26 responses

  1. Dianne
    August 19, 2015

    Thank you Dave.

    Reply

  2. Dianne
    August 19, 2015

    Thank you so much for all your advice!
    Flights are booked for jan 30-feb 6, 2016 and we’re looking at 2 rooms (value Pop Century) for 4 adults and 1 child. Should we book now or have there been deals later in the year for this time period? We were going to purchase the dining plan but decided against it, in favor of ala carte with more flexibility and probably cheaper, unless we can get a dining deal. Thanks again!

    Reply

    • Dave
      August 19, 2015

      Dianne, it doesn’t matter. Booking now assures you have the rooms. If/when a deal comes out, you will then be competing with everyone else for the block of rooms assigned to it–and having a booking already neither helps nor hurts.

      Reply

  3. Krystle
    July 26, 2015

    My family and I are arriving the 27th-30th of august, we booked last week and are staying at the contemporary, are we eligible for this free dining plan still ? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Dave
      July 26, 2015

      Krystle, this deal needed to be booked by July 10.

      Reply

  4. Dee McDuffie
    July 22, 2015

    Looks like great info for my clients!

    Reply

  5. Kristi
    July 19, 2015

    Were set to visit Disney 12/8-12/15 of this year. Aside from our flights, nothing is booked. Any pointers on where to start?

    Reply

    • Dave
      July 20, 2015

      Kristi, start with the topics here (after “Recent Posts”) or with a copy of my book.

      Reply

  6. Frank
    July 14, 2015

    Hi Dave – I hope that you do not mind me commenting again! We have our dates set and we ended up going so that we are there for our daughter’s b-day on the 18th of January. It is not the ideal time, but we wanted to do it while we can, as once she starts school it will be more difficult to go in January. Anyway, we are going from January 17 – 26, 2016 and I wanted to see if you had any thoughts on each of the dates? The 17th will only be PM time, the 18th is MK no matter what and the 26th will be AM/early PM time. This will hopefully be the last time that I bug you! Thanks again for all your advice!

    Reply

    • Dave
      July 16, 2015

      OK Frank, here you go:

      Jan 17: Avoid HS
      Jan 18–you are already set
      Jan 19: Avoid Epcot
      Jan 20: Avoid MK
      Jan 21: avoid Epcot
      Jan 22: avoid MK
      Jan 23: avoid AK and MK
      Jan 24: avoid HS
      Jan 25: avoid AK and MK
      Jan 26: avoid Epcot

      Reply

  7. steve
    June 17, 2015

    These are some great offers, to bad you can’t get any of them. Sort of like that car ad where you never can find the car?…lol

    Reply

  8. Frank
    June 15, 2015

    Hi Dave,
    I was checking to see if you had any info/comments for January 2016 yet (response to my comments from 05.19.2015)? I am looking at booking for sometime from mid-January to the end of January very soon. In addition to my questions from 05.19.2015, I wanted to know if you had thoughts on when is a good day to arrive at Disney (day of the week)? I was looking at incorporating my daughter’s birthday on the 18th, but it is not necessary. It looks like the time after MLK day is better (maybe starting on 23rd)? I would value any advice. Thanks so much for your time and attention to my comments!

    Reply

    • Dave
      June 17, 2015

      Frank the January calendar came out, but it is apparently incomplete. (That is, its missing EMH days, which are key components for judging parks to avoid. So I’m still in a bit of a pause for specific help for January, but you are right that arriving after MLK day is the best choice. Later in the month will be a little better than right after MLK. In general WDW is busiest Sat-Mon, and flights are cheapest on Tuesdays and Saturdays…

      Reply

  9. Frank
    May 19, 2015

    Hey Dave. I enjoy your site and it is very informative! My wife, our 4 yr old daughter and I went to Disney World January 15 – 22, 2015 for our first ever visit. We went that timeframe, since our daughter’s birthday was on the 18th (she turned 4). We had the best time ever! We did not find your site until after we had booked everything. There were a few things that we would have changed based on your information, but it still turned out to be an awesome trip. We are now looking to go back in January 2016 and wanted to get your advice on the days to go , what days are best for what parks and any other advice. Specifically, we are looking to go in the last two weeks or so of January for 9-10 days. We are primarily focused on events for our daughter inlcluding meeting all the characters, themed dining experiences, fireworks, some kid rides (not really adult rides) etc. We stayed at the Riverside Resort in the Princess Tiana themed room and our daughter loved it, so we are looking to stay there again. We also had the DDP for meals and it worked out perfect. If I left anything out that would help you just let me know. Thank you very much for your time in reading my questions and comments!

    Reply

    • Dave
      May 20, 2015

      Hi Frank! I won’t have any specific thoughts on January until Disney releases its operating schedule for then, which it should do in about 3 weeks. So check back then!!

      Reply

  10. Tom
    May 4, 2015

    Thanks Dave. I am in contact with Kelly and with no luck so far for November 🙁

    Reply

  11. Tom
    May 3, 2015

    Hi Dave!
    I am trying to find out if there is anything available for November, Value resort, but I cannot find the site at Disney’s webpage. Am I missing anything?
    Thanks, Tom

    Reply

  12. Anomaly
    April 28, 2015

    We finally booked the deal online after hours on hold and trying to use the website! We got Coronado Springs, and although I was hoping for CBR, I just read the review here and it sounds like an amazing resort! The only time we could book was from Nov 11-20(10 days!!) So we got the Park Hopper plus Water Parks and we’ve got ourselves quite a vacation!

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 28, 2015

      Cool!!

      Reply

  13. Christina
    April 27, 2015

    Hey Dave! After waiting on the phone for 2 hours, I finally got through. This was around 1PM central time. My trip dates are for 9/12-9/18. My first choice was PO-R and then Caribbean Beach. By 1PM on the 1st day of the offer, both of those resorts were totally sold out of standard view rooms and POR was totally sold out of all rooms. The only thing left at CB were the pirate rooms and I’m not paying extra for a full bed and a lot more walking. We settled at Coronado Springs. I requested a top floor room in the Cabanas area. I’m not going to lie, I’m super disappointed. I know nothing about Coronado Springs. Do you enjoy this resort? Can you help turn my frown upside down? I couldn’t believe Disney didn’t offer the promo to Visa card holders first, like they normally do. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 28, 2015

      Christina, I love CS! See this for my review.

      Reply

  14. Debbie
    April 27, 2015

    Hi again, I just posted a comment on the 2015 weeks page about my trip then read this. My dates are set but do you think Disney would let me get the plan for my whole stay with my dates 10/24-10/31 or will they give me a partial discount. Thanks again!

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 28, 2015

      Debbie, first this apparently is largely already sold out, and seocnd, no they won’t give it to you for a trip starting the 24th–only one starting the 25th.

      Reply

  15. Tina
    April 27, 2015

    Been waiting on this free dining to book. Tried on line and calling over five hours and finally got through. HEY! But the only thing they had left in a value resort was all star sports. Disappointed but had to book. We always stay at Pop Century. Don’t know much about this resort. I have never had this much problems before with booking. Can’t believe they were gone that fast. Wonder if anymore may become available later on. Disney was early coming out with this one. Its usally more the first part of May. Disney Visa card holders usally get a few days to book before.

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 28, 2015

      Tina, my guess-and it’s just that, a guess–is that occupancy has been so strong that they didn’t put much capacity in the offer.

      Reply

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