My Magical Guide to Walt Disney World

What is there at Walt Disney World?

Disney World is a vacation destination! It is located near Orlando, Florida and opened in 1971 with 1 theme park, The Magic Kingdom, and a few hotels: Disney’s Polynesian and Disney’s Contemporary. Since that time, it has grown and grown! So, let’s see what is there now!

Theme Parks

WDW has 4 theme parks today! In addition to the Magic Kingdom, they have Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Each of these parks has its own personality and vibe. Click on the hyperlinks above to find out more about each one!

Disney has grown so much, they’ve provided you with tools to help you get around more easily: the Magic Band and the My Disney Experience app. Need help booking Genie+, Lightning Lanes or Virtual Queues to make sure you get to experience the newest and most popular attractions? Click here! With so much to do and so many places to visit, you will definitely want to use Disney's Complimentary Transportation to get around! Wan to know about tickets and Annual Passes? Click on the respective link!

Disney Resorts Collection

Disney has lots of resorts to fit your budget and needs! From the Disney Value Resorts to the Disney Moderate Resorts to the Disney Deluxe Resorts and Villas, there is something for everyone! Don’t forget to purchase your Magic Bands to unlock your resort door and much, much more! Why should you stay at a Disney Resort? Click here to find out! Need help with making sure you get the Disney Discounts you are trying to get? Click here!

Shopping

The joke is that there’s a gift shop at the end of every attraction. While that isn’t exactly true, it does feel true! In addition to all of the shopping in the parks, there are gift shops at every Disney Resort as well as Disney Springs! These shops are very popular! Click here for strategies to help you avoid long lines. Whatever you’re looking for, they have it at Disney!

Disney Dining

Just like all of the different options in resorts, there are lots of options for dining too! They have everything from snacks to Quick Service Dining, to Table Service Dining to Signature Dining! Looking for something extra? Try some Character Dining or a Unique Dining Experience! When it comes to food, the sky is the limit! And don’t forget about the dining at Disney Springs! You’ll find some amazing dining experiences here too! While the Disney Dining Plan is not available today, click here to find out more about when it is coming back! Does someone in your traveling party have a food allergy? Click here to find out about eating at Disney with a food allergy!

Need more information?

My blog, Planning for Pixie Dust is dedicated to letting people know about Walt Disney World so that they can feel confident planning their vacation and have their best trip! While I do not work for Disney or any travel agencies, I have had extensive experience planning vacations! Follow me on Twitter @PlanforPixieD and you won’t miss a thing! I am always happy to answer questions about you Walt Disney World vacation. Just remember, plan your trip your way and you will create your own Pixie Dust!

Comments

What is Pixie Dust?

First Time Magic When I was Young…and so was Disney World My first visit to Disney World was in 1971. I was not excited to be going to Disney. Why? I did not know that Disney existed, much less that I was going there. 1971 was the year that Walt Disney World opened in Florida and I was 5 years old! Whether my Dad kept it a secret so that it would be the ultimate surprise is unclear to me. What I am sure of is that he took us to the most magical place on earth. Operations were very different than they are now, but the one thing that remains the same is that it is still the most magical place on earth. What is Pixie Dust and how can I Make it Happen on my Trip? Pixie Dust is a magical, unexpected thing that can happen while you are at Disney, but you cannot make it happen. I have heard people recently complain that the magic is gone since the pandemic started. It’s not true. I am sad for these people because they are missing the point. There are two types of...

Signature Dining at The Walt Disney World Resort

One of my favorite things I have a confession. While it is true that I love all things Disney , the attractions, the parades, the fireworks, the characters, the thing I love most at Disney is the dining! Whether I am on a Disney Cruise or visiting the Theme Parks, the dining is my favorite thing! You may not be aware of this, but Disney offers several different types of dining experiences: Table Service, Quick Service, Character Dining , and the coveted Signature Dining! Why is it called Signature Dining? Disney's Signature Dining locations are named as such because they are each a one of a kind, dining experience. Walt Disney talked about taking an experience and "plus-ing" it. In other words, taking something great and then taking it up another notch. That is exactly what the Signature Dining experience is! What do I need to know? Each of these unique locations is available by reservation and they tend to fill up very quickly! Reservations can be made 60 days bef...

Disney Value Resorts: Which one is Best?

Why are they called Value Resorts? Pop Century The Disney Value Resorts are called that because they are the least expensive resorts that Disney has to offer. In other words, staying at one of these will stretch that Disney Budget farther. Currently, there are 5 Values: Pop Century , The Art of Animation , All Star Music , All Star Movie s, and All Star Sports . What amenities and entertainment can I expect at a Value Resort? All of these resorts will have a counter service restaurant, a pool bar, a gift shop, a themed pool near the main building, guest laundry, Movies Under the Stars, and special resort activities at the main pool. In the rooms, you can expect beds for 4 people (2 to a bed) or if you book a suite it will sleep up to 6 people. In the standard rooms and suites you will have a coffee pot with coffee service provided and a cooler/fridge perfect for keeping drinks cold, but not much else. The suites also have a microwave as well as a small supply of p...

Some of My Favorite Things: Hollywood Studios Edition

Hollywood Studios: What can I expect? Hollywood Studios, like Epcot , is not like the MagicKingdom . It is not like Epcot either. So what is it? Originally, Hollywood Studios was a small theme park named MGM Studios. The theming of the park was a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Everything that was originally there had to do with the making of movies. Though it was my favorite park, it had a problem. It earned the reputation of a half-day park. Through the years, it has changed significantly. Today’s version of Hollywood Studios is definitely a full day park. It still has a movie theme, but the newer attractions are more of immersion into those movies than experiencing a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Is it still my favorite? Absolutely! Maximizing Your Let’s get right down to it! You could spend your whole day and only experience a few things if you’re not careful. Pixie Dust Tip: If you only buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes one day of your trip, I would con...

Why Should I Stay at a Disney Resort?

Discounts! There are many reasons to choose a Disney Resort for your upcoming Disney vacation! It is true that there are tons of resorts in the Orlando area. It is true that you might find one that is cheaper, though I would double check that that is true because you can sometimes get some super good deals at Disney. Probably one of the biggest reasons to pick a WDW Resort is the discounts. If you book last minute, you might not be able to find a discount, but if you plan ahead when the deals are first coming out, the savings can be anywhere from a little to a lot! To find out how to make sure you are getting the discount you think you are getting, click here . What kind of discounts can you get? Most often they have room discounts from 15-35% depending on when and where you book your stay. Some of the bigger discounts are attached to having an Annual Pass or a Chase Disney Visa or sometimes even having Disney+. What else? Occasionally, you might find a ticket discount, espe...

Planning for Pixie Dust

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