The magic is calling! Let’s go over some ideas for discovering the best way to book a Disney vacation. We’re covering tips specifically for a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida but many of these apply to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California as well. The best way to book a Disney vacation will vary depending on your needs, the amount of time you personally want to spend working on the itinerary and how complex of a trip you would like to have.
The Best Way to Book a Disney Vacation
Using DisneyWorld.com To Book a Disney Vacation
If you’ve been before but not recently, know that quite a bit has changed over the years in terms of how things work. Once upon a time, you could stroll up to the gate, buy a ticket to Magic Kingdom and enjoy your day. Visiting Disney Parks takes a bit more planning than that these days. If you have time to research and prefer to book it all yourself, DisneyWorld.com is your one stop shop. Depending on what’s available at the time, you may be able to book a Disney vacation package that includes hotel, tickets and dining. You will need to consider what park to visit each day or if you’ll add on the Park Hopper option to your tickets which allows you to visit multiple parks in one day. In addition to tickets, in order to enter the parks you will need a Park Pass Reservation for everyone in your party. There are plenty of great quick service food options, especially at Epcot, but if you have specific table service restaurants you’re interested in visiting, you will need to make advance reservations. Character meals are very popular and reservations for these can be hard to come by so plan in advance. Reservations can be made sixty days out though the opening window of the booking time period can change. You’re able to use DisneyWorld.com or the My Disney Experience app to book dining reservations. Then there are other decisions to make the day of your visit like if you’ll be purchasing the Disney Genie+ add on or individual Lightning Lanes. These are paid replacements for FastPass+ that can only be purchased the day you’re in the park. The My Disney Experience app is free and an excellent tool while you’re planning a trip and during your visit. Once you have your hotel, tickets, dining reservations and anything else you booked attached to your Disney account, you’ll be able to see your itinerary for each day in the app or on the website. There’s a lot to know and if you’re not up for the challenge, the next option may be the best for you.
Hire an Authorized Disney Travel Planner
There are travel agents who are Authorized Disney Travel Planners and will plan all of the magic for you. They know all the details and can organize and book your whole trip for you. There isn’t an additional cost to use their services either. Disney trips can be expensive and using a travel planner is one way to make the most of your visit. Authorized Disney Travel Planners know when seasonal specials tend to become available and can make sure you have any discounts available applied to your stay. They can also help you plan which park to visit each day or where to start based on their expertise and knowing anticipated hours, what’s more crowded on certain days and the specific wants of your party. If you’re looking for dining recommendations, travel planners are happy to assist with that. If you have questions about getting to and from the airport, getting around on property, how long certain things take, how much things cost or anything else, they either know the answer and have a recommendation or know where to find the answer for you. Trusting an Authorized Disney Travel Planner with booking your trip and filling your itinerary can be incredibly helpful for those overwhelmed with planning a Disney vacation or unable to find the time to do so.
Looking for Disney Discounts
If you’re looking for the best possible rate on Disney trips there are quite a few places you may find discounts. First, if you’re a Florida resident Disney usually has something special to offer you from discounted tickets to hotel stays. These can be found on Disney’s website. Additionally, there may be some hidden Disney discounts available to you. For example, those who have a Costco membership can use Costco Travel to price out Disney vacation packages. A recent search brought up a rate that saved $300 on a ticket and hotel package. Results will vary depending on when you search, of course. Then there are assorted AAA discounts. Those with an American Automobile Association membership, that’s what AAA stands for, are offered different discounts throughout the year including Orlando’s popular theme parks. Upon searching, an opportunity to save up to 10% on the Disney H2O Glow After Hours water park events was available. Different seasons will bring different discounts.
DVC Resale Experts Make Vacation Dreams Come True
If you enjoy magical vacations and can see yourself staying at Disney resort hotels every year, Disney Vacation Club might be a good option for you. The Disney timeshare offers a flexible point based system and allows Members to book at Deluxe tier resorts at an incredible price when you do the math. Resale contracts, those sold by Members and not Disney directly, come at an even better value in most cases. DVC Resale Experts is licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Our licensed, independent real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides so you can expect pixie dusted service. What a difference it makes to have someone knowledgeable to consult throughout the process. Take a look at current resale DVC listings for pricing and availability and start dreaming of the possibilities. If you don’t see the right contract for you, join the DVC Resale Experts Buyer Wish List to be contacted when a great fit magically appears on the market. Have questions? We have a blog filled with resources if you’d like to casually peruse or you can reach out directly in the way that’s most convenient for you.
