Although there may not be any truly slow seasons at Disney World there are definitely still some extremely crowded times to visit.  The current Spring Break Season is one of the busiest times of the year.

If you are planning to visit the Walt Disney World Resort is during one of the busy times there are still ways to have a great vacation without spending all of your time waiting in lines.

Disney World Parks: Crowd Beating Tips

• Even if you are not a morning person, arrive at the theme parks approximately 30 minutes prior to opening.  You will get to see the park opening show and you will be treated to approximately 2 hours of the lightest crowds of the day. 
• If you have a must see attraction that you have been looking forward to, do it first.  That way you do not get disappointed if it becomes too busy later in the day. 
• The Magic Kingdom attracts the largest crowds.  This is especially true during the busy seasons.  Consider planning on visiting for the first 3-4 hours after opening and then again for the last 3 hours of the day. 
• The best day to visit the Magic Kingdom is at park opening the morning after they were open late the previous night for Extra Magic Hours.
• During peak season consider investing in the Park Hopper option for your tickets.  This will allow you to change parks if the one you are in becomes too crowded.  Nothing is more frustrating than feeling trapped in a crowded park.
• Make use of the Disney FastPass system.  This free system allows you to avoid long waits in line for the most popular Disney attractions, by giving you a time range later in the day that you can return to a short (usually 10 minutes) line.  This can free up a lot of your day and still enable you to ride your favorite attractions.
• Hit the most popular attractions when the park opens and plan to see the attractions that can handle large numbers of people (example: shows with large theaters) later in the day.  This will significantly reduce your time spent in lines.
• Epcot handles large numbers of people without feeling crowded compared to the other parks.  It is a good place to head to when the park you are visiting is getting overwhelmed.
• Don't forget about the Disney Parades, shows, and live entertainment that happens throughout the parks.  This will entertain your family and you don't have to wait in lines to see ( Visit Epcot For The Live Entertainment ).
• If you don't wish to see the parades, that is often a good time to catch some rides, as large numbers of people do watch the parades.
• BE FLEXIBLE.  If what you have planned is not working out, change your plans.  Don't get frustrated, you are on vacation at Dsney World.

Great Disney Activities Beyond The Theme Parks

• Each Disney World Resort is a destination by itself.  Take the afternoon to check out some of them.  The Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Wilderness Lodge, the Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort, and the Grand Floridian are all great places to visit.  Each has unique features to check out, and good places to eat lunch.
• Take advantage of the wonderfully themed Resort Pools.  The Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa resorts all have great themed pool areas that make a great break away from the crowded parks.
• Explore Disney's Boardwalk Area.  There are shops, restaurants to check out, as well as, the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, & Beach Club Resorts to explore. 
• Rent a watercraft.  Many of the Disney World Resorts have marinas where you can rent a variety of watercraft.
• Visit Downtown Disney.  There are tons of shops with unique items, including the incredible World of Disney Store.  There are also a large variety of Restaurants featuring all kinds of cuisine to please any palette.

By Planning Ahead You Can Have Great Disney Vacation In Any Season
By doing some research like you are doing right now, you can have a great Disney World Vacation no matter what the season.  Remember that there are tons of activities to do at Disney World that are outside of the main theme parks ( 28 Things To Do At Disney World That Don't Require Park Tickets ).

The single most important tip to remember is to arrive at the parks for opening.  You will be able to accomplish more during this time, than any other time of the day.

Lastly, if you are planning to eat is Disney's Table Service Restaurants make reservations as early as possible ( Disney takes reservations starting 180 days prior to your visit).  It is not uncommon for the on-site restaurants to be completely full and not take any walk-up customers.

Although the show is fun to see, the real reason to wake up early and be at the park for opening (aka Rope Drop) is that the first few hours each morning have the lightest crowds of the day.

By using a combination of FastPasses and hitting your favorite attractions first, you can cover a lot of ground in the first 2 hours that the park is open.  As you get closer to noon the parks really start filling up and by early afternoon during the busy seasons, the parks can be near their capacity and the waits for attractions are their longest.

During early afternoon, you are best served by heading out of the park to swim in your Resort pool or take a leisurely lunch, or even a nap.  Then head back to the parks in the evening to enjoy the attractions at night.

This approach will allow you to see and do more than you could ever accomplish if you got to the parks at 11:00 AM and stayed until closing.  It really is amazing how much you can see and do in the first two hours that the parks are open.

One last tip: To really make the most of your morning avoid the park that has Morning Extra Magic Hours.  Although the park does open an hour earlier, it drives a larger number of people to that park and you may actually accomplish less even with the extra hour due to the additional crowds.

You have decided that you would like to take your family to Disney World. The question that arises whether you are visiting the Walt Disney World Resort for the first time or the 10th time is when to go.

There are no bad times to visit Disney World, but some times of the year are considered the best. Factors such as: Crowds, Cost, School Calendars, Special Events, & Weather can all enter into determining what is best.

In order to make things simple, we will give you several guidelines that will help you significantly narrow down your choices and help you plan the Walt Disney World vacation that is best for you and your family.

Group 1: Traveling with Pre-School Age Children
If your children are pre-school aged, you want to take advantage of visiting Disney World during a time when everyone else is in school and crowds are lower. Warm, but milder temperatures are best when you are pushing a stroller all day.

We recommend September as the time to visit as you will see lower crowds and typically the best Disney World Discounts of the year for Resort stays and/or Vacation Packages.

Group 2: Traveling with School Age Children
When traveling with school age children you must compete with the school calendar to plan your trip. Depending upon the age of your children they will want to ride the most popular rides that potentially have the longest waits. Balancing when you can travel with crowd levels is a difficult challenge.

If you are a first or second time visitor, we would recommend visiting at the end of May or early June. Basically visit as soon as your school lets out for the summer. The weather during this time is not as oppressive and the crowds do not reach their full level until late June and July. If you hit this timeframe you can also enjoy the Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios which is a fabulous event for everyone that enjoys the Star Wars movies and characters.

If you have already visited Disney World several times then we would recommend visiting during the Christmas Holidays. The Christmas Holidays are truly a special time at Disney World and everything at the parks and resorts is different and new with all of the decorations and special activities. It will be a memorable experience for the entire family and all of your favorite attractions will be there too. Try avoiding the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s if possible since it is the most crowded. The week leading into Christmas is less crowded.

Group 3: Adults Traveling Without Children
For adults traveling without children, we would recommend traveling during October. This coincides with the International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. This is a wonderful event for adults at Disney World and allows you to relax and enjoy what Disney World has to offer.

Group 4: Adults Looking For Adventure
If you are an adult looking for adventure to go with your Walt Disney World vacation, look into planning your trip around one of the Disney Endurance Series Events. There are currently six events scheduled throughout the year. The Disney World Marathon Weekend in January is the showcase for the series attracting over 55,000 participants.

Whether you are a serious runner or just a casual one, there is no experience like running a distance race through one or more of the Disney World theme parks. Many of the races have special parties and after hours Theme Park events for participants.

Group 5: Seniors at Disney World
There is something for everyone at Disney World and seniors are no exception. We would recommend visiting in late April or May to visit the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival or visiting the Food & Wine Festival in October. During both events the weather is mild, the crowds are moderate, and there are special activities to see and do besides the normal theme park attractions.

Picking The Dates To Visit Disney World Is Just The 1st Step
Deciding when you are going to visit the Walt Disney World Resort is just the first step in planning your vacation, but taking the time to carefully pick the dates that match your needs and interests will go a long way towards making your next vacation truly memorable.

When you visit the Walt Disney World Resort it is always fun to be "in the know" and find one of the many "Hidden Secrets" that exist within the four theme parks.

Today we will share one of the secrets in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Located to the left of the entrance of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular is a small scene that looks like a well under construction.  It has a sign posted that warns you to NOT pull the rope.

Summer is a great time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort.

With Florida's very hot sun, frequent, but brief rain showers.and high crowd levels, you can ruin what should be a wonderful vacation at the “Happiest Place On Earth” if you don’t plan properly.



Here are some tips to help you have a fantastic summer vacation:

Start Early
Plan to get to the parks when they open (also referred to as “rope drop”). You want to do this for three reasons:

• The park is coolest during the morning, so take advantage of it.
• You can get to ride the most popular rides before the crowds settle in later in the day.
• There is usually a small park opening performance that you will only get to see if you show up then. (See the picture from Magic Kingdom Opening Performance above.)

Stay Dry

Bring ponchos and/or compact umbrellas with you to the parks each day. Plan on brief rain showers to come each day, so be prepared. Having the rain gear will allow you to continue to enjoy your day instead of having to either make an unscheduled purchase at the parks or head back to the resort to change wet clothes.

Give The Kids A Ride
If you have young children, bring a portable umbrella stroller to give them a place to rest after all of that walking.

These collapsible strollers are relatively inexpensive and easy to get on and off of the Disney World transportation. This also avoids the expensive rental fee for strollers rented at the parks.

Don't Burn

Bring plenty of sunscreen. The Florida sun is hot. Even if you want to get a tan, bring the sunscreen. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than a case of sun poisoning or bad sun burn. Also remember to stay hydrated on those hot days. That will keep your body functioning properly and in shape for enjoying all there is to see.

Take A Break

Plan on taking a mid-afternoon break. When the parks are the most crowded and the sun is at its hottest, take a break back at the resort. Either take a nap or perhaps cool off in the resort pool. This will keep the stress levels low and make sure that you get a chance to relax. It is vacation you know.

Enjoy The Night

Return to the parks in the evening as the sun goes down. The temperature will start to drop, making it much more comfortable. Many of the attractions take on a new perspective when they are lit up at night. Also take advantage of special night time entertainment such as Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Illuminations” at Epcot, or “Wishes” at the Magic Kingdom.

Summary
By following these tips you will be able to stay cool, dry, avoid the major crowds, have time to relax, and enjoy the attractions.

Now that certainly sounds like a vacation at the “Happiest Place On Earth.”

With more than 20 Resort hotels to choose from in the Walt Disney World Resort, it can be a daunting task to narrow the list down and pick the right one for your vacation.

Today we are going to focus on the group that Disney calls its Moderate Resorts.

Why Choose a Moderate Resort?

The Moderates, as the name implies, will cost you more than the Value resorts, but not as much as the Deluxe resorts. That, in and of itself, does not tell you very much. Here is what you can expect when you stay at a Moderate resort:

• Rack Rates start at $149 per night + Tax, but many discounts are available throughout the year.
• Rooms are 314 – 340 sqft.
• They have 2 Double or 2 Queen Sized beds in a standard room
• Each room has it’s own mini-fridge.
• Each Resort has a Food Court.
• All Resorts except French Quarter have a full service sit down restaurant.
• All resorts have lounges
• All resorts have a special pool complex, most with water slides.
• Extensive landscaping and theming that differentiate them from the Value resorts.
• All resorts have bike and water craft rentals available.
• Walking and jogging trails.
  
  In summary, the Moderate resort hotels have larger rooms and more resort amenities than the Value hotels. This can make a big difference on longer trips, with older children, or if you plan on spending a fair amount of time at the resort during your vacation.
  
  Here are snapshots of your choices for Moderate resort hotels:
  
  Caribbean Beach:
  
• This sprawling, 200 acre, tropical themed resort is set around the 45 acre Barefoot Bay with white sand beaches.
• The brightly colored 2,112 rooms are divided into 6 villages named after Caribbean islands.
• A sprawling pool complex themed like an old Spanish fortress: complete with towers, antique cannons, and a waterslide.
• Pirate themed rooms are being added.
  
  Port Orleans Riverside:
  
• This 2,048-room hotel pays homage to rural Louisiana.
• The resort is split into 2 sections, the Alligator Bayou with backwoods style cottages, landscaping, and decorations; and the white-columned Magnolia Bend Mansions with their formal gardens and stately decorations.
• The 3.5-acre Ol' Man Island extensive pool complex is encircled by a bend of the Sassagoula River.
• This resort has the best food court of all of the Moderates, with a large variety of choices and plenty of seating.
• Although the resort is large, it is organized to keep the walking reasonable.
• You may catch a free boat ride to Downtown Disney along the Sassagoula River.

Port Orleans French Quarter:

The Riverside pays homage to rural Louisiana, but the French Quarter is themed to embrace New Orleans during Mardis Gras.

• This resort is the smallest of the Moderates, but still has over 1,000 rooms.



• The least amount of walking is required at this resort.
• The main pool area has a fun water slide that kids of all ages enjoy.
• This resort is within walking distance to the Riverside and although it does not have a sit-down restaurant of its own, you can walk to Boatwright's at the Riverside.
  

Coronado Springs:

• The Resort has an American Southwest theme to it's 1,921 rooms in 3 distinctly different themed areas.
• This resort has the best main pool area of all of the moderates. The Mayan pyramid ruins make a wonderful backdrop. It also has a 22 person hot tub.
• The food court here, the Pepper Market, is unique to all of Disney World. It has an ala carte set up with various pods (stations) where you "build" your meal. The food is very good, but slightly more expensive than the other food courts.
• This resort also has convention facilities on site and frequently has a large number of convention goers present.

Personal Note:

You can't go wrong at any of these resorts. I have personally had the opportunity to stay at each of them over the last several years. They are all beautiful and can be a vacation destination all to themselves.

If I had to pick a favorite, I would pick the Port Orleans Riverside. I have had several wonderful vacations there and I enjoy the relaxing Bayou landscaping and decorations.

1. Plan ahead so that you can try to arrive before noon if possible to maximize the day.



2. Travel wearing clothes that you will be comfortable wearing into the parks.



3. Check in to your hotel as soon as you arrive to get your room keys. (You may even get some Disney Magic and your room will be ready early). You get your final room key at this point, as well as, all Resort Guest Privileges.



4. Plan out the rest of your arrival day, which may include: swimming at the resort pool, visiting a park, and dining reservations.



5. Allow extra time in your plans in case you experience travel delays (no need to cause unneeded stress).



6. If you visit a park, pick one that is still enjoyable if you arrive later in the day. In my opinion Epcot would be the best choice, although if you have small children, the Magic Kingdom is what they have been waiting to see.



7. Enjoy the Day! You are at Disney World!
   

Feel free to leave comments with your favorite Arrival Day rituals.

When you visit Walt Disney World, dining can be one of the best or one of the worst parts of your trip. I hoping with the tips that I am providing today and through other posts, I can help make it one of the best.

I have written earlier about the Disney Dining Plan and the benefits it has. For a first time visitor, the pre-paid dining definitely helps keep your trip on budget and their are times of the year, where Disney will include the Dining Plan for free as part of a package.

The topic I wanted to discuss today is determining whether a certain restaurant is right for your family. Besides the recommendations of others, some times it is just nice to know what is on the menu and what the prices are for a particular restaurant.

While today I am going to help you do even better than that! I am going to provide two links that each give you a list of each of the on-property Disney Dining locations, including counter service and snack carts. They also have full listing of menu items and prices for each location.

They are:

• AllEars.net
• Pete Werner's DIS site

Both sites have basically the same menu information, and get updated fairly regularly.

By having this information available to you when you are trying to plan where you may eat is a tremendous benefit. This is especially helpful if you have a picky eater in the family.

So give it a try! Pick a location that you have been thinking about eating at and look up it's menu. Hopefully the menu will have something that appeals to you and your family.

The research will not make the food prices any lower, but you will know what to expect and what to budget for if you do choose to eat there.

This is another case where planning ahead can definitely make your Disney World experience go much smoother. It will also make you a hero to your family for choosing the perfect place to eat every time!