Walt Disney World offers so many wonderful options for families of all budgets and lifestyles. Like any purchase, you get what you pay for with your Walt Disney World Vacation, and it’s important to know how much you can get with your vacation time and money when traveling to Orlando. But how do you know what is worth upgrading and what isn’t? Since we all have different views of Walt Disney World and all it can offer, let’s take a look at getting more for your money with Disney upgrades.
Why should I book a Preferred Category room at a moderate or value resort? First, a preferred room means you are closer to the buses, main building with the dining options, and usually the main pool. With the exception of Port Orleans French Quarter, the Disney Value and Moderate category resorts are really just huge. Staying in a preferred room at a value or moderate resort eliminates more walking and saves time. Also, if you have a refillable mug with the Disney Dining Plan, the closer you are to the dining and drink stations, the more of a value it is. Preferred rooms are especially valuable to families with young children or those with guests that have mobility issues.
What benefits come from MemoryMaker? MemoryMaker is my new favorite thing. Totally worth the $169 in my opinion. First, it’s cheaper to add it 3 days before arrival, as it goes up to $199 if you add it after that point. There are MemoryMaker photographers everywhere. They pose you, take Magic Shots, and then scan your band and poof….your picture is waiting for you on your MDE account. Not to mention all your attraction and character meet and greet photos are on there. Most guests return home with over 300 MemoryMaker photos. Wow! And then you can download them to your device of your choice, and print them however you choose from your favorite photo place.
Why should I stay at a Magic Kingdom area resort, when I can stay at a value or moderate for much less? At Disney, time is money, and the closer you can be to the parks to lessen your travel time, the better. Think of it this way. If you are traveling with little children, you are going to spend most of your time at MK. So why not stay closer to that area? Lugging strollers on and off buses is a pain compared to hopping on the monorail or boat and being at MK in literally minutes Under a good discount, the Wilderness Lodge can be the most affordable option in the Magic Kingdom area. Plus, don’t forget about the cabins at Fort Wilderness. Those are a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom!
Why do I need the Park Hopper option? Park Hopper allows you to visit multiple parks in one day. Such a great value! It is only about $60 per person to add the Park Hopper option onto your tickets. And, you have to hop twice to make it cost effective. Park Hoppers give you so many great ways to use your time at Walt Disney World! They are perfect for guests who visit often, and in my opinion, families with children older than 5 or 6. This age you are maybe going back for afternoon breaks, but it’s not a “must” since your kids are older. Some Disney parks, like Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, are not a park you would spend a whole day in, making the option to hop to another park even better!
Should I rent a stroller from Disney or from an outside company? Renting a stroller from an outside company is totally worth it. The ones at the Disney Parks are hard, plastic, and a pain to push. They don’t have good sunshades, either and not a lot of storage. If you rent from an outside company, they often rent BOB or Citi Mini strollers. Both are excellent brands! Plus, they will deliver it to your resort and pick it up on your check out day.
What do you think is worth the upgrade at Walt Disney World? We’d love to hear about it!
Are you ready to plan your next family vacation? Contact one of our amazing Dream Team Travel Agents!