Orlando Planning Guide

01/12/2024

Another month has flown by but if you thought Disney and Universal were done with the big announcements for this year think again. In this month's Bitesize Orlando find out where Monstropolis will be going and what will be closing permanently to make way for it plus peek inside the brand New Harry Potter and the Battle For The Ministry Attraction opening at Epic Universe in May 2025.

If you thought Disney and Universal were done with the big announcements for this year, think again. This month Disney dropped 2 huge bits of news and Universal continued to tease us with some jaw

10/11/2024

Let's talk about BLACK FRIDAY and more broadly ticket prices. It's a perennial hot topic on forums.

2 of the most popular/well-known ticket brokers have released their Black Friday sales for 2024. As usual, the headline promotions are designed to grab your attention but what are you actually saving?

I have been tracking prices since last November and the figures don't lie. The lie is Black Friday!

ATTRACTION TICKETS: 15% off 2025 tickets brings a 14-day Disney ticket down to £450 in August next year. Last year their Black Friday event ticket prices were £503 for the same dates (its was a 10% saving in 2023). In the last 12 months prices for the same ticket on the same date in August were LOWER for 18 weeks throughout 2024.

FLORIDA TIX: 16% off sitewide, not just for 2025 tickets but if ever you want to see the definition of a "fake" sale this is it. Prices have been ramped up massively this week to account for the so-called 16% saving. Last year's ticket price was £490 a supposed 12% saving. In the last 12 months, prices have been LOWER for 20 weeks throughout 2024.

All park operators increase ticket prices year-on-year which need to be passed on to us but the pattern that has emerged over the last 12 months will make for interesting reading.

I will be doing a full article about what I have found along with a full list of the prices for the last year in the near future so you can also see for yourselves that Black Friday ticket sales are a glossy overpriced veneer that you shouldn't buy into.

If you are planning your 2025 Orlando holiday please don't feel pressured into booking tickets now. You will almost certainly be paying over the odds.

31/10/2024

This month's short update is now live. As expected, it's been a quiet news month, but the two main announcements, one each from Disney and Universal, could affect your holiday plans from 2025 through 2026. Check out the full update on the link below.

https://orlandoplanningguide.com/bitesize-orlando-october-2024-issue-40/

30/09/2024

I'm back with another update. This month find out about a surprise new show announcement for Disney's Hollywood Studios plus new attractions and experiences coming to Seaworld and Busch Gardens next year and a whole lot more. Check it all out on the link below.

https://orlandoplanningguide.com/bitesize-orlando-september-2024-issue-39/

01/09/2024

It's a day late but Bitesize Orlando August 2024 is now live. Catch up on this Monster size Disney World news update and discover everything that will be opening at Disney World over the next 5 years.

It's been a busy month at my job so I haven't been able to get as much done as I would have liked with the holiday guide rewrite but I have updated my complete guide to Universal's Epic

30/07/2024

The fun in Orlando isn't just in the major theme parks. Venture out and find more thrills on your door step like at a few minutes from

15/07/2024

It's taken a little longer than I had hoped, but sweeping changes to Disney's Lightning Lane system have created confusion. My brand new Disney Genie & Lightning Lane Guide has all the information you need from the basics to getting the best use of it when the system launches next week. check out the guide now on the link below.

https://orlandoplanningguide.com/planning/practical-advice-and-information/complete-disney-genie-lightning-lane-guide/

30/06/2024

New attractions and shows debut at Universal Orlando, Disney overhauls Genie again and Kennedy Space Centre teases the future. All this and more in Bitesize Orlando June 2024. Check out the full news on the link below.

Welcome to the third anniversary of this newsletter. I can't believe it's been three years and 2 website iterations since I began this newsletter. It's been a blast and a steep learning

31/05/2024

I'm back with another packed monthly update of what's been happening in and around Orlando. My Bitesize Orlando May 2024 article has some sneak peeks behind the Disney curtain of 2 new attractions coming to Magic Kingdom soon plus a look inside Dreamworks Land at Universal Studios Florida and much more. Read the full article on the link below.

Welcome to your Bitesize Orlando May 2024 update already, where has this month gone?! My Central America trip last month taught me one thing. if you're thinking of flying indirectly to Orlando to

30/04/2024

Hello from Central America. Sorry this update is a little late, Universal had a huge announcement yesterday that I wanted to add in.

Find out how Disney's new DAS policy will affect you plus opening dates for new attractions in Universal and EPCOT and some extended down time for a couple of attractions.

Lots more news in between in my Bitsize Orlando April 2024 new update. Click the link below.

Welcome to Bitesize Orlando April 2024 edition. As usual, when I have an extended period out of the country with limited internet, the news has flowed thick and fast this past couple of weeks. This

04/04/2024

Today Disney announced 2025's early booking offer and Disney Dining Plan is back and it looks much like it did in 2019, the last time Disney offered Disney Dining Plan.

Unlike 2024's offer which was value-based per person based on the resort you stayed at, Disney Dining Plan is a set meal credit, not a value. If you book before the 2nd of July you will receive either £100 or £200 discount off a room and ticket package or £300 off a package that includes flights although the extra discount rarely justifies getting Disney to arrange your flights for you over waiting and booking them yourself.

The offer is valid for bookings made between the 18th of April and the 7th of November 2024 for travel between the 7th of January and the 17th of December 2025. Certain block-out dates will apply but the offer will include most UK school holidays. The wording isn't brilliant on some of the promotional material so I also want to clarify that every person aged 3 and up will receive these credits, not just adults.

VALUE RESORTS: Guests of value resorts receive 1 quick service meal credit and drink per night of your stay at a choice of 90 locations throughout the parks and resorts. There are NO SNACK OR TABLE SERVICE MEAL CREDITS for value resort guests and a RESORT REFILLABLE MUG IS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN THE OFFER. The offer is not included in standard Little Mermaid rooms at the Art Of Animation resort.

MODERATE RESORTS: Guests of select moderate resorts receive the quick service Dining Plan which includes a resort refillable mug for the duration of your stay, 2 quick service meals with drinks per night of your stay and 1 snack. There are NO TABLE SERVICE MEAL CREDITS for moderate resort guests. There are 90 locations available. Certain room types are excluded such as pool view and water view rooms. Please check the offer terms before you book.

DELUXE RESORTS: Guests of select Deluxe Resorts and certain Deluxe Villa Resorts receive the full Disney Dining Plan which includes a resort refillable mug for the duration of your stay, 1 Quick Service Meal credit, 1 Table Service Meal credit and 1 snack credit per night of your stay. You can exchange 2 table service meal credits (per person) for a Signature/Fine Dining option subject to availability. There are 170 locations available in the full Disney Dining Plan.

03/04/2024

It's all been happening around Orlando for the last few weeks. Check out this month's Bitesize news catchup for all the details on the final piece of EPCOT's huge multi-year overhaul plus lots of details released from Universal about How To Train Your Dragon - Isle Of Berk at Epic Universe and Dreamworks Land at Universal Studios Florida.

Welcome to Bitesize Orlando March 2024 edition; your bitesize news update from everything happening in Orlando the past few weeks. Last month's update was a little light on Disney news but this

28/02/2024

I'm back with another Bitesize Orlando news catchup. While it's a tad quiet on the Disney front Universal is going full steam ahead on new attractions, parks and experiences. Seaworld, Busch Gardens and Legoland aren't far behind in launching their own new attractions for 2024 in the coming weeks. Check out all the news by clicking the link below.

Welcome to Bitesize Orlando February 2024 already! I don't know about you but this month went by so fast and the news and rumours have been rolling in all month so I want to get stuck in because

02/02/2024

I've just updated my "Complete Guide to Epic Universe" article with all the new information released by Universal Creative at the beginning of this week, including the full incredible 7+ minute video reveal "Introducing Epic Universe". If, like me, you're beyond excited to visit but it all seems a bit vague, click the link below and I will bring you up to date.

Thank you, Universal for daring to shake up the Orlando market and really invest in your business. I can't wait to visit!

https://orlandoplanningguide.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-epic-universe/

31/01/2024

The Bitesize Orlando January 2024 newsletter is up. This morning Universal Creative dropped a HUGE video about Epic Universe you are going to want to see, but this month's article also has more epic news about what could be happening at Universal Studios in the not-too-distant future, clarifies big changes at Disney World to kick off 2024 and digs deeper into Seaworld's future plans. It's all happening in Orlando at the moment! Hit the link below to get the inside scoop on everything...

Welcome to 2024, I hope you all had a great new year. With another new year upon us, theme park operators are looking to the future to keep us coming back and I have some exciting rumours along with

31/12/2023

One last small update to round out 2023 with Universal and SeaWorld leaving some big news right to the final proverbial bell of 2023. To find out what I'm talking about check out this month's Bitesize Orlando news catchup. I hope you all have a fantastic new year and I look forward to seeing you in 2024.

We have reached the end of another year already and 2024 is looking to be a bumper year for Orlando and further afield if you have been following Universal Studios owner Comcast's sudden