How do stuff work at disney world?

[Danny K]

I am sorry if this didn't go under the right category, but I really didn't know what to put this on and I think disney resorts is the closest.

I need to know how stuff work at disney. Here is a list of stuff I want to know:

Hotels:
I am staying at All Star Music Resort, and want to how it works. First of all how do they get my bags to my room? Do people explain the hotel to people when they first arrive?

Park Tickets:
Where do I get my park tickets? Do I get them at the hotel or they have to ship them or what? Also how do they work? When I first enter the park, where do I put my tickets and how do I give my tickets to go in?

Dining Plan:
I know what you get on the DDP, but want to know how it works and stuff. First of all how to you get the card, or how to prove you are on the DDP to a restaurant? If you have a card, where do you get it? And do I have to specify what meals to take off per person? How does the restaurant take meals off? Also how can I find my meal balance?

Key to the World Card:
I have heard that you get a key to the world card, but what does it do, and how does it work?

Disney Transportation:
When going to Disney I am not coming from the airport I am just coming from another place in orlando. How do I explain it to them? And how does the transportation work? when I leave Disney I will be going to the airport, so how does the transportation work? Also when getting from hotel to theme park and back how does disney transportation work to, do you need to tell people which hotel you are going back to or what? How often do busses run from hotel to park. And is it likely to be a large line or what? Also am I likely to not get on the first bus there is if there is a huge line, how big rare the busses? Also is there transportation from hotel to hotel? If so please tell me how that works to? If not how to get from hotel to hotel? So please help me a lot with transportation?

ESPN Sports Complex, Golf Course, and Mini Golf:
How much does it cost to play golf or go to ESPN sports complex? I don't want to add it to the ticket, because its only one person going to sports not the whole family. Please give me some prices here? Also what kind of things are at sports complex, can you give me and explanation of ESPN sports complex?

Disney Restaurant Reservations and Strategies:
I have all my reservations made. How do they work. When you walk in how to prove you have a reservation, also how long is usually the wait for TS dining if you have reservations? Also for Cinderella's Royal Table how do reservations work there? For a picture with Cinderella, how do reservations work, and how long do you have to wait for a picture with cinderella, then how long usually is the wait to get seated? And also how much time with characters do you get if characters at CRT and Crystal Palace?

FASTPASS System:
How do you get fastpasses? And I have heard that once you get a fastpass you have to wait a certain time to get another one? Is that true? If it is true how long is usually the wait between 2 fastpasses?


Did I miss anything? If there is any other stuff I need to know please tell me?
If you think I should put this under another category to please tell me that, and I will put it under another one.

 

[Zachsmom4]

I suggest purchasing the Unoffical Guide. The book if full of information and would be able to answer the questions you have.

 

[Danny K]

I suggest purchasing the Unoffical Guide. The book if full of information and would be able to answer the questions you have.

I prefer not to purchase it, because it costs a lot of money. Do you know any websites that will help me?

 

[it's kelly]

I prefer not to purchase it, because it costs a lot of money. Do you know any websites that will help me?

The book is only about $12.00. A very small fraction to what a Disney vacation costs.

You can browse around this site or maybe you can go to Barnes and Noble and skim thru the book.

 

[klinlin]

You can get the answers to most of theses questions right here on these boards, but I would suggest breaking them down and asking them in the appropriate forum. In resorts, find your specific hotel thread and read through all of the information on the first few pages first. There are f.a.q. On the magical express under transportation, and info on all of the ticket plans under theme parks. Same thing with the dining plan under restaurants. People will be very glad to help with a specific question, but your post, ( like WDW!) is overwhelming. Also check out wdwinfo on this same site. It has reviews of all hotels and restaurants as well as vacation packages. I have gotten guide books from the library too.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[albarellic]

You can look into borrowing an older guide from your local library. It won't have the most current information in terms of prices, but most procedural things in terms of transportation/dining plan/ tickets won't have changed.

 

[Cirrius]

I can answer some of these...hopefully correctly, It's been many years since my last trip

Hotels:
I am staying at All Star Music Resort, and want to how it works. First of all how do they get my bags to my room? Do people explain the hotel to people when they first arrive?

If you check in at the counter they will explain everything (so do NOT do the early check in online).

Park Tickets:
Where do I get my park tickets? Do I get them at the hotel or they have to ship them or what? Also how do they work? When I first enter the park, where do I put my tickets and how do I give my tickets to go in?

If everything was booked together, the tickets will be on the same card as your hotel room key. If booked separately I believe they can add the tickets to your card at the check-in desk.

Dining Plan:
I know what you get on the DDP, but want to know how it works and stuff. First of all how to you get the card, or how to prove you are on the DDP to a restaurant? If you have a card, where do you get it? And do I have to specify what meals to take off per person? How does the restaurant take meals off? Also how can I find my meal balance?

I've not used the DDP before, but I believe this is also on your room key. You tell the server you are using your dining plan, and the receipt will show remaining points.


Disney Transportation:
When going to Disney I am not coming from the airport I am just coming from another place in orlando. How do I explain it to them? And how does the transportation work? when I leave Disney I will be going to the airport, so how does the transportation work? Also when getting from hotel to theme park and back how does disney transportation work to, do you need to tell people which hotel you are going back to or what? How often do busses run from hotel to park. And is it likely to be a large line or what? Also am I likely to not get on the first bus there is if there is a huge line, how big rare the busses? Also is there transportation from hotel to hotel? If so please tell me how that works to? If not how to get from hotel to hotel? So please help me a lot with transportation?

You don't need to explain anything on arrival, you just show up. If you need the Disney bus to the airport they will set that up for you for free, just give Disney a call to schedule it.

There are resort buses that run from your hotel to the theme parks and to the travel center (which is a hub to everything).

Disney Restaurant Reservations and Strategies:
I have all my reservations made. How do they work. When you walk in how to prove you have a reservation, also how long is usually the wait for TS dining if you have reservations? Also for Cinderella's Royal Table how do reservations work there? For a picture with Cinderella, how do reservations work, and how long do you have to wait for a picture with cinderella, then how long usually is the wait to get seated? And also how much time with characters do you get if characters at CRT and Crystal Palace?

You need your reservation # for your dining reservation. I believe the pictures with Cinderella are part of the queue as you wait for your table.

FASTPASS System:
How do you get fastpasses? And I have heard that once you get a fastpass you have to wait a certain time to get another one? Is that true? If it is true how long is usually the wait between 2 fastpasses?

You go up to the fastpass machine, scan your tickets (room key card), and get a printed fastpass ticket. You need to scan everyone's card that will ride, not just yours. You can't get another fastpass until the time is up on your current fastpass ticket.

You can find more info on all of these topics here on the boards.

 

[reiella]

A lot of your questions depend on how you're set up .

First off, sounds like you're asking about with DME? Generally, they pick up your luggage at baggage claim for you, and load it onto a bus. Either the tags on the luggage or what you give the folks at DME counter will attach it to your reservation, and Disney knows where you are staying . However, if you're not using DME, you're responsible for your own luggage.

Park Tickets, if you're getting a package from Disney, your tickets are on your room key. If you are buying tickets separately, then they'll arrive however they arrive as ordered. Generally even with separate tickets, you can get them attached to your Room Key after you check in at the resort.

Dining Plan, this will be on your Room Key [Key to the World] card. Only thing here, I suggest making sure when you are using it that it's clear you are using your dining credits. Most places are very good about asking upfront, but it's better to ask than to get a surprise room charge and having a credit left over .

Key to the World, this is your room key. It can also have charging privileges.

Transportation, for getting to your resort, I do want to reiterate you are responsible for getting yourself to the resort, so nothing more special than how you would get around on your own [call a cab tell them the resort, rent a car and follow a map/gps etc]. Once at Disney World, they have buses allowing you to travel much of the Disney property. These are fixed route buses, so you need to get on the right bus for where you want to go. As for how to get to ESPN or the golf courses, that is a good question that someone else may be able to answer better . For getting from the resort to the airport, you should be able to set up DME for that as others said. I'm not too positive on the timeframe for scheduling just a return-trip, as we use DME for both parts of the trip.

ESPN / Golf / etc, the cost largely depends on which you're doing. Disney's website has a good price point for the cost of the golf courses. It is important to note that the different courses have different costs, and also pay attention to rental fees if you're going to need to rent clubs and the like .

Reservations, I don't recall there be anything 'special' about verifying reservations. I remember just giving them our name and what time our reservation was. I did have the confirmation #s etc available if necessary, but it wasn't. CRT can be a while of waiting in the lobby. The picture w/ Cinderella is while you wait in the lobby. How much time you get depends on the character and the room.

I would definitely recommend a guide, it's not necessary, and all the information is available [for free no less! ] on the web, but the guides give you a more guided approach .

 

[notaclue]

I prefer not to purchase it, because it costs a lot of money. Do you know any websites that will help me?

The $12 you spend for the guide is just a teensy amount compared to what you will actually spend at WDW (we're talking thousands of dollars) and the guide is well worth it.

 

[Danny K]

A lot of your questions depend on how you're set up .

First off, sounds like you're asking about with DME? Generally, they pick up your luggage at baggage claim for you, and load it onto a bus. Either the tags on the luggage or what you give the folks at DME counter will attach it to your reservation, and Disney knows where you are staying . However, if you're not using DME, you're responsible for your own luggage.

Park Tickets, if you're getting a package from Disney, your tickets are on your room key. If you are buying tickets separately, then they'll arrive however they arrive as ordered. Generally even with separate tickets, you can get them attached to your Room Key after you check in at the resort.

Dining Plan, this will be on your Room Key [Key to the World] card. Only thing here, I suggest making sure when you are using it that it's clear you are using your dining credits. Most places are very good about asking upfront, but it's better to ask than to get a surprise room charge and having a credit left over .

Key to the World, this is your room key. It can also have charging privileges.

Transportation, for getting to your resort, I do want to reiterate you are responsible for getting yourself to the resort, so nothing more special than how you would get around on your own [call a cab tell them the resort, rent a car and follow a map/gps etc]. Once at Disney World, they have buses allowing you to travel much of the Disney property. These are fixed route buses, so you need to get on the right bus for where you want to go. As for how to get to ESPN or the golf courses, that is a good question that someone else may be able to answer better . For getting from the resort to the airport, you should be able to set up DME for that as others said. I'm not too positive on the timeframe for scheduling just a return-trip, as we use DME for both parts of the trip.

ESPN / Golf / etc, the cost largely depends on which you're doing. Disney's website has a good price point for the cost of the golf courses. It is important to note that the different courses have different costs, and also pay attention to rental fees if you're going to need to rent clubs and the like .

Reservations, I don't recall there be anything 'special' about verifying reservations. I remember just giving them our name and what time our reservation was. I did have the confirmation #s etc available if necessary, but it wasn't. CRT can be a while of waiting in the lobby. The picture w/ Cinderella is while you wait in the lobby. How much time you get depends on the character and the room.

I would definitely recommend a guide, it's not necessary, and all the information is available [for free no less! ] on the web, but the guides give you a more guided approach .

Ok I am glad to hear your answer. Just can you tell me a little more about the key to the world card? We are 4 people so do we get 4 world cards? Also about transportation how do you know which is the right bus to which theme park?

 

[dansdad]

We are 4 people so do we get 4 world cards?

Yes, all 4 of you will get a card with your name printed on it.

Also about transportation how do you know which is the right bus to which theme park?

Every bus has signs on the front and sides stating where it is going.

 

[ncc1701]

Ok I am glad to hear your answer. Just can you tell me a little more about the key to the world card? We are 4 people so do we get 4 world cards? Also about transportation how do you know which is the right bus to which theme park?

Everybody gets their own card so you'll get four.
The buses have a dispay screen on the front that shows the park it is traveling to. When you leave the parks there is a sign board saying what bus stop to stand at to get a bus back to your resort. The same hold true for buses to/from the resorts & DTD.

 

[jfair1219]

You can also try looking at the Walt Disney World website or allears.net website. In my opinion, the allears site gives more complete information than the actual Disney site. You can probably find the answers to all your questions there.

 

[sharadoc]

i would suggest **************.net. it sounds like you've never been to a hotel before. You need to educate yourself about the fundamentals of travel. Are you the parent or a kid in the family? just curious.

Although we all like to help as much as we can, we need you to do some of the work too. Read, learn, and observe then you can ask specific questions, preferably one topic at a time.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[tianna26]

I prefer not to purchase it, because it costs a lot of money. Do you know any websites that will help me?

I got it from the library

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Key to the World is just the Disney way of referring to your room key. The person who made the reservation decides who gets a room key (Key to the World). This decision is made when you arrive at the resort check-in counter.

The room key (Key to the World) does many things -
1. Lets you into your room.
2. If you are on the Disney dining plan, your dining credits will be on the room keys - all credits for all people in your group will be on all of the room keys. In other words, if there are 4 people staying 4 days, every room key will have credits for 16 sit down meals, 16 counter service meals, & 16 snack credits (assuming you are on the basic dining plan). Therefore, if one person wants to, he/she can spend more dining credits than their share.
3. If you booked park tickets with your reservation, these will be on your room key. You will place your room key into the scanner at the park entrance & it will deduct that park credit from your room key. If you have a park ticket that allows you to "park hop" - go to more than 1 park on 1 day - you still just put your room key thru the scanner when you go to the next park.
Obviously the room keys are valuable, so should always be secured & kept with you. If one is lost, be sure to advise the front desk immediately upon discovering so.

Your luggage - If you ride the free Disney bus from the airport to the Disney resort, your luggage will be taken from the bus by a Disney staff member & delivered to your room. You cannot take the bags yourself. If you do not arrive via the Disney bus, you will have your luggage with you (I assume). When the vehicle you are in arrives at the resort front entrance, there are always Disney staff members waiting - let one of them know that you wish to have help with your bags. That person will take your bags from the vehicle to the front desk where you will check-in. You are expected to tip that person. Then after you checkin, you can ask for someone to take your bags to your room - if it is ready. You & your luggage hauled by a Disney person will go to your room. If your room is not ready, there is a storage area will you can leave your luggage; it's free. Just ask the front desk person who checks you in. When your room is ready, ask the front desk for help with your luggage from the storage area to your room - you are expected to tip the person who takes your luggage to your room.

Golf, directions, info, etc - When you checkin at your Disney resort, ask all of the questions you want. Ask for a map of the Disney area. After checking in, you can call the front desk from your room anytime you want & ask more questions. Some hotels have a Guest Service desk - walk up & ask any questions you like. Usually the staff will do whatever they can to help you.

Disney has free bus service from & to the airport when you stay at a Disney resort. Otherwise, you must get yourself to & from Disney. If you are already in an Orlando hotel before going to Disney, you could ask that hotel front desk of an estimate of a cab ride to your Disney resort. Or, if that hotel provides transportation to the airport, you could go to the airport, & catch the Disney bus there (free) to go to your resort. However, you need to add your desire for Disney bus service to your reservation - call & advise Disney of your time for pickup from the airport & time to return to the airport.

Disney resort & park bus - These are free. There is a bus stop at your resort (ask the front desk staff where it is). Some bus stops have signs indicating where you stand based on where you want to go. Some have smaller stops & you just stand anywhere at the bus stop. Each bus has its destination on the front & on the curb side of the bus. When the bus arrives, wait until the driver indicates it is ok to board - or if no passengers are getting off, get on. If in doubt, ask the driver where the bus is going.

Each park has a Disney bus area. Ask a staff person as you leave the park where the buses are located. At the park bus stops, there are signs for each resort. Stand in the area marked for your resort. This bus is free.

Disney dining plan - The restaurant, counter service, or snack service where you eat will not know if you have dining credits left on your room key (Key to the World). If you are in doubt, ask them to scan your card. Your server will advise you which foods you can order without being charged money. For instance on the basic dining plan, appetizers are not included. At the end of your meal, the server will scan your card & remove the number of credits you just used for your meal. If you want the server to remove credits for all 4 of you, just advise the server & he/she will remove all 4 credits by using just one card. When the server gives you the receipt, it will show how many table service, counter service, & snack credits you have left. You can also ask the server just to be sure if you want. Anytime, you can call or visit your resort's front desk & ask & they will check for you. Not all restaurants qualify for the Disney dining plan, so be sure to ask before being seated, if you do not want to owe cash. Some restaurants costs 2 dining credits per person. Your tip is not included on the dining plan. Leave cash, or charge the tip to your room key & pay off your bill when you checkout, or give the server your room key for the meal credits, plus advise the server to take the tip from a credit card you give to the server.

Ask if you have any more questions.

Julie

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Some of your other questions -

Fast Passes, Golf, & other activities - I don't know anything about these. I think it would be best to ask these questions on the "Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies" Board.

TS Reservations - Before my trip, I access my dining reservations on the Disney website & make a print of each. I take these with me on my trip - it's good for helping me remember, but also good to show at the restaurant check-in, just in case my reservation cannot be found. There is no guarantee to be seated at the exact time of a reservation. Depending on the time of year & the # of diners at the restaurant, the speed of your seating will vary widely.

Buses - We've been told at Disney that the buses run every 20 minutes. However, this is not always true. Sometimes buses come very close together & sometimes it takes longer. There's no way around it if you want to use Disney's bus service. I have never had to wait for another bus because the bus was too full. But if you will be at Disney during a busy time, I guess this could happen - we always go during a slower season.

Getting from hotel to hotel - No, there are not buses going from one hotel to another....except - if the bus that services your hotel also services another hotel. The monorail runs between Contemporary Hotel, Polynesian Hotel, Grand Floridian, & Magic Kingdom. Boats go between Magic Kingdom, Ft. Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Poly, & Grand Floridian. Boats go between Epcot, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, Boardwalk, & the Studios. Boats go between Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, & Downtown Disney. Not hotels, but just for your info, the monorail also goes between the Magic Kingdom & Epcot (thru the Ticket & Transportation Center). From the All Star Music, I don't know if the buses go between those value resorts, Sports, Music, etc. But from All Stars, there is not any Disney transportation going to the other hotels. To get to another hotel from All Star, you will need to take a bus to one of the parks or Downtown Disney, get off the bus, at that bus stop area, go to the stop for the hotel you want, get on the bus, & ride to that hotel. To return to All Stars, do the same thing in reverse. This will take quite a while. So if you have a dining reservation, you would need to plan a lot of travel time. You can also take a taxi. Your hotel front desk staff can advise you of an approximate cost. Maybe someone on the "Transportation" board can advise you on the cost. You can also plan your day so that you will be at a park or Downtown Disney before your dining reservation & take a bus from the park or Downtown Disney to your dining reservation. I don't know how much time you have at Disney, but you could also allow some time before or after your dining reservation to stroll around that hotel - that's part of the fun, if you have time. I've noticed that some folks on this site don't make dining reservations at other Disney hotels because they don't want the transportation hassle & loss of time. We always rent a car, so that's not a problem for us.

At checkin, you will receive a map of the your hotel complex. It will show the bus stop, buildings with room numbers, parking lots, pools, etc. Take a little time to stroll around the main building where the shops & restaurants are, the pool area, etc. & you'll see that it's easy to learn how to get around the resort, especially with the map you get at checkin.

If you plan to arrive at All Stars before checkin time, call Disney reservations & let them know the time & ask for early checkin. It's not guaranteed, but when we do this our room has always been ready when we arrive early.

With the dining plan, each person gets a refillable drinking mug - good only at your resort. This is not given to you at checkin. You need to go to the food court & select your mugs - they are free. From the mug display area, just select one for each person on the dining plan, go thru the cashier line, present your room key (Key to the World), & the cashier will remove those credits from your account. You can fill these mugs anytime you want, for free, at your resort. At All Stars the drink machines are self serve.

"Did I miss anything? If there is any other stuff I need to know please tell me?" - My advice, whatever it is worth, is feel free to ask for help while at Disney. The Disney staff is there to help. However, be aware that Disney is a crowded & busy place. So, as anywhere & anytime in life, friendliness & patience is a good way to get the help you need. Once in a while you may encounter an employee who is not as helpful or friendly as he/she should be. If that happens, don't let it spoil the moment - just ask someone else. You will wait in a lot of lines; you will not always be served as promptly as you may think you should be - just relax & go with the flow. You spent a lot of money for the trip, so you should set the tone of your enjoyment, don't allow others to do that.

Hopefully if I have made any errors or omissions, someone will let us know.

Just ask if you have any more questions.

Julie

 

[erincon23]

Just a few notes -- most of the stuff has been covered, but it sounds like you want all the details --

When you get to a Disney park (Magic Kingdom, etc), the first thing that will happen is Bag Check. If anyone in your party has any kind of bag -- purse, backpack, diaper bag, etc., you'll have to go through this. While you're standing in the line, unzip all compartments. You'll put the bag on a table, and the guard will take a quick peek in. You can't bring anything in glass containers in, but you can bring water bottles and food. Then you go to the ticket area. Everyone should have their Key to the World card out (and everyone over 2 years old will have a card -- some may not open your room door, but everyone has to have an individual ticket card). You'll put the card in the turnstile, then all adults (age 10 adn over) will put one finger on the finger scanner. This ties that specific card to an individual. You may want to write names or initials on each card so you know which one belongs to who. Then you push through the turnstile and retrieve your card.

Fastpasses -- not all attractions have Fastpass. For those that do, that you want to use, you go up to the the FP machine. Above, on an LED display, you'll see the time that the FP will be good for. You must return during that one-hour window (you can choose not to use your FP, of course, but if you want to use it, you must go between that time, so make sure it doesn't conflict with a dining reservation or other plan). Then you put EACH ticket card into the machine and you'll get both your card back and a small paper ticket with your return time printed on it. When you come back to use the FP, you'll show it to the cast member at the Fastpass entrance (they're well marked, not the regular standby line), who will tell you to keep the ticket and wave you through. Keep it handy. At some point, you will get to another Cast member who will take the Fastpass and put you in the line. The FP line is generally much quicker than the standby line, so there's a big advantage in using it.

Busses at the parks -- each park has a large bus area. When you approach the bus area to go back to your resort, you'll see a sign showing which numbered station serves which resort. Find the numbered area for your resort. Don't stand in the wrong area or you'll go the wrong resort. (believe me, I've seen people do this and then get irate when the bus isn't going where they want it to!)

And as for the guidebooks costing a lot of money, don't be pennywise and pound foolish. You're already spending a lot of money on the trip -- spend the bucks for the book -- Unofficial Guide or Passporter, and bring it with you. You'll use it. Look through it ahead of time, highlight the important parts, use Post-its to flag important areas, carefully look at the maps inside and get a good handle on the layout of both the entire resort and the individual parks.

 

[vegas4111]

The $12 you spend for the guide is just a teensy amount compared to what you will actually spend at WDW (we're talking thousands of dollars) and the guide is well worth it.

If you have a kindle or iPad you can download the unofficial guide for $9.00.

 

[Danny K]

Some of your other questions -

you will not always be served as promptly as you may think you should be


Julie

what do you mean by that?