Tara's Disney Helper


What to Consider Before You Go

I used to believe that the only fun thing about Disney vacations was going on them. That was probably because all my trips to WDW were planned by my parents. Now that I'm planning a trip on my own, I realize there is a whole world of fun before the vacation even begins!

Deciding When to Go

The first thing to do is decide when you want to go. If you have kids and/or a hectic work schedule, summer might be the time for you because the kids won't miss school. If you don't have children, you might want to go during the school year because crowds will tend to be thinner then. Or maybe you can only go during holidays, like Thanksgiving Weekend or Labor Day.

Deciding when to go is a bit trickier when you throw in Disney's resort pricing policy. The year is divided into three periods: value season, regular season, and peak season. Value season is different for each class of resorts (moderate, deluxe, etc.) and is the least expensive time to go. Peak season is the most expensive and generally coincides with the December holiday season and mid-February through late April.

Current Resort Rates

Deciding on a Resort

It's hard enough just covering the Disney Resorts, so I'm not even going to begin to go into all the off-site hotels. At Disney, there is a hotel for every taste and virtually every pocketbook. For descriptions of each of Disney's uniquely-themed hotels, visit my Resort Description page. Look at the descriptions and consider whether you want convenience of monorail travel, access to great pools, or just a great deal on a room.

I've decided on a time and a resort. Now, how do I save money?

Disney isn't exactly easy on the wallet. (No wonder people joke that "EPCOT" stands for "Every Pocketbook Comes Out Trashed"!) There are ways to save on your WDW vacation. Some require spending a little money up front and some just require persistence and planning.

  • Magic Kingdom Club Membership - this entitles members to discounts on WDW admission, meals, merchandise and hotel rooms. A 2-year family membership is $65 and comes with a tote bag, luggage tag and a subscription to Disney Magazine. Call 1-800-56-DISNEY to join. Before you make that call, though, ask around. You may be entitled to a free membership through your employer or credit union. Check out my MKC Page for a complete listing of benefits.
    • There are a limited number of rooms available at MKC rates, so booking isn't easy. If you are told there are no MKC rooms available, book a room at the best rate possible and keep checking back. Cancellations go back into the pool first thing every morning. Persistence is the key to getting the rate you want.

  • Annual Pass Discounts - Annual Passholders are eligible for discounts on Disney resorts. These discounts are usually made available 3 months in advance and are among the best deals offered. You don't actually have to own an Annual Pass to reserve a room with this discount, but you must show an Annual Pass upon check-in. Once again, AP rates are hard to book and cancellations go back into the system. Keep calling until you get what you want! For example, for our April trip, I've booked the BoardWalk Inn resort at $169/night, much lower than the $274 regular rate!

  • Switching Resorts - Stay at a less expensive resort for the bulk of your trip, then experience the luxury of a more expensive resort for a day or two before you do. Disney makes this easy by moving your bags to your new resort for you. All you do is inform bell services you are moving and head to the parks. When you check in at your new resort, your luggage will be there!

  • Be an Informed Traveler - Compare package prices to the actual cost of each item (travel, room, admission, etc.). You pay a premium for the conveniece of one-stop shopping in many cases, so doing the legwork yourself may save you lots of money!

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