Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010

Festivities are held from 7pm to Midnight on the dates listed above. Note that special tickets are required for admission. Standard theme park tickets are not valid for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

*Advance ticket prices are $53.95 for ages 10+ and $47.95 for ages 3 – 9
Same day ticket prices are $59.95 for ages and $53.95 for ages 3 – 9

*Advance ticket purchase is not available on 12/7, 12/10, 12/12, 12/17, 12/19.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (407) WDISNEY

Attractions include live shows, parades, fireworks, dazzling light displays, carolers and special character meet and greets. And rumor has it that you might see a special snow shower or two in the Magic Kingdom!

Advantages of Staying at an Orlando Area Hotel

• Depending on the hotel you choose, most of them offer a variety of value-added amenities to compensate for their off-site location. Of course the best amenity is that they typically cost less!

• Most hotels located outside Disney World are larger. This is a big advantage for families because in some cases you can sleep 5 to 6 people, while Disney World hotel rooms only sleep 4 people regardless of the age of the guest.

• Many Orlando hotels offer free transportation to Disney World and other attractions like Universal Studios and SeaWorld. Disney World Resorts do not provide transportation to the other Orlando attractions in the city.

• Speaking of other attractions, Orlando has much more to offer than just Disney World. Staying in an off-site hotel gives you easier access to hundreds of other local tourist destinations. This includes theme parks, shopping outlets, great restaurants and even golf courses.

• A lot of Orlando hotels offer discounts for Disney World tickets and special admission rates for SeaWorld and Universal Studios.

• Many of the large chain hotels provide free breakfast for their guests. This is an often overlooked bonus that can save you $5 – $10 per person/per day. You won’t find any freebies like this at a Disney World Resort.

• The competition for Orlando hotel business is fierce. This is a good thing for tourists because the hotels are always remodeling, adding room features, and keeping their prices low. By comparing hotels you are sure to find outstanding deals.

Advantages of Disney World Resorts

• Location and free transportation to the airport and Disney World parks. This is without question the primary benefit of staying on-site.

• Disney World keeps strict quality guidelines were created to help make sure you get the level of accommodations you pay for.

• Disney World Resorts offer “Extra Magic Hours” that allow resort guests to enter the park an hour early and three hours later than other guests who are not staying on-site.

• Employees working in off-site hotels are not always familiar with the Disney World or even the Orlando area. Disney World Resort employees however do know the property well and they are trained at helping you find your way.

• Guest at Disney World Resorts can charge park-related expenses to their room account, making it easier to purchase food and souvenirs. Most properties also qualify guests for free package delivery to their room. This eliminates the need haul cumbersome bags around the park.

• Disney World guests have many more opportunities for “character encounters”. This can include evening story times in the resort common space to even having a character tuck the kids to bed as a special treat.

In the end there is really no right or wrong choice between staying on Disney World grounds or in an Orlando hotel. The most important thing is to talk with your family, research all the options, and decide what the best fit is for you. As a general rule, the longer you stay beyond three days the more likely it is you will appreciate the flexibility of staying in an Orlando hotel. The city was built for tourists, and it only makes sense to get the most out of your stay.

There are four Disney World Value Resorts – Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Each of these properties offer complimentary airport transportation, complimentary transportation within the resort, extended theme park hours, and free package delivery to your hotel so you don’t have to carry your packages around the park all day.

All in all, value resorts provide the most important amenities for your stay. Keeping in mind that most families are only in their hotel room in the evening, each value resort has enough dining and entertainment options to satisfy the kids at night. They all have on-site swimming pools, playgrounds, and arcades. However, if you spend any time reading through travel reviews and online forums you will notice that the Pop Century Resort seems to get the best reviews.

Here are some of the most mentioned reasons that families prefer to stay at the Pop Century Resort over the three other value resort options…

- Many newly remodeled rooms. Complete renovation expected to be done by December 2010.

- Great swimming pools. Pop Century features 3 different swimming pools – the main flower-shaped Hippy Dippy Pool, a smaller bowling-themed pool and even a Computer Pool shaped like a monitor. Little ones can play in the Goofy Kiddie Spray Area, which is an interactive play fountain.

- Timely bus service. This is one of the best “secrets” about Pop Century. Because they do not share a bus route with other value resorts so the wait times are much shorter.

- Better room layouts. Some travelers are convinced that the rooms at Pop Century are larger than those at the other value resorts. This may or may not be true, but even the feeling of more space can be gratifying.

- Extensive food court. There is something for everyone at the food court located in the resort’s Classic Hall. Choose from several dining stations including the Pizza & Pasta Shop, Grill Shop, Ethnic Shop, Sandwich & Salad Shop, Healthy Choices, and more.

- Better housekeeping and customer service? This is probably open to opinion, but comments like this one on Trip Advisor might make you believe it is true…”I go to Disney every other year and this was the first time we stayed on property in a very long time. The rooms had wonderful brand new beds, new carpets and all new furniture and fixtures. We paid around $75 dollars per room a night and couldn’t have been more impressed. We came back to our rooms from the parks to find towels in the shape of animals on the beds and a very clean room every night.”

Of course we can’t promise you will have the same experience since this is far from a scientific poll of Disney’s Value Resorts. However, if you look around at the different comments people are making about Disney’s Pop Century Resort you will likely agree that most reviews call it the Best Disney Value Resort.

Here is a quick list of AAA Member Benefits for Disney World:

Tickets Only:
Purchase your park tickets through AAA and save. Your membership will get you access to discounted tickets that save you an average of 5% off the retail price.

AAA Vacations Diamond Card:
All AAA Disney Vacation Packages include a special AAA Vacations Diamond Card that gets you additional savings at participating locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. This includes discounts on qualifying items like food, souvenirs, and attraction tickets.

AAA Diamond Parking:
Members are eligible to park in the AAA preferred parking spaces located at all four Disney World Parks. Note that these spaces are first-come first-serve and a voucher is required upon entrance to the parking lot.

Hotel Discounts:
Save up to 20% on your hotel only bookings just by showing your AAA member ID. Discount varies depending on time of year and availability.

200 Disney Dollars:
Book seven nights or more on your Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel Package and receive 200 Disney Dollars upon check-in. Disney Dollars can be used at a number of different locations around the park – including restaurants, shops, and attractions. This offer can be combined with other AAA hotel discounts to help you save even more money. Please present your voucher to hotel upon check-in.

Exclusive Disney’s Story Time Experience:
AAA Disney World Vacation Packages that include a Disney Dining Plan also feature a unique story time experience with one of your favorite Disney characters. These events are held on specified days of the week at Norway Pavilion in the Epcot Park. Each family or party is entitled to one story time experience per booking. Reservations are required at least one day in advance and attendees must present their voucher and resort ID.

Exclusive Parade Viewing at the Magic Kingdom Park:
In addition to the story time experience, AAA vacation packages with dining plans also include access to a special viewing of the Magic Kingdom afternoon parade. The viewing deck is located on the second level of the Magic Kingdom Train Station. Advance reservations and AAA voucher are required for access.

Upgrades at Hertz Rental Cars:
Book a Hertz rental car with your AAA vacation package and receive a complimentary child seat and car upgrade. Certain qualifications apply. Talk to your AAA travel adviser for more information.

December Discounts at Disney World Value Resorts
$59 room nights from November 29 through December 17
$94 room nights from December 18 through December 24
$135 room nights from December 25 through January 2 (standard rate)

* Disney Value Resort Hotels are designed for budget conscious travelers during their days exploring the theme parks. Each resort has a unique theme and all of the basic amenities needed for a comfortable stay.

December Discounts at Disney World Moderate Resorts
$96 room nights from November 29 through December 17
$134 room nights from December 18 through December 24
$209 room nights from December 25 through January 2 (standard rate)

* Disney Moderate Value Resort Hotels offer another tier of value and quality to your stay.  Amenities include access to a health club, themed swimming pools, and transportation to any of the Disney World theme parks by motor coach or boat.

This special promotion is valid through September 26th and is based on availability. 

 If you are traveling to Disney World in December than you really should book your dates around one of the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties.  This once a year celebration features a parade, fireworks, and even a special snowfall! Parties require an additional ticket and events are held on the following dates: December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18.

The Christmas parties can sellout, so it is best to buy your tickets when you book your room nights. Discounted tickets are available for $52 (ages 10+) and $46 (ages 3 – 9).

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has all the features of a great campsite with the added bonus of being close to the main Disney attractions.  You can integrate your stay at Fort Wilderness with many of the Magic Your Way Packages as well.  Best of all, campsite rates start at $45 per night, which makes this by far the cheapest lodging option within the Disney properties.

Some of the basic features included with your stay include access to several conveniently placed Comfort Stations.  Each station has toilet facilities, private showers, laundry facilities, ice machines, and pay phones.  This is in addition to hookups at each individual campsite such as water, charcoal grill, picnic table, 20 amp/120 Volt, 30 amp/120 Volt, 50 amp/250 Volt outlets, sanitary disposal system, and the availability of safety keeping boxes.  This is a well run campground with the cleanliness and quality you would expect from the America’s largest theme park.

Camping at Disney World adds a special element to your vacation that most families will never get to experience.  The Fort Wilderness property has a host of fun activities all to itself.  You’ll find horse trails, boat rentals, tennis courts, playgrounds, bike rentals and swimming pools right on the campsite grounds.  Entertainment options include campfire sing-a-longs and entertainment dinner shows like the “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue”.

As many RV veterans already know, traveling the country and staying at campsites is a great way to meet new people.  When you combine the experience with a visit to Disney World it truly makes for special family vacation.  Of course not everyone is open to living outside the comforts of modern technology, but those who enjoy being closer to nature can save a substantial amount of money on their hotel and travel bills.

Of course no one wants to ruin their vacation by staying at a second-rate hotel where they are constantly concerned about cleanliness and safety.  Luckily there are several options near Disney World that offer competitive prices and some great features.  Here is our list of preferred cheap hotels for Disney vacationers.

*Keep in mind that these selections are based on value.  These hotels will serve as a perfect place to get your rest after a long day of sight-seeing, but they are not “full service” hotels.*

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

This movie-themed resort at Walt Disney World Resort offers a fun, cinematic approach to a Disney vacation. Located at Walt Disney World Resort, this 1,920-room hotel is comprised of 10 buildings themed around popular Disney movies, such as Fantasia and 101 Dalmatians. Larger-than-life icons from the films decorate the courtyards and public areas. One outdoor pool continues the Fantasia theme while another is located in a Mighty Ducks’ ice hockey–themed area.

There is also a children’s wading pool and arcade on site, along with a gift shop, playground, and laundry facilities. A food court with five stations offers a variety of American fare in a casual atmosphere.

Disney’s Magical Express: Guests of this resort are eligible for complimentary Disney’s Magical Express service. Motor coaches pick up guests at Orlando International Airport and drop off at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, while Disney staff members pick up bags and deliver them straight to guestrooms.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Open since December 2003, this Epcot resort is a whimsical time capsule of 20th-century pop culture.  Disney’s Pop Century Resort spans 177 acres in the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Area. This Disney Value Resort Hotel is a celebration of 20th-century pop culture, with a focus on iconography of the “Classic Years”—the 1950s through the 1990s. The buildings are fashioned as time capsules of the way Americans lived, worked, and played during these five decades.

Icons include jukeboxes, bowling pins, and Lady and Tramp (from the Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp) near the 1950s buildings; Play-Doh, Duncan Yo-Yos, and characters from The Jungle Book near the 1960s buildings; Big Wheels and eight-track tapes near the 1970s buildings; Sony Walkmans, Rubik’s Cubes, and Roger Rabbit near the 1980s buildings; and laptop computers and cell phones near the 1990s buildings.

The resort has three heated pools with themes, a children’s pool (unheated), an arcade, and a playground with a Goofy water feature. In addition there are laundry facilities on site and a 7,000-square-foot retail area in the resort’s Classic Hall. Guests receive complimentary bus transportation to and from the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.
 
Includes access to Disney’s Magical Express shuttle service.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
 
Located within a mile of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, this sports-themed resort offers energetic fun for fans and families. This 1,920-room hotel is comprised of 10 buildings themed around various sports. Larger-than-life athletic icons—such as football helmets and basketball hoops—decorate the courtyards and public areas. The main pool, Surfboard Bay, offers a fun surfing motif while the Grandslam Pool has a baseball theme. There is also a children’s wading pool and arcade on site, along with a gift shop, playground, and laundry facilities. A food court with five stations offers a variety of popular American fare in a casual atmosphere.

Includes access to Disney’s Magical Express shuttle service.

 Hotel descriptions provided by www.Expedia.com

Sample Disney Vacation Budget:
- Smith Family – 2 adults and 2 children under 9 years old
- Traveling from Cincinnati, OH
- 6 day / 5 night vacation
- Christmas 2008: Leave 12/28/08 - Return 1/2/08

Travel Costs:

- Direct Fight Airline Tickets (round trip) = $2168.00

- Full-Size Rental Car (located in airport terminal) = $627.87

- 3 Bedroom Suite at WorldQuest Resort (1 mile away) = $1314.00

Park Admission

- 3 Day Magic Your Way Park Hopper Ticket
  2 Adults @ $261 each & 2 Kids @ $228 each = $978.00

- 1 Day Admission to Universal Studios
 4 Tickets @ $73 each = $292.00

Food Budget and Misc.

- Food ($70 adults per day & $40 kids per day) = $660.00

- Souvenirs ($60 per day) = $360.00   

- Gas for Rental Car = $100.00

- Emergencies and Special Treats = $500.00

 Total Disney Vacation Budget   $6997.87

A couple things to note about this particular example…

- The food budget is a little high, especially if you bring snacks with you.  Nonetheless this budget allows for flexibility in your dinning selections.

- If you do a little research you can find complimentary alternatives to renting a car.  However, having a car lets you explore more of the Orlando area and is much more convenient then waiting for shuttles.

- The Universal Studios trip is obviously optional, but it can be fun to see other sites outside of the Disney World resort area.

- The December time frame is considered peak season at Disney World.  Cheaper rates on flights and hotels can be found in off seasons like February, April, September, and October.

We will try to post quarterly examples like this to show the available rates during different seasons.

Disney World Website
The most obvious place to begin your vacation planning is at the main source.  The Disney World site is filled with information for first time visitors that will save you money.  You can view the pricing for Magic Your Way Packages, park tickets, and rates for the dozens of Disney hotel and resort options.  The only thing that can be confusing is trying to estimate the cost of your trip.  There are so many features you can add to their packages that it can be difficult to keep track of the best deals.  Of course if you get too confused you can always call their reservation line.

Orlando Convention and Tourists Bureau
You should not limit your trip to Orlando to just Disney World.  There are tons of great family attractions in this city and the tourist’s bureau offers great deals on all of them.  Not only will you find coupon codes and promotions to save money at hotels, but they also have discounted tickets to all of the major theme parks.  A good rule of thumb is to plan an excursion away from the Disney grounds once every three days you are in Orlando.  While there is plenty to do in Mickey’s home, there are also some great alternatives located just minutes away.

FloridaOrlandoTickets.com
If you are looking for some of the best theme park vacation packages then this site is a must see.  They have tickets, tours, and plans for every major attraction in the Orlando area.  The only downside is that their stock tends to sell out quickly during the busiest seasons.  Even so, you are sure to walk away with some great ideas for places to visit during your stay.

Expedia
One of the largest travel sites on the internet is a good place to go for awesome hotel and flight prices.  They don’t sell Disney World packages or tickets directly, but you will find substantial savings for off-site accommodations.  Our number one tip for saving money at Disney is to stay outside of the theme park.  There are so many hotels and home rentals in the Orlando area that it is ridiculous to pay the inflated prices found within the park.  Use Expedia to book your flight and hotel and then buy your park tickets at Disney or one of the discount suppliers listed here.  This is an easy way to shave hundreds of dollars off of your tab.

Think Spring
One of the best times to book your vacation in Orlando is during the late spring.  Flexible travelers who can sneak in during this season typically find discount rates that can save as much as twenty-five percent off the standard prices.  Most of the special rates are offered after Easter through the middle of May.  When you consider the average family of four spends upwards of $2000 on their trip it doesn’t take a mathematical genius to see just how much you can save.  Best of all, the Florida weather is absolutely sensational during this season.  You can expect highs in the eighties, but the extreme heat found in the summer is still weeks away.

Fall Into Savings
Autumn is another money-saving season at Disney World.  Because the majority of kids are just starting school, the traffic levels at the park are much lower.  The weeks between Labor Day and Thanksgiving are typically heavily discounted, and are perfect for families with small children who have not yet begun formal schooling.   Since the crowds are at their lowest levels in this season, it makes it much easier to cart around little ones without the hassles of long lines or hyperactive teenagers.  Put it all together and Fall is a great time to take younger Disney fans to see their favorite characters in action.

What to Expect
If you decide to book in one of the off-seasons it important to research the different prices and packages available.  Even the sometimes overpriced Disney website should offer room rates in the $85 range.  If you don’t mind staying away from the park, you can hunt down rates as low as $65 for a discount hotel that needs to fill its rooms.  For those who are a little more adventurous, you can wait until a week or two before and find last minute specials on discount travel sites such as expedia.com.  This can be risky if you don’t have any flexibility in your arrival and departure dates, but those who do will almost certainly find outstanding savings opportunities.

Don’t forget that you don’t have to limit yourself to just Disney World, especially if you are staying away from the park grounds.  There are literally hundreds of family attractions in Orlando, and all of them will be looking to fill their seats with visitors during the off season.  Disney World is of course the pinnacle attraction, but it is also nice to get out and see all of what Orlando has to offer.