22 responses

  1. Lori
    January 30, 2024

    Hi, your site is so helpful! I am planning a DW trip with 3 boys (6, 4 and 2) for October. Do you feel this is a good time of year to go (in terms of crowds)? Luckily we have flexibility with traveling so would like to go in an off season when the crowds are lower. Right now we are exploring the Polynesian, Art of Animation and Animal Kingdom. We will probably go to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Sea World. In terms of convenience, which resort would you recommend? We saw that you could possibly view fireworks from the rooms at the Polynesian but wasn’t sure if this is enough of a “bonus” to warrant staying there. Thank you for your help!

    Reply

    • Dave
      February 7, 2024

      Hi Lori, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you.

      For my views on October (and the rest of the weeks of the year) see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2023/09/12/2024-disney-world-week-rankings/

      Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are the two most widely separated Disney World parks, so no Disney World hotel is convenient to both of them. Of the three you are considering, Art of Animation is most centrally located.

      Reply

  2. Cindy
    July 1, 2017

    Hello again Dave, I just read that Disney is giving out gift cards each night of a guests’ stay if the guest chooses Not to use Housekeeping (fresh towels will be provided) at the Value Resorts. What do you know?

    Reply

    • Dave
      July 4, 2017

      Cindy, All I’ve seen on such is this.

      Reply

      • Laura
        March 9, 2019

        Do you always leave a tip for housekeeping? If so, how much is the going rate? Do you leave it daily or just leave it on your last day? We are staying at Art of Animation, Lion King suite!

        Reply

      • Dave
        March 10, 2019

        Laura, I leave a daily tip of $5 unless we have made a particular mess or we have a multi-bay space (like a family suite) in which case I leave $10.

        Reply

  3. Susan G
    July 6, 2016

    Hi,
    We are returning to Disney the week of July 25-29. Having Grandparents visit us we are trying to possibly not do any parks this visit. If we do, we only have a two day availability after they leave ahead of us. My question is two tiered. First, what are things we can do with 19, 18 and 10 year olds staying at Kidani DVC if no parks and second, if we do a two day park hopper we are looking at over $1,000. With the crowds you indicate a nine, so how long are lines typically and would it be worth the money?
    I appreciate any input you can give, I have enjoyed your site and knowledge.
    Susan

    Reply

    • Dave
      July 6, 2016

      Susan, at the Animal Kingdom complex there’s great animal watching, pools and dining. Because of the way Disney prices tickets, in your shoes I would for sure skip the hopper, and likely would just save the money and use it a later date when you can stay longer…

      Reply

  4. Kelly B – Destinations In Florida
    June 8, 2016

    Hi Coleen,

    Disney has not yet released its 2017 prices. They just announced yesterday that they will be doing that on Tuesday June 21. These prices will be the standard rates. It\’s always best to book the room you would like as soon as possible. This will guarantee availability. Then as discounts are released you can make adjustments.

    I would love to help your book your Disney vacation. All of my services are free, like my future discount search service. While you go on with daily life, enjoying your family, I will keep watch over your reservation. Any time Disney releases a discount, I will look to see if we can apply that discount to your reservation. (Only 1 discount per reservation). Up until 30 days before arrival you can make as many changes to your reservation as you want, at no charge.

    Please contact me at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

    Reply

  5. Coleen
    June 7, 2016

    HI there
    My family and I (2 adults and 2 children, 12 & 8 ) are planning to visit in Aug 2017 and I was wondering where is the best place to get deals/discounts on the deluxe resorts please?
    Kind Regards

    Reply

    • Dave
      June 9, 2016

      Coleen, the best deals will be on the Disney website here. For most of August they likely will come out in March 2017, and for the end of the month–when deals are often even better–in late April or early May 2017.

      I always post the major current deals here, so you can see the 2016 savings for both types.

      Reply

  6. Wendy
    April 30, 2013

    Thanks!

    Reply

  7. Wendy
    April 29, 2013

    OK – odd question…I was just checking the boards for Thanksgiving discounts and read some posts of Swan and Dolphin hotels. I checked the Thanksgiving rates – and they are 188 with AAA. That is lower than the other Disney hotels in that class, no? What is the disadvantage to staying at one of these? It seems to include Magic Hours and such…what am I missing?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 30, 2013

      Wendy, the Swan and Dolphin have less of a celebratory feel, and feel more like convention hotels. You can’t use either the Dining Plan or the Magical Express airport transport for them, but they do have access to extra magic hours, as you note, and also to the Disney internal bus system…

      Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!

      Reply

  8. Christie
    April 13, 2013

    Thanks!! We stayed in the Little Mermaid building 7 and requested a lake view like you said and I am so glad!!! It was so perfect! And my daughter loved the Ursala statue. We stayed with our three children and even with a baby crib between the two beds, it worked great. We laughed about your joke about the pool locks keeping out the pop century rift raft several times. I am not sure, but I think I read somewhere that the busses stop at different resorts and if it was your site, I wanted to let you know that our bus went directly to the park. It was so convenient. Much more than our last trip when we stayed at downtown Disney. I am so glad I read your review, because I almost booked all star, but my daughter is in love with nemo and little mermaid so this was amazing- like you said, much more kid appeal.

    We are wanting to go again at the beginning of December because you mentioned that it is less busy. I am hoping my parents will come. If so, we will need a kitchen and a decent deal since my mom really wants to stay offsite to save money but I loved brin onsite. If she doesn’t go, I have no idea where to stay, though, since Art if Animation standar rooms are booked already those first two weeks of December. So it will either be 2 adults, 1 child, and 2 infants (my family) or all that plus 2 more adults (my parents). I will read your links now. I have been reading about DVC points and I am trying to figure that out to see if I could stay at Poly or Contemporary tower with those if I can find some to buy. Sorry to ramble. Love the site!

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 14, 2013

      Great, Christie!!

      The cheapest on-site way to sleep 6+1 –which is how WDW will count you–with a full kitchen is the Cabins–see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/03/05/review-the-cabins-at-disneys-fort-wilderness-resort-2/ But these aren’t cheap–in early December, they are around $330 a night plus tax–this is less than you’d likely pay to rent points for even the cheapest two bedroom villa …otherwise it’ offsite.

      If you end up without the parents and want a value, then I’d try in order Pop Century, or if it’s sold out, Movies, then Music, then Sports.

      Reply

  9. Christi
    April 13, 2013

    Hi, Dave! I LOVE your site (even though I have been to Disney over 10 times:))

    I stayed last week at Art of Animation based on your review . I LOVED it! Thanks! I am going back in December with my parents and would like to stay at a place with a kitchen since they would like the option to cook at “home”. Do you know which resorts have kitchens?

    Reply

  10. Dave
    February 26, 2013
  11. elizabeth
    February 26, 2013

    Is my first time to.go.to.Walt.Disney what is the best place to.stay with.kids?

    Reply

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