Amanda Bechtel, an Affiliate of Academy Travel

03/28/2023

NEW SUMMER OFFER!

Save up to 25% on stays most nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023
Save up to 30% on stays most nights August 21 to September 14, 2023

Message me to start planning your trip!

05/08/2022

11/09/2021

11/09/2021

If you were ever wondering if you can have fun at Disney World without kids, here are my brother and sister in law having a blast this week while celebrating their Anniversary! They both highly recommend Disney for a honeymoon or Anniversary trip! Message me today if you have any questions or need a quote!

10/09/2021

Disney Genie will officially launch through the my Disney experience app on October 19th!

08/18/2021

New complimentary in app service coming this fall!

The Disney Genie will be made available through the my Disney experience app. It includes a personalized itinerary feature that will quickly and seamlessly map out an entire day. From specific attractions, foodie experiences and entertainment, to general interests like Disney princesses, villains, Pixar, Star Wars, thrill rides and more.

For even more convenience and flexibility, there are two other options for enjoying our theme parks, through a queue we are introducing called the Lightning Lane entrance that also saves Guests time in line:

Disney Genie+ service (available for purchase): For the price of $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort, Guests can choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. Guests can make one selection at a time, throughout the day – from classics like Haunted Mansion to thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (attractions subject to limited availability). This convenient option is the next evolution of the fan-favorite Disney MaxPass service from Disneyland Resort. Disney Genie+ will also include Disney parks-themed audio experiences and photo features to capture your memories – augmented reality lenses for those visiting Walt Disney World Resort and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day if you are visiting Disneyland Resort.

Individual attraction selections (available for purchase):Guests can schedule a time to arrive at up to two highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance – like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park (subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+). Pricing will vary by date, attraction and park.

08/13/2021

Dates have been announced for Disney Very Merriest After Hours! Tickets go on sale August 20th. Message me if you are interested in a Christmas time Disney World vacation! This special ticketed event begins select nights November 8th.

07/13/2021

An all new Christmas Party after hours event is returning this Holiday Season! Disney Very Merriest After Hours,” will debut Nov. 8 before all the rest of the festive fun. It will be available on select nights through Dec. 21. Tickets go on sale next month and this will sell out quick! Message me if you would like to inquire about a Christmas family vacation to the “Most Magical Place on Earth!”

06/25/2021

Don't miss the summer fun at Walt Disney World and be entered to win!

Save Up to 25% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Summer!

Book your summer Walt Disney World Vacation today and be entered for a chance to win a 3 night deluxe resort future stay!
Book now through August 31, 2021 for travel now through Sept 29, 2021.

06/24/2021

Here is a sneak peek of the reimagined guest rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort…

With the Monorail running right through its A-frame tower, the resort was an instant icon at The Most Magical Place on Earth. As Walt Disney World prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this October, Walt Disney Imagineering is tapping into that optimistic spirit once again in reimagining Disney’s Contemporary Resort, enhancing its retro-modern aesthetic that evokes Tomorrowland … with a dash of something Incredible, too.

These magical enhancements will be completed by fall 2021.

06/15/2021

Animal Kingdom Lodge is reopening August 26! I can start booking it tomorrow so message me for a quote!

06/15/2021

Fireworks will be back next month!!

06/08/2021

One of my favorite restaurants in all of Walt Disney World, Ohana, will be reopening July 9th! All you can eat breakfast and dinner will be making a comeback with the exception of the characters at Breakfast time.

06/03/2021

Tickets for this years Boo Bash will be available to book on June 15th for all guests and June 8th for those staying on property. Message me for more details!

From special cavalcades and favorite fiendish friends to complimentary snacks and exclusive access to select attractions, we’re sharing all the frightful “Disney After Hours Boo Bash” fun today on Disney Parks Blog. 🎃👻 Float on over for all the details before tickets for this ghostly good three-hour event at Walt Disney World Resort go on sale June 15th: http://di.sn/6180yySM0

05/18/2021

Great news! Walt Disney Travel Company is now booking vacation cottages at Margaritaville Resort Orlando, located near Walt Disney World Resort, for arrivals beginning May 23, 2021.
These vacation cottages range in size from two to five bedrooms and offer many amenities, including daily housekeeping, full kitchens, washers and dryers, pet friendly accommodations and, in some instances, private pools.
Margaritaville Resort Orlando offers transportation to the Walt Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center, where Guests can then take Walt Disney World transportation to theme parks.
This is a great idea if you are traveling with a larger group or wanting to stay close to Disney theme parks but not on directly on property.
Contact me for more details!

05/18/2021

So exciting! Contact me to book your fall break trip!

05/10/2021

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

05/07/2021

03/27/2021

I did my research and had a list of the top snacks and meals I wanted to try this year at Walt Disney World and we tried almost all of them. Some of these were from the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and some of these are WDW staples. Which one do you think you would enjoy most? I already know my top three I will be getting on every visit from now on.

03/25/2021

We are heading back home from our magical vacation today and I just thought I would share some things we learned and personal opinions for visiting Walt Disney World during a pandemic and/or general observations. We stayed at Fort Wilderness Campground so this may vary from resort to resort.

1.) Transportation: We could take a boat to the Magic Kingdom so that made getting there a breeze. We never had to wait long and there was always plenty of room for everyone waiting. The buses were a different story. They ran about every 20-30 minutes. They have everyone socially distanced so room was limited. We never had to wait on a second bus but we saw some people who did and I am sure that was frustrating.

2.) The first 4 and a half days we were there the weather was cool enough for a jacket so wearing masks was not an issue. I highly recommend the Pomchies brand and a mask lanyard. They were found to be the most comfortable and the lanyard kept us from losing or having to set our masks on the table when we ate. However, yesterday it was very hot and the masks made it even hotter. I would highly recommend if you are traveling this year or as long as they are still requiring masks to go during cooler weather.

3.) Mobile ordering: This was new to us this year. We always make our table service reservations and just wing it on our quick service meals and snacks. You can’t really “wing” anything right now. I highly recommend planning every single meal or snack you are wanting to eat. A lot of places are mobile order only and you may be waiting a while to eat. The app has a list of mobile order restaurants and menus and if your preferred restaurant is on that list then I suggest ordering your food that morning and pick a time slot that you want to eat. Otherwise you may be waiting hours. Once you get the hang of mobile ordering it is pretty easy and convenient.

4.) Wait times: We were able to ride everything we wanted to ride and more. We found that the wait times posted aren’t always accurate. Sometimes a ride would say it has a 60 minute wait but we only waited 30 minutes. The lines are rerouted in order to keep everyone socially distanced so they look pretty scary at how long they are BUT they are constantly moving so don’t let it intimidate you. Also, certain pre shows or interactive parts of the queues that required hands on or a group of people to gather are temporarily halted.

5.) Rise of the Resistance: This is the newest and most sought after ride at Disney World right now and it is located in Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios (the new Star Wars Land). I am telling you, you don’t have to be a Star Wars fan but you are going to want to ride this ride. It is amazing. It’s not only a ride but a full immersive experience. The only way you can ride is if you have a boarding pass. You get a boarding pass through the app. It comes available on the morning you are visiting Hollywood studios at 7am and again at 1pm. I got on the app at 6:55am and refreshed until right at 7am and still didn’t get it. We tried again at 1 while we were in the park and I was able to get it. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it the first time.

6.) Characters: There are no character meet and greets and no autograph signing but every once in a while characters will come out for you to take pictures of or “socially distanced selfies” with. They won’t let you get too close though but you don’t have to stand in line or take turns. They also do character cavalcades throughout the day or in other words short little parades. I actually thought this was better for us because my kids want to see the characters but don’t want to wait in an hour line to have their picture made...they really don’t want to have their picture made at all 😂

7.) Park reservations are required for every park you visit and I recommend making them as early as possible. Parks are still at limited capacity and they don’t always book up but during busy weeks they will. The week we came (spring break) the parks had been booked up for a few weeks. They are now allowing park hopping but only after 2pm and if the park is full that you are wanting to park hop to then you will not be able to get in. You can’t make a reservation to the park you are wanting to hop to. You can only make one park reservation per day. I don’t recommend park hopping right now.

8.) If you travel this year just remember to be patient and be prepared to stand in lines. You will be standing in line for almost everything...food, bathrooms, rides, buses, etc. They move fast though and you will still have plenty of time to do all the things you want to do if you plan accordingly. Take breaks throughout the day. They are very strict about masks. The only time you can take them off is if you are socially distanced, stationary, and eating or drinking. You can’t walk and eat or drink so use this time to rest and refuel.

9.) There are no fireworks or big parades except for the electrical water parade on Bay Lake every night.

10.) There are no buffets and only a few select character meals but the character meals are still socially distanced and no close pictures or autographs. The once buffet meals are now family style.

11.) They are doing temperature checks before you enter the parks but this was never an issue and we never had to wait in a line for this. It was easy breezy. We also never had to wait in a long line to get into the park like we have in the past.

All in all we had an amazing time because we knew what to expect! We knew before we left that things were not going to be the exact same and we were prepared so that left us pleasantly surprised a lot of times! It is very important to be prepared before you go! That is why I love doing what I do and helping others so they can have a magical time as well! My services are always completely free to you so if you would like a quote on your next Disney Vacation, have any questions, or want to go ahead and book please contact me!

03/16/2021

New spring offer for my friends who love to camp! Now through May 27, 2021, you can save up to 20% on campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground for stays most nights only between April 11-May 27, 2021.

Nestled among 750 acres of pine and cypress forest and laced with woodland trails, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is a front row seat on the great outdoors. Campsites can accommodate everything from tents to large RVs with full hookups (The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are not included in this offer).

Guests can make a splash at Meadow Swimmin’ Pool, the feature pool with a 67-foot long corkscrew waterslide. They can also enjoy a variety of unique recreational activities – including archery, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and more. Plus, Guests can visit the newly enhanced Tri-Circle D Ranch, home to our Walt Disney World Resort horses.

03/06/2021

These new updates rooms should be available by October 1st! Contact me if you would like to start planning your trip!

02/22/2021

We are happy to announce that Hollywood & Vine’s character breakfast is returning! The restaurant itself has been operating for lunch and dinner and special limited time character dining during the holidays, but according to Walt Disney World’s Website, the Disney Junior Characters are back! ”...

02/20/2021

Now that we have seen the Park Icons up close, let’s take an up close look at the HOSTS of “The Most a magical Celebration On Earth!” Ladies first! Minnie Mouse in her stunning EARidescent new dress! Always a fashion icon! And the big cheese himself, Mickey Mouse in his staple suit and bow tie...

02/20/2021

This is the year of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Celebration!
The theme for this celebration is "EARidescence", which is going to be such a fun theme!
Festivities kick off October 1st end will extend into 2022. You don’t want to miss this! Contact me to book your 2021 or 2022 trip today!

02/16/2021

Great news!!

2022 packages are now available to book! If you are interested in a 2022 WDW vacation please don’t hesitate to message me!

Remember....my services are always 100% FREE to you!