Walt Disney World is a very magical place where, as they say, dreams come true. But despite all this magic, Disney can be very confusing. Between the many hotel or restaurant choices, choosing what parks to visit, and the complicated Fastpass system, it may feel like your worst nightmare booking your trip instead of a dream. So, we are here to help explain the very basics to Walt Disney World and turn your nightmare around. Continuing our series, we are explaining the basics of the Fastpass+ system as well as the basics of restaurants.
Fastpasses
Fastpasses are very important when it comes to getting the most time out of your Disney vacations. Fastpasses are a way to skip the line for certain attractions by making a reservation. There are different lines for guests with Fastpasses and guests without so your line will be shorter! Every guest gets three Fastpasses per day which you can make in advance or day of. The thing most people don’t realize is you can get extra Fastpasses after you use up your first three. So, we recommend making your Fastpasses for the morning then scheduling more later in the day.
Expedition Everest Ride Entrance
It sounds like a pretty awesome system, right? It is, but there is one main hitch. First off, not every ride has a Fastpass option (although most do) and Fastpasses are grouped into tiers. Tier one has the most popular attractions, tier two has the second most popular, and tier three the third. You can only book one tier one Fastpass and your other two can be used on tier two or three. So, you can’t get three Fastpasses each for a very popular ride. This applies to every theme park except Magic Kingdom. Despite this, the Fastpass+ system is very helpful and can make the most of your time.
When you can book Fastpasses depends on where you are staying. If you are staying at a Disney Hotel or a Disney Good-Neighbor Hotel (one they are affiliated with), you can schedule Fastpasses 60 days in advance. You also get to schedule Fastpasses for your whole trip at the 60-day mark. If you choose not to stay on-property, then you can schedule Fastpasses 30 days in advance. Plus, you only get to book for one day at a time meaning you can schedule each day of your stay’s Fastpasses exactly 30 days from the specific day. This means if you’re staying off-property, chances are you won’t get the popular ride’s Fastpass and you can’t book your Fastpasses all at once. Fastpasses are very useful when it comes to skipping lines so it is important to consider this when choosing where to stay for your trip.
Restaurants
There are three main categories of places to eat in Walt Disney World. First off, there are snacks. These are quick eats and often not filling enough to be considered a meal. These can be sweet or savory treats. Next up is Quick Service. Quick Service is the high-quality fast food of Disney. Want some good food but don’t want to waste time at a sit-down restaurant? Check out one of these options. Different locations have different ranges of food from basic check finger type food to more unique options like a fancy fish dish. Most Quick Service locations also use mobile ordering. This means you can order your food in the My Disney Experience App then skip the line to pick it up at a different location. This makes your meal even faster!
DOLE Whip from Aloha Isle Refreshments
Finally, we have Table Service Restaurants. There are many restaurants in the parks, at the hotels, or in Disney Springs. These are either normal restaurants or buffets. Some are even character meals meaning you can meet your favorite Disney Princess or Mickey in a safari outfit depending on where you go. Of course, each restaurant varies on the menu and if you are looking for unique food options, we recommend going to Epcot which has food from around the world in the World Showcase. The thing with Table Service dining is you will want to make a reservation in advance. Many of the restaurants get booked up fast, especially if they have a unique menu compared to other dining locations or if they have characters. Reservations open up 180 days in advance of the first day of your vacation (only if you’re staying on property). You can book reservations for your whole trip once you reach the 180-day mark. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to eat at table service if you don’t have a reservation but don’t be surprised if you can’t get a seat.
50's Prime Time Diner
Disney offers Dining Plans. This is basically where you prepay for your food and get a certain amount of credits to use each day. There are four plans now: the Quick Service Plan, the Dining Plan, the Dining Plan Plus, and the Deluxe Dining Plan. They give you a certain number of snack credits that can be used for items varying from water bottles to baked goods and more, Quick Service Credits which are used at Quick Service locations, and Table Service Credits which are used at Table Service restaurants. We advise pricing out how much you might spend per day and how much food you need before committing to any plan. They can be very helpful though and if used well, you can get the best bang for your buck.
In conclusion, scheduling is very important whether it is planning Fastpasses or making dining reservations. Make sure you plan when choosing where you’re going to eat or which ride you just have to skip the line for so you can have the best trip possible. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing what you’ll do. If you want a relaxing vacation, you can even skip making any reservations and see what’s available each day based on your mood. It’s all up to you. Whatever you choose to ride or wherever you chose to eat, we hope your trip will be as magical as it can be!
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