Disney's New Fast Pass +

By now, you have probably heard a lot of hype over Disney's new Fast Pass + system.  Here are the basics you need to know:

1.  Disney's Fast Pass + is FREE to use!

2.  Paper Fast Passes are a thing of the past!  No more running to Toy Story Mania or Soarin' as soon as the parks open in order to get your Fast Pass.  No more running from one end of the park to the other to get your next Fast Pass.

3.  Each guest gets to make THREE Fast Pass + selections per day.

4.  Multiple Fast Pass + selections may NOT be made for an individual attraction.  You must choose three different attractions.

5.  Each park has Fast Pass + selections broken into groups.  For instance, at Epcot you may be able to choose one Fast Pass for either Test Track or Soarin', and your other two Fast Passes for other Epcot attractions.

6.  Each guest may make their original THREE Fast Pass + selections for one park per day.

7.  Once you have used your original 3 Fast Passes of the day, you may make a 4th Fast Pass selection at any park you want using your MDE app on your smart phone or at a Fast Pass kiosk in the park.  Once you have used the 4th Fast Pass, you can make a 5th Fast Pass selection, and so on...

8.  For guests with a Magic Band, you can schedule your Fast Pass selections in advance.  For those staying on Disney Property, Fast Pass + selections can be made on My Disney Experience up to 60 days in advance.  For those with an Annual Pass or those staying off property, Fast Pass + selections can be made on My Disney Experience up to 30 days in advance.  The Fast Passes will then be linked to the guest's Magic Band.

9.  Day guests (those staying off property) now have the option to purchase a Magic Band.

10.  For guests without a Magic Band (those staying off property who elect not to purchase a Magic Band), there are Fast Pass + kiosks located inside the parks.  You will wait in line, and then make your Fast Pass + selections for the day on a touch screen.  Those selections will then be programmed onto a Fast Pass + card (looks like a credit card).

11.  Fast Pass + selections now include things like special parade seating, special seating at shows, etc.

stay tuned to Magical Vacations Travel by Candice for Fast Pass + tips & tricks

If you need help planning your Disney Vacation, contact ME!  I book and plan Disney Vacations at NO COST TO YOU!


HAVE A MAGICAL DISNEY DAY!
Candice

*This post has been edited to include the option to purchase a Magic Band if staying off property.  4/8/14
**This post has been edited to include information about Fast Passes after using your original 3.  5/20/16

Disney's Magic Band

What is Disney's new Magic Band?

You've probably seen friends post their Magic Band pictures on Facebook, and you've perhaps heard about some of the "magical" properties the Magic Band possesses.  Well, here is the full list!

Every guest who stays on Disney Property or those who hold an annual pass receives a Magic Band.

to read about more benefits of staying on Disney Property, go here  

Now, guests staying off property have the option to purchase a Magic Band for a small price.  This allows them to link their tickets, dining reservations and Fast Pass + selections to their Magic Bands through the "My Disney Experience" site online.

You get to choose your Magic Band color (from the seven pictured above), and you get to choose how your name shows on the inside of the band.  If for some reason you forget to choose your color, Disney will automatically issue you a "Dumbo Grey" Magic Band.

Your Magic Band is your "Key to the World!"  Here is what it does:
1.  Room Key
2.  Dining Plan Payment (if you are on one of the Disney Dining Plans, you will use your Magic Band to pay)

read more about the Disney Dining Plans here

3.  Memory Maker / Photo Pass  When you have a Disney Photo Pass Photographer take your picture, simply let them scan your Magic Band to link your pictures to your online account.

read more about Memory Maker here

4.  Fast Pass +  Paper Fast Passes are a thing of the past at Walt Disney World.  Now you get to choose 3 Fast Pass + selections per day, and those choices are stored and redeemed via your Magic Band.  

5.  Park Tickets  Your park tickets are now linked to your Magic Band.  Simply scan your band to get into the parks!
6.  Credit Card  With your Magic Band you get the option to link your credit card for easier payment for souvenirs and other purchases on Disney Property.
7.  Disney Infinity Accessory  If you have the Disney Infinity game system, you can place your Magic Band on your playing pad to unlock secrets within the game!
8.  Bling Your Band  If you would like to add a little "bling" to your Magic Band, you can purchase accessories on Disney Property.


HAVE A MAGICAL DISNEY DAY!
Candice

*This post has been edited to include Magic Bands for off property guests.  4/8/14

WDW Character Dining

Character Dining is a great way to enjoy a nice meal at Walt Disney World while also meeting some of your favorite characters!

The best part about Character Dining is, you don't have to wait in line for these character meet & greets!  The characters actually come to you!  As you enjoy your meal, the characters make their way around the dining room to each table to sign autographs and take pictures.

Character Dining at Walt Disney World takes one of two forms:  a Buffet or a Sit-Down a la carte meal.

"Can I use the Dining Plan to pay for Character Dining?"

Yes!  Character Dining takes 1 Table Service Credit per person (except Cinderella's Royal Table, which takes 2 Table Service Credits per person).  As long as your Dining Plan includes Table Service Credits, you can use it to pay for Character Dining.

learn more about the Disney Dining Plans here

When using the Dining plan to pay for a character meal it includes:  Entree, Dessert & Non-Alcoholic Beverage.  (Gratuity is NOT included with the Dining Plan - with the exception of Cinderella's Royal Table).

Make sure to make your Advanced Dining Reservations as soon as you can.  Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance!  If you have booked your Disney Vacation through a Disney Destination Specialist (like me...wink, wink), then you don't even have to wait on hold with Disney to make your reservations.  Your Disney Destination Specialist can do that for you!

There are Character Dining opportunities throughout the four Disney parks and at select Disney Resorts.
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At the Parks:  (to dine in the parks, you must pay park admission for the day)

Magic Kingdom
*The Crystal Palace     Buffet     Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner  
Winnie the Pooh and Friends
*Cinderella's Royal Table     a la carte     Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner  
Princesses

Epcot
*Chip 'N' Dales Harvest Feast at the Garden Grill     a la carte     Dinner  
Chip 'n' Dale
*Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall     a la carte     Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner  
Princesses

Hollywood Studios
*Disney Junior Play 'n Dine at Hollywood and Vine     Buffet     Breakfast & Lunch  
Disney Jr. Characters

Animal Kingdom
*Donald's Dining Safari at Tusker House Restaurant     Buffet     Breakfast & Lunch  
Donald & Friends

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At the Resorts:

Contemporary Resort
*Chef Mickey's     Buffet     Breakfast & Dinner  
Mickey & Friends

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
*Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare     Buffet     Breakfast  
Mary Poppins & Wonderland Friends
*Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare     Buffet     Dinner  
Princesses

Polynesian Resort
*'Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast     Buffet     Breakfast  
Lilo & Stitch

Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
*Beach Club Breakfast Buffet at Cape May Cafe     Buffet     Breakfast  
Goofy & Friends  
      
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HAVE A MAGICAL DISNEY DAY!
Candice

What is Disney's Dining Plan?

Okay, so you've heard the Disney Dining Plan mentioned before, but what exactly is the Dining Plan???
Here's the scoop!

The Disney Dining plan is most simply explained as a way to pre-pay for the food that you will be eating on Disney property while on your Disney Vacation.  This includes food in the Disney parks, food at the Disney resorts and most food at Disney Springs and Disney's Boardwalk.

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Who can purchase the Disney Dining Plan?

Guests staying at a Disney Resort can purchase the Dining Plan as a part of their vacation package.

check out this post for more perks available to those staying on Disney Property

When you purchase the Dining Plan, every person on your reservation is required to purchase the same Dining Plan, and the duration of the Dining Plan purchased must be the same as the number of nights on the reservation.

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There are three main options for the Dining Plan (2017):

1.  Quick Service Dining Plan  ($)

The Quick Service Dining Plan includes:

2 Snack Credits & 2 Quick Service Meal Credits per person per night

1 Refillable Mug per person
(The Quick Service meal includes an entree & a non-alcoholic beverage)

2.  Disney Dining Plan - Basic  ($$)

The Basic Disney Dining Plan includes:

2 Snack Credits, 1 Quick Service Meal Credit & 1 Table Service Meal Credit per person per night

1 Refillable Mug per person
(The Quick Service meal includes an entree & a non-alcoholic beverage)
(The Table Service meal includes an entree, a non-alcoholic beverage, & a dessert)

3.  Deluxe Dining Plan  ($$$)

The Deluxe Dining Plan includes:

2 Snack Credits & 3 Meals (can be Quick Service or Table Service) per person per night

1 Refillable Mug per person

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Do you have to use your food allotments each day?

NO!  You don't have to use your food credits by the day.  When you check into your Disney Resort, your Dining Plan is automatically activated.  ALL of your food credits are placed into your Dining Plan account upon check-in.  

Example:  If you are staying at a Disney Resort for 7 nights, and you have purchased the Basic Disney Dining Plan, then when you check-in your Dining Plan account will have:

14 Snack Credits, 7 Quick Service Credits & 7 Table Service Credits

You will also have 1 Credit for a Refillable Mug (you will "purchase" your mug using your credit at your Disney Resort food court).

If I want to use all of my Quick Service credits on day 2, can I?  If I want to save all of my snack credits until the last day of my trip, can I?

YES!  And YES!  Think of your Dining Plan account as a debit account.  All of your credits are available for use from the moment you check-in at your Disney Resort.  Use them as quickly or as slowly as you want.  Once you run out of credits, you are out of credits.  It's that simple!

Your Dining Plan account expires at midnight the day that you check-out of your Disney Resort.  So if you are planning to go to a park on your last day, and you check-out prior to heading to the park, your credits are still good until midnight!  

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What do I do if I have several snack credits left over at the end of my trip?

Many people will go to a gift shop or food court, and "purchase" snacks with their remaining credits to take home with them.  There are many packaged snack options that will stay good for a while.  This is a great way to bring home some Disney Magic!  Some of my favorite options for this are:  sealed bags of Main Street Kettle Corn and sealed packages of Goofy's Sour Gummies from Goofy's Candy Company (also available in most gift shops). 

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How does the Refillable Mug work?

Once you have "purchased" your Refillable Mug from your Disney Resort food court, you can then use it for unlimited drink refills at Disney Resorts (you cannot refill the mug in the parks).  The mugs now have a chip inside the base that keeps track of when it can be used.  The Refillable Mug expires at midnight the day that you check out.  The chip "talks" to the drink machines, and you will see a display screen over the drinks that tells you when your mug expires.  You also have to wait 2 minutes between refills (this is just to cut down on people cheating the system).  

Drinks available are:  Sodas, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Iced Tea & Water.

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What is the difference in the various dining options?

There are many different dining options on Disney property.

*Snacks - generally any snack item that can be purchased for $4.95 or less 

(sometimes they are worth more)  Look for this symbol to verify that it can be purchased for a snack credit:

*Quick Service - meal ordered at counter or register

A Quick Service meal includes:  Entree & Non-Alcoholic Beverage

Children should order a kids' meal where available.

*Table Service - Buffet or Sit-Down a la carte meal

A Table Service meal includes:  Entree, Dessert & Non-Alcoholic Beverage

(Gratuity is not included with the Dining Plan - with the exception of Cinderella's Royal Table)

*Character Dining - Buffet or Sit-Down a la carte meal

Character Dining takes 1 Table Service Credit per person (except Cinderella's Royal Table, which takes 2 Table Service Credits per person).

Character Dining is a Table Service Meal that features character interactions.  The characters circulate the dining room and spend time at each table for pictures and signatures.

A Character Dining (Table Service Meal) includes:  Entree, Dessert & Non-Alcoholic Beverage

(Gratuity is not included with the Dining Plan - with the exception of Cinderella's Royal Table).

learn more about Character Dining here

*Dinner Shows - Buffet or Sit-Down a la carte meal

Dinner Shows take 2 Table Service Credits per person.

(Gratuity IS included with the Dining Plan for Dinner Shows)

*Signature Dining - Sit-Down a la carte meal

Signature Restaurants take 2 Table Service Credits per person. 

Signature Dining includes:  Entree, Dessert & Non-Alcoholic Beverage

(Gratuity is not included with the Dining Plan for Signature Dining)

*Private In-Room Dining

Private In-Room Dining takes 2 Table Service Credits per person.

Private In-Room Dining includes:  Entree, Dessert & Non-Alcoholic Beverage

(Gratuity IS included with the Dining Plan for Private In-Room Dining)

*Pizza Delivery

Pizza Delivery takes 2 Table Service Credits

Pizza Delivery includes:  1 Pizza Entree Item, 2 Desserts & 2 Non-Alcoholic Beverages

(Gratuity IS included with the Dining Plan for Pizza Delivery)

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for the complete 2017 Disney Dining Plan Brochure, click here

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HAVE A MAGICAL DISNEY DAY!

Candice

Benefits of Staying on Disney Property

Have you ever wondered, "Why should I stay on Disney Property for my Disney Vacation?"

Well, here are a few of the reasons that many people stay in Disney Resorts time and time again.

There are more than 20 Resorts on Disney Property!

Your Disney Resort options range from Value Resorts that feature larger than life fun, Moderate Resorts that offer fun features for the whole family, to Deluxe Resorts that bring a theme together in a luxurious, Disney way, and Deluxe Villas for those families that like to enjoy a more roomy and grand experience.

Value Resort

Moderate Resort

Deluxe Resort

The Magic Doesn't end when you leave the parks!

From the moment you step foot into your Disney Resort to the moment you check out, you are right in the middle of the Disney Magic!  Cast members are always working to make your stay as delightful as possible.  And we all know that nobody executes a theme as well as Disney!  At Disney's Resorts, you will find yourself right in the middle of the fun!  Mousekeeping has a way of adding that special touch each day with towel art, hidden Mickey's can be found throughout the resorts, and each resort offers it's own special surprise for you upon check-in.  You also get to enjoy intricately themed pools and arcades, Disney gift shops and awesome food options.  Disney Resorts offer it all!

Proximity to the Fun!

One of the best parts of staying at a Disney Resorts is your proximity to all of the fun Disney has to offer.  When you stay at a Disney Resort, you are actually staying ON Disney property, which means you are close to the parks, Downtown Disney, Disney's Boardwalk and the other Disney Resorts.  No need to waste precious vacation time getting to where you want to go, it's simply a short Disney Transportation ride away.  And speaking of...

Disney Transportation!

When you stay at a Disney Resort, there is no need to worry about anything...even driving!  If you are flying into the Orlando International Airport for your Disney vacation, Disney's Magical Express bus will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel.  The Magical Express will even take you back to the airport when it's time to leave.  Once you have arrived at your Disney Resort, Disney will continue to do the driving.  From the famous Monorail, to the Disney buses, to the scenic water taxis and ferries there are many ways to get from point A to point B on Disney property.  Best part is...it's all complimentary!  And if you still feel like driving your own car would suit your family better, then by all means, go for it!  When you stay on Disney property, it costs you nothing to park anywhere on property.  That's right...even at the Disney theme parks!  That's a savings of at least $15 per park per day!

Disney's Magical Express

Disney's Monorail

Extra Magic Hours!

Everyone likes to make the most of their time on vacation!  Well, when you stay on Disney property, you get an excellent benefit to help you do just that...Extra Magic Hours!  Extra Magic Hours is a feature that is only available for those guests staying at a Disney Resort.  Each day one of the four Disney parks offers extended hours to Disney Resort guests!  The park of the day will either open 1 hour early or remain open 2 extra hours for Disney Resort guests only.  Also, at select times of the year, Disney's two water parks offer Extra Magic Hours as well.

Stay up late and PLAY!  Extra Magic Hours

Disney Dining Plan!

One excellent way to save money on your Disney Vacation, is by purchasing the Disney Dining Plan.  This benefit is only offered to those staying at a Disney Resort.  The Disney Dining Plan is a way to pre-pay for your food, so that when you are on vacation, you don't have to worry about a thing!  There are several different options available including the Quick Service Dining Plan, the Disney Dining Plan, and the Deluxe Dining Plan.

for more about the Disney Dining Plan, click here

Disney has tons of great restaurants to choose from!

Earlier Fast Pass Reservation Date!

Fast Pass is a FREE perk available to all guests of the Disney Parks!  However, for those staying on Disney property, you can make your Fast Pass selections up to 60 days prior to your check-in date, while those not staying on Disney property must wait until 30 days prior to visiting the parks.  This is a definite advantage to those staying on property, because many of the more popular rides with Fast Pass run out of available Fast Pass times.


So as you can see, there are many benefits to staying at a Disney Resort for your vacation.  For more information about the amenities offered at a specific resort, contact me!  My services are always FREE to you!  Candice@MagicalVacationsTravel.com


HAVE A MAGICAL DISNEY DAY!
Candice