Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [19]
Insider’s Secret
The Magical Express Service is supposed to save you time and money, but in reality it doesn’t always work seamlessly. Quite a few readers have complained of long delays, and one dad dubbed the system “Magical Distress.” Comments range from: “We stopped at three hotels, and it took over an hour to get to ours from the airport” to “Thanks to this so-called benefit we began the whole trip with confusion and irritation.”
Other families praise the perk, agreeing with the Chicago mom who wrote “It’s like Disney starts taking care of you the minute your plane wheels touch down in Orlando.” The consensus seems to be that the system works well at times when it’s not too crowded, but during peak travel times slow service is common. If you’re traveling at such a time, consider handling your own bags and arranging for your own transportation between the airport and your hotel.
Transportation
On-site guests have unlimited use of the monorails, buses, and boats of the WDW transportation system. Between this and Magical Express Service, many on-site guests find they are able to forgo the cost of a rental car.
Free Parking at the Theme Parks
You don’t have to pay the $14 daily fee to park. The attendant will wave you through when she sees the resort parking ID on your dashboard.
Package Delivery
Don’t lug your souvenirs around while touring. When you make a purchase, you can fill out a form and Disney will deliver the package to your hotel gift shop for free. It’s generally the next day before your purchases show up so don’t use the package delivery service on the last day of your visit.
Key to the World Card and Charging Privileges
Talk about hassle free. This all-in-one card you receive upon check-in is your room key, theme-park ticket, and dining plan credit card. It also allows adults (and kids, if you opt to give them privileges) to charge tickets, food, and souvenirs back to their hotel room. It’s certainly easier not to have to carry huge amounts of cash around, especially at the pool, water parks, and marinas.
It’s up to you whether older kids have charging privileges. Giving them this privilege makes it easier to send Johnny to the snack bar for a round of Cokes, but be sure to impress upon kids that these IDs work like credit cards. They’re not an open invitation to order pizza for all their new friends at the arcade, purchase all seven dwarfs from the hotel gift shop, or, heaven forbid, obtain cash advances.
Dining Plans
Many families swear by the Disney Dining Plan, which can be added to any on-site package. The plan saves you from having to carry around cash and—at least on the surface—masks the sting of coughing up nine bucks for a cheeseburger.
Helpful Hint
If a Key to the World Card with charging privileges is lost, it should be reported to the front desk immediately to avoid unauthorized charges.
Family Atmosphere
All of the on-site hotels are designed with families in mind. The ambience is casual, security is tight, and there are always other children around to play with. The on-site hotels have laundry facilities, generally near the pools and arcades, so that you can run a quick load while the youngsters play; there’s late-night pizza delivery to your room; and if there’s not a child-care facility at your particular hotel, Guest Relations (a.k.a. Guest Services) can help you arrange for an in-room sitter. The emphasis at the Disney hotels is on making life more convenient for parents.
Insider’s Secret
The on-site resorts, especially the luxury ones, often have fun little activities for kids such as scavenger hunts, pool races, or “unbirthday” parties. Activity schedules are usually posted around the pool areas or child-care centers.
Cool Themes
All the on-site hotels have themes that are carried out in mega-detail. At the Polynesian, the staff greets you with “Aloha”; at the Port Orleans, jazz music plays all day; and at the All-Star Sports, the dressers in the rooms