Operation Pixie Dust

How to plan the perfect Walt Disney World vacation

Clare Swindlehurst — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:20:29 +0000

I’m a firm believer that everyone should get to go to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida at least once in their lives. It didn’t earn the title of “most popular vacation destination” for nothing, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Of course there are theme parks and thrill rides, fairy tales and Disney characters. But you’ll also find Championship golf courses, world-class restaurants and relaxing spas.

If you have decided that it’s finally time to take your loved ones on that vacation of a lifetime then here are some things you need to know to help you plan the perfect Disney World vacation.

1. The best time to go to Disney

The first thing you need to think about is the best time to visit Disney World. There are good points and bad points about pretty much every month of the year. From crowd levels and temperatures to special events, there are many things that you need to consider. Click here to find out the best time to go to Disney for you and your family.

2. Whether to stay in a Disney World hotel or not

Once you’ve decided when to go to Disney World you need to think about where to stay. There are Disney World hotels to suit all budgets from the Value Resorts like the All Star Movies, through to the Moderates like Port Orleans Riverside and then the Luxury Resorts like the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the flagship Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Staying in a hotel onsite has many benefits including free Disney transportation to the themeparks and extra Disney magic.

But there are times when it might be better for your family to stay in the local area. If your party is large then you might prefer to rent a private house with the luxury of a kitchen and your own swimming pool.

My Booking Basics members’ only website has all the information you need to choose the hotel that’s right for you including maps and videos.

3. How long to stay for

The amount of time you can spend on your vacation will depend on your budget and the amount of vacation leave you are allowed to take. It really doesn’t matter whether you are planning a weekend trip or whether you are lucky enough to stay for two or three weeks, you will always find something to do. You just need to avoid making the mistake of trying to see more than you have time for!

4. How to save money on Disney World tickets

If you plan to visit the themeparks then you will need to buy tickets. The ticket options are endless from one day passes to multi-park hopper passes. You can add on water parks and extra days, and make sure they don’t expire… It can all get really confusing which is why I include a section on how to choose the right tickets, and how to save money safely in my Magical Mastery member’s only website.

5. Where to eat

As I said, Disney World has many world-class restaurants and if you want to eat in any of them then you need to make reservations in advance.

180 days in advance to be precise.

Yes, you read that right, to secure the restaurants and the dining times you will need to get your planning completed and book those Disney dining reservations 6 months ahead of your trip.

If you do want to test out as many restaurants as possible then you should consider adding the Disney Dining Plan to your package, paying for your food in advance can save you lots of money. It’s all covered in the Magical Mastery member’s only website.

6. How to beat the crowds in the themeparks

Do you know the one thing that puts a dampener on my Disney vacations? Watching people standing in long lines looking tired and grumpy.

We don’t suffer that fate ourselves, in fact my husband and I very rarely spend longer than 20-25 minutes in lines. Over the years we’ve mastered the art of enjoying more attractions in one morning than most people dream of experiencing in a day. You just need to know a few tips and secrets, and luckily for you those too are in the Magical Mastery member’s only website.

7. How to ensure you get the best deal on your Disney World vacation

Once you’ve decided when to go to Disney, where to stay, how long to stay for and where to eat you then need to think about how to book! You have a number of options. You can book your vacation yourself by searching for the best deals on the Internet. You can book direct with Disney themselves. Or you can use a Disney World vacation planner. The benefit of using a planner is that they not only help you design the perfect Disney World vacation for you and your family but they will also keep an eye out for any deals that come up even after you’ve booked and apply them to your reservation! Click here to get in touch with the Whimsical World Travel Concierge Team who are ready and waiting to help you plan your vacation.

A Disney World vacation isn’t like a trip to the beach.

Even when you know how to save money to make your vacation more affordable you will still have to pay for hotels and themepark tickets and food and souvenirs.

Don’t save long and hard to take your family to Disney World and then have an awful time standing in long lines and trying to find a restaurant that can fit you in.

A little bit of planning goes a very long way and I hope that you will find the information you need here at Operation Pixie Dust to make sure that your family has the most amazing Once in a Lifetime Disney World vacation that you all want to go back and do it again next year!

P.S. Do you want to know how to save money on a Disney World Resort hotel, or whether your employee status can get you into the parks for free? What about how to have your holiday photos taken at no extra charge or the quickest way to get to the Magic Kingdom? I answer all of these and more in my book Walt Disney World Tips & Secrets - download your copy today!

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Enjoy Disney Dining even with Food Allergies

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:17:21 +0000

These days more and more people suffer from food allergies, and if you or your children suffer from peanut or dairy allergies you might be worried about what you will eat when you go to Disney World.

The good news is that there is no need to worry. A little preparation in advance will ensure your allergy sufferer is given the red carpet treatment with not a tummy ache in sight!

1. Flag the allergy when you make your dining reservation

The first thing you need to do is let the Cast Member taking your dining reservations know that one of your party has a food allergy.

Advanced Dining Reservations can be made 180 days ahead of your vacation by calling (407)WDW-DINE or by visiting the Disney.com website.

Provide the Cast Member with as much information as you can about the allergy including what they can and can’t eat. This information will be logged with your reservation and sent over to the restaurant.

They will then give you the phone number of the Special Dietary Needs department at each of the themeparks and Resorts that you plan to eat at.

When you call you will be sent a form to fill out and return. You don’t need to return these forms until three to four weeks ahead of your vacation, but you must make sure that they include your reservation number.

2. What to expect at the restaurant

When you arrive at the restaurant the Cast Member who checks you in will confirm which member of your party has a food allergy and then arrange for the chef to visit your table. It tends to be the Head Chef so you might have a little wait, but it’s worth it to speak to the person in charge of the food you will be eating.

If you are having a meal off the menu, or a meal served family style then the Head Chef will talk to you about the menu. If you are having your meal buffet style then he will take you to the buffet and explain which foods are safe for you to eat.

They are very careful about cross-contamination and will often make your selection fresh in the kitchen so you don’t have to worry about what foods might have come into contact on the buffet.

Most restaurants also offer “safe” alternatives of the mainstream options. For example the breakfast menu always has Van’s Waffles available.

Of course it is important to tell the restaurants about your allergy in advance so that they can make these arrangements for you. If you choose to just “walk up” on the day then you might have a different experience.

3. Allergy free snacks are available too

The Special Dietary Needs team will also provide you with a list of foods that are available at the Quick Service restaurants in the theme parks. For example you can buy dairy free ice cream from locations in the Animal Kingdom, and dairy and nut free cookies in the Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom.

If you’re celebrating a birthday or special occasion then remind the wait staff of your allergy so that they can provide a safe alternative to the standard cupcake that is unusually offered as part of the celebration.

Walt Disney World is probably one of the few vacation destinations where you will be well looked after if you have food allergies. So take the time to let them know and then you can forget about tummy aches and have a wonderful vacation!

P.S. Do you want to know the secret to being able to get the most out of your Disney World vacation? It's the one thing that the majority of guests don't know about, but that can allow you to see more in one morning than everyone else can experience in their entire trip. Click here to find out more

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Disney Ticket Price Increase 2010

Clare Swindlehurst — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:03:29 +0000

It’s that time of year again when we suspect that Disney might be about to increase the price of a themepark ticket. For the past four years Disney has raised it’s ticket prices on the first Sunday in August, which in 2010 happens to be August 1st.

If you have a Disney World vacation booked then you should think seriously about buying your tickets today before the potential price increase tomorrow.

You can check out the latest ticket prices here:

Annual Passholders

If you are a Premium, Annual or Seasonal passholder and you renew before August 31, 2010 you will receive a pass for 15 months instead of 12 months. Don’t forget that you get a discount for renewing up to 30 days before or after your ticket’s expiration date.

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Make Your Disney World Vacation Affordable – 4 Tips for Saving Money

Clare Swindlehurst — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:04:37 +0000

If you’re dreaming of taking your kids to Disney World this year you might be wondering how you can make the vacation as affordable as possible. The good news is that if you know where to look there are a number of ways that you can save money on your Disney vacation.

1. Travel during value season

The easiest way to save money on your vacation is to visit during the value or off peak season. At certain times of the year Disney offers value rates at it’s Resort hotels offering considerable savings. The other bonus to travelling during these off peak seasons is that the crowds are lower meaning you can see and do more during your stay.

2. Stay offsite

Another alternative is to stay in a hotel in the surrounding area. Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista and International Drive are all within a few miles of the Disney World Resort and you can find rooms for less than $69 a night.

If there are more than three people in your party you might want to consider renting a private home in the Kissimmee area. You’ll have much more space without spending a lot more than you would for a hotel room, and with kitchen facilities you can save money on eating during your vacation. Many homes also come with private pools, perfect for cooling off after a day at the parks.

3. Use a Disney Vacation Planner

It is possible to seek out discounts on the Internet but one of the best ways to save money when booking your vacation is to use a Disney vacation planner like Whimsical World Travel. The Concierge team have access to the latest Disney World discounts and will help you book your vacation at no extra charge to you. Better still if a discount becomes available after you have booked your trip they can apply it to your booking and save you even more money!

4. Save money on your park tickets

Many people waste hundreds of dollars on their themepark tickets because they don’t take the time out to think about what they actually want to do on vacation. The ticket options can appear confusing at first but once you understand the pick and mix approach it is possible to tailor a ticket that suits your family’s plans without wasting your money.

There you have it, four ways you can save money and make your dream Disney World vacation more affordable.

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Disney Dining – 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Dining Reservations

Clare Swindlehurst — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:10:33 +0000

Disney World isn’t all about roller coasters, for some people one of the highlights of their vacation is the dining. There are more than 100 restaurants to choose from across the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and some of those restaurants offer world-class dining experiences. Here are three mistakes you should avoid to make sure that you and your family get to experience the best of Disney dining during your vacation.

1. Failing to make any reservations

Disney World is a popular vacation destination and therefore there are lots of mouths that need to be fed each and every day of the year. If you want to eat at any of the table-service restaurants then you need to make a reservation in advance.

Advanced Dining Reservations, or ADRs as they are affectionately known as, can (and must) be booked 180 days in advance. Yes, you read that right, you need to decide which restaurant you wish to eat at six months ahead of your trip!

If you don’t want to decide that far in advance what you’d like to eat on any given day then there are plenty of quick-service options for you to choose from, but you’ll be missing out on some of the best restaurant experiences.

2. Making too many reservations

Some guests go to the other end of the spectrum and book far too many reservations. They’ll have ADRs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and before they know it they’re touring the restaurants instead of touring the themeparks! You need to strike a balance, so make a list of the restaurants you really want to experience and make sure that they fit your plans, rather than making plans to fit in with your ADRs.

3. Picking the wrong dining plan

To make life easier for you Disney offers three dining plans, which can be added onto your Magic Your Way package and paid for in advance. The Quick-Service plan allows you to eat at quick-service restaurants, the Dining Plan is for use at table-service restaurants and the Deluxe Dining Plan offers the flexibility of quick and table-service options.

If you want to get the most out of the themeparks and experience as many attractions as possible then the Quick-Service plan is probably your best option. You’ll want to be able to grab a quick bite and not be tied down by table-service reservations.

If on the other hand you are there for the signature dining experiences then the Deluxe Dining Plan will be better suited to your party’s needs.

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Disney World Vacations: 5 Reasons Why You Should Stay in a Disney World Resort Hotel

Clare Swindlehurst — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:04:21 +0000

Once you have decided to take your family to Walt Disney World in Florida you then need to think about where you would like to stay. Hotel options in Orlando are endless but there are several reasons why you should consider staying in an on site, Disney World Resort hotel.

1. Experience the Disney magic

When the Imagineers built the Resort they didn’t put all of the magic into the themeparks alone, each Resort hotel is an experience in itself. Whether you want to be whisked off to a Polynesian Isle at the Polynesian Resort, experience the grandeur of Victorian Florida at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or watch animals roaming the savannas at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, no two hotels are the same, and they are unlike any hotel you’ll stay in anywhere else in the world.

2. It’s easy to get from A to B

As a Disney World guest you have access to the free Disney Transportation System to travel between the various hotels, themeparks, golf courses, water parks and the shopping village. Depending on your Resort hotel of choice you’ll have access to busses, boats and even the monorail system.

You don’t even need to worry about renting a car if you’re flying in for your vacation. Disney’s free Magical Express coach service will collect you and your luggage from the airport and transfer you to your Resort. Then when your vacation is over they’ll take you back again in time for your flight.

3. Get entry into the park before the gates open

Resort guests are able to take advantage of DIsney World’s Extra Magic Hours programme, which means on select days you can enter the parks one hour before the official opening, or stay for two or three hours after official closing. If you are travelling during off-peak season when the park opening hours are shorter this perk will allow you more time to experience your favourite attractions.

4. It’s great for teenage guests

If you are travelling with teenagers then staying on site will allow you to give them a little bit of freedom. Because the hotels are linked to the parks by the transportation system you don’t need to spend all of your time together as a family. The kids will be able to come and go as they please without relying on you and the car to ferry them around like they do back home.

5. It’s perfect for taking afternoon breaks

Touring the parks can be tiring, especially in the heat of the summer months. Staying in a Disney World hotel makes it really easy to leave the parks during the afternoon and return back to your room for a nap. You can also take advantage of the Resort pool to cool off and refresh before heading back out to the parks in the evening.

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Toy Story 3 Commercials

Clare Swindlehurst — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:46:18 +0000

We’re counting down the days to the movie release of Toy Story 3 on June 18, 2010 and Disney-Pixar are using social networking sites to build the buzz.

In addition to creating a Facebook app that allows you to book your Toy Story 3 tickets from inside Facebook they are also using YouTube to share some great 1980’s inspired commercials starring the new Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear character; Lotso.

Check this out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6dZtNYGlLM

The Toy Story movies have taken popular toys like Mr. Potato Head, Barbie and Speak-n-Spell and immortalized them as cartoon characters, but the on-screen characters like Woody, Buzz and Jessie are now popular children’s toys. I’ll place bets that Lotso the Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear is going to be on many a Christmas list this year so it’s really clever to build these 1980’s commercials around him!

P.S. Are you are planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida? Do you want to know where to find the secret entrances to the parks, how to spend time with your favourite characters without waiting in lines and how to see more attractions than most other guests ever do? Click here to grab your spot in the Magical Mastery program today and get all these answers and many more.

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Toy Story 3 Tickets now Available via Facebook

Clare Swindlehurst — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:33:59 +0000

If like me you’re waiting impatiently for the release of Toy Story 3 then you’ll be glad to hear that you can now book your tickets – via Facebook!

Disney have created a Facebook app so that you can book your tickets via the popular social networking site. Not only can you search for showings at your local theatre but you can also post on your wall to let your friends know which showing you selected, and if you want to you can invite them to come and watch it with you.

I think this idea could really take off – would you consider booking your tickets via Facebook?

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