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10 Most Common Walt Disney World Questions & Answers

1. Which parks are part of the Walt Disney World Resort?

The Walt Disney World Resort is made up up four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), two waterparks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), Disney Springs (a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex), and two miniature golf gourses (Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland). If you’re looking for Harry Potter attractions or rides that go past penguins, you may be mixing up Disney with other theme parks in Orlando. The Walt Disney World Resort covers a sprawling 44 square miles, and with so much to see and do it pays to research what the parks have to offer before your trip.

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2. Should I stay at a Disney resort?

Staying at a Disney resort may come at a higher price point, but it also comes with a host of amenities that are only offered to Disney resort guests. By staying at a Disney resort, you’re entitled to complimentary transportation between the Orlando International Airport and your resort and the theme parks, Extra Magic Hours, which allow you to enjoy more time in the theme parks and access to FastPass booking 60 days in advance.

3. Is FastPass free and how do I use it?

FastPass is free! You can make FastPass selections using using the My Disney Experience App or at the kiosks located within the parks. The FastPasses are loaded right onto your MagicBand or park tickets so you don’t need any additional tickets to use them. You can have up to three selected at a time, then when the first three are used you may make selections one at a time.

4. What time is the Festival of Fantasy parade?

The Festival of Fantasy parade is regular for the 3:00pm time each and every day. Keep in mind, the parade may take a while to reach where you are watching it from. For instance, if the parade starts in Frontierland, it may not get to Main Street until 10 minutes later. The times by location won’t make too much of a difference, but considering this may help plan when you should get your spot to watch the parade.

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5. Is my MagicBand tracking me?

Not in the way you may be thinking. The parks have always collected data on things like how many guests are in the park and how many guests enter certain attractions, but MagicBands are not tracking your every move. They do not even store credit card information on them if you are using them to charge to your resort reservation–rather they charge the reservation and the card on file at the resort is charged later.

6. What does the Disney Dining Plan include and is it worth it?

The Disney Dining Plan allows you to pre-pay for the cost of your dining when you book a Disney vacation package. There are multiple dining plans available, some of which offer only quick service meals, others include a cocktail with select meals, and some offer up to three table service meals daily. The most popular, the Disney Dining Plan, includes one snack, one quick service meal, and one table service meal per person per day. Depending on where you dine and what you order the dining plans have the potential to save you up to 35% off the cost of dining.

7. How much does a Disney vacation cost?

A Disney vacation can range from a couple of hundred dollars per person to a couple of thousand depending on how you plan your trip. You can stay at a value resort or offsite, drive instead of fly, and pack lunches to bring to the parks, or you can splurge at a deluxe resort and order off the deluxe dining plan. Set a budget before you begin planning your trip, and take your time doing some research to figure out how to stay within your set budget.

8. Is there anything to eat beside burgers, hot dogs, and other typical theme park food?

There certainly is! Even for quick service meals, the Walt Disney World Resort features a wide variety of food outside the typical theme park options. For table service meals, you can even find everything from seafood to German, Italian, or African feasts, and even a AAA Five Diamond restaurant (Victoria and Albert’s). With well over 100 restaurants, you’re sure to find something for everyone.

9. How much spending money should I bring?

This question really depends on how you plan on dining in the parks and how much you like to shop. $100 per person per day is typically a safe estimation, but you may find yourself going over or under this amount. Remember to factor in gratuities (and that they are not included in the Disney dining plan), and don’t forget that you can always find souvenirs after your trip on the Shop Disney Parks app.

10. Should we get base tickets or park hoppers?

If you’re on a strict budget, you can cut some costs by going with base tickets instead of park hoppers. For the ultimate flexibility however, park hoppers are the way to go. Spend some time looking at your dining reservations and the park hours to determine whether or not you think you’ll be switching parks, and remember that you can always purchase base tickets and upgrade to park hoppers during your trip if you change your mind.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."