skyliner will close out of an abundance of caution after all you do not want to get stuck way up in the air in the middle of a storm when the Skyliner is closed due to bad weather Disney instructs guests to use buses instead note that depending on the time of day and your location this sudden transportation change may add a significant amount of travel time to your journey if you happen to be in line to use the Skyliner when it closes cast members typically arrange for a bus to come and pick you up though this can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the bus schedule so keep an eye on the weather via your AI weather app or whatever weather app you have so you can make a solid game plan around these popup storms accordingly I've also used ride shares when things go wrong with the Skyliner and I have to get off for some reason ride shars can pick you up anywhere and they're pretty quick coming so that might be an investment you want to make so rope dropping in Hollywood Studios might help you cut down on your time spent waiting in line for certain rides but you know what lines get longer right after rope drop the lines for the restrooms located off Hollywood Boulevard aka the first area you enter when you walk through the park gate so that's going to be the first bathroom since these bathrooms are located just after the park entrance you're going to see a ton of people jumping in line for them before getting a move on with their day now these restrooms aren't exactly spacious either so they tend to form real long lines pretty quickly instead of using the Hollywood Boulevard restrooms try stopping at the bathrooms right outside the Hollywood studi entrance instead over by the outdoor Guest Services area not only are these restrooms massive but lots of guests tend to overlook them when making a be line toward the park all right everybody don't ask questions just step in the taped off box just do it okay fine you can ask questions it is a weird command to mindlessly follow after all if you're at one of the parks and you see a small small box made out of tape on the ground and a few cast members standing nearby then you've just found a clap box anytime a guest stands inside that tape made Square the cast members will give him a wildly enthusiastic Round of Applause whether you stand there for a long time or just briefly walk through the box while passing through you'll still get a little Applause Just for being in the right place at the right time it's really fun they do it just as a fun thing to do for guests and it can be really what you need that day much like any sit-down restaurant that you'd enjoy back home it's important to tip your servers after each and every table service meal now this goes for those who'll be using the Disney Dining Plan next year too while the DDP will prepay for each of your meals across property it will not cover gratuiti so you'll still need to budget for that to prevent short changing any of your future servers and don't forget to leave a tip for your housekeeping cast members too you can leave housekeeping gratuities in a marked envelope where it'll be easy to spot in the room just be sure to leave a tip out every day rather than waiting until the end of your trip since it won't always be the same person cleaning your room all week long I say this as a former chambermaid now Disney World is super hot a lot of the time but I don't need to tell you that even for the most seasoned Florida native and Disney World Pro the summer heat can be unrelenting this is why we recommend booking table service meals during the hottest part of the day which is usually a little bit after the typical lunch rush so around 1: to 3:00 p.m. an afternoon table service reservation allows you to get in the shade and air conditioning while also grabbing some grub plus those off dining times are usually easier to snag reservations for anyways that's a win-win a lot of Disney World first timers fall under the misconception that once the nighttime spectaculars shoot off their last fireworks the park day is officially over but don't let those massive crowds making a beine toward the exit fool you some areas of the parks like the flagship gift shops or in the case of Main Street USA and Magic Kingdom certain Quick Service locations stay open for another hour after the fireworks shows giving folks more time to casually saunter their way out of the park without feeling like they need to immediately hi tail it on out of there and get this sometimes even the whole park doesn't close right after the fireworks even though it feels like it should if a nighttime spectacular is set for an earlier time in the night then you may still have the chance to jump on at least one or two more rides for an extra hour before the Park's actual closing time like sometimes the park fireworks are at 8 and the park doesn't close till 10:00 or sometimes the park fireworks are at 9:00 and the park doesn't close till 11:00 or 12: and because people tend to think the parks close after the nighttime spectaculars and everyone starts to clear out that gives you the chance to see the park with fewer people in them so you can actually stop and take it all in after all something tells me your day might have been a blur of rides and shows and lots of snacks might as well soak up the end of the night views while you can okay so Brio wants me to let you know especially if you're one of her Southern friends out there who live on super sweet tea all year round most of the tea you're going to find in the Disney bubble is from the Gold Peak brand which which may not be a huge deal to you but some tea love and friends out there are not huge fans that being said there are a handful of Disney World restaurants that do Brew their own fresh sweet tea including Garden Grill at Epcot 50s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary Resort and Chef art Smith's Homecoming in Disney springs for a tea option on the go you also might want to try one of Joffrey's fresh brewed Peach teas or hit up Joffrey's tea location Royal and Ander Tea Company in Animal Kingdom for a wider selection of unique tea flavors now these can also be found at the Joffrey's flagship store over in Disney Springs all right y'all it's time to talk about pit stains because that is the kind of friends that we are there's nothing to be embarrassed about if you find your pits or getting more and more sweaty by the second because believe me you are not the only one dealing with the heat here but that still doesn't change the fact that pit stains can take your nicel looking Disney bound outfit and turn it into a mop for all your underarm sweat even deodorant might not be enough to keep the pit stains at Bay even after reapplying in the bathrooms so when you're packing ahead of your trip you may be better off packing shirt colors that don't show those sweat stains quite as much like pale pinks or whites or navy blues or blacks instead of gray shirts which can become a wet mess by the end of the day also the looser the clothes are around your arms the less likely you're going to feel those stains creeping in so you may want to avoid packing shirts with sleeves that squeeze around your biceps Fabrics like cotton teas will help keep you cool as well because of they're naturally breathable material and you're going to love this you can achieve all of the above and still wear something super cute and Disney inspired to the parks by ordering one of our vacation designs off the dfb store.com website wasn't that an amazing way for Bria to bring to your attention our very very cool t-shirts now our shirts are soft they're 100% cotton they are loose fitting if you want them to be and come in several different colors including non pit stain showing colors you are welcome Disney's refillable mugs May seem like a fantastic deal at first for about 22 bucks you'll receive a 16 ounce mug that'll get you rapid refills at participating Quick Service locations in the hotels for the remainder of your trip up to 14 days but if that sounds too good to be true that's because it kind of is while you can refill your mug throughout your entire stay at any participating Disney World hotel Beverage Station even if you aren't staying there refillable mugs do not work inside the parks or Disney Springs so you're going to have to remember to swing by your Resorts Quick Service first thing in the morning before heading to the parks if you want to start your day sipping on free coffee or tea or soda and while there are refillable mugs at Disney's water parks I.E Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon these are a separate purchase from the standard Resort mugs and will have their own unique design and shape to help you identify one from the other for some folks these refillable mugs can still end up being a steal of a deal especially if you plan on spending a lot of time just chilling around your hotel but if you're only planning on being at your hotel to sleep and shower having the rapid refill capabilities may not be all that beneficial for you while most Disney World restaurants are pretty chill about what you wear in their dining room just as long as it's familyfriendly some of Disney's more upscale dining experiences like Victoria and Alberts at Grand Floridian tum Epcot and monser Paul also at Epcot do require you to wear something fancier before you dine with them now this doesn't mean you got to show up in a tux or a $10,000 cocktail dress or anything you just got to make sure you're wearing something a little more elegant yet relaxed don't overthink it a t-shirt dress or a tennis skirt with a nice blouse works just fine maybe you want to wear some khakis and a buttonup or a polo if styled correctly you could probably even get away with a nice pair of jeans just as long as there are no holes or frays in them just make sure to accessorize the denim with a more elevated top shoes and maybe some jewelry too little do yall know the F and dfb actually stands for fashion no it doesn't there are areas in the parks that feel like you're walking around inside a giant toaster oven because there's literally zero shade to depend on this is especially true when it comes to several of animal Kingdom's ride cues or the entirety of Toy Story Land in Hollywood studios though each Park area is guilty of being a little too roasty toasty at times if you're in desperate need of shade and you don't have a dining reservation to rely upon here are just a few of our favorite places to catch a quick bout of AC for free first Muppet Vision 3D if you're catching a screening of Muppet Vision 3D and Hollywood Studios it's a great opportunity to get out of the Sun and laugh along with the zany antics of Kermit and Co and the line's not usually too long now how about Star Wars launch bay this doesn't look like much and a lot of people walk right past it but it's one of the best hidden spots to escape in Hollywood Studios for precisely that reason it's open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and inside you'll find tons of air conditioning lots of space and Star Wars memorabilia like costumes and models and props and more over in Epcot the China Pavilion features an indoor air conditioned exhibit all about Shanghai Disneyland you'll find tons of props and displays and costumes out on display as well as tons of AC Magic Kingdom's country bear jamere is about to receive a major overhaul but if you want to catch this show before these changes take place the theater is indoors meaning you'll get out of the Heat and be able to hear the musical stylings of Big Al and Trixie so no dining reservations no problem you can always order a quick service meal and sit in a nice spacious indoor dining room like restaurantosaurus and Animal Kingdom for a bit of a rest bit and recharge during your day okay so let's say you take our advice and decide wear a nice light t-shirt dress to the parks to look stylish and also stay comfy and be all ready for your citr Co reservation later the dress itself might be cute but what isn't cute is the sweaty burning thigh chafe that could occur after walking around all day through a hot hot theme park the best chafe prevention method that we've used in the past is wearing a pair of slip shorts underneath our sundresses which could also Save Your Hide if a sudden Breeze catches the Hem of your skirt if you catch my drift now investing in a cha stick like body Glide ahead of your trip can also provide major relief from that dreaded thigh rub don't be ashamed it happens to all of us so not bringing potentially dangerous items into a theme park is probably a no-brainer to you but be careful about those self-defense items left in your pockets or bags like pepper spray or pocket knives or other safety tools you might not have thought about removing from your keychain ahead of time these items will trigger Disney park security systems and no you're not going to be banned from the parks or anything but these items will be confiscated before you're allowed in other items that Disney's listed as major no no include but aren't limited to any toys that look like weapons not including plastic lightsabers illegal substances fireworks alcohol glass containers noise makers drones oversized strollers and stroller wagons loose ice for some reason and folding chairs now other restricted items can be found on the Disney World website via their resort property rules page but you might be surprised with what you can't take in you know how earlier I mentioned that it's a good idea to prep prepare for the worst but anticipate the best in regard to your Disney World vacation well if you choose to travel during Florida's Infamous hurricane season which is from June to November then you need to go ahead and make that your Trip's Mantra prepare for the worst anticipate the best hurricane season lasts from the beginning of June to the end of November though we usually see the bulk of hurricane activity happen around August through October I know that's like a good chunk of the year but because you're traveling during Hurricane Season doesn't mean you're guaranteed to encounter a Floridian hurricane what it does mean is that you need to be prepared just in case a major storm does wind up seriously impacting your trip if the weather is bad enough the parks could close which would mean you'd be stuck at the hotel with your whole group if you know there are days during your trip that could end up rather yucky bring plenty of things to do and make sure those laptops and phones are charged with apps and games and streaming services loaded up and ready to go CU everybody knows if we're too bored to just read a book just kidding I love reading books I hope you do too bring some books now you could also bring some board games if you got any spare room in your luggage and you also want to stock up on snacks but even if you don't get the chance to lots of Hotel restaurants are going to offer hurricane meal kits or prepackaged meals and snacks from their dining locations if the parks do remain open well brace yourself for some real bad weather still bring rain gear like ponchos and umbrellas and set your expectations at a reasonable level since you're more than likely not going to be experiencing any outdoor rides or nighttime spectaculars but you will be able to experience a lot of rides because because a lot of people will bail and there won't be as long lines for more advice on Hurricane Readiness during a Disney World vacation make sure to check out our how to survive hurricane season in Disney World video right after this on January 9th 2024 park pass reservations will be a thing of the past for most Disney World guests it's glorious meaning you'll no longer have to save your spot in a certain Park after you purchase your theme park tickets however for the remainder of 2023 and those first few days of 2024 for park pass reservations are still a thing so don't forget to make them to make park pass reservations you'll do the following step one link your valid Theme Park admission to your Disney account the My Disney Experience app and Disney website will have prompts that lead you through that step two create your party so select any friends who are going to be joining you on your reservation then choose continue step three select the date and park you wish to visit and four confirm or modify your plans see that's not so bad is it note if you are using a one-day One Park ticket then park pass reservations will automatically be attached to those ticket options so you won't have to worry about making them yourselves park pass reservations are only required for multi-day tickets which if you're planning on visiting at least two parks during your vacation would apply to your trip so we want you to have a very very jolly holiday season this year so if you're planning on going to one of Disney's after hours parties in 2023 like Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party and Magic Kingdom for the brand new jollywood nights over in Disney's Hollywood Studios make sure you book your tickets for either of those events just as soon as you know you want to go the cheapest after hours party dates will be earlier on in the season but these also tend to sell out fairly quickly too in fact the first jollywood nights event kicking things off on November 11th is already officially sold out while the other dates are still available to book for both parties for the release of this video we're expecting to see more after hours availability disappear as we get closer to the holiday season so don't wait until the last minute to book those tickets if you know for sure that one of these is going to be a Musto experience for you for each Epcot festival you're going to find Festival specific scavenger hunts now these scavenger hunt boards can be purchased at various Epcot stores and Festival merch kiosks with the purchase of a board you'll get a page of stickers that you'll use to mark your progress as you complete the hunt around World Showcase and depending on the festival that'll determine what you're on the hunt for during Festival of the Arts you'll be tracking down figment paintings during flower and garden you'll follow Spike the Bee from Pavilion to Pavilion during food and wine you'll hunt for for Remy and his various cooking ingredients and during Festival of the holidays you'll be helping Olaf find family traditions now we do have Post online that'll give you a walkthrough of each scavenger hunt if you happen to get stuck on any particular one spoiler alert but if you'd rather figure them all out for yourself our main word of advice is to look everywhere not just around the food booths while some characters might be hiding out super close to the food and drinks others will be hiding deep inside the Pavilion inside shops out in garden areas possibly near quick Service locations too so don't get immediately stumped if you're not finding a character right away they just might take a little extra searching on your part bonus tip you don't have to complete the scavenger hunt in order to pick up your prize you've already paid for it y'all if you'd prefer you can pick up your prize at the gift shop right when you get your game board so you're not cheated out of your major award if you don't wind up completing the hunt before the end of your day now we're still over here mourning the loss of the toppings bar that used to be a show stealer over at pagos bill talltail in and Cafe in Magic Kingdom who remembers it RP nowadays the toppings bar is home to prepackaged Basics like sugar salt and other items meaning no more salsa payo guac or corn that being said you can still request extra toppings here when making your order for example when you place a mobile order you can ask for things like lettuce or sour cream salsa and other items now guac is going to cost you more now that's the saddest part the toppings aren't nearly as extensive as they used to be but they might still have just the customizable options you were looking for so be sure to keep an eye on those extras beaches and cream over at Disney's beach club resort has some of the best ice cream treats Park wide if you can't find any reservations left over for this restaurant or if you're on a tight schedule that day and don't have a whole lot of time to stop and eat a big meal in the afternoon you'll be happy to know that beaches and cream has a to go window with a limited selection of specialty shakes and floats and Sundays and seasonal stuff and single and double ice cream Scoops too they've even got boozy floats and Shake options for those old enough to to partake you're going to find this to-go window to the right side of the restaurant's main entrance only steps away from the Stormalong Bay feature pool while rope dropping some of Disney World's most popular rides can be a good strategy that'll help you cut down on those potentially two three 4our cues you might also want to consider becoming a night owl and hopping in the lines for Disney World's most popular rides at the end of the day often if you manag to hop in line for one of these rides right before closing time you could score some seriously low weights but note that the big risk with this strategy is if you do wait till the end of the day to hop in line for a popular ride and that ride experiences technical issues or goes down for some reason you may not get to experience it at all which could be a real bummer if you're not planning on returning to that Park during the remainder of your trip so this is a risk you'll need to feel comfortable with before using this strategy for daily data about Disney World weight times stop by our friend's website at all years.net they report every single day on what weight times are looking like so you know just what to expect if the last time you went to Disney World was 5 or 10 years ago it's not going to be the same Disney World you knew the Parks have received new areas new rides new restaurants new stores and even new ways to interact with them through services like lightning lanes and mobile ordering even the Skyliner is still fairly new to the Disney scene so if it's been a hot minute since your last trip to Disney then don't assume the same offers and prices and planning methods you used in the past are going to be around today if you need some crash courses for each of the parks before you book we've got a whole playlist on our dfb channel that covers the ultimate Disney World Park guides for 2023 and keep your eyes peeled for an updated playlist in the next few months that'll cover everything you need to know for each of the parks for 2024 so there you have it all the things you need to know before you go to Disney World well not all the things but at least 50 of them and they're 50 very important ones like I said before Disney World's a massive place that's constantly changing and upgrading its offerings so make sure to keep tuning back in with us so we can keep you in the on all the things Disney news and be sure to download our Disney World planning worksheets if you haven't already over at disneyfoodblog docomo Vlog and we'll see you real [Music] soon

Channel: DFBGuide

Views: 204,102

Keywords: disneyfood, disney, disney world, disneyland, disneyvideo, disneyvacation, food, disney parks, disney travel, disney tips, disney guides, disney planning, disney trip, disney how to, disney vlog, disney vlogger

Id: 8DXKUs-9lCA

Length: 57min 19sec (3439 seconds)

Published: Mon Oct 09 2023