Amy Wear • Disney Travel Advisor

About Amy

What do clients say about Amy?

Real reviews from families Amy has helped plan.

Amy's Travel moments

Frequently asked questions answered by Amy

Should we stay on property or off property?

If your priority is full immersion in the Disney Bubble and saving time, an on-site resort will be the better fit. When you stay on property, you can take advantage of: • Early ride booking: purchasing Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days before check-in, compared to 3 days for off-site guests. This is a huge advantage for securing popular rides. • Extra park time: on-site guests get 30 minutes of early entry at every theme park every day. Deluxe resort guests also enjoy extended evening hours on select nights. • Free transport and parking: complimentary access to Disney buses, monorails, Skyliner gondolas and boats, plus free standard parking at all theme parks. If you want to stretch your dollar further or need room for a larger group, off-property accommodations are a better fit.

When is the best time of year to visit?

It really depends on your priorities. Because Disney uses date-based pricing, charging more for tickets and hotel rooms during high-demand weeks, the least crowded times are almost always the cheapest times to go. By deciding what matters most to your family, whether that is low crowds, ideal weather or saving money, you can pinpoint your ideal travel window. • Best for budget and lowest crowds: late August to September • Best for low crowds and mild weather: mid-January to early February • Times to avoid for peak crowds and prices: Christmas week, Thanksgiving week and spring break

How do we handle large or multi-generational families?

The key to a successful multi-generational or large group trip is balance: plan time to experience the magic together, but give everyone freedom to split up when priorities differ. Disney makes it easy to keep big groups comfortable, whether you want everyone under one roof or separate spaces to recharge. • Villas and suites feature kitchens, living rooms and washer/dryers to keep families together in a home-like environment. • If separate spaces or different budgets work better, you can request connecting rooms or adjacent standard rooms at any Disney resort. You do not need to stay glued together 24/7 to have an amazing trip. Stay together for key moments, then divide and conquer based on ages and energy or thrill tolerance.

How many days do we need?

To get the full experience without feeling constantly rushed, most families find that 5 to 7 days is the ideal length for a Walt Disney World trip. With 4 unique theme parks, I recommend dedicating at least one full day to each park. Theme parks mean walking anywhere from 8 to 12 miles per day! Scheduling in 1 or 2 rest days gives you time to sleep in and recharge, enjoy the pool and other resort amenities and activities, and explore Disney Springs for shopping, dining and entertainment, without needing a park ticket. If you love water slides, lazy rivers and wave pools, plan an extra day to visit one of the themed water parks.

Is a Park Hopper worth it?

The Park Hopper option allows you to visit more than one theme park on the same day. While it offers maximum flexibility, it comes with an extra cost per ticket. Park hopping is essential if you only have 2 to 3 days to explore all 4 theme parks, because it lets you pack in as many top rides and experiences as possible. If you are a repeat visitor and you already know your favorite attractions, hopping lets you hit your must-do rides in one park during the morning and move to another park for dinner or fireworks. You should skip the Park Hopper if you are: • Traveling with young children who move at a slower pace. Mid-day travel between parks takes extra time and energy, often leading to meltdowns. • A first-time visitor, because each of the parks easily has enough entertainment, rides and shows to fill your day. Staying in one park per day keeps your schedule simple and less overwhelming.

Can we just wing it?

The short answer is yes, but with realistic expectations. While you can show up to the parks without a detailed strategy, going in completely spontaneous usually means spending more of your day standing in long lines and missing out on popular dining spots. A little advance preparation goes a long way to make your day run smoothly. You don't need to over-plan your entire vacation, but booking a few key reservations ahead of time ensures you get to experience your top priorities while leaving plenty of room for spontaneous magic.

Is the dining plan worth it?

The Disney Dining Plan lets guests pre-pay for their meals and snacks as part of a resort hotel package. Whether it's worth it comes down to convenience, your dining style and what you order. If you plan to eat most meals on property (in parks, resorts or Disney Springs) and typically order higher-priced entrees or specialty drinks, or if you want to experience character dining, paying with a dining plan often works out cheaper than paying out of pocket. Every guest on a dining plan receives a refillable resort mug valid for unlimited self-service fountain drinks, coffee and tea at any Disney resort hotel for the length of your stay. The most convenient feature is that you do not need to worry about looking at menu prices: just order what you want and redeem credits! • For families who want an all-inclusive feel, love sit-down or character meals and intend to do all of their dining on Disney property, the table service meal plan is perfect. • For families who want an all-inclusive feel and intend to eat on property, but plan to eat when hungry and on the go, the quick service meal plan is the right choice. • For families who are light eaters, budget conscious or prefer sharing meals, or for families spending many days outside of the resorts, it is better to pay out of pocket.

How will Disney handle my food allergies or dietary needs?

Walt Disney World is widely considered the gold standard for accommodating food allergies and special dietary needs, making dining stress free for almost any guest. Disney restaurants are fully equipped to accommodate the most common allergy concerns with allergy-friendly menus and specialized brands and substitutions. Disney offers pre-packaged, certified Kosher and Halal meals at select table service and quick service restaurants across the parks and resorts. To guarantee availability, guests should request these meals at least 24 hours in advance.