FastPass+ At Disney World: A Basic Overview

  What Is FastPass+? FastPass+ allows you to legally “cut” the line, considerably cutting your wait time for an attraction. It allows you to by-pass the stand-by line, maximizing your time in the parks. Currently, you are limited to three FastPass+ selections in one park per day. How much does it cost? FastPass+ is free to all Disney guests. There is no extra cost. When can I make my FastPass selections? Disney Resort Guests can make their selections up to 60 days in advance of their visit. Off-site guests can make selections up to 30 days before their visit. All guests Continue reading FastPass+ At Disney World: A Basic Overview

Extra Magic Hours At Disney World Explained

One of the perks of being a Walt Disney World resort guest is the ability to enjoy Extra Magic Hours. What are Extra Magic Hours? Each day, a park or two, depending on the season, is open either an extra hour in the morning or extra hours at night. This is a time when guests of the resorts can spend extra time in the parks, with fewer people and shorter wait times for attractions. You must have a Magic Band (RFID chip), proving you are a Disney Resort guest. Since the Extra Magic Hours (EMH) option was introduced in 2005 there Continue reading Extra Magic Hours At Disney World Explained

8 Must Pack Items For A Trip To Walt Disney World

  As a seasoned Walt Disney World Go-er, I’ve visited in all types of weather, at all times of the year, in all kinds of circumstances. I’ve been as a child, a teen, a DINK (double income, no kids), with infants, toddlers, and teens, with extended family and the elderly. I’ve over-packed and under-packed. Take it from me. These are the 8 things you don’t want to forget to pack for your trip to Disney. #1 Bottled Water  At least one bottle per person. We bring a large 24 pack for a family of 5. We refill throughout the day Continue reading 8 Must Pack Items For A Trip To Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Planning Guide For The First-Timer

Planning your first trip to Walt Disney World can be overwhelming. There is so much to consider and so much to forget. Follow this step by step guide for your first trip! Set your budget Your budget is going to dictate where you stay, how long you can stay and when you can go. And the beauty of it? You can take your family to Walt Disney World for a handful of hundreds or double-digit thousands. But if you’re not a lottery winner like me, cheaper is always better. Just be careful not to fall for any “too good to Continue reading Walt Disney World Planning Guide For The First-Timer

Disney’s MagicBands – Tips and Tricks

Have you received YOUR MagicBands in the mail? MagicBands were introduced in 2013. They are handy, comfortable, plastic bands that contain an RFID tag. They can unlock your resort room and hold your park tickets. You can use them to charge meals and souvenir purchases. They even hold all of your FastPasses and PhotoPass photos, linking them to your account. MagicBands are magical and sometimes, not so magical (as we have discovered) Read on for some MagicBand observations, tips, and tricks! You can customize your MagicBand to fit your personality – Once you’ve made your reservations for your trip, you are able Continue reading Disney’s MagicBands – Tips and Tricks

What NOT To Pack For Your Upcoming Disney Trip: The Anti-Packing List

Knowing what not to pack can be half the battle. Especially during this whirlwind countdown to your next Disney Vacation. But I have a confession to make. Hi. I’m Mouseterplanner. And I’m an over-packer. (They say admitting the problem is the first step. So there. I’ve said it!) And coming from an over-packer, I can save you some time and space (which means more room for souvenirs!) Hairdryer Unless you’re incredibly attached to your own, it has become commonplace to have a hairdryer in every resort room. Beach Towels No need to bring your own or bring towels from your Continue reading What NOT To Pack For Your Upcoming Disney Trip: The Anti-Packing List

How To Do Disney As A Single Parent

One of the best trips I ever took to Walt Disney World was with my 6 and 7-year-old sons and me. Just me and the boys. And it was awesome! But scary. Because I was it. A single parent at Walt Disney World. The only adult. And a female adult with two boys….think “I’m too old to go with mom to the bathroom” kind of tricky. In most ways, it was the best trip ever. In other ways, it was the trickiest trip ever. It was also the most educational trip ever for me as a single parent. Let me Continue reading How To Do Disney As A Single Parent

8 Things This Disney “Pro” Learned On Our Last Trip

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.  But not when you’re a Disney lover. Disney lovers go to Disney as often as they can. They go with their bag of tricks. They employ their tricks, only to find a couple of tricks that don’t work anymore. So, they adjust. Here’s what this Disney “Pro” learned on our last trip. 10 Things Learned On Our Last Disney Trip Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run doesn’t have the crazy wait times we were anticipating. With no FastPasses, we expected 2 hour plus wait times. We didn’t expect to ride at all. Continue reading 8 Things This Disney “Pro” Learned On Our Last Trip

Disney FastPass+ Strategies For A Trip With The Littles

Everyone has FastPass+ strategies with thrill rides in mind. But what if you’re traveling with little knee grabbers? What then? What Is FastPass+? FastPass+ allows you to by-pass the stand-by line, maximizing your time in the parks. Currently, you are limited to three FastPass+ selections in one park per day. Detailed information about the FastPass+ system can be found here. Each of the four parks within Walt Disney World has popular rides that have wait times that can climb into the 2-hour mark. That is where FastPass+ strategies come in. Strategize right (at your 60-day mark) and you can limit that Continue reading Disney FastPass+ Strategies For A Trip With The Littles

9 Ways To Make Sure Your Large Party Has A Magical Time At Disney

Walt Disney World is the perfect place for a large party (think family reunion or families in your neighborhood) to meet for a magical time. There’s something for all ages, making it the most popular vacation destination in the world with 52 million visitors each year. But how to coordinate such an endeavor? Follow these simple steps! Pick A Team Captain If you’re reading this post, I’m going to assume that you’ll make the perfect team captain. Every large party needs a leader and because you’re the Disney enthusiast it should be you! One person to organize and pull all the Continue reading 9 Ways To Make Sure Your Large Party Has A Magical Time At Disney