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Posts Tagged ‘Walt Disney World’

Walt Disney World Holidays – What You Should Know About Dining on Your Disney Christmas Vacation

December 10th, 2009 No comments

Do you have a vacation planned during the Walt Disney World holidays? A visit to Walt Disney World during the Christmas season can be especially fun, filled with extra doses of Disney magic, festive decorations and entertainment, and of course, good food. In this article, we will discuss specific things you should know about dining at Disney World during this time of year, as well as the best way to plan a Disney vacation to make the most of your time and meal budget.

To begin with, you need to make dining plans, because if you are visiting between Christmas and New Year’s, you will be at Disney World during the busiest time of the year. This is one time of year when you can’t really be spontaneous about eating…unless you like waiting in line for hours, or not being able to get seated at any table service restaurant at a decent time. You will be sharing the parks with many, many other people, so be prepared to plan a little ahead about your meals.

So the first tip is to make your dining plans in advance, and if you plan to have any table service meals, make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) before you leave for Disney World. More importantly, if you are visiting during Christmas week, make them now.

Let’s talk about ADRs. Disney provides folks with the ability to make Advanced Dining Reservations far in advance, currently 180 days in advance. So people have been making ADRs for Christmas week for months. This means that the most popular restaurants and times fill quickly, especially for the big days of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. Can you just walk up and get a table during this week? Perhaps…but don’t hold your breath. Don’t take the chance, make your ADRs now if you want table service meals.

What if you can’t get ADRs for any of the restaurants you want? Consider some of the lovely and lesser-known restaurants at the hotels: many are wonderful, and it is a great way to see some of the fantastic Holiday decorations at the resorts. They are a little off-the-beaten path, but it can be nice sometimes, during all the hustle and bustle, to have a little peace and quiet.

Another good strategy, especially if you can’t get decent ADR times, is to consider eating meals at “off” times. Try having your main, table service meal for lunch instead of dinner. Eat early: lunch at 11, dinner at 5…or late: lunch at 2, dinner at 8. You may be able to get table service seating this way, and for counter service meals, the crowds tend to be a little lighter during these times.

Of course, typical advice about eating some meals in, especially if you have access to a kitchen, can be helpful. Many folks with these types of amenities in their accommodations actually do the entire turkey and fixings, which can be very nice and a great way to create some special memories….and save some money in the process.

So what is the best way to plan a Disney vacation during the Walt Disney World holidays when it comes to meals? Plan ahead. You will be rewarded with less stress for dining, and a wonderful trip filled with special holiday memories.

Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it affordably) for over ten years, and has had 11 (and counting) family vacations to Walt Disney World. To learn how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to receive a free Disney vacation planning bonus, visit www.theaffordablemouse.com.

Florida Family Vacation – Things To Do In Orlando

July 19th, 2009 No comments
by John Iseda

Despite how busy Orlando is, it is not the biggest city in Florida, not even the second, but the sixth largest, situated in an area called Central Florida. Orlando boasts very pleasant weather and some of the greatest theme parks in the world. There are plenty of things to do in Orlando, especially when you are on a family vacation.

Tourism is one of the city’s biggest income sources. A number of people who enter the area annually is estimated at stunning 52 million. In order to meet the requirements for the family vacation capital of the USA, Orlando is constantly developing at a rapid pace.

When thinking of Orlando, there’s one place that immediately comes to mind. Walt Disney World is one of the main reasons for the city’s popularity. Apart from its world famous theme parks, Disney World now offers a lot more lodging possibilities than it used to not so long ago.

Sea World is another very popular theme park and although there are only a couple of rides there, it really doesn’t matter as a family will find plenty of entertainment from all the sea creatures there including shows from dolphins and killer whales which should not be missed. However, many other shows are constantly going on where it is possible to get really close to sea creatures and you might find it hard to fit all the shows in with just one visit.

While Disney is a major attraction in Orlando, the Universal theme parks are also well worth a visit and so is the now famous Titanic Exhibition, located along International Drive. Be prepared to be moved by the fascinating and sometimes eerie tour.

However, if you are not a big theme park fan, the Arabian Nights show might be the thing for you. It features sixty trained horses and provides great entertainment for the entire family.

When it comes to hotels, you can easily find something suited for your budget in Orlando. There’s plenty to choose from; from cheaper options to luxury hotels, usually beautifully situated, with excellent sports facilities.

As you can clearly see, Orlando does have a lot to offer for everyone. The Disney World, while amazing, is definitely not the only attraction of this great city. If you decide to spend your family vacation in Orlando, you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable time.

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Hotels Near Walt Disney World: Why You Should Consider Staying Off Disney Property

July 11th, 2009 No comments
by Nancy Bobby

If you are planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, while you and your family may be very excited, you also may be concerned with how much it will cost. However, there are a number of ways that you can save money on your Disney trip. Instead of staying on Disney property, consider accommodations in one of the many hotels near Walt Disney World.

The benefits to staying off-property are many. To start, expect to get larger and/or better accommodations for the same or less money than you would have spent at a Disney property. If you have a large family, this is especially important, as a typical hotel room is not usually large enough. Plus, if you are traveling during the busy holiday seasons, or peak summer/school vacations, you will find it to be much easier to find rooms in a lower price range.

Planning to visit any non-Disney parks or attractions? You can save money here as well, since a number of off-site properties offer discounts to the more popular events and venues. Another cost-saver will be easier access to a greater variety of restaurants and shopping.

When staying off-site, you may find that theme park transportation is included, as well as free breakfast. Many properties have pool areas that are the envy of anything on Disney property, as well as offering suites with mini-kitchens, fitness and recreation opportunities and a host of family/children’s activities.

There is no doubt that you will not have a 24/7 Disney experience if you stay off-site…but you may be one who finds that to be advantageous. There are many who find they just need a break from all that pixie dust…and staying off Disney property can provide that much needed dose of reality every day.

Many folks do not realize that there are several “non-Disney” hotels that are actually on Disney property. You will find a few in Downtown Disney, and then there are the lovely Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts, located within easy distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. In any of these hotels, you will get many of the Disney resort guest benefits, but without the cost that goes along with those benefits. It’s a great compromise for those who want a more Disney experience but with a lower price tag.

Are there any disadvantages to staying off Disney property? The greatest potential problem could be transportation, and this is one are that you should investigate carefully if you are planning on using your hotel’s available shuttle service. For example, some hotels share shuttles, or charge for their use. This can become challenging if you want to take afternoon breaks from the parks. You can rent a car, but you should know that there will be a parking fee, and if visiting on peak holidays, the parking lots may be closed to non-Disney guests. Nevertheless, if you do your research, you will find a number of excellent options where transportation will not be an issue.

Staying in one of the hotels near Walt Disney World should definitely be considered as a great way to save money on your next Disney vacation. Lots of great benefits, and a great price tag: it’s a great combination in today’s economy!

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What is in Orlando Florida?

January 8th, 2008 No comments

The most popular city in central Florida is Orlando. The only cities that are bigger than Orlando in Florida are Miami and Tampa. It is also known for its world famous tourist attractions like Universal Studios, Sea World and of course the most popular Walt Disney World. Fifty million plus people travel to Orlando each year. To accommodate all these tourists, Orlando has more hotel rooms than any other city besides Las Vegas.

Orlando is the home to all kinds of attractions for tourists. The largest is the famous Walt Disney World. It is the most visited attraction that there is in Orlando. It has many attractions within it like Magic Kingdom and the Epcot Center. There is also the Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney World is also the home to Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney.

There are a few other large attractions, one of which is Sea World. This park is a mix between an amusement and water park as well as a marine zoological park. Sea World is home to Shamu the killer whale. There are a lot of animal exhibits and shows inside the Sea World park. Universal Studios is also a very large theme park. It has the Universal Studios theme park, and Islands of Adventure. There is also a hotspot for Orlando at Universal Studios known as the City Walk.

There are 4 shopping mall centers in orlando. The Florida Mall houses 250 stores and is the largest Orlando mall. There is also the Millenia. It has famous stores like Bloomingdales and Macy’s. The two other malls in the city are the Orlando Fashion Mall and the smaller Festival Bay Mall.

There are also several museums for those who like art, history and science. The most attractive of which is a 50 acre garden with a large assorment of plants. This museum includes a house where they grow only orchids and a garden for butterflies.

The largest part of the Orlando economy is tourism. Millions of visitors travel to the area every year. There is also a large convention industry in Orlando. There is a two million square foot convention center located in Orlando. The city competes strongly against Las Vegas and Chicago hosting nearly the most conventions.

Not only is it a wonderful, popular tourist destination, Orlando boasts a ton of things to do. If you want to get away to there you can even drive about an hour and half to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Cocoa Beach is one of the more popular beaches, and it is not far.

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