In this part of my WDW 101 Series, I'm going to walk you through Fastpass+ and touch briefly on My Disney Experience. If you've never been to Disney World, you may be wondering exactly what My Disney Experience and Fastpass+ are. My Disney Experience is the absolutely vital website/app that contains all of your vacation information, including your resort confirmation, dining reservations and Fastpass+ reservations. It's the very first website that I ask my clients to visit so that they can set up their accounts and link their resort reservations. It is also where you will customize your Magic Bands and complete Online Check-In for your stay. I will go into details on all of the available features, why it's important and how to set up an account in a future post, but for now we'll focus on Fastpass+. 

Fastpass+ an electronic pass that is booked through your My Disney Experience account that allows you to skip long lines on the most popular attractions at the four theme parks. Fastpass+ can be booked up to 60 days in advance for Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guests and up to 30 days in advance for guests who are staying off site. You can book up to three selections in advance per day and all of your choices must be in the same park each day. After you have used up your initial three, you can book one at a time throughout your day as you ride the rides from your My Disney Experience app, or at a Fastpass+ Kiosk, which can be found in several locations throughout the parks and are always manned by friendly cast members who are ready to assist you with your choices. 

Attractions that are available for Fastpass+ reservations include: 

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Avatar: Flight of Passage****
Na'avi River Journey****
Expedition Everest 
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Dinosaur
Primeval Whirl
Kali River Rapids
Festival of the Lion King
Finding Nemo- The Musical
It's Tough to Be a Bug 
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost

****These rides will be operating on a tiered system with the other attractions at Animal Kingdom. You may choose from one of the new Pandora: The World of Avatar attractions and then can choose your other two Fastpasses as you normally would. 

Disney's Hollywood Studios (On a Tiered System, so Only 1 Choice can be made from Tier 1 and 2 Choices from Tier 2)

Tier 1
Slinky Dog Dash
Alien Swirling Saucers
Toy Story Mania

Tier 2
Rockin' Rollercoaster
Star Tours
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Fantasmic
Beauty and the Beast- Live on Stage
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration
Muppet Vision 3D
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Disney Junior- Live on Stage! 


Epcot (Also tiered. Choose 1 from Tier 1 and 2 from Tier 2.)

Tier 1
Soarin'
Test Track
Frozen Ever After
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

Tier 2
Spaceship Earth
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Mission Space
Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
Living with the Land
Journey Into Imagination with Figment


Magic Kingdom

Ariel's Grotto
The Barnstormer
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Enchanted Tales with Belle
The Haunted Mansion
"it's a small world"
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey's Philharmagic
Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
Peter Pan's Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Princess Fairytale Hall (Two Options available- One for Cinderella and a Visiting Princess and the other for Rapunzel and a Visiting Princess)
Seven Dwarfs' Mine Train
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Meet Mickey at Town Square Theatre
Meet Tinkerbell at Town Square Theatre
Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid

*Items in RED are the attractions that I recommend booking in advance and the ones in BLUE are the ones that you absolutely need to book in advance to avoid the longest waits. That being said, if, for some reason, you have to book after your 60 day or 30 day mark and those rides are unavailable, one of the perks of booking your vacation with me is that I can come up with a strategy to help you tour the parks more efficiently and help you get to those rides during the times that crowds are lighter. 

Valid Theme Park admission is required in order to book Fastpass+, so your tickets must be linked to your My Disney Experience account before you can make your selections. If you have booked a room and ticket package or a room, ticket and dining package, your tickets will be automatically linked as soon as you link your reservation, but if you have purchased your tickets separately, you'll have to link the tickets manually. 

To do this from a computer, you would log in to My Disney Experience and in the upper right hand corner, hover your mouse over the logo. A box will drop down with several link options to click on. Select "My Reservations and Tickets" and when the page loads, scroll down to "Tickets and Passes." There will be an option to link your tickets, which you would click, and then follow the instructions. To do this from the My Disney Experience app, you would tap the menu button on the upper left hand corner of your screen, then scroll down to "My Reservations", scroll across to "Tickets and Passes" and tap on "Manage Tickets and Passes." You would then click on "Link Tickets & Passes" and  scan in your tickets via the barcode on the back or put in your ticket confirmation number manually.

After linking your tickets, you can make your Fastpass+ reservations once you hit your 60 or 30 day mark by clicking the "Make Selections" option on your My Disney Experience dashboard. You would select your preferred date and park, and then it would give you a list to choose from. After you are finished with each one, it will give you the option to select another Fastpass for the same day until you've made all three selections or make Fastpass reservations for a different day. 

Need to know more about how Fastpass+ or My Disney Experience works? I'm here to help! Send me a message and I'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have! 

Now that you've decided that a Disney owned Resort is the way to go, you'll probably notice that there are many different options that offer many different features! Do you want a Value Resort- which offers no frills convenience and all of the perks of staying on property? Or is a Moderate Resort more your style? What about that touch of luxury that can be found at a Deluxe Resort? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you've come to the right place! Today I'm going to highlight all of your Disney owned resort options and the amenities that each one provides! 

Walt Disney World offers three different resort categories to it's on property guests- Value, Moderate and Deluxe. Each category offers different amenities at different price points, but all offer the Magical Perks that I discussed in THIS blog post. Here is a basic overview of what to expect with each category:

With the Value Resorts, you get a lot of the fun Disney theming, a Food Court that offers your typical Quick Service fare, a Gift Shop, a themed Main Pool with several Quiet Pools in different areas of the Resort, a Pool Bar, and Scheduled Resort Activities (Trivia, Games, Movie Nights, Etc.) They are the least expensive of the Disney owned Resorts and are very basic as far as amenities go.

​Standard rooms are appointed with 2 full size beds, though a king can be requested, a table with 2 chairs, small dresser, an area to hang clothes, a vanity area with privacy curtain and private shower/tub/toilet. These rooms are the same at all of the Value Resorts, with the exception of the Family Suites that are offered at Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's All Star Music Resort. 

Here is an example of the basic layout of a Pop Century Standard Room (Thanks to one of my very favorite YouTube channels- iThemePark) : 

As you can see, the rooms are basic, but clean and nicely appointed. If you plan on spending almost all of your time on the go, these resorts will fit your needs perfectly, however, if you plan on spending a bit more time at your resort, then you'd be better off booking at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. 

The Moderate Resorts are a step up from the Value Resorts, with more amenities and larger beds. They are also the only resorts that offer designated King rooms. These resorts are also well themed and two of them take the theming all the way to the guest rooms by way of the elaborately decorated Storybook Rooms. These rooms are the Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans Resort- Riverside and Pirate Rooms Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. 

Here is an example of a Pirate Room (courtesy of AllEars.net): 

A Storybook room is the perfect way to really put your family in the middle of the Magic! 

Standard rooms come equipped with 2 Queen Beds, a double sink with vanity, a table with 2 chairs, a dresser, a privacy curtain or door, coffee maker, and mini fridge. Some rooms are even equipped with pull down twin beds so that they can comfortably sleep families of 5! 

As far as the the amenities at the Moderate resorts go, you'll find a Table Service restaurant, a pool bar, a lounge, a pool with a water slide and a quick service food court. As with the Value Resorts, you will also find scheduled activities for each day of the week. If you'd like a little something that stands out among the moderates, one of these resorts, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, has a concierge style lounge for guests who are staying in a Business Class room and a salon/spa- all of the amenities of a Deluxe Resort for a fraction of the cost! 

What if you want to enjoy being steps away from the parks and the ability to retire to a luxurious room appointed with the finest in amenities whenever the mood arises? Welcome to the Disney Deluxe Resort category!

These resorts are the epitome of elegance and, as with the other resort categories, reflective of the world class Disney service that guests have come to expect. These resorts offer several dining options, unique recreation opportunities, special extras- like a sunrise safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and close proximity to the Disney Theme Parks. 

With the Deluxe Resorts, you'll have all of the amenities of the above mentioned categories, and then much, much more. Beautifully themed pools are a centerpiece of each resort, including one pool that doubles as a mini water park. There are multiple shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that cater to the most discerning palate, and guests have the ability to book club level rooms- which allow access to the resort's concierge lounge. The concierge lounge is a wonderful way to escape the crowds, kick back, and enjoy the various complimentary food and beverage offerings that are set out for guests throughout the day. 

For more on Club Level rooms, click HERE. 

Standard rooms are equipped with 2 Queen Beds, or 1 King Bed, a double sink with vanity, upgraded toiletries, a table with chairs, a coffee maker, a desk, a dresser, a private balcony, and a closet. Some rooms even offer a daybed to allow families of 5 to sleep comfortably. 

Here is an example of a Standard Room at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort (courtesy of AllEars.net):

As you can see, a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort is a great way to feel like you are truly getting away from it all. 

Are you traveling with a party of more than 5? Perhaps a Deluxe Villa is for you! Imagine all of the amenities of home, located on Walt Disney World property! The villas are located throughout Walt Disney World and can sleep up to 8 people. 

For a list of the Deluxe Villa Resorts, click HERE.

There's something for everyone and all of the Magical extras are included, no matter which Resort Category you choose! 

Do you need help figuring out which Resort would fit your family's needs best? Remember, my services are 100% FREE and I would be thrilled to assist you in planning your next Walt Disney World vacation! If you're ready to make some Magical memories, email me! ftjbyjenniec@outlook.com

In this post, I'm going to discuss the Disney Dining Plan in depth so that you, as a consumer, can decide whether or not it's the right choice for your Walt Disney World vacation. 

There are three main plans to choose from, and then there are two packages which are pretty inclusive that have the Dining Plan incorporated into them, which I will delve into in an upcoming post about Disney for the Luxury Seeker. So stay tuned for that if it's something that you are wondering about! 

The first Dining Plan that is available is designed with the budget conscious in mind- the Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick Service Dining. This plan is the least expensive and includes the following for 2018/2019: 

2 Quick Service Meals Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Alcoholic and Specialty Beverages are included)
2 Snacks Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay
1 Resort Refillable Mug Per Person that is good for the length of your stay. 

This plan is great for families that prefer to be on the go and don't want to deal with making dining reservations. If you're thinking that Quick Service means just Burgers and Fries, you'd be surprised to learn that Disney offers some really great options in that category. 

For example, a meal at Wolfgang Puck Express in the Disney Springs Marketplace can consist of anything from Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf served with Mashed Potatoes and topped with Onion Straws and a Port Wine Reduction, to Brick Oven Gourmet Pizzas, to Roasted Salmon served with Broccolini. You can certainly get a Burger and Fries using your dining credits if you want to, but with these options, you can see that a Quick Service meal can be so much more than that! 

The next plan that I'm going to highlight is the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining. With this plan, you get the following:

1 Table Service Meal Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Including an alcoholic or specialty beverage)
1 Quick Service Meal Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Including an alcoholic or specialty beverage)
2 Snacks Per Person/ Per Night of Your Stay
1 Resort Refillable Mug Per Person that is good for the length of your stay. 

This dining plan is ideal for those who like to take a break from touring the Parks for a sit down meal and enjoy planning out their meals ahead of time. There are so many restaurants to choose from, and all of them are unique. If you'd like to have breakfast with Mickey, Donald and Goofy, you can do that! If you're all about the gourmet experience, you can do that too! There's truly something for everyone! 

If you're a foodie family that enjoys taking your time and experiencing multiple sit down meals each day, then the Magic Your Way Package Plus Deluxe Dining is for you! This plan includes: 

3 Dining Credits (Can be Table Service or Quick Service) Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Alcoholic and specialty beverages are included with your quick service and table service credits)
2 Snacks Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay
1 Resort Refillable Mug Per Person that is good for the length of your stay. 

This plan is fantastic for those who enjoy the Signature Restaurants or Dinner Shows, which all require 2 dining credits. It is also the most flexible dining plan, as the credits are interchangeable between table and quick service meals, so it allows you to decide how you want to use them during each day of your stay. You can mix and match your credits as you see fit. For example, if you'd like to enjoy a quick service breakfast at your resort, with a snack at the parks for lunch and an elegant signature dinner, you can make it happen. Your options are only limited by your imagination!

The Disney Dining Plan uses credits, which are good for different meal combinations, depending on the time of day. For example, at breakfast, you get an entree and a beverage or a full buffet and a non-alcoholic beverage. At lunch and dinner, you get an entree, a non-alcoholic beverage and a dessert or a full buffet with a non-alcoholic beverage. The Deluxe dining plan even adds an appetizer to it's lunch and dinner credits! No matter which plan you choose, it's a good amount of food and the options are endless! The Disney Dining Plan is only available to guests who book a Magic Your Way room and ticket package at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.

One of the main questions that my clients ask me is if the Dining Plans are worth the money. It really is up to the family's specific needs. My family always gets it because for us, it makes the most sense due to the value and convenience that it offers. If you ask yourself how many times you have gone out to eat on vacation and were limited by your budget, then you may want to consider getting it. For example, during past vacations, you really wanted to try the steak, but the chicken was cheaper, so you went with that. The nice thing about the dining plan is that it allows you to get anything that you want on the menu that costs a credit, so the 23.00 chicken and 49.00 steak both equal the same dining credit. You won't have to skip dessert, because it's included with your lunch and dinner. Now, of course, it isn't for everyone. If you are a family who will not be spending much time on Disney Property, or would rather pack a lunch than buy one, then it may be best to skip it. The beauty of the Magic Your Way Package is that it is completely customizable and you can choose to add or skip dining based on your unique needs. 

Here is a video that explains the different Disney Dining Plans that are available: 

I hope that this will help your family decide if the Disney Dining plan is right for you! If you'd like more information, click HERE. 

In the third part of this series, I'm going to explain the perks and extras that make staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel a better value than staying off property. Aside from the Free Transportation that we discussed in the first post, these perks include: Extra Magic Hours, Free Magic Bands, Eligibility to make your Fastpass+ selections early and the ability to take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan. 


We'll start with Extra Magic Hours, which give you more time to play in the parks than someone who is staying off site gets. For example, if Magic Kingdom has a morning Extra Magic Hour, you get to enter the park a full hour before everyone else, which allows you the opportunity to rush to the rides that usually have the longest lines and get them out of the way before the crowds come in. Evening Extra Magic Hours offer even more time in the parks because once the regular crowds have gone home for the day, you get to stay behind and play- often for 2-3 hours longer! That certainly adds value to your park tickets during your stay! 


Next, we'll talk about Magic Bands, which are an awesome new technology that you'll find exclusively at the Walt Disney World Resort! A Magic Band is a wristband that is water and sweat proof, which contains an RFID chip that stores your tickets, room key, Dining Plan credits, Fastpasses and, if you choose to, your credit card information so that you can make purchases on property. All of these preferences can be set up in your My Disney Experience account. If you stay off property, you'll be paying to use them, but on property, they are included! 


Moving on, did you know that as a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guest, you have the ability to make your Fastpass + reservations a full 30 days before everyone else gets to? It's true! Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel get to plan their Fastpass + reservations 60 days in advance of their stay, as opposed to the 30 days that off property guests get. This means that the most sought after  reservations (like the ones for Soarin', Toy Story Midway Mania and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, to name a few!) are twice as likely to be available for you to book! Awesome, right? 


Finally, we are going to discuss the ability to take advantage of using the Disney Dining Plan as a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guest who books a room/ticket package. For those of you who are not familiar with it, the Disney Dining Plan allows you to pay for your meals in advance so that you can have more fun and do less worrying about how much your food will cost during your visit. For example, when you sit down for a meal, you won't have to micromanage what each member of your family orders since you can order anything that you want that falls under the category of a dining credit. It's so nice to be able to order what you want instead of looking at prices and there are Disney Dining Plans that work for every budget! 


For more information on the Disney Dining Plan, click here! 

For more information on Magic Bands, click here! 

For more information about Fastpass+, click here! 

For more information about Extra Magic Hours, click here! 


As you can see, it certainly pays to stay on Disney property! 

In the next post, we're going to delve into the different Disney Dining Plan options that are available to you! 

In the second part of this series, we're going to discuss the importance of location when it comes to staying on vs off property. 

In the previous post, I discussed the sheer expanse of the Walt Disney World Resort. Because it is so large, and there is so much to do within its gates, the location of where you choose to stay really matters. 

Many off property hotels are positioned within a reasonable commute to Walt Disney World's Main Gate, but don't offer the convenience that being on property does in that being on property puts you right in the middle of the Magic. Everything that you could possibly want to do is right there and easy to access. It's as simple as hopping on a bus, boat or monorail and you're there. You'll wait longer to get where you want to go if you're staying off property, and that takes away from the fun.

If you've rented a car, location will be especially important in that you will save on gas since you won't be traveling far to get to and from your hotel. There are even a few gas stations located on property for your convenience, so you won't be going far to fill up. 

There's also the exhaustion that many Disney Parks guests experience at the end of the day. It's so nice to just hop into your chosen mode of transportation after a long day of touring and be at your resort within a reasonable amount of time. There's no long drive to get back, which is really great when you just want to get to bed! 

Location is also a factor in choosing where to eat. If you are staying off property, your hotel may offer a complimentary breakfast. That's a great way to save money, but be sure to make sure that it's not just a piece of toast or a soggy bagel, or you may be driving to get something to eat or waiting for a shuttle to take you to the parks for breakfast. When staying on property, you can walk to a food court or table service restaurant within your resort in a matter of minutes and get your breakfast before heading out for the day. Even better, if you have the dining plan, you don't have to worry about the cost of your meal! (We'll discuss this amazing option in the Extras part of this series, which is coming up soon!)

There's also something to be said about the nostalgia and joy that comes from staying on Disney property, which you can't get while staying outside of the gates. You can wake up each morning at a Disney Resort Hotel knowing that you'll get world class service and that touch of Disney Magic that can't be found anywhere else. Cast members go above and beyond to ensure that you get that touch each day and the themes of each resort bring even more of that Magic to you, which we will delve into a little more in a future post. 

So there you have it in regards to location. Walt Disney World Resort Hotels are all positioned within the gates and close to everything that you could possibly want to do on Disney property, plus the built in and easy to navigate transportation system that we talked about in my last post helps you get to the action faster than if you were to stay off property. 

Next up, we will discuss the Extras of staying on property vs off, which includes information about the Disney Dining Plan!