Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Eight: What to Know if You Want to Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort

This is part eight in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

OK, so you are going to Walt Disney World, and you need to figure out where you are going to stay. You have looked at rental properties, and non-Disney hotels. What if you want to stay in the heart of the “magic”?

Well, you have a lot of choices!

Briefly, Disney basically has four categories of hotel accommodations: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas.

While there are clearly some differences among these categories in terms of size, location, amenities, and cost, all Disney resort properties share in a number of “perks”. Disney resort guests all have access to free transportation to and from Orlando International airport, and between theme parks and hotels. In addition, resort guests can participate in Disney’s “Extra Magic Hours” at the parks, as well as the Disney Dining Plans. And depending on the time of year, Disney may also offer some very attractive package deals that include free days, park tickets, and even free dining….all of which can weigh very heavily when planning affordable Disney vacations.

As to the resorts themselves, Value resorts such as All-Star Music, or Pop Century offer fun themes, food courts, smaller rooms, and the lowest prices on Disney properties. They are also typically located farthest away from the theme parks.

The Moderate resort category, as the name implies, is “in-between”. These resorts, like the Caribbean Beach, or Port Orleans also have food courts, have slightly larger rooms, and are usually a little closer to the parks.

The Deluxe category hotels, which includes properties such as the Polynesian, Yacht and Beach Club, and Disney’s flagship Grand Floridian, are the closest to the parks, have the largest rooms and most luxurious amenities, and do not typically include the “food court” option. They are also the most expensive….most of the time. I say this because they are also the properties that, when Disney offers resort discount promotions, are most likely to be discounted the heaviest because they do not book up as quickly. This is where having some flexibility as to when you are traveling can be beneficial: it is not unusual to be able to stay at a deluxe resort during non-peak times for less money than a moderate during peak times.

The final category is the Deluxe Villas which are really a “different” category entirely, because they are Disney Vacation Club properties that are not booked by vacation club owners. These properties can be perfect for larger families since they include one and two bedroom villas that have kitchens. Again, depending on the time of year and potential promotion available, a Deluxe Villa can be the most affordable option for your family.

So as you begin to finalize this part of the process, compare your needs as to size, location, and budget with the options available for the time of year and promotions that are available. It is really important, if you want to have the most affordable Disney vacation possible, to do this part of your research and do the math. You may be surprised about what is actually the most cost-effective: it is not always the option you think it will be.

Finally, your last stop before booking, should be to compare different pricing options…no matter if you are staying on or off Disney property.

You should always check sites like Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline and Travelocity to see if you can get a better price than the one offered directly by Disney or the off-site hotel: frequently you can. Be sure to also check for discounts through organizations like AAA, AARP, and if you are a teacher look into that as well: the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin often offer good promotions for teachers.

So there you have it. Lots of options for where to stay on your Walt Disney World vacation. Explore your options, compare your choices, see where you can get the best price, and then get it booked!  We have more planning to do!

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Seven: Should I Stay ON Disney Property or OFF Disney Property?

This is part seven in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Should I stay ON Disney property or OFF Disney property?

This is probably the single most frequent question I get from folks planning a Disney World vacation. And the answer that I give….depends on a number of things.

(You should probably see a pattern here by now if you have been reading along with the series…:))

Let’s talk about why you would want to stay off-site first. To start, you may save money, possibly a good deal of money, or at a minimum, get larger/better accommodations for the same price. (Note that I said “may”, because depending on the time of year and if Disney has any promotions…and a couple of other factors as well…this may not always be the case.) If you have a larger family, where a standard size hotel room is not going to do it for you, this can be important if you will be getting more than one room. And, you may also find it easier to find rooms in your price range if you are planning on traveling during peak travel times, or if you are trying to book all this at the last minute.

Other things that will come into play here however, are things like transportation to the parks and meals.  You will want to see if the off-property hotel you are considering offers things like free breakfast, or free park shuttles…or will you need to rent a car?

The transportation part should be looked at very carefully in fact. Traveling to and from the parks can be a challenge, depending on the available shuttle service: some hotels share shuttles, or charge for their use. If you want to take afternoon breaks from the parks, you may want to consider renting a car, but if you do, realize that there will be a parking fee, and if visiting on peak holidays, the parking lots may be closed to non-Disney guests.

Now why would you want to stay on-site? Well, the already-mentioned transportation issue is a big one. Disney “perks” like “Extra Magic Hours” are a nice way to get additional time in the parks. Plus Disney offers the Disney Dining Plans, as well as those increasingly frequent promotions that should never be overlooked when planning affordable Disney vacations.

Then there is “the Magic factor”.

Arguably the most important thing that a Disney property provides, that you will not have if you stay off-site, is that 24/7 immersion in the Disney “magic”. Of course, for many folks, that may be the biggest disadvantage! After all, how often can you stand to hear “It’s a Small World” in one day? It may be that for your family, having a break from all that pixie dust may be a very good thing indeed.

Now you should also take a look at the “non-Disney” hotels that are located on Disney property: there a few in the Downtown Disney area, as well as the distinctive Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin located near Epcot and Hollywood Studios. These hotels, while not owned by Walt Disney World, still offer a number of those great Disney perks, but without the corresponding Disney property cost. It’s a nice compromise if you are trying to save money but would still like the Disney ambience.

Both on-Disney and off-Disney properties have their pros and cons, and as you can see there really is no one perfect-for-all solution. Even for your own family, the best choice for an affordable Disney vacation may be different depending on the year, season, month, or even week.

Our next post will discuss the accommodations available at the Walt Disney Resort, and then it will be time to book!

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Six: Hotel or Rental Property?

This is part six in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and will eventually link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

In the last post, we discussed some of the things that will have an impact on where you stay while at Disney World. Today we are going to look at an increasingly popular option for affordable Disney vacations: Disney World vacation homes and Disney World condos.

Why might this be a good option for you?

To begin with, this option will probably have a lot more space for your family, and for many families this is an important factor, and can very likely be a cost savings, since family size for many folks means multiple hotel rooms. With a vacation home or condo rental however, you will be able to sleep anywhere from 4 to 16 people comfortably. More space, and the same or less money than a hotel room means a better overall value.

Another potentially huge cost savings will be having access to a kitchen….along with everything you could possibly need including, dishes, pots and pans, glasses, coffee pot, can opener, bake wear, and a whole lot more. Being able to easily prepare and eat in for some meals can be a huge cost savings for your vacation since you can make meals and snacks at a fraction of what you would pay at the theme parks.

There is an additional “hidden” benefit as well that is perhaps overlooked at first…but truly appreciated by those who choose this option…the privacy/relaxation factor. What? Relax on a Disney vacation? Yup! Many rental properties are located in gated communities, and so they have this secluded “get away from it all” feeling that you just cannot find at a Disney resort property or really any hotel/motel property for that matter. You can relax and unwind in your personal pool or spa, take advantage of your home’s theatre, or play video games in the game room…for as long as you like, at no additional cost.

You will find that there are many vacation rental options that are close to Disney World, ranging from small condos to large houses that can accommodate multiple families. They will all be fully furnished and most have multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, again making for a much more comfortable vacation stay than the average hotel room. Linens are usually provided, along with a starter supply of paper and other basics. A home away from home so to speak.

I always advise anyone planning a Disney World vacation to consider renting a Disney World vacation home or condo. Take a look at the options and see if any are right for your family.

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Five: Your Accommodation Options

This is part five in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and will link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

We are now going to focus on the next steps of planning an affordable Disney vacation, choosing your accommodations. This is a huge part of any vacation budget, so it is important to take some time to research your options to decide what is best for your family.

Walt Disney World offers an almost dizzying variety of choices, from the many Disney properties, to off-resort hotels, to a vast supply of vacation homes and condos. How do you choose?

And perhaps even more to the point: what is the best choice to save money?

The answer to both questions is the same: it depends.

Most people think that it is always cheaper to stay off-property, and that is just not always the case. There are a number of variables that will come into play here: time of the year, size of your family, and need for transportation while there, will all factor in your decision.

As we have already discussed, the busier times of year will be more expensive…and you may possibly have less choices, especially if you are not planning far ahead. Disney will not typically offer as many promotions for these times of year as they will for the slower times. So off-site may be your best choice during peak season…but again, not always…

You need to look at the size of your family: if you have a number of children that will require more than one motel room, then a larger “suite”, villa, or rental home may be the most economical as compared to renting multiple rooms. The Walt Disney resort has some properties that can accommodate larger groups of people, and it is not unusual for Disney to have some pretty sweet discounts and packages on this “level” of accommodation. In other cases, some hotels/motels, both on and off property, may offer specials where two rooms could be cheaper than one room in a different location. You will also want to look beyond the traditional hotel/motel option and consider renting a vacation home, condominium, or time-share.  If you need the additional space, do the math: it can be a definite cost-saver.

And then you will want to consider how you are going to get around while at Disney World. You can stay with Disney and use their free resort transportation, consisting of buses, monorail, or boats. If you end up off-site then you will need a way to get to the parks: find out if your hotel/motel has a free shuttle. If not, or if you are staying in a private property, then you will need to factor in the cost of renting a car or van.

In the next few posts, we will discuss each of your options in more detail. And if you have not already decided generally when you want to go, how long you want to stay, the parks/attractions/events you are most interested in, and how much you want to spend…..well now is the appropriate time.

In the next few days, you are going to be booking your accommodations and on your way to your own magical affordable Disney vacation!

Learn the Basics of a Disney Vacation with Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World

The final post in my series about my favorite Disney vacation guides, is all about the “official” Disney travel guide, Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World . While not the biggest, most detailed guidebook, and certainly not the most critical (as it is approved by Disney, it can’t be), this little book, nevertheless, holds a very special place in my heart…and may very well hold one in yours as well.

I will say that I truly love Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World travel guide. Part of this is due to the fact that this was the first Disney book I purchased, when we were planning our very first visit to Walt Disney World. But beyond that, I really feel that this book is an excellent option to help in your Disney vacation planning…mostly because it provides a very nice, initial, overview for what to expect at Disney World. Think of it as “setting the stage” for beginning to learn about the best way to plan a Disney vacation.

If you have never been to Walt Disney World, I really think this is a great way to start. Get a feel for what is available, see what appeals to your family….and then move forward with more detailed planning. I kind of compare it to getting in a pool: you can jump in the “deep end” with a completely detailed guide about absolutely everything there is to know…but you risk getting in over your head quickly if you do lol! For me, I kind of liked starting at the shallow end, and getting used to the water before venturing into that deep water.

It is important to realize that as the official Disney-endorsed book, it is not unbiased. Even so, I found it to be especially helpful especially regarding rides. When we were still new to Walt Disney World, the “Birnbaum’s Best” designation for some of the rides was how my family decided which rides were must-sees.

With maps and graphics that really help a Disney newbie get a sense of what the parks look like, it is a light and easy read, and in my opinion is a must-read for anyone who has never been to Walt Disney World. Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World travel guide is the absolute best way to plan a Disney vacation for a first-time visitor.

So there you have it. A collection of great Disney vacation guidebooks, each providing great information for planning a Disney World vacation. Which is the right one for you?

New Savings on Disney Resort Rooms

News Flash for affordable Disney family vacations! Walt Disney World has just announced a new promotion for the first half of the year! The details are as follows:

This offer, for 25%-45% off of the “rack rate” of Disney resort hotel rooms, is good for stays from Jan. 1, 2010 to June 3, 2010 with some black-out dates.

• You can save 25% at Disney Value Resorts for stays from 1-4 nights and 30% when you stay 5 nights or longer
• You can save 30% at Disney Moderate Resorts for stays from 1-4 nights and 35% when you stay 5 nights or longer
• You can save 35% at Disney Deluxe Resorts for stays from 1-4 nights and save 40% when you stay 5 nights or longer
• And you can save 40% at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts for stays from 1-4 nights and 45% when you stay 5 nights or longer

Book your stay by calling the Walt Disney World resort at (407) 939-2662 or contact your travel agent, and use code QNY. You must book by March 27, 2010.

Click here for more information.

Are You an Organizer? The Best Way to Plan a Disney Vacation is with the Passporter Walt Disney World

Have you found the best vacation guide yet, to help you plan an affordable Disney family vacation? If you really like to be organized, then have I got a Disney guidebook for you!

PassPorter Walt Disney World is very possibly one of my favorite Disney vacation planners, probably because organization is my thing. Filled with lots of detailed information about every aspect of Walt Disney World, in cluding the parks, the resorts, and the restaurants, it is organized so well that it is very easy to follow….and very easy to quickly find just what you are looking for.

The authors cover each of the 4 parks in great detail, including full-color fold-out maps, tons of their personal pictures, and a complete description of every ride and attraction (this is so helpful!). There are also profiles of each of the Disney-owned hotels which also include maps, color photos, and room layouts. And then there are the reviews of each of the Disney World dining options….all 300+ of them. What is especially nice are the average meal costs for each, from counter-service to table-service. This is a great help when trying to decide where you want to eat before you get to Disney!

All of this is great and makes the Passporter Walt Disney World a valuable resource in itself. But the aspect that I like the best are the handy organizer pockets and journal. This is the perfect place to keep your maps, passes, receipts, must-see lists, as well as anything else that you need to keep! And with a place to make notes and journal memories of your trip, you end up with a wonderful keepsake at the end of your trip!

So, is it important to you to have a well-organized Disney vacation planner? Do you like the idea of being able to keep everything in one place? If so, then for you, the best way to plan a Disney vacation will be with the PassPorter Walt Disney World.

(And if you have missed my other posts on Disney vacation guides, you can find them all here.)

Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010: More Disney Vacation Information Than You Can Possibly Imagine

I have been talking in the past several posts about my favorite Disney travel guides……

At over 800 pages, the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010 is the book for the Disney World visitor who want to know everything there is to know about the parks. It is thorough and provides an unbiased perspective of all the Disney parks, plus SeaWorld and Universal.

To say that it is detailed would be an understatement. Yet it is this detail that make this the book of choice for many. This guide covers pretty much every aspect of a vacation to the Orlando area that you could possibly think of. And it does it without bias, and is, in fact, not shy about being critical where needed.

I will be honest here though, and say that when I read the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010, while I appreciated the author’s forthrightness, as a Disney-lover, I was not always a big fan of the cynicism. After all, I am going to Disney for the “magic”…don’t spoil it for me, ok?

All kidding aside though, I will also be honest and say that many folks really want a critical perspective to help in their Disney vacation planning…and if you are one of them, then you will like this book.

Other than that, there is much to appreciate in the Unofficial Guide. One of the most popular aspects of this book are the Touring Plans which offer how-to guides for spending a day or so at each park. Very helpful indeed, especially if you are planning a trip during one of the busiest times of the year.

While all of the detailed information is great, it is alot of information in my opinion, and is definitely not a little book to take to the parks with you. Still, if you want a great planning guide and don’t mind wading through the many chapters, the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010 may be, for you, the very best way to see Disney World.

Have you missed the other posts in the series? You can check out my reviews of my favorite Disney travel guides here.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from The Affordable Mouse! I hope that your holiday season has been a special time for you and your families, filled with joy and wonderful memories. And now a New Year is upon us…..where DOES the time go? It seems that the older I get, the faster the time goes. Which is why creating those memories become more and more important to us as time goes on, don’t you think?

I hope that 2010 has a vacation to Walt Disney World planned for you! And I hope that I can help you make it as memorable….and affordable…as possible.

With that in mind, I want to continue this series of blog posts on some of the most popular…and helpful….Disney guidebooks that are available. January begins prime vacation planning time (got to have something happy to look forward to after Christmas!), so hopefully these posts will be well-timed for you.

Please keep in mind that each book as it’s merits, and while I like them all….for different reasons….one may be better for you than another, depending on your experiences, needs, and circumstances. Which is why I present a variety

Last time I discussed a special favorite of mine, the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. As an e-book, it is different from the others I review, and is therefore not as well known. But it has some great benefits, and if you really want some additional perspective on how to have an affordable Disney family vacation, you may want to give it a look.

Today I want to highlight another favorite of mine, the Complete Walt Disney World 2010. This latest edition to this popular series is really, in my opinion, one of the most useful books out there.

As a matter of fact, there are a lot of things I like about this book. To start, the color pictures are extremely helpful in giving lots of detail about the parks, rides, and attractions: this can be a great tool to help prepare for what to expect…especially for little ones.

I also really like the size, as it is small enough to be easily transported with you to the parks, which is a great benefit. Some books have a wealth of information, but are the size of a phonebook….which is just not helpful when you want to find something quickly. And let’s face it, if you are new to Disney World, the chances are very good that you are going to have questions…and isn’t it nice to be able to refer to a well-organized guidebook to find your answers while in the park? Not only is the Complete Walt Disney World 2010 small enough to be able to do this easily, with each park color-coded, you can find what you want almost immediately. I really like that!

There are also some great tips and ratings on the rides and attractions, which is very helpful for doing your planning. Of special note are the suggested touring plans as well as descriptions, wait times, and a kid’s “Fear Factor” for each ride. Any parent traveling with children to Walt Disney World for the first time should be prepared for the Fear Factor on each ride: nothing ruins the magic more than a terrified child.

These are just a few of the things that I really like about the Complete Walt Disney World 2010. If you would like to see what some others have to say about this guidebook, click here for reviews on the 2009 version. I feel pretty  confident that the latest edition will be just as good if not better.

I hope you found this helpful! Until next time, I hope your New Year is filled with much joy, great memories, and peace.

Have a magical day!

New Prices, New Resort Hotel, and New Ticket Promotion (sort of): A Big News Week at Walt Disney World for Vacation Planning

This was a big week, news-wise, at Walt Disney World. Good news, not-so-good news, and a couple of ways to possibly save some money on your next Disney vacation.

Let’s start with the “bad” news: as expected, Disney World ticket prices went up on Sunday, August 3. The Magic Your Way one-day, one-park base ticket now costs $79 for adults and $68 for children 3-9, which raised park passes by $4 adult and $5 child. The price for Annual Passes and Annual Pass renewals also went up as well……however, and this brings me to some “good” news: Disney has made the Annual Pass good for 15 months, which is a definite way to get more for your money if you are a frequent Disney visitor, and somewhat balances that price increase for Annual Passholders. You can read more information about the increase here: Walt Disney World rolls out Passholder renewal offer — 15 months for price of 12. Of course, you can still get discounted Disney tickets by visiting a reputable online ticket broker.

In other Disney news, not necessarily Disney World related, Disney Cruise Line has a super promotion for some of their Disney Mediterranean cruises next April and May. Kids 17 and under sail free on most 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises, April 24 – May 26, 2010: they must be with two full-fare guests in the same stateroom, and this offer is only for certain stateroom categories.While a Disney Cruise is not cheap, it is a truly magical experience, and if you have been thinking about doing something like this…especially to take advantage of the chance for your children to see another part of the world…then don’t miss out on this great promotion. Contact your travel agent for details!

Lastly, the “good news” (if you are interested in really neat architecture and design) is that the newest property in the Disney Vacation Club, Bay Lake Tower, officially opened on Tuesday, August 4. Adjacent to the Contemporary Resort, it shares the same contemporary theming, along with a fabulous location right outside of the Magic Kingdom. You can see some photos here and here as well. Pretty cool, isn’t it? It may not be the best way to have an affordable Disney family vacation…but if you can ever splurge, well being right next door to Cinderella’s Castle is the way to go! =)

Have a magical day!!