Disney's Beach Club Resort

Epcot Area Resorts Include:

• Disney’s Boardwalk Resort & Boardwalk Villas
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort & Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

These resorts here are located around the beautiful Crescent Lake and make for an exciting tourist area.  Easy water transportation and covenant walking paths connect all of the Epcot area hotels offering easy access to both Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios.

Epcot resort hotels do not offer direct access to the front gate of Epcot.  Instead, because of their close proximity, guests are directed to the “back entrance” of Epcot at the International Gateway located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions.   The International Gateway entrance provides the full services of the front park entrance including, park exit, ticket windows, locker rentals, wheelchair (no ECVs), stroller rentals, and a gift shop.  Complimentary bus service is provided between the Epcot Area resorts and other Disney theme parks such as the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.

All Epcot area resorts provide deluxe accommodations and full services for their guests.  Dining options on Crescent Lake are plentiful and it’s just a short walk or boat ride to explore the options available at all of the resorts or to World Showcase.  Amongst the Epcot area resorts you’ll find Character Meals, Sports Bars, Signature Dining, Dancing, Romantic Settings, Full Service Spas and fun Boat Rentals.  Some of their large guest rooms can accommodate five people with relative ease, however you will have to note that you need a room with a daybed at the time you make your reservation.

This great hub of activity is a wonderful place to check-in for people who want to make the most of every moment.  Next time you make a reservation for a wonderful Orlando Vacation, be sure to consider the deluxe resorts of the Epcot Area to indulge you in your travel needs.

Do you have a favorite Epoct Area Resort?  Leave us a comment and let us know what your favorite thing about this great area!

At each Walt Disney World theme park you have the ability to rent either a standard wheelchair that can be pushed, or an electric convenience vehicle (ECV) that the user can drive. Located near the entrance of each park, the Disney rentals are available in limited quantities and are subject to availability. The earlier you arrive in the day, the more likely your chance to obtain a rental.

“Disney Park Wheelchair/ ECV Rental Fees (Prices are subject to change.)

• $12.00 USD per day for wheelchairs at Theme Parks
• $12.00 USD per day plus a $100.00 USD refundable security deposit for wheelchairs at the Downtown Disney Area
• $50.00 USD per day plus a $20.00 USD refundable security deposit for ECVs at Theme Parks
• $50.00 USD per day plus a $100.00 USD refundable security deposit for ECVs at the Downtown Disney Area

Disney Theme Parks offer a length of stay rental ticket where you make a one-time payment transaction for as many days of rental as you will need. Wheelchairs are available for $10.00 USD per day when rented for multiple days. Upon visiting a Disney Theme Park, show your receipt at the wheelchair rental location and you will be expedited through the queue with a reduced wait time. The length of stay rental option is not available or valid at Downtown Disney”

There are rentals available from outside companies that may have lower prices. However for someone who can walk some distance but occasionally needs a little extra help, I find the Disney option excellent. There’s a learning curve when it comes to navigating the bus system from a chair, that other guests don’t always understand. For myself, being in an EVC at the park, allows me the opportunity to be pain free and walk back to the hotel at the end of the night.

You don’t need to slow down on your Walt Disney World Vacation just because you or a loved one has a problem with mobility. All Disney theme parks are wheelchair friendly with convenient rentals to make your time as a guest filled with pixie dust.

Source: WDW Guest Services

For guests that want a premium experience with quick, convenient access to both the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and other Resorts; I suggest you stay ‘on the monorail’.
Staying on the monorail means that you’re hotel will be one of the three Deluxe Resorts located around the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon.  The main loop of this very special public transit system system was part of the original WDW design and opened with Walt Disney World Resort in 1971.  It encircles the lagoon and initially featured four stations: the Transportation and Ticket Center, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. When the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa opened, it added a fifth stop, and additional resort on this loop.

These Deluxe Resorts offer all of the amenities of a full service hotel, with the legendary Disney service. In addition the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian resort and Grand Floridian Resort and Spa all offer full service marinas, enchanting pools, and top notch dining. Most of these guest rooms can accommodate five people with relative ease, making them ideal for families that want to spread out a bit.   You’ll pay a little more for a room right in the heart of the action, but for some the experience is completely worth it. The best part, it’s all just a short monorail ride away; making the trip back to the hotel for naps, an afternoon swim, and changing for dinner more accessible than ever. Across the Seven Seas lagoon you’ll see Cinderella Castle’s towering spires rising to the sky in the Magic Kingdom, also just a short monorail ride away. There’s little more magical to me than walking back to your room at night and seeing the Castle lit up in all of it’s majesty.

For those who are looking for a special location to enjoy their Walt Disney World Vacation, I suggest that they try one of the magical resorts on the monorail line. Their service and style are spectacular, and you just can’t beat the location.

For my family a rest day doesn’t mean, “do nothing”, although just lying in a hammock on the beach is a definite possibility. For us a “rest day” means we’re not going to be rushing through a park. Instead, we may sleep in a bit, take a dip in the hotel pool and then take advantage of the many other fun and entertaining options available at Walt Disney World Resort.

Adding a rest day into your schedule has many benefits, including allowing older members of your party to recover from a busy park day, exploring all the nooks and fun Disney has to offer as well as helping to save money by reducing the number of park day tickets needed.

Here are a few of my favorite “Rest Day” activities in no particular order:

• Resort Hopping to figure out where I would like to stay next
• Shopping at Downtown Disney with a movie at the AMC Fork & Screen
• Relaxing with a swim and drinks by the pool
• Interactive Gaming at Disney Quest
• Horseback Riding or Renting a Boat
• Heading to the Spa for a Massage
• Playing a Round of Golf
• Catching a Dinner Show like the Hoop-de-doo

Most of all a rest day should let you relax a bit and really take some time for yourself. After all, you are on vacation at Disney, and there’s a whole world to explore. How would you like to spend your days that aren’t in the Parks? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Today we’ll take a look at another great unofficial Disney resort fan site featuring a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.  Today’s featured fan site is “Tribute to Disney’s Contemporary Resort” which is located at http://www.disneycontemporary.com.  I love the trend of these resort fan sites popping up across the web, and this one is no exception.  It’s sleek style and easy to use navigation makes this site fantastic.

The Contemporary is one of Walt Disney World’s original deluxe hotels, and is located just outside the gates of the Magic Kingdom.  Room views from this resort are spectacular; from the fireworks of the Magic Kingdom to the lovely Bay Lake it’s simply breathtaking.  The resort also offers a wide variety of dining options for it’s guests.  Not to mention, it sits right on the monorail line for easy access to anywhere.

Tribute to Disney’s Contemporary Resort,  is a fantastic resource available to help you decided if this is the right resort for you and  your family.  It offers hundreds of photographs and articles advising on every corner of this Disney Classic.  The site even offers information that features the newest Disney Resort addition of the Contemporary’s Disney Vacation Club property, Bay Lake Tower.  It’s a great tool for comparing the Contemporary Resort to other Disney Deluxe Resorts before you book your Disney Vacation Package.

Stop by the tribute site and see what you think of this Disney classic.  I believe it to be home to some of the most popular restaurants and lounges on property.  Though the resort has occasionally struggled over the years with how to maintain a “contemporary” edge without feeling dated, I believe the Disney’s Contemporary Resort is currently at it’s pinnacle of modern elegance.

This post was part of the Disney Blog Carnival #36!
Stop by the Carnival and join all the fun!

The Sassagoula River Cruise is a great way to travel to Downtown Disney from select resort hotels.

No matter if you’ve booked room only or if you’ve got a package deal for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation; if you’re staying at Port Orleans, Old Key West, or Saratoga Springs Resorts, you have a unique treat in your transportation to Downtown Disney.   The complimentary ferry service on the Walt Disney World waterways offer a fun alternative mode of transportation to buses.   These relaxing and often beautiful journeys by boat can offer great way to spend some time on a non-park day as you travel to the shopping and entertainment center of Downtown Disney.

Port Orleans:

The Sassagoula River Cruise is a gentle 2 ½ mile journey from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney down the Disney created river, and takes about 20 minutes one way.  The service begins at 10am daily and runs about every 20 minutes until 4:30pm when more boats are added to the route and it then runs every 10 minutes until 11pm.  This route is marked with Yellow Flags and departs from the Downtown Disney Marketplace dock (left-hand queue line).

Saratoga Springs Resort:

Hourly service is provided from 11:00am thru 4:00pm, and at 4:00PM a second boat is added and service becomes available every half hour. Blue Flags mark the Saratoga Springs Service that departs from Downtown Disney Marketplace dock (right-hand queue line).  This includes the Tree house villas dock.

Old Key West Resort:

Green Flagged boats can be found departing from Pleasure Island dock.  The last boat leaves Old Key West at 11:00pm and then leaves Downtown Disney for it’s final trip at 11:30pm.

Downtown Disney Internal Water-Shuttle: There is also a local water shuttle at Downtown Disney (with red flags and signs) that operates and will take you from the Marketplace dock to the other end of the complex at the West Side dock.

All Walt Disney World boat service operates subject to local water and weather conditions.  Service may temporarily cease operating if lightning storms are forecast or water levels are too high.  Operational times were current at the time of publication, but may change and fluctuate to accommodate seasonal crowd changes.

Thanks so much to Andy Buckingham for his beautiful creative commons picture of the river boat.

Dozens of Disney characters, dancers and performers star in the new “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade in the Magic Kingdom. The procession makes stops, during which party dancers perform and get guests into a celebratory spirit.

If watching the parades at  the Magic Kingdom are on your must-do list, then it’s good to do a little research to find out a good vantage point for you and your family.

The first thought would be to watch the parades from Main Street USA. But many suggest other places to watch to avoid crowds.

Frontierland is a popular spot for the afternoon parades, as they start here. As soon as the parade passes, you can hit up the rides in Adventureland and pretty much have them to yourself while everyone else is still waiting for the parade to reach them.

If you absolutely must be on Main Street to watch, try across from the bakery on Main Street for the afternoon parade — it’s shady, and you can grab a treat beforehand!

If you’d like to dine while you watch, the Disney Food Blog has a list of the best restaurants to watch the Magic Kingdom parades. Be sure to snag a table near a window or in an outdoor area for the best view!

Do you have any tips for the best spots to watch the Magic Kingdom parades? Leave a comment below!

If you already know quite a bit about Disney World and desire control over your plans, it would be best to book directly with Disney World yourself. This way you can choose your resort and ticket options yourself, and make your own dining reservations.

If you’ve already read up on Disney World a bit on your own and feel confident making these decisions, then go ahead and book on your own.

However, if you’re a true Disney World newbie, navigating the reservations process can be confusing and overwhelming! This is when we recommend a travel agent.

Specifically, we recommend a company that specializes in Disney travel. This way, you get a knowledgeable travel agent who’s been to Disney World themselves and can answer just about any question you might have to help you navigate the process.

Travel agencies like Mouse Fan Travel, The Magic For Less, Small World Vacations and Destinations in Florida (and many others) really know Disney World, and won’t just rattle off the basics. They’ll also keep you apprised of specials that could help you save money on your trip.

This is important: If you decide to go with a travel agency, make sure you find out how the agency handles payments. The agency should send your payments immediately and directly to Disney. And ask your friends for recommendations on travel agents too — you may luck out and get a great agent who treats you great!

Have you used a travel agent to plan a Disney vacation? What was your experience like? Leave a comment below!

Epcot's Spaceship Earth

Didn’t think planning a spontaneous trip to Disney World was possible? It is! While Disney World trip planning is often done 6 months to a year ahead of time, you can still plan a great Disney World vacation just a few weeks in advance. Here are our top tips:

-Check for last-minute hotel and airfare specials. mousesavers.com has a great primer on discounts at hotels near Disney World. You can even see if there are last-minute specials for Disney Vacation Club points. David’s Vacation Club Rentals has a “Last-Minute Specials” e-mail newsletter that you may want to check out. And of course you’ll want to check directly with Disney World at their Special Offers page — often they will announce specials for the next month or two.

-Make dining reservations. If you want to eat at any table service restaurants, make dining reservations as soon as you know your travel dates. Keep in mind that some of the most popular restaurants will be completely booked up at a couple months out, but don’t get discouraged! Disney Food Blog has a great list of popular table service restaurants with some great alternatives if you aren’t able to get your first choice.

-Check crowd levels and weather forecasts. If you’re making a last-minute trip, you’ll want to know the weather forecast and the crowd level forecast. Consider subscribing to touringplans.com to create a customized touring plan for your family, especially if you are traveling down at peak times of year. Once you’ve subscribed, you can download the Lines app for Android or iPhone to view wait times. And be sure to check that weather forecast before you depart, and pack accordingly!

Do you have any tips for last-minute trips to Disney World? Leave a comment below!

Riding the Haunted Mansion late at night gives it an extra scary oomph.

When staying on Disney World property, a great plus is access to parks an hour early in the morning, or 3 hours late in the evening. Extra Magic Hour, as it is called, is available only to Disney World resort guests, who must show their resort ID when entering the parks.

Each day, Extra Magic Hour is a little different. One day, Animal Kingdom may be open an hour early, while the next day, Magic Kingdom may be open 3 hours late. Here are a few considerations for each as you decide which to take advantage of:

Morning Extra Magic Hour

Not for night owls: If you’re the type who stays up past midnight, it’s pretty unlikely you would be able to make it to a park’s front entrance by 8 a.m. And if you do, you’ll be yawning! Make sure to get some rest if you plan to take advantage of morning EMH.

Early touring: With morning EMH, you can often get several rides in early. Beware though, that morning EMH parks tend to be quite busy once the extra hour is over with. But if all goes well, you can plan more activities for later in the day at another park.

Cooler temps: Especially in the summer, you can really beat the heat by getting out there early. We hear that the extra hour at Animal Kingdom is especially magical in the cooler morning, when the animals are more active. By midday, you can retreat to the refreshing pool at your resort, or visit Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach to cool off.

Evening Extra Magic Hour

Not for early birds: If you’re the type who nods off after 10 p.m., you’re going to have no fun forcing yourself to run around the parks late at night. If you plan to hit evening EMH, catch a nap in the afternoon, or maybe a Red Bull or 5-Hour Energy…

All to yourself: If you stick around to the wee hours of an evening EMH, you really feel like you have the place to yourself. Rides that are packed during normal hours, like Peter Pan’s Flight and Space Mountain, become nearly deserted. And for rides that aren’t normally as popular, you can ride over and over and over…

Night riding: Picture riding the Haunted Mansion late at night during a thunderstorm (spooky!), rounding the curve at Test Track in the dark (exhilarating!), or being able to ride Splash Mountain 3 times in a row with a dark drop at the end (wheeeee!). There’s a thrill to feeling like you’re somehow breaking the rules by riding so late, even though you’re not, of course.

That said, some families prefer morning EMH, others prefer evening EMH, while others attempt as much EMH as they can! Which type of Extra Magic Hour do you prefer? Leave a comment below.