Ask Tink: Is a Park Hopper Necessary?

"Is a Park Hopper necessary? It really ups the price of a ticket and I'm  wondering if we could save some money by NOT getting that feature."

                                 

Thank you to the Tinker that submitted the above question! Going to the parks isn't exactly cheap, so saving money where you can is important. Unfortunately, the answer for this one isn't really a simple yes or no. It depends on how much is on your "Must Do" list and how well you plan.      Firstly, regular Disney park tickets allow you to access one park per day. So if you buy a standard Magic Your Way 4 Day ticket, on the first day of your trip, you decide which park you're going into that day and once you enter the gate, that is the ticket your park is good for on that date. You can select a different park each day, and you may leave, and return to the same park on the same day, but you cannot switch parks in the middle of the day. THAT is what a Park Hopper does for you. Adding the Park Hopping feature to your ticket allows you to say, have breakfast at Crystal Palace in The Magic Kingdom, then hop a bus so that the kiddos can sing-a-long with Elsa and Anna at The Studios. You can switch parks, throughout the day, as many times as you want. It's a very convenient and useful feature. Very rarely would you ever NOT find an occasion to use it. But the big question is, can you get by without it?      Park Hoppers are most useful for two scenarios. One, you're only in town for a short visit, (4 days or less), and you want to pack in as much as you can. A Park Hopper will help you because when Animal Kingdom closes as early as 5pm, you'll be able to go over to Epcot or The Magic Kingdom and still get in some rides and fireworks. Two, you're at Disney for more than 4 days and will be repeating parks. Chances are, you're not going to need to go to Animal Kingdom or The Studios for more than one full day, (or maybe you won't even need a full day), but you want the option to go back and ride Everest again, or see Fantasmic! You'll be glad you have the Park Hopper in that case.      "But, Tink," you're thinking, "do I NEED it?" My response to you is this... you can absolutely go without it, but you're going to need to plan very carefully. Do some research in advance on which parks are slowest on which days, and what the projected park attendance is like during your stay. There are several websites that offer this feature. I personally like this one from Undercover Tourist. Of course, this isn't anything that is guaranteed to be accurate, but it can help you in deciding where to go on which days. You may also want to look at DisneyWorld.com so you can also take into consideration things like park hours, special events and if you're staying on property, Extra Magic Hours. Then, once you have decided on where to go on each day, take advantage of the tools that Disney gives you. Book your FastPass+ reservations as early as you can. (60 days out for Disney Resort Guests and 30 days out for regular ticket or Annual Pass Holders.) And when you book your FastPasses, look at a park map and make sure that you aren't crisscrossing all over the park and wasting a bunch of time. Make sure your dining reservations are booked for the park you'll be in on that day. If you know that you aren't going to be able to handle doing open to close in the park, plan to be there for open, leave for a break mid-afternoon, when it is hottest and the most crowded, and then return in the evening, and stay as late as you can. That way you'll maximize the opportunities you have to wait in the shortest lines, and you won't miss out on the awesome nighttime entertainment.      No matter how planned out you are, though, don't rush past things like live entertainment and character appearances. Almost all of my very best Disney memories are spur-of-the-moment things that happened when we stopped to catch our breath. Park Hopper or not, you're in a place where magical things truly happen all the time, where ever you are. So enjoy!    Got a question? E-mail me at tinkinaboutdisney@gmail.com, or leave it in the comments. Thanks!

Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: Helping Onsite Guests Via Twitter

Gooooood morning, Tinkers!!!

     Well, D went back to school today and I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that she's in 1st grade now. Clearly, someone is not listening to Peter Pan. She just keeps growing up on us! Anyone else have a tough goodbye this morning? I know you Northerners get another week or so before back to school, but us Floridians have already said goodbye to summer vacation. (Sniff, sniff.)

     Anyway, I thought this was pretty cool, so I wanted to share. Disney has launched a new way for Guests to get help and have questions answered, while they are onsite and in the parks. All you have to do is send a Tweet to @WDWToday and you're questions about where to stand for the parade, or where you can get mac and cheese for your littles will be answered. It's a pretty cool idea and a great way to integrate technology into providing excellent Guest service. It's not always convenient to walk to Guest Relations for assistance, and this is a fun alternative.

     What do you think? Will you try it out on your next trip?

Tink's Tips: 5 Reasons To Visit Disney in the Fall

Hey Howdy Hey, Tinkers!

     Piggybacking on yesterday's Ask Tink question about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, (which you can read HERE!), I thought I would bring you Tink's Top 5 Reasons to Visit Disney in the Fall!

     Long before our permanent move to Florida this past November, I had loved Orlando in the Fall. You Northerners probably find that weird, because Fall is the one time of year that the struggles and strife of dealing with snow and cold is all worthwhile. You get paid off in beautiful colors, crisp air and apple and pumpkin picking outings, right? All true. And I will miss Boston in the Fall very much, HOWEVER.... Fall in Orlando is pretty awesome too. Here's why...

1. Oh the weather outside is.... delightful!



Gorgeous, clear fall days!

     Ok, so I will admit that weather in the Fall is a bit unpredictable, what with hurricanes and tropical storms and all, but a good 75% of the time the weather is beautiful. Mostly warm, sunny days, followed by comfortable, breezy nights. Warm enough to swim, but cool enough to not feel like your face is melting. October weather, on average, makes me say to myself, "THIS is what they meant by a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah day!"


2. Hey! Where'd everybody go???

     So this one mostly applies to September, when the kiddos heading back to school causes a massive drop in park attendance. If you are kid-free, or can manage to take the kids out of school for the second or third weeks in September, you will be astounded by how quiet and calm things are. (Especially if you visit on weekdays, when even us Floridians usually are not on property.) Wait times are at their lowest of the year, pool and water park crowds are drastically reduced. You can easily tackle whole parks in one day, because you can get on so much stuff without waiting very long. It's a totally different experience from Summer, Christmas Vacation, or even Spring trips.

A deserted Fantasyland in September

     October isn't exactly the same situation, since October events like Food and Wine and Not So Scary draw in larger crowds, but it's still no where near the hoards of people that you'll encounter in the Summer or over the holidays.

     November lands mostly in the realm of very small crowds, with the exception of Thanksgiving week and Veteran's Day weekend.

3. They're gonna make you an offer you can't refuse.

Great rates in the Fall at The Caribbean and other resorts

     And by "they", I mean Disney marketing. Fall is traditionally the season of the famous "Free Dining" offers. (Usually released for booking in late Spring, and they sell out quickly!) There are also other packages that come out offering 20-30% off of room only packages and several other options too. Lots of great deals, not only on Disney property, but also in nearby, off-property resorts and hotels.

     And aside from deals on accommodations, most of the Fall is considered "off-season" and that means that Disney buffets, which have fluctuating prices based on season, are at their lowest rates of the year. Save more money, and still get all-you-care-to-eat Mickey Waffles? Works for me!

4. Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!

     Halloween festivities are everywhere in the Central Florida area in the Fall! On Disney property, you can't miss Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, a special hard ticketed event at The Magic Kingdom, which you can read more official information about HERE. The party thrills and delights kids of all ages, as well as us "big kids", with live entertainment, special character meet and greets, dance parties, trick-or-treating in the park, and a spectacular Boo To You Halloween Parade and Hallowishes fireworks. It's a "Must-Do", for sure!

     Too tame for your taste? Head on over to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, where even the bravest of souls will have the pixie dust scared right out of 'em. You can participate in such fun-filled events as being chased through a haunted maze by a demonic clown, being chased through a pitch black alley by a deranged, chain saw wielding zombie, or being chased through dense fog by possessed, blood thirsty cheerleaders. If you like the idea of being trapped in a horror movie, this is the event for you. Not so much for me. You couldn't pay me enough money to go to Halloween Horror Nights, so sadly, you will not be seeing a review of it from me. Ever. My worst nightmare would be being trapped in the park during Halloween Horror Nights and, (for some unknown reason), not being allowed to leave. I'm pretty sure I would just sit on the ground, in a corner, and cry. Or pee my pants. Or both. Yep. Huge chicken, and I'm ok with that. Bock-bock. If this all sounds like fun to you though, (and it does to thousand and thousands of people), check out more official information HERE.

     You can even find Halloween festivities at nearby Sea World, Busch Gardens in Tampa, LEGOLAND in Winter Haven, and for something fun and lower key, the neighboring town of Celebration celebrates Oktoberfest . (Click the name of the park for more official info.) Lots of fun stuff to do to amp up your festive Fall mood in Central Florida.
    
5. Foodies of the (Disney) World, unite!

     September 25th- November 16th, a gastronomic festival, of epic proportions arrives at Epcot. That's right, I'm talking about the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Guests travel from all over the globe to experience this incredible, edible event, where Disney chefs show off their best work, and dazzle taste buds everywhere. Most Festival features are included with Epcot admission, like culinary demonstrations and displays, and meet and greets with celebrity chefs. Special dining events are offered for additional pricing, and tons of food booths surrounding World Showcase Lagoon, allow you to purchase sample size offerings of food and drink from all around the globe. There's also free concerts by well-known pop artists from the 1970's-2000's. There's even fun stuff for the kiddos to do, like interactive exhibits on how honey is made, and a scavenger hunt! Families will enjoy it for sure, though adults tend to get the most out of it. It's one of my very favorite events on all of Disney property. For official information, click HERE.


  

The "Cronut" from Food and Wine is awesome, as are the Beer Flights!

     So there you have it! Five awesome reasons to head down this Fall. Or next Fall. So get to planning! Hope to see ya here real soon!!!   Have questions????? Ask away!!!

Tinkin' About... The Complete Walt Disney World

     Good evening, Tinkers! I hope you have all had a magical day!

     If you're anything like me, you REALLY enjoy learning all you can about Disney. You read blog posts, (thank you SO much for doing so!), you are perhaps a member of a Disney chat board, you set your DVR to record any and all shows that mention or take place at Disney World, (I may watch the Disney World episode of Full House FAR more frequently than one should admit), and you have, well.... a bit of an addiction really. Trust me, you are far from alone. As you probably have already discovered, there are thousands and thousands of Disney fanatics, like yourself, always looking for ways to relive the magic, or to learn new behind the scene secrets.

     If you're a Mousekaholic like me, and you have not yet read The Complete Walt Disney World: Fun Finds and Hidden Mickeys, then stop what you're doing and get a copy right now. I mean it. I'll wait right here....... Done? Ok, great! You're going to love it! I'd like to think that I know a lot about Disney. I mean, I have definitely spent years of my life in the parks, when you add all of the time together. I own most books about the place and have seen pretty much every Travel Channel special. But this book contains plenty of things that my little brain was excited to learn! Woo-hoo! A new level of Disney Geekdom has been unlocked!

     Brought to you by the husband-wife team that brought you The Complete Walt Disney World guidebook, Mike and Julie Neal, this book is incredibly unique, just like the couple is. I am lucky enough to have been able to call The Neals my friends for the past 9 years, (oh my gosh, 9 YEARS! Where did time go???), since back when Julie and I worked together as Concierge extraordinaires for a non-Disney owned, Orlando area resort that rhymes with "The Fawn and Golfin' Resort". Julie and I clicked instantly because we have the same passion for Disney. At that time, she and Mike were just about to publish their very first edition of the guide book and I was so excited, because I felt like someone had finally put out the kind of guidebook I would be looking for. Yes, it's full of helpful tips, it's smart and has top-notch advice for newbies, BUT it also is filled with lots of fun facts, back stories, and AMAZING pictures! Gorgeous, colorful, vibrant pictures that you will not see anywhere else! Mike and their daughter, Micaela, do all of the photography themselves. Perfect as a planning tool, or as a souvenir book. And this new book is the cherry on top of the Mickey's Kitchen Sink Sundae!

     The Complete Walt Disney World: Fun Finds and Hidden Mickeys pours over some of the most beloved attractions in the Magic Kingdom with incredible detail. The Neals researched like crazy and got to talk to Imagineers, Cast Members and obsessed fans alike, to discover all of the little known, rarely seen details that make an attraction so special. They literally wrote about 40 pages on The Haunted Mansion alone!!! Everything from the actors that were used to voice the various ghosts, the original concepts for the ride, the references to the many Imagineers on the tombstones, right up to the most recent changes and upgrades to The Mansion. Awesome pictures, fantastic new information, back stories, updates, fun things to look for... it's all there! They had so much information that they could have easily written a separate book about each one of the parks. In fact, it's a shame that they didn't get to delve into the other parks as much as they did with The Magic Kingdom. I don't know, Mike and Julie.... Maybe your adoring fans will need more editions!!! (I'm just saying...)

     You can find both The Complete Walt Disney World 2015, and The Complete Walt Disney World: Fun Finds and Hidden Mickeys at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon. In fact, you can click on the book titles to go directly to their Amazon page. The 2016 version of the guidebook can be pre-ordered now, and it comes out October 11th. Makes a great Christmas surprise to tell your kids that you're going to Disney, or a fantastic pictorial reminder of a beloved trip.

     Was this a shameless plug? Yeah, kinda, but only because I really and truly love the books. Otherwise I am a nice enough friend that I would have said, "Oh yeah, Neals... great books. Loved 'em!", and never bothered mentioning them to anyone or, let's face it, even really reading them. I'm just that considerate of a person, really. Luckily, it didn't come to that. Have a magical night, Tinkers!