Category — w. Most Recent Stuff

THE BEST WEEK OF 2013, TAILORED TO YOUR FAMILY’S PREFERENCES

Last week, the 2013 edition of one of this site’s most popular offerings came out–the 2013 Walt Disney World Week Picker.

The Week Picker is an alternative to this site’s 2013 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order.

It’s particularly suited for returning visitors and for first-time visitors who weigh crowds, prices, ride closures, the hurricane season, or other weather factors differently than do the week rankings (which are built for the average family of first time visitors who may never return). [Read more →]

DISNEY’S ARMED FORCES SALUTE EXPLAINED

With the announcement of the FY2013 Disney Armed Forces Salute, there’s lots of interest in and questions about the specifics of the new program.

The details of this program can be complex, as it marries rules and fine print from two of the world’s great bureaucracies with some extensive formal and informal personal discretion about the rules and fine print from Disney World cast members.

The upshot is a bunch of difficult-to-understand formal rules, and a bunch of not-obvious possible exceptions to them.

I try to help on this as much as I can, but the real expert–and someone I turn to almost weekly for help–is Steve from MilitaryDisneyTips.com.

Steve has a great FAQ on the Armed Forces Salute.  The questions he addresses are below, and the links will take you directly to his material on the topic!

General Armed Forces Salute Questions

What is the Disney Armed Forces Salute?
Am I eligible to participate in the Armed Forces Salute?
What Discounts are offered during the Armed Forces Salute?
What is the time frame of the Armed Forces Salute?
At which Disney Parks is the Armed Forces Salute available?
What are Blockout Dates (sometimes called Blackout Dates)?

Armed Forces Salute Hotel Discount Questions

What Hotel Discounts are available during the Armed Forces Salute?
How do I make resort reservations using the Armed Forces Salute discount?
Can I add the Disney Dining Plan to my Armed Forces room reservation?
Are there any dates when the Armed Forces Salute room discount is not available?

Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Ticket Questions

What types of Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Tickets are available?
What are the Park Hopper and Water Park & More Options
Who is allowed to purchase the Armed Forces Salute Tickets?
How many Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Tickets can I purchase?
When do the Armed Forces Salute Tickets expire?
Are there any dates when the Armed Forces Salute theme park tickets are not valid?
Where can I buy the Armed Forces Salute Theme Park Tickets?
How do I activate the Armed Forces Salute Tickets?
I need more Armed Forces Salute Tickets what can I do?

2013 FREE DISNEY WORLD DINING DATES?

A “bounce back offer” is a deal offered to Disney World hotel guests that they can only take advantage of if they book it during their current stay.

As I write this, I’m in Disney World’s All-Star Music Family Suites (review here!) and the offer in my room is for free dining beginning 8/18/2013.

However, there’s a wrinkle: the end dates of the free dining offer vary depending on what resort type you reserve. [Read more →]

DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: SEPTEMBER 1 TO SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

The material below details operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

The same stuff is in the table, but organized by park, not by topic.

(For more on September 2012 at Disney World, see this)

[Read more →]

(This is an entry in a series on Disney World Controversies.)

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD: WHERE YOU IS IS WHERE YOU ARE

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Teal. Enjoy the ride as once more we delve into the great Disney controversies, large and small.

And note that Teal is a little cranky this month…

This post focuses on etiquette for parades at Disney World, and suggests two points for the well-mannered:

• The only way to save a spot for viewing a parade is to be in the spot
• The fact that you wish you had a better spot gives you no right to push your kids–or yourself–ahead of others who have sacrificed their own time to get the spot you wish you had… [Read more →]

NEW DISNEY WORLD ROOM RATE DISCOUNT

Disney World has announced a new room rate deal that covers arrivals most nights from September 30, 2012 to November 16, 2012 and November 24, 2012 to December 22, 2012.

Savings under this deal are convoluted—some resorts are excluded, and the discount varies by night. See the calendar on the right side of this page for the gory details.

In general, though, here’s what Disney World has on offer:

• Value resorts: save 15-20%; Art of Animation Little Mermaid and All-Star Movies excluded; Art of Animation Family Suites excluded some dates, available others
• Moderate resorts: Save 20-25%; Port Orleans French Quarter excluded
• Deluxe resorts: save 15-30%; Savanna view rooms at AKL excluded
• Disney Vacation Club resorts: save 25-30%; Beach Club Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas, Bay Lake Tower, and savanna views at Jambo and Kidani excluded

This deal must be booked September 29, 2012 for October travel, and by October 31 for November and December deals.

See Disney’s page here for more details and which nights which discounts are available.