New Mid-Day Ticket Option for Walt Disney World

Beginning Aug. 15, 2019, guest can “fall into fun” like never before at Walt Disney World Resort with a new ticket offer. With the “Mid-Day Magic Ticket,” Guests can enjoy admission after 12 p.m. to one theme park per day. 2-, 3- and 4-day Mid-Day Magic tickets are available for start dates on or before Dec. 15, 2019.

2-Day Mid-Day Magic Ticket: Valid for admission after 12 p.m. 2-day Mid-Day Magic Tickets are available from $88 per day plus tax (from $176 total plus tax) and expire four (4) days after the selected start date.

3-Day Mid-Day Magic Ticket: Valid for admission to after 12 p.m. 3-day Mid-Day Magic tickets are available from $84 per day plus tax (from $252 total plus tax) and expire five (5) days after the selected start date.

4-Day Mid-Day Magic Ticket: Valid for admission after 12 p.m. 4-day Mid-Day Magic tickets are available from $79 per day plus tax (from $316 total plus tax) and expire seven (7) days after the selected start date.



This is the first time Disney is offering a late-entry ticket with special pricing that allows Guests to enter the theme parks starting at noon and enjoy the day and evening. This option works best for Guests who are looking for an opportunity to start their morning at a leisurely pace, to enjoy other early-morning activities (golf, pool, etc.), or to travel from their accommodations.

With these tickets, the magic starts at noon as Guests will receive admission to one theme park per day after 12 p.m. Additionally, Guests can secure afternoon and evening FastPass+ to select attractions, entertainment and Character Greets up to 30 days in advance. Guests can enjoy new seasonal excitement, including new sips and savors at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and the holiday Hoopla Dance Party in DinoLand U.S.A at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park starting Nov. 8.

For guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Disney's date-based ticket product is still the best option, giving Guests the flexibility and opportunity to experience all the magic that the theme parks have to offer, including the morning Extra Magic Hour benefit.

How to Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Planning a Disney World vacation requires some research. Walt Disney World is a huge place (47 square miles — that’s almost twice as large as Manhattan!) with so many things to do and see that even after more than 30 visits, we have not begun to do it all.

Just a quick summary of SOME of what’s available at Disney World:
• 4 major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• 2 water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon
• Over 25 resort hotels
• 5 golf courses
• 2 mini-golf courses
• numerous lakes offering water sports, boating and fishing
• 2 dinner shows
• BoardWalk entertainment district
• Disney Springs shopping and dining district

So it’s not surprising that you’re a little confused about where to begin.

You’ll need to decide the following, in roughly this order:

1. When you’re going

See when is the best time to go to Disney World for hints on the best and worst times of year for planning a Disney World vacation.  Obviously your budget, kids’ school schedules and other factors will influence your decision as well.

2. What you’re going to do when you get there

Seems kind of early in the planning process, doesn’t it? I mean, you haven’t even decided on a hotel yet! Well, trust me, you need to do some research before you go any further. There is so much to do, and everyone does something slightly different. Depending on the parks and attractions you want to visit, you may find certain hotels and resorts are much more convenient.

If you need some help with planning, I offer a planning service through Fiverr where I provide you with the perfect personalized 4 park itinerary for your trip to WDW and can customize it with shows, entertainment and dining suggestions based on the dates of your trip.

3. How long you’re staying

You probably thought that was part of #1 above, didn’t you? But after you learn how much there is to do, you may re-think your plans.

If you want to visit all four theme parks and actually experience the majority of the attractions, parades and shows, you will need at least 5 full days! (Epcot can easily take 2 days all by itself, because in a sense it’s the equivalent of 2 theme parks: Future World and World Showcase).

If you would like to do the major attractions at the theme parks without racing around like a maniac, or you want to try some of the “extras,” like water parks or golf, allow more days. In fact, I believe a one-week trip is optimum for a first-timer who wants to enjoy the full experience. Tickets are the most expensive part of most people’s Disney World vacations, and Disney has set up its ticket pricing to encourage trips longer than 4 days: 7-day tickets don’t cost that much more than 4-day tickets.

4. How you’re getting there

Whether you plan to go on your Disney vacation by plane, train or automobile, it can be challenging to find the most economical way to get to your destination — and then you need to figure out how you’re going to get around while you are there!

If you will be flying to Florida, it is a good idea to start checking out airfares right away, and keep checking them. The fares fluctuate wildly and if you catch a good one, you’ll need to grab it quickly.

5. What kind of theme park tickets to buy

Because Walt Disney World tickets are so expensive (you’ll probably spend more on tickets than you will on your hotel room) this is a critical decision. Look over your itinerary, get out your calculator, take a look at the prices and figure out which tickets make sense for your situation.

While there are discounted tickets available from authorized ticket resellers like AAA/CAA, Undercover Tourist, and Maple Leaf Tickets in Canada, keep in mind that discounts are small for the most part; you’re probably going to have to pay 80%-95% of full price in most cases.

6. Where you will be staying

First you’ll have to decide whether to stay at an official Disney resort, or at a nearby “off-property” resort. This is a complex decision for many people, to say the least. Keep in mind that while we use the term “off-property” to describe the non-Disney hotels, many of them are quite close and some are actually physically located on Disney-owned land. They just aren’t owned and run by Disney.

Each of the official Disney resorts is unique and special, and the ability to leave the real world behind and experience the Disney magic 24/7 is part of the fun for many people. The Deluxe Disney resorts are especially stunning. When you stay at a Disney resort hotel, you get FREE transfers to and from the airport via Disney’s Magical Express, access to Extra Magic Hours and some other perks. Staying at a Disney resort gives you direct access to the Disney buses, boats and monorails so you can take a break from driving. The Disney resorts have much larger pools and more recreation options than most off-site hotels.

If you are trying to save as much money as possible, an off-property resort is usually going to be the best value. Families of 5 or more usually find that off-property resorts are an especially good deal, because most of the 5-person options at Disney’s resorts are quite pricey. Good off-property hotels often have larger rooms with more amenities than the official Disney hotels (especially compared to the Value and Moderate resorts, which have standard rooms that feel a bit motel-like). A quality off-property hotel will have service at least as good as a Disney resort, and a “luxury” hotel like the Waldorf Astoria Orlando will typically have better service. If you stay off-property, you will probably want to rent a car, which is an additional expense, but it is generally a faster and better way to get around than the Disney transportation system.

The bottom line is that you can have an excellent vacation staying either on or off property. I have done it both ways multiple times, and can assure you there are no right or wrong answers.  I recommend exploring both options and figuring the bottom-line price and what you get with each. If you can afford to stay more days with one option, we recommend going that way; we’ll always advocate for staying longer if you can swing it. If neither one jumps out as being obviously better for you and this is your “once in a lifetime” trip, we’d go with a Disney resort just to get the full experience. If you think you’ll come back, just pick one option at random; you can always try it the other way on your next visit.

If you’re considering an on-site resort stay, you will want to see some photos and details about Disney’s resorts. Disney’s own disneyworld.com website is a good basic resource.

If you decide to stay on-site, there are discounts available at certain times of year for Disney’s resorts as well as discounts on Disney’s vacation packages. If you will be staying for 5 nights or more at a Disney resort, that’s a big investment and we hope you’ll seriously consider contacting a Disney Specialist travel agent such as myself. It costs you nothing to have someone else keep track of all the resort discounts and find you the best deal. They will even rebook your resort reservations if a better discount becomes available.

If you’re considering non-Disney/off-site hotels — and it’s worth considering, especially if you are on a tight budget and/or have a family of 5 or more — we have visited dozens around Walt Disney World and can help you choose the perfect hotel for your family.

7. How you’re getting from the airport to your hotel (if you’re flying)

There are lots of options.

If you are staying at a Disney resort, Walt Disney World Resort offers a FREE airport shuttle service called Disney’s Magical Express that includes a complimentary airport shuttle bus to and from the Disney resorts*, and luggage delivery from your home airport directly to your Disney resort hotel room (as long as you arrive between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm).

If you are staying at a non-Disney/off-site hotel, one option is to use an airport shuttle — a shared van or bus service that runs at scheduled times between the airport and your hotel. You will need to check if this is offered by your hotel as not all hotels offer this service.

Another option if you will not be staying at a Disney-owned and -operated hotel, is booking Mears Shuttle. When arriving, you don’t really need to make a reservation (though it still may be helpful during peak season). There’s a Mears desk in the airport and you can walk up and arrange to go on the next shuttle. When going back to the airport, you will need to arrange a pickup time with Mears. You tell Mears when your flight leaves, and they assign you a pickup time. They’re generally pretty good about arriving close to that time and getting you to the airport in time for your flight. Transfers between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Disney World-area resorts are $37 roundtrip for adults (12 and older) and $28 for kids ages 4-11, plus tip. Kids 3 and under are free.

Unfortunately, Mears can be slow, since you will have to wait for the shuttle (which is often a big bus) to pick up numerous passengers and take them to their individual hotels. Allow about 90 minutes from the time you get off the plane until you arrive at your hotel. (Direct driving time is 20-30 minutes.)

Other options include a shared shuttle van service or towncar/limo transfer


That’s it!

Seriously, everything else is “gravy.” You can make reservations for your meals, book special events and do all kinds of other planning, but these are the basics. Enjoy your planning!

Start planning your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. They’ll help you get the best price for your vacation, share their expert advice and their services are totally FREE!

When is the Best Time to go to Walt Disney World?

The BEST times to go to Walt Disney World are:

Mid-November through mid-December (except the week of Thanksgiving). The weather is usually cool but pleasant, the Christmas decorations are up, special events are running, and the attendance is usually moderate. Expect crowds on Saturdays, especially at the Magic Kingdom. Disney’s resorts typically fill up early for all of December, but this doesn’t necessary translate into huge crowds during early December.

Second week of January through mid-February. It’s cool (sometimes even a bit cold) at this time of year. This is one of the least busy times of year and hotel prices are lower. However, some rides will be closed for refurbishment at this time of year. The first week of January can be busy due to extended holiday vacations and the Walt Disney World Marathon. Avoid any holiday weekends.

First three weeks of May. The weather is warm in May, but usually not unbearably so. Crowds and hotel prices are moderate. Memorial Day weekend will be more crowded, but often not as bad as you might expect.

Late August and entire month of September (even Labor Day weekend). It will be extremely hot, and this is peak hurricane season. Plan on taking afternoons off and visiting water parks. Crowds are low. Off-site hotels usually have their rock-bottom deals during this period, and Disney has offered “free dining” packages in this time frame each year since 2005.

During special events that interest you. Bear in mind that events held on major holidays usually attract significant crowds, however.


The WORST times to visit Walt Disney World are:

December 26-January 1. This is the most crowded and most expensive time of year. Crowds get increasingly bad starting about December 20 and running through the New Year. (If you absolutely must go at this time, check out our Christmas week survival guide.)

Mid-February through mid-April (or later, depending on the date of Easter). Easter week (the weekend of Easter and the following week) is the second most busy time of the year. Holiday weekends in this time frame, such as President’s Day, are also exceptionally busy. Expect big crowds, high resort prices and expensive airfares, but usually very nice weather. This whole period is a peak time due to various overlapping Spring Breaks, though there can be slower periods of a few days here and there, particularly mid-week.

Midsummer (June through early August). Expect it to be very busy and extremely hot, with heavy humidity. To maximize your experience, plan on hitting the parks first thing in the morning. After lunch, take an afternoon break, then return to the park in the late afternoon/early evening. 11:00 am to 4:00 pm is the hottest part of the day and ironically the most crowded, too.

Other holidays. Among the other busy time periods are Thanksgiving week and any national holiday with a 3-day weekend (except Labor Day weekend and to a lesser extent Memorial Day weekend).

During special events. Some don’t create a lot of crowds, but some do.


Some less-known events that may affect crowds, park hours/experiences and/or traffic at Walt Disney World:

Cheerleading/Twirl/Dance Competitions – Various dates each year, especially January-March and end of April, early May. These usually don’t have a lot of impact on the in-park crowds. The issue is that the Value resorts (All-Stars and Pop Century) play host to hordes of girls who can be extremely loud, so you may want to avoid those resorts during competitions.

South American Tour Groups – In January and July each year, large groups of teenagers from Brazil and Argentina descend on Walt Disney World for their school breaks. Some of the groups do a lot of chanting, singing, clapping and shouting. The sheer size of the groups (up to 100 kids in a single group) can make navigating around them difficult.

Mardi Gras Week. February or March (varies annually). Many New Orleans schools have all or part of this week off, so families leave town the weekend before the holiday and head to Disney World in droves. However, this usually doesn’t have a huge influence on the overall crowds, unless it corresponds with another holiday weekend.

“Jersey Week” – Usually the first or second week of November. The New Jersey schools have a teachers’ convention, which is often close to Veterans Day. Lots of people take advantage of this time off to pull their kids out of school for the whole week and add on the weekend before and/or after, taking this opportunity to go to Disney World in the “off season.” New Jersey is the single biggest market for Walt Disney World — you do the math!

ABC’s Very Merry Christmas Day Parade - while the parade is broadcast on December 25th, footage is taped in advance in the Magic Kingdom usually shortly after Thanksgiving. The exact dates are often not released publicly, but they usually leak out a few weeks prior. Unless you want to watch the production process, you may want to avoid Magic Kingdom on those dates, because the taping creates crowd problems. Also, some shows or parades may be cancelled or rescheduled.

Pop Warner Week – The Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships are held at Disney World in early December. The Value resorts and some of the Moderate resorts will be FULL of kids (both football players and cheerleaders – there are 64 football teams and 400 cheer squads competing). Expect a lot of noise if you stay there. This event can cause increased crowds at the parks in the evenings (not during the day, since they are busy competing).

Planning a Last Minute Trip to Walt Disney World.

For most of us, going to Walt Disney World means a little (or a lot) of planning in advance - with dining reservations, fast passes and flights.  But for others, sometimes it's a last-minute "Let's go to Walt Disney World" type of vacation.

In today's blog, I'm going to be sharing all about planning that last-minute Disney trip.

A very common question is do you get a Magic Band if you're traveling to Walt Disney World on a last-minute trip?  Well, it all comes down to how last-minute your trip is.  If you have more than eleven days prior to your stay at the time of booking, you can go into the My Disney Experience app and customize your Magic Band with your favorite color, your name on the back, and they will send your Magic Band to your house.  If it is ten to six days before your trip, you can customize it on the My Disney Experience app with your favorite color, your name on the back and Disney will send it to your Disney Resort so you can pick it up when you arrive,  However, if you have five or fewer days, unfortunately that's not enough time to customize your Magic Band and you'll pick uu a solid gray Magic Band when you check in (with no name customization on the back) but it will still work and it's still a free magic band.

Of course, if you have your own Magic Band, whether one the special design ones or one from a from previous trips, those will work as well and you can bring one with you on your trip and decline a new Magic Band.

If you've planned a trip to Walt Disney World before and taken advantage of the Disney Magical Express service, you know that before your trip, Disney will send you several yellow luggage tags you attach to your luggage allowing you to bypass picking up your luggage at Orlando International Airport.  Using these tags, Disney will deliver your luggage to your resort room via their luggage delivery service.

But what happens if you have a last-minute Disney trip?  There are a couple options - one being you could collect your luggage off the carousel yourself and bring it to the Magical Express bus where they will put your luggage on the bus with you, or two, you can hand the Cast Members at the Magical Express desk the claim ticket that you received from the airline when you checked in your luggage at your home airport.  They will take care of everything else it will arrive at your resort that night.

If you've been to Walt Disney World before you know the value of fast passes.  Disney's fast pass system can get you on some of your favorite attractions and rides with extremely low wait times but if you're going on a last-minute Disney trip can you still get them?  Of course you can, and you may even be surprised with how many attractions and rides still have fast passes available for your stay.  Of course, getting fast passes all depends on the time of year and the crowd level but you may even see some great fast pass availability on the day you're in the park.  The key is to keep checking the My Disney Experience app on your phone frequently.

What about dining reservations?  Well, you might be surprised how many dining reservations may still available at the very last minute.  If you can't find one available for your stay, don't be afraid to check in at the restaurant desk, keeping in mind walk-up availability comes down to the time of year and the crowd level in the parks.

Now you may be thinking that because you're planning a last-minute Disney trip, it's going to be more expensive, especially at the resorts.  That is not always the case especially depending on the time of year if you're trying to get a reservation for.  As an example, if you are trying to get a resort room at Walt Disney World two days prior to Christmas so that you can be in the parks on Christmas Day, you may be out of luck.  However, other times throughout the year you may be surprised at how much availability there is.  If Disney is not selling as many of those rooms as they would like, they may even start to discount them just a little bit.  There will be no big announcement like the regular discounts, you just have to search on the Disney World website and you may be in luck and be able to say "oh my gosh look at this great deal that I found for a Disney Resort - let's hop on a plane and go."

These last minute deals are not as frequent anymore but it does happen, so yes, you can still experience the magic of a last-minute Walt Disney World vacation.  The most important factor to remember is the time of year.  If it's the time of year when the crowds are relatively low, you are going to have better luck with finding great fast passes and dining reservations, and even your flight will probably be less expensive.

If you're thinking about going during a heavy crowd time of year like the middle of the summer or Christmastime, you're unfortunately going to be paying a little bit more and may not even find the availability that you're looking for.

Have you been successful in booking a last-minute trip to Walt Disney World??