![]() ![]() (Higher-end brands like JW Marriott and Waldorf Astoria have outposts nearby as well.) Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, which offers Disney hotel perks, Marriott’s Bonvoy advantages, and walking paths to two theme parks, is often my go-to choice (pricing starts around $190 per night). Pricing changes constantly, and there are often seasonal discounts and promotions, but Disney offers three pricing tiers of hotels - value ($100-$200), moderate ($250-$450), and deluxe ($500+). You’ll miss out on Disney hotels’ perks - including early theme park and booking advantages - but it’s not an absolute dealbreaker to stay elsewhere. With those endless pixie-dusted ads airing on TV, Disney wants you to think you have to stay at Disney’s hotels to feel the magic, but there are oodles of nearby hotels that sometimes offer more for less. Once inside, it’s not just the $6 Mickey-shaped ice cream bar that’ll cost you - it’s the breakfast with Tigger ($45 for adults, $29 for kids) and custom Star Wars light sabers ($219) and other optional surcharges, like line-skipping, which can add up to around $55 per person, per day. (Traveling before October? Don’t miss Disney’s rare summer ticket promotion.) ![]() Just mind the asinine restriction that hopping can only occur after 2 pm. (This will change in early 2024.) Disney offers single- and multi-day admission, but a park hopper, generally a $70 surcharge on a one-day pass and less for multi-day admission, allows you to visit any of them. Adult tickets range from $109 to $189 per day, and for the time being, require a free but easy-to-forget park reservation. (On nights from August through December when Magic Kingdom has ticketed seasonal events, it closes around 6 pm and won’t let you stay for fireworks.) How much is this going to cost? There will always be crowds, but to seek out pockets when things are calmer, look through unofficial crowd calendars and take note of park hours. When it comes to selecting dates, it’s what you’d expect: If it’s a holiday, it’s going to be busier and pricier if it’s summer, it’s gonna be hot and also rainy. Sure, you can experience one park in one day if that’s all you’ve got, but it will feel exhausting to jam it all in. I recommend four to five days on the ground - one at each or most of the parks, with a rest day in the middle. Visiting this self-proclaimed epicenter of all things magic really is a multi-day trip. You won’t need to rent a car, though - so long as you can figure out transportation from Orlando International Airport ( Uber, Lyft, or one of the airport bus services like Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer), you can make it around Walt Disney World itself for free. Then there’s Animal Kingdom, the tamest of the four - packed with stunning zoo-like experiences and a surprisingly beloved Avatar land - and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a once-fledgling park that now houses Star Wars and Toy Story attractions alongside Disney’s only Mickey Mouse-themed ride.Īs you’d imagine, Disney World is massive, with some destinations a 25-minute drive away from each other. Epcot is a mishmash of newer, family-friendly attractions with seemingly never-ending seasonal food festivals and a bit of edutainment you may recall from childhood. Magic Kingdom is the castle-laden one you’re picturing, packed with a bevy of kid-friendly rides, character meet-and-greets, and classic nighttime entertainment. Still, Walt Disney World’s draw remains its four separate theme parks, each worthwhile in its own regard. With two water parks, dozens of hotels, a mass transit system, a “downtown” mall and, uh, a utility district you’ve likely heard something about, there’s an entire ecosystem of lingo and logistics that can be as tricky to navigate as a foreign destination. Unlike Disneyland, the classic Southern California theme park that’s easily doable in one day, Walt Disney World is essentially its own city. If you’ve got that voice in the back of your head, summoning you to its royal gates, here’s what you need to know. And just because you’ll complain the whole time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. This is an American institution, and if the countless hours your household logs on Disney+ amount to anything, it’s also somewhat inevitable if you can afford it. Even if you’re convinced your kid won’t remember meeting Minnie Mouse, Disney World can have its merits at any age. After all, there’s a reason millions of people travel to Florida despite its swamp-like climate. ![]()
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