LAKE BUENA VISTA Fla. — For many, a trip to Walt Disney World is a daunting task from the start. But, it doesn’t have to be.
Ian Ford, CEO of Undercover Tourist, offers the following tips for planning a trip to Walt Disney World:
- Review the types of holiday attractions and events offered before booking your amusement park trip. You can find a planning guide on the Undercover Tourist site here or in the Undercover Tourist Wait Times App. Many parks’ holiday season run earlier or later than you’d expect.
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom during these select dates: Sept. 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; Oct. 1-2, 4, 6, 8-9, 12-13, 15-16, 18, 20, 22-23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and Nov. 1. The party’s biggest highlights are watching Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, Happy HalloWishes Fireworks, along with trick-or-treating in the park and meeting the Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes.
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place every fall at Epcot. This year’s dates are Sept. 25 through Nov. 16. The festival features more than 25 international marketplace kiosks, which offer tapas-sized portions of regional specialties, as well as recommended wine and beer pairings. Included with admission to the park is the Eat to the Beat, a concert series which features acclaimed artists.
- Festival of the Masters is held one weekend each November at Downtown Disney. The open-air art festival features more than 150 award-winning artists. There are a number of activities for children and families throughout the weekend. Festival of the Masters is free to attend.
- Festival of the Seasons is a special event held November through January at Downtown Disney. It offers live entertainment, festive decor, fun photo ops and the opportunity to meet Santa. There are holiday carolers, costumed stilt walkers and street performers and a holiday dance party with a deejay. Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney is free to attend.
- Looking for travel savings for 2016 and beyond? Spring break ranks just behind the December holiday season as the busiest time of the year for an Orlando trip to visit Walt Disney World and the Florida theme parks. Be sure to check our Crowd Calendar on UndercoverTourist.com for daily crowd levels and recommended parks. A few tips for managing the crowds:
- Arrive early and stay at one park
- Download our wait-time apps & use FASTPASS wisely
- Eat breakfast beforehand & pack your own drinks and snacks
- Watch the nightly fireworks from outside the parks
- Take a break from the parks – consider booking a hotel with a pool for downtime
For more, visit undercovertourist.com.