Posts from — December 2009

Hey–for the latest on Disney World deals, promotions, and discounts, see this page.

See this for 2010 deals at Disney World, including a $750 gift card in return for booking a 5 night/6 day stay at certain deluxe resorts for most dates through June 3.

Meanwhile, MouseSavers.com is reporting on a new 2010 discount available to active duty and retired US Military personnel. See this for more.

This page is part of the series The Tightwad’s Guide to Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW: WHEN TIGHTWADS SHOULD GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

This site provides precise instructions elsewhere on when to go to Walt Disney World, the next best dates, and what to budget for such a trip. These instructions are designed for typical first time family visitors who are not sure whether or not they will ever return.

This page addresses when to go to Walt Disney World for a subset of first time visitors: tightwads.

MORE ON WHEN TIGHTWADS SHOULD GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

Tightwads should go to Walt Disney World the first or second weeks of September.

These weeks have a number of great things going for them…and a couple of lousy ones.

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: WHERE TO STAY FOR HARRY POTTER

Those simply aiming for a morning at Harry Potter could maintain their Walt Disney World lodging plans…

However, families either

• wishing to guarantee access to Harry Potter’s rides without long lines, or
• contemplating spending more time at Universal Orlando

should consider adding a night at Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort or its new Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Doing so gives you special early entry privileges to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, plus–if at the Royal Pacific–“front of the line” privileges for the rest of Universal Orlando.

MORE DETAILS ON WHERE TO STAY FOR YOUR VISIT TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

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I saw this post by Mary Kraemer of MouseEarVacations.com, and, with her permission, am reprinting it here:

CHRISTMAS BY THE NUMBERS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Miles of garland, ribbon, twinkling lights and glitter transform Walt Disney World Resort into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. Here’s a sample of what guests will experience throughout the Vacation Kingdom:

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OVERVIEW

I have published two related series of articles on this site—titled The Tightwad’s Guide to Walt Disney World, and The Comfortable Guide to Walt Disney World.

As a step related to each, I bring together here budgeting advice from various parts of this site into one place, to set the stage.

This site notes that while you can have a great trip for $3,000 or less (before transportation costs), for the best first family trip to Walt Disney World, you should budget if you can between $5,300 and $8,400, plus transportation.

What I want to reiterate here is that when you go and where you stay have more of an impact on your budget than how long you stay.

MORE DETAILS ON PLANNING YOUR DISNEY BUDGET

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(These instructions are  for fitting a visit to Universal Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter into a first family trip to Walt Disney World. Click here for the Summary of Instructions for visiting Harry Potter.)

OVERVIEW: WHEN TO GO TO HARRY POTTER

The general advice this site provides on when to go to Walt Disney World also applies to Universal Orlando. (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located within the two parks at Universal Orlando, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. That is, not at Walt Disney World.)

THE BEST TIMES TO VISIT THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

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