As WDW nerds, we belong to a number of different WDW online communities. It’s fun being able to share experiences with other fans about the “Happiest Place on Earth”! It’s also a place where people come to ask the questions of the experts who frequent these groups. We really enjoying passing on our nuggets of wisdom to first time visitors!
There are certain questions that seem to pop up with relative regularity in this groups. We thought it would be fun to tackle some of these “frequency asked questions” in an article. Of course, many of these questions are asking for opinions, so it is certainly okay if you disagree. If you would answer them differently, feel free to leave us a comment and let us know what you think.
So without further ado, here is Buster and the Banshee’s WDW FAQ!
Vacation Basics
When is the best time to visit WDW?
This might make for a separate Disney 101 article, so we can go in more detail. But there are generally three factors that come into play: weather, crowd level, and personal availability. The best time to go is when the weather is moderate, when crowds are low, and when you can afford to take time away from work/school.
While the last item is highly variable, the first two or not. So what times of the year feature moderate weather and low crowds? Here are some ideas:
- November up through Thanksgiving week
- December up through Christmas / New Years week [plus you get to enjoy all of the Christmas decorations and events]
- End of January to Beginning of February (between MLK week and Presidents week)
- End of February to Beginning of March (between Presidents week and the start of spring breaks)
How many days should I go for?
As many as you can!!
Seriously, I would recommend at least five park days. That would give you one full day in each park with a fifth “flex” day to visit your favorite park twice. I would also factor in one rest day in the middle of your trip. Going more than three straight days to the parks is likely to be very taxing on your family.
So that means a minimum of six full days at WDW (five park days, one rest day). Then of course you need to factor in a travel day on each end of the trip… eight days total.
The good news is that you can easily fit all this into a typical single week of vacation time from work / school.
Of course, not everyone may be able to fit that many days into their budget, so feel free to “salt to taste”.
I only have one/two/three park day(s). Which park(s) should I go to?
If I only had one park day, I would go to the Magic Kingdom. It is the OG park that most people associate with Walt Disney World. It also has the most rides and attractions, including some iconic classics.
If you have two or three park days, then it becomes a matter of personal preference regarding which ones to skip.
What will the weather be like on my trip?
Meteorologists have trouble predicting the weather, so how are random people on the Internet going to fare any better? My suggestion is to check out the various websites that have historical temperature and precipitation trends and use that as a general guide. Barring that I’d go with the following:
April – October = HOT, November – March = NOT HOT
During the extended Florida summer, don’t be surprised if the forecast shows a chance of rain every day. That is normal. However, usually the rain will come and go relatively quickly, so I wouldn’t let it ruin your day. Just prepare for it with a poncho and a positive attitude!
Note that hurricane season goes from June 1st to November 1st, with mid-August through mid-October being the peak time. That doesn’t mean that you will encounter a hurricane if you visit during that time, but it is certainly a possibility.
How old should my kids be?
This is a very personal decision. Obviously, if they are really young, they aren’t going to remember the trip. In that case, the trip is more for the memories that the parents going to make with their youngster. However, if they are too old, it might not have the same level of “magic” for them. But on the flip side, they might be able to experience more of the thrill rides, as they will have met the height requirements.
Finally, you have to consider cost. Children under 3 are free. They don’t need a ticket of their own. And children ages 3 to 9 pay the “kids” prices for tickets, dining, etc. So there is some financial incentive to not waiting until they are 10.
If this is a “once in a lifetime” trip, I would make sure that they are old enough to remember it. And I would make sure they are old / tall enough to be able to experience most of the rides. Probably somewhere in the age 7 to 9 range may make sense. However, if you are a WDW frequent traveller, feel free to take them multiple times as they progress through different stages. Each trip will be a different experience.
Park Tickets
Where is the best place to buy park tickets?
Personally, I don’t mess around. I just buy them directly from Walt Disney World. However, some people have had good luck using a reputable third party reseller. Some third parties may offer a discount, but make sure it is one that is well regarded first. You don’t want to get ripped off!
However, if you are in the military, you should absolutely take advantage of the ticket discounts that are available to you.
Does Disney ever discount tickets?
Over the last few years, Disney has offered some discounted ticket deals with restrictions. This year, you were able to by a four day ticket for $99/day. However, you could only visit each park once when using the ticket.
Whether Disney will repeat this deal next year is anyone’s guess. I suppose it depends on supply and demand.
Should I get a Park Hopper ticket?
For someone on their first and only trip, I would definitely recommend against it. Those families will want to maximize their time IN the parks, and if you park hop, you lose valuable park time.
If you are a frequent visitor, then you might want to consider it if you think you might utilize this benefit. It does give you some extra flexibility to change up your plans.
The only other time I might consider it is if you had a short visit, but you want to see all the parks. You can use the park hopping feature to combine visits to two parks in one day.
Should I get a Water Parks and More ticket?
If you plan to visit a water park more than once on a trip, the math says that it is worthwhile to add this option to your ticket.
Should I get an Annual Pass?
I did a separate article on the economics of getting an Annual Pass. Generally, it is only worthwhile if you plan on making at least two visits of longer than 5-6 park days within a single 365 day period. However, you should price out your tickets to see if an AP would be cheaper.
Dining
What are the best places to eat?
Honestly, I usually don’t answer this question when someone asks it. It is so dependent on one’s budget and personal tastes. Therefore, without any further information, it is likely that my preferences won’t match the person asking the question. I mean, our family LOVES Morimoto Asia, but we love Asian food, and we don’t mind a nice splurge for a good meal. However, someone on a budget who hates Asian food might be disappointed if they listen to this recommendation.
When can I book my dining reservations?
If you are staying at an on property Disney resort, you can book dining reservations for the entire length of your stay (up to 10 days) starting 60 days from your check-in date.
Otherwise, you can book 60 days from the day you want to dine.
You can start booking “no earlier than” 6am Eastern Time on the day your reservation window opens. However, sometimes Disney does not load up their system with availability right away (see next question).
I tried to book X 60 days in advance right at 6am, but there are no reservations available. Why not?
There are two possibilities. If it is a super popular restaurant (Space 220, Cinderella’s Royal Table, etc), it could actually be booked up. As mentioned above, on property guests can start booking 60 days before their check in date for their entire trip (up to 10 days). This means that it is possible that these on property guests have already booked up that restaurant before your window opened.
The other possibility is that Disney hasn’t loaded availability into the system for that restaurant. Sometimes they load them up a few hours later. Just keep checking back, particularly if it isn’t a super popular restaurant.
I need to make a reservation for X people but there are no reservations available for a party of our size. What can I do?
Try splitting up your party and booking them separately. For instance, if you have a party of 12, have two people book a reservation for six each. Then on the day of your reservation, show up early and explain that you have two reservations but want to sit together. While it Is isn’t 100% guaranteed, they will usually try to accommodate you.
What if I need to cancel?
See here for Disney’s dining cancellation policy. Most restaurants allow you to cancel up to two hours in advance of your reservation without penalty.
How late can I show up to my reservation?
Usually, restaurants will hold your table up to 15 minutes beyond your reservation time before releasing it to another guest. And please don’t give Cast Members a hard time if they gave away your table because you are late. Empty tables cost the staff in tips.
Is the Dining Plan worth it?
I did a separate article on this topic, but generally the Dining Plan is a good deal if you:
- Take advantage of the fact that you can get an alcoholic beverage with each meal
- Use Table Service credits at one-credit character meals
- Eat the more expensive snack items
However, one needs to do the math for themselves based upon their own potential dining choices.
Entering the Parks
What am I allowed to bring into the Parks with me?
Check out this link on the WDW website.
Can I bring this model of stroller?
As long as isn’t bigger than the maximum size of 31″ wide and 52″ long.
Can I bring a stroller wagon into the Park?
No, stroller wagons are NOT allowed.
Now some people will chime in and say “but I was just there last week and I saw a TON of stroller wagons!” They do allow LIMITED exceptions for medical purposes, like if a stroller wagon is needed to carry medical equipment for the child that cannot be accommodated by a regular stroller.
Can I bring in my own food / drink / snacks?
Yes you can, and I highly encourage this, as it is a great money saving tip. However, be aware that there are a handful of small restrictions
- You can bring in a cooler, but it needs to be smaller than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high
- You cannot bring in loose or dry ice. However, bagged ice and ice packs are allowed
- You cannot bring in glass containers, other than baby food jars
- You cannot bring in alcoholic beverages
Why do I always get selected for a bag check when I enter the Parks?
Before you enter the parks, all guests must pass through a metal detector scan. If anything shows up that looks “suspicious” on the scan, that guest is required to have their bag checked by hand. That obviously slows down the process of entering the park, especially in the morning when a lot of people need to be checked. Therefore, it makes sense to avoid that process!
I have noticed that the two items that seem to set off the metal detector the most consistently are umbrellas and portable batteries. One tip is to remove them from your bag and hold them out in front of yourself as you pass through the metal detector. This allows security to see what is actually setting off the detector, so you won’t get flagged for a bag check. While it isn’t 100% foolproof, it seems to work most of the time.
What is “Rope Drop”?
“Rope Drop” is a fan created term for when the park opens for guests. Historically, Cast Members would sometimes stretch out a rope across the entrance to keep guests from entering. Then when the park was opened for business, they would drop the rope to allow guests to enter.
Some fans use the term to refer to “Early Entry”, when Disney resort guests are allowed to enter. Other use it to signify when the park opens for all guests. Still others use it to refer to both events!
When should I arrive in order to be near the front of the crowd for “Rope Drop”?
As early as possible 🙂
I would generally recommend arriving 60-90 minutes before your entry time. If you are staying on property, find out when Disney transportation starts running and plan to be on the first bus, boat, monorail, Skyliner, etc.
I heard that it is better to enter through the International Gateway entrance (the “back entrance”) at EPCOT. But how do I get there?
If you are staying at one the Crescent Lake resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin), you can either walk or take a boat to the International Gateway entrance.
If you are staying at a Skyliner resort (Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation), you can ride the Skyliner to the International Gateway entrance.
For guests at other resorts, you will have to be creative! The best way is to travel to Hollywood Studios and then either take the Skyliner, boat, or walk to the International Gateway entrance. However, I would recommend walking or a boat. If you try to take the Skyliner from HS, you’ll have to transfer at the Caribbean Beach station, which could delay your travel time as you will be contending with the crowds here.
The one thing you cannot do is drive. There is no place to park near the International Gateway entrance, other than at the Crescent Lake resorts. And the guards will turn you away unless you are a resort guest or have a confirmed dining reservation. And even in the latter case, you can only park for three hours.
They will even turn you away if you are traveling in an Uber. They don’t want to encourage a line of Uber drivers coming into the resorts in the morning!
Wrap Up
I still have so many more FAQ’s that I figured it would be best to split this into multiple articles. Hopefully it helped lay the groundwork for some basic WDW knowledge for you!
If you would answer any of these questions differently, leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
AD: We hope you enjoyed this post. If you are coming to Central Florida and need a place to stay, please consider the Encore Magic Villa. It sleeps up to 12 and features a game room, theater room, themed bedrooms, and private pool… located within a short drive of the Magic!
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