Tag: Disney Resort

Disney News, Disney Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World

This Summer is the Perfect Time to Visit Walt Disney World! ✨

Taylor Jacey

Are you ready to experience the magic of Walt Disney World like never before? This summer is the perfect time to embark on an unforgettable adventure, and here’s why:

Incredible Summer Discounts

Walt Disney World has summer discounts that make this season the most cost-effective time to visit. From discounted park tickets to special offers on accommodations, there’s no better time to book your trip.

A New, Exciting Attraction 

Walt Disney World is unveiling an incredible new attraction on June 28th, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! Step into enchanting New Orleans with Princess Tiana and Louis the Alligator on a musical journey through the bayou, filled with vibrant sights, jazzy tunes, and a heartwarming story.

Extended Summer Hours

Enjoy more magic with extended park hours, giving you extra time to explore and enjoy your favorite rides and attractions. With longer days, you can make the most out of your visit and soak in every magical moment.

Special Events

From dazzling fireworks displays to exclusive events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party beginning August 9th and Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival beginning August 29th the parks are brimming with seasonal festivities that you won’t want to miss.

Jump In!

The magic is calling, and this summer promises to be one of the most exciting times to visit Walt Disney World. Whether it’s your first visit or a cherished tradition, the new experiences, extended hours, and special events make this season the ideal time to create lasting memories.

Ready to start planning your magical summer getaway? Send me an email or fill out the form below. I’m here to help make your Disney dreams come true!

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Disney News, Disney Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World

2024 Walt Disney World Packages are available to book starting May 31st!

Taylor Jacey

Bookings for 2024 Walt Disney World Resort hotel stays and packages will launch on May 31st. There are exciting updates for 2024 vacations! 

Removing theme park reservation requirements for date-based tickets

Starting with park visits on Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. You heard that right! When getting a ticket, simply select a start date for Jan. 9, 2024 or later, complete the purchase and you will be all set! For reference, date-based tickets are the standard ticket option we offer to guests. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to help us continue managing attendance and delivering a great experience for everyone. Guests can check which admission types require park reservations by visiting DisneyWorld.com/ThemeParkReservations.

Fan-favorite Disney dining plans return

Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package with us starting with stays beginning Jan. 9, 2024. The dining plans are pre-paid and offer added convenience and peace of mind to Walt Disney World Resort vacations. There will be two options: the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan.  Both will be a great value with access to many spectacular food and beverage offerings across Walt Disney World

Extended park time to Disney Resort hotel guests

For those planning to stay at a Disney Resort hotel, the popular early theme park entry will continue for visits through 2024. This great benefit gives Guests a jump start on their day. For those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas, extended evening hours on select dates at select parks will continue through 2024. Early theme park entry and extended evening hours require valid theme park admission and Resort ID.

Simplifying the Disney Genie+ experience

While we don’t have specifics to share yet, guests will have a way to plan with Disney Genie+ before the day of their park visit. This means less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family. 

How do we get started and what can you expect!?

  1. Reach out to me!​ Fill out the quote request form below or request more information
  2. Let’s chat! I want to understand and discuss what makes the most sense for your Magical Vacation​
  3. Package review! We’ll take a look at different resort options, tickets, dining and other magical extras to make your vacation complete.
  4. Get that package reserved! A $200 deposit is all you need to start planning your vacation!
  5. Relax, Enjoy…and check your email!​​ You’ve got an expert helping you plan your vacation!
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Disney News, Disney Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World

2023 Walt Disney World Packages are available to book starting June 8th!

Taylor Jacey

Experience the Magic of Walt Disney World with a Vacation Package!

There is no denying – booking and planning a Disney vacation is complex! But that’s where I come in, I’m here to assist you with every step of the vacation planning process from finding the perfect resort to sharing tips and tricks before you leave to help you make the most of your personalized vacation!

How do we get started and what can you expect?

  1. Reach out to me!​ Fill out the quote request form below or request more information
  2. Let’s chat! I want to understand and discuss what makes the most sense for your Magical Vacation​
  3. Package review! We’ll take a look at different resort options, tickets, dining and other magical extras to make your vacation complete.
  4. Get that package reserved! A $200 deposit is all you need to start planning your vacation!
  5. Relax, Enjoy…and check your email!​​ You’ve got an expert helping you plan your vacation!
REquest a quote
Disney Vacation Planning, Resorts, Walt Disney World

Art of Animation Resort

Taylor Jacey

Art of Animation Resort is all about its namesake, animation! When you walk in the lobby in Animation Hall you are greeted with wall of color on one side and Disney animation drawings on the other. If you continue through the lobby you will pass through the Ink and Paint Shop where you can get all your Walt Disney World merchandise.

Keep moving forward and your next stop will be the resorts quick service restaurant Landscape of Flavors. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Landscape of flavors has 4 unique cooking stations with rotating international favorites as well as mongolian barbeque, burgers, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, fresh smoothies and gelato.

I had some gelato on my last trip to Landscape of Flavor and it was absolutely to die for! So delicious!!

After you check out everything Animation Hall has to offer, you will walk out the side door past the arcade and the Finding Nemo area of the resort will be in front of you. The Finding Nemo area of the resort greets you with the Big Blue Pool which features your favorite disney songs playing underwater!

Look just to the right of The Big Blue Pool and you will find The Drop Off Pool Bar, a full-service bar for adults to grab a cocktail.

Keeping walking past the Big Blue pool and you will find Schoolyard Sprayground. A big hit with the little ones, Schoolyard Sprayground, a Finding Nemo themed splash zones features pop-up jets and gushing water.

Just past Schoolyard Sprawyground is The Righteous Reef Playground which leads to the walking/jogging trail that surrounds Hourglass Lake, as well as the bridge to Pop Century resort.

If you had walked to the right after heading out of Animation Hall instead of moving forward towards the Finding Nemo area, you will enter Cars themed area of the resort with a sign welcoming you to Radiator Springs.

Radiator Springs features 3 buildings of family suite rooms as well as the Cozy Cone pool area. Much more relaxed than the Big Blue pool, the Cozy Cone pool features cone-shaped cabanas around the Cozy Cone Motel swimming pool inspired by the hit movie Cars.

If you had walked to the left after heading out of Animation Hall, you will be created by Rafiki  entering the Lion King area of the resort. This area of the resort features 2 building of family suite rooms and the Elephant Graveyard.

Continue walking through the Lion King area of the resort and you will get to the Little Mermaid area of the resort. With 3 building of regular hotel style rooms, the Little mermaid area of the resort features the Flippin’ Fins pool with an Under the Sea Orchestra conducted by Sebastian.

This resort is a fantastic choice for anyone needing a little extra space with the family suites. It also provides a truly larger than life movie feel if you have a favorite movie that matches the theme of one of the resort areas.

Let’s not forget- Art of Animation Resort is on the Disney Skyliner- check out my post about Disney Transportation for more information on the Skyliner!

Is Art of Animation the perfect resort for your family? Reach out to me to learn more about a Walt Disney World Vacation!

Disney Vacation Planning, Traveling with Small Children, Walt Disney World

Getting Around Walt Disney World

Taylor Jacey

Planes, trains and automobiles…well something like that! Transportation at Disney comes in many shapes and forms starting from your arrival at Orlando MCO if you’ve decided to fly!

If you have decided to fly, no need to worry about the hassle of renting a car – if you’re staying in a Walt Disney World Resort you can hop on the Magical Express, a complimentary service to take you from MCO to your resort and then back to the airport at the end of your stay.

When you arrive at MCO follow the posted signs to the Magical Express area and get checked in with your MagicBand. You will then be guided to your Magical Express coach bus and off into the world of magic you go!

Magical Express Bus at Orlando MCO Airport

Now that you’ve entered Walt Disney World – it’s time to figure out how to get to each of the parks and Disney Springs! You’ll have a couple of options, some of which are dependant on which resort you’re staying in.

Welcome to Monorail Green

The iconic Disney transportation of course is Disney’s Monorail. This runs in a loop around the Magic Kingdom as well as over to Epcot. You can board the monorail from the Ticket and Transportation Center near Magic Kingdom to go directly to either Epcot or the Magic Kingdom. If you are staying in a monorail resort- Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort- you will also be able to get to Magic Kingdom from the resort loop or switch over to the Epcot monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

The newest mode of Disney transportation takes you high in the sky on the Disney Skyliner. The Skyliner connects 4 Disney Resorts – Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort- to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Depending on where you board the Skyliner you may go directly to Epcot, Hollywood Studios or have to pass through a transfer station at one of the resorts. If you’re going to Epcot, the Skyliner will take you to the World Showcase Entrance between the France and U.K. Pavilions which can be perfect for a breakfast stop at Les Halles Bakery!

Skyliner boarding at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

With its abundance of water, you can also find boat transportation all over Walt Disney World! Some of the resorts have their own boats to take you directly to the parks and some share among a few resorts. You can also take a Ferry boat from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Magic Kingdom.

Friendship Boat Launch at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort

Epcot & Hollywood Studio Resort Area

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort share the Friendship boats to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Magic Kingdom Resort Area

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness have their own boat launch to take you directly to the Magic Kingdom

Disney Springs Resort Area

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (Riverside & French Quarter) and Disney’s Old Key West Resort have a boat launch to Disney Springs

Newer bus with a themed wrap on it!

We cannot forget the “get to all the places from anywhere” mode of transportation in Walt Disney World- the buses! If your Disney Resort doesn’t offer any of the other transportation options, you will be able to take a Bus to any of the theme parks and Disney Springs. This is also true if your resort has say the monorail to Epcot and Magic Kingdom but no direct route to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

While this mode of Disney Transportation is not complimentary like the ones above, I’d be remiss not to mention Minnie Vans! Minnie Vans are available for transportation anywhere on Walt Disney World property for a fee through the Lyft app.

They are just as cute as they look and similar to Lyft you will be assigned a driver to take you wherever you want to go. Minnie Van’s can seat up to 6 and are equipped with up to 3 car seats so there’s no need to worry about the little ones. Safety always comes first at Walt Disney World so when you order a Minnie Van, it is a Disney Cast Member who is driving you. They always know where they’re going and will usually share fun facts or tips during your ride.

Minnie Van ready to pick guests up at Magic Kingdom

With so many different ways to get around Walt Disney World – do you have a favorite or preferred way to get around!? Share in the comments!