Walt Disney World Resort can be a pretty good grind, and you need to expect to every bit of 10,000 steps.  If you're not up to that, it shouldn't diminish your ability to visit the Resort with family and friends.  We have used a service (Walker Mobility) for our clients for years, and this past visit got to use them first hand.

This was our first trip to the resort since they've begun using the Disney MagicBands.  

First, they were comfortable.  I haven't worn a watch regularly in over 10 years.  I must have looked at my wrist thinking I had a watch on 5 times.

They worked flawlessly on the room door each time.

Admission to the park was a little tough at the beginning.  Both my wife and I had problems, had to have a cast member come over, take our picture, reset the band and we were good.  After that happened to each of us once, there weren't any more problems.

Using to pay for things, initially, was brutal.  Again, it comes back to the DisneyExperienceApp.  Everything's got to jive with that and each cast member behind the register will immediately ask if you have the app, and show you how to reset the account.  All comes down to making sure your pin is correct. Make sure you check it at checkin to your resort.  Otherwise, you'll have to go to guest services at one of the parks, or back to the front desk at your resort hotel and get the pin straight.  After that, was accomplished, things went very smoothly.

Love the concept.  It's new, it will have bugs.  It's better than carrying around a card and we'll give it a big thumbs up.

A trip to Walt Disney World is always about being efficient with your time.  If you "just wing it", you'lre going to be looking back on your vacation as a lot of wandering around.  The MyDisneyExperience app helps with all of this, but it can also be frustrating. 

I have to advise that everyone get this app.  It's the first thing every cast member asks when something techno goes wrong (and it will).

I liked the feature giving updates on wait times.  It was fairly easy to add fastpasses.  Was great for keeping you advised of your dining reservations, upcoming fastpasses, etc.

The map feature could be improved.  I need a map that rotates with me in my direction as I walk, not stays constant and you've got to figure out which way to turn.

It took me a couple of days to consistently find the links to things I thought were essential from the main page (my dining plan count, my hotel bill, etc.).

You've got to get this app BEFORE you go to Orlando and start playing with it, even though you're not onsite.  I think that's really critical.

There are many times you have to arrive in Orlando prior to your Walt Disney World Vacation.  It could be the flights the night/day before are just too good to pass up vs. arriving day of.  You might have to work and want to get there in the evening.  

Our case was that we had four households convening from four different locations.  One household wanted to go see Universal, another had to work then leave, the other two were pretty much free to do whatever.

There's two scenarios I would suggest.  

• First, stay at an airport hotel with a shuttle.  In the morning, have your shuttle take you to arrivals on the B side of the airport.  Check in, take your luggage with you, and take the Magical Express to the resort.
• Second, get a room only room at a Value Resort on property.  Take the Magical Express from the airport, then, in the morning, for $25, take a Minnie Van to your resort.

Four members of our group stayed at a Universal hotel, then taxi'd to the resort.  An option, but probably the least cost effective.

We did the first option.  It was OK, but I paid a little over $200 for a Holiday Inn Express which was average for the airport hotels.  I think the second option would put me time and money ahead, plus a little more time at the resort or Disney Springs.

• Magic Bands
• Disney Dining Plan
• Using Snacks
• Using Table Service
• Using Counter Service
• Disney Transportation with wheelchair
• Scooter accessibility
• Old Key West
• Magical Express when arriving a day early
• Magical Express with mobile accessibility challenge

and probably more!

We're disappointed that Disney needed to find another revenue stream.  This time at the expense of those who drive to the Resort.

"Effective for reservations made March 21, 2018 and thereafter, standard overnight self-parking is available to registered Guests for a fee that will be applied to their hotel folio upon check-out. All parking fees include applicable tax."

Read more about the details here.

Make sure you look into options to pay for your vacation that would benefit you.

Many retailers offer "points" or "perks" for gift cards.  Our local grocery store offers $0.10/gallon for every $50 dollars spent.  Buying a $500 gift card for a vacation supplier would mean $1.00/gallon off up to 30 gallons, so that would be a savings of up to $30 off for every $500 spent.

Many vacation suppliers, like Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and others offer credit cards that you can earn rewards for all purchases, then redeem them for offers from their resorts or vacations.

We get the question all the time:  "When is the best pricing?"  I'd like to spend a little time explaining why, in our opinion, suppliers do what they do.

Everybody thinks suppliers drop their prices down to pretty much "giving it away" at the last second.  That's a myth.  Suppliers have already made their money by the time the last few seats, rooms, etc. are available.  There might be a price drop at the last minute, but that price has gradually risen over the time that it's been on the market.  Lowering it at the last minute might give you the same price as a month or two earlier.

Take a look at the school calendars to figure out the best pricing for cruises, all inclusive and Walt Disney World.  When the kids are all in, the pricing is the lowest.  The first two weeks in December.  The first two weeks in January.  The first two weeks in May.  The 2nd and third weeks in September (although Hurricane season can impact this a little, too).  All times that suppliers will offer incentives to fill their rooms.

Why don't suppliers offer incentives or lower pricing during peak times?  Simple.  They don't have to.  It's supply and demand.  While you might lament that supplier X is charging a lot of money, they're doing so because people are paying it and they don't NEED to reduce their price.

Some suppliers will honor a future lower price to those who book early.  With Carnival Cruise Lines, it's a wonderful deal.  For them, not necessarily you.  With their "Early Saver" rate, they'll guarantee you the lowest price but charge you a penalty if you cancel.  Guess who sets the price?  In the 8 years since the program has come out, I'll bet the ratio is 4 or 5 to 1 the penalties our clients have paid for cancelling vs. those who have cashed in on the lower price guarantee.  So, for every 1 client that they're losing a minimal amount of money, there's 4 to 5 that they're making money because of the non refundable deposit for cancellations or changes.

Disney Travel will honor any specials that come out to those who have booked early, but they have a sticky little sentence in the disclaimer "*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited."  We've had clients very disappointed that they booked early hoping for price reductions or incentives in the future.  When (and if) those reductions or incentives come out, the resort is sold out.  So, instead of being happy that they can at least get into the resort on the days and at the resort they want, they're disappointed that Disney isn't giving them a price break.

Our best advice is always book early.  The price might come down, but the availability will always shrink.