The Disney Bubble - a Very Real Phenomenon!

One of the best parts of a Disney vacation is the “Disney Bubble.” Haven’t heard of it? Well, read on!!

The Disney Bubble is basically a complete immersion in the Magical world that is Disney. When you stay at a Disney resort, you rarely encounter anything “non-Disney.” The music on the buses, the gift shops, the Cast Members… They are all purposely geared towards Disney.

And if you’re a Disney nut like me - you never want to leave it! Here are some tips to help make sure you stay in the Bubble if you’re completely normal like I am and don’t want to leave…

• When you get to your hotel room, don’t be tempted to turn on the TV to your regular shows. There are several channels that are Disney-related - watch those! For one, you’ll be informed of that day’s Park Hours and Entertainment Times. And there’s a channel to show you some new things in the Parks you may not have found yet! I like to turn it on Disney music and hit the sleep button when I’m back in the room for the night. So fun to fall asleep to the music from the day.

• Don’t be tempted to go off property. I mean where are you going anyway? Target? As much as I love Target, you’re on vacation. Stay at Disney and get the most out of the money you’ve spent there. I seriously can’t think of anything to pull me away - Disney obviously has you covered for entertainment and the food is outstanding also. OK, so you’re thinking about checking out Universal. I’ll let you do that. You’ll just have to hop back in that Bubble as soon as you get back!

• Use Disney transportation. From the beginning of your trip, make use of the Magical Express! Once you’re at the resort, you’ll have a bus, boat, monorail, or Skyliner to get you to the Parks. It really is Magical just hopping on one of those and being whisked away. You don’t need to worry about directions or parking or trekking from the parking lot!

• Scan your MagicBand or use Disney gift cards for purchases. In the end, you’ll be paying the same amount obviously, but there’s something about not handing over your cash or normal credit card. And if you have the Dining Plan, it’s even better since it’s already paid for!

There are plenty of scoffers out there that don’t believe in the Bubble. But in all honesty, I can go an entire vacation without thinking of my normal day-to-day worries. That really only happens to me at Disney.

Let’s get you into your own Bubble! Call me!!

How to Very Easily Score a Disney World Discount for Your Next Trip!

A few weeks ago, I blogged about how to save on a Disney Cruise if you book another one while on the ship. Well guess what? There’s a similar scenario at Disney World which is called a Bounceback offer!

These can only be booked while you are actually on vacation. In the past, I haven’t mentioned it to clients because I honestly thought it felt a little like I was pressuring them to book another trip before they had even gone on the first one. But when I heard that the current Bounceback offer includes free dining, I realized I needed to get the word out.

The Bounceback offers are not always free dining - often they are room discounts. But if you know that you will most likely be making a trip in the near future, it would be silly to not guarantee this discount. We all know that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be bringing in large crowds and if Disney doesn’t feel the need to discount rooms to fill them, they won’t. And even if discounts are released, they will have limited availability and you might miss out.

The easiest way to book it is to let me know that you might be interested in it before you go. But even if you didn’t think about it until you are there, just give me a shout! The rules are simple - if you are staying ON site at a Disney resort, you can call me or you can call x8844 from your room and book the current Bounceback offer. It will require a $200 deposit which, of course, is fully refundable up to 30 days prior to travel. Simple as that!!

Most of the rooms have a brochure left in them by Mousekeeping that explains the current offer. Sometimes they get overlooked and sometimes Mousekeeping may fail to leave one. But either way, if you are a current guest, there is some sort of offer. The craziest part? You can book up to 3 rooms! Want to take 3 upcoming trips? Go wild and book them. There’s zero risk as long as you either take the trip (why wouldn’t you??) or cancel before the 30 days (WHY WOULD YOU??).

One more little rule - the lead guest on the Bounceback reservation must be one of the adult guests on the current reservation. So no sharing this great deal with your buddies.

I don’t have a picture of the current Bounceback - YET! I’ll grab one when I’m there in 14 days!! (Not that I’m counting…) Here are the details though:

Guests must check-in during the following date ranges to be eligible for the 2020 Free Dining Bounceback offer to be valid:

• May 26, 2020 through June 2, 2020

• June 26, 2020 through September 12, 2020

• December 9, 2020 through December 24, 2020

Booking this discount requires a 4-night minimum stay with a 4-day park hopper ticket purchase. Excluded resorts and room categories are Disney’s All Star Movies, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and all 3-Bedroom Villas.

Here is a pic of a recent Bounceback brochure:

So if you’re about to head to the world, think about future trips. You could save a bundle if you plan it right! Of course, call me to have me plan and book your Disney trips with no extra cost to you.

How Can You Help Kids with Critical Illnesses have an Amazing Vacation?

I was listening to a Disney podcast this week all about a place called Give Kids the World Village in Orlando. I had never heard of this place and frankly, was amazed by all that they do. I’m not in a position to donate gobs of cash but want to help where I can. So for the month of August, for every Disney or Universal vacation package booked with me, I will donate 10% of my commission to this organization. This is good for travel booked anytime from now through 2020 as long as it’s booked in August.

As usual, this won’t cost you a penny more. You don’t pay me a commission - that comes from Disney or Universal. And they don’t charge you extra to pay me. They charge the same amount whether or not a travel agent is involved. So this is a win-win-win for everyone!

Please read on to find out more about Give Kids the World! I am so thankful that part of the reason I haven’t heard of it is that my kids are healthy. I know that’s not the case for far too many families and it’s wonderful that these kids have someplace like this to have an awesome vacation.

Give Kids The World Village is an 84-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.

The Village and its community partners provide children and their families accommodations in fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals, daily entertainment and much more.

Our goal, quite simply, is to provide everything these deserving families need to make their trip the vacation of a lifetime. Since 1986, more than 167,000 children and families have had their dreams fulfilled in a whimsical Village unlike any other place on earth.

Each year 27,000 children are diagnosed with a critical illness. We know that nearly half of those children wish to visit a Central Florida attraction or theme park. For the wish-granting organization that serve these children, fulfilling a wish is only a telephone call away.

Give Kids The World Village is for children between the ages of 3 and 18, who have been diagnosed by a licensed doctor with a critical illness. Children are sponsored in their local communities by one of over 250 wish-granting organizations and children's hospitals that partner with Give Kids The World to grant these children their special wish vacation to Central Florida. If the child expresses the wish to visit Central Florida, then Give Kids The World Village is contacted and arranges a joyful, week-long vacation, at no cost to the family.

Give Kids The World finances its work through individual contributions, corporate donations, special event fundraisers and generous in-kind donations, including attraction tickets, meals and gifts. However, the organization also must cover cash expenses for the operation of Give Kids The World Village. These expenses are in excess of $12 million annually. This funding is provided through corporate promotions, fundraising events and private donations. Give Kids The World does not solicit contributions over the phone or door-to-door.

Give Kids The World is committed to fiscal responsibility in stewarding the resources provided to us in fulfilling our mission. Of each dollar spent in the fiscal year 2015, approximately 93.1 cents was devoted to our program mission of providing a cost-free magical vacation for our special children and their families. Very few charitable organizations reach and sustain this level of administrative and fundraising efficiency.

Please check out their website at https://www.gktw.org/

There is a donate button that you can click if you want to help out. And if you’re thinking of a trip anytime in 2020, just let me know. Your trip would be even more Magical knowing that a portion of it went to these kids!

How to Save a Significant Amount on Your Next Disney Cruise!!

Disney Cruise Line is the cream of the crop when it comes to cruising. And of course, it’s not cheap! But I bet most people don’t know about the easiest way to save money on your next cruise. Since everyone (Disney Representative, Travel Agent, Average Guy Looking Online…) booking a Disney cruise sees the same price when requesting a quote, you’ve got to be a little more diligent to find a deal.

The term “next cruise” is key here, though. What I’m talking about today is the benefit Disney Cruise Line extends to guests that are currently on a Disney Cruise and choose to book their next one while on board. When you make an onboard booking, you'll save 10% off the current published cruise fare plus receive onboard credit. You can cancel and get a refund of the deposit if you get home and change your mind, but you can’t get the discount once you’ve disembarked the ship. If there is the slightest chance you want to take another Disney cruise, book it! You don’t have to give an actual sail date if you’re unsure of your future plans. You book a placeholder and you can wait and assign the booking to a particular sailing after you get home.

If you do happen to know your exact dates that you want to sail, it’s best to book that specific sailing. Generally speaking, prices are cheapest when the sailing is released to book and they get more expensive as the cruise date gets closer. So the earlier you can book the exact dates, the less the price will be to start (before the discount).

You will be required to put down a deposit, but that is fully refundable if you change your mind. This is a much smaller deposit than if you booked later - typically the deposit is 20% of the total cruise cost. If you book an actual sail date, it’s 10% of the cost. If you book a Placeholder it’s $250. You’ll have 2 full years to book a cruise (if you did a Placeholder) or you can get your deposit back within that time frame.

But wait… There’s more! You will also get an Onboard Credit. You will get a $200 credit if you book 7 nights or more, and a $100 credit for 3 to 6 nights. This is per stateroom.

So how do you book this future cruise? You have a couple of options - you can visit the Future Cruise desk where a Disney Cast Member will help you. Or if you’re a seasoned cruiser, you can just complete the Placeholder Form which is readily available on board and authorize the deposit to come from your onboard account. You then just place the form in the Future Travel Desk Mail Box at the desk. If you plan to visit the desk, go early in your cruise! The lines get longer as the cruise is ending and people realize they can’t wait to book their next one.

One thing to remember - if you’ve used me as your Travel Agent (of course!!), be sure and mark on the form that you want to use me again. And just let me know about it so that I can get started helping you plan your next Magical cruise!!!

10 Incorrect Disney Myths

With something as large as Disney, there are bound to be countless rumors and myths. Today’s post will cover 10 of the most widely believed, yet false tales… Have you heard other myths? Put them in the comments!!! And if you haven’t been to Disney in a while (or ever), call me to get a trip planned for you. Without seeing it for yourself, who knows what you’ll believe!!

Myth: Cinderella Castle Can be Quickly Deconstructed Before a Hurricane

Walt Disney World has closed down several times due to hurricanes but the Magic Kingdom’s centerpiece can’t be taken apart to prevent it from being damaged. Despite the castle’s magical appearance, it’s a building like any other..

Myth: All of Walt Disney World is Built on Top of an Underground City

This one has a bit of truth at its core, since the Magic Kingdom is built on top of a series of underground tunnels known as Utilidors. However, outside of the area underneath Spaceship Earth at Epcot, the system wasn’t replicated in any of WDW’s other parks.

Myth: Walt Disney is Frozen

After Walt Disney succumbed to cancer in December 1966, rumors spread that he had been cryogenically frozen, with the hope being that he could be “thawed” out when a cure was discovered for cancer. In later years, this myth evolved into the idea that Disney’s frozen body was kept in various places, including underneath Epcot. However, it’s flatly untrue. While Walt did apparently show some interest in cryonics, the first human being wasn’t cryopreserved until 1967, the year after Disney died. Walt’s remains were actually cremated and interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Myth: Paramedics Will Only Declare Someone Dead Once They’re Off Disney Property

Once again, this urban legend — that medical teams won’t/aren’t allowed to declare someone dead until they’re off Disney property in order to uphold the company’s safety record — is completely untrue. In fact, in the 60-plus years since Disneyland opened, there have sadly been documented deaths on Disney property, including inside the theme parks.

Myth: Cast Members Portraying Toy Story Characters Will “Drop” to the Ground Any Time Someone Says “Andy’s Coming.”

In the past, cast members portraying Toy Story characters would drop to the ground and lay still like the film’s characters if a guest said “Andy’s coming.” However it was never an across-the-board policy that happened every time, and after an internet meme of a character laying on the ground went viral in 2013, Disney put a stop to the practice entirely for safety reasons.

Myth: There’s a Fully Constructed, Yet Unopened Boat Ride In Epcot’s Germany Pavilion 

While there were originally plans for a Rhine River cruise attraction at the back of the pavilion, the construction never began as some believe. The only physical remnant of the original plan is a foyer and mural-covered wall at the location of the planned entrance gate and loading platform near the pavilion’s Biergarten restaurant. 

Myth: Walt Disney is One of the Singing Busts in the Haunted Mansion Graveyard Scene

The busts are actually the Mellomen, a popular singing group who sang in several Disney films, as well as numerous Elvis Presley films. The specific members immortalized in the Haunted Mansion are Thurl Ravenscroft (often mistaken for Walt), Jay Meyer, Verne Rowe, Bob Ebright, and Chuck Schroeder.

Myth: The Dream Suite in Cinderella Castle Was Initially Designed for the Disney Family

Walt Disney did have an apartment above the fire station in Disneyland, and a suite was being constructed for Walt and his family in New Orleans Square prior to his death — this space went on to become the Disney Gallery and later the Disneyland Dream Suite. Walt died before proper plans of WDW had been made, however, and no lodging was ever planned for him in Orlando. The Cinderella Dream Suite was instead constructed in the mid-2000s as part of the Year of a Million Dreams promotion, carved out of a space previously used for storage and as the headquarters of the Walt Disney World phone system.

Myth: There is a “Club 21” at Walt Disney World

For years, it’s been rumored that WDW had a version of Disneyland’s famously exclusive – and expensive – Club 33 called “Club 21” which is completely untrue. However, Disney is currently constructing real Club 33 locations in all four Disney World parks, which should end the “Club 21” myth once and for all.

Myth: There’s Always a Vice President Animatronic on Standby at the Hall of Presidents in Case of Assassination

It’s unknown what, if anything, Disney would do in the case of a presidential assassination, as one has never occurred while the Hall has been open.

How Insane was Disneyland on the Opening Day of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge??

For months (or really, years) since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was announced, people have talked about the ridiculous lines that would be formed to get in and ride the attractions.

This pic is one of the many memes that people have come up with to depict how long the lines were going to be. This one’s for Disney World, but the expectation was the same for Disneyland.

But Disneyland pulled off a miracle and day one of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is likely to go down in the history books as a success. The lines worked. The land largely had the capacity for the capped number of visitors. Both the physical structure and the cast were clearly ready to bring this world to life even though the second ride wasn’t yet available. Although it wasn’t empty, there was a bit of breathing room you can see in the pics below.

The main complaints on opening day were things like not being able to even enter a line for some key experiences (such as building lightsabers or visiting Oga’s) when the line got too long. There was also period of time where there was a two-hour delay on mobile food ordering at lunch.  But compared to the expectation that you would be shoulder-to-shoulder and wait hours just to enter the land, things were much better.

When Walt Disney World opened up Frozen Ever After, a boat ride themed around the Frozen franchise in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot, on opening day the wait time reached upwards of 300 minutes. The lines for the attraction stretched all throughout the park as families queued up for literally hours.

If you think that’s bad, the next year in 2017 when Disney World opened its brand new land, Pandora: The World of Avatar, the wait to just get into the new land surpassed two hours, and then once you were inside it was still another four hour wait to ride the main attraction, Flight of Passage.

So needless to say, when it was announced that Disneyland would be opening up a Star Wars land, Galaxy’s Edge, both guests — and cast members — braced themselves for the worst. This wasn’t just a single ride, it was an entire land with a dedicated and die-hard fan base already clamoring to get inside. How would Disney be able to combat the hours-long wait times that were sure to form and stretch on endlessly?

Doing something the theme park has never done before, it decided to require guests to obtain a reservation to access Galaxy’s Edge. It’s like a FastPass, but not just for a ride, but the whole land. The reservation system opened up roughly a month before its opening, and all reservations for Galaxy’s Edge were gone in a matter of hours. However, come opening day, would this actually work?

Surprisingly, yes. In a move that is now sure to be repeated again in the future (hopefully), with this reservation system in place Disney managed to keep the wait time for the one ride in the area — Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — below 45 minutes for roughly the entire day. Honestly, that’s unheard of. Opening day of new land with a brand new attraction? A 45-minute wait?

By all accounts, this opening went incredibly smooth, it’s time to turn our attention to Disney World where its own Galaxy’s Edge is set to open August 29th, 2019. Currently, there are no plans to use a reservation system to access the new land in Orlando, Florida. Will that opening go as smoothly as Anaheim? I sure hope so as I will be there that very day! If you have any pull over any big-wigs at Disney, please convince them to do the reservation system there, too. Please! :)

Do you want to get to Disney World or Disneyland to see Star Wars? Or do you want to go and avoid that area all together? Either way, contact me!! It’s always FREE to use my services!!

My Worst Nightmare: What Happens if You Get Kicked out of Walt Disney World??

Did you know that it’s possible to get kicked out of Disney World?  Or worse yet…  BANNED FOR LIFE.  Geez that would just be the end of me.  So what could cause you to get into this horrible trouble?  And what happens after you’re removed from the park?  Read on and DON’T let me ever hear that this has happened to you….

Cutting in line can get you kicked out of the park.  It kind of depends on who sees you and how they react.  Seems to happen all the time without consequences but if you catch the wrong Cast Member on the wrong day, they certainly can have you removed.

Jumping out of a ride can get you kicked out as well. I have heard that in some cases this can even result in the person being banned from the park. First of all, it’s a safety issue.  You could possibly endanger yourself and others around you.  Plus, it ruins the ride for everyone!  Don’t even be tempted to do this.

Making rude gestures. This is another good way to get kicked out of the parks. This often happens on ride photos like Splash Mountain or Expedition Everest. If the right cast member sees the offensive gesture while blurring it out, they might just take action to have you removed from the park. The same goes for making rude gestures or remarks at cast members or other guests in the park. You don’t want to be removed for a silly impulsive decision.

Now, making a silly face or giving your cheesiest smile for the camera is a-okay.  Proof here…

Refusal to comply with Disney rules. If, for example, you somehow get a selfie-stick through security and are seen with it in the park, you probably won’t get kicked out simply for having that “illegal” item. But Disney cast members will escort you from the park if you refuse to give it up.

Fighting. Especially with cast members or characters! Disney is all about safety. So, if a guest does anything that disrupts other guests or a cast member’s safety, Disney will likely take precautions. There are times that families will actually get physical with one another while waiting in lines or for the fireworks. These guests are removed from the parks. Some fights have been bad enough for the guests to earn a ban as well. It’s easy for emotions to run high when you’re hot and tired and hungry.

Smoking. As of May 1, 2019, smoking (which includes vaping) has been banned in Disney Parks. There are designated smoking areas located just outside the park entrances, at the Disney hotels and Disney Springs, but getting caught smoking in a nonsmoking area may get you escorted out or possibly banned.

Sneaking Backstage. Disney, like most other companies, does not allow guests in private employee areas behind the scenes, both for safety reasons and to help preserve the mystery of how the “magic” is made. If you’re caught in an off-limits area, you will be escorted from the park. If you simply must find out what’s going on behind the guarded walls, there are tours that will take you to some backstage areas.  Let me know if you’re interested in those and I’ll hook you up!

Getting too drunk at the parks. It’s OK to have a good time and to drink around the world if that’s what you want to do. But, if drunk guests start causing problems or scenes, Disney will not hesitate to remove them from the premises.

Spreading ashes can get you kicked out or even banned for life. A lot of people want to have their cremated remains sprinkled around the Disney Parks. Believe it or not, the ashes will glow and the cast members will be alerted to what has happened. The ride will have to be closed until the ashes can be cleaned. Then, Disney will locate those who threw the ashes and will likely ban them from the park. Don’t forget, Disney has cameras everywhere and is always watching.

Stealing. This one should be pretty obvious, but stealing is another action that will result in being banned or kicked out of the parks. Don’t even think about it!   Again, Disney has eyes (and cameras) everywhere!

SO, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET KICKED OUT?

Disney operates on a case-by-case basis. They’ll evaluate each situation based on a variety of factors to determine what action should be taken.

Many times, guests are only removed from the parks for a day. They are given a warning and allowed back into the park. Other times, Disney may “blacklist” a guest, banning them for life.

Disney will document what has happened so that they can keep a record of the events that took place. They will also take a photo of the offending guest.

If the situation warrants it, Disney will contact the appropriate law enforcement officials to take action. This could result in the guest being arrested. Other times, the guest may just be presented with a trespassing admonition.

Despite its best attempts, Disney cannot monitor who is entering its parks and properties everywhere at all times. But if you are caught trespassing after you’ve been banned, Disney will contact the authorities.

Let’s keep Disney Parks magical for everyone!  Don’t get yourself in trouble - it will break my heart!!

And be sure and call me to book and plan your trip - I don’t charge any fees at all and love helping others get to my Happy place!!

Now More than Ever!

The most common question I receive from people considering a Disney World trip is “when is the best time to go to have the best experience?” 

Although I have written in the past about the best/worst times (take a look here), we’re getting to the point where crowd levels are going to be high no matter the time.  With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening, crowds will be flocking to the parks in droves. 

Disney is currently running a marketing campaign called “Now More than Ever!”  and I couldn’t agree more.  I wouldn’t normally recommend visiting in the middle of the summer due to the crowds and heat.  But it will be a while until the crowds slow down after Star Wars opens.

So you’ve got until the end of August to get there and enjoy what is turning out to be a slower summer for the parks.  A lot of people are putting off trips until Star Wars opens and that leaves rooms open this summer.  Disney has even put out a rare summer offer to lower the costs of some rooms.  In fact, in looking at a quote for a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids, for 5 nights with a 4 day park hopper ticket in June, you’re looking at less than $3000.  That’s typically one of the higher priced times to travel to Disney so a great deal at the moment. Costs will most likely just keep going up from here with all of the new attractions/resorts/entertainment options heading to the World.

Need more reasons to travel to Walt Disney World Now More than Ever?   Here you go!

Join Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park!

Party with Pixar Pals to Celebrate 30 Years of Disney’s 
Hollywood Studios

Celebrate the Circle of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Satisfy Your Cravings for Food, Entertainment and Fun at Epcot

Other Can’t-Miss Experiences at Walt Disney World Resort

Do You Want to Spend the Night in Cinderella's Castle?

Last week I talked about the amazing Specialty Suites at Disneyland. This week, I’ll tell you about special rooms at Walt Disney World!

I can’t imagine getting to spend the night in Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. And sadly, I don’t imagine it will ever happen for me. As of now, the only way you can stay there is if you’re invited (usually for celebrities) or you win a contest. But you can bet I’ll keep hoping it happens. Here are a couple of pictures from lucky ducks that have seen the suite…

View from the bathtub!

Below are other rooms that regular peeps like me can actually book… I’ve included the one at Wilderness Lodge mainly due to the bedding options. You can get bunkbeds! When you have 2 kids that nearly kill each other shoving each other in the bed, you really appreciate an easy bed time. Each in their own bed!! This option is also available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. And bonus there, you can see animals from some of the rooms!

Caribbean Beach Pirate Room

Wilderness Lodge

Port Orleans Riverside Royal Room

Wilderness Lodge

Art of Animation Nemo Family Suite

Wilderness Lodge

Art of Animation Lion King Family Suite

Art of Animation Cars Family Suite

Of course, this is only a small sampling of rooms. There are a LOT of options depending on what you and your family need. Please give me a call if you’re thinking of taking a Disney trip. I will help you get the room that will work best for you and make your trip as Magical as possible. My services are FREE!!

Drop that Rope!!!

Every now and again, I mention “Rope Drop” to someone and I get a blank look back. I’ve gotten so used to the term that I assume everyone knows what I mean. If you’re one of the people looking at me like I’m crazy, please read on! (And even if you know what it means, keep reading. You might have some comments to add below!)

Rope Drop refers to the park opening. It’s when the “rope drops” and you’re allowed to enter the park.

Through the years, Rope Drop has looked different at the parks. Currently, Magic Kingdom is the only park that has a ceremony/show welcoming you to the park.

Guests are actually allowed to enter Magic Kingdom one hour before official park opening time. If the park is scheduled t open at 9:00 a.m., then Guests will be allowed to make their way in starting at 8:00 a.m. Guests are welcome to take a stroll along Main Street U.S.A., grab a cup of coffee at Main Street Bakery and make their way to Cinderella Castle to watch the morning welcome show. The shows starts about 5 minutes before park opening, so you can watch the show and make your way to the land you want to start in. The bridges to the individual lands are blocked off by Cast Members until the opening ceremony is officially over.

Animal Kingdom theme park is another park that does a nice early morning welcome.  The park typically starts letting guests in somewhere between 8 – 8:30 depending on the season and visitors are able to congregate in front of the Tree of Life on Discovery Island.  Just before the park officially opens at 9am, the many feathered friends that call Animal Kingdom home, will give Disney visitors a morning welcome.

At the other parks, it’s a rather unceremonial opening of the line by Cast Members and entry through the scanners. But hey, even without the ceremony, it’s exciting to be heading into any Disney park bright and early in the morning!!

Sometimes, the parks are opened anywhere from 15 - 30 minutes prior to the posted opening time, so it’s best to be at the park an hour before open if you’re driving and parking, and 30-45 minutes before the posted open if you’re using Disney transportation.

I know you’ll want to get to Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Land, Flight of Passage or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to avoid a long line, bu you won’t actually be allowed to take off running.  At Magic Kingdom, it’s become more of a graduated opening, with Cast Members leading the way into the Town Square, the Hub, and then allowing guests into the various lands from that point. They sometimes lead the way in other parks as well, just to make sure everyone stays safe and orderly. Once you’re allowed into all the parts of the park, you’re free to go to your favorite attraction. Just keep in mind that the attractions aren’t necessarily open right at Rope Drop, so even if you’re first in line, you may have to wait a few minutes to get on an attraction.

So, why would you start at Rope Drop? Being among the first in the parks has certain advantages. You can head straight to a popular attraction with little to no wait and save your FastPass selections for later in the day. You can hit several attractions before lines get long and start your fun before the day gets too warm. If you have little ones that take an afternoon nap, you can also get plenty of fun under your belt before naptime.

As crazy as it seems to me, some people prefer not to be at the parks for Rope Drop. I personally think Disney isn’t the type of vacation to get a lot of relaxing done. You’re paying a premium to be there and sleep ranks low on my list compared to anything at Disney. Just be sure you add and extra day off of work on your return to rest up!!

This is the kind of people-less pic you can get if you show up early!!!

Do make your family/friends aware of your plans, though. Springing an early morning on everyone after an exhausting day can make some a bit annoyed. And like I’ve said before, don’t be afraid to break up your group a bit. If you have a few peeps that just can’t stand the thought of getting up so early, let them sleep in! You can have your fun and catch up with them once they get in. Feel free to brag about your lack of crowds and lines, though! :)

Please contact me if you’re even remotely considering a trip to Disney or Universal. I have tons of tips to help you maximize your fun and minimize your frustrations!!