If there's one thing Florida has an abundance of besides orange juice, it's hotel rooms! As a matter of fact, at last count there were 144,125 hotel rooms in the Orlando area and more are being built as I type! This is the second highest in the country just behind Las Vegas at 152,275! So there's no argument that you have your pick of places to rest your head. I'm going to help you narrow that search for the perfect place. In this post I want to highlight the many benefits of staying on property in a Walt Disney World Resort.

• Disney's Magical Express

As soon as you step foot off the airplane at Orlando International, the magic begins! As a resort guest, you can bypass the baggage claim area entirely and head straight to the complimentary airport shuttle known as Disney's Magical Express. You and your bags will be transported straight to your hotel so you can start your vacation right away! 

• Resort transportation

Buses and ferry boats and monorails, oh my! Enjoy complimentary transportation around the property and to and from the parks. If you decide to drive you will enjoy complimentary parking at all 4 theme parks and both waterparks. Off property guests will have to pay $22 daily for parking at the parks. 

• Extra Magic Hours

Each day certain attractions are open for an additional amount of time at one of the theme parks. This could be in the morning or evening and is only open to resort guests. The theme park offering Extra Magic Hours changes daily but is announced well in adavnce. 

• MagicBands
  

Resort guests each receive complimentary MagicBands. This latest technological advancement is an all-in-one device that makes your vacation easier to navigate. It's your room key, your park admission, your check-in for FastPass+ attractions, your Disney PhotoPass account, and your charge account. 

• Advanced FastPass+ selections

FastPass+ allows you to schedule up to 3 of your attractions each day with little to no wait times. Resort guests get to sign up for these 60 days in advance with a valid park admission. Off property guests only get to sign up 30 days in advance. 

• Free Wi-Fi

If you choose to stay connected during your visit, you can enjoy complimentary wireless high-speed internet in your guest room and around the resort. For example, you can post your stauts of "Having a blast at Walt Disney World, wish you were here. Call my awesome travel agent Stacie Gregory to schedule your vacation ASAP!" from just about anywhere.  

• Disney Dining Plans 
  

Choose from a variety of packages that include a dining plan and you could enjoy fun character meals, delicious snacks and a bottomless drink mug at your resort. It will all be included in your package! Off-property guests are not eligible for dining plans. 

• Resort Entertainment

There's a lot to experience at Walt Disney World Resorts. Outdoor movies under the stars, poolside dance parties, and themed outdoor pools, some with waterslides are just a few of the things you can experience when staying on property. 

• Excellent Customer Service

Disney Cast Members are available to you from the moment you check-in until the moment you leave to make sure you have the best vacation possible. The legendary service they provide is nothing short of magical! 

If none of these benefits are enticing to you, please learn from our mistakes!

A few years ago we took a long weekend trip to Walt Disney World and decided to stay off property to save a few dollars up front. It was literally a stones throw from being on property so we figured it was convenient enough. But it ended up costing us a lot more in the form of time. There was a complimentary shuttle service, but it went to multiple parks and multiple resorts, so it took us up to an hour to get just one way to the parks. Factor in the fact that we had to return to the resort for an afternoon nap each day and we were in transit for 4 hours each day!! The last night we decided to drive rather than deal with the shuttle, so we ended up paying out of pocket for parking and then we were in traffic that night for up to an hour after the fireworks! So we have learned our lesson. We will never stay off property again! Our family vacation time is far too precious to waste! 

One question I get a lot is "What is the best age to take kids to Walt Disney World?" Unfortunately, there is not one right number for every child or every family. Just like a lot of aspects of vacation planning there are a couple of factors to consider and I usually follow up that question with another question.
"Are you only planning to only go to Walt Disney World once?"
If the answer to this question is yes and your family will only be going one time then you should consider a few things. 

• Your child should be old enough to remember the trip

 Think back to the first family vacation or outing you remember as child. It may have just been a carnival in your hometown. How old were you? How much do you remember? If you are only going once you want to make sure your child is old enough to have those great memories last a lifetime.  

• Disney has certain height requirements for some rides

Even if your child isn't the adventurous type, you may want to wait until they reach 48" if you are only going to Walt Disney World once. At 48" or taller they can have their choice of any ride in the 4 main parks as well as the 2 waterparks. This way they won't feel like they were forced to miss out on the fun. 

• Go when they are still young enough to fully experience the magic.

Now don't get me wrong, I still get pixie dust in my eyes every time I see Cinderella's Castle and I was star struck when I saw Mickey Mouse on my most recent trip. But watching my 3 year old come around the corner on Main Street at Magic Kingdom and take in her first viewing of Cinderella's Castle is an experience I can't explain. And seeing my son at 3 give Woody and Buzz Lightyear hugs and beam with joy was pure Disney magic at it's best. 

If you know your family plans to go to Walt Disney World multiple times, then you should consider other things. 

• Under 3 is free! 
  

There is plenty to do for toddlers and preschoolers! So why not consider going before they cost anything. Children under age 3 don't need a park ticket and they can also eat for free at any buffet-style or family-style restaurant with a paying adult. And if you want to go to celebrate their 3rd birthday just make sure you go before their actual birth date. No one gets older at Disney, so in their eyes, if your child checks in as a 2 year old, they are 2 years old for the remainder of the trip even if they celebrate a birthday. (FYI, the airlines don't abide by this- if you fly somewhere when your child is 23.5 months and fly back after they turn 2, you will be buying them a one-way plane ticket for their trip home.) 

• Knowing you will return, don't pack too much into your trip.

Taking young children is fun and magical, but with so much going on you will need time for rest! You should have a planned afternoon break every. single. day. Mandatory. Personally, I plan on seeing Disney this way forever. Mama needs her rest time! But it's even more crucial with young kids. Get to the park when it opens and do rides in the morning when the lines are shortest, then after lunch go back to the resort for a nap. For our first trip our kids were 1 and 3 and we ALL took hard naps in the afternoon and woke so refreshed and ready to get back to the parks to enjoy dinner, more rides and stay for the fireworks. Take cues from your kids. If you are trying to do too much and they get tired, scale back and enjoy a slower pace. 

• Consider getting help with baby brother or sister.   

If your oldest child is ready to get her fill of princesses, but you aren't sure how baby brother will handle the trip consider inviting the grandparents to come along. This way someone can head back to the resort with the baby for naps or hang back while he naps in the stroller. Or maybe grandma and grandpa can come stay with baby brother at home while you enjoy some time away connecting with your oldest. If you know your family will be returning this is a great option!

So, it's not a quick answer, but there you have it. Every age can be the right for Walt Disney World, but you need to weigh all these factors based on your family's wants, needs and expectations. 

XOXO
Mama

Thanks everyone for the huge response to my survey! We had over 100 entries and I am happy to get to know my future blog readers. You all had many differing opinions, but overall people would like to hear tips and tricks about Disney travel and about current promotions. Remember, to get all my tips and tricks all you have to do is book your vacation package through me, but I will leave some for readers of the blog here as well! Be sure to follow the Facebook page where I leave weekly tips every Tuesday. 

Congratulations to Cherise Behrens of Castle Rock, Colorado for being the very first giveaway winner! A $25 Disney gift card is headed her way right now! Thanks, Cherise, for taking the time to help a Mama out!

(So, yes, the doll is still up for grabs in a future giveaway. Stay tuned!)

xoxo
Mama

I am beyond excited to venture into the world of blogging again. My last blog was so fun to create and engage with people, but let's be honest... if you were a reader you might have noticed how scattered my topics became. So when I sat down to create this blog knowing it would be about Disney (one of my favorite things) I thought I had narrowed my focus enough. But there is so much to cover! Theme parks, dining, magic bands, fast passes, trip reports, merchandise, special events, resorts, and the list in my head continues....
Where do I even begin?! 
That's where you come in, future faithful readers. Help me create this blog for YOU! What would like to read about? Please take my survey below and as a thank you for your time you will be entered into my very first blog giveaway! 
*Shrieks of excited applause*

This giveaway will run for 1 week and the lucky winner will have their choice of 2 fabulous prizes. 
A Disney Parks exclusive Anna and Elsa topsy-turvy plush doll. Can't decide if you love Anna or Elsa more? Now you don't have to! Just flip her dress and there's another doll! 

If you aren't a Frozen fan then we can't be friends (kidding, of course. kind of.), but I can offer you a $25 Disney gift card as an alternate prize. 
So take the survey and help a Mama out! 
Thanks!
XOXO
Stacie 
(aka Mama)
UPDATE: Congratulations Cherise Behrens of Castle Rock, Colorado for winning this month's giveaway! Thanks for helping a Mama out!