Staying at a Disney World hotel gives you several added perks!

All Disney World hotels offer early entry into the parks, free transportation, and the option of purchasing the Disney Dining Plan. Disney’s Deluxe hotels offer those benefits AND Extended Evening Hours for select parks on select nights. Staying at a Disney hotel can also make you feel even more immersed in the magic. Back in February, Disney announced another perk that will be available to Disney World hotel guests, but we’ve found a bit of a problem with it.

Disney will be offering FREE admission to its water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) on the day of your check-in to your Disney World hotel! You and the rest of your party can head right to whichever water park happens to be open that day and start your vacation poolside. This perk begins on January 1st, 2025, and ends on December 31st, 2025.

The free ticket is only available to those who are listed on the hotel reservation, so make sure that you put down everyone who will be staying with you.

This sounds like an awesome deal! But here’s the thing, the one-day ticket is ONLY available on the day you check in. This means that if you arrive late in the day, you may not have time to enjoy the perk. The water parks tend to close earlier than the regular parks, and many people don’t get to Disney World until later in the day since check-in is after 3PM.

This can be a big problem! We want you to be able to enjoy this perk if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel. So here are some things to consider:

It is not required that you check in before going to the water park. As long as your reservation is linked to your Disney World app and includes everyone in the room, you should be able to enter the water park for free. Pack a small bag with your swimming gear and dive in!

Plus, you can even check in to your hotel over the app, So you can lounge by the wave pool, sip on a drink, and check in simultaneously!

Another suggestion, albeit potentially more difficult, is to plan your travel accordingly IF stopping by the water park is a priority for you. This may not be possible for everyone since flights only leave at certain times, unplanned circumstances happen, etc. Unfortunately, this might be one of the only ways to guarantee you can take advantage of this deal.

We hope you’re able to make your day at the water parks happen. If you need help planning your vacation, we recommend checking out Small World Vacations! They can help plan your entire trip and save you time and stress doing it.

If you do make it to the water parks, then we hope you have a blast! The deal works at all of Disney World’s hotels including DVC resorts! Here’s a full list of the hotels:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

This is one problem we hope is able to be solved! This is an amazing deal that we don’t want you to miss out on.

For more Disney news, keep following DFB!

What to Do If You Can’t Get the Disney World Hotel Reservation You Wanted

While we’re all waiting for Blue Sky and Beyond Big Thunder Mountain confirmations, Disney has released SO much news under the radar this year!

And a LOT of it is going to impact your next Disney trip. So today, we’re giving you a JAM-PACKED video featuring ALL the latest theme park and cruise ship announcements — here on DFB guide.

Check out our video below: All The Disney News You Missed So Far This Year

Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes!

And stay tuned for more Disney news! 

What upcoming change are you the most excited for? Let us know in the comments!

The post DFB Video: All The Disney News You Missed So Far This Year first appeared on the disney food blog.

We knew something special was brewing for a while to celebrate a MAJOR milestone for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World, and the day is finally HERE!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has experienced so much change over the last 3 and a half decades, so it’s no wonder they’ve been able to pivot quickly and continue to keep us coming back for more! Now, they’re ready to celebrate BIG and we’ve got a first look at one of the first celebration offerings you can snag for FREE!

It’s time once again to celebrate Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s anniversary! This year the Disney World park turns 35, and they’re ready to party! However, it does seem that the early birds DO get the worm because we didn’t experience too many folks crowding the entrance today. We bet that will change as the day goes on, though!

It’s just us and the Early Entry guests for now, but the crowds will crank up today!

Let’s enjoy the calm for now, what do you say? pic.twitter.com/7oPRGgKWM3

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 1, 2024

 

Once we arrived bright and early for the festivities, we noticed a very special change! To mark the occasion, Disney World has printed special 35th-anniversary park maps for Disney’s Hollywood Studios which will be available throughout the day while supplies last.

The front design features a sleek navy blue background with white and sparkling gold lettering to really make it pop! You’ll find Mickey Mouse standing by to wave at you as your eyes make their way to the gigantic 35 he’s pictured in front of.

Let’s celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios!#disneyshollywoodstudios35 pic.twitter.com/YoBx3CnDWI

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 1, 2024

 

But wait… there’s more! The inside of the map folds out to reveal a special poster!

 The design features notable rides and attractions around the park like the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars, Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, an animated Mickey Mouse in the same design as the shorts you can stream on Disney+, and the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel (Tower of Terror).

The guide map is also a poster! #disneyshollywoodstudios35 pic.twitter.com/pF5wBn7vEf

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 1, 2024

If you’re looking for a FREE souvenir to commemorate your trip or just the anniversary milestone, this is a great option to be on the lookout to snag for yourself!

We’ll be bringing you along for even MORE of the celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios so be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog!

Sparkling PICKLE Lemonade Is Coming to a Disney Park Tomorrow and We Aren’t Sure How We Feel About It

How are you celebrating Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ 35th anniversary? Tell us in the comments below!

The post FIRST LOOK: Disney Reveals a FREE Souvenir at Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog.

Air travel is complicated enough, but some airlines crack down harder than others. 

As travel has picked up to unprecedented levels following the pandemic, more and more air travelers find themselves navigating — and getting frustrated by — the seemingly hectic and sometimes arbitrary-feeling rules of air travel and baggage restrictions. Figuring out the breakdowns of how each airline handles checked baggage, carry-ons, and personal items can be daunting, especially for those who don’t fly often. On top of that, some airlines are far stricter than others about carry-ons and what counts as a personal item, including one you may not expect. 

Spirit Airlines 

Spirit Airlines is a bit notorious for how they handle carry-on baggage. The airline charges a fee to bring a carry-on on board. These prices can fluctuate, but generally break down to $37 if purchased during flight booking, $45 if purchased during online check-in, $55 at the airport, and a whopping $65 at the gate. Furthermore, these carry-ons need to strictly measure 22 x 18 x 10 inches, or be checked.

Spirit does include a SINGLE personal item with their standard fare. However, this item must measure within the range 18 x 14 x 8 inches, or a guest will be forced to pay a carry-on fee for the bag, or any additional bags. 

Southwest Airlines

While Spirit has a relatively negative reputation among travelers when it comes to baggage, Southwest Airlines is generally well-regarded, especially thanks to their included checked bag policy. However, earlier this year, the airline shocked some passengers by suddenly heavily enforcing carry-on and personal item policies that they had once let slide.

According to Southwests’s website, the airline requires carry-ons to be limited to 24 x 16 x 10 inches and stored in the overhead. Personal items can be stored under a passenger’s seat, and include purses (including crossbody bags), briefcases, laptops and their case, backpacks, pillows (except neck pillows), blankets, small cameras, and a pet carrier. However, previously guests would usually be able to carry a purse, fanny pack, crossbody, in addition to their allotted personal item and carry-on. This is no longer the case however.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the airline “quietly began cracking down on carry-on bags on Feb. 22, ahead of the spring and summer travel rush…” This crackdown means that items including purses, cross-body bags, and fanny packs that would previously have been allowed in addition to Southwest’s included carry-on bag and personal item are now being counted as separate items, that either need to be condensed or paid for. 

In a statement,  Southwest said the change was made to provide “a consistent customer experience and helps to align with other airlines’ policies.” According to the aforementioned Wall Street Journal article, a memo to employees about the changes singled out “cross-body purses of any size and pillows and blankets” as items to specifically police, though agents would also be able to “ad-lib” based on their instincts.

Looking for a carry-on bag option that can go under the seat in front of you? We have you covered. Our favorite carry-on bag is the Snoffic Backpack.

This little beauty can fit quite a few outfits, essentials, and even ears! It’s perfect if you are going on a weekend trip or if you just wanna make sure you have some essentials on board with you in case your luggage is lost. The backpack measures 16.53 x 11.41 x 7.87 inches(L x W x D) and weights 2.5 pounds(1.14 kg). That means that it should meet most airline personal-item requirements (so you won’t be paying that carry-on fee).

Get the Snoffic Carry-On Backpack HERE!

If you’re flying on Spirit or Southwest anytime soon, make sure to study up on each airline’s respective baggage policies to make sure you won’t need to pay extra or sit at the gate rearranging things in an attempt to make things fit. Stay tuned to DFB for more travel news! 

BREAKING: New Law Requires Airlines To Give Refunds for Delayed and Canceled Flights

Have you ever had to rearrange a carry-on at the gate? Let us know in the comments below. 

The post The 2 Airlines With the Most Hardcore Carry-On Baggage Rules first appeared on the disney food blog.

May 1, 2024, marks the 35th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the park celebrated with a special ceremony on Wednesday morning.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios 35th Anniversary Ceremony

The ceremony was held at Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard, the home of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.” Art deco-style flats and palm trees decorated the stage with “Celebrating 35 Years!” in the center.

The ceremony included appearances by Disney’s Hollywood Studios VP Jackie Swisher, Walt Disney World Ambassador Serena Arvizu, Miss Piggy and Kermit, Mickey (in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice garb), Minnie, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Pluto, Disney Princesses, and more.

Watch our video of the 35th anniversary ceremony below.

WDWNT is celebrating 35 years of Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a reunion of Imagineers this weekend at our Stage 89 fan event. Tickets are available at Stage89.com.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post VIDEO: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Celebrates 35th Anniversary With Special Ceremony appeared first on WDW News Today.