Booking Your Disney Vacation

We start to get the Disney Trip "bug" about 6-8 months after we have arrived home from our last trip, not counting our return flight where we dream about what we want to do the next time we go to Walt Disney World.  If we wait a few more months, it seems like we go to Disney every 14-18 months. 


I always book our trip at Disneyworld.com website.  I've heard horror stories from people that have purchased from other non-Disney websites and they turn up for their reservations to find out that they don't have reservations and some thing, some where got mixed up and they are left in the lurch.  I chose not to even go there and book directly with Disney.  Plus, the Disney Castmembers are so friendly and helpful.  


How to Book Your Disney Vacations:  


1.  Call Disney at (407) 939-7675 and speak with a friendly cast member.  See if there are any discount codes attached to your (or your spouse's) address.  Check your email addresses for any email notifications as well.  You may have a great discount that you don't even know about.  All of Disney's promotions have dates of validity...example Free Dining will be valid during your stay between 5/28-11/17.   For more information about getting your name and address into Disney's "address book", please see My Top Ten Disney Tips #7.

2.    Pick your dates of travel.   Many things can influence the dates.  I look at the discounts available to me, resort price, and airfare.  Find the best combination, and those are our dates.  Most times, I find that flying midweek gives us the best airfares.  


3.  Choose your resort.  The Disney website is awesome at showing you the rates for the resort you are looking at and usually a resort that may be just slightly more and less than the one you are currently looking at.  You can always change your resort "home" after you make your reservations, but at least you have your first resort to fall back on, if you can't get into the other resort later.  Two of the last four trips we've made to Walt Disney World, we started at one resort and changed to another for many reasons.   Disney Cast members are very helpful and got us to the resort that we needed--no questions asked.  


4.  Relax for a minute....then start looking at which restaurants you'd like to try during your stay.   This is important to do early.  You can make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) as early as 180 days (yes, about six months) before your first scheduled day at Walt Disney World.  I'm totally serious.    Many of the most popular restaurants and character meals will fill up as soon as the window opens up.  We like to pick different parks each day, so we coordinate our restaurants and parks together.  Less travel time to the restaurant means more time to play!  For example, we will make our ADR for Akershus Fairytale Princess Dinner on the day we plan to be at Epcot, Cinderella's Royal Table Restaurant we are at the Magic Kingdom.  Getting your ADRs is serious business at our house.  We have a ADR Countdown to our 180th day.  We know EXACTLY the day that we are able to make our ADRs and we aren't afraid of staying up all night to get the best times available.  I will have another post about the ways to make your ADRs soon.


5.  On your 180th Day from your trip (or as soon as possible) make your Advanced Dining Reservations by either calling (407) WDW-DINE or by going online to the Dining Reservations.  I will have another blog post about ADRs soon.


6.  Please consider one of Disney's Dining Plans (DDP).    You are in the parks and you do HAVE to eat, so you might as well do it for the most cost-effective way possible.  We have been to Disney without the Dining Package and we regret it when we spent well above what the dining plan would have cost us.  The last three trips, we have gone during the "Free Dining" Promotion, and we have enjoyed every bite!  Disney does a fantastic job feeding thousands and thousands of people each day. You can always add a DDP to your reservations at any time.  Think about it though....Even if you do not have the Dining Plan, try going to one of their famous restaurants. They are famous for a delicious reason.  


7.  Book your flights.


8.  Make your own Disney Custom Map.   Not only are they free, but they are great for finding your way around the parks to the attractions YOU want to see and experience.  They also make great souvenirs too.  I'd recommend allowing for 4-6 weeks for delivery after you've completed your maps.  Remember, there are always maps at the entrance of all the parks, in the lobbies of each resort and throughout the parks as well.  


9.  Start packing!  I'm one of those crazy ladies that start packing about a month in advance, but that is me.  I'll have packing tips on another blog post soon.  


10.  Take advantage of Disney's Magical Express.   Once you arrive at the Orlando Airport (MCO), you can leave the "real world" behind you and hop aboard  the complementary (that means awesomely free)  Disney's Magical Express (DME).  Disney has nice, air-conditioned motor coach busses that will take you to your resort and you can check in.  It's fabulous. No need for directions or stressing out about which exits to take.   You just sit back, relax, and let the vacation begin!  You can also use these same services returning home.  Plus, you save money because you don't need to rent a car too! AND, they have people at the Orlando Airport to collect your checked luggage.  No baggage claim, just go straight to the fun.  Your bags will come behind you in a different truck and be delivered directly to your room.


11.  Enjoy your magical vacation! Once you arrive and check-in at your resort, you will be given your "Keys to the World", also known as your tickets to the park.  They look like credit cards with your name on the front and a black swipe stripe on the back.  Your resort cast member will be able to link your Key to the World to your credit card, so you don't have to worry about carrying your credit card or money while in the park.  After you check in, have a wonderfully, magical trip!  

Monorail Schedule Changes

If you are headed to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom Park for the Extra Magic Hours via the Monorail, you will need to find a different way home.  Disney has announced new operating hours for the monorail system starting on August 1, 2011.  

The current schedule has monorails running about an hour and a half past the park closing time and throughout the Extra Magic Hours.  The monorail will now only operate one hour past the scheduled park closing, not including Extra Magic Hours.  But, there is a rumor of the monorail trains running until 11:00 pm too. 

A Walt Disney World spokesperson has said that this schedule change is for "planned maintenance" for the 20 year old monorail system.  And since Extra Magic Hours (EMH) extend the monorail running time to 3:00 am, it leaves only a little over an hour for schedule maintenance. 

Whether or not this will effect the extra ticketed events, such as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is, as of now, unknown.  

There has been a lot of talk of the premium price of staying at one of the monorail resorts, (The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, The Contemporary, and Bay Lake Tower) and how guests will get home.  Don't they pay to be on and have use of the monorail whenever like chose?  The deluxe resort price difference is only partly because these resorts are on the monorail.  There are plenty of other Deluxe Resorts that are not on the monorail and still have their Deluxe Resort price points for good reason.  The room sizes are bigger, the decorations and restaurants tend to be a bit better, they are in walking distance to a park or Downtown Disney, they may also have a spa, lake and beaches, etc....

All guests will have the option of either riding the boats or taking a bus to their resort.  The Bay Lake Tower and Contemporary guests can also walk the short distance from the park to their resort as well.  Unfortunately, the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts do not have walking back to their resort as an  option because the walkway does not go over the service and boat entrance water way.  

Of course, if Disney decides to go with the 11:00 pm monorail closing time, it will make things a bit easier for guests,  but that is still unknown.  

I like to think of Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom Parks.  They clear out the parks without the use of the monorail and it does seem to work out.  Yes, you may need to think things through a little bit, but a little planning can go a long way in keeping your Disney trip magical.  

Dooney and Bourke Disney Purses are on Sale Now!

Oh, Disney.  You make super cute purses with Dooney & Bourke and then put them on sale?!?!  You're killing me.  Honestly, just sharing a great deal going on now at the Disney Store.

Friday's Fun Find: Minnie Mouse Clip on Ears!

Check out these adorable Minnie Mouse Clip on Ears that are for sale on Etsy by seller Little Miss Daisy Rose.  

I wonder if my daughter would wear them more than the 10 minutes she wore her Minnie Ears hat.  I bet she would--they look like little hair bows and no itchy strap.  

It also looks like you could pick the color you like.  I think they are just adorable.

These pictures and link have been approved by the seller to be shared on this blog.  Thanks!

Disney's Family Fun Magazine Only $2.99 per year!

Tanga has Disney's Family Fun Magazine for only $2.99 for a one-year subscription.  Use the coupon code:  DISNEY to drop the price to $2.99.  This magazine is loaded with great articles, craft ideas, and travel tips for all ages, but especially preschool to school-aged kids and their families.  


Go quick, because this deal will only last a little over 10 hours!

My Top Ten Disney Trip Tips

Since I have been to Disney four times recently, I have lots of friends and family that come to me first thing when they are planning a trip to Walt Disney World.  I get friends from Facebook contacting me a few times a month about my tips to Disney and how to go about their planning process.  

With that said, I thought I'd begin with my Top Ten Trip Tips to begin your Disney World experience.

1.  You will not be able to do it all.  The Disney Parks are huge and there are magical things everywhere.  You won't be able to do everything during a trip.  It is best to come to terms with that BEFORE you even get there.  Having realistic expectations during planning will make your trip more enjoyable.  Even with our four most recent trips, we still haven't been able to do "everything".  

2.  Start planning early--over six months, if you can!  Think about your trip planning as a part of your trip too.  You are supposed to enjoy this process.  Sometimes I get so excited during the planning process, that I  I hop up and down about finding out some great "nugget" of information.  

3.  Make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) as soon as possible.  As of today, you can make your ADRs 180 days from the first day of your trip.  Which is about 6 months, give or take.  (Thus the reason for Trip Tip #2).  Popular restaurants and character meals can fill up fast!  You can dine in the castle, but you need to be on the ball.  My DH and I will stay up all night watching for the switch to flip to allow us to either call or, the newest way, make our ADRs online.  Once you get your ADRs, you are golden!

4.  Don't plan every minute of the day.  When we go, we usually plan one ADR each day for the park that we chose.  Then, we plan ONE, maybe two, other things that we consider a MUST and the rest of the day.  Then we let the magic sweep us up and let us go where we (and the kids) want and NEED.  Especially with kids, you need potty breaks, snacks, time to cool down, and naps.  

5.  Wear comfortable shoes.  A Disney trip is a walking trip.  You will see all sorts of magical and fun things along the way, but you will be walking, walking, and walking some more.  Be sure to break in your shoes before the trip and bring an extra pair.   Please remember to break in shoes before you go to the parks too!  

6.  Go online and sign up at the Disney Website for their fantastic Trip Planning DVD and information.  Also, sign up for their email newsletters.  (Right now it is on the bottom right of the main page.)  Signing up for their newsletters will also add you to Disney's "Address Book" and you will receive information and discounts.  

7.  Call  Disney Vacation Planning at (407) 939-7675 to see if there are any discount codes linked to your mailing address.  Often times, you could have discount codes for free dining, pay for 4 days, get 3 free, or up to 40% off of resort pricing.   If they do not have record of you, please ask to be added to their list.  Give them a few weeks and call again.  Often times they will have a discount code attached to your address, just for being a potential guest. 

8.  Help your magic get even more magical!  With toddlers and young school-aged kids, you can have them dress up like their favorite characters or wear their favorite Mickey, Minnie, or Buzz Lightyear shirts.  Our kids got so much character attention when they were dressed up like Cinderella and Prince Charming one year.  The next year, the dined as Snow White and her Prince.  We wore "Disney" colors (Red, White, Black, and Yellow) one day at the Magical Kingdom.  All of our pictures were really cute and we look coordinated.  If you're not matchy-matchy, that's ok...you will still look fab and have a great time at the Parks.  Adults need to let go and have fun!  Find your inner child and let lose!

9.   Take advantage of Disney's Magical Express Transportation system and airline services!  Disney will send you a set of Disney Resort Luggage Tags.  These tags will allow you to drop your luggage at your departing airport and the next time you see them, they will be in your Disney Resort Room!  It is so nice not to worry about luggage when you land.   Disney will do it for you!    Once you arrive at the Orlando Airport (MCO), you can leave the "real world" behind you and hop aboard the Disney Magical Express (DME).  Disney has nice, air-conditioned motor coach busses that will take you to your resort and you can check in.  It's fabulous. No need for directions or stressing out about which exits to take.   You just sit back, relax, and let the vacation begin!  You can also use these same services returning home.  

10.   Sign up and follow Disney-related blogs, newsletters, and forums.  It is great to hear about the absolute latest news during your trip.  Disney has a great blog too.   There may be a last-minute change to the park schedules, celebrity appearances, ride refurbishments, etc.  

The Best Place to Start is at the Beginning!

Welcome to Obsession Disney Trip Tips! 

My name is Janelle.   I am a mom of two kids, Dear Son (DS), 7 and Dear Daughter (DD), 5 and wife to one Dear Husband (DH).  We live in Wisconsin and all just love Disney!  I have been to Walt Disney World in Florida five times in my life.  Once, way back in 1993 when I was in high school and most recently in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011.  My passion is the trip planning and execution.  So much so that friends and family call me when they are considering a trip to see the main mouse, Mickey!  I thought I'd start a blog to share some of my experience, tips, and news about Disney!  Please feel free to ask questions about Disney and I'd be happy to help you out!