MickeyBlog Mailbag: Disney Resorts, Transportation, and Stormy Weather
One of MickeyBlog’s goals is to inform guests about all forms of Disney vacations and travel. We understand that some readers know as much about Disney as we do, maybe even more in some cases. But we also recognize that some of you are inexperienced and feel a bit overwhelmed.
We want to help make a Disney vacation as straightforward as possible for you. So, we’re back again today to offer answers to some of the most frequent Walt Disney World questions. The subject this time is official Disney resorts, transportation, and tickets. Which Walt Disney World Resort Is Best?
Hoo boy. That’s probably the most challenging question to ask a Disney fan. You could sit in a group of 20 of us and receive 20 different answers. A lot comes down to personal preference, by which I mean that every official Disney resort comes with a unique, detailed theme. Some of them will appeal to you more than me and vice versa.
I’ve written a few articles that address differences in hotel stays and how they impact your hotel stay. You’ll experience Walt Disney World differently with Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as your home than at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
A stay at a Value Tier hotel won’t come with quite as many amenities as a Deluxe Tier resort. However, you will have direct access to the Disney Skyliner from Disney’s Pop Century Resort, something that the Deluxe Tier properties can’t claim.
In short, every Disney resort is much different, and I can say with complete sincerity that every one of them is spectacular. I haven’t stayed at all of them (yet), but I’ve spent at least one night in more than half of them. And I’ve always come away impressed by the amenities and the theming.
I’m a devout believer that vacationers should always stay onsite at Walt Disney World. Benefits like Extra Magic Hours elevate the vacation experience, and I’m backing up this statement by staying at two different Disney resorts this very week.
I understand that you may have concerns about the price of official Disney resorts. Here’s what I have to say on this point. You should take advantage of one of the best-kept secrets of Disney travel. Third-party travel agencies like MickeyTravels are the best at uncovering the best hotel deals and vacation packages at Walt Disney World.
Amazingly, the services of MickeyTravels are FREE to you! You can investigate the best possible vacation deals with an official travel agent who has years of experience in the industry. This expert will find the vacation itinerary that’s best for you, yet you won’t have to pay them a penny! Nothing beats free, right?
Which Walt Disney World Resorts Allow Dogs?
This discussion could tie into the previous one. Dog lovers may favor one of the properties that I’m about to discuss because…yes! Your furry friend is welcome at Walt Disney World!
Starting in 2017, a few Disney resorts changed their hotel policies, allowing dogs to stay onsite. The official website still describes this change as a pilot program, which means that you should check to confirm before your trip. After two years, it seems pretty permanent, but I don’t want to leave you and your adorable puppy in dire straits.
The four official Disney resorts that allow dogs are:
- The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
According to the official site, these areas “have easy access to outdoor walkways for exercise and to green spaces with pet relief areas.” Cast members hand out canine care packages called Pluto’s Welcome Kits. You’ll use these to take care of your furry best friend’s needs during the hotel stay.
Best of all, when you return from the parks each time, your puppy will be there to greet you happily. It’s a lot better than dropping them off with a pet sitter before you leave, right?
What Happens during Bad Weather?
The Atlantic Coast portions of Florida receive a great deal of inclement weather. Thankfully, most of it breaks up before it reaches Central Florida. You’ll rarely experience more than rain showers. However, Disney theme parks do require an umbrella roughly 75 days per year, which is about 20 percent of the time. In other words, you’re like to get some rain one or maybe two days out of a seven-day vacation.
Cast members are seasoned pros at dealing with such weather. They have processes in place that will keep your aggravation to a minimum. Understandably, some rides will close in times of rain. Impacted Magic Kingdom attractions include Astro Orbiter, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain.
Other parks have their own unique lists, but you get the idea. Weather can and does cause safety concerns on many open-air/outdoor attractions. Since safety is paramount at Disney, cast members temporarily close potentially impacted rides. Obviously, the affected ride list goes up when weather reports indicate lightning in the area.
Before a park visit, you should always check the weather at Walt Disney World. That way, you’ll know whether to carry an umbrella or rain slicker. As a pro tip, you should purchase one of these items before your trip. Otherwise, you’ll pay more for one in an emergency situation at the parks.
Of course, what you’re really wondering here isn’t about rainy days. Since Orlando doesn’t experience snow very often, you don’t mean that, either. You’re wondering about stormy weather, the kind that comes from hurricanes.
The best suggestion that I have for you is to read this article about how Disney prepped for Hurricane Dorian. You’ll realize just how many safeguards park officials have in place for such situations. While actual hurricanes rarely reach Orlando, I’ve also chronicled what happened during the most recent one, Hurricane Irma. It should alleviate any concerns that you may have.
Which Transportation Option Should I Use?
The correct answer is all of them. On the other hand, the Disney fanatic’s response is the monorail. Fans of modern technologies will lean toward the Disney Skyliner. And the Disney realist’s answer is the bus system.
Here’s the deal. The Walt Disney World campus is massive. In fact, there’s a real chance that it’s larger than the central portion of your city unless you live in a major metropolitan area. With so much space to cover, park planners have had to come up with several different ways to crisscross Orlando.
While the monorail system is undeniably cool, the reality is that its scope is limited. You can ride a monorail from Epcot to Magic Kingdom and back again. In the Magic Kingdom area, you may travel around the resort monorail loop, which takes you to three different hotels. It also features stops at Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
I’m a monorail fanboy. I highly recommend it and don’t think of myself as vacationing at Walt Disney World until I’ve ridden it. I even dine at Contempo Café and Chef Mickey’s specifically because the monorail drives right by the restaurants. Even so, I acknowledge that the monorail covers only a small portion of Disney’s Orlando campus.
In most situations, you’ll need a bus. In recent years, Disney has upgraded the bus fleet to make each vehicle more accessible and user-friendly. USB charging stations and WiFi are even available in some vehicles. While the bus system is notoriously mercurial, it does travel virtually everywhere at Walt Disney World. You’ll use it most of the time during your vacation.
Other Than Buses and Monorails, What Are My Options?
The latest form of transportation is the Disney Skyliner, which suffered an infamous hiccup a few days after it opened. Some guests were stranded for three hours due to a power outage. It was a public relations fiasco that caused some people to question the validity of the overhead gondola system.
However, the system’s operated for several consecutive weeks without an incident and has lots of benefits for consumers. It takes a more direct route overheard, bypassing street traffic and red lights/stop signs. You’ll want to use the Disney Skyliner when traveling in the Epcot/Disney’s Hollywood Studios area.
Disney also operates boats as a form of transportation. These vessels provide a more relaxing way to take in the scenery at Walt Disney World. You’ll find ships at some resorts, three of the parks, and at Disney Springs.
Finally, you could utilize a ride-sharing service. Uber and Lyft are both available at Walt Disney World. Park officials also operate their own version of ride-sharing, the Minnie Van. This stylish vehicle will allow you to traverse the Disney campus in style. Please be aware that Minnie Vans cost substantially more than conventional Uber and Lyft options, though.
Is the Walt Disney World Railroad Open?
Okay, this question is a lot more specific than the rest. I totally understand why you’re asking it, though. There’s been some confusion in recent months about the status of the world-famous Walt Disney World Railroad. So, I’m going to answer the question specifically and generally.
The specific answer is yes. Despite its name, the Walt Disney World Railroad only operates at Magic Kingdom. It’s not a form of travel like the options discussed in the previous section. No, this railroad is a ride that provides guests with a unique view of the park’s themed lands.
Currently, Tomorrowland is under construction. Disney’s adding a new attraction, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, and reshaping the paths for others. Since the tracks of the Walt Disney World Railroad go through this area, it can’t run at the moment. The current expectation is that the railroad will remain closed until early 2021, although a return in late 2020 is possible, too.
The general answer applies to all Disney attractions. Walt Disney himself believed in the concept of plussing. He didn’t deem any Disney theme park attraction as finished. Instead, he stated the goal of improving rides whenever possible in a constant search for perfection. Even the most iconic attractions aren’t quite perfect, although they certainly seem that way.
Due to this belief, cast members sometimes close attractions for renovations and maintenance. During these periods, your favorite rides are unavailable. Don’t worry, though! Park officials are aware of your desire to have a dream vacation. So, they perform the closures in phases, a meticulous order that prevents multiple great rides from being down at once.