The Ultimate Disney World Guide

With the summer holidays coming, you’ll want to take a trip somewhere sunny and fun for the entire family. Where is this magical place you might ask? Only one name comes to mind, Disney.Disney has six resorts across the world: Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, California and of course, the most visited of them all, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.Walt Disney World Florida has tons of attractions including; four theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs a large shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Disney also owns five golf courses and two miniature golf complexes. There are 34 Disney hotels and resorts, of which 28 are owned entirely by Disney. The majority of these hotels are located within the park grounds, allowing you to have Disney right on your doorstep.Disney is adored by millions of children and adults across the world for its beloved characters, movies and sensational attractions and entertainment. And if you think Disney is all fuzzy characters and rollercoasters, keep in mind it’s also one of the world’s largest and most successful brands. Its long-standing popularity is thanks to its ever-changing dynamic and ability to evolve into the future. The Disney parks are known for their incredible designs, making you feel like you’re in another world, it’s truly magical! The attractions vary from park to park, so there is a magical adventure that’s perfect for everyone. It’s ideal for families who can enjoy unique and fantastical dining experiences and character ‘meet and greets’ with Disney princesses, pirates and a certain famous mouse. There are also the exciting live parades and shows for a holiday of non-stop entertainment. Walt Disney World Florida is home to four fabulous parks: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Each park has a collection of permanent attractions with more new ones coming this summer.

New to Animal Kingdom this summer

• Rivers of Light show – Presented on a water stage, this show will feature floating lanterns, water screens and animal imagery. This dazzling show will bring the park to life at night.
• The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic- Inspired by the brand new live action film ‘The Jungle Book’ that premiered this spring, the show is due to start in time for summer. The Discovery River will become the stage for this fun musical show.
• The Tree of Life Awakens - Each evening the tree of life will ‘awaken’ before your eyes. Guests will see animal spirits come to life, and be able to watch stories projected onto the tree.
• Kilimajaro Safaris After Dark - Guests will now be able to experience safaris at night when animals can be at their most active. With the help of special lighting, you will be able to see wild animals such as lions and zebras once the sun goes down.

The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom

New to Epcot this summer

• Frozen Ever After- This frosty ride will be opening soon, ready for Summer 2016. The much anticipated ride based on the hit film “Frozen” will open its doors in the Norway pavilion at Epcot. Inside, guests will be transported to the ‘Winter in Summer Celebration’ where Queen Elsa creates a special day for the kingdom. Guests will also be able to visit Queen Elsa’s Ice Castle and take a trip to Arrendelle.
• Soarin’ Around The World at Epcot – Soarin’ opened in 2001 at Epcot and it’s recently been refurbished and is ready for Summer 2016. Guests on board the popular Soarin’ attraction will now be able to journey to different locations and fly above some of the world’s most unique natural landscapes.

Epcot

New to Disney Springs entertainment and dining complex this summer

• Disney Springs is still under construction and is continuing to grow throughout 2016. Some of the new eateries include STK steakhouse, The Edison, Sprinkles, Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, as well as two new restaurant concepts by chefs Art Smith and Rick Bayless.
• There will also be new retail tenants including APEX by Sunglass Hut, Art of Shaving, Chapel Hats, Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC, Havaianas, Sanuk and Sound Lion. Disney Springs is looking to be completed by the end of 2016!

Disney SpringsOther big news for Disney…The Shanghai Disney resort is set to open in June this year. It is the first Disney Park in mainland China and the second in Greater China, after Hong Kong Disneyland. More information can be found here: https://www.shanghaidisneyresort.com/en/Later to come in 2017 and 2018…Animal Kingdom will become the home of Pandora–The World of Avatar. No date has been announced yet but it’s set to open in 2017. The themed area will span across several acres and will feature many attractions and entertainment such as 3-D holograms, movie-inspired shops and food outlets.There will be a Star Wars Land at Disney World Hollywood Studios. The opening date is unknown, but the highly anticipated attraction will spread across 14-acres. Star Wars Land will host a variety of entertainment and two new attractions based around the iconic films.Hollywood Studios is undergoing another big expansion as well. An 11-acre section will be based on Toy Story Mania. It will offer a Buzz-sized perspective on Andy's backyard. There will also be a brand new family-friendly rollercoaster aboard the Slinky Dog. The opening date for the Toy Story park is unknown but fans are eager for its completion.

Best and Worst times to visit the Disney Parks:

Walt Disney World, Orlando can be incredibly busy during certain times of the year. If you wish to side-step the throngs of people, some of the best times to visit would be:

• The second half of August tends to be quieter then the first half, because many schools in Florida begin towards the middle of the month.
• Most days in September, as it’s out of summer holiday season.
• Weekdays in November (minus the week of Thanksgiving.)
• Weekdays in December (minus the week of Christmas and New Year's Eve.)
• January-March is one of the park’s quietest periods.
• Weekdays and evenings tend to be slightly quieter in general, except around holidays.

Worst times to go:

• Around big holidays (i.e Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, New Year) Disney becomes extremely over-crowded during these times, and sometimes hits full capacity.
• June, July and August are the peak months for Disney.

Check out this crowd calendar for more information on when’s best to visit Disney: https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/ Disney Christmas ParadeFlightsA Disney holiday can become expensive after booking a hotel, flights, the Disney tickets, let alone the costs of food, drink and shopping. So, here at hoppa, we’ve listed some of the best comparison sites for finding cheap flights. We’ve also listed some hotels in Orlando that are popular for Disney holidaymakers on a budget, plus some great places to eat that won’t cost a fortune.Using comparison sites will give you the best deals and rates on flights and hotels.Skyscanner has a variety of flights making it easy to find the perfect flights times with reasonable prices.Travel Super Market is also great for comparing different flights. The site gives you the option of looking for just flights and adding on hotels to your booking, depending on if you want a package deal or want to opt for DIY travel.HotelsClick here to find a list of the Disney hotels and resorts.Disney's All-Star Movies Resort is located close to Animal Kingdom. It’s one of their most popular resorts and one of their cheaper hotels. For example, 14-nights at the end of August costs around £1,400 for a family of four. Prices can vary where you book from, this price is directly through Disney’s site: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/However, by using different comparison sites or travel agents you may be able to find cheaper deals.If you’re on a budget for your hotel, then looking at hotels outside the Disney parks will guarantee cheaper deals, most hotels outside the Disney parks offer free shuttles to and from the parks, give you convenience and value for money.Comparison site Booking.com has plenty of offers and a variety of hotels at good prices in the Disney, Orlando area.Champions World Resort is located in Kissimmee, Florida and a few minutes’ drive away from Disney. It has 3 pools and a children’s playground, making it perfect for families. It will cost around £568, (including breakfast) for 14-nights for a family of four at the end of August. Click here for more details.Where to eat in OrlandoThe Disney parks are full of fantastic restaurants, offering a variety of food and tasty treats. But if you want to stay on budget, it’s better to look outside of the parks where restaurants aren’t as pricey. For tasty meals that will satisfy both you and your wallet, we’ve listed some of Orlando’s budget-friendly restaurants below.<img class='size-full wp-image-1886 aligncenter' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2016/04/Depositphotos_31516407_m-2015.jpg' alt='Denny's' width='1000' height='664' />Denny’sDenny’s has a variety of traditional American diner style food. From burgers to sizzling skillets, it’s got something for everyone at amazing low prices. There is also plenty of Denny’s branches located around Orlando Florida, so you’ll have no problem trying to find one.IHOPThe ultimate breakfast diner! International House Of Pancakes (IHOP) specializes in breakfast, however it's open all day some are even 24-hours. From fluffy pancakes to their chockfull burger bar, there's a load of variety on the menu. Best of all, it’s all very affordable, whether you're looking to stop by for breakfast, lunch or dinner.Olive GardenOlive Garden serves Italian cuisine and has over 800 restaurants across the U.S.A. It's a family-friendly restaurant that offers a number of Italian pastas like meaty Spaghetti Bolognese and creamy ravioli, appetizer dishes like Spicy Calabrian Chicken, Lasagne Fritta and Crispy Risotto Bites. The menu list is almost endless and the garlicky breadsticks are addictive. There is even an option to create your own pasta dish. Prices are affordable, perfect if you're keeping to a budget.