Foodservice

5 Tips to Help Make Your Trip to Disney More Relaxing

Are you ready to plan a trip to Disney with a big group or maybe just with your small family? Are you worried about keeping it all together so you don’t need a vacation after your vacation? Whether it’s your 1st or 100th trip, everyone can use some tips to help make this magical journey a little more relaxing. Here are some quick tips that I hope will help you keep calm – and Disney ON!

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Use a Travel Agent!

You will want to find one that specializes in Disney vacations and pricing structures. Just let us know if you need a referral. Sometimes travel agents even run specials where you get free Disney gift cards or other fun bonuses. Even the most experienced Disney vacationer will love saving extra time waiting on hold to book the various aspects of a Disney trip. It is not uncommon for an agent to stay vigil on your behalf to help save you money too. If Disney drops a price, a travel agent can automatically cancel your original itinerary and re-book it at the lower price. They can help you with dining reservations to maximize your Disney Dining plan, help you plan the best time of year to go based on your family’s needs – and even reserve a stroller for your kids. Again, it doesn’t cost a penny more than doing it on your own. In fact, it saves you money… a lot of time…and will help maximize your relaxation factor.

Prioritize & Plan!

I have lived here in Orlando my whole life and STILL have not seen and done everything the parks have to offer. There is no way you will be able to cover everything in one trip. It’s just not humanly possible, so don’t beat yourself up over it. Now you just have a reason to keep coming back to do more. Communicate with the folks in your party to find out what top priorities are, and plan to cover as many of those as you can. Use this list to help you pack. Take advantage of extra magic hours, (more on that later.) I also HIGHLY recommend using Theme Park Concierges to help you with your family’s ideal touring plan with less walking, gathering your fastpasses, and arranging all the extra magical experiences you could not possibly think of ahead of time on your own. Plus you will have so much more time to slow down, take deep breaths and enjoy more atmosphere, sights and smells of the Happiest Place on Earth.

Rent A Stroller!

Even if your child doesn’t use a stroller at home, get one. It gives them a place to rest and lets you move faster through the parks to beat the crowds. Also, it’s a handy place to stash your bags, extra water bottles, snacks and other fun things you may accumulate while making all those magical Disney memories. Check out our tips on making your stroller stand out from the rest so you can find it easily after each attraction. These tips help make using a stroller a breeze.

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Book Sit-Down Meals!

Book one or even 2 reservations each day for a table-service meal so you can rest your feet and eat a good balanced meal in air-conditioned bliss. Here’s a Disney secret: book your dining at odd times. You are even MORE likely to get in to your favorite places AND enjoy relaxing service if you book late breakfasts or early dinners. If it’s not in the budget – counter service restaurants are more relaxing if you avoid the 11am – 2pm rush. One person from your party should go find a clean table,and get condiments and napkins while the others are in line to order the food. It’s more relaxing to team up in these locations.

Take a Break!

During your trip, take a retreat to the hotel in the afternoons for a quick nap and some fun time in the pool. Many times the kids enjoy the pool about as much as they enjoy the parks – especially if you are staying at a Disney resort – because the distance is shorter – and the pool will be extra fabulous. Another bonus of doing this is you can maximize Extra Magic Hours! These are the hours the parks are only open to guests staying at Disney resorts. Lower crowds and shorter lines…talk about relaxing – wow! What a difference those Extra Magic Hours can make! Your travel agent can tell you dates, parks and times for extra magic hours during your stay. If you take a break in the afternoons the kids (and you!) won’t be as tired if you decide to get up early or stay up late to take advantage of that extra park time.

Take advantage of these 5 simple tips to help keep you relaxed and having fun on your Disney trip. Most of all, try not to stress to much, this is going to be fun no matter what. You are on vacation after all!

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Here is a pretty good 5 1/2 minute video that Disney released to help guests understand the differences between the quick, basic, and deluxe dining plans. Prices are not included but it helps with understanding why some people choose which dining plan is best for them. Remember the Disney dining plan is exclusively available to guests staying in Disney resorts.

Click here to watch the Dining Plans explained in 5 1/2 minutes

The Disney Dining Plan has become a Guest favorite to include as part of Magic Your Way Vacation Packages. The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) for 2013 mirrors the 2012 program, with a new option for table-service restaurants to offer menu add-ons and prix-fixe menus.
• Prix-fixe menu: Table-service restaurants may offer a separate prix-fixe menu that is available for a retail price. DDP Guests can choose this option with payment of a surcharge in addition to the table-service entitlement redemption. Separate surcharges for Disney Dining Plan Guests and Deluxe, Premium, and Platinum Dine Plan Guests will be noted on menus.
• For restaurants that offer only a prix-fixe menu (such as Cinderella’s Royal Table) or have a prix-fixe menu included on their regular a la carte menu (such as Captain’s Grille): the prix-fixe menu is fully covered by the required DDP meal entitlements.
• The new offering is a separate prix-fixe menu that is available in addition to the regular a la carte menu. DDP Guests who select the separate prix-fixe menu will be required to pay a surcharge in addition to the table-service entitlement redemption
• Menu add-ons: Table-service restaurants may offer menu add-ons, the ability to add another protein component to their entrée selection (e.g., option to add sea scallops to entrée). This option will be listed on the menu and requires payment of a surcharge by Guests who choose this option. DDP Guests can choose the menu add-on with payment of the surcharge in addition to the table-service entitlement redemption.
• Be Our Guest Restaurant: Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom Park offers fast casual service for lunch (requires one quick-service entitlement); however, for dinner, it operates as a table-service restaurant (requires one table-service entitlement).

Key reminders about the Disney Dining Plan
• Participating locations: Most Walt Disney World Resort theme park, resort hotel, Disney water park, EPSN Wide World of Sports Complex, and the Downtown Disney Area restaurant locations accept the Disney Dining Plan, including Operating Participants.
• Eligible snack items: The list of eligible snack items includes a large variety of food and beverage items available at carts, kiosks, quick-service and select merchandise locations across property. A complete list of eligible snack items will soon be available on The Hub >> Food Tools
• Refillable Mug: All Disney Dining Plan packages include a Resort Refillable Drink Mug allowing Guest to refill at Quick Service locations and select Merchandise Shops at the Walt Disney World Resort Hotel at which they are staying and throughout the length of their current stay.
• Dining reservations for table-service restaurants can be made in advance or cancelled online at http://www.disneyworld.com/dining. Guests can also make or cancel a reservation by visiting any Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Front Desk, Concierge or Guest Relations, by calling 407-WDW-DINE, or by pressing 55 from any house phone.