When it comes to planning a trip to Disney World, budgeting for everything can be a little tricky because there are a lot of variables to consider.

Spaceship Earth — make sure you know all the hidden fees at Disney World before you visit!

First, there’s transportation, whether you’re flying or driving to get to Disney World. Then there are other fees to consider — are you checking baggage on your flight and is there a fee for that? Do you have to pay for airport parking? How much will you spend on food while traveling? The list can go on and on before you ever even get to Orlando!

Then when you GET to Disney World, you’ll have a few other expenses to consider, such as tipping and gratuities, souvenirs, Memory Maker, and more. THOSE, though, you’re likely to plan for. But what about those hidden fees you don’t really think about? We’re here to help you break them down!

Resort Parking

If you’ll be driving to Disney World or renting a car, you’ll need to know this — Disney World resorts charge some pretty hefty parking fees. Parking at Value Resorts is $15 per night. You’ll pay $20 per night at Moderate Resorts and $25 per night at Deluxe Resorts. This could add up to well over $100 if you’re staying at Disney World for a week!

Old Key West Parking Lot — you will pay to park here!

However, Disney World guests get free parking at the theme parks, so there’s that. And parking is free for everyone at Disney Springs.

Cancellation Fees

During the pandemic, Disney has had a flexible cancellation policy that waives select Disney-imposed cancellation and modification fees for guests who choose to cancel or change their vacation details. However, this flexible cancellation policy will be ending soon.

The Grand Floridian is GRAND.

Last fall, Disney extended the flexible cancellation policy to last through April 30th, 2021. Unless Disney decides to extend the policy again, you’ll be responsible for cancellation fees as of May 1st, 2021 if you have to cancel or change parts of your trip.

Cancellation Fees for Dining Reservations

If you have to cancel any Advance Dining Reservations you have, do so as early as possible. If you don’t turn up for a dining reservation, you could be charged $10 per person. If you’ve got a whole group with you, that could add up!

Got a reservation for Chefs de France and can’t make it? Cancel it as soon as you can!

Please note that each restaurant has its own cancellation policy, so you can cancel without a fee if you do so within its designated cancellation period. But most of the time, you should be able to cancel within 24 hours of your set reservation time without a fee. And it’s simple to cancel — you can even do it online. although some restaurants may require you call this number: (407) 934-7639. If you don’t want to cancel, you can always try modifying your reservation for a different day or time if available.

California Grill table

And although it’s not a restaurant, if you have a reservation booked at Savi’s Workshop for the lightsaber-building experience, you can pay $219.99 per builder if you cancel less than 24 hours before your reservation or you’re a no-show.

Read more about Advance Dining Reservations in Disney World here. 

Snack Upgrades

Sure, you might have budgeted for snacks, but what about snack upgrades? First, don’t buy a bottle of water with that snack — ask for a FREE WATER instead. Many counter service restaurants offer a free cup of iced water and all you have to do is ask for it! Or bring your own water bottle from home and use one of Disney’s refillable bottle stations. 

Free Water at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

And that plastic cheese we love so much? Boy, have we got a money-saving tip for you! Did you know that it sometimes costs more to order something that includes plastic cheese than to order that item separately with a side of plastic cheese? Well, it is! We noticed this at Friar’s Nook at Magic Kingdom where the Kids Tots come with cheese and cost $7.19 (it does come with bottled water, but don’t forget you can still get FREE water). But if you get the tots and cheese separately, you only pay $5.29. 

We’re about to make these tots cheesy

So take a few extra seconds and look carefully at the menus — that extra topping or side just might make for a cheaper snack if you buy it separately.

Price Increases For Tickets and Rooms On Certain Days

Depending on what day you’re buying Disney World tickets for, you’ll pay a different price if your trip happens during “peak season.” You could pay $50 more per ticket per day if you go to Disney World on a holiday or during a peak season. If you’re buying 4 tickets, that’s an additional $200 PER DAY for each ticket! You’ll find your cheapest tickets in late January and early fall, with the most expensive during the Christmas holiday season, as well as near holidays and weekends.

Hollywood Studios Ticket Booths

Also, note that this is the case with the cost of resort rooms — peak season rooms will be more expensive than they would be during the low season. Also, weekend room rates are almost always more than weekday room rates. So plan accordingly to save money!

Read more about ticket pricing for 2022 here! 

Food Price Increases

So you’ve done your research and you’ve checked menu prices at restaurants you want to dine in, but then you get to Disney World, and BAM! The price for those items has gone up! And this happens a lot! And sometimes you might pay several dollars more for an item than previously (Spring Roll Cart in Magic Kingdom, we’re looking at you).

$9.50?!?!?

We recently saw some hefty price jumps for EPCOT’s Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie. So always add a little cushion to your food budget to be prepared for these inevitable increases. And keep your eyes on DFB. We do a WEEKLY post where we gather ALL the menu changes in Disney World so you can see new menu items, menu removals, and price increases!!

Read our latest menu update post here! 

Ride Share Services

Although Disney transportation is convenient and reliable, if you’re running late to a reservation or for something else, you’re going to want to get there a lot faster. And this is especially true now with Disney transportation running with limited capacities.

Will Minnie Vans return soon?

So, you may want to factor an Uber or Lyft trip into the budget. Just in case you’re running late for that reservation and the line for the bus, Skyliner, or monorail is insane (it happens more than you think). We know that sometimes, no matter how much you plan, things go wrong and you end up running late. Rideshare seriously might be your best option in those situations. Do note: Disney World’s Minnie Van service remains unavailable at this time.

Read MORE about rideshare in Disney World here. 

So there are some of the hidden fees you might find lurking in secret that will hit you by surprise at Disney World. Hopefully, this will keep you from being so surprised and help you prepare!

Read Mears Statement about The End of Disney’s Magical Express Service

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Have you run across any surprise fees while at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Fees You’re Not Thinking About in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

As the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 vaccinations has continued, we’ve seen the guidelines and regulations from various government entities and even theme parks change.

Face Mask

Recently, we saw a major theme park stop temperature checks and outdoor mask requirements. The CDC has also updated its indoor mask guidance for those who are fully vaccinated. But, now BIG changes have been announced when it comes to the use of mask outdoors.

Yesterday, we shared that the Biden administration was set to release updated mask guidelines for the outdoors, and now those new guidelines have arrived. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now relaxed some of its mask guidelines, particularly as they apply to the outdoors. Let’s break it all down.

Fully Vaccinated

The CDC has released one set of guidelines for outdoor mask use by those who are fully vaccinated. A reminder that the CDC considers individuals to be “fully vaccinated” 2 weeks after their 2nd dose of a 2-dose vaccine series (like Pfizer or Moderna) or 2 weeks after a single dose vaccine (like Johnson & Johnson).

Disney World Face Mask Sign

Previously, the CDC’s guidance said, “masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with people who live in your household. However, some areas may have mask mandates while out in public, so please check the rules in your local area (such as in your city, county, or state). Additionally, check whether any federal mask mandates apply to where you will be going.”

The CDC also said that masks should be worn by those ages 2 and older in “public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household.”

Disney face mask

Now, the CDC’s updated guidance say that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks outdoors while walking, running, hiking, or biking alone or with members of their household, or if they attend small outdoors gatherings. The new guidance does not say that vaccinated individuals may forgo masks altogether in outdoor settings.

Minnie Mouse knows the importance of a comfortable face covering!

If vaccinated individuals are not in one of the listed situations, they should continue to wear masks and social distance, even while outdoors.

Not Fully Vaccinated

What about the guidance for those who are not fully vaccinated? According to the CDC, more prevention measures are needed. Unvaccinated individuals may go without their masks while running, walking, or biking outdoors or with members of their households. They may also forgo masks while attending small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated individuals. The following chart breaks down requirements for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals:

©CDC

Keep in mind that these mask adjustments are for outdoor situations. There is separate guidance when it comes to whether you should wear a mask indoors.

At the moment, Disney continues to require all guests ages 2 and older to wear a mask in the theme parks at all times except when allowed to be removed, such as when swimming, when actively eating or drinking while distanced and stationary, or temporarily when taking an outdoor photo.

Face Mask

The CDC’s new outdoor mask guidelines state that even fully vaccinated individuals must continue to wear a mask at “crowded outdoor” events. Earlier this year, Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, anticipated that some form of mask-wearing would be required in the parks through 2021. You can read Disney World’s full, current mask policy here.

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more details on this situation.

Click here to see what the Orange County, Florida Mayor has said about when the mask mandate may be relaxed.

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The post NEWS: CDC Relaxes Outdoor Mask Guidelines first appeared on the disney food blog.

We’re counting down the days until Disneyland officially reopens!

SOON!

While we’ve been making our dining reservations, picking which rides we want to do first, and dreaming about waving to our favorite characters, Disney’s been getting ready, too! (They’re even getting the Dole Whip machine back in good shape.). And now, we’ve got a peek at JUST how happy the Cast Members are to be back.

Disney shared a video on TikTok that shows Cast Members back in Disneyland, prepping for our return! And boy does it make us tear up. We can’t wait to be back in the magic, and we’re so happy these Cast Members are all ready to welcome us home. Take a look here!

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Disneyland Reopening!

Are you going to visit Disneyland when it reopens? Let us know in the comments!

The post VIDEO: You May Need Tissues for Disney’s Latest TikTok first appeared on the disney food blog.

Hello from another week in Disney World! 

Sadly, Disney won’t let us live here

Some things around Disney are starting to look more like how we remember them from before the parks closed. It’s not the first time we’ve seen changes made to some of Disney’s policies since the reopening. Little by little, things have started to go back to “normal.” Some restaurants and resorts have reopened, Park Hopping has returned, and some character dining has even come back. And recently, we spotted 3 BIG changes in Disney World that show even more things are returning to some semblance of pre-pandemic “normalcy.”

Maskless Outdoor Photos

This is probably one of the biggest updates that have been made recently. At Disney World, everyone ages 2 and up is required to wear an approved face covering at all times, unless they are in a situation where they are specifically allowed to remove their mask. Guests are allowed to remove their masks when actively eating or drinking while socially distanced and stationary from others, when swimming, and when at a mask-free relaxation station.

Guests who do not wear an approved face mask appropriately will be asked to leave.

It’s Important to Read All of Disney’s Latest Policies

Previously, this policy required guests to wear masks when taking photos in the park. But, recently, Disney has started to allow for maskless photos to be taken outdoors.

You Can See the Guest Holding Their Mask in Their Hand

With the new policy, guests can temporarily remove their masks while taking an outdoor photo, as long as they are socially distanced from others and stationery. After they take the photo, guests must put their masks back on.

New Mask Policy in Action

We noticed PhotoPass Cast Members being very helpful in letting guests know about the new policy and keeping guests distanced from one another. This is certainly a big change from Disney’s previous policy and one signal of things returning to the pre-pandemic sense of “normalcy.” Just keep in mind that Disney’s mask rules are subject to change.

Click here to see how the new maskless photo policy works

Hand-washing Stations Have Been Disappearing

Last year, prior to the park closures, Disney installed a number of hand-washing stations throughout Disney World. Those then continued to be available for guests to use, in addition to hand sanitizing stations, as part of Disney’s overall set of health and safety measures.

A Look at Those Hand Washing Stations

But, recently, we’ve noticed a change when it comes to these hand-washing stations. Throughout the parks, the hand-washing stations have started to disappear!

Former Hand-Washing Station Location

Spots where these hand-washing stations used to be are generally now empty. In many cases, you can actually see the spots in the ground where these stations used to be.

Another Former Hand-washing Station Location

When we first noticed this change, we asked a Cast Member in Disney’s Animal Kingdom about it. Specifically, we asked if the removal was permanent, but unfortunately, the Cast Members didn’t seem to know if the hand-washing stations would return or not. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates on that.

The next time you’re in the park, just keep in mind that you might find that the hand-washing station you used before is now gone! You’ll still find hand sanitizer around the park though and, of course, you can pop into the restrooms to wash your hands there.

Click here to see some adorable hand sanitizers we found last year in Disney World!

Some Self-Serve Drink Stations Are Changing

Since the parks and hotels in Disney World reopened, self-serve drink stations (whether you’re dealing with a refillable mug or just a regular drink) in Disney World have been operating differently. Generally, Cast Members have been stationed behind some tables or barriers. They will get your drink and hand it to you. In order words, you generally haven’t been able to just walk up to the self-serve drink areas and serve yourself a soda, coffee, or other drink.

Drink Station — You Can See the Cast Member Serving in the Back

We first noticed a change to this policy when Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park reopened! There, Cast Members were NOT filling the park’s refillable mugs for you. Instead, you were able to fill them all by yourself at Refill Stations.

Water Park Refillable Mug

Recently, at a few spots around Disney World, we started noticing that some self-serve beverage areas have also fully accessible by guests once again. In other words, at select locations in Disney World, guests can now fill their own drinks.

Fill ‘er up!

So far, we’ve noticed this at a few Disney World hotel restaurants and even some restaurants in the parks.

No Cast Member here!

Signs in the area generally specify that only one party is allowed to be at the drink station at a time. We’ve also noticed that some of the self-service drink areas now have social distancing markers, directional arrows, and other things all aimed at helping guests maneuver through the space while safely keeping their distance from others. So, just be sure to look out for those.

Safety signs are still in place

While we haven’t seen this become available in all restaurants, the fact that even a few spots have it in place is a big change from what the existing policy has been. We’re keeping an eye out for any more developments on this.

Click here to see where we’ve spotted these changes being made to the self-serve drink areas.

While these three changes may seem relatively small, they are actually quite significant compared to Disney’s previous policies. They’re all also changes that seem to point to things getting closer to the pre-pandemic “normal,” or whatever the “new normal” will be.

And more changes are on the way. A modified form of the Festival of the Lion King is set to return next month, and more Disney World hotels now have reopening dates. What changes could be next? It’s not clear yet, but you know we’ll be looking out for them and bringing all the latest updates to you.

If you’re heading to Disney soon, be sure to check out our ULTIMATE guide to planning a Disney World vacation!

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When are you planning to visit Disney World next? Let us know in the comments!

The post 3 Things that Are Back to Normal in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

That kid from your son’s scout troop went to Disney World last year, and his mom probably has lots of good advice on trip planning. Better talk to her. Right? Well, she may have lots of advice she’d be happy to share, and that advice might be terrific, but it could also be terrible, possibly even detrimental to your Disney planning needs. Here’s why.

You’re visiting at a time with different crowd levels.

Crowd levels are one of the two largest contributors to your impressions and enjoyment of Walt Disney World. If your friend visited during a low-crowd week in October and you’re visiting during the high-crowd Christmas week, their impressions could be way off base – possibly the difference between “Disney is a breeze, what a lovely family destination” and “I have never felt more smothered by the crush of humanity than I have on this vacation.”

The planning required for your trip might also be quite different. During a level 1-2 week, you might very well be able to get into restaurants on the spur of the moment and walk onto headliner rides. There is absolutely no way this will happen during a level 10 holiday week. You might need to do much more planning (and pack much more patience) than they did or, conversely, you might not need to stress as much about advance strategy.

Moral of the story: Ask your friend the exact dates of their visit and compare that to your planned travel dates. If the crowd levels differ by more than two or three points, assume that at least some of their planning will not apply to you.

You’re visiting at a time of year with different weather.

Summer in central Florida is hot in ways that my New England-raised blood can scarcely comprehend. I swear I once experienced a full-on desert mirage in the EPCOT parking lot.

Folks who are not used to 90+ degree days, 80+ degree nights, and 100% humidity may feel drained after just an hour or two of outdoor park touring. Summer touring may involve more stops for rest, water, or sunscreen application than a winter trip. During a cold weather visit to WDW, you might be able to go all day without a break, whereas a July trip might be only be bearable with daytime hibernation. Different weather likely means different touring strategies, different packing, and different dining preferences. For example, Le Cellier could be a must-do in January when their cheddar cheese soup is delightfully hearty. A meal of steak and creamy soup could be positively oppressive in July.

Moral of the story: Before accepting a friend’s WDW planning advice, find out what the weather was like during their trip and whether it matches what you are likely to experience.

You’re using different transportation to get to Disney World.

Different transportation methods impact people in disparate ways. If you’re driving to Florida through the night, stopping only for gas, your first day stamina and initial ability to enjoy the parks could be quite different than someone who stepped off a one-hour flight and Ubered directly to the Magic Kingdom.

Moral of the story: Consider whether your friend’s transportation to Florida differed from yours and whether that should have an effect on your plans.

You’re using different transportation within Disney World.

If your friend is using a personal car to get around WDW, they might not be aware that Disney transport users should budget 1-2 hours to get between parts of the resort. Their advice might make you late for reservations or provide a misleading conception about how easy it is to get from place to place.

On the other hand, if they used Disney’s transportation, they might not be considering the impact of parking fees on your budget or traffic delays at some times of the year.

Moral of the story: Ask your friend how they moved around WDW. If this is different than what you have planned, do some more research to understand the implications.

You’re staying at a different resort.

Your resort location can impact almost every aspect of your trip. If your friend stayed at the Grand Floridian, a three-minute monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom and you’re staying at an off-site resort that’s 20 minutes from the main gate, advice about mid-day naps at the resort may be vastly different.

Additionally, the amenities available at your hotel can impact your planning and your enjoyment of your vacation. For example, if you’re staying at the Beach Club, with access to the Stormalong Bay pool you might want to budget an entire day for resort exploration, but if you’re at a generic off-site hotel, that might not be necessary and could be quite boring. Beyond that, the quality of the towels and bedding, the ambient noise level, and the variety of food options at your hotel can all impact your enjoyment of your vacation.

Moral of the story: Find out where your friend stayed during her vacation and how she used or didn’t use her resort amenities.

You have a vastly different budget.

If you’re stressed about money, chances are you’re stressed about your vacation. Walt Disney World presents a virtually endless stream of enticements, from $6.00 ice cream bars to $60.00 princess dresses, and beyond. Those enticements could be a fast track to making your child’s dreams come true, or they could be a daily source of strain and bickering, depending on your point of view.

Similarly, a vacation replete with daily character meals and fine dining might feel quite different than one with peanut butter sandwiches eaten on a bench. Both versions require planning and managed expectations, but in opposite directions. And adding the Park Hopper to your admission ticket could change the way you tour, but could be a significant cost.

Moral of the story: Find out your friend’s attitude about vacation spending. If it’s different than yours, consider how that might impact the flow of your days.

You have different eating habits.

If your friends eat anything and you have allergies, their impressions about how to plan dining, where to eat, what foods are appealing, and how much to spend on food might be diametrically opposed. The same thing applies if you’re a vegetarian or vegan and they’re not, if anyone in your group is a fussy eater, if you have religious considerations around food, if you’re on a diet, or have other specific food needs.

One area of particular interest here is purchase of the Disney Dining Plan. Your friend might be a carnivore who likes three solid meals a day and thus a huge advocate for the Dining Plan, but if you’re a vegan who favors smaller meals throughout the day, that advice could be completely wrong for you.

Moral of the story: Consider whether your friend’s food habits are different from yours. If they are, take their dining recommendations with a grain of salt.

You have different physical capabilities.

The rule of thumb is that most people walk between 7-10 miles per day when engaged in heavy park touring. Your marathon-running pal might think that is no big deal, but if you have knee problems, that might be tiring, or even debilitating. If you have disparate fitness levels, their advice might be wrong for you.

Moral of the story: Consider whether your friends can do physically more or less than you can and whether that impacts the way you plan your day.

You have different sleeping habits.

The most enduring piece of Disney World planning advice we offer is “GET THERE EARLY.” If you’re willing to get up at 6:00 a.m. to be at the parks when they open, but your friends don’t consider it a vacation unless they sleep until noon, then your planning strategies will be quite different. Sleep habits might impact when you visit (maybe you want to vacation when the parks are open later), where you stay (maybe you want to stay at a WDW hotel because that gives you earlier access to FastPass selections when offered), or where you eat (it may be harder/easier to get dining reservations at various times of day).

Moral of the story: Find out when your friend woke up and got to the parks during their trip. If that’s different than what you might do, then plan accordingly.

You’re staying at WDW for a different amount of time.

If your friend stayed at WDW for two weeks, their impression of how much time to spend in the park each day will obviously be different than someone who is only at WDW for two days. The length of stay could also impact where you stay (for a short trip you might prioritize staying near your favorite parks), where you eat (long stays might want more leisurely table service meals), whether to take mid-day breaks, and what type of transportation to use during your trip.

Moral of the story: Most aspects of Disney trip planning vary depending on the duration of your visit.

The size/composition of your traveling party is different.

If your friend visited WDW with just herself and a teenager, they will have a different experience than you will if you’re visiting with a party of 12 including babies and senior citizens. The pace of touring will be different, the types of attractions enjoyed will be different, the need for breaks will be different, and so on.

Moral of the story: Find out who was part of your friend’s travel group and consider whether that might color their advice.

Your friend traveled before COVID restrictions and you will be traveling during them.

If your friend’s most recent trip to WDW was prior to the COVID shutdowns of 2020, your experience during the post-reopening time will differ greatly. Certain amenities, such as FastPass+ and the Disney Dining Plan, may be suspended. Extra Magic Hours are no longer offered, and when they start, Early Morning Entry will have a different feel from Extra Magic Hours. Advice about restaurants to reserve for a fireworks view doesn’t apply when there are no nighttime fireworks. Once COVID restrictions are lifted, if you have a friend who traveled during them, their advice may be different than what is needed for a post-COVID-restriction time.

Moral of the story: Verify what the current operating procedures are like at Walt Disney World for your trip.

… and more

In addition to these items, any number of other factors could make your friend’s WDW trip planning advice inapplicable to your situation: did they use a travel agent, are they repeat Disney visitors, are any members of your party reluctant travelers, does anyone in your party have fears that could be exacerbated by rides, are their kids the same gender as yours, are they visiting other Orlando area attractions, and on and on. What worked for them, might not work for you if a key profile factor is not the same.

One of my favorite Disney planning stories is about a neighbor of mine who planned her first WDW trip with her family. I was a veteran of more than a dozen trips. I took her to lunch and talked for two hours about every aspect of planning a trip to all four WDW theme parks – what to ride, where to eat, how much time to spend, and so on. My neighbor has children the same ages and gender as mine, and we have similar socio-economic backgrounds, so I assumed that my advice would work for her.

After their trip, I asked how they liked all the parks. With a bit of prodding, I uncovered that they went to the Magic Kingdom on the first day of their trip. They loved it so much, they spent all five of their vacation days there and never made it to another theme park. They went on the Carousel and Small World a dozen times each and loved every minute of it. Though our families have much in common, what I didn’t know is that while I tend to be a completist, not satisfied unless I’ve checked everything off on a to-do list, my friends prefer to be immersive with experiences, having no internal pressure to go wide rather than deep.

My well-informed advice was totally wrong for their vacation style.

Have you gotten, or given, Disney vacation planning advice that’s wrong. Why did that happen? What questions could you have asked to avoid getting mistaken advice, no matter how well intended?

First published January 29, 2020. Updated April 27, 2021.

The post Why Your Friend’s WDW Travel Advice Was Wrong appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.