Frequently Asked Questions about Disney World

Over the years I have helped families and couples plan their Disney World vacations and a number of questions have arisen over time. Here are a few of those questions and some (hopefully) helpful answers.

“Is it better to stay within Disney World or stay at an “off-site” property?"
The answer to this question depends on a couple of factors; size of your party, budget and how much you are willing to be inconvenienced by staying off-site. If you have a large family and want to spread out, a local rental property might suit you just fine. There are many rental homes in the area that offer 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a private pool, your own full kitchen and usually, a game room. These homes tend to be a bit cheaper than getting multiple hotel rooms. However, you would then have the added responsibility of driving to and from the parks every day. This makes it difficult to get back to your accommodation should you need to take a break from your daily treks through the parks.

I feel that for the average family of four, staying within Disney World is the best way to go. You have access to Disney’s transportation system (sometimes right outside your door) and the flexibility to get back and forth from your accommodation without a lot of hassle.

"What do we do if it rains during our Disney trip?"
If you are going in the summer, it is invariably going to rain. It usually rains at some point every day. I remember being there in September one year and as the evening wore down, a tremendous downpour started. Luckily, we were already waiting for our bus back to our resort and were under cover. Some of the later arriving bus passengers were not so lucky.

So, I would recommend buying rain ponchos before you get to the park and pack them in a backpack or bag; you can buy them in the parks but they will probably cost double or triple. If it rains, just put them on keep on going! The downside is you won't get to see fireworks or parades due to inclement weather. But, a big plus is that the crowds tend to disappear when it rains, lines are much shorter, and getting into restaurants is much easier.

"What character meal would you recommend for young girls?"
The most popular character meals (and the most expensive) are the meals at Cinderella’s Royal Table, within Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom. It is frequently booked months in advance and difficult to get a reservation. As an alternative, we took our four-year-old granddaughter to the Askerhus Royal Banquet in Epcot for breakfast one morning and she loved it. She got her picture taken with Belle (dressed in her ball gown….which shockingly was included in the price!) when we first went in. During breakfast, which consists of a cold buffet as well as hot breakfast food served family style, each child was visited by each princess; Snow White, Belle, Cinderella and Ariel. She was in heaven. The experience concluded with a parade around the banquet hall led by the princesses, who led the children around the room. For another review, click here.

"What age is the best for a child's first trip to Disney World?"
Disney World offers something for everyone of every age. I am always amazed to see couples visiting Disney with infants, so whatever age your children are, I would consider taking a Disney trip. Again, having spent six days there with a four-year-old was a great experience. With one that young, you don’t feel the need to do everything. You find out which attractions they like and which ones they don’t and you plan accordingly. For example, we went through “It’s a Small World” at least six times. However, with other attractions, we were “one and done”.

We did two things that I felt made our trip extremely enjoyable. The first was renting a stroller. Although our little one hasn’t used a stroller at home for well over a year, it is just too much to expect those little legs to withstand miles and miles of walking every day. So, either bring your own stroller or rent one from Disney.

The second thing we did that proved to be a great idea was to schedule a break every day at midday (or thereabouts). We all went back to our room and relaxed, checked email, swam, etc. while the grandchild rested. After 90 minutes or so, we were all raring to go. It worked out GREAT!

“When is the best time to visit Disney World?”
The best answer to that question is, “Can you stand large crowds?” The busiest times of the year at Disney World are just what you would expect; the summer months, Thanksgiving, Christmas Week, and periods of February, March and April, when schools have Easter and spring breaks. In other words, whenever kids are out of school, attendance at Disney World goes through the roof. This means longer lines, longer waits for restaurants and greater difficulty getting reservations for character dining.

I was just there in mid-November and it was great; weather was great (70’s and 80’s) and lines were short. Some of the bigger attractions had some longer waiting times, but for the most part, it was very relaxed and easy to get around. Late September, October and November (up until Thanksgiving) promise good weather and smaller crowds (though September tends to be warmer and more humid than October and November). Also, if your children go back to school after Labor Day, crowds tend to drop in late August, after Florida schools re-open.

"Do we need to make restaurant reservations at Disney?"
Disney offers pre-paid plans that offer various dining options. That coupled with tens of thousands of daily visitors, makes sit-down restaurants very popular. These restaurants (table service dining in Disney lingo) can be booked 180 days in advance of your vacation. Character dining falls into this category. We were not able to get a reservation at Cinderella’s table two months out, but I made a reservation for the Askerhus Royal Banquet while we were on vacation. So, if you have a favorite restaurant that you just can’t miss out on, call Disney NOW for a reservation!

I hope you learned a little bit more about Disney. It can be a great experience with some planning, patience and a positive approach!