The Ultimate Theme Park Packing List + Free Checklist

by vipteam | Mar 18, 2022 | My VIP Tour, Tips & Tricks, Travel

Whether this is your family’s first time at the parks or you’re a seasoned pro, being prepared is the best way to ensure a successful and magical trip.

We know first hand that packing can be stressful, so we have created this ultimate theme park packing list just for you.

We can’t wait to “Build Better Memories” with you and your family.

See you real soon!

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Your Guide to Disney Dining

by vipteam | Mar 17, 2022 | Disney, disney world, My VIP Tour, Tips & Tricks

Your Guide to Disney Dining

There are so many restaurants on Disney property, yet getting the reservation of your dreams can be tricky! Read on for a step-by-step guide to booking dining reservations before your upcoming vacation!

Here Are Some Things to Know Before Booking Your Reservations

There are three ways to book a Disney dining reservation:

Online at 6:00 AM EST
By phone: (407) 939-752 or (407) WDW-DINE at 7:00 AM
Disney Vacation Club Members: (800) 800-9800

Disney hold times can be outrageously long, so we suggest giving the online route a try first. Another great option is to book non-Disney-owned restaurants that are within Disney World Property via OpenTable.

In-Park Dining

For all table-service restaurants located within Disney’s theme parks, Guests will need valid park admission and a reservation for park entry through the Disney Park Pass system—as well as a dining reservation. Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park. If you plan on park hopping to a second park for the evening, you will not need a park reservation at the second park.

Quick Note: Many character meals and dinner shows are still on pause or modified, but hopefully, they’ll be returning very soon! To stay updated, keep an eye out on Disney’s official website.

Disney Resort guests can make reservations for their stay up to 60 days in advance of their check-in date. That window is expanded by the length of your stay. What does this mean? Well, if you’re staying on-property, you’ll be able to make all of your dining reservations in one session, and improve your chances of securing some of the more popular reservations.

On-Property Example: A Guest checking into a Disney report on January 1st and checking out on January 8th, can make all of their dining reservations for their entire stay at 6:00 AM on November 2nd.

Off-Property Example: A Guest staying at a resort that is not affiliated with Disney (off-property), checking in on January 1st, cannot make reservations until 6:00 AM 60 days before they are visiting the theme park, and will have to book dining reservations on a day by day basis. If they were planning on visiting Magic Kingdom on January 4th, they would not be able to make reservations until November 5th.

ProTip: Use this calculator to confirm your dining date(s) Dining Date Calculator.

Also, play around in the app and make and cancel dining reservations, so that you are already experienced prior to your dining date. There is no cancellation fee for dining that is canceled more than 24hours before a reservation.

Go to Disney’s Website: www.disneyworld.disney.go.com

Once you’re on Disney’s main homepage, go to the top of the page to log in with your Disney account.

If you haven’t made one yet, you’ll be required to make one before making any dining plans.

Hover over “Things To Do” on Disney’s Homepage

Disney

Once you’re logged in, you’ll be directed back to the homepage.

Hover over “Things To Do” on Disney’s Homepage.

Scroll to the Dining section and click “Make Reservations”

Choose Your Requested Date, Time and Party Size

Now it’s time to choose your requested date, time slot, and the size of your party.

For party size, you should include everyone including infants.

Set Your Filters

Set Your Filters to refine your search to Disney parks, on-property resorts, and/or Disney Springs.

Also, you can choose specific dining experiences from “Quick Service”, “Buffet”, “Casual Dining”, “Character Dining”, “Fine/Signature Dining”.

Another filter that is super helpful to choose is the Cuisine.

If you want to choose multiple choices, you will have more options to choose from.

For example, let’s say you are looking for a restaurant at Disney Springs on May 4th at dinner for a party of four, you are able to click all of your favorite cuisine options to see what they offer at your specific location and date.

Choose Your Reservation Time

Once all your filters are set, you’ll see a list of restaurants that are set to your preferences.

Now it’s time to choose a restaurant and click on the available reservation times.

Select Your Dining Party

On this screen, you’ll need to select the members of your dining party. This would be yourself and others that are joining you for dinner.

Click “Next” on the lower right when you’re done.

Enter Your Payment Method

Booking a table service meal reservation through Disney requires the use of a credit or debit card to hold the reservation. Your card on file will be charged a $10 per person cancellation fee if you do not show up for the reservation.

Find more information on Disney Reservations on Disney’s Website.

If you need to cancel, you are able to do so online 24 hours+ before your reservation. If you choose to cancel within 24 hours of your reservation, you may have to call Disney directly. Just note, it is common for hold times to exceed 90 minutes.

When you’re at the restaurant you can choose a different method of payment to pay your bill.

Add Your Food Allergies & Other Special Request Information

If you or anyone in your party has any food allergies or other special requests, click the “Add” button.

You’ll be brought to a page where you can select common allergens to avoid or request wheelchair-accessible seating.

Reserve Your Meal

You’re finally on the last steps to booking your Disney World dining reservations!

You’ll need to add your email and phone number, read and agree to the Guest Policies and then click on the “Reserve button.

Now you have your dining reservation!

You will receive a confirmation screen and an email with all your confirmation information.

The reservation will automatically be added to your My Disney Experience account!

Happy Dining!

Stay tuned for more Walt Disney World and Universal Studios updates

by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

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What’s Happening Now | March 2022

by vipteam | Mar 17, 2022 | Disney, Disney news, Disney tours, disney world, Halloween, Holiday, My VIP Tour, Orlando, Tips & Tricks, Universal Studios

What's Happening Now at Walt Disney World

There have been lots of NEW updates and changes on Walt Disney World property over the past few weeks. From colorful, character filled parades, to fun Disney merchandise drops, meet and greet updates, and more, our Dream Team at My VIP Tour always has (our Minnie) ears on the latest Disney news.

Here are some exciting changes happening to keep you up to date for your next vacation.

March 18, 2022

Festival of Fantasy

Disney

Parades are finally back at Magic Kingdom! Prepared to be dazzled by all of the staple Disney characters as they celebrate the spirit and tales of FantasyLand. Plus you’ll get to see the main characters of Tangled, Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid as they wind through the park on colorful and vibrant state-of-the-art floats.

The show is 12 minutes of music, dancing and enchantment.

NEW ‘Princess & the Frog’ Minnie Ears

Disney

It seems as if Disney is releasing new Minnie ears every week, but we are gushing over the latest drop, that are fit for royalty.

The Disney x Bauble Bar’s latest collaboration released a brand new pair of ears inspired by Princess and the Frog! These glamorous ears are wrapped in a beautiful green velour with a bejeweled gold tiara inspired by Princess Tiana’s signature outfit. The gold beading along the outer perimeter gives the ears an extra touch of elegance.

The Princess and the Frog ears can be found online at Shop Disney for $49.99.

Live in Full Bloom at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

Disney

The 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is happening now! From March 2 to July 4 there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy all the fresh flavors that Disney has cooked up! Although, there’s more than just food and drinks during this festival. Come marvel at nearly 100 topiaries of Disney characters, interactive gardens, and live music entertainment.

If you haven’t attended an Epcot festival before, get ready to have a deliciously good time!

Cinderella’s Royal Table Character Meet-and-Greet Update

Disney

Cinderella has made her way to the lobby of Cinderella’s Royal Table, and will now be available to meet and take photos with guests after check in. If you’ve been excited for a family picture with a true princess, make sure to book your reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table for your next vacation!

MVT Pro Tip: Staying on Disney property, and booking your dining 60 days before your arrival will increase your chance of finding a reservation. We suggest booking it at the end of your trip, when you should find more availability. Cancelations tend to occur in the days leading up to your arrival, so keep checking your My Disney Experience app, and make sure you have a credit card saved as this is a prepaid experience. Cinderella’s Royal Table is $60+ for adults and $37+ for children.

More Character Meet & Greet Updates

Disney

There are many new and exciting changes happening with character meet and greets!

Recently, Disney is bringing more and more characters back into the parks to greet guests. Currently, you may see the following characters at these parks:

–Magic Kingdom: Mickey Mouse, Cinderella & Elena, Rapunzel & Tiana
– Epcot: Mickey Mouse, Elsa & Anna, Snow White, Belle, Sleeping Beauty
– Hollywood Studios: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Olaf – Animal Kingdom: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald are back at Tusker House (dining reservations needed)

Keep checking back here for updates on more traditional Meet and Greets, our fingers and toes are crossed that hugs and autographs will be back soon!

Stay tuned for more Walt Disney World and Universal Studios updates, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Halloween 2020 at Universal Studios Orlando

by vipteam | Oct 24, 2020 | Halloween, Holiday, My VIP Tour, Orlando, Travel, Universal Studios

Halloween 2020 at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure

We recently had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure to experience all of their incredible Halloween themed festivities. When it comes to Halloween, Universal truly goes above and beyond.

Although Universal’s annual Halloween Horror Nights event was canceled this year, Universal still has plenty of spooky activities and entertainment around the parks for guests to enjoy. For the first time ever, Universal has two haunted houses running daily, and trust us when we say these haunted houses are not for the faint of heart!

Haunted Houses

Revenge of the Tooth Fairy

A pop-up book about the tooth fairy seeking revenge on a little boy who refuses to give up his teeth. Universal describes this house as “a darker ritual to the innocent traditions of the tooth fairy”. Each room features gruesome depictions of unfortunate victims of the tooth fairy, many of them missing parts of their mouth or head, and we were impressed by how realistic some of them looked. We also suffered many jump scares as we went around corners to find the terrifying tooth fairy waiting to jump out at us!

The Bride of Frankenstein Lives

Derived from the popular “Universal Monsters” house from last year’s Halloween Horror Nights, this house is not quite as intense as the tooth fairy house, however it is thrilling in its own way. This creepy love story follows the bride of Frankenstein as she emerges from the shadows and does whatever it takes to revive her beloved Frankenstein. As you enter through a narrow hallway, the first room opens up to creepy castle ruins, where the Bride of Frankenstein lurks up above and screams for the loss of her true love. As we walked through the house, we witnessed the various ways she tried to resurrect him, including sacrificing three different Brides of Dracula to her schemes. Her victims repeatedly gave us quite the scare by lunging at us out of the darkness or screaming from behind a closed door. The detailed sets and horrifying costumes in this house made it a new favorite of ours!

Universal’s Scarecrow Stalk Scavenger Hunt

Inside Universal

If you’re looking for a less scary way to celebrate Halloween at the park, we loved Universal’s Scarecrow Stalk Scavenger Hunt. Simply request a free scavenger map at any merchandise location, and you’ll be on your way to hunting down 13 unique scarecrows and skeletons, hidden throughout the park. If you have a keen eye, you might even spot some fun Universal easter eggs. If you can find all 13 scarecrows, head to Studio Sweets or San Francisco Candy Factory to pick up a special reward. We had a blast hunting down each of these spooky creations!

Trick-or-Treating

If you are visiting the parks with little ones, or would like to skip the Haunted Houses all together, Trick-or-Treating is a great way to explore the park and still get in the Halloween spirit.

Children 12 and under can dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes and collect treats at 10 different locations throughout Islands of Adventure.

Special Trick-or-Treating bags are provided by Universal and each participating location will be designated by a pumpkin sticker on the door or window.

Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store

This spooky shop is an attraction in its own right, featuring multiple themed rooms decked out with detailed decorations, Halloween-themed snacks, and, of course, plenty of Halloween Horror Nights merchandise. Once you enter through the castle ruins, you’ll find yourself wandering through iconic scenes from Beetlejuice, Dr. Frankenstein’s Laboratory, a creepy pumpkin-themed zone, and even a haunted Bakery. As you walk between rooms, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for posters from all 30 Halloween Horror Nights events. You may have to wait in an additional line to get into the Bakery, but it’s well worth it for a peek at their beating gummy hearts – you truly have to see them to believe them! There are plenty of other Halloween themed snacks located throughout Universal, such as “Franken Fried Chicken”, specialty donuts at Voodoo Doughnut, and spooky cocktails at the Skeleton Bar.

Although the parks are very different this year than they were last year, we had an absolute blast celebrating Halloween at Universal Studios. We are so excited to see what the Holiday season will bring in the next couple of months. Stay tuned and follow us on Social Media for more fun park adventures!

Are you planning a trip to the theme parks? You can reach us by phone @ (407) 636-2390 or by email at info@myviptour.com

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2021 Walt Disney World Resort Reservations Now Available

by vipteam | Oct 16, 2020 | Disney, Disney news, Disney tours, disney world, Holiday, luxury resorts, My VIP Tour, Orlando, Restaurants, Tips & Tricks, Travel, Universal Studios, VIP Disney

2021 Walt Disney World Resort Reservations Now Available

Walt Disney World Resort Reservations are now available through December 31st, 2021! We know so many families have been waiting for this moment since canceling or rescheduling their 2020 trips due to Covid-19. If you are not traveling to the parks this year, but would like to next year, now is the time to get started!

Resort Packages vs. Room Only Reservations

All resort reservation packages are now available through the end of 2021, with or without the purchase of theme park tickets. You can book your accommodation in two ways:

Resort Packages: When booking a resort package, you are able to reserve your accommodation as well as your theme park tickets for your stay. This pricing comes together in a package and can be modified if needed before your arrival.

Room-Only: A room-only reservation does not include your theme park tickets. Theme park tickets can be purchased separately at a later date.

Park Ticket Details

Walt Disney World is currently offering guests to purchase park tickets along with their accommodations or separately for all dates in 2021. Park Hopper tickets are also currently available, however as the parks are still running as a one-park-per-day limit, Park Hopper tickets are not guaranteed at time of travel.

Please note: If you have purchased your park tickets, entrance into the parks is not guaranteed until you have made park reservations for your specific dates. We highly recommend making your park reservations as soon as your accommodation is booked and tickets are purchased.

Resort Availability

Disney

There are lots of accommodation options to choose from on Walt Disney World property and where you decide to stay all depends on your schedule, your resort preferences, and resort availability.

Due to reduced capacity on Walt Disney World property, the following resorts are not currently scheduled to open for Fall 2021:

All Villa Properties
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
All-Star Movies Resort
All-Star Sports Resort
All-Star Music Resort
Port Orleans – Riverside
Port Orleans – French Quarter
Wilderness Lodge
Saratoga Springs
Old Key West

*The Polynesian Resort refurbishment, including all new Moana themed rooms, will be finished by Fall 2021!

Dining Plans and Dining Reservations

Disney

At this time, Dining Plans will remain unavailable to add to resort reservation packages.

According to Disney, a confirmed dining reservation is required for day Guests (those not staying overnight) and is highly recommended for Guests staying overnight at a Disney Resort hotel.

Select dining locations require reservations so make sure to check each of your desired locations for details.

How to Get Started on your 2021 Walt Disney World Vacation

Disney

With so many options for accommodations, dining, and attractions, planning a trip to Orlando can seem overwhelming. That is what we are here for! From finding the perfect resort to planning out your entire stay, our team at My VIP Tour and Katie Bean Travels will assist with making sure your families builds unforgettable memories on your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation.

Reach out to our team today to discuss your theme park plans. You can reach us by phone @ (407) 636 2390 or email at info@myviptour.com

We can’t wait to welcome you to Orlando and help Build Better Memories with your friends and family in 2021. See you real soon!

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Top 5 Reasons to Hire a VIP Guide at the Theme Parks

by vipteam | Oct 16, 2020 | Disney, Disney news, Disney tours, disney world, Holiday, luxury resorts, My VIP Tour, Orlando, Restaurants, Tips & Tricks, Travel, Universal Studios, VIP Disney

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a VIP Guide in the Theme Parks

Gone are the days where guests can show up to the theme parks with no plan or schedule. With hundreds of resort and dining options, attractions, and fun activities to do around Orlando, it is crucial to have a park expert assisting along the way. Here are Top 5 Reasons to Hire a VIP Guide in the Theme Parks.

1. Creating the Perfect Schedule – for Everyone!

Between four Walt Disney World theme parks and two Universal Studios theme parks, there are over 100 attractions for guests to experience. Trying to organize a schedule where everyone in your group is able to do the attractions that are most important to them can be challenging. Your VIP Concierge here at My VIP Tour will discuss the parks and attractions with you in depth throughout the pre-planning process so they can create the perfect day-to-day theme park schedule for your family.

Once you are here in Orlando, your VIP guide will navigate your family through the parks in a very specific way so that everyone is experiencing attractions that are suitable for them. We often hear from our families that they expected their children to have fun, but never expected to have just as much fun themselves. Everyone in your family, from little ones to teens, and adults of all ages, deserve to feel the magic of the theme parks with no stress of thinking how to get through the parks and crowds each day.

2. Shorter Wait Times

Shorter wait times are what most families look for when hiring a VIP guide, and that is one of our favorite perks of our service! The theme parks have become so busy over the past few years. The average a guest visiting the parks on their own will wait is about 45-60 minutes for an attraction. Most of the popular attractions will experience a 90 minute or more wait time in the afternoons and during peak season dates. Yikes!

Our team at My VIP Tour has spent years studying the parks and attractions. Each an every one of our VIP guides goes through an intense training program to learn the in’s and out’s of the parks. With our expertise, and park knowledge, our families typically never wait more than about 15-20 minutes for an attraction throughout the day, leaving more time for rides and fun, and less time waiting in line.

3. Having a Local Expert

We are Orlando based, many of us born and raised here, having visited Disney from a young age. Living here and visiting the theme parks daily puts us “in the know”.

All of the pre-planning is incredibly important when visiting the theme parks, however one of the best perks of hiring a VIP guide is having a local expert in real time while you are on vacation. Our Disney VIP guides are able to visit the parks daily and keep up with every single change that comes our way. We take that knowledge to plan the perfect customized itinerary for each individual family. Our Disney VIP Guides keep in touch with their families throughout their entire stay to make sure they can answer any questions that may arise. Our team of Orlando experts and can make recommendations on dining, other theme parks to visit, and fun activities outside of the parks.

Your Disney VIP guide will work together with your VIP concierge to cancel or make new dining reservations, book transportation, purchase extra park tickets, and do anything else they can do to help make your stay at the most magical place on earth as magical as it can be!

4. More than just a VIP Guide

Short wait times and stress-free planning are an amazing part of our service, however it’s the extra details that really elevate the experience.

Our VIP guides go above and beyond to create an unforgettable experience for our families from the moment they enter the park until the moment they get back to the resort.

We love to celebrate special occasions, take candid photos throughout each day, share our extensive knowledge on park history and facts, add in special (secret!) details for the kids, and so much more.

Our VIP guides quickly become part of the family from day one and do everything they can to learn what is most important to each and every member of the group so they can customize the entire experience.

5. Our Level of Care

We truly believe that our level of care is what sets My VIP Tour apart.

Each member of our team has visited the theme parks from a very early age and knows how special these trips can be. Some of our families plan their once-in-a-lifetime Disney trip with us and some visit with us annually. No matter if it’s your first or 20th trip, our goal is always to Build Better Memories each and every time.

Our team truly cares deeply about our families and their vacations. From the first phone call with our VIP concierge team to the last good-bye with your VIP guide at the park, your happiness and satisfaction is our number one priority.

Don’t just listen to us, head to our Trip Advisor page to read reviews from over 700 families who rated My VIP Tour five stars!

We can’t wait to meet your family and Build Better Memories with you soon!

Contact our concierge team today to get started on your next Orlando theme park dream vacation.

You can reach us by phone @ (407) 636-2390 or by email at info@myviptour.com