Important Disney Planning Dates to Remember

I'm not talking about a specific date or dates on the calendar, but instead the dates when you can start some serious planning (and not just planning in your head, like I do 24/7/365).

Once you have your resort booked, the DisneyWorld website (disneyworld.disney.go.com) keeps track of the days until your trip and will send you email reminders when these very important dates come up:

Photo: ThisGirlTravels.com

As soon as you book your trip - reserve Disney's Magical Express (no email specifically for this service, but an email letting you know that you can book if you haven't already done so)

If you're staying at a Disney resort, you'll be able to reserve your FREE and FUN transportation as soon as you book your room and your flight (you will need both pieces of information to book your Magical Express trip to and from your resort so they can make sure they get you where you need to be safely and with plenty of time to spare).  It will save you headaches and money on rental cars, worrying about where you're supposed to go, parking at the theme parks, and the countless toll roads between Orlando International Airport and your Disney resort.  

Disney's Magical Express will take care of your luggage from the moment you land in Orlando until the moment you leave, so that's a big relief for anyone, but especially if you have little ones.  I enjoy riding the bus to my resort and watching the Disney TV they have with all things new, fun, and different I may want to try.  Not having to handle my luggage is an added bonus.

Be aware when making your return trip that the Magical Express will depart from your resort approximately three hours before your flight is scheduled to leave in order to ensure that you get to the airport - which is almost 30 minutes away - without worrying about running late for anyone's flight.  So, if you have a 9:00 a.m. flight, they will probably get you on the bus and to the airport at 6:00 a.m.  The exact pick up times will be referenced in your Disney packet that you will receive about 30 days before your trip. Something to consider when planning.

180 days until your trip - time to make dining reservations!

Be Our Guest Restaurant
Photo: easywdw.com

This may seem absolutely crazy, but if you've been looking at character dining or a specific restaurant, such as the hugely popular and still really new Be Our Guest restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, this date is extremely important.  It means that you can make a reservation for your whole family for breakfast, lunch or dinner (depending on where you're looking to reserve and what they offer) and not have to worry about getting to the resort or one of the parks and waiting - and hoping, and possibly praying - that you'll be able to find that "must-do" meal for your kids, or for your spouse, or just you.  When that email pops up, hopefully you will have done a little research on restaurants you'd like to try so that you can make a reservation...six months before your trip.  Sounds excessive, but restaurants like Be Our Guest will book full up the same day they become available.  Trying back closer to your vacation dates may get you a reservation if someone else cancels theirs, but that's a risky venture.

Also, if you use one of Disney's Dining Plans (check the website for pricing and options), you may be limited as to the number of meals each member of your party is allowed per day.  A higher-end restaurant may count as two sit-down meals.  Sometimes you can substitute snacks for full meals.  Be sure to check out the options and pricing for each dining plan before you select one.  We don't use them because we don't eat enough to justify the cost.  If we stayed longer (a week or more), they might make sense for us.

60 days until your trip - time to make your FastPass+ reservations!

Photo: vinylmationkingdom.com

If you will be staying on property and have already booked your room and park tickets, you will have the opportunity to make FastPass+ selections for each of your vacation days up to two months before you arrive.  Why does this seem important?  The extremely popular new ride at Magic Kingdom, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, has a 90-minute queue almost from park opening if you just walk up and get in line when you get to the park (unless you're one of those people who are at the park at "rope drop" when they officially open the park and you RUN to the ride).  Same goes for Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios; there is always a line, and it is never short.

However, if you get on the DisneyWorld site or on the MyDisney Experience app 60 days out, you will be able to select three FastPass+ rides and/or attractions and modify them to fit your family's tastes and "must do" lists.  There are limits to the FastPass+ service:  the selections must all be at the same park on the same day for everyone in your party (pick all four passes at Magic Kingdom on whatever day you'll be visiting, and make selections for Epcot for another day during your trip, but not two at each park in the same day, for example).  

Sign up - no fees!
Photo: thenextweb.com

You can book more FastPass+ passes after you have used all of the ones you have reserved when you are actually IN the park, but this will give you a leg up - and you will spend less time waiting - than if you were to show up at the park and then try to score even a single FastPass+.  Booking additional FastPass+ passes after using all of your previously booked passes is a bit risky, because the next selection you want to make may not be available if it is either extremely popular, or if it is later in the day.

There is a chance that any FastPass+ times will be unavailable once you get to the parks, or if you wait to book them closer to your trip dates.  If you wait, your only options would be to A) wait in a very long line with everyone else and waste a lot of time you could be spending doing something fun, or B) skip that ride or attraction altogether.  I am of the opinion that it is good to have some planning.  My family sometimes thinks I go too far (I really don't; I just like to know what my options are and make my decisions based on all the facts), but I make sure that we have things to do and we are prepared for any day without over-planning, but also without wasting precious park hours, especially during the shorter winter park months when parks may close 3-4 hours earlier than in the summer months.

*** The big FastPass+ options (in my opinion) for each of the four parks are...

Magic Kingdom:  Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain

Epcot: Soarin' and Test Track

Hollywood Studios: Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania! (almost as popular as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with long lines) and Rolling Stones Rockin' Roller Coaster

Animal Kingdom: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Kali River Rapids

If you are traveling alone or do not mind being split up from the rest of your family or traveling companions, there are three rides that offer a "single rider line" option: Expedition Everest, Rockin' Roller Coaster, and Test Track.  The wait times are far shorter than the regular lines, but again you probably won't be sitting with someone you know, and you may not even be riding at the same time.

Choose wisely.  Using the FastPass+ selection on the website will give you four combinations based on what is available and the "classes" of the rides and/or attractions.  They may even tell you that your "best option" is something you don't agree with at all.  On our last trip, the app tried to tell me that I wanted to book Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad each two hours apart.  Uh...no!  If I'm getting FastPass+, I want them closer together, so I can get on OTHER rides that don't have long queues, go to a restaurant, or even go to another park.  

Be sure to check all four of your options before you select.  You can always change them later if you'd like, including when you are in the park on the day you're visiting if you use the Disney Mobile App available on iTunes or Google Play.  Again, it will be based on availability.  There are only so many FastPass+ passes available per ride, per hour, and per day.  Once they are gone, they are gone.

60 days until your trip - check in at your resort

Check in online and skip to this line instead of waiting in queue
Photo: trb.com.au

This is not a HUGE deal, but it IS a timesaver of sorts.  Again, you'll get an email stating you can now check in 60 days prior to arrival, and you'll be able to put in room preferences (pool view, king beds, upper floor, etc.), credit card information, and verify all your personal information so that when you get to your resort, you just sign a document and head to your room - or to the parks.  If you've used Magical Express, you won't have to tote your luggage anywhere other than the airport in the city you left from, so you can go and have fun right away.

Booking special events and tours

You won't get an email for this one, but you can check the website to see what events are happening during your trip and buy advance tickets for big events such as Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  These tickets cost extra, and they are not cheap, but they are certainly worth it if you want to immerse yourself in Disney fun during your trip.

Who would NOT want to be a part of this???
Photo: lebeauleblog.com

Look at this photo - it's SNOWING in Florida.  They make it SNOW!
Photo: mrschristmasblog.com

These also can become unavailable on popular dates (think weekends and closer to the holidays), so planning as soon as you see the tickets available under "Special Events" on the Disney site is important if you really want to attend something special.  For the Halloween and Christmas parties, they are available for purchase more than 6 months before the parties start, so there is plenty of time to plan.

Hayley and I took the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot in January 2015.
We loved it!  Only $15 per person, too.

Other tours, such as the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot, have limited availability but multiple tour times each day.  Once they get 15 or so people booked for a specific time, you'll have to pick another time, or another date.  You can call Disney toll-free at any time to book one of these other tours, but you could be waiting on hold for a long time; you are put in a queue with everyone who is booking ANYTHING for Disney World.  Try the website, or wait and book through your concierge or at the park if it's a smaller tour.

These are all great planning tools, so don't waste them!  A little planning goes a long way to having a great trip.

Magic Bands : What are they?

Magic Bands are a fairly new addition to Walt Disney World.  They have been in existence for about two years, and during the first year they were completely experimental and not given to everyone.  This allowed the Disney powers that be to see how well things worked and tweak some things before they rolled them out to everyone.

This is how they will be delivered to your home before your WDW trip.
Photo: wordpress.com

The Magic Band is worn like a bracelet, and comes in several different colors:  

Gray (the standard color if you don't choose one, or if wait until you get to your resort or the park to get it)
Yellow
Blue
Pink Red
Green
Orange

When you book your trip, go to the Walt Disney World website, pick a color you like for each person in your party and personalize a name on each of the bands.  The name isn't visible; it's under the band, but it helps identify whose is whose if you have several people in your party. The RFID chip inside is linked to each individual band, so once you link your Magic Band to you it is yours for life.  Your bands will be mailed to you approximately 30 days before your trip.  Be sure to put your Magic Bands on at the airport!  You will be using them to check in for your Magical Express bus at Orlando International Airport, and from then on you will be using them pretty much everywhere until you head back to the airport again.

Photo: passporterboards.com

The Magic Band replaces the former "Key To the World" card, which is a card that was basically used for everything Disney: room key, a credit card for charging to your resort room, accessing the Disney Dining Plan, and for obtaining Fast Passes for the parks.  Magic Bands are waterproof, so you don't have to worry about getting them wet on a water ride, at a water park, or just by sweating throughout the day.  Having a Magic Band on your wrist means you won't have to carry a room key, a credit card, or any other form of ID, so your hands are free and no purse or backpack is really necessary in the parks or when you go to dinner.  Unless you have small children.  Then all bets are off.

The top of each Magic Band has a Mickey head on it that contains an RFID chip, and this is the part that activates everything from your resort room door to credit card charges.  It can even be used for Photo Pass purchases and Fast Pass+ selections.

Photo: mouseonthemind.com

As a Room Key
When you check into your Disney resort, you will touch the Mickey head on your Magic Band to a small Mickey head on the resort desk and enter a PIN.  This will officially activate the credit card charging ability and give you some security.  Children under 10 years of age do not use a PIN, since they generally are not allowed to purchase anything without parental permission (or shouldn't be allowed - who knows how many Mickey ice cream bars they would buy when you're not looking).  When you get to your room, just touch Mickey's head against the Mickey head on your resort room door, and the light will turn green.

Photo: attractionsmagazine.com

As a Credit Card
If you didn't link a credit card to your Magic Band when you personalized them online, you can do so at your resort.  This will allow you to "charge" any purchases you make at the parks, restaurants, and Downtown Disney to your account by just touching your Magic Band to another Mickey head at the time of each purchase.  At the end of your stay, you will get a detailed report with all of your charges listed, and your credit card will list one charge for all of your purchases made via the Magic Bands.  If you have any questionable charges, you can visit the front desk to go over them in person before you leave.

Photo: militarydisneytips.com

For Park Entry
If you purchase your Magic Bands in advance, you can link your theme park tickets to them, as well.  When you get to your first theme park of the trip, you will touch your Magic Band to another Mickey head at the entrance but also use one finger (pick one you will remember) to "activate" the Magic Band at ALL of the parks from that moment on.  Like the PIN associated with the band for credit card charges, the finger you use will be linked to that Magic Band as long as you use it.

Photo: allthingsd.com

For the Dining Plan
If you sign up for the Disney Dining Plan, you can use the Magic Band to track your meals and snacks used on a daily basis.  Depending on the type of Dining Plan you get for your party, you may have a lot of meal choices to keep track of, and you can get a printout from any restaurant or quick service counter to see how many meals and snacks you have left in your plan.

Fast Pass+
This is my absolute favorite benefit of the Magic Bands.  You can make Fast Pass+ reservations on line 60 days in advance, up to three per park (all in the same park), per day, in order to bypass the lines at the parks for some of the more popular rides.  Also, you can reserve Fast Pass+ times for everyone in your party at the same time, so that none of you are separated and can all ride or experience shows together.  At the parks, you can also select a fourth Fast Pass (and a fifth, if you plan it right) after you have used your first three for that particular day.  Not all rides have Fast Pass+ available, but most do.  Also, some rides cannot be chosen together.  (I will go into this in another article.)  Just go to the WDW website when your 'window' opens up at 60 days and start planning for your favorite rides.

Photo Pass
There are photographers everywhere in the parks, and you may want to have your family's picture taken everywhere you go, especially at Character meets and in front of Cinderella's castle (who wouldn't?).  Just ask an available photographer to take your photo, and they will scan your Magic Band and "link" your photos online so that you can view them for 30 days after your trip.  This will allow you to purchase any (or all) of the photos and personalize them with Disney borders and other special effects.  They also take special effects photos that add Tinkerbell and other characters to your photos magically, as you will see online when you view them.  These photographers will also take photos with your camera at no charge to you, so don't be afraid to ask.

Tinkerbell!  Hayley and I didn't see you when the photo was taken!

Other things you may want to be aware of:

Lost...and Found?
If anyone in your party loses their Magic Band, ask a Cast Member where you need to go to replace it as soon as possible.  They will make sure that the old one is deactivated and no one else will be allowed to use them to charge, enter your resort room, or use your passes.  If you find it again, you can reactivate it again, or you can just keep it as another souvenir.

Limited Editions
In addition to the Magic Bands you get for free online when you book your stay, you can also buy Limited Edition Magic Bands at the parks.  These have special designs or cover and include everything from Star Wars themes to Christmas and character designs.

Photo: wdpromedia.com

And this is the coolest marriage proposal idea EVER!

Oh. Em. Geeeeee!
Photo: howheasked.com

Bling it!
There are many, many ways to personalize your Magic Bands, from "skins" to something called "Magic Bandits", and they can be found in many shops throughout the parks.  They can be character pieces or just bright and shiny stuff.  Lots of options there.  You can also purchase some items online from the WDW online store before you go if you'd like:
Yourwdwstore.net

Photo: Pinterest.com

Get your Magic Band before you go!  You don't want to be stuck like this:

Photo: blog.ges.com

That photo seriously made me laugh out loud!

What are you waiting for?  Start planning!

Disney's Magical Express - the best way to get to Walt Disney World

If you're traveling to Walt Disney World by plane, the best way to get to and from your Disney resort is Disney's Magical Express.

This is a free service offered by Disney World when you stay at a Disney resort, and you can book it along with your airline tickets, vacation package, OR directly through the Walt Disney World website if you book your resort hotel separately.

The Magical Express is a truly magical way to travel.  

Approximately 3-4 weeks before your trip, you will receive a packet with Mickey Mouse luggage tags and special yellow luggage strips that have all of your Disney resort information that allow the magic to happen.  

Your name and address go on the back - cute keepsake!

Luggage tags with your resort and flight information.

Put your tags on your luggage, and when you get to the airport and deposit your bags with your airline carrier, you won't have to worry about them again.  It will arrive at your Disney resort and be delivered directly to your room.  This will allow you to go to one of the parks, to Downtown Disney, or just explore your resort - or any of the Disney resorts, for that matter.  You won't have to worry about a thing.  The next time you have to mess with your luggage is when you leave your resort to head for the hotel, and then you'll just have to take it to the designated checkin station at your resort. THEN you won't have to mess with it again until you're back at your home airport.

A nice way to travel!

Orlando International Airport is very, very big.  Coming from a smaller airport like San Antonio, it can be very overwhelming if you're not used to large airports.  Knowing that I just have to take a couple of escalators and a tram to get on a bus that will take me to my hotel is much better than thinking about renting a car, or catching a shuttle, dealing with toll roads (which there are a LOT of in Central Florida) or anything like that.  This is, after all, your vacation, and you should enjoy every single minute of it.

The Magical Express allows you to take a Disney bus - and watch a little Disney video - while you take the 20-30 minute trip from Orlando International Airport to your Disney resort, depending on where you're staying and how many stops your particular bus has to make and where your resort is on the drop off list.  You get to relax, kick back, and take in the scenery, and you are deposited directly to your hotel lobby where you can just check in and go about your business and not WORRY about anything, because they will take your bags directly to your room and you don't have to be there waiting for them.

When you arrive in Orlando, you will follow the directions you receive in your Disney packet (depending on the airline you are using) and head down to the bottom level to catch the Magical Express to your resort.  You will check in with the Mouse helpers and board your bus.

At the end of your trip, it's the same thing in reverse: you check in your luggage at the time requested by your resort, then board your Magical Express bus back to the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled domestic flight (if you are flying overseas, you may have to head to the airport a little earlier than that in order to clear Customs, etc.).  The 3 hour window allows travel time to the airport and you get time to relax and recover from your Disney World vacation before you get back to reality!