Comparing How To Book Your Disney World Vacation
If youre thinking about booking a vacation to Disney World stop what youre doing and listen up because we have some very important information about the different ways to book a Disney trip to share with you.
Did you know that youll have multiple booking options each one with its own pros and cons?
Well, you do.
And, depending on your goal you may find that one method may not only work better for you, but it also might save you more money. Of course, that also means that if you pick the wrong one, you might find yourself having to deal with unexpected costs or even worse: snags. Ugh.
Heres everything you need to know.
Where Can I Buy Discount Disney Tickets
Searching online for discount Disney tickets can feel overwhelming. Its important to make sure youre buying from a reputable website. Our TravelingMom team recommendsGet Away Today for discount Disney tickets and vacation packages.
If you ever find park tickets cheaper, Get Away Today wont just match the price, the company will beat it! Great customer service is another reason why we recommend Get Away Today. From buying your tickets to planning your Disney vacation, they help you every step of the way. Read our full review of Get Away Todayhere.
If you want to know what it would cost to go to Disney World for your family, ask for afree quote here.
Get Away Today is offering to hold your 2020 and 2021 Disney vacation for just $175 down. Better yet, the final payment is due just seven days before you go. So put your next Disney vacation on layaway and have fun planning your next trip!
Disney Visa December Package Offer
Disney Visa cardholders get up to 25% off room rates at select official Walt Disney World resorts only for most dates December 12-24, 2021. There is no minimum stay required in general, but some popular room types may have a minimum stay length to be eligible for the discount. You can also book this as a room-only offer.
Sample discounts off normal 2021 Disney World room rates:
- Value:
- 10% off All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports and Pop Century rooms
- 20% off Art of Animation family suites
- 10% off Caribbean Beach rooms and the cabins at Fort Wilderness
- 15% off Coronado Springs and Port Orleans French Quarter rooms
- 20% off Port Orleans Riverside rooms
- 10% off Beach Club and Grand Floridian rooms
- 20% off BoardWalk Inn and Yacht Club rooms
- 25% off Animal Kingdom Lodge rooms
- 10% off Bay Lake Tower, BoardWalk Villas and Old Key West rooms
- 20% off Riviera rooms
Offer excludes Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation Resort, 3-bedroom villas and campsites. As with all Disney promotional discounts, some resorts, room types and date combinations will not be available. Its important to be flexible if you want to book a discounted room.
Payment for room must be made with a Disney Visa card, and cardholder must stay in room.
Offer subject to end at any time.
Thanks to Small World Vacations for info.
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A Disney Travel Planners Depth Of Knowledge
This one is especially important if you are going to Disney World for the first or second time.
Since Disney is a massive theme park filled will all sorts of parks, attractions, resorts, restaurants, entertainment, and transportation options then you really need someone who can help you plan and navigate through every step of your trip. Of course, your input is the most important. But their help and guidance will prove invaluable if you dont already know the ropes.
As amazing as Disney World is, it fast becomes less amazing when you realize dont know where you are going, And your experience suffers when you encounter crowded attractions, cant get a table at popular restaurants, or have booked a vacation package that isnt just right for you.
Guidebooks and online blogs can be helpful, but you really need to talk with someone who has first-hand knowledge of all aspects of the park. A Disney Travel Agent can help you navigate through all of these unknowns and craft a vacation package thats right for you.
Not all Disney travel planners are created equal. Thus, it is important to find a dedicated Disney travel planner whom you can trust for the correct information and guidance.
Travel During The Off Season
We all want smaller crowds when we go to the parks, but did you know these smaller crowd times also means savings? Try traveling when schools are still in session, avoid holidays and weekends, and watch out for big area conferences. Its during these times when hotel rates are at their lowest and ticket sellers offer the best deals. Try going in January or February for the best savings.
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Booking Disney In A Pandemic
When the Walt Disney World Resort reopened after the pandemic shutdown in July of 2020, the new normal included the Disney Park Pass Reservation System. To enter a park, both a park reservation AND valid admission for the same park on the same date are required.
Once you have selected your preferred travel dates, check park availability. Once your reservation has been secured with a deposit you will be able to log into your My Disney Experience account and book your park reservations.
TravelingMom Tip: A Disney Resort hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access. Only a park reservation does that!
Special Offer For Teachers And School Support Staff
In appreciation for all that you do, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort would like to offer you a very special room rate for your next vacation to the most magical place in the worldthe Walt Disney World® Resort! Take advantage of savings up to 25 % off our regular rates at time of booking.
For Reservations: Contact us at 1-888-828-8850 and ask for promotional code TEACHERS RATE or when booking online, make sure Promotional Code ZTC appears in the Corporate/Promo code box. Valid teacher or school issued ID required at check-in to receive this offer.
Book the Swan:
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Catch A Deal With Your Disney Visa Card
As with annual passholders, Disney occasionally makes exclusive offers to Disney Rewards Chase Visa cardholders. These aren’t often exceptional, they’re usually just extensions in dates of publicly available offers . Nonetheless, if you want the full range of offers, you’ll want to consider carrying this card.
How To Book A Disney World Vacation
No matter how you book your Disney World vacation, if you are staying on property in a Disney-owned resort, you are eligible for all onsite benefits.
The tricky thing is that things like discounts and modifications work differently depending on the method you used to secure your reservation.
To help, were going to take a look at the 4 most common ways people book their Disney World trips.
Well show you the pros and cons of each and then top it off with a handy comparison chart so you can easily see which way makes the most sense for you.
Important note: Hopefully if youre at the point where youre ready to book youve already looked over our Disney World Vacation Planner. If you havent, jump over there and check it out first because it has all the important things you need to think about before you click that book now button.
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Disney Annual Passholder Offer
Disney Annual Pass Holders Save Up to 30% Off Regular Rates ACT NOW, OFFER EXPIRES SOON!
Disney Annual Pass Holders receive a special discount to return and experience all that the Disney theme parks have to offer. We are located within walking distance to Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios.
For Reservations: Contact us at 1-888-828-8850 and ask for promotional code ANNUAL PASSHOLDER RATE or when booking online, make sure Promotional Code QWH appears in the Corporate/Promo code box. Valid/current Disney Annual Pass is required at check-in to receive this offer.
Book the Swan:
Disney Parks Moms Panel
The Disney Parks Moms Panel are a group of advisors, not employed by the Disney Corporation, chosen every year from thousands of panel applicants. Membership in this exclusive group is a big deal for a lot of people. The members of the Moms Panel answer questions and offer advice, covering topics like planning & budgeting, celebrations, tickets, kids and theme parks, you name it, they have information to assist you. If you can not find the answer you need to your question, then you can submit your own question and hope they have time to answer it.
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Pricing Disney World Tickets
Disney prices Walt Disney World tickets on a date-and-length based system. Discount ticket brokers also price tickets this way. Now, when you purchase a ticket it will:
-
have a start date at which it becomes valid
-
have an end datethe date by which your visits must be complete
-
have a set number of days you can visit the parks during that window.
You choose the start date and the number of park days. The end date is automatically set by the system. Price is determined by the number of park days and the start date.
So, for example, a five-day park hopper ticket with a start date of November 11 can be used on any five days during the eight-day range of November 11 through November 18. That ticket costs $646.81 for an adult directly through Disney and $609.52 through Undercover Tourist. Party and event tickets vary based on date and event but typically cost between $150 and $250 per person.
The Top 10 Best Disney Vacation Planning Web Sites
Amanda*This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via our links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you*
If you ever read Disney planning articles on the internet for FREE, rather than forking over cash for planning books, then you just might be a Cheapskate Princess!
Should you total up all the gift shops, restaurants, events, resorts, theme park rides, the number of Disney related topics of interest for someone visiting Disney World would be in the thousands. Throw in ride refurbishment schedules, Advanced Dining Reservations, park opening and closing times, and generally wondering what everything costs, and its probably no wonder people get overwhelmed when they start planning their Disney vacation. Sometimes, if they havent done the proper planning, they show up in Orlando only to get overwhelmed on vacation. What should I do? Where should we go? Is this worth the exorbitant price?
I claim to know a lot about Disney, but with prices and policies changing every day, even I have to do my research. Where does a Cheapskate Princess look for vacation planning and general Disney information? Here is a list of websites I use when I need information quickly.
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Considering A Walt Disney World Airbnb
One thing budget travelers will need to consider is renting an Airbnb near Walt Disney World. Airbnb is a service that allows people to rent out their apartment like a hotel room. But near Walt Disney World, its more common to see apartments, condos, or vacation homes that are rented out exclusively to vacationers.
Airbnb rentals tend to have good price, and youll have the space of an apartment, usually including a full kitchen. This makes an Airbnb a great savings option if youre willing to cook some meals or pack lunches.
The biggest downside of an Airbnb is transportation. Youll need to either drive or rely on Uber to get to Walt Disney World. As Disney hotels now charge for parking, drivers may find great value in Airbnb rentals that include parking. Those who rely on Uber can find rentals that are a $10 Uber ride from the parks, which means youll spend an extra $20-$25 per day on transportation.
Contact A Disney Travel Agent
Did we mention that booking a Disney vacation can be complicated? Make it easier by calling in professional help. Travel agents specializing in Disney vacations can help you plan your vacation for free. Seriously.
Not only will they help you score that extra special breakfast at Cinderellas Royal Table, but they can help take the stress out of the entire planning process.
The best part about using a travel agent is that you can do as much of the planning process on your own as you want to. With all of the changes as a result of Covid-19 it is even more important than ever to get the help of a professional and knowledgeable Disney expert travel agent.
TravelingMom Tip: If you want to plan non-park days during your trip, check out these 30+ fun things to do in Orlando with kids.
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Stay Off Property For Your Hotel
But dont stay too far away. Disney Springs has 5 hotel chains that are not affiliated with Disney but are technically on-property. However, they have rooms starting at $99 a night and up. Its hard to beat that for an on-property hotel. If you want even better savings, be sure to check-out hotels in Kissimmee and the Orlando area. You can find hotels that offer free parking and breakfast. This adds up considering youll typically spend $12-$15 a night for parking and $6 on breakfast per person per day. Most hotels offer bus service to the parks as well.
Keep in mind as well that there are several hotels that offer annual passholder discounts and military/government discounts too. Just call and ask!
Ticketless Packages With Dining Plan
Ticketless Packages with Dining are vacation packages that include a room and dining plan but no tickets. They are just like the Annual Passholder Packages, above, except that they dont include the Annual Passholder room discounts. They can be booked any time, and when room only discounts are available, those discounts apply to the room portion of these packages. The Dining Plans are always full price and these packages are never eligible for Free dining, or other packages that involve reduced-price Dining Plan like Stay, Play & Dine. These bookings are subject to regular Walt Disney Travel Company package rules. Ticketless packages can only be booked through a travel agent or via calling the Disney Reservation Center they are not available online.
Thanks to Small World Vacations for info.
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The Personalized Service Disney Travel Agents Provide
The best Disney Travel Planners should make you feel like they are on your side and looking out for your best interests. If you tell them you want to spend 4 nights at a budget-friendly Disney resort, then a good Disney travel planner will respect your goals. They will never try to up-sell you with a more elaborate vacation package.
Disney travel planners should give you the personalized attention any client deserves. This means answering your questions, giving tips and advice to help you decide an itinerary based on your goals, meeting your deadlines, and putting in the extra effort to make sure that every aspect of your Disney World vacation is extra magical.
You certainly wont get the same level of personalized service if you were to book your own trip online. And even when you call Disneys reservation hotline, you will speak with a different Disney employee each time you call. That can get confusing!
Going through a Disney travel planner is really the only way to feel like you have a friend helping you out.
Unless you already know Disney all there is to know about Disney World, theres really no downside in having someone on your side to help you plan your trip.
What Extra Charges Add Up When You Are At A Disney Resort
As with any vacation, even if you stay at a Disney Value Resort and book a trip during a time when the price of a Disney World ticket is relatively lower, there may be extra charges that occur when you are staying at a Disney resort and booking a Disney World vacaiton package. Here are some to be aware of:
- In-room dining
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Evaluating A Disney Vacation Package
Im going to go ahead and do an example of this on the fly . Hopefully the excitement comes through in my writing
Id like to have some offers to play around with, so Ill be looking at booking a package from March 11, 2019 to March 15, 2019. I use a family of four for my examples. I put my dates into the Disney website online, and already Ive got some options to review.
Buy Merchandise Before You Arrive
If your kids want a costume or a plush doll of their favorite character, purchase it before you head out to the parks. Youll always pay at least three times as much as the parks as you would Amazon or Wal Mart. However, if you are going to purchase at the parks try giving your kids a Disney Gift Card. You can set the balance before hand and let them know that once its gone, its gone.
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