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Other Disney World Discounts and DealsLAST UPDATE: 3/12/10 - MOST RECENT ADDITIONS ARE IN REDHere you'll find out how to get a discount on all the "extras" that can really add up when you vacation at Walt Disney World -- items like parking, stroller rental, Internet access and lots more! Discounts are available for a lot of the "small" things at Disney World, but sometimes it can be hard to find those deals. Search no more! Jump to:
FREE & Cheap Stuff to Do at Walt Disney WorldI have a whole page of fun things you can do for very little cost while at Walt Disney World, and without paying any park admission! This is very useful if you only have a partial day available (maybe the day you check in or out, for instance) and don't want to use up a whole day on your admission ticket. Click here to read more. Finding the Places on this PageQuite a few of the locations mentioned on this page are off Disney property. You'll usually need a car to get to them. If you own an auto GPS receiver (or are considering the purchase of a GPS unit), this is a great use for it! Best of all, there is now an exclusive MouseSavers Points of Interest file you can upload to your Garmin or TomTom GPS unit, which will help you navigate to pretty much anywhere mentioned here on the site. Share ExpensesReader Marya C writes, "One great way I have found to save money is to team up with other families and share expenses. We have done this and are sharing the cost of transfers (we will pay less to take a limousine to the airport than we would just to park!). Rather than use expensive babysitting services at the parks, we may have each adult couple take a babysitting night so others can go out... the cost of two families splitting the tab for a minivan and condo would make the trip very affordable. I have always found that vacationing with friends keeps everyone on check. The kids do not get that 'stuck in a hotel with my sibling' syndrome and having a friend there to break up the monotony is great." SouvenirsJump to: If you have kids, you know that they will probably be seized with a case of the "I wants" when they get to the Disney parks, because there is all kinds of neat merchandise cleverly placed at the conclusion of every ride. One solution is to take advantage of sales and bargains at DisneyStore.com before your trip and put your purchases away. Then pack the goodies in your suitcase and dole them out to the kids when you get there. Click here for current DisneyStore.com discount codes and coupons. One way to do this is to give them Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards for birthdays, Christmas, etc. before your trip. Encourage grandparents to do this, too. You can't spend Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards anywhere but Disney, and kids will have a lot of fun picking out souvenirs from their own "money."
A variation on this comes from MouseSavers.com reader Linda: "One thing I am doing before we go, is paying my kids half their allowance in Disney Dollars. I know there will be things they want to buy and I won't, so this way, they are saving (forcibly) to buy the things they will want. The kids love it, and some weeks request all Disney Dollars!" "Mickey's Mart - Everything Ten Dollars and Under" is located in the Downtown Disney Marketplace between Disney Tails and Disney at Home. Bargain hunters will definitely want to check this place out! They have lots of great souvenirs (mugs, plush toys, key chains, lots more) at low prices and mystery grab bags for kids at about $6.95 each. Watch for Sales and Mark-Downs I have fairly frequently seen small sale racks at the Disney World resort hotel shops -- look in the back of the store or ask the clerks. On a couple of occasions I've purchased items that were marked down as much as 50%. I have never seen anything on sale or marked down in the theme parks, though some readers have reported seeing a few items here and there. I think most of the excess merchandise goes to the outlet stores.
Passholder discounts on Disney merchandise apply only at World of Disney (10%) in Downtown Disney, which carries a lot of the same merchandise you'll see in the parks. Certain items are always excluded, such as gift certificates, Disney Dollars, videos, food items, film, film processing, and various collectibles. There are normally no Passholder merchandise discounts in the theme parks. For non-Disney merchandise, there are also Passholder discounts in Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom. Participating locations:
Please note: some of these shops exclude certain merchandise from the discount. In most cases the discount only applies to regular priced merchandise. Disney Rewards Visa cardholders can save 10% on select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at World of Disney in Downtown Disney and this discount has also been extended in 2009 into many of the theme park merchandise locations as well, so if you have a Disney Rewards Visa card, always ask about the discount. A $50 minimum pre-tax single transaction purchase is required to receive discount. Present and use a valid Disney Rewards Visa card at time of purchase. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts, promotions or with any previous purchase. Discount is not valid on purchases of ticket media, gift certificates, Disney Gift Cards, videos, DVDs, Disney Dollars, sundries, periodicals, film, Lladro, Armani, Hummel, Swarovski Crystal, Walt Disney Classics Collection, other collectibles and select merchandise. Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2010 has a coupon in the back for $10 off a $75 or more purchase at the LEGO Imagination Center at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Expires 12/31/10. A popular souvenir is the all-you-can-fit-in-a-box Disney-themed Mr. Potato Head toy. For a flat rate of $19 you get as many parts as you can manage to fit into the provided box, as long as it closes and is not bulging. This toy is available at many locations at Walt Disney World, including Mouse Gears in Epcot, County Bounty in Mickey's Toon Town Fair at Magic Kingdom, some resort gift shops, and Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney. Here are some hints for getting the most for your money when buying this toy:
Disney Outlet Stores Close to Disney World You can get great deals on Walt Disney World theme park merchandise at nearby Disney outlet stores:
For Walt Disney World souvenirs such as t-shirts, sweatshirts and mugs (and sometimes more exotic stuff), you can't beat the prices at the outlets. Sometimes you will even find current merchandise that is still be offered in the parks, at up to 50% off. In general, to get to the outlet centers you will need a rental car or else you'll have to take a taxi. However, many non-Disney hotels offer free shuttles to Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores where Character Corner is located - click on the link to see the schedule. I believe the Character Premiere store is operated by Disney (the staff wears Disney badges and the stores sell Disney passes -- plus you can pay for merchandise with Disney Dollars if you wish). The Character Warehouse and Character Corner stores are independently operated. I personally think the best selection and most convenient location are combined at the Character Premiere outlet in Orlando Premium Outlets, which is a very short drive from Disney property. It is a nicely decorated store with good service. Be aware that some of the merchandise here is offered at full price, though most of it is marked down significantly. This store will allow returns and exchanges. The Orlando Premium Outlets center is also very large and has many upscale factory outlet stores in addition to the Character Premier outlet. If you like to shop, I think this is one of the best outlet centers anywhere in the US for high-end clothing labels (DKNY, Jones New York, Calvin Klein, Hilfiger, Versace, Fendi, etc.). The Character Premiere store is right in the middle of the center. By comparison, the Character Corner at Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores is a bit shabby and has a much smaller selection of merchandise than the Character Premiere store. You can find some worthwhile deals here, but I have not seen much at this Character Corner that wasn't also at the Character Premiere store, usually at an identical price. This store also has some non-Disney merchandise and occasionally lower-end Disney merchandise that is not "resort exclusive." Be sure to look for tags that say Walt Disney World -- that's the good stuff. The Character Corner allows exchanges but not refunds. The other shops in this center are much more limited than at Orlando Premium Outlets. I have not visited the Character Warehouse outlet store at Prime Outlets Orlando. That center is the furthest from Disney. I've read mixed reports on the deals available there, though the store is supposed to be quite nice. Pressed pennies are fun to collect. Each location (and there are many throughout the parks and resorts) has a different design, and the process of "squishing" a penny is fun to watch. Cost is typically 51 cents (you supply the penny and pay .50 to press it). There are also pressed quarter machines, which of course cost you more! Guest Relations can usually provide a list of all of the locations for the pressed penny and quarter machines, along with the images available at each of the machines. Thanks to Sandy C for additional info. Susan H of Port Neches, TX suggests this fun and inexpensive souvenir: "On our past visits to WDW we have let our kids send themselves postcards from each park. Buy your postcards off property for something like 3/$1.00 and bring along lots of stamps. A really fun way to do this would be for the child to write themselves a note about who they met that day and mail the card late in the day. Or you could get a character to autograph the card." FASTPASSes and other paper memorabilia - MouseSavers.com reader Jeff has another great suggestion: "Fastpasses are great to collect, as well as old passports and vouchers etc. You can try and collect them all, get the holiday passes, blank end-of-roll Fastpasses, Fastpasses printed upside-down, etc. At the end of the day with unused Fastpasses you can collect them for free and even have a relevant character sign it. (Sharpie markers work best so they can use the whole Fastpass for the signature because, obviously, it's hard to sign with big gloves.)" Autograph book - Many children really enjoy meeting the characters and getting their autographs. For this you only need an inexpensive autograph book (or storybook - see below) and a fat pen (markers are ideal) that the character can grip easily. Autograph books can be ordered in advance of your trip from DisneyStore.com. Personalized storybook - If you will be attending a character meal, purchase a storybook featuring characters that will appear at the meal. For instance, if you will be eating breakfast at Storytellers Cafe, get a book with Chip and Dale in it. (Alternatively, get a single book with lots of characters in it, so you can use it as an autograph book throughout your trip.) Buy the book in advance and take it with you. BookCloseouts.com often has beautiful hardcover Disney storybooks at 50% off or more, or consider Disney's Junior Encyclopedia of Animated Characters, which lists all the major characters you may meet. When you go to the character meal, or as you tour the parks, bring along a big pen and have the characters sign in the book. Later you can also paste photos of your child with the characters into the blank pages at the back of the book. Now you have a nice souvenir that you can actually use after the vacation (unlike the Disney autograph books), because you can talk with your kids about the characters who signed the books and look at the pictures when you read it! Thanks to Sulan D for the idea. FREE souvenirs are available at several Epcot locations:
Disney Rewards® Visa® Cardholders get access to an exclusive Character Meet 'n' Greet with a FREE keepsake photo. Cardmember Meet 'N' Greet operates daily between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm at Innoventions West at Epcot. Must present a valid Disney Rewards® Visa® Card for entry and limited to 6 people per card. Operating time, days of the week, location and appearance of Characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability and location capacity. Offer includes one complimentary 5x7 keepsake photo per valid cardmember account. If you live outside of Florida and you're buying a lot of souvenirs (especially expensive artwork or collectibles) at Disney World, consider having them shipped home directly from the shop. Disney will not charge you the sales tax on your purchase, though you will have to pay for shipping (which costs $8.95 and up). Shipping rates are high, so you'll need to spend at least $150 or so in one shop for this to be worthwhile. The front desk of the Disney resorts can help you with shipping things home. There is a surcharge on the regular cost of shipping the items, but this is very convenient. If you would like to arrange your own shipping, there are two locations that are pretty convenient to the Disney property, though you'll need a car to reach them:
Disney's PhotoPassDisney’s PhotoPass presents Walt Disney World guests with a way to capture treasured moments. Using professional digital equipment, photographers take photos of guests throughout the theme parks. Guests receive a Disney PhotoPass that links all of their vacation photos together into one online account for easy online viewing and sharing. Guests can use one PhotoPass for their entire vacation or get a new PhotoPass each time they take a photo. MouseSavers.com readers report that the quality of PhotoPass shots
is highly variable, since some of the photographers are better than
others. Occasionally there is a glitch and photos are lost by the
system (or the photography equipment fails). So if it is really important
to get an excellent shot of a particular event or experience, be sure
to take your own photos, too! Also, reader David F points out that "every photographer (and just about any other cast member) was more than willing to use our camera to take a picture after they did the PhotoPass shot. They do not seem to be restricted to only doing the PhotoPass pictures." Better yet, instead of having to wait in line at a Photo Center for their photos, guests can view, share and order their photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com. At DisneyPhotoPass.com, guests can also add decorative borders and other Disney-themed elements to their pictures. There is no charge for obtaining a PhotoPass or viewing or sharing your photos online. The cost of ordering prints from DisneyPhotoPass.com starts at $12.95 per print. Be aware that you must register the serial number(s) of your PhotoPass(es) online within 30 days or they expire. Your photos are taken off the web site exactly 30 days after you register, so don't wait too long! PhotoPass CD You can purchase all of your PhotoPass photos on one CD for $149.95. The CD grants you a copyright release so that you can print the photos yourself. It can be purchased at three Walt Disney World locations: Camera Center at Epcot, M. Mouse Mercantile at Grand Floridian and Toontown in the Magic Kingdom. It can also be purchased at DisneyPhotoPass.com. If you purchase online you can crop photos, add borders and character enhancements, etc., before ordering the CD.
Drugstore Items and GroceriesWhile you can pick up a few odds and ends (milk, juice, bandaids) at the shops in any of the Disney resorts and many off-site hotels, the prices will be very high and the selection limited. Here are a few places you can go for your basic necessities that are very near Disney World and Downtown Disney. In most cases you will need a rental car or a taxi to reach these stores. Walgreens Drugstores - In addition to the usual pharmacy items, these stores have a huge selection of general merchandise (including picnic supplies, cold drinks, cheap flip-flops, etc) at normal prices. There are two very close to the Downtown Disney area:
Turner Drug will deliver to area hotels for a small fee. If you've forgotten a prescription or other standard pharmacy item, call them at (407) 828-8125 to arrange delivery. They do not accept insurance. Some health insurance companies may reimburse you later if you send in your receipt. Winn-Dixie Supermarket has a good selection including a deli, in-store bakery, pharmacy, and 1-hour photo services -- all at non-resort prices. You may want to get a free Winn-Dixie Customer Rewards Card (print out the application online or ask for one at the store) in order to take advantage of the many special prices that are only available to card holders.
Publix Supermarket has an excellent selection, including a whole section of British foods, and a very appealing deli area (the sandwiches look excellent). You don't need a shopper's card to get discounts here, which is nice for non-locals. It's easily reachable from both Downtown Disney and the southern end of International Drive, but the location is a bit obscure. The address is 8145 Vineland Avenue and the phone number is (407) 238-9924.
Hess Gas Stations - Disney has several on-property Hess stations, including one right across the street from Downtown Disney. A couple of MouseSavers.com readers have written me to say that the Hess stations have excellent prices on soft drinks and bottled water. They also carry a variety of pre-made food items, including pizzas and subs. If that's all you need, you might just want to grab your items at Hess and skip the supermarket. Goodings Supermarket - This store has two things going for it. First, it's extremely convenient to the Downtown Disney hotels -- you can actually walk to it if staying in one of those hotels. Second, it has an excellent selection of gourmet, high-quality and imported foods, plus a big selection of wine. Prices at Goodings are generally high, but some items are reasonably priced. It's located at the intersection of Hotel Plaza Blvd and Apopka/Vineland Road (SR 535). You can't miss it -- Hotel Plaza Blvd dead-ends into the Crossroads Shopping Center where the supermarket is located. Tolls and GasTolls There are two major highways you can use to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World. Both are tollways. The easiest and best route is to use Greeneway (SR 417). This road is uncrowded and makes a straight shot to Walt Disney World. Depending on where you exit, the tolls will total $2.50 to $3.50 each way.
If you really want to cheap out, use Beeline Expressway (SR 528) and connect to I-4 South. You will pay less in tolls. However, this route often puts you in traffic jams and it is not as direct. Disney has several on-property Hess stations with low gas prices. In fact, the Hess prices are usually the lowest in the Orlando area. There's no need to drive way off property to get gas. On your way to the airport, a good place to gas up your car is the Hess station located immediately before you get on Greeneway (SR 417) from World Center Drive (SR 536). The actual street address is 7900 World Center Drive and it is just west of International Drive (note that Google Maps does not display the location correctly). The gas prices here are usually the best in the area and it's much cheaper and more convenient than buying gas close to the airport. You'll have to drive pretty far out of your way if you wait until the airport exit, and the nearest gas station to the airport ("Landing Strip" aka "Suncoast Energy" on Semoran Boulevard, just north of the airport) is a complete rip-off. This station habitually charges nearly TWICE the normal price for gas and does not have signs to let people know the prices before they pull in. You won't realize you're paying a ridiculous price unless you look closely at the pump! I have always used one of the Disney area Hess stations to gas up my rental car before heading back to the airport and I have never been charged for additional gas by the rental agency -- the gas gauge is always still on "F". So remember to gas up before you get on the highway back to the airport! ParkingParking at the theme parks is $14 per day ($15 for campers or trailers). If you will be leaving the parking lot and returning on the same day, or even parking at another theme park on the same day, be sure to save your receipt. You won't have to pay again, because only have to pay the fee once per day. MouseSavers.com reader Adam S notes that it's often fastest to "pay with your credit card at the parking booths. Disney's credit card system at the parking booths is lightning fast and I've always got my receipt faster than any attendant can make change for cash."
Valet parking at Disney Deluxe resorts is $12 per day, plus tip. If you decide to use valet parking, be sure you are issued a hangtag or receipt. It will allow you to valet park at any resort at no additional charge (except tips) for the rest of that day. The following guests get FREE valet parking at the Disney Deluxe resorts (but still should tip):
Self-parking at the Disney Deluxe resort hotels remains free of charge, and it is free to drop off your luggage at the front entrance of the hotel and then proceed to self-parking. If you buy a Walt Disney World vacation package (or sometimes even just Hopper passes) through AAA, you will receive a "Diamond Lot Parking Certificate," which does not give you free parking, but does give you close-up parking at the major parks. Note that if you arrive near opening time, the regular parking spaces are often closer than the AAA spaces. Also, the trams don't run to the AAA areas of the parking lots, since they are considered to be within walking distance. Some blackout dates (major holidays) may apply to the AAA certificates. Phone CallsLong Distance from Hotels Believe me, you don't want to direct-dial any long-distance calls from a hotel. You will pay through the nose! Virtually all hotels add huge surcharges to long-distance calls. It's a big profit center for them. The law requires that phone charges be prominently posted -- there should be a rate card next to the phone in your hotel room. Be sure to study it carefully, because hotel policies and charges vary widely. The most obvious way to avoid the long-distance surcharges at most hotels is to use a cell phone if you have free roaming and long distance. Another option is to use a phone card, because phone cards provide long-distance access through a toll-free number and most hotels don't charge for toll-free number calls.
Internet AccessJump to:
All of Disney's resorts have data ports on the phones. If you want to access the Internet from your hotel room using the data port, you'll need a dial-up account. There is no charge for calls to local numbers. Off-site, you'll find that pretty much any decent hotel in the area will have data ports on the phones. If you want to access the Internet from your hotel room, you'll need a dial-up account. Hotels vary widely on how much (if anything) is charged for local and toll-free calls, so be sure to check before using dial-up access. High-Speed Access with a Laptop All of Disney's resorts now have wired high-speed Internet in all guest rooms. There is a charge of $9.95 per 24 hour period. Disney also offers Wi-Fi (high speed wireless Internet access) in the public areas of its convention hotels (see locations below). You will need a Wi-Fi enabled laptop computer or PDA to access the Internet from designated areas of each resort. Your credit card is billed through an on-screen Internet connection. Use of this service requires a wireless-enabled laptop. (They have wireless interface cards available for purchase in the resorts' business centers, if you need one.) Wireless access costs $9.95 for a 24-hour period or $4.95 for a one-hour period. Locations for Disney's Wi-Fi access:
Most other hotels near Walt Disney World do offer high-speed Internet access in at least some guest rooms. Here are the ones that have been reported to me, with notations about fees, if known:
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex offers FREE Wi-Fi. You usually have to pay admission to get into the complex, but the Official All-Star Cafe and some other areas near the main entrance (such as the gift shops) do have coverage and can be accessed without buying admission. Click here for more info. All of the Osceola County Public Library branches have FREE Wi-Fi access. The West Osceola Branch Library at Water Tower Place #21, 6070 W. Irlo Bronson Highway (Hwy 192) in Celebration is the closest to Walt Disney World and some of the other branches are within easy driving distance. No printing is possible through the wireless connection. Panera Bread offers free Wi-Fi (and yummy sandwiches). The closest Panera to Disney property is at 8600 Vineland Avenue (near Marriott Village). Call (407) 842-1300 for hours. MouseSavers.com reader Scott C shared these two other FREE Wi-Fi locations in the general area of Walt Disney World:
Orlando International Airport (MCO) has FREE Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, and at the Cell Phone Parking Lot (10536 S. Access Rd.) Thanks to Seth N for info. Disney's resorts that have conference centers (Beach Club, Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Grand Floridian and Yacht Club) have public Internet access available. It is expensive -- roughly $10 for 15 minutes. Limited hours -- ask at the front desk. The Dolphin has a 24-hour Business Center that includes three computers with high-speed Internet access. The Swan has a smaller Business Center that only has one Internet-connected computer and is open limited hours. At either center there is a charge of $1 for the first minute and .69 for each additional minute, which you must pay by credit card. Ask at the front desk for directions to the Business Centers. If you just want to do some limited surfing, DisneyQuest and Innoventions in Epcot have terminals with free Internet access, but the sites you can access are heavily restricted. I'm not sure if you can even get to web-based e-mail accounts, for instance. Naturally you'll need an admission ticket to enter either of these locations. Many local hotels have high-speed access that does not require a laptop, either provided in the guest rooms through a TV-based system, or more frequently in the form of a Business Center with an Internet-connected computer you can use for a fee. Visit a public library. All of the Osceola County Public Library branches have free Internet access. The West Osceola Branch Library at Water Tower Place #21, 6070 W. Irlo Bronson Highway (Hwy 192) in Celebration is the closest to Walt Disney World and some of the other branches are within easy driving distance. Anyone can sign up to use the computers for free, though you may have to wait awhile. You have the option of a 15-minute or one-hour time slot. Printing is available for a small fee. (The Orange County Public Library system, which includes Orlando, does offer Internet access, but does not have any branches that are very close to Disney World. It charges a fee for a 7-day Internet pass for anyone who is not a county resident.) Thanks to Erica B for the suggestion. A closer option (but still requiring a car) is to go to Kinko's, which offers quite a few terminals with high-speed Internet access. The nice thing is that you can also print things out and of course get copies here, at very reasonable rates. This is a good place to ship stuff, too, since it's also a FedEx location. The store is open 24 hours a day on weekdays and until midnight on weekends. It's at 12181 S. Apopka Vineland Road (SR 535), less than a mile north of the intersection of SR 535 with Hotel Plaza Blvd and just north of the intersection of SR 535 with Palm Parkway, on the east side of the street. Phone number is (407) 465-0085. Borrow From Your Disney Hotel Instead of BuyingIf you are staying at one of Disney's Walt Disney World resort hotels, you can request the following items from the front desk (note that certain resorts will already have some of these items in the room):
Thanks to Binnie B, Grace, Lisa M, Dwayne O and Rachel D for the info. Special OccasionsDon't be shy about mentioning special occasions -- honeymoon, birthday, anniversary -- to the reservations agent, front desk, waiters and other Cast Members. There is no guarantee that you'll get a special treat, but it does happen. When we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge on our honeymoon, we received a bottle of champagne in our room after we mentioned the occasion to the desk clerk. We have also been given free dessert at Disney World restaurants on at least four occasions, after mentioning a birthday or anniversary. Jump to:
MouseSavers.com reader LeCarla R points out that on your birthday, you can go to "Town Hall in the Magic Kingdom and tell them it's your birthday .... you get a special pin to wear, and you get a 'phone call' from a character (my daughter 'talked' to Goofy). When we went to the Crystal Palace to eat, the waitress noticed her pin and brought her a birthday card signed by all the 'Pooh' characters and they brought her a special birthday cupcake, complete with candle! Later, a Cast Member noticed her pin and offered her a pin from his lanyard, and told her he usually traded, but that was her birthday present! With the birthday pin, lots of other 'magical' events can happen!" The reader above mentioned her daughter was given a pin. Normally they'll give you a badge-style button. Goofy's Candy Company at Downtown Disney Marketplace offers birthday packages. The packages are called Goofy's Scien-Terrific Birthday Bash or the Perfectly Princess Party. Each 90-minute party includes up to 12 guests total (including the Birthday Boy or Girl) and lasts 90 minutes, all for $344.99 plus tax. Up to 3 more guests can be added for $25 each plus tax. These packages include:
Call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) to reserve. The Neverland Club at Disney's Polynesian Resort offers two party packages for 10-50 guests, each including 2 hours of fun at The Neverland Club, pizza, drinks and a birthday cake. The basic package offers a choice of theme (pirate, princess, Tinkerbell, Lilo & Stitch, sports or Mickey & Minnie) and choice of party activity like face painting or a craft project, for $25 plus tax per child. The premium package includes all of the basic features plus two half-hour appearances by a favorite Disney character, for $53 plus tax per child. You must book at least 72 hours in advance. Call (407) WDW-BDAY (939-2329) for more information. Guests of all ages can book a Birthday Celebration Cruise that lets them set sail on Disney's waterways aboard a pontoon boat and a VIP viewing of a fireworks spectacular -- either Illuminations at Epcot or Wishes at Magic Kingdom. The boat accommodates up to 10 people and costs several hundred dollars. The package includes a driver, light snacks (bags of chips, pretzels and popcorn, water and soft drinks), plus themed decorations (banner and balloons). These boats can be booked for pick-up from the Contemporary, Fort Wilderness, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge or Yacht and Beach Club marinas. If you want other food or beverages, including birthday cake, you can order them at additional cost through the resort's Private Dining department. Call (407) WDW-BDAY (939-2329) for more information. For those with really deep pockets, the party-planning experts on the Walt Disney World Resort Sales team can turn one spark of imagination into a fully-themed creative bash with detailed décor and entertainment. Expect to pay many thousands of dollars for these over-the-top events. A "Villain" party at Disney's Hollywood Studios might feature a crypt entrance, an eerie Tower of Terror bellhop host and gifts sent by favorite Disney villains. An "Under the Sea" party might include appearances by characters from Disney's animated classic "The Little Mermaid," a band playing Disney songs and a "bubble cave" party space lit in deep-water blue with ocean sound effects. Call (321) 939-7129 for more information. You can order special cakes for delivery to your resort room or to be served after your meal at a Walt Disney World restaurant.
Special Surprises: Flowers, Room Decorations and More Guests wanting to set up a special moment but unsure about what they want -- or what to say -- can leave it to the Disney Florists, whether for a proposal, birthday greeting, anniversary or just a declaration of how they feel. For instance, maybe after a day in the parks, the lucky recipient opens their guest room door to rose petals trailing from the door to the bed. Or a child finds, waiting in her room, a life-size Mickey Mouse plush holding a celebratory "candy" cake to mark a birthday. There are dream opportunities for pirates and princesses, festive balloons, gourmet baskets, a "wishing rose" with a bracelet with a heart-shaped charm -- nearly endless choices. You can get details on the complete selection of gift offerings by visiting DisneyFlorist.com or calling (407) 827-3505. Other florists can deliver flowers and gifts to Disney resort rooms, too. Click here for details. Honeymoon and Anniversary Buttons Town Hall and some Guest Services desks may have badge-style buttons for those celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon. If you're celebrating something special, it's worth popping by and mentioning it. When you're wearing a button you may find you'll receive extra attention from at least some Cast Members. Want more romantic ideas for a Disney World vacation? Visit the Romance page at MouseWeddings.com. TaxesMost of Walt Disney World is in Orange County, where the sales tax rate is 6.5% and the hotel tax rate works out to 12.5% (6.5% sales tax + 6% resort tax). Disney's All Star Resorts are in Osceola County, where the sales tax rate is 7% and the resort tax is 6%, so the hotel tax rate at those three hotels is 13%. StrollersDisney rents strollers at $15 per day for a single, $31 per day for a double. (Yes, seriously!) Strollers rented from Disney can only be used in the park where they were rented. If you "hop" between parks on the same day, you'll have to turn in your stroller at the first park, then get a new stroller at the next park. Disney's stroller rental system is inconvenient since you won't have a stroller once you leave the parks. That means no stroller at your resort. Multi-Day Stroller Rental Discount There is a discount for prepaid multi-day stroller rentals from Disney: $13 per day for a single, $27 per day for a double. A multi-day rental will also save you time, because you'll be given a receipt that allows you to go up to the cast member dispensing the strollers, have them stamp your receipt, get your stroller and you’re off! No more waiting in the long cashier line to pay for a daily rental. Thanks to Julie S and Lisa C for additional info. MouseSavers.com reader Melissa W notes that when buying a multi-day rental, "the days do not have to be used consecutively. We were told that they have seen people come back the following year or years even and still use unused days. Also, most of the time you do not have to wait in the line to pay for the stroller rental, rather just in line to actually pick up the rental and have your stroller tickets date stamped." Hold on to your receipt! If you misplace your stroller, present the receipt and they'll replace it without charge. Also, the fee covers rental for the whole day, even if you "hop" between parks on the same day. So if you start the day at one park and then move on to another park later, keep your receipt from the first park and present it at the stroller rental. They'll issue you a stroller at the second park without additional charge.
Bring/Buy Your Own Stroller Bringing your own stroller will, of course, save you quite a bit of money and ensure that you have the stroller available all the time, such as when you're going to and from your hotel. (If you will be using Disney's transportation system, bear in mind that you will usually have to take your child out of the stroller and collapse the stroller while on buses and boats.) Another consideration in bringing your own stroller is the hassles of getting it to Walt Disney World, particularly if you are flying. (You can "gate check" a stroller, which saves some of the work - just bring your stroller right to the gate at the airport. It will be tagged and put into the cargo hold from the gate.) If you want to avoid the hassle of transporting a stroller on a plane, you might consider buying a cheap one upon arrival and giving it to another lucky family or a charity when you leave. Or buy a stroller in advance and have it shipped directly to your hotel. This has the advantage of saving you money AND being less of a hassle (since you won't have to transport it to Disney yourself). At the end of your trip, either give the stroller to someone or put it back in the shipping box and have the hotel ship it home for you. To ship it to a Disney hotel, it should be addressed as follows:
Most people who bring their own stroller recommend a cheap umbrella-style one. They are lighter, making them easier to get on and off buses, and you won't worry as much about the possibility of the stroller being stolen. (It's not unheard-of for strollers to go missing in the parks, so it's a good idea to put something personal on yours. At minimum, write your last name on it using a permanent marker.) Wheelchair/ECV RentalRegular (unpowered) wheelchairs can be rented at each theme park for $12 per day. Disney offers a discount for multi-day wheelchair rentals (works out to $10/day). You can't take the wheelchair out of the park -- so if you spend the first half of your day at the Magic Kingdom and then want to go over to Epcot, you'll have to turn in the wheelchair at the first park and get a new one at the second park when you arrive. However, you only pay the rental fee once per day -- if you show your receipt at the second park, you will not have to pay a second time. It's often cheaper and more convenient to bring your own collapsible wheelchair along. If you need to use an "electric convenience vehicle" (ECV) -- also known to some as a "scooter" -- to get around Walt Disney World, be aware that the rental is quite expensive ($50 per day plus $20 deposit) and you can't take the vehicle out of the park -- so if you spend the first half of your day at the Magic Kingdom and then want to go over to Epcot, you'll have to turn in the ECV at the first park and try to get a new ECV at the second park when you arrive. However, you only pay the rental fee once per day -- if you show your receipt at the second park, you will not have to pay a second time. That assumes there is an ECV available at the second park when you arrive, however -- they can be in short supply. In general it's a better deal to rent an ECV from an outside firm. Not only is it less expensive, it also guarantees that you'll have the ECV available all the time, and you won't have to keep switching vehicles as you move from park to park. For more great info for those with disabilities who are planning a trip to Disneyland, including suppliers of rental ECVs, I recommend Teri's Disney Travelers' Disability FAQ. Medical NeedsIf you have a life-threatening medical emergency while at Walt Disney World, of course you should call 911. But what if you have a kid with an ear infection, or something like that? If you are staying at a Disney resort hotel, you can contact the front desk and they will help you make arrangements to visit an urgent care center or have a doctor make a "house call" to your hotel room. Be aware that this will probably be costly and may not be covered by your insurance. If you want to go directly to an urgent care center, the two closest to Disney property are:
There are at least three companies that provide "house call" doctors to Orlando/Kissimmee/Lake Buena Vista area hotels, homes and villas:
I have not used any of these services so I can't vouch for their quality. If you need something from a pharmacy (forgotten prescription, etc.) see above. Child CareSwan and Dolphin Hotels' "Camp Dolphin" accepts children ages 4-12 and is open 5:30 pm to midnight. Includes your child's meal, supervised activities, a supervised trip to the game room (at no cost to parents), and a trip to Tubbi's ice cream shop. Regular price is $10/hour, but you get two hours FREE with a receipt from certain Swan and Dolphin restaurants (Shula's, BlueZoo, Palio, Kimono's). You can reserve online, call (407) 934-4241, or drop by the day before (but it fills up fast!). Disney Child Care Locations below accept potty-trained children ages 5-12 and are open 4:30 pm to midnight. Cost is $11/hour with a 2-hour minimum. To reserve, call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) at least 24 hours in advance.
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