by Jason Cochran, CNTraveler.com
Pulling off a perfectly harmonious family vacation at Disney World may be harder than dislodging "It's a Small World" from your brain. But follow these ten do's and don'ts at Disney World and you may actually have--dare we say it?--a magical time.
© Nik Wheeler / Alamy
Don't: Insist on a Disney-run hotel.
There are perks to staying at one of Disney's 31 hotels and resorts, including extended hours and free parking at the parks, one-stop booking, and heavily themed public spaces that will wow the kids. Tempting, we know. What Disney's properties don't offer, however, are the better value, nicer rooms, and tricked-out amenities that you can find elsewhere in town.
Photo courtesy of the Waldorf Astoria, Orlando
Instead: Shop around.
Orlando attracts a lot of conventions, and you'll often find a higher-quality hotel experience at places that cater mostly to conventioneers rather than Mouseketeers. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando, for example, opened in 2009 near Epcot, and rates can be $100 less than at the Grand Floridian (Disney's top-tier resort) and only about half the price at certain times of year. The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott in Grande Lakes and the brand-new Four Seasons Resort Orlando are also good options.
© RSBPhoto1 / Alamy
Don't: Rely on Disney buses.
Disney's extensive bus network will get you between its parks and hotels for free, but there is still a price: your time and patience. After a long day of waiting in line for rides and attractions, it's a drag to wait in line for a bus ride--especially one that can be excruciatingly slow and uncomfortably crowded. The bus system locks you into orbiting exclusively within the world of Disney. Sure, you could take a taxi, but the fare adds up quickly.
© RSBPhoto1 / Alamy
Instead: Rent a car.
Because of mass visitor volume, Orlando has some of the cheapest rental rates in the country--as low as $25 a day. All of the usual suspects are represented at the airport (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise). Of course, the $17 daily parking fees at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom do add up (parking is free if you stay at a Disney-run hotel). The low rental rates buy you a lot of freedom, though: Having a car lets you visit non-Disney theme parks, explore downtown Orlando's thriving food scene, or even hit the beach.
© Stephen Searle / Alamy
Don't: Overspend for tickets.
Disney pushes its Magic Your Way tickets, which are one- to ten-day passes valid for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Given the steep discounts on multi-day tickets, the impulse is to buy tickets for as many days as you'll be in Orlando. But if you have unused tickets at the end of your trip--say, if a rainy day keeps you away from the parks, or if you decide to do something that's not mouse-approved--you can't get a refund.
Instead: See our alternative and 14 more on CNTraveler.com
This article was originally published in 2011. It has been updated to reflect new information.
More from Condé Nast Traveler:
These Are The Best Cities in the World
15 Places You Won't Believe Exist
The World's Most Dangerous Trips
Private Islands That Cost Less Than an NYC Apartment
10 Most Underrated American Cities
from Travel - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1aOK1hL
Pulling off a perfectly harmonious family vacation at Disney World may be harder than dislodging "It's a Small World" from your brain. But follow these ten do's and don'ts at Disney World and you may actually have--dare we say it?--a magical time.
© Nik Wheeler / Alamy
Don't: Insist on a Disney-run hotel.
There are perks to staying at one of Disney's 31 hotels and resorts, including extended hours and free parking at the parks, one-stop booking, and heavily themed public spaces that will wow the kids. Tempting, we know. What Disney's properties don't offer, however, are the better value, nicer rooms, and tricked-out amenities that you can find elsewhere in town.
Photo courtesy of the Waldorf Astoria, Orlando
Instead: Shop around.
Orlando attracts a lot of conventions, and you'll often find a higher-quality hotel experience at places that cater mostly to conventioneers rather than Mouseketeers. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando, for example, opened in 2009 near Epcot, and rates can be $100 less than at the Grand Floridian (Disney's top-tier resort) and only about half the price at certain times of year. The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott in Grande Lakes and the brand-new Four Seasons Resort Orlando are also good options.
© RSBPhoto1 / Alamy
Don't: Rely on Disney buses.
Disney's extensive bus network will get you between its parks and hotels for free, but there is still a price: your time and patience. After a long day of waiting in line for rides and attractions, it's a drag to wait in line for a bus ride--especially one that can be excruciatingly slow and uncomfortably crowded. The bus system locks you into orbiting exclusively within the world of Disney. Sure, you could take a taxi, but the fare adds up quickly.
© RSBPhoto1 / Alamy
Instead: Rent a car.
Because of mass visitor volume, Orlando has some of the cheapest rental rates in the country--as low as $25 a day. All of the usual suspects are represented at the airport (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise). Of course, the $17 daily parking fees at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom do add up (parking is free if you stay at a Disney-run hotel). The low rental rates buy you a lot of freedom, though: Having a car lets you visit non-Disney theme parks, explore downtown Orlando's thriving food scene, or even hit the beach.
© Stephen Searle / Alamy
Don't: Overspend for tickets.
Disney pushes its Magic Your Way tickets, which are one- to ten-day passes valid for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Given the steep discounts on multi-day tickets, the impulse is to buy tickets for as many days as you'll be in Orlando. But if you have unused tickets at the end of your trip--say, if a rainy day keeps you away from the parks, or if you decide to do something that's not mouse-approved--you can't get a refund.
Instead: See our alternative and 14 more on CNTraveler.com
This article was originally published in 2011. It has been updated to reflect new information.
More from Condé Nast Traveler:
These Are The Best Cities in the World
15 Places You Won't Believe Exist
The World's Most Dangerous Trips
Private Islands That Cost Less Than an NYC Apartment
10 Most Underrated American Cities
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from Travel - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1aOK1hL
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