Walt Disney World is affectionately known to guests as the “Happiest Place on Earth.† Indeed it has been for millions of people over the last 40+ years.  It certainly can still be magical for young and old alike in 2016, IF you are properly prepared.  Walt Disney World has advanced technologically just like every other part of the world, and it can be quite complicated and overwhelming.  My hope is to help people have a stress free magical experience so you do not have to get your own B.A. degree in Disney 101.  I can provide that for you!
There are three main components that are extremely important to follow when considering visiting the “Home of the Mouse.† First, I highly recommend staying in a Walt Disney World resort.  I have heard people say all the time, “I can get a cheaper hotel off site and the hotel has complementary shuttle service.† This isn’t completely true.  The off-site hotels have shuttles that only operate a few times a day and cannot get anywhere near a theme park entrance.  Walt Disney World resorts offer free transportation to all theme parks and their buses run every 15 to 20 minutes, all day and all night long.  My clients with young children can take them back to the resort for a nap at any time.

Guests who are trying to save a buck can stay in a value resort and Walt Disney World resort guests can take advantage of numerous other perks such as: Disney’s Magical Express which is complementary from Orlando International Airport and the return trip too, the option to purchase a dining plan which will save up to 20% off food, take advantage of extra magic hours in a theme park, and FastPass+ can be done 60 days in advance.  People staying off-site have to wait until 30 days in advance.  The number of FastPass+ times are limited per day.  It is possible to get shut out of certain experiences and have to wait in long lines with the other naive guests as my clients walk by in the FastPass+ line with a smile from ear to ear!
FastPass+ is the 2nd component to master and it is free.  Families are able to make three FastPass+ selections per day per person.  This will give the families a time window of an hour to arrive in the FastPass+ line with little to no wait for the chosen FastPass+ attraction.

Some people say, “I don’t have to do that.  I will get this done when I arrive in the theme parks.† However, people who wait until then find out that many attractions will have no FastPass+ times available and will have to experience the dreaded standby line.  During the busiest times of the day the standby line is another name for the human cattle herding line and when it looks like the end is near, nope, there is a hidden room with hundreds more waiting!

The 3rd component is to make dining reservations beginning 180 days in advance.  I am sure some people are saying, “I have no idea where I want to eat in 6 months!† However, if this is not accomplished, then the family will get shut out of many of the most popular restaurants.  Family members will be glaring and tweeting to all their followers with the hash tag #thisvacationstinks since the Chef Mickey’s hostess said, “We are all booked tonight.â€

Dining reservations can be made at locations such as: Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest, Cape May, Chef Mickey’s, Crystal Palace, Tutto Italia, Tusker House, and T-Rex to name a few.  When these are experienced everyone in the family will be tweeting #bestvacationever!