Planning Tips

3 Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in the Summer

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Summer in Orlando is what you would expect – hot, humid and crowded. But don’t let that stop you from booking your trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Our family’s “usual” time to travel to Disney is the beginning of August, which is prime time for heat and crowds.

We’ve been going that time of year for as long as I can remember, so we’ve really gotten it down. Here’s how we’ve managed to do it all these years…

1. Don’t spend all day at the parks – this is my general plan for Disney, but especially important in the summer months!!

  • Hit the parks in the morning. I always recommend getting there before the parks open.
  • Stay through lunch/early afternoon. Leave before the heat (or summer storms) hit.
  • Head back to your resort. Spend some time cooling off at the pool or in the AC.
  • Visit the parks again for dinner and nighttime. You’ll be refreshed and ready to go, and the heat will have subsided!

2. Dress accordingly

  • Wear light clothes that dry quickly. Summer months are great for athletic clothes. You’re likely going to be sweaty or wet from the summer storms that blow through, so you want clothes that will dry fast.
  • Comfy shoes are always a must! This might seem obvious, but don’t wear brand new shoes to the parks. Wear shoes you know won’t rub in the heat. Lightweight gym shoes are my go-to.

3. Bring the right gear

Portable fans/fan spray bottles for the kids. They’ll be happy to have it while you wait in lines or are watching the parade. You’ll be happy to cool off too!

Ponchos. Summer storms blow in quickly, and they pass through even more quickly! Don’t get caught in the rain without them, or you’ll get soaked. We like to buy disposable ponchos in bulk in advance of our trips, so you can just throw them in your bags and toss them when you’re done.

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Reviews

Resort Review: Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

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WDW Park Planners Rating:

Location: Disney Springs Resort Area

Resort Category: Deluxe Villa Resort

Disney’s Saratoga Springs is a beautiful, Victorian-style resort inspired by the late 1800’s hotspot in New York. Famous for its spas and horse racing, the Disney resort carries over these traditions.

My husband and I spent a weekend here in December when we came in for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. I’ll be honest, we probably only spent about 15 hours total (including sleep) at the hotel the entire weekend. We got in late Friday and headed straight to Magic Kingdom for the party, and then were up and at ‘em early Saturday. Same thing Saturday night/Sunday.

That being said, the resort was not what we needed for a quick weekend trip. Our biggest and only issue was that the resort was so large and sprawling. It took longer to get to/from the parks because there were multiple bus stops across the property that the buses had to stop at on their way in/out of the property. We quickly realized this and adjusted our departure times accordingly in the mornings (and this was a part of why we spent even less time at the hotel).

If we were a family traveling to WDW and staying for a week, then this location might be better. The pools looked great, and the property has a nice golf course and spa. Being only a skip and a hop away from Disney Springs, the location would be perfect for heading across the lake in the evening for some live music, drinks and delicious dinners.

The room was great – very spacious and clean, so no complaints there. However, we didn’t love the lobby layout compared to other resorts that have such awesome spaces. For a Deluxe Resort, this one was underwhelming to us for the amount of money we spent on our room.

WDW Park Planners Tip:

This hotel is made up of studios and villas, so it’s great for large groups or families. To save some $$ and to have some healthier options, you can order groceries on Amazon to be delivered directly to the hotel. It only needs to be done a few days in advance, and you can order perishable and non-perishable items. We always like to order breakfast foods such as cereal, afternoon snacks like granola bars and a case of water! You can do this at any resort 🙂

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Reviews

Restaurant Review: Be Our Guest Restaurant

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WDW Park Planners Rating:

Location: Magic Kingdom

Who wouldn’t want to dine in Belle and the Beast’s castle? Because at Be Our Guest, that’s exactly what you get – an exquisite French meal alongside the Beast himself.

Dining is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Be Our Guest – and reservations are highly recommended for all three meals. We’ve had the opportunity to dine here for lunch and dinner, and enjoyed both tremendously.

Breakfast and lunch are considered quick-service meals, so you order at a kiosk and then your food is brought out to you on a cart by your waiter. For dinner, the menu has recently changed to a pre-fixe, 3-course dining experience. Dinner is much pricier than the other meals, and for us, lunch was just as enjoyable as the much fancier dinner.

The food is good for a Disney park, but you’re really coming to this spot for the full experience. Upon entering, you walk into the Grand Ballroom – which looks exactly like the original movie! It’s absolutely breathtaking and magical. There are two other rooms as well: the West Wing (where the forbidden rose is kept) and the Castle Gallery, which is Belle’s library. You’re able to dine in any of the three rooms, all of which are great.

Beast comes around and greets guests in each of the three rooms. After your meal, you will have the opportunity to get a picture with the Beast. This is always one of my favorite Disney pictures and one of the best characters to see, so definitely don’t pass this up!

WDW Park Planners Tip:

As with anything in Disney, ask and you shall receive (most of the time!). If you want to sit in a specific room in Beast’s castle, make that known upon arrival. You may have to wait a bit longer, but this one is worth the wait. Personally, I love the Grand Ballroom – watching the snow fall outside of the (fake) windows is so beautiful.

Reservations are so difficult to get for this spot, so make sure you book extra far in advance!