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Take A Road Trip For Your Next WDW Vacation

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Welcome Home!

As many of us have learned over the past year, things can change pretty quickly! From learning about the end of Magical Express (as we knew it) on January 1st, 2022, it’s subsequent replacement option – provided by Mears –  and even looking to the airlines themselves with flights often getting changed or cancelled at the last moment, many are opting to forego air travel and take on the adventure of a Road Trip!! Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and “Need To Know” tips when considering a drive to your WDW vacation.

 

~ Pros To Driving ~

Depending on where you live, driving can be a great advantage, especially with the struggles many airlines are facing right now.

~ You are in charge of your schedule – Choose the time and day that’s best for you to leave. Check out the routes beforehand, and see how long the trip will be for you to see what works best for you and your family.

~ Take a Break – When the kids (or adults!) get a little antsy, pull over and take a little break. Stretch your legs, grab a coffee and regroup before hitting the open road again. There’s no constraints and limits within the airport or the plane. And don’t forget to stop at the Florida Welcome Center!

~ Overpack – There’s no need to worry about bringing that extra pair of shoes – or anything else for that matter. No measuring or weighing your luggage. Pack whatever you need (or even what you don’t need) without worries of size or space. And be prepared for a chilly spell with a set of warm clothes that can take up a lot of extra luggage space.

~ Save Money – While this is definitely something that needs to be looked into based on each families situation, many can save money by driving instead of flying. Instead of purchasing airline tickets for each family member, by traveling in one vehicle, even the cost of gas can be a significant savings.

~ Save Time – While on property instead of waiting for Disney transportation, you can hop in your vehicle and drive. Resort guests don’t pay extra for parking at the theme parks. And you can easily access and enjoy some of the incredible restaurants located at the different resorts across WDW property.

 

~ Things To Know ~

With all the advantages to driving, there are some things to keep in mind before loading up the car.

~ Extra Vacation Days – For many, vacation time is limited. You’ll need to add extra travel time, so keep that in mind and determine if that is doable for you and your schedule.

~ Resort Parking Fees – The resorts at WDW (along with many others, including off property hotels) do charge a nightly fee. Currently they are : Value Resort $15 per night, Moderate Resort $20 per night, and Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts $25 per night (these fees can change at any time). This fee is charged to your resort folio on the last night of your stay.

~ Keep them occupied – Pick up little things to keep the kids busy on the drive. Travel games, like these bingo cards can be found numerous place online and even your local dollar store!

 

 

 

Truthfully, there are many advantages to driving for your WDW vacation. If you have questions or are looking for help deciding which way to travel, reach out to Destinations To Travel and your agent can help you figure out what will work best for you and your family!

Let us know –

Do you drive or fly to WDW? Have you considered (or will you now) making your next vacation a road trip?

If you are looking for assitance in planning your next Disney or Universal Studios vacation, I would love to be your planning partner!

Email me at : christinasmith@d2travel.com .

Looking for more Disney in your life? Come join us on Facebook at Living The Magical Life and Destinations To Travel with Christina Smith or on Instagram.

OPINION: Is Oogie Boogie Bash better than Boo Bash?

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We have had the chance to see both parties on both coasts and we feel the Oogie Boogie Bash is a far superior After Hours Party when it comes to celebrating Halloween.

Let us start by discussing the differences and why one may be superior to the other. First off these events are not cheap. For an After Hours Party they are similar in cost to others ranging from $129 to $169 per person for the Boo Bash and $114 to $169 for the Oogie Boogie Bash. While the West Coast may have some cheaper days, for a family of four this can be a big expense for the holiday season so is it worth it? The short answer is “Maybe?”. While both events will allow early access to the park it is hosted in, the Boo Bash is only a 3 hour event versus the Oogie Boogie Bash at 5 hours. this does not include the 2 hours of “early admission” where both party goes and the regular attendees can experience the attractions before the official festivities begin.

First let us look at the Boo Bash at Walt Disney World! One of the biggest perks exclusive to this event is the unlimited popcorn, Mickey Premium bars, and soda (or water). This may be a perk for many as you can stock up on your drinks and enjoy some fresh popcorn while strolling through the park – hydration is key after all! Walking around you will find the opportunity to catch one of several Cavalcades throughout the evening. Some of these include Jack and Sally with Oogie Boogie, Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween best, as well as Maleficent in dragon form. You will also find 8 Trick-Or-Treat trails throughout the Magic Kingdom to assist in loading up on candy and treats (not many tricks to be found here – it is Disney after all!). There are also several characters out for you to socially meet and greet including some of the face characters in front of the Haunted Mansion which was a highlight in our opinion.


Now how about our West Coast friends? While you will not find the free treats here, you will find some more activity – and more creativity possibly with how things are organized. First off, all Trick-Or-Treat trails are themed to different villains. There were 7 trails this year and 3 of them featured all new characters never seen in a Disney park! These were Agatha Harkness from WandaVision featured in Avengers Campus, Cruella from the live action film in the Hollywood Backlot, and Sid from the original Toy Story in the Pixar Pier area. The other villains around the park are Maleficent, Dr. Facilier,  The Evil Queen, The Mad Hatter (from the live action film), and of course Oogie Boogie himself. Each trail has not only candy but another sweet treat option such as apples, grapes, rice crispy treats, and temporary tattoos! There is another unique offering for this bash, Villains Grove. This is a spectacle of light and projections in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. There may not be any candy or villains to be seen, you will see sections of the path themed to our favorite villains. Make sure you keep your eyes open for some rarely seen characters throughout the park as well. Along Buena Vista Street you will find some villain duos such as Cinderellas Stepsisters, Pain and Panic from Hercules, and more! Over by Grizzly Bear Rapids some rare characters can be seen including Mr. Smee, Governor Ratcliffe, and the Sherriff of Nottingham! Lastly, in contrast to the Cavalcades, the Oogie Boogie Bash features the Frightfully Fun Halloween Parade – the first parade back at a Disney Park since Covid! It truly was a great time as the attraction lines are short and the party was a fun one.

Have you been to one of these parties? Share your thoughts with us!