Archive for the ‘Disney World’ Category

March 26th, 2009

Disney Character Meals

We all have our favorite Disney characters. Wouldn’t it be a thrill to meet them? Well, Disney makes this all possible with their character themed meals. These meals will provide an experience that will last a lifetime for both you and your family. The Disney characters are more easily accessible at character meals as opposed to trying to get to them when they are in the parks. In the parks, the lines can stack up quickly and you may not have the time or energy to wait your turn.

Disney has made their character based meals available throughout the day. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Although, the character themed dining has its benefits, it is more pricey than the other dining options within Disney World.

Character meals vary by type and cuisine. Breakfasts are normally a buffet and dinners deviate from set menu to open menu to buffet. Be sure to check schedules for the characters before booking a meal. Character meals can book quickly. For some characters, you may need to book six months in advance, especially for popular ones. So, make sure that you call plenty in advance.

Characters make their way to all the tables while you are dining. They will take the time to pose for photographs and sign autographs with you and your family. Be sure to have your camera and pens ready!

January 5th, 2009

Orlando Hotel Amenities…What’s New?

If you are looking to vacation at the home of the “mouse” in 2009…you may want ot know what to expect when picking your hotel. Accommodations are plentiful…that is an understatement…they are every where. Inside Disney World, you will find right at 50,000 hotel accommodations from economy to over the top luxurious. Outside the gates, there are plenty to choose from as well. Every hotel flag is represented and at sometimes you may find it a bit difficult to find exactly what you are looking for at the rate you desire to pay.  This primer sets forth a few prooven suggestions as you look for the best place for your family to stay on their Disney trip.

  1. Don’t fret what you want is out there….it may take a few minutes to find it, but if you are diligent you will be successful. Stay on the internet and do your research.
  2. Sometimes hotels are not always the best answer to your lodging needs. Today with the advent of over 30,000 condos, town homes, and private pool homes for rent, many a visitor is finding their needs met in unconventional ways and at rates that are truly unbelievable.
  3. Amenities are the watchword. Some hotels offer FREE microwave and refrigerator in their rooms. Others offer 42” plasma televisions and still others provide free scheduled shuttle service not only to Disney World but also Universal and SeaWorld. The best way to determine what works for you and your family is to write as many things you desire on your wish list. Then prioritize that list such that you know what is a must have to gain your business.
  4. Determine a rate band so that you won’t go over your budget.
  5. Return to the internet and begin your searching. Since you have discovered this site, you will want to view all the properties that make this site so unique. They all offer their first class establishments at nightly rates not found in the Disney World market.
  6. When looking at properties pay particular attention to the age of the business. Cameras can do some mighty powerful things to older hotels…don’t be fooled…check it out.
  7. It is understood that 43% of all visitors to Orlando and Disney World select their hotel by it’s proximity to the parks. If you can’t find the answer as to the location online, pick up the phone and call the hotel direct….most have a toll free 800 number.
  8. If you are looking for attraction tickets to any of the popular parks, you will find such so at discounts on many web sites. Our web site here has a list of attractive ticket packages available to you at wholesale prices.
  9. FREE airport shuttle is not a service you are going to find  at most hotels. Why? The airport is located some 42 minutes by car from Disney World. It is just to far to provide such a service for FREE.
  10. Finally be aware of what looks to be a low price when it is figured on the number of people sharing the room….many a time this is a come on to get you to spend even more money than you would desire.

These ten suggestions should assist you in establishing your game plan for your upcoming Disney World vacation. We wish you a fabulous time and hope you enjoy picking amongst the multiple Orlando hotel selections.

December 22nd, 2008

Choosing Orlando Hotels

There are a countless number of Orlando hotels near the Disney theme park area which can make picking a place to stay during a vacation that much more challenging. Visitors can stay at the most elegant resorts or can find a room that costs next to nothing and is likely worth the same. The largest decision for most people visiting our neck of the woods in Florida is whether to stay inside the Disney theme park or at a place outside the official gates.

Certain guests enjoy the full Disney experience and want to ensure their hotel is also inside the theme park. After all the time it takes to make it to Orlando hotels it is important to keep in mind it meets all your expectations. Therefore we attempt to keep as many resorts available as possible inside Disney World. Be forewarned that it usually costs more when staying in theme parks. Such is true of the Maingate West Resort Hotel at Disney World. Some guests find this worth the expense, while others rather save a few hundred dollars. However, for those looking for the full Walt Disney World experience there is no other way to travel here.

Other visitors prefer to stay at Orlando hotels just outside the main gates of Disney World or rather stay at a property closer to the Universal theme park. Such guests might want to consider a few of the vacation homes available, as it is often only slightly cheaper to reserve a hotel room.  The Encantada Resort is one such complex with brand new town homes located in Kissimmee, the actual city of Disney World.

The best part of choosing amongst the many Orlando hotels near Disney World is that for the most part visitors can’t go wrong. The caveat to that is of course first making certain that your bookings are going through a reputable website. We also suggest looking at plenty of pictures of the hotel or home before making any decision. If you have any other suggestions on picking a place to stay in Orlando please feel free to add them in the comments section below.

September 23rd, 2008

Packing for Disney World

Before heading out on your Orlando Florida vacation for tons of family fun; here are a few tips and tricks on packing sensibly and cutting a few financial corners.

If you are flying into Orlando Florida always pack an emergency bag that you can carry with you onto the plane. The emergency bag should include a bathing suit, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, clean undergarments, a brush, t-shirt and a pair of shorts for each family member. Be sure that the toothpaste is within airport security standards or it might get confiscated. This will really save you should your luggage get lost. Nothing starts a vacation off the wrong way such as getting to your destination and having your luggage lost; preventing you from swimming in the pool, brushing your teeth or changing into clean clothes. You won’t have to spend additional money to get you by until your luggage is found and delivered to you.

It is always a good idea to put your shampoo, conditioner and lotions into a gallon sized Ziplock bag to keep them from leaking onto your clothes in the suitcase. The change in air pressure often times makes these items leak. This will also help in cutting down on how many suitcases are packed, enabling you to pack your liquid items in with your clothes. Many airlines are charging extra for additional baggage that is checked. Most hotels provide hair dryers, so these are best left at home and will help conserve space during your packing.

Even though Orlando Florida is warm and sunny, it is always good to pack a pair of long pants and a sweatshirt or sweater. An unexpected rain or heavily air conditioned restaurant will make you glad you remembered a few articles of warmer clothing. Check with your hotel to see if they have washers and dryers on the premises. This will greatly reduce how much you have to pack if you can do a load of laundry in the middle of your vacation and get by with packing half the amount of clothes.

Buying anything in an airport is going to cost more. You can’t bring liquids past the security check point, but you can bring snacks. Stop and load up on snacks the night before your flight. There are a variety of individual powdered drink packets that can be used to turn an ordinary bottle of water into a fruit drink. These are helpful in saving a bit and keep children who want more than water satisfied. Drinks and snacks in any of the theme parks in Orland Florida are high priced as well. Buying snacks and water before entering the park can really help save some money.

You want your vacation to Orlando Florida to be a success and following a few of these tips will hopefully help you pack lighter and save a bit of money.

August 23rd, 2008

The Night before Your Disney Vacation

Sometimes the evening before your trip to Disney World in Orlando feels the same as Christmas Eve. This is true regardless of age. There is oftentimes a large amount of anticipation leading up to the night before it is time to depart on your vacation to see Mickey and all of his friends. After all, you are about to experience a theme park that people travel from all across the world to visit. Do not feel bad if you have trouble sleeping the night beforehand. It is a common occurrence for many of our guests as they dream of their upcoming adventure.

While visions of Sugar plum fairies might not be rushing through your head the night before it is time to hop on a plane, it is not surprising to envision the Magic Kingdom. A spectacular vision waits to all who visit this wondrous place. Do not forget to stay for the parade that takes place after the light filled skyline above the castle. It is but one more evening away before you can witness firsthand the incredible lightshow that takes place above this enchanted palace.

Please do find some time to sleep before your vacation to Orlando. There are such a large number of activities; it is a shame when someone ends up sleeping in their hotel room the next day simply because they experienced difficulty sleeping the night before. Fortunately all that is required is a little relaxation beforehand. Soon enough you will experience the vacation of a lifetime in Disney World.