So you've decided it's time to take the family to Walt Disney World. Where do you even start? 

What is amazing about a Walt Disney World package is that it can be customized to your needs. There are three main elements that are part of a Walt Disney World vacation package; resort room, theme park tickets and dining plan. As a Disney guest you can pick and choose what elements will suit your family best. 

​​Let’s look at the individual elements that you can combine to create your
BEST DISNEY VACATION EVER!! 

Base Disney Theme Park Admission Tickets
​(Admission to 1 Park Per Day)
These tickets will grant you access to 1 of the 4 Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT) for each day purchased. 
 You will have in and out privileges to the same park the whole day!

Park Hopper Theme Park Admission Tickets
(Added Option to Base Tickets) 
If you upgrade to the park hopper tickets, you can move between all 4 of the Disney theme parks in the same day. 

Park Hopper Plus Theme Park Admission Tickets
(Upgrade Option to Park Hopper Option)
​With the park hopper plus option not only do you get same-day admission to all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks, you also get admission to Disney’s water parks and other fun Disney attractions for the number of visits equal to the length of your ticket. So, if you include 4-day park hopper plus tickets in your Disney Vacation Package, then you are entitled to four visits to any of the following Disney attractions: 


• Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

•  ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
- Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course

•  Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course 


​
There are three options of dining plans at Walt Disney World.
​
Quick Service Dining Plan
Includes 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks per person/per night of your stay
*includes1 refillable resort mug for your length of stay for guests ages 3 and over
​
Disney Dining Plan
Includes 1 quick service meal, 1 table service meal and 2 snacks per person/per night of your stay.
*includes 1 refillable resort mug for your length of stay for guests ages 3 and over

Deluxe Dining Plan
Includes 3 meals (any combination of quick service and table service meals) and 2 snacks per person/per night of your stay
*includes 1 refillable resort mug for your length of stay for guests ages 3 and over

Important Notes:
​If you are keen on experiencing any of Disney World’s amazing signature dining restaurants or character dining experiences, you will need a dining plan with table service credits.

When available, children 3-9 must order from the children's menu.

New for 2018! 
New Beverage options are available for 2018. Guests 21 and over can now enjoy beer, wine and cocktails, and guests under 21 can enjoy a non-alcoholic specialty beverage included in Quick Service & Table Service Dining Plans.

Another item you can add to your Disney World Vacation Package is Disney’s Memory Maker. 

Capture all those amazing moments at the park, special events and dining experiences. Memory Maker also allows you to take those candid shots available on select attractions like Frozen Ever After and Splash Mountain!

Did you know that you can reserve your entire Walt Disney World Vacation Package with just a $200 USD fully refundable deposit? Your Disney Vacation Specialist can continue to make changes to your booking as needed. You can modify your package dates, resort choice and even ticket options and there is no change  fee up until final payment. After final payment, which is due 30 days prior to your arrival date, you can still upgrade your package with no additional fees!
​
Your travel agent can also apply any eligible new promotions to your package after you have booked, provided there is a discount inventory available for your travel dates and resorts. 

Disney does make it so easy to build a vacation that’s just perfect for your family! There is no reason to wait to start making magical memories!
​

​Fastpasses are the key to avoiding long lines when vacationing at Walt Disney World. Whether you’re a Disney pro who had the paper FastPass system down pat, a first-time guest feeling a little overwhelmed, or anyone in between, you might be wondering about the best ways to take advantage of Disney’s FastPass+. Unlike other theme parks, Walt Disney World provides the FastPass+ service for free to all guests! That said, taking a little extra time to plan means you can avoid some of the longest lines, even on busy days in the parks! Check out our best tips for making the most of FastPass+ during your magical vacation!

Tip #1 -  Prioritize!
 
You can read all the articles and strategies in the world telling you which rides or attractions to secure FastPass+ for, but none of that means anything if you’re not taking your family’s needs into account! There’s a great benefit to snagging a FastPass+ for Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios but if your family aren’t thrill-seekers and would prefer something a little less intense that FastPass+ won’t do you any good! Figure out which rides and attractions you’re actually interested in and then pick which of those will have the longest lines to avoid! Saving yourself a 60-minute wait is better than saving yourself a 30-minute wait - but only if you were planning to wait for the first ride anyways!
 
On trips with my sister I’d never waste a FastPass+ on Tower of Terror - she won’t want to ride it anyways so we’re better off skipping the line on something else!

Tip #2 -  Book Early!
 
And I don’t mean book well in advance of your trip - though that is definitely helpful too! While there are some FastPass+ options that are difficult to snag without booking right at the 60-day mark, most of the time you can get some great FastPasses much closer to your trip! What’s even more important is selecting your three FastPasses for time slots as early as possible in your park day!
 
Why? You’re allowed to book as many FastPasses each day as you want until they run out - but only one at a time and only once you’ve used up your first three! The earlier in the day that you do that the more rides and attractions you’ll be able to use FastPass+ on throughout the day which means less time spent waiting in line.
 
If you plan to be at the park as soon as it opens try to time your last FastPass+ booking to be ending by three hours past that, or as close to that as you can. As soon as you’ve used your first three bookings (even if the last window isn’t over yet), you can move on to the next tip…

Tip #3 -  Make More Fastpasses! 
 
Once you’ve used your three pre-booked FastPasses, you can use the My Disney Experience app on your phone or a kiosk in the park to make another one! If it’s still pretty early in the day you should have lots of options.

You can pick the ride with a long line you want to avoid, or choose the FastPass+ that starts the soonest if you’re not as picky about which rides you ride and you’ll get to make even more! And you know what? There’s no limit! You can keep doing this all day long!

Tip #4 -  Make the Best of Line Time!
 
The lines for rides in Walt Disney World are actually super cool, but could the time spent in line be put to better use? No one wants to spend their Disney vacation on their phone - your family is there to have a great time and make memories together! So when are you supposed to make these extra FastPasses? Even with FastPass+ you’re probably going to spend a couple minutes waiting in line for rides. Did you know you can make your next FastPass+ on the app as soon as you’ve scanned your Magic Band for the last one? That means you can hop on your phone while in line for one ride to make a FastPass+ for the next one!

Tip #5 -  Never Give Up!
 
So you’ve got the system down and you’re FastPassing rides left, right, and centre! That’s awesome! But there’s that one ride you just can’t snag a FastPass+ for, they’re all out! Is this a once they’re gone, they’re gone situation? Or is there still hope?
 
There might be! Firstly, people change their plans all the time - so keep checking while you’re waiting in line or for a show to start, you never know what might open up! Next, smaller party sizes can help with this. Are there six people in your family but only two who want to ride Star Tours? Try looking for a FastPass+ for only those two! You increase your chances and the other four of you can do something fun you’ll enjoy while your Padawan relatives take a quick trip across the galaxy!
 
So there you go! You’re educated and ready to make the most out of FastPass+ which will give you even more time to make some magical memories with your family! You did it!

​By Melissa - [email protected]

1. Access to the parks
There is nothing better than waking up to the sound of the Incredible Hulk Coaster roaring to life outside your window. Staying at any of the Universal Onsite Resorts gives you quick and easy access to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. With walking paths from every resort, convenient water taxi access, and the option to take a bus from Cabana Bay, you can be out the door and onto that roller coaster in just a few minutes.
 
2. Access to CityWalk
One of the best things about Universal Orlando Resort is how close everything is. In addition to being right next to the theme parks, you are also within walking distance of City Walk, Universal’s top spot for all things dining, shopping, and entertainment. With exceptional restaurants like The Cowfish, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, the world’s largest Hard Rock Café, and the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, there is something for every palette. CityWalk comes alive at night, with two themed mini golf courses, a movie theatre, and a wide variety of nightlife. Your day definitely doesn’t have to end when the parks close! 
 
3. Express Pass
When you stay at Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay or the Hard Rock Hotel, you get Universal’s Express Pass included for every night of your stay. This pass allows you to skip the regular lines on most of the attractions at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The best part? It’s unlimited. If you are trying to max out your score on Men in Black, no problem, you can ride 10 time in a row if you want, all in the fraction of the time you would spend waiting in the stand-by line. Just show your pass at any of the participating attractions, and maximize your time in the parks.
 
4. Early Park Admission
With so much to do and see at both of Universal’s theme parks, I like to make sure I’m at the gates as the park opens. If I can get in to the parks before they open to the public, even better! Staying at any of the Universal Resort Hotels gives you access to certain sections of the park before they open, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is a huge bonus, especially since both of the big Harry Potter attractions don’t take Express Pass. Get there early, walk onto Forbidden Journey, then have breakfast at the Three Broomsticks!

5. Room Variety 
Universal Orlando’s onsite hotels offer something for everyone. With 5 hotels in three resort categories, the variety available ensures that every family is able to stay in a room that works for them. Portofino Bay  has the largest rooms of all the resorts, with standard rooms measuring at a minimum of 450 square feet, while Cabana Bay is big on theming, without breaking the bank. With luxury suite options and Club Level rooms available, there’s no limit the luxury you can experience.
 
6. Priority Seating at Restaurants 
If you choose to stay at one of Universal’s deluxe resorts, you will get priority access to seating at many of the restaurants at CityWalk. Just show your room key to the host or hostess at the entrance to the restaurant, and your wait time will be significantly less, if you have any at all. Each restaurant has their own specific procedures for this perk, but you will be sipping on that Toothsome milkshake much faster than if you wait in the usual line.
 
7. Complimentary Merchandise Delivery
There is one thing that is a guarantee for every Harry Potter fan visiting Universal Orlando: you will want to buy everything. From wands and owls, to robes and Marauder’s Maps, the merchandise in the Wizarding World is incredible, and that’s before I even get to the rest of the parks! If you are staying onsite, you won’t have to worry about carrying your purchases around the park all day. You can send that bag full of chocolate frogs right back to your resort.
 
8. Pool Hopping
The pools at all of the Universal hotels are amazing, and the best part is, pool hopping is actually encouraged. Staying at Sapphire Falls but want to experience some underwater tunes for the day? Hop over to the Hard Rock pool for a dip. The theming and detail of all the pools is fantastic, and it’s even better knowing that you can experience all of them.
 
9. Golf Orlando Program
For those of you who plan on hitting the links while on your vacation, staying onsite at Universal gives you access to the Golf Orlando Program. Foursomes will receive complimentary transportation to the Grand Cyprus Golf Club and the Windermere Country Club, as well as free club rentals and range balls. 
 
10. Theming
The theming at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is out of this world, and that extends to all of the resorts at Universal Orlando. Whether you want the retro vibe of Cabana Bay, the Italian romance of Portofino Bay, or the Caribbean paradise of Sapphire Falls, you will be immersed in fantastic theming from when you wake up in the morning, to while you “Ride the Movies” at two fabulous theme parks, all the way until your head hits the pillow at night.

For more information on Universal Orlando Resort, conact Giselle at [email protected] !
 
​