Helpful Disney World Articles

Post of Articles, ideas and thoughts about Disneyworld. If you are planning a trip to Disneyworld, be sure to visit Transportation2Disney.com, Orlando's lowest priced and friendliest airport transportation service.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

How to Have Fun at Disney World Under $200.00 a Day

There are plenty of ways to enjoy a vacation to Disney World for under $200.00 a day. To begin with, look for vacation packages that include accommodation, park passes and free shuttle service to the attractions. Many travel packages and discount ticket sellers can offer great savings for your one-stop shopping convenience.

When you are planning your vacation, investigate the options for traveling off-season to pay even less. Disney World, in sunny Florida, is an ideal vacation destination any time of year, and may provide just the break you need if you are traveling from a drearier climate. Airline travel and accommodation, in particular, will cost you much less if you stay during a non-peak period. Do an online comparison, or have your travel agent do some fact finding for you to make the most of your holiday dollar.

Even if your holiday package includes park passes, you may want to buy additional tickets, or find out if there is an option for upgrading. If you and your family want to try as many rides and attractions as possible, look into park passes that offer the most for your money, including “park hopper” option if you want to visit more than one major attraction in a day. Tickets cost less when purchased in advance, and your per-day price is less, the greater the number of days you purchase on a single pass. If you may want to spread your visits to Disney World out over a period of more than two weeks, make sure you look into adding the no expiry option to your tickets.

Particularly if you are traveling with a family, another way to save money on your vacation is to limit the number of meals you eat at the theme parks. Eating a simple meal such as sandwiches or cereal and fruit at your hotel before or after a day at the park will help keep costs down, as well as offer healthier meal choices than your typical fast food fare. Consider packing snacks such as granola bars, apples, and bottled water to take along as well, and make sure everyone has the energy they need to fully enjoy the day.

Set a budget for what you will spend per person each day on food and other expenses such as souvenirs, and stick to these limits. To keep things fair and organized, each person could be allotted their spending money for the day, or one person might be responsible for younger children, keeping track of spending. If there are attractions you want to see that are not covered by the cost of your passes, decide together which ones you will include, planning ahead of time to stay within budget so no one is disappointed later.

With some careful planning and organization, it is easy to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment at Disney World and stay within your spending limits for an unforgettable family vacation.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Top 10 Reasons To Visit Walt Disney World Now

If you have never been to Disney World, it is impossible to imagine all the features that make this favorite family destination so much more than just a theme park. Here are ten reasons to start planning your next vacation now:

1. 2006 marks the spectacular 50th anniversary of Disney theme parks and the celebrations are taking place all year long. With new attractions and shows, there is something for everyone, whether you have visited before, or not.

2. Disney’s Magic Kingdom takes you to seven enchanted lands, with exciting rides and attractions for all ages, and special events throughout the year

3. Epcot - a celebration of the world’s cultures, as well as a variety of 3D and laser shows

4. Disney-MGM Studios – a variety of live shows, several exciting rides, and tours of the movie studio backlots

5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom – a real safari, live production of The Lion King, and lots of animal and nature-themed action

6. Disney’s waterparks – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. What better way to cool off during the hot weather than with a host of water slides, rides and attractions for all ages, in typical Disney style

7. Downtown Disney – offering lots of entertainment even when you are feeling less active or in inclement weather. Enjoy stunning circus feats with Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, take in a concert at the House of Blues, or catch a movie at the Pleasure Island Theatre complex. For those who just can’t get enough of the rides, there is also an indoor interactive theme park

8. Pleasure Island – if you love comedy or dancing, you have to experience the eight unique nightclubs that make up Pleasure Island, as well as specialty shops, live outdoor entertainment and a street party every night.

9. Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team and numerous sporting events

10. Downtown Disney Dining – a wide selection of culinary delights (including desserts!) and unique ambience, dining Disney-style is always a special occasion

No one does entertainment quite like Disney. They sprinkle a little magic into everyday adventures or special events to create memorable occasions for you and your loved ones. Whether you live close enough to be a frequent visitor, or are planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, Disney makes it easy to provide a great time for everyone in your party.

If you would like some assistance planning your festivities, Disney also prides themselves on service, and can put their professionals to work creating an effortless escape into their special realm of fantasy and fun. Fun for all ages - customize your Disney experience into a family function, a romantic getaway, or a fabulous time with your friends – and enjoy.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Disney World Websites Reviewed

Disney Online (http://Disneyworld.disney.go.com) is the official website for all things Disney, and is a valuable resource for planning your Disney World vacation, with ticket comparisons, resort descriptions, vacation packages, attractions listings, and much more. This site tells you everything you need to know in order to plan your trip, and enjoy it fully once you get there. Their free vacation planning kit will help get you started, or you can just browse the website at your leisure. Vacation planning assistance is broken down by budget category, vacation type (family/romantic, etc.), and more, making it easy to customize your vacation using their helpful hints and suggestions.

Although Disney Online provides everything you need to plan your trip and book your passes and Disney resort accommodation, you may want to shop around for better deals, such as through discount resellers who buy tickets in bulk and pass the savings along to you.
For instance, www.discountthemeparkvacations.com provides some good deals on tickets, accommodation and packages, along with detailed information on the attractions, specific rides, and more. This website is attractive and easy to navigate, and essentially provides you with everything you need to plan and book your vacation, except for transportation to Florida.

Many other websites will be found that offer deals on Disney vacations, which may be useful if they cater to your country of origin, or offer a place to book airline transportation as part of the vacation package. Read each offer carefully and compare them to the prices you see on the official Disney site to determine how much of a deal they really are. Some websites require you to purchase a membership in order to qualify for savings, and it is a matter of personal judgment as to whether this is necessary, especially with all the other online deals and travel agents available to help you. Other websites are just collections of links to other sites, and this can take a lot of time without yielding many fruitful results.

It is probably best to shop around and find a few sites to compare before making any final decisions on booking your trip. This will give you a general idea of the offers available, and help you set some guidelines for your budget and schedule. The more informative sites are great for helping you fine tune your plans, even if you don’t book through them directly, so spend some time browsing the information available. You will keep up to date on the latest news, become more familiar with the many attractions, and build up your excitement, which is part of the fun.

Enjoy envisioning your trip and use the resources available to ensure a successful and memorable vacation.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Disney World – Planning the Trip of a Lifetime

If the trip of a lifetime is what you are looking for, Disney World Resorts offer a truly luxurious feast for the senses. Themed and period-style accommodation with myriad extra special benefits for guests is just the beginning in enjoying your unlimited Disney World experience.

Staying at any Disney resort entitles guests to services such as transportation to and from the airport; “extra magic hours” where the parks are open only for you; transportation within the theme parks; special dining packages; and the option of charging products and services to your room using your resort i.d. Plenty of added convenience makes your stay that much easier and stress-free as a resort guest.

This is just the beginning of your deluxe resort experience, which also includes such bonuses as babysitting services, elaborate swimming pools, fitness centers, and much more. Consider staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, located right inside the Disney Animal Kingdom theme park, for the closest thing to a real African Safari holiday on this side of the globe. Or, experience a different kind of exotic atmosphere with the tropical offerings at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

These resorts offer a true escape from the everyday, without leaving the magic kingdom.
Other Disney Resorts were designed to celebrate different periods of American history, and the hospitality of days gone by. From the Atlantic city-style Boardwalk Inn, to the elegant 1870’s New England feel of Disney’s Beach club Resort, or the nautical themed Yacht Club Resort, and more, there is accommodation destined to transport you into the realm of fantasy.

Disney has always been about capturing the imagination – let the luxury of staying in their top resorts carry you away for a fully transformative vacation. Allow top quality service in addition to endless entertainment to create the vacation of a lifetime, as you are surrounded morning, noon and night by sights and sounds of a Disney experience. The careful attention to detail taken both in creating these atmospheres, and ensuring that your every need as a guest is taken care of, is sure to provide the relaxing and rejuvenating holiday you deserve.

All the fun of a regular trip to Disney World, and the numerous special benefits of guest status, will make this a vacation to remember. Let the experts at Disney help you customize a special celebration, family or romantic occasion, or simply take a break from the ordinary. Do some browsing online, and even take virtual tours of the resorts to start planning your extraordinary vacation today; planning ahead is required to book some of the services, and it will give you something fantastic to look forward to. Enjoy imagining the possibilities, and design the ultimate getaway for you and your loved ones; there’s no time like the present to start living life to its fullest.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Best Places to Get Trip Information About Disney World

Although travel agents the world over specialize in Disney World vacations, one of the most comprehensive sources of information today is the official Disney Online website. Here you will find details concerning every aspect of your Disney adventure, including accommodations, news, and detailed descriptions of the vast array of entertainment available for everyone in your family to enjoy.

Disney World is much more than an amusement park, and even those who are familiar with the Magical Kingdom may not be aware of all it now encompasses, as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. In addition to the main theme park, Disney World today also includes an Animal Kingdom safari park; Epcot, which is a celebration of world cultures and a variety of shows; and Disney-MGM studios, for a behind-the-scenes look at movie magic. It also features two separate water parks, and a whole city’s worth of entertainment in Disney Downtown, with restaurants, nightclubs, street parties and much more!

Then there are the many Disney resort accommodations to choose from. From campgrounds to luxury resorts (one located right in the Animal Kingdom), there are hotels to suit every budget and style. Virtual tours are available online, as well as detailed descriptions and pricing information in order to help you customize your stay.

Disney Online (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com) gives you all the information you need about the many attractions to take in while you’re there, from descriptions of the rides and live shows, to planners that help you create an itinerary for your group based on interests, age groups, and so on. Whether you want to coordinate with a large party such as a family reunion, need to know what to do with your pets, want to figure out what passes are best for you, etc., your questions are answered, and then some. Disney World even features a wedding pavilion that is used by hundreds of couples every year. Browsing the site will likely bring up the answers to questions you’ve never considered, and many other facts you did not previously know, all of which will help you plan the most successful trip possible.

Disney World is truly a vacation destination with something for everyone and all age groups. Explore your possibilities online through the official websites or any number of tourism and travel agency resources to make the most of your next vacation. Travel packages, discount tickets and much more can be found by the determined bargain hunter, so do some comparison shopping online to get the best deal for your money. Let your imagination start to soar and plan a vacation to remember; Disney provides one kind of magic, and the rest is up to you and the people you choose to share it with.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Disneyland Vs. Disney World

Among the Disney enthusiasts, the big debate has always been: ‘Which is the better Disney - Disneyland or Disney World’. Of course, the Magic Kingdom in Disney World is much larger than the one at Disneyland, but some say that the one at Disneyland has the true spirit of Walt Disney; after all, he built it himself. . . and so the debate goes on.

The Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney wanted to create a family park and initially planned to build it on 8 acres of land. This was too small for his dreams, and today, Disneyland, California, is spread over 180 acres. This was something no one had attempted before. Construction began on July 21, 1954, and Disneyland was opened for public on July 17, 1955. The Magic Kingdom included five different lands:

- Main Street, U.S.A., which was the typical turn of the century city Main Street
- Adventureland, an "exotic tropical place" in the remote jungles of Asia and Africa
- Frontierland, where a person has to relive the pioneer days of the American frontier
- Fantasyland, where classic stories of everyone's youth became realities for youngsters of all ages to participate in
- Tomorrowland looked at the marvels of the future

After its success, Walt Disney had a vision of a much larger amusement park. Initially, 27,000 acres of land was bought in Florida and work started on what Walt Disney called Disneyworld.

After his death, his brother Roy changed the name to Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World, or more commonly Disney World, today is spread over 30,500 acres or about 47 square miles. Disneyworld is gigantic when compared to Disneyland.

The Magic Kingdom of Disneyland was recreated, on a grander scale, at Disney World, with Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland. The Main Street buildings of Disneyworld were bigger and more impressive, and even the castle towered higher in comparison to the original version in Disneyland.

Disneyland and Disney World

The added attractions of Disneyworld include three more theme parks and two water parks, in addition to the above mentioned Magic Kingdom. These are:

- EPCOT
- Disney's MGM Studios
- Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Blizzard Beach

The two main attractions of EPCOT are the Future World and World Showcase. The Disney-MGM Studios offers you an opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes. You can explore the pre-historic animal world and the world of animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Here is a comparison of the attractions, which both the Disney parks do not share in common.
Certain attractions, among many others, found exclusively at Disneyland only are:

- Alice in Wonderland
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye
- Sleeping Beauty Walk-Thru
- Submarine Voyage
- Matterhorn

Some of the attractions, among many others, found only at Disney World are:

- Cable Cars
- Legend of the Lion King (puppet theater)
- Galaxy Search (Tomorrowland theater)
- Hall of the Presidents

It is not possible to actually say which is the better Disney, but one thing is clear, you always want to come back, impressed with the Magic of Disney!