24 responses

  1. Barbara
    January 27, 2013

    Dave you have been so very helpful and I really appreciate it. What can we expect in terms of weather at those times?

    Reply

  2. Barbara
    January 25, 2013

    Just one more question Dave. We have the option of coming to WDW in late Aug/early Sep (24 Aug t0 12 Sep) or late Sep/early Oct (22 Sep-11Oct). Which time would be optimal or are they much of a muchness?

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 26, 2013

      Barbara, those periods are pretty close. I lean to the earlier ones–but it is very close. Crowds are low in both, though lowest in early September. Prices are low in both, though better in the earlier period. All your dates are in the peak of the hurricane season, but temps are better the later you go. Disney’s Halloween party will begin in mid-September, and the Food and wine festival at Epcot begins September 27…

      Reply

  3. Barbara
    January 25, 2013

    Hi again Dave. Can you please recommend a good, reliable company for transfers between WDW and Port Canaveral (cruise terminal)?

    Reply

  4. Barbara
    January 22, 2013

    Thank you SO much Dave. That is extremely helpful. My next question has to do with staying and park tickets. Can I stay in the hotel without having the same number of days in the park. For example can I book 15 nights but only have a 10 day park tickets?
    Also, in your experience would 10 days be enough to experience each park fully? Which parks could you do in 1 or 2 days?

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 23, 2013

      Hi Barbara, yes you can have completely different hotels nights and ticket days. And ten days is more than enough for the Disney parks! You can fully do the Disney parks in 6 full days. Spreading them out over ten days means you won’t have to put in full days–that you can take some mornings and afternoons off.

      Reply

  5. Barbara
    January 21, 2013

    Hi Dave, I have so many questions but will try to limit it so I don’t drive you crazy. We have never been to WDW and we are coming from New Zealand (approx 38 hours in flights) so plan to stay for 16 nights in Late August/early Sep. We were told that Disney does not like you staying at one resort for a long time and so we will need to make a couple of bookings. We have two little girls and they are Disney obsessed! We love the look of the little mermaid rooms at AofA. I understand that they are often left out of any promotions and Pop Century is right next door. Can you walk through and look at all the statues etc? Is Pop Century better situated than All Stars Movies? How themed are resorts like Port Orleans Riverside? I will refrain from asking the 101 other questions for now. Many thanks for your time.

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 22, 2013

      Hi Barbara, feel free to ask as many questions as you like! Not only am I glad to help you, but thousands of people read these q&as and thus get help with their own questions.

      I have never heard that Disney doesn’t like long reservations–rather the opposite–so I think you can easily book 16 days without troubles.

      AofA Little Mermaid rooms will continue to be left out of deals so long as demand for them remains so strong. However, deals on the value resorts are so slight to begin with that I’d just pick your favorite value on the merits. And though as I noted you don’t have to do multiple bookings, you could choose to do so–begin and spend most of your trip in one resort on a deal, and then finish your trip in Little Mermaid.

      Yes, you can always visit other resorts, and Little Mermaid is just a 10-15 minute walk from Pop Century, depending on where your Pop room is. Pop and AofA Little Mermaid both have better theming than Movies. Room sizes and layout are comparable. Pop and AofA also have better transportation than Movies. For more on all of these, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/04/the-value-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/

      Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!

      Reply

  6. virginia standish
    January 2, 2013

    Dave, i am a first time for disney with my husband who is a honorable discharge navy person, our grandkids who are 6, 4, & 3. We would only be able to stay friday and check out sunday or monday am. can you tell us the best plan? thank you for your time. we appreciate it. our dates are in january as I see this is the best month. Again, thank you for your time.

    Reply

  7. Deanne
    October 29, 2012

    Hello love you site .
    Our family of 5 ( kids are 10,12 &16) are going on a Disney cruise . we want to stay at Disney . Last time we stayed at port orleans – rooms were ok . we are only staying 3 nites before cruise and then 1 nite after cruise . Suggustions on a diferent resort ?Would AOA be too young for my kids now ? Also Can I get dining plan without getting park tickets . Thank you

    Reply

  8. Alison
    October 11, 2012

    Hi Dave-
    We are booked at the Contemporary from 1/16- 1/22. The new deals that came out exclude this time frame. In the past free dining was usually offered, based on the new deals out, I am guessing we are out of luck. Is there anything else I should be looking into, like AAA even though we are fully booked through Disney (air, hotel, dining etc..)
    I am worried that the reason there are no deals is because they are very booked up, but your chart shows a #4 for the timeframe we are going to be there for crowds? Thanks so much for any advise.
    Alison

    Reply

    • Dave
      October 11, 2012

      Hey Alison, they don’t discount those dates because of MLK weekend. The three day weekend is moderately crowded, but the weekdays before and after are fine.

      Reply

  9. Heather
    October 11, 2012

    Hi- We are first timers. There will be 4 adults and 1 8 year old child. It will be my husband and I, my in-laws (mother and father-in-law) and our 8 year old daughter. We will be driving from NC, want 2 rooms- one for my husband and I, and one for my in-laws- we’d like flexibility so our daughter could spend a night with my husband and I and then my in-laws – so rooms w/ 2 beds or a bed and pullout sofa- we are looking at 3/2/2013 through 3/9/2013. We want the dining package and are planning on the hopper pass. I am feeling super overwhelmed…My husband has talked w/ AAA and got a quote of about $4500 for 2 rooms @ a Moderate Resort for 5 of us for 3/2-3/9/2013 with a Hopper pass and dining package…does this sound right- are we getting a good deal? Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Heather

    Reply

  10. Stacey Lewis
    October 10, 2012

    Hi Dave
    Going to Disney World in May 2013 When do you think discounts might come out for this month, if any! Thanks Stacey

    Reply

    • Dave
      October 10, 2012

      Hey Stacey it’s hard to say. In recent years May deals have come out anytime between the end of November and January…

      Reply

  11. Chandra
    October 10, 2012

    Do you think this is going to be the only offer for early 2013 travel, or is it still likely that a “better” deal, i.e. free dining could still be released later this year? Thanks for all of your hardwork and for providing such a useful resource!

    Reply

    • Dave
      October 10, 2012

      Chandra another offer came out today that I haven’t worked through yet that’s a “package savings.” But it ins’t free dining. IN the past few years, a free dining offer has always come out before a room rate offer for similar dates, so the room rate coming out now may mean no free dining. I don’t know…I guess we’ll see!

      Reply

  12. Ginette
    October 10, 2012

    With the new promo I can get the Disney Port Orleans Riversides ‘princess’ room for 200$ more on my entire package. We are presently in a standard room at the new Art of Animation (Little Mermaid) Feb 22 to March3. I am thinking about switching… Pros: queen size beds, a little bigger room, coffee maker.. Any other consideration? It will be my husband and I and two girls 7 and 9.

    Ginette

    Reply

    • Dave
      October 10, 2012

      Ginette, if this is your first time, and you may never return–I’d stick with Little Mermaid. Both the room and the resort overall have much more kid appeal that will overcome the negatives. If it isn’t your first time, and/or you could return if you wished later, then it matters much less, and that’s a nice deal on a bigger room with bigger beds and some real little princess appeal in the room itself!

      Reply

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