Planning Your Trip to Disney World in Orlando: Expert Tips

Disney World is a renowned entertainment complex situated near Orlando and Lake Buena Vista, featuring four theme parks, two water parks, and a bustling shopping district. Despite its popularity, the prospect of planning a Disney World excursion can be daunting for many. The preparation process is indeed extensive, involving tasks such as selecting accommodations, determining the number of parks to explore, securing FastPasses, and booking a charter bus in Orlando to get there.

This guide from DCTrails gives you all the tips on how to do everything efficiently when you’re planning your trip to Orlando.

Pick Your Transportation

There are many ways to get to Orlando, Florida from your point of origin. Depending on where you are, you can take a flight, drive your car, or take a charter bus. If you live in Virginia, a convenient and cost-friendly way to get to Orlando for your big trip to Disney World is arriving by charter bus.

The bus will pick you up at a designated pick-up spot in Virginia. Your driver will assist with loading luggage into the bus’s lower compartment, and your group can then board, enjoying optional Wi-Fi and music until you reach your hotel. Once aboard, you’ll find comfortable seating, climate control, and ample storage for smaller bags or snacks.

Purchase Your Tickets and FastPasses

In typical circumstances, Disney World ticket purchases are date-specific rather than park-specific. After obtaining your tickets, advance FastPass bookings are essential. FastPasses enable shorter wait times for rides and are complimentary but require careful planning. Access the My Disney Experience app to select your desired ride, date, and time for FastPasses.

To streamline the FastPass booking process, it’s advisable to inform your group in advance about your park choices. While not overly demanding, this pre-emptive planning facilitates FastPass reservations.

Keep an Eye Out for Limited Capacity Days

Disney World’s ticketing and reservation system undergo alterations during periods of restricted park capacity. In such instances, you must first purchase your tickets and subsequently make online reservations for specific park visits on designated days. It’s important to note that visiting multiple parks on the same day is not permitted during these limited-capacity periods.

Disney World’s policies are subject to frequent changes, so it’s advisable to regularly monitor online resources such as Disney’s official website in the weeks leading up to your trip. Staying informed is crucial to avoid unexpected situations, such as arriving with a group on a charter bus only to discover that entry to the theme park is unavailable. For larger groups, it might be prudent to delay your visit until the parks return to their regular capacity levels.

Different Parks You Can Visit

Disney boasts four theme parks, two water parks, and a bustling shopping district, brimming with rides, shows, parades, and fireworks that can entertain you for weeks. Some frequent visitors return multiple times each year and still haven’t experienced it all. Fortunately, your charter bus can transport you to all these attractions, and it offers ample overhead storage for your souvenirs. Here’s a glimpse of the experiences each park has to offer.

Typhoon Lagoon

Typhoon Lagoon offers classic water park attractions with a Disney twist. The park’s theme centers around a peaceful typhoon aftermath, leaving behind a water park and a wrecked ship. Enjoy the lazy river Castaway Creek or take your group on the thrilling Miss Adventure Falls tube ride. There’s also a children’s splash area and a variety of water slides. While parking is free, it may fill up during peak summer months, so early arrival is advisable, especially for charter buses.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom’s standout attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris, offers a real African savanna experience with giraffes, rhinos, hippos, and lions. For a dose of fantasy, explore Pandora: The World of Avatar, boasting high-tech rides like Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.

The park also excels in dining options. Enjoy pulled pork at Flame Tree Barbecue, grilled chicken skewers at Harambe Market, or vegan tofu bowls at Satu’li Canteen. Quench your thirst with the exclusive Night Blossom fruit slush, found only in Pandora.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs is an ideal destination for large groups as it offers free admission. It’s also conducive for breaking into smaller groups without navigating through massive crowds. Explore the colossal World of Disney store or take budding architects and engineers to the LEGO Store, where they can marvel at LEGO creations and create their own. When it comes to dining, Disney Springs excels. Reserve group meals at Homecomin’ for Southern cuisine, Morimoto Asia for Asian fare, or Raglan Road for Irish pub dishes

Disney Springs provides complimentary parking in three garages and two surface lots, ensuring convenience for your group, although the bus may require a surface lot space due to garage size limitations.

Blizzard Beach

Blizzard Beach boasts an unusual theme compared to Typhoon Lagoon; it originated as a ski resort and transformed into a water park once the snow melted. Consequently, the park embraces a pervasive snow and ice theme. A chairlift journey to Mt. Gushmore’s summit reveals thrilling attractions such as the Slush Gusher water slide, the Teamboat Springs group tube ride, and the towering 12-story Summit Plummet water slide.

Parking at Blizzard Beach, much like Typhoon Lagoon, is complimentary. Ample space for buses is typically available year-round, except during the summer months when it’s advisable to arrive earlier to secure parking.

Plan Your Trip to Orlando’s Disney World with DCTrails!

Whether it’s a convention, family reunion, or dance competition, Disney World is a magnet for large groups every year. While Disney trips demand a lot of planning, chartering a bus offers a unique solution, sparing you the hassle of rental cars or navigating Disney’s public transport.

Bid farewell to the challenge of corralling dozens of kids to the bus stop, only to find the Epcot-bound bus departed. Your charter bus assures unwavering reliability, ample seating, and adjustable AC settings, catering to your preferences. Book a charter bus in Orlando with DCTrails today! Contact us for more information on how to get started on your booking.