Disney World in Florida: tips, attractions and campgrounds!

Are you going on a road trip to Disney World, looking for tips about the destinations so you and your party can enjoy it, be comfortable and not spend a fortune?

Here are some of the top tips about visiting.

About Disney World

Walt Disney World aka Disney World just southwest of Orlando Florida was Disney's second amusement park after Disney Land in California and opened on October 1, 1971. The property covers nearly 25,000 acres (39 sq mi; 101 km2), of which about half has been used.. There are 4 theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom), in addition to 2 water parks, 27 themed resort hotels, 9 non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, an on-park camping resort, and an outdoor shopping center Disney Springs.

Contact info and prices

Reservations are required due to COVID; to enter a theme park, Guests (ages 3 and older) will need a valid Disney ticket and a theme park reservation for the same day and same park they want to visit. A 3-Day ticket (or any multi-day ticket) saves money per day and not be subject to tiers and blackout dates (like the 1-Day tickets are). You have 13 days after the first use to visit.

In 2021, day passes for Disney World (for ages 10 and up) were about $110. The price doesn't significantly drop until you buy a 5 day (or more) ticket) The annual pass (ages 3 and up) was $1,300.

What to see in Disney World

There are so many websites dedicated to visiting Disney World, it would be pointless to try to duplicate it here. The best can create a guide to the park (which I have used) that will make the visit much better. It routes you in a sequence that helps to avoid lines and crowds, frequently going in a back of the park to the front order.

Magic Kingdom - 1180 Seven Seas Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Epcot - 200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando, FL 32821.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios - 351 S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park - 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32830.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park - 1145 East Buena Vista Boulevard, Orlando, FL32830
Disney’s Blizzard Beach - 1534 Blizzard Beach Drive, Orlando, FL 32836.
Disney Springs - 1486 Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL 32830.

COVID

As of September 13, 2021, Disney says "Face Coverings: Required indoors, including in all indoor attractions and indoor queues and in enclosed transportation. Optional in outdoor areas.". Hmm, just what you wanted for a vacation... wearing face masks. Not for me. I'll skip Disney until masks aren't required.

Top Disney World Tips:

Use an online Disney Park planning service. Some of the best are:
MouseSavers Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation
Mickey Visit Disney World Planning Guide
Park Savers Disney World Planning Guide
MouseHacking Walt Disney World planning guide
Buy your tickets and get your reservation online. At present, you can only book reservations for up to 60 days in advance. Check the Disney Deals page for current offers.
Go when the park is typically less crowded. See Disney World Park Availability Calendar and Disney World 1-Day Ticket Tier Calendar
Stay on the park at a Disney World Resort hotel. for extra hours and saving time
Or stay at a hotel/motel nearby
Or stay at a campground near by
Get to the parks early, before they open. And stay late; the first 2 and the last 2 hours of park opening are the least crowded.
Don't forget sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, cell phone chargers and their cords.
Bring your own snacks and water.
Bring your own lunch and store it in a locker
Use a Locker to store your food and gear.
Download the Disney World mobile app and use virtual queues.
Get a Park hopper pass.
Go to shows and sit-down experiences late in the day when you are tired!
Use the Single Rider Line and Buddy Pass.
Make dining reservations ahead and check the walk-up availability
Or use the Disney World Mobile Order service, so you can order food from anywhere in the park.
Eat during a parade. Many restaurants have outdoor seating so you can eat and watch!
Go on the rides during showtimes, while the lines are shorter.
Finally, get in a ride line when the park closes. If you are in line BEFORE closing time, you will get to ride, even if it is already past park closing time by the time you get to the front of the line.

Disney World Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Central Florida is humid and subtropical. The rainy season is from May through October, when air mass thundershowers that build in the heat of the day drop heavy but brief summer rainfall. The Orlando area sees afternoon thundershowers in summer. Don't ask about the giant cockroaches that are called Palmetto bugs. They're huge and they can leap and fly. Eeew. Keep your tent zipped up.

Food

It's no secret that food at Disney parks is incredibly overpriced! But you may not have known that Disney World allows guests to bring foodand nonalcoholic beverage items into the parks. So, pack sandwiches, especially those that are low risk and do not require being kept cold, like PBJ. nuts, trail mix, etc. The food or drinks may not in glass containers and may not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control . Stinky foods are out; nothing with a pungent odor. They ask that you inform a Security Cast Member of any food items you have with you, when you enter the park.

Parking

Don't overlook parking, it can really add up! In 2021, Disney World charges about $15 - $50 per day for daily (no overnight) parking for most vehicles, But it is FREE when you camp at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. And if you stay at a nearby campground or RV park you can take a shuttle.
Guests pay one fee for a parking pass that is valid all day at all 4 theme parks.
Preferred parking: car or motorcycle - $45-$50 per day*
Standard parking: car or motorcycle - $25 per day
Oversized Vehicle Parking: Shuttle, Limo, Camper Trailer, RV, Bus or Tractor Trailer - $30 per day
Standard theme park parking is included for registered Guests of Disney Resort hotels and select Annual Passholders.
Disney Value Resorts: $15 per night
Disney Moderate Resorts: $20 per night
Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts: $25 per night
Complimentary standard parking is available to Guests staying at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Each campsite provides parking space for one (1) motorized vehicle.

Disney World Camping tips

First, get reservations ASAP. They usually fill up weeks in advance. And while there are a few last minute cancellations, those go instantly.

Camping and cabin reservations can be made using one of the following methods:

book a cabin or campsite at one of our Florida State Parks. Just visit the new Florida State Parks Campground Reservations site or call toll free at 1-800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. You can buy day passes there, too.
• Online - Reserve.FloridaStateParks.org.
• Call center - 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
• At a park - Visitors can contact the park directly to make reservations for primitive sites, primitive group camps and developed group camps.

Most state parks are open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year. Visitors may make campsite or cabin reservations before 1 p.m. on the same day until 11 months in advance.

Cabin reservations may be made from one day up to 11 months in advance of your arrival date.

Reservations can be made beyond 11 months only when the reservation period starts within the 11-month period and ends outside that period. The result is reservations could extend 11 months and 14 days in the future.

Campgrounds near Disney World in Florida

Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort -
4510 North Fort Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830. Phone: (407) 824-2900.
Yes, you can camp on the park at Disney World. They have several options, including Fully-Equipped Campsites for tents to 45-foot and bigger RVs. There is a limit of 10 Guests per site, so leave cousin Randy at the trailer...
They have a swimming pool, illuminated at night, with a waterslide and a whirlpool spa. They also offer archery, horseback riding and canoeing . They have a pet-friendly policy
When we looked in September 2021, they were booked up until May 2022, except for a few last minute dates, and the average price was $106 (tent site) up to about $200 for premium RV sites, all plus tax and fees. Book 6 months to a year in advance!
This campground is about 10 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, 24 minutes to Universal Orlando and 17 minutes to SeaWorld.
Thousand Trails Orlando RV Camping -
2110 Thousand Trails Blvd, Clermont, FL 34714. Reservations (Member): 1-800-388-7788. Reservations (Non-member): 1-888-481-6348. Ranger Station: 352-394-7575.
Open Year Round. Number of Sites: 1017. 255-acre RV campground. This campground is about 20 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, 40 minutes to Universal Orlando and 33 minutes to SeaWorld.
Tropical Palms -
2650 Holiday Trail, Kissimmee, FL 34746. Open Year Round Call: (877) 570-2267.
343 sites. Our resort offers spacious private cottages and RV site rentals set on 69 beautiful sun-kissed acres in Kissimmee, Florida. We are 4 miles from Walt Disney World Resort, 11 miles from the Orange County Convention Center, and within walking distance of Old Town and Fun Spot. Enjoy all that central Florida has to offer, while also having convenient access to our pool, cafe, shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, live entertainment, social events, and much more. This campground is about 20 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, 20 minutes to Universal Orlando and 17 minutes to SeaWorld.
Kissimmee RV Park --
2425 OLD VINELAND RD, KISSIMMEE, FL 34746. Phone:(407) 396-6655. Email:mgr@kissimmeervp.com
Kissimmee RV Park (formerly Orange Grove Campground and RV Park) centrally located and 6.5 miles from the peripheries of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Orlando attractions are generally within 30 minutes of our Kissimmee campground and long or short term RV park rental. Kissimmee RV Park is pet friendly. We welcome cats and all non-aggressive breeds of ogs. They have a heated pool, a recreation hall with kitchen and bingo, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, and restrooms and showers. Every site comes with a concrete patio and a picnic table. This campground is about 13 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, 25 minutes to Universal Orlando and 20 minutes to SeaWorld.